KFaTAotW Predictions
Like everyone here I'm dying to read Brian's game blog this week. He does a great job of helping us put words of our wild emotions into more concrete feelings.
Curious who will win the KFaTAotW awards: My guess is that he'll have to give several ties b/c I don't know how you separate these
1) JJ - 4 total TDs and no bad plays. Passing. Rushing. Total belief. Great leadership
2) CJ - 160 yards and 2 HUGE TDs, the 1st kept us in the game when we really needed it. Most important TD of the day and he did it with his feet and his balance. 2nd TD was earned through that beautiful double move
3) Sainristil - the defense needs to be represented here, no? So many heroes as Harbaugh said. But Sainristil with several key plays, the 2nd half pep talk, the leadership, and that one most incredible play.
4) Donavan Edwards - 200+ yards and 2 TDs in the 2nd? Legendary half. Highlights that will last for decades... with ONE HAND
I find it crazy that Donavan might be 4th place KFaTAotW on a day that was historic. But I can't bump 1~3. The timing of CJ's plays were just so necessary. Defense was amazing and Sainristril was the best
Harbaugh gave game balls to Upshaw and Paige as well and I think they'll get HM as well as OL and DL and LBs
Who are your 1st - 3rd place KFaTAotW award predictions?
November 28th, 2022 at 9:23 AM ^
McGregor had a great game really stepped up in Morris absence
November 28th, 2022 at 9:26 AM ^
for sure McGregor as HM. Probably made 2 or 3 of this best plays of the year in this game
November 28th, 2022 at 9:37 AM ^
Almost had a pick six and came close to creating another one. Incredible havoc for a defense that has been awesome this year without a lot of it
November 28th, 2022 at 10:24 AM ^
having him drop in coverage was similar to what the Lions having Aiden do
November 28th, 2022 at 9:28 AM ^
We'll get some ties to acknowledge all the contributions:
1: McCarthy/Edwards/CJ
2: Sainristil/Barrett
3: OL/DL
November 28th, 2022 at 10:09 AM ^
I agree. I think they all deserve top 2 and expect Brian will do that. But hypothetically trying to rank them 1-4 is as hard as any game I can remember - where the 4th place had such a historic game.
November 28th, 2022 at 10:14 AM ^
I also have McCarthy and Edwards tied at #1, but would drop CJ at #2 tied with Sainristil and Barrett. #3 is everyone else -- just like the Buckeye stickers, everyone wins!
November 28th, 2022 at 9:31 AM ^
Can you give it to a coach? If so, i'd put Minter in one of those slots!
November 28th, 2022 at 9:34 AM ^
Mullings and Loveland will be HMs
November 28th, 2022 at 9:34 AM ^
Oluwatimi / the o-line clinched the game, should be up there
Same with Mazi Smith / d-line ... pretty much the whole team played really well and no one made any colossal mistakes. Even the face mask on Colson was weak
November 28th, 2022 at 12:10 PM ^
the o-line clinched the game, should be up there
Came here to post this.
O-line is #1 for grinding ohio to a pulp over 60 minutes. No disrespect to Sainristil.
November 28th, 2022 at 9:40 AM ^
That’s the cool thing about that game… EVERYONE stepped up. Harbaugh was right when he said there wasn’t a single hero, rather, a room full of heroes.
Still getting chills from Saturday… and dare I say, there is MUCH more to come.
November 28th, 2022 at 9:42 AM ^
1. Sainristil
2. McCarthy
3. Edwards
My personal choice for MVP would be Olu, fwiw. Dude MAULS.
November 28th, 2022 at 10:22 AM ^
I have Sainristil as my #1 as well due solely to that breakup in the endzone when he batted the ball out of Stover’s hands. Just such a huge play that kept the Buckeyes from getting back any momentum and made them settle for 3 instead of 6.
