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WTKA Roundtable 11/22/2022: There's No Need to Hate Comment Count

Seth November 22nd, 2022 at 10:37 AM

Things discussed:

  • Illinois: Super aggressive defense, got into Cover 2 from weird looks, went 6-2 front and brought down safeties. Plays were there to be made: throws are open, WRs need to catch them and JJ needs to be more accurate.
  • Michigan took it two games at a time. Were afraid to pass until they had to. Had non-Morris ends trying to own the edge and the gap inside it so they could play two-deep, which is not an Illinois prep.
  • Where are the RPOs? Having JJ run is a similar thing, but getting him in rhythm and getting the defense to keep extra defenders out of the play demands that sort of thing.
  • Lots of Cover 1 and Cover 0 and M doesn't like to throw at guys in single coverage. Ohio State was paying attention.
  • Injuries? Corum and Edwards will play but Sam's opinion is they won't be 75%.
  • Seth: We're in the playoffs now, and you win the playoffs like you win in the NFL: my talent against your talent.
  • Michigan went after Witherspoon way too much.
  • Brian: The passing game is where it is because of Michigan's extreme run focus. Michigan ran on 2nd and 14 vs Cover Zero, and there's a reasonable explanation, QED. Seth: Like Kobe and Jaelin's threes, you gotta let them shoot through it.
  • OHIO STATE: A defense of Junior Colsons, but you can't guess where they'll break down ahead of time. Need a "take what you see" approach. They're going to blitz and man up.
  • Seth on hate: we don't want to go to Columbus because it's all about hate to them. Harbaugh's quote—and that's a guy who played in this game—is on. Sam: Hate's great! I love how emasculated they were after last year's game.
  • If Michigan does it again, and Ryan Day is 1-2 vs Michigan, is he on the hot seat?
  • Injuries: We dunno.

[Hit the JUMP for the player, and video and stuff]

You can catch the entire episode on Michigan Insider's podcast stream.

Segment 2 is here. You can watch the video here:

The Usual Links:

He's already on the hot seat with the fans; he did nothing to prevent Michigan from going 11-0.

Comments

bronxblue

November 22nd, 2022 at 7:29 PM ^

This is going to be a broken record but I keep seeing people make claims that the reason the passing game is struggling for a bunch of reasons that seemingly ignore or limit the impact an inconsistent QB has been for some time now.  Michigan was just as run-focused last year but clearly had more faith in McNamara to make certain throws and so they relied on it more.  This isn't a knock on JJ, only acknowledging that sometimes the reason a team doesn't do something is because the people they ask to do it struggle. It's that simple.  And yes, the weather certainly mattered a bit against Illinois.

I get a sense that people are building up their defenses again because they think it'll protect them if UM loses.  I don't get that anymore - if UM loses it'll suck either way but this reintroduction of BPONE fucking 12 weeks into the season is beyond tiring.  OSU is a good team; so is UM.  Somebody is going to lose but that shouldn't be misconstrued as UM being doomed to history.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171968

turtleboy

November 22nd, 2022 at 7:33 PM ^

It's almost comforting to know that even expert analysts are totally befuddled and perplexed at the course of events last Saturday. There are plenty of reasons for optimism, but Michigan was responsible for the Illinois game being close. I'm hoping they've gotten the monkey off their backs, and this game was just a one-off.

Joined: 04/22/2011

MGoPoints: 35130