We need more love for the Freshman linebackers ..
I think heading into the season ,the biggest weakness and biggest questions marks on the entire team was at the linebacker spot .But two freshman stepped in and almost from day 1 have been outstanding ...
Junior Colson and Nikhai Hill-Green
These guys were MAJOR upgrades for the defense,made the overall unit much faster.from sideline to sideline and helped in coverage . I think those areas were the "weak spots" heading into this season
Michigan played 16 Freshman vs OSU ... the future is bright !!! GO BLUE !!!
December 4th, 2021 at 12:11 AM ^
16 freshmen? Dang
the future is bright
December 4th, 2021 at 12:31 AM ^
It's gotta help recruiting. If you have talent you will play.
December 4th, 2021 at 7:57 AM ^
Out of curiousity, does that number include “freshmen” such as third year Cade McNamara who is technically a redshirt freshman still with the CoVid year? Or is it just true freshman and 2nd year redshirt freshmen?
December 4th, 2021 at 5:32 PM ^
Not sure ,just saw a video from all access (shows every play and breaks em down) and they said Michigan played 16 Freshmen
December 4th, 2021 at 12:12 AM ^
Honestly I don't know what to think of them because I don't have a DEFENSE UFR YET SETH!
December 4th, 2021 at 12:31 AM ^
Let the man breathe.
December 4th, 2021 at 12:35 AM ^
Lol I know. Just excited is all. He's picked up alot this season. He's a hero.
December 4th, 2021 at 12:15 AM ^
Absolutely them..and the interior DLine..and the Corners..and the OLine..and the WRs especially after the top dawg Ronnie Bell went down..and the RBs..the TEs..the QBS.
Just a magnificent turnaround from the wacky 2020 season that felt like total regression and damn near rock bottom AGAIN.
Lets go win the B10 Championship
December 4th, 2021 at 8:27 AM ^
The new DC is a gift from god. Its amazing seeing a proper defense out there, as opposed to Don Browns 1 trick pony blitz schemes
Same with Hart > JayBaugh. Haskins, Corum, Edwards all looked great this year
December 4th, 2021 at 8:53 AM ^
JayBaugh did a good job with RB. They looked good under him.
Hiring Hart allows Jay to focus on special teams where he has done a great job.
Some fans just love to ride Jay without actually watching how his position group area does.
December 4th, 2021 at 9:26 AM ^
Jay is fine but I am no fan of a son, any son, working under his father in a program of this magnitude.
Otherwise, what this shows is that the new assistant coaches are CLEARLY a HUGE game-changer for this team. This is what a real meritocracy looks like.
December 4th, 2021 at 12:42 PM ^
Jay has been a great recruiter, TE coach, RB coach and now he is killing it with the ST. If you look last week one of the differences that were subtle because we had so many successful drives was the starting field position. AJ was attacking every kickoff and we were past the 35 on several if not most drives. Where Moody kicked the ball through the end zone most of the time. Our starting field position was so good and we could attack! I’m glad Jay is working for his dad and not some other program. Gonna be an elite coach. Plus who hasn’t gotten help at some point in their career?
December 4th, 2021 at 1:59 PM ^
Anyone who thinks Jay is not deserving of a job at Michigan has no clue what they're talking about.
His units have been rock solid, he's great at talent identification, and he's a hell of a recruiter. We're lucky to have him.
December 4th, 2021 at 2:20 PM ^
Jaybaugh is a good recruiter.
Scant evidence that JayBaugh was ever a good RB coach. This could be total slander, but didn't JayBaugh lookup RB coaching drills on youtube?
In 16, Deveon smith looked like a decent 1.0 running back under Wheatley.
In 17-18, Haskins/Evans/Turner/Walker/Samuels/et al. looked like hot garbage under JayBaugh.
In 19, Haskins/Corum/Edwards look like solid running backs under Hart.
December 4th, 2021 at 12:39 AM ^
And Josh Ross exceeded all expectations. Took a huge jump from last season, imo
December 4th, 2021 at 9:38 AM ^
Imagine that. Our new DC, Mr. Macdonald, coached DBs and LBs at Baltimore-and our greatest weaknesses become a strength! My life informs me unequivocally that, in athletic performance/on the field of play, coaching is the greatest difference-maker. Here, for us, John Harbaugh is The Man too-thanks a gazillion John..."indirectly" you won us The Game!
December 4th, 2021 at 12:50 AM ^
Excellent post. The freshmen linebackers have been in incredibly underrated.
December 4th, 2021 at 2:22 PM ^
How bad was don 'dr blitz' brown and his #1 ranked defense?
December 4th, 2021 at 12:51 AM ^
Agreed! But the other side of that coin is Michael Barrett. A lot of upperclassmen would have quit after being passed by a freshman but he stuck it out and ended up being a valuable contributor!
December 4th, 2021 at 1:03 AM ^
I love that. I’m really glad that Michael Barrett has been able to see the field a lot more since the Michigan State tempo issues and additionally make big plays on special teams (what a throw.) Like you said, he didn’t quit on the team, he kept at it until his time came again and he’s been a great teammate in that sense.