The big offensive plays are easy to point at, but holding that OSU offense to 3 TDs and under 30 points is something that needs to be recognized as a huge reason UM was able to break their will and belief that they could win, and I will go to my grave believing that play is why the offensive line was able to crease the OSU defense on the next series and let Edwards show just how fast he is in the open field.
November 28th, 2022 at 9:42 AM ^
1) Sainristil - Attitude reflects leadership.
2) JJ - Kept them cool and calm.
3) OL - They kept JJ upright and took over. Donovan's touchdowns were a combo of the OL and his speed. I give them the nod because JJ had time to throw all day.
4) Cornelius - I wanted him benched all year. I was wrong. That first TD was all him.
5) Barrett - He was everywhere yesterday. Big hits. High energy. We joke, but the dude comes to play.
Honorable mention: Corum and Morris - Didn't play but were there with the guys. The whole way. LEADERS... and now BEST!
November 28th, 2022 at 9:56 AM ^
Donovan was the hammer that drove the stake through their collective hearts.
November 28th, 2022 at 9:56 AM ^
Can I put in a 3rd place vote for Okie? He didn't get a ton of pressure until late, but he's so much more complete than he was at the start of the year. His rushes were extremely disciplined and helped keep Stroud bottled up in the pocket. I think he is an offseason of S&C work from blowing up into a star. It's not easy to pull yourself off the mat like he has. He's a dude.
November 28th, 2022 at 10:13 AM ^
he is going to be such a weapon next year
November 28th, 2022 at 10:01 AM ^
Give one to Ryan Day and watch 11W burn itself down.
November 28th, 2022 at 10:02 AM ^
Will Johnson had a great game, so much so that it seemed Ohio state started moving Harrison Jr away from him.
November 28th, 2022 at 10:15 AM ^
omg this is so true. He had such a strong game. Against that passing attack. He stuck in coverage and attacked as a tackler
November 28th, 2022 at 10:23 AM ^
Next year is going to be Woodson v. Boston all over again.
November 28th, 2022 at 10:14 AM ^
I was thinking about this last night, along with what might get picked for the play of the week. Unreal that we are sitting here after a game in Columbus and it's a real debate about who should get the honors because so many guys on the team made critical plays and had the best game of their lives.
I would put Sainristil at #1. Our offense scuffled at times especially in the first half, but Sainristil was heroic from start to finish. For play of the game I would say Donovan Edwards' first long TD because that was the moment when it went from an 8 point game where we were all sitting around calculating the likelihood of Ohio State getting a TD + 2PC and how much time Michigan would have to score again to "OK, we are going to WIN." That play was the backbreaker.
I'm so happy for CJ, Harrell, Upshaw, Paige, McGregor, Benny, Mullings - all of those guys had relatively quiet seasons but all made huge plays on the biggest stage. With Mike Morris very limited and this blog kind of fretting about the upside of the other DEs as pass rushers, those guys especially stepped up big time.
November 28th, 2022 at 10:19 AM ^
lol you sold me Wampa. That defense was amazing.
2nd half of the year, the 2nd half defense has been historic. Coaching plus players plus playing together. Michigan has ZERO defensive stars. They have several that will play in the NFL. Will Johnson and Mason Graham will become stars but they aren't there yet. But they all are plus players and play as a unit so well. That's coaching and leadership. So fun to watch
November 28th, 2022 at 10:24 AM ^
the what awards?
November 28th, 2022 at 11:14 AM ^
RIP Takeoff
November 28th, 2022 at 10:28 AM ^
Cornelius Johnson is my #1. The first catch and run touchdown changed the tenor of the game from Buckeye route to competitive. If he catches that ball and gets tackled short of the first down, it could have gotten out of hand.
JJ, great attitude, great runs. His long passes were all wide, wide open that he executed, but you've got to give first props to the WRs and play calling.
Edwards had a great day, but first credit for his long runs probably go to OL and play calling.
However, I'll give everybody any points they want today.