What gives me confidence against Georgia
We've played two similar teams this year, Iowa and Wisconsin. Teams with stellar defenses and limited offenses (we also fit in this category). We scored 42 points and 38 points against them respectively...
Georgia will be a huge challenge but I like our match up.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:04 PM ^
Oh, another thing 2 things I love about the general consensus about Michigan:
1. Defense can't deal with tempo. We get to watch teams that don't play fast trip all over themselves to hurry to exploit an issue that was solved many weeks ago.
2. Take away Michigan's inside run and they've got nothing/ McNamara can't throw. Please put nine guys in the box and expect that we are exclusively running through the middle. Bonus points if you yell "no fair" when we run the screen/ sweep/ flea flicker, or we just beat your single coverage and throw a 60 yard TD pass.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:40 PM ^
It helps when everyone’s LB’s and safety’s first step regardless of keys is forward because they’re so worried with stopping the run. I was amazed at how fast Iowa’s LB were shooting down hill without reading.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:12 PM ^
We're a better team than they are, won a tougher schedule than they did, and we're better coached than they are. Our defense is better than theirs, and has proven it repeatedly against a variety of better offenses, and our offense is extremely balanced. Need to run to win? Any number of players, any number of ways. Need to throw to win? We can have over a dozen players with a reception in a single game, plus we have 3 quarterbacks. All signs point to us having the advantage over the course of 4 quarters.
December 5th, 2021 at 5:11 PM ^
One of our Quarterbacks is a Running Back and one of our Running Backs is a Quarterback!
I'm still marveling over the replays of the Corum run where JJ sprints up the sideline, runs past everyone, including Corum, loops around in front of him, decelerates, and shoves one guy and blocks the other!
December 6th, 2021 at 4:48 AM ^
After he handed off he had to be at least 6-7 yards from Corum. Then he is the first player within arms reach of Corum then shoves two players back. Then is the first one in the endzone with Corum. Im sorry can this guy just straight teleport?
December 5th, 2021 at 1:13 PM ^
What gives me confidence is that Georgia's best wins of the year are Clemson (10-3 to NTC this year), Kentucky & Arkansas.
Ohio & Iowa are both better wins than any of those without even considering the final margin of victory
December 5th, 2021 at 1:18 PM ^
OSU yes, better by far.
Iowa ... no. Iowa is not a good team. I think Iowa would lose by multiple touchdowns to either Arkansas or Kentucky
December 5th, 2021 at 1:41 PM ^
You’ve not watched Kentucky play then.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:27 PM ^
That was also September Clemson, with a brand new QB. That team got much better during the year, but they were shit in September. They barely beat Georgia Tech right after that game.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:16 PM ^
I wrote about burying BPONE.
https://mgoblog.com/diaries/funeral-bpone
Prior to that, I predicted we'd beat OSU - and the details were pretty on point.
That said, this is a shit matchup for UM. UGA coming off an embarrassing loss gives them extra motivation. Add to that, their defense is built from the inside out to first stop the run, it's a shit matchup from a tactical standpoint as well.
I believe our defense can slow them down as they are not a dynamic passing team and our DT's have improved throughout the year and can probably contain their power run, and we know what Hutch and Ojabo bring.
This could very well be a rock fight resembling a B1G conference battle, but to win I think we need to manufacture some points by breaking tendencies and win the turnover battle.
Ultimately, their front 7 is better than ours and if this is where the game is going to be won, it will be an uphill battle. This is a game where the coaching staff is really going to have to out-scheme the opponent.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:32 PM ^
Did you see our offensive line play the last two games? No sensible team wants a piece of us. Georgia is good, possibly better than OSU. I'm not going to sit here and tell you they're garbage, but having seen them play, am I intimidated? No. Do I expect to lose? No.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:51 PM ^
I think OSU would boat race Georgia with their three NFL receivers - all of which are just as good as Bama's one guy.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:37 PM ^
Oline has another month to get healthy that should worry Georgians.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:40 PM ^
Agree Bo H. This game will be tough. But it can be won. We can beat them. Georgia was made to me immortal - and last night they showed cracks. True - it was against Bama who makes anyone seem mortal. But - we are playing at a level not seen since 97’.
We can do this.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:42 PM ^
Their D line has no endurance Davis was basically walking around and was handled in single blocking. Weather the storm. Don’t forget their star LB is out and their LB play was awful last night.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:46 PM ^
Why do you think they're defense is so much better than anything else? Did you not just watch Bama eviscerate that secondary? Even if the front 7 is 'best', it got zero pressure on Bryce Young - none. They couldn't cover one WR, didn't even look like they tried. Michigan spreads the ball around a lot more than Bama just did.
Extra motivation? Did you see Michigan's response to getting the 2-spot? It was a polite golf clap. Not one player whooped it up. It was, essentially, stoned silence. I can't believe they are happy about that...
Michigan is playing with house money and a 9-pt spread. And when, in a big game like this, has Harbaugh come in with a poor game plan? They'll be just fine.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:04 PM ^
I disagree. Geogia is where we were in 2006. We thought our defense was invincible, then OSU beat us scoring 40+.
Georgia is a great team, but they now are facing the fact that their invincibility has been shattered. If our offense can get some points on the board early they will start doubting themselves again and pressing.
If they hold us under double digits in the first half we are probably in trouble.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:40 PM ^
With four weeks to prepare, Gattis and Macdonald are extremely capable of out-scheming this opponent.
