Mike Sainristil Appreciation Thread
Sainristil deserves his own appreciation thread for his performance today (and throughout the season).
I re-watched the extended highlights and had to screenshot his recovery as OSU's TE leaked across the field. He had to maneuver through multiple moving players, and make up ~5yds of space to get there in time to perfectly knock away a sure TD. On 3rd down, nonetheless. Just an incredible defensive play. Give that man a game ball too.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:17 AM ^
What a DUDE
November 27th, 2022 at 12:17 AM ^
I'm guessing this is a +3 or +4 in the defensive UFR
November 27th, 2022 at 12:20 AM ^
Agreed. I have a feeling we'll see quite a few of those on both sides of the ball. Opposite of every other game this year (many positive, but low leverage plays adding up to a huge total), this game was many neutral or negative plays, surrounded by quite a few huge impact / high leverage ones. Those deserve +3s/+4s IMO.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:19 AM ^
That is one of the best individual defensive plays I have honestly ever seen (non-Woodson division).
November 27th, 2022 at 12:39 AM ^
As soon as that play happened, I immediately said that if we could go on to win the game, that breakup would go down as the most important defensive play of the season.
It was simply phenomenal.
And absolutely gutting to OSU.
November 27th, 2022 at 2:36 AM ^
Ever. That play is one for the ages. Biggest stage, biggest stakes.
My gosh, what a player that kid is! No one - I mean NO ONE - could have imagined that a late career position-switch could produce All America caliber play.
What a Wolverine - well deserved thread.
Go Blue!
November 27th, 2022 at 8:40 AM ^
I 100% had the same reaction. That was the moment I believed.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:22 AM ^
Boy I hope he sticks around
November 27th, 2022 at 7:09 AM ^
Nah - he’s good enough to be a high round draft pick in the nfl. He should go get paid - dudes earned it.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:22 AM ^
Not to mention, he played wide receiver his entire Michigan career up to fall camp, senior year! That’s legendary stuff.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:45 AM ^
He just won himself an NFL contract with that game
November 27th, 2022 at 12:50 AM ^
I'm going to be actively annoyed if nobody drafts him. But the Patriots are going to draft him, he's the kind of guy Belichick loves.
November 27th, 2022 at 1:24 AM ^
If not, then Harbaugh will
November 27th, 2022 at 12:22 AM ^
He was the most unheralded player of the game. I think he’s actually better, or at least more consistently great, than Dax Hill.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:46 AM ^
Dax had more raw talent, but Mikey has better and more consistent technique
November 27th, 2022 at 1:30 AM ^
Gave up that 1st touchdown, but acquitted himself nicely*
*coachspeak
November 27th, 2022 at 8:51 AM ^
Dax also had to cover JSN but I love me some Mike Sainristil!
November 27th, 2022 at 12:22 AM ^
He has been extremely good all year. In fact - might be MVP of the defense this year.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:23 AM ^
Huge play. Sainristil was amazing.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:25 AM ^
There were so many unbelievable plays in this game. So many guys will be unrecognized for the right block, the right effort.
But I think this might have saved the game. They had this. If they score…they start believing they can do it.
Thanks, Mike. Go Blue.
November 27th, 2022 at 5:55 AM ^
The whole defense was a superstar; I don't think this victory happens without them. Michael Barrett was a beast, in on a ton of tackles, and every one of them stopped the player on contact. Braiden McGregor had two huge blocks and a TFL; all instrumental in stopping drives. Will Johnson and Junior Colson both had quiet but good games. All around a superior defensive effort.
November 27th, 2022 at 9:23 AM ^
BMG had a nice play where he dropped back into coverage and tipped a pass.
November 27th, 2022 at 10:58 AM ^
Don't forget Harrell dropping into coverage and TWICE disrupting the pass for incompleteness. I felt that was when the game shifted.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:50 AM ^
31-27 is a different ball game.
Mikey likes it.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:51 AM ^
Hell yes. Talk the talk and walk the walk. My God, what a leader for this team
November 27th, 2022 at 12:54 AM ^
Play of the game.
November 27th, 2022 at 1:00 AM ^
He called his shot, too! He’s the one that gathered the defense at the end of the 3rd and talked them up. And then he personally delivered! What a leader he is! Absolutely deserved a game ball!!
November 27th, 2022 at 7:09 PM ^
Does anyone have footage of this? saw it on TV, and would love to see it again
November 27th, 2022 at 1:06 AM ^
There was that "oh shit" moment when you could tell that it was a decent throw, and then the "god damn it" split second when it hit his hands and you just knew he was going to catch it because of course he will, and then - almost unbelievably - Sainristil saves the day! That's how you kill bpone
Guys made plays today and in so doing made legends
November 27th, 2022 at 2:50 PM ^
Yes, and he looked wide open. Mikey’s recovery and PBU were amazing
November 27th, 2022 at 1:12 AM ^
That play was truly the difference in the game. An OSU TD there would make it a butt clenching finish. Instead, Michigan takes the confidence from that play and parlays it to 38-23 and the rest was history.
November 27th, 2022 at 1:38 AM ^
Absolutely one of, if not the biggest, play of the game.
thank you Mike! Legendary performance today.
November 27th, 2022 at 5:48 AM ^
Hell, I'd extend that out to the season...
November 27th, 2022 at 2:39 AM ^
I've been watching Michigan football a long time, and most games and plays eventually blur into a Maize and Blue haze...
THAT play I will remember the rest of my life.
November 27th, 2022 at 3:59 AM ^
National Championship aspiration.
November 27th, 2022 at 4:04 AM ^
My wife says we need to call Sainristil "Dr. Nope".
November 27th, 2022 at 5:37 AM ^
I’m here for this. Our entire secondary played a group of NFL receivers like an NFL secondary. Can not say enough good things about this defensive staff.
November 27th, 2022 at 6:25 AM ^
Play of the game? You could convince me. But--also--such a fine example of a lunch pail play, by a hard-working guy embracing his new craft.
November 27th, 2022 at 6:53 AM ^
He doesn’t make that play I may not have had the chance to put it in the faces of all the haters I was watching with, which was so sweet. Thank you so much for that, Mike.
November 27th, 2022 at 8:02 AM ^
I don’t know how you guys do it, watching games with other people. I don’t even want to watch with other Michigan fans, let alone the enemy’s fans!
November 27th, 2022 at 8:15 AM ^
I’m with you. As unhealthy as it may seem, it’s too personal for me. My preference is to watch alone in a darkened basement with the sound off. My wife of 43 years gives me a wide berth.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:46 AM ^
He’s ridiculous. That play he made on Stover in the end zone is so good.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:59 AM ^
That might have been the play of the game.
November 27th, 2022 at 8:23 AM ^
So happy for him. Great leader. Get paid young man.
November 27th, 2022 at 8:40 AM ^
Can he play ball or what!? If I had confidence in any of the Michigan defensive players, I have so much more now.
Thank you Mike Sainistil for your contributions!!
November 27th, 2022 at 8:52 AM ^
Best PBU of the season, at the most appropriate time. At that moment I got that feeling we were gonna win- things were just going more in our favor- but that play by Sainristil was epic
November 27th, 2022 at 10:26 AM ^
Was rewatching highlights of last years game and Sainristil had some really nice plays...on offense. Probably the greatest transition from one side of the ball to the other in all of college football this year. With his play he has positively put himself into position to be playing on Sundays in the future.