Let's talk Josaiah Stewart.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:17 PM ^
He had a monster game all day. All our edge rushers, frankly our best edge player Harrell had seemingly the most quiet day out for be unit. Goes to show the TEAM aspect.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:41 PM ^
It’s wild that Harrell has become an excellent pash rusher when the knock on him coming into the season is that was a real weakness
January 2nd, 2024 at 3:20 PM ^
It's even more impressive considering Latham was just rag-dolling Kris Jenkins and Mason Graham at points in the game. For Stewart to put him on skates and push him back 3 yards into Milroe while giving up 100lbs is frankly on the same levels of adrenaline as "mom lifts car to rescue child"
JC Latham (#65) driving the 3-tech to the middle of the field pic.twitter.com/dCtrD3Yql0
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) January 2, 2024
January 2nd, 2024 at 4:09 PM ^
Stewart's rush on the last play may have saved the season. I hope he comes back next year.
Also, give credit to Derrick Moore, to say that he got held on that play is the understatement of the decade - the OL literally did a bear hug from behind. It was never going to get called in that circumstance.
Yet, Moore held his ground long enough that Milroe had nowhere to go.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:17 PM ^
Yes.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:19 PM ^
Not taking away from Mason Graham, but Stewart shouldve been the Defensive Player of the Game
January 2nd, 2024 at 3:03 PM ^
It all took place so quickly that I legit thought that Milroe had given up and just thrown himself into the scrum. Instead, Stewart had knocked his own man back in front of him. I want to see this one from all the angles and glory in it for a bit.
January 2nd, 2024 at 3:04 PM ^
Or even McGregor
January 2nd, 2024 at 4:04 PM ^
Braiden was an absolute beast in the 1st half, but didn't seem to be getting as many snaps in the second half.... to my unsophisticated eye.
I hope it wasn't an injury.... It was noticable how many passing downs he wasn't on the field for.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:20 PM ^
I only saw the specifics on replay (Milroe trips over his own man because Josiah had blasted his man back into Milroe's path) but as soon as they snapped it and (surprise!) ran Milroe you could tell it was going to be a glorious failure. The entire interior line is closed and shoved in. Thank you Tommy Rees; on balance you've been very good for Michigan football!
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:46 PM ^
"Thank you Tommy Rees; on balance you've been very good for Michigan football!"
I kept thinking this all night. Every time I started to get nervous, I thought- NOPE. Tommy Rees beat Michigan one time. It ain't happening again.
January 2nd, 2024 at 3:26 PM ^
Rees is a remarkably uncreative playcaller.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:47 PM ^
I also find it funny that folks are claiming if Milroe did more of a RPO keep to the left of the line, he would’ve “walked” in. Like Sainristil and I believe Colson(?) wouldn’t have just bottled that shit up. Hawt takes are funny sometimes.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:51 PM ^
I’m was looking for that too and saw the Mike had the high left side and our LB (I’d have to look again to see exactly who) had the low. There was more space for Milroe there then up the center, but there wasn’t much.
January 2nd, 2024 at 3:07 PM ^
Nope. Looked to me like we had the edges set on both sides. If there was a pass option that might have worked, otherwise the D-line had that play totally blown up within a half second of the ball being snapped.
January 2nd, 2024 at 6:37 PM ^
You mention the pass option and our guy was a tiny bit late getting over to follow the man in motion. Maybe a chance there to pass it to him, but our DBs might have been able to get off blocks.
January 2nd, 2024 at 4:19 PM ^
I think it was Rod Moore, not Junior. He was crashing into the line while maintaining position for a cutback. He and Mike seemed in position to slam the door shut on the left side of O line.
EDIT: Here's a view
January 2nd, 2024 at 4:38 PM ^
it was #23... Barrett, I think
January 2nd, 2024 at 3:48 PM ^
sansristl was key too. if he is not there, milroe cuts left and waltzes into the endzone
January 3rd, 2024 at 9:42 AM ^
Mikey might have even over shot.... leaving a chance Milroe cuts between him and the line.... however, it didn't matter and its over!
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:21 PM ^
I see you are giving credit to Stewart on that play, whereas I gave all the credit to Latham 2 posts down. Please, someone make a gif of this.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:23 PM ^
Let's talk about not making a thread for every player who played yesterday
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:25 PM ^
I appreciate this sentiment but I am withholding my support until there is a Rod Moore thread.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:29 PM ^
Lets talk about making a thread for every player that played yesterday.
First meaningful bowl win in over a decade
January 2nd, 2024 at 3:09 PM ^
If we stretch it out over a few days, I'm okay with that idea.