December 5th, 2021 at 8:34 PM ^
Gattis has been money this year. I fully expect him to exploit something.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:19 PM ^
Keep working keep grinding
December 5th, 2021 at 1:27 PM ^
Preparation piece aside, which I feel very good about our coaches ability to gameplan and prep, Georgia has played two top-25 offenses all year (per FPI). #3 Bama and #18 Tennessee. They gave up 42 and 17 in those games. Michigan is #5 in offense. We will be the best offense they've seen outside of Bama, and I believe we can reasonably score 24-30 points, especially if we nail a few trick plays.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:32 PM ^
Right so then the question is can we continue to play the bend don’t break and stiffen up in the red zone to make them kick field goals. If we can beat OSU we can beat anybody. Doesn’t mean it will happen but our team believes no need to pay twice if we lose we lose but this season has been amaizing.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:30 PM ^
If you think Michigan's offense is "limited", then you haven't been paying attention since MSU. Michigan's offense has grown immensely since then! The pass game is diverse and reliable - it speed everywhere, good route runners, excellent blockers, and Donovan Edwards. The TE's are every bit as good as UGA's. The RB group is the best in the CFP by a country mile. And two QB's the blend well together and offer very different skills.
Based on what I saw from Georgia's defense yesterday, it's just a more publicized version of Wisconsin. I don't fear it.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:34 PM ^
Well, I fear Wisconsin's defense, so if that's the case I also fear Georgia's.
The way to score against good defenses is to make big plays and maximize on the few opportunities you get. Fortunately we were able to do that against Wisconsin, hopefully the same is true against Georgia.
I think what you mean is that Georgia as a whole (including the offense) is a more hyped version of Wisconsin. There blueprints are similar, but Bennett, while not amazing, is still a much better QB than Mertz.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:40 PM ^
Hmmmmm?
They have a month to "simmer" on "another" embarrassing loss to Bama, and they have to play this UofM team first?
They'll be both stuck in the past AND looking past us at the same time.
And UofM will lazered on that moment.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:41 PM ^
I kinda feel about Georgia the same way I felt about OSU. I think objectively we're the underdogs, but it's decided on the field.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:42 PM ^
Who care who we play. To be the best you have to beat the best. We will beat them both.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:42 PM ^
Who care who we play. To be the best you have to beat the best. We will beat them both.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:47 PM ^
I have not seen this questioned answered yet so my apologies if it has been. Is there any chance Ronnie Bell will be better by the playoffs?
December 5th, 2021 at 1:56 PM ^
Nope. Acl tear is 6 months and that’s if all goes perfectly.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:04 PM ^
Zero chance. Not even sure he will be ready by Spring Ball.
December 5th, 2021 at 1:58 PM ^
If Michigan can beat OSU, it can beat Georgia. Just put in the same work game planning/preparing as they did against OSU. Go Blue
oh and F SEC/espn/pollack/committee
December 5th, 2021 at 5:26 PM ^
You think they have a 'Beat Georgia' drill?
December 5th, 2021 at 6:03 PM ^
They do now.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:00 PM ^
One key for us to win again GA is we have to game plan against their elite TEs.
That's why I appreciate us playing Iowa in the Big Ten Championship, bc Iowa plays like GA and they used their TE well in the 1st half before we shut that down in the 2nd.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:03 PM ^
Honestly I think being the underdog against Georgia might be the best thing for this team, they have thrived on the nobody believes in us mantra all year. Might as well keep that extra fuel to the fire going.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:09 PM ^
Believe it or not what gives me confidence is kirby smart. Cant beat bama and Harbaugh can sure outcoach him. That defense can get to Bennett
December 5th, 2021 at 2:22 PM ^
Yeah, all the trash talk about Georgia playing a puffed up schedule has me more confident, actually. Still not willing to believe we win the whole thing, but if you look at who they've played, it's actually not that impressive. Clemson looked good at the time, but the shine really came off that.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:45 PM ^
We can most certainly beat Georgia. We will need to play JJ more snaps. Start Cade he has earned it. But to beat teams like Georgia and Alabama we need more of what JJ can give us. These games will not be low scoring. And we will not be able to run effectively on either team. More JJ. More speed.....Corum Edwards and JJ in the backfield.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:48 PM ^
There is lots of evidence that Kirby Smart is not a good game coach, especially in big games. If we execute early and grab the lead I don’t see Georgia making adjustments that bring them back. If the jump out front they are great front runners under Smart.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:53 PM ^
The best evidence of Kirby Smart not being a good coach.......watch his teams play in big games. We have a better coaching staff than Georgia. They have better all around talent. We can win. We need to use our playmakers as often as possible. This game is ours to take. But we have to TAKE it.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:58 PM ^
Just take those teams, give them significantly better offenses and an almost infinitely more amount or raw talent on defense. Then they're similar.
But beatable. Everyone is beatable this year. No absolute juggernauts but need to develop a passing attack to go at their secondary. You won't run all over Georgia.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:05 PM ^
Oh, I'm so excited, I fully believe we're winning this game.
Go Blue!
December 5th, 2021 at 5:25 PM ^
They have more speed overall at LB, but I agree with you, should be an excellent matchup and we have plenty guys with speed that they have to worry about.
December 5th, 2021 at 7:25 PM ^
Do they have a limited offense? As of last week, FEI ranked their offense #2 after OSU. For comparison‘s sake they had Wisconsin at #50 and Iowa at #89.