Who has the advantage on roster depth?
This is prompted by watching ESPN's pregame coverage this afternoon which was showing all the injuries Penix incurred at IU. Amazing comeback and a formidable opponent.
But it got me thinking, who has better depth if anyone goes out during the game. I'm confident that we do. Michigan is better equipped if someone goes down on DLine, OLine, secondary, linebacker, RB, receiver. But what about QB? I think we still have a path to victory with our backups, even if that path is the PSU second half. Without Penix, I'm pretty sure the Huskies are completely lost.
That being said, I want everyone one both sides at full strength so there's no excuses explaining away our win.
Thoughts?
Go Blue.
January 5th, 2024 at 3:52 PM ^
I think you're correct that we have superior depth, but depth is almost never 1 for 1. If Penix or JJ get injured, that team is in a real tough spot. Penix is *more* important for Washington, but it's not like if JJ gets hurt Penix has to leave the game too.
Play flat out, hope no one gets hurt.
January 5th, 2024 at 3:54 PM ^
People assume it'd be Tuttle to come in but I think it would be Orji.
January 5th, 2024 at 4:02 PM ^
It would probably depend on game state and situation. With a lead, I'd expect it to be Tuttle, just make the open plays on PA and run the clock out. If they're behind, or it's early, then Orji as the wild card.
January 5th, 2024 at 4:11 PM ^
Just for conversation sake I think it would be the opposite. Orji hasn’t shown any real ability to throw so if you’re behind I think you’d want Tuttle whereas with a lead you could do different things running with Orji and Corum
January 5th, 2024 at 4:44 PM ^
Michigan no doubt has the depth advantage, but neither team could survive their QB going down, unless they both went down.
January 5th, 2024 at 3:52 PM ^
We do. You can run a whole offense with orji that would still win. Just triple option every play.
January 5th, 2024 at 3:55 PM ^
Speaking of the triple option...
January 5th, 2024 at 5:21 PM ^
I've never been to a game at West Point but it is an absolutely beautiful place. Looking at that picture, makes me want to go to a game there someday.
January 5th, 2024 at 4:00 PM ^
What if next year, Jim and co. just decide to make Orji the starter and run the triple option? Have one of the younger passing quarterbacks come in for change-of-pace downs? Have, like, a fleet of fast-footed wide-bodied backs, a complete Fritz Crisler-style circus in the backfield, freak the f out of the football fraternity once more?
January 5th, 2024 at 4:50 PM ^
The reason GT and the service academies moved off triple option is the changes in the blocking rules make it much harder to run successfully.
We'd convert to the Single Wing with Fritz's Mad Magicians playbook in instead.
January 5th, 2024 at 3:54 PM ^
The two most veteran teams in college football going at it. The way it should be.
I don't think Dillon will play, so that's a fairly equal trade off from losing Zinter and Benny.
It'll be hilarious when Giles Jackson catches the winning touchdown pass.
January 5th, 2024 at 4:07 PM ^
I don't get why it would be hilarious. I must be missing something.
January 5th, 2024 at 4:16 PM ^
Hilarious? Been spending time around Chernobyl, comrade? ;-)
January 5th, 2024 at 4:30 PM ^
It'll be hilarious when Giles Jackson catches the winning touchdown pass.
uh...that's just like, your opinion, man.
January 5th, 2024 at 3:55 PM ^
Washington without Penix would be an insurmountable loss imo.
Dillon Johnson is supposedly still expected to play, but highly unlikely he's anywhere near 100%.
So if Penix goes down and Johnson is much less explosive, I just can't...finish this sentence.
January 5th, 2024 at 4:21 PM ^
The jokes write themselves.
January 5th, 2024 at 10:41 PM ^
Let's not get started with the Ball twins.
January 5th, 2024 at 4:24 PM ^
Johnson trying to go feels a lot like Corum trying to go in The Game last year. I doubt he contributes if he can play, but he's not going to not try to play.
January 5th, 2024 at 4:51 PM ^
Johnson lines up behind Penix...
January 5th, 2024 at 4:03 PM ^
I won't pretend to be an expert on the Washington depth chart. However, I will point this out. On the game winning play, Michigan didn't have McGregor, Harrell, Jenkins, or Paige on the field because our defense is so loaded that some people have to leave the field on every play.
January 5th, 2024 at 4:05 PM ^
Not to sound overconfident, because I'm not, but given the way we play and our relative strengths as an offense, I truly believe we would be 100% fine if we had to rely on an Orji-led offense. Lean heavily into the run game, incorporate a good dose of QB power, occasional PAP, and I think we'd move the ball just fine.
January 5th, 2024 at 4:49 PM ^
Michigan would have almost zero chance of beating Washington if McCarthy went out early and Penix played the entire game.
January 5th, 2024 at 4:54 PM ^
I don't disagree. The difference being that I think we'd have a VERY low, but non-zero chance without JJ, but they'd have an Absolute Zero chance without Penix.
January 5th, 2024 at 4:58 PM ^
Let's just agree to disagree, and we can both hope we don't have to find out which one of us is right.
But, as a wise man once said:
Why will they win next week? Because, as we’ve seen all year, it is written.
I think they'd find a way to pull it out:)
January 5th, 2024 at 4:57 PM ^
You sound overconfident.
Washington would stack the box like nobody's business. Especially if they got a lead. Their offense is legit so you wouldn't want to have to play them from behind w a limited O. And the O would be significantly limited w Orji at QB.
January 5th, 2024 at 5:13 PM ^
Of course, I did like what we did with Edwards against OSU's stacked box in the 4th Quarter in '22.
But, I don't want to have to find out.
Go Blue!
January 5th, 2024 at 5:58 PM ^
They absolutely have more depth at wideout.
I’m not sure the same can be said anywhere else. They may have a better starting 5 on OL, but Michigan has A LOT of guys who can play on the line, and guys who aren’t starting here who would be starting on most teams in the Big Ten if they went there.
Maybe QB if they have some seasoned guy behind Penix, but as long as neither QB gets injured that doesn’t really matter.
January 5th, 2024 at 5:58 PM ^
Washington.
If JJ goes down, I’d bet anything that our offense goes vanilla, with the passing game being largely shelved.
If Penix goes down, I’d bet anything the Washington offense stays wide open, maybe becoming a “chuck it up to Odunze”-fest.
[I’m trying hard to stay positive, and tbh I think Washington can and should be run on, but the Harbaugh Lizard Brain scares me.]