January 2nd, 2024 at 4:41 PM ^
I'm all for celebrating, but the board is a mess of repetitive and insignificant posts right now and actually worthwhile posts are getting lost
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:29 PM ^
I'm for this, along with the posts about when to buy tix, or what to do in Houston, or which BBQ joint to go to
January 2nd, 2024 at 5:12 PM ^
Naw mate...
these young men have given their absolute all so that WE: armchair, blog reading, postbanging fans can experience something that has never happened before (win a playoff game) which has the team on the doorsteps of a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. And that happens, it could very well be a once it a lifetime accomplishment...so, if a few, over-excited fans want to go overboard in their fandom and celebration of said young men then I'm here for it...ALL day long!.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:27 PM ^
The fact that he was even in the game in that situation says a lot about how far he's come since joining Michigan. Great play.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:39 PM ^
I legitimately believed, as of the Rutgers game, that he fatally compromised the defense because his edge discipline was so bad and that he shouldn't see playing time because there were 3 edges that were decidedly better.
I oftentimes believe things that are wrong.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:39 PM ^
He is the ultimate example of our coaching. His run defense had a long way to go the first few games. He has had a number of excellent run game plays the last few games. Totally turned that part of his game around
January 2nd, 2024 at 3:00 PM ^
Mike Sainristil is a converted WR, Michael Barrett is a viper turned MLB, Mason Graham/Kenneth Grant/Derrick Moore are sophomores, Josh Wallace was a CB at UMass last year, Rod Moore was a 3 star whodat, MacGregor had to redevelop himself after a brutal knee injury robbed him of several seasons.
This team, and especially this defense, is a masterclass of coaching. The unit is so much more than the sum of its parts.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:27 PM ^
I'm really excited for that play to get neck sharpied
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:27 PM ^
You mean this guy that Stewart drove into Milroe to trip him up?
Moar starzzzzz! https://247sports.com/Player/JC-Latham-46049894/
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:27 PM ^
He blew up JC Latham who is 6'6" 360lbs.
Stewart is 6'1" 245.
Leverage is undefeated.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:37 PM ^
So is Ben Herbert..
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:39 PM ^
I shall now refer to him as JFC Latham, as I’m sure that’s exactly what went through his mind when Stewart plowed him into Milroe.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:30 PM ^
Stewart was seemingly all over the field yesterday. He appeared to be roaming with the DBs at one point. Incredible effort that stood out even on a day where lots of guys stood out.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:34 PM ^
He deserved defensive MVP over Graham. Huge game. Sack, a couple TFLs. One play that caught my eye was a Milroe designed run for about 5-6 yards. Stewart got off a block and tripped Milroe up on a play destined for 15+ yards and he just made the play quietly.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:53 PM ^
Yeah, that was a huge play. I’m not convinced that Milroe doesn’t score there if Stewart can’t peel off the block and get him on the ground
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:55 PM ^
I remember that play well. I thought Milroe had the edge and was about to get 15-20 and Stewart miraculously got off his block and grabbed him. I think I muttered thank you Josaiah under my breath
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:35 PM ^
We worry about recruiting starz, but you can not make an assessment of them anymore until you evaluate incoming transfers as well. And those transfers need to be evaluated for who they are when they come in, not by the starz they had out of high school.
Michigan has absolutely killed it on transfers since 2021. Just the right players in just the right positions. Worth more than a fistful of 5-stars out of high school.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:45 PM ^
Exactly!
January 2nd, 2024 at 3:03 PM ^
Reminds me of how Beilein used to coach circles around the schools who recruited the 1-and-done type players with his collection of diamond-in-the-rough type players
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:36 PM ^
JC Latham, who Stewart pushed into Milroe, is listed at 360 pounds and is being mocked as a first round pick. Stewart is listed as 245 pounds. Stewart definitely deserves his own appreciation thread. Won the game on its last play with one of the most physically dominating plays in Michigan history.
January 2nd, 2024 at 3:19 PM ^
He’s definitely being mocked as a first round picked after yesterday…I’ll see myself out.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:43 PM ^
I thought it was Derrick Moore actually. Gotta rewatch.
January 2nd, 2024 at 3:42 PM ^
Agree... but I'm not sure we are talking about the same play. There was a lot of eating going on across all the line.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:44 PM ^
Again thank you Ben Herbert!
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:46 PM ^
I think we should talk about how this staff keeps finding the right guys in the portal, it's unreal. Josh Wallace And Stewart played an A+ game.