But like was mentioned in the awesome snap count thread, this season has been a true example of not having a depth chart set in stone and earning playing time. Look no further than guys like DJ Turner and Rod Moore earning starting roles the second half of the season. Love to see it and you love to see the team seemingly buy into whatever is best for the team. Cade giving JJ the point and nod of approval after his completion last week pretty much sums it up perfectly.
December 4th, 2021 at 2:38 AM ^
Oh I completely missed Cade pointing at JJ but I love that! Do you remember when it came up?
December 4th, 2021 at 3:24 AM ^
JJ completed the pass to R Wilson down the sideline (Wilson slid down after the catch) maybe a 35 yard pass,over #29 from the OSU defense ... i want to say 2nd drive of the second half ..then Cade gave JJ his approval .. great moment
December 4th, 2021 at 8:08 AM ^
Man, what a play that was! That throw!!! It went in a straight line over and between three defenders and hit Wilson in stride perfectly on the numbers. I thought RW slid down to avoid getting obliterated by the safety along the sideline, but on replay I really think he was trying to cut back inside and his feet just slid out from under him on the wet surface. That was an NFL play all around!
December 4th, 2021 at 3:27 AM ^
Not 100% but I think it was in the 2nd half heading towards the south EZ that culminated in a TD.
It was a sweet, pinpoint throw down the Michigan sideline that gained over 20yds I think.
EDIT: Just looked at it on my DVR.
7:35 left in 3rd QT, up 21-13 on our own 28, 2nd down and 4, sideline pass to RW for 31 yd gain to the osu 41...that was a kick ass play!
December 4th, 2021 at 3:39 AM ^
This is my first ever go at attempting to post a link, so I’m quite sure this will fail, but here’s supposed to be a tweet of it:
https://twitter.com/sbell021/status/1464843072513187842?s=21
December 4th, 2021 at 3:46 AM ^
December 4th, 2021 at 7:58 AM ^
It was just a moment before Cade went in and tossed a flea-flicker. OSU gave up something like 68 yards in 2 plays, one to each QB.
December 4th, 2021 at 4:25 AM ^
Our LB room has definitely been upgraded with young talent, along with the safety position. Freshman starter Rod Moore and RJ Moten have allowed Dax to cover the slot and be a heat seeking missile on blitzes and bubble screens.
December 4th, 2021 at 6:10 AM ^
16!? Wow, I knew I heard some names I rarely heard in past games, but I didn't know it was 16! The future is bright indeed!
December 4th, 2021 at 7:51 AM ^
That’s 16 freshman with no garbage time (unless they sent a bunch out for 2 kneel-downs). While I agree that the speed of the position group has improved, some of that speed was used in the wrong direction. They will be a lot better next year, as will Anthony, Edwards, and JJ. Time to bust out the sunglasses.
December 4th, 2021 at 6:29 AM ^
Linebackers were fast. Future is bright.
also, just have to add that Rod Moore is a lightning bolt and sure tackler. I was amazed at the freshmen infused into the OSU game.
December 4th, 2021 at 6:35 AM ^
December 4th, 2021 at 7:31 AM ^
I think CB and DT were bigger ? heading into the season, but yeah, the LB certainly showed up to play.
December 4th, 2021 at 7:51 AM ^
16 freshmen? Are you sure? According to OSU fans and podcasters the entire team is 6th and 7th year seniors.
December 4th, 2021 at 8:03 AM ^
I heard that too. Buckeye Talk framed it as, “OSU’s world beating freshman and high school seniors vs Michigan’s extremely covid-year veteran group.”
at least twice they pointed out that one of their 5 star linemen had the excuse that it was his first time playing in, The Game.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:26 AM ^
Your mistake is listening to OSU podcasts. They are shockingly, comically unprepared. "Dax Hill is a 7th-year senior."
December 4th, 2021 at 8:03 AM ^
Everyone looks old when your nuts haven't dropped.
December 4th, 2021 at 8:33 AM ^
This is funny because all the OSU fans are keeping alive the meme that UM has a bunch of 6th year starters....
I think they'll be in for an unpleasant surprise next year in Columbus
December 4th, 2021 at 9:07 AM ^
That's right. Both QBs, two RBs and a bunch of WRs, most of secondary and LBs all have more than one year left. They are going to be better and faster next year. If OSU players will improve so will ours.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:16 AM ^
Go Blue
December 4th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
Most of this season I wondered worried if the defense was good or is Hill and Hutchinson were just covering a lot of holes. After last week I think the answer is both but the future is bright. We seem to have budding stars at every level and we finally seem to getting depth.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
Most of this season I wondered worried if the defense was good or is Hill and Hutchinson were just covering a lot of holes. After last week I think the answer is both but the future is bright. We seem to have budding stars at every level and we finally seem to getting depth.
December 4th, 2021 at 1:52 PM ^
There are exceptions to every rule and if J Baugh hasn’t earned your exception yet than you may be missing his performance. Every group he has had has been solid and so has recruiting.