Yahoo article on Michigan's transformation
Interesting quotes from some coaches they interviewed for the article.
“They said, ‘Screw you, here we come,’” he said. “What they’re doing, it’s a little bit like watching Wisconsin play. That’s who they are.”
One coach observed to Yahoo Sports that Michigan went from playing a lot of three-receiver sets — the so-called 11 personnel that’s become college football’s base formation — to channeling the identity of Harbaugh’s teams early on at Stanford.
“We weren’t worried about their run game going into the summer,” observed another coach. “They were basic.”
November 25th, 2021 at 12:19 PM ^
Michigan against the world mentality. Many, if not all, prognosticators don't give Michigan a chance Saturday. Just the recipe needed because I believe this team truly is different and not just rhetoric like years past
Go Blue!
November 25th, 2021 at 1:09 PM ^
Many, if not all, prognosticators didn't give Michigan much of a chance all season (i.e., 6-6, 7-5). Now here we are, 10-1 with everything on the line on Saturday. GO BLUE!
November 25th, 2021 at 12:22 PM ^
Go, Blue!
November 25th, 2021 at 12:22 PM ^
I'm thankful today that this coaching staff ahs shut up all but the dumbest of the haters.
Go Blue, Beat Ohio State
November 25th, 2021 at 12:28 PM ^
Despite the obvious strengths and talent of OSU, it's hard not to be excited, in an old-fashioned way, about this game.
What I mean by an "old-fashioned way": When I looked at the complete game schedule for Saturday and saw OSU #2 - Michigan #5, my spontaneous thought was...The Game, the way it should be, two top 5 teams battling in late November.
Like many, I'm cautiously optimistic. The team has played with guts. For me, that's the most I can reasonably hope for.
November 25th, 2021 at 2:24 PM ^
Someone pointed out a stat that put the Harbaugh era into perspective for me. In his 7 years, we've entered The Game ranked in the top ten 5 outta 6 times (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021). We've been top five ranked heading in twice (2016, 2021). Half the time we've played Ohio State, the winner takes the crown for the Big Ten East.
Think about that, more often than not, we're a top ten team and 1 win away from playing for the B1G championship heading into the last week of the season. We just simply haven't beaten them yet. But if you put yourself in that position long enough, odds are you'll pull it off eventually.
November 25th, 2021 at 6:34 PM ^
Also, Auburn is basically the only other program in college football whose opponent the final game of the season is perennially in the top 5.
Bama has won 9 of the last 13.
November 25th, 2021 at 11:17 PM ^
South Carolina is in that boat as well, this season notwithstanding. And Georgia Tech likely will be going forward.
November 25th, 2021 at 12:28 PM ^
This is a fair assessment. Harbaugh has taken a lot of crap and he's changed his philosophy that's lead to a big turnaround. All we need is more athletes, this year's performance should help considerably win or lose to OSU.
November 25th, 2021 at 12:48 PM ^
It’s clearly who they are so embrace it and build on it as a unique advantage
November 25th, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^
Have been reading everything and wowa the numbers don’t look great for M. Here’s my hot takes of what needs to happen.
1. Online best game of year. give Cade enough time, pick up blitzes, no turnovers
2. Convert over 60% on third down (will be many 3rd and short)
3. Linebackers just need to be sound and not lost, make a few plays
4. wide receivers have to make some amazing catches (Anthony) and no drops (CJ)
5. Cause atleast two turnovers (bonus if defense gets points) have to get any caused fumble and force an interception or two
6 No dumb penalties or coaching mishaps
7. Get stops on 4th and short
8. Make OSU work for everything
9. Pray to the heavens that OSU makes mistakes and doesn’t play their best
And with 6-9 of any of these happening, I like our chances. It can be done, but obviously quite a mountain to climb. My biggest reason to believe, college football is crazy and strange things happen… karma will eventually swing!
November 25th, 2021 at 4:43 PM ^
We’ll need lots of number 9. We generally have played clean mistake free football this year and Cades done more than enough to win games. I don’t think our best against their best wins all things being equal, we need them to F up. If Harbaugh gets any kind of a lead and doesn’t keep his foot on the gas I’m gonna lose my dam mind. Harbaughs had the lead in this game and went 3 yards and a cloud of dust only to piss it away. Minus Oregon, OSU and stroud have had issues on the road and against any D not named Sparty that has a pulse. Here’s to making the big house a very unwelcoming uncomfortable place for a freshman.
November 25th, 2021 at 12:59 PM ^
Here's an interesting nugget from this article, re: Mike Macdonald
“The one thing that he’s done is figure out what you are best at, and then does everything to take it away,” said another coach. “The in-game adjustments were as fast as anyone I’ve coached against.”
November 25th, 2021 at 1:21 PM ^
Uhhhh I’m guessing this was said before the MSU game
He’s mostly done a good job this year, especially in the context of last year’s defense. But that game was coaching malpractice on defense
November 25th, 2021 at 1:52 PM ^
Let someone give the man a compliment
November 25th, 2021 at 1:54 PM ^
I don't think it was because they also mentioned the tempo thing as a negative in that same article.
November 25th, 2021 at 2:31 PM ^
Our scheme isn't what got us beat vs Michigan State. It was one player going above and beyond the playbook to rescue plays that our defense had pinned to the mat. If you do everything right, and Patrick Mahomes still throws a miraculous pass to a double covered receiver who slips out of a double tackle for a touchdown, you just tip your cap and move on.
Kenneth Walker III did that to us. We bottled him up (minus 3 or so plays where a fucking 1st year DC from the NFL hadn't self scouted enough to realize he had a tempo problem, big whoop) but KWIII did his best Barry Sanders impression and willed that team to victory. Nothing you can but say "welp" and tip your cap.
November 25th, 2021 at 1:01 PM ^
Meh. That article screams "I was written after the first 6 games." The passing offense has been downright good the last 4 games.
November 25th, 2021 at 9:38 PM ^
They kept saying how bad our secondary sucked. We're the 7th ranked pass D in college football. Top ten in almost every category.
How bad can these guys be?
November 25th, 2021 at 1:02 PM ^
Of course, Michigan has virtually no shot.......they say.
Those words of scepticism are music to my ears. As a longtime Wolverine fan, I remember similar games, similar situations, when Michigan had "no shot" of winning and we came out and kicked their asses.
As I've said in other posts, "Beware the home dog".
Let's shock the naysayers. Go Blue!
November 25th, 2021 at 1:42 PM ^
Not sure if anyone has the numbers but it would be interesting to see how many upsets over the years happened at the underdog's house vs away.
Edit: Decent upsets, not virtual toss ups.
November 25th, 2021 at 9:22 PM ^
Looks like home underdogs win at a 28% rate while road underdogs win only 23%. For single digit spreads, 36% for home dogs and 38% for away. So if anything home field is overrated in CFB. https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/college-football-home-underdog-betting-narrative/amp
November 25th, 2021 at 9:59 PM ^
This isn't quite your question, but NFL home favorites cover less than half the time, while road favorites cover more than half the time.
November 25th, 2021 at 1:06 PM ^
Last week I read this fluff piece about MSU's transformation, with in depth commentary form MSU's D coordinator about how to stop OSU... Then MSU got trucked back into mediocre oblivion.
Last thing I'm interested in this week is a UM transformation fluff piece.
November 25th, 2021 at 1:14 PM ^
November 25th, 2021 at 1:34 PM ^
I don’t know why I’m still so low on the confidence level for Saturday (and I don’t think it’s BPONE). It probably is because we don’t have the flash like we did on defense in 2016 and offense in 2018. We don’t have a Peppers, Lewis, Hurst or Bush on defense. We don’t have the flashy playmakers on the outside like DPJ and Nico. But at the end of the day, we are just really good. Business-like in every way.
Top to bottom talent this team ranks behind 16 and 18, but the composite talent level on the field and coaching I put this team ahead of both. If they were to play, I think the 21 team beats both of them.
And for the first time I am ready to say it. The 2021 team beats OSU.
November 25th, 2021 at 2:03 PM ^
Top to bottom talent this team ranks behind 16 and 18, but the composite talent level on the field and coaching I put this team ahead of both. If they were to play, I think the 21 team beats both of them.
Michigan won the 2016 game, except the refs suddenly determined it only takes 9.7 yards to get a first down.
November 25th, 2021 at 3:01 PM ^
I rewatched our last two wins against OSU (2011 and 2003), and the difference between the playmakers we had then (Denard Robinson, Braylan Edwards, Steve Breaston, Chris Perry) and now is ... stark. As is the quality in their playmakers (Craig Krenzel at QB?).
I heard the same kind of confidence expressed on this blog before the game in 2018 that I'm hearing now -- and, in my mind, with more justification. Sorry, I think OSU is just simply too good for us, and yes, while they won relatively close games against Nebraska and Penn State, even those games were bigger wins for them than they were for us. Then factor in their wins against, say, Michigan State and Rutgers, compared to our results against those teams?
I don't mean to be a downer. I will be watching, heart in throat like every damned year. But I'm like Brian, at this point. Lucy's not going to pull the ball away from me this year.
The most frustrating thing is that, while the occasional Purdue or MSU or Iowa team can upset the Buckeyes, so we say "why not us?", the truth is ... Ohio State simply doesn't have let-downs against us. There's no chance they're overlooking us, or won't be motivated. That never happens. It won't happen.
Ugh, I hope I'm wrong. Tell me I'm wrong. But ... the talent difference is just too stark for me. Stroud vs. McNamara. Olave vs. Mike Sainristil. TreVeyon Henderson (averaging 7.3 yards per carry) against Hassan Haskins (averaging 4.9) -- and they're not even TALKING about Henderson.
The one fun thing about it is, a win here would be legendary. A win here would match (or top) 1969 in the Michigan history books. In all honesty, a win here might be the biggest win (and upset) in Michigan football history -- and certainly in my life. And good God I want it to happen. But ... I don't understand the confidence people have. That seems like pure wishful thinking to me.
November 25th, 2021 at 4:01 PM ^
Yeah Henderson is the key. Like MSU if our D ends are screaming up field and he is left with our DTs and linebackers its going to be a long day. Two TD runs over 40 yards for him will be the deciding factor. If I am wrong and he doesnt get those 2-3 long TD runs we have a shot.
November 25th, 2021 at 4:39 PM ^
The defense has to be balanced. I can see Ohio coming out and trying to exploit their running game because they assume UoM is going all out to stop their passing game. Balance! Be stout upfront, maintain rushing lanes, LBs follow keys, Hutch/Ojabo/Morris, etc., hold the edge, contain Stroud & then squeeze him with the pressure.
November 25th, 2021 at 6:07 PM ^
This is a poor article in that it doesn't cover the most recent transformation of Michigan's offense. Coaches might want to reconsider the fear factor of Cade and his weapons.
November 25th, 2021 at 11:49 PM ^
Very interesting observations from a coach talking about Uof〽️ offense.
They don’t run a lot of plays, but they have a lot of formations and have shown the ability to adjust quick on offense. Another coach compared the run game to the Baltimore Ravens', with “motions and downhill runs and gap schemes.”