MGoPodcast 14.4: It's Not So Easy Is It?
2 hours and 9 minutes
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1. Offense vs Maryland
starts at 1:00
There was some First Actual Game clunkiness but the boxscore looks fine! Was that actually the fastest touchdown in Michigan football history? JJ missing some deep shots isn't concerning, more concerning is him breaking the pocket to run around and then run around some more and then run around some more. There was also some poor decision making, he looked like a second year quarterback. So Blake Corum is pretty good. Incredible awareness and elusiveness. Was also able to grind out short yardage which was the only part of his game that was missing. Brian officially calls him the best running back he's ever seen at Michigan. Pass protection was pretty good. Schoonmaker's run blocking has been fantastic and offers NFL-level complexity to the run game. Tight end depth is good enough that they might not actually miss Erick All too much moving forward. Can't run a trick play based off of a play you didn't run.
[The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP]
2. Defense vs Maryland
starts at 36:50
Very little pass rush which is concerning. Tagovailoa had all day to pass. Interestingly when Maryland brought in their backup the pass rush started to work. A lof of things that Seth said wouldn't translate from Colorado State have not translated into this game. Some of the blitzes weren't weird enough. Linebackers were not shooting the gaps, Nikhai-Hill Green was greatly missed. The secondary looked great, though! Mike Sainristil has absolutely crushed all expectations this season. Shout out to RJ Moten for batting down the ball on his own to make the interception. Maryland will probably end up being one of the best offenses Michigan plays so in hindsight this was a pretty solid performance as a whole. There were some flagrantly missed holding calls.
3. Hot Takes, Special Teams, and Game Theory
starts at 1:05:24
Takes hotter than Adrian Martinez any time he plays Oklahoma. Talking about going for it on 4th down - do you call a timeout? Seeing Miami run plays that didn't work for Michigan last year was... interesting. Can't punt around mid-field if you're just running it down their throat, especially when Blake Corum is running for 8 yards per carry. Special teams should've kept kicking it to Tai Felton instead of through the endzone... just in case.
4. Around the Big Ten With Jamie Mac
starts at 1:37:05
Forty five minutes of Minnesota vs Michigan State wooo! (Not actually, sorry). This domination is even worse than the final score. Michigan State has two division II transfers in their secondary. Kenneth Walker deserved two Heismans for what he did with this team last year. Minnesota is suddenly the favorite to win the West. Penn State played Central Michigan pretty even for most of the game which is fairly alarming for the Nittany Lions. Sean Clifford was 1-for-11 on "shots downfield". How does... Iowa score on Michigan? Their turnovers don't seem random. Iowa has had 40 drives start in their own territory, 15 of them have entered opposing teams' territory, and only six of those have resulted in points. 1-11 Northwestern whose only win is Nebraska and 1-11 Nebraska with zero power-five wins is on the table! Florida Atlantic outgains Purdue by 80 yards but Purdue wins, though they lose their starting QB. They fumbled the kneel down! Welp, Ohio State looked good, but Wisconsin didn't even look like they were trying. This was just every other Ohio State vs Wisconsin Big Ten Championship Game.
MUSIC:
- Too Close for Comfort Theme Song
- "Get On This"--Ugly Duckling
- Blossom Theme Song
- “Across 110th Street”
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"He's a long way from Bortenschlager."
September 26th, 2022 at 7:19 AM ^
Last year Michigan sacked Tau twice-this year three times. Last year Michigan had one INT-this year they had two. The actual results in the game of football, though it is played on a large field, is sometimes a matter of inches. For as mature and physically talented as this team is they struggled to be their sound, disciplined best in this game-and let the critical inches slip through their fingers.
I will be surprised if we do not see a much better version next Saturday.
September 26th, 2022 at 7:44 AM ^
Michigan sacked Tau twice-this year three times.
And if you watched the game, you’d know that Michigan actually sacked Taulia zero times this game. All three of Michigan’s sacks came when Maryland’s backup played in their final drive of the game, in which they managed to score a touchdown anyways while Michigan played a terribly soft prevent defense.
Taulia was nearly sacked once or twice, but clearly the organic pass rush we all want is not there and the EDGE rushers had a tough time containing the pocket as well.
September 26th, 2022 at 9:59 AM ^
we did have a sack negated by a facemask.... that was committed by someone other than the guy saking tua... also had a what should have been a sack, but he was given a generous spot and a 1/2 yard gain. so..... there is that
September 26th, 2022 at 11:44 AM ^
Facemask wasn't a sack. Taulia still got that pass out, but it was incomplete. Agree, the pressure was there on that play, though. Unfortunately, it wasn't for most of the rest of the game.
Not having a consistent pass rush is going to be problematic at some point. Hopefully this improves going forward.
September 26th, 2022 at 11:24 AM ^
Dude. You are technically right but THE play of the game was the hit on Taulia. Game minus that hit is a Maryland W.
I don't know the tent score but Moten's INT was horrific vision from Tau granted by Morris' hit.
If Coach Lock takes him out post hit, we are in a much different game that was uncomfortable as it was.
September 26th, 2022 at 11:47 AM ^
You have no idea how severe Taulia’s injury actually was and how it affected his play after the fact. It could just be a stinger. As for the Moten INT, the hit by Morris has very little to do with it. That’s a INT that Taulia throws every year. He’s just not a great QB and forces throws when he’s under pressure or his team is losing. The play of the game was probably one of Corum’s TD runs. The defense got two very very circus-catch INTs that may not happen every week. The pass rush was non-existent with Taulia in the game. Just face that reality and don’t hand wave away the actual issues Michigan now faces.
September 26th, 2022 at 12:03 PM ^
Broadcasters said they took him out for bad decision making.
September 26th, 2022 at 12:10 PM ^
And you do understand that it didn't affect him? Calling BS. The edges made a difference, that is all I am saying. QB2 was sacked and still put it home.
Why is there a tent on the sideline? Not to check for stingers. Tau had an open trailer if not option one and missed it due to Morris getting into his head, hip or backbone.
September 26th, 2022 at 12:40 PM ^
I never said that the hit didn’t affect Taulia at all, and seeing as he went to the sideline briefly, he was clearly shaken up by it. But you’re assuming that a hit from a few series ago then affected him so much that he forced a throw into double coverage? That’s a leap in logic that could make the span of the Grand Canyon with room to spare. Let me reiterate for you; the INT by Moten is a type of INT that Taulia throws every season because he forces throws when under pressure or his team is losing. He does that all the time because he’s just a decent, and not great, QB. I highly doubt that the Morris hit was still that greatly debilitating that many series later. If it was, he just would have been pulled from the game entirely after the hit. You’re the one making a humongous assumption based on things you don’t actually know. I’m assessing the game how it played out based on the historical evidence of what we know about Taulia as a QB. Understand the difference now?
September 26th, 2022 at 2:03 PM ^
Your condescension is underwhelming. Taulia was affected by the hit and limped the rest of the game. Pain has a way of making you think about it. Some guys (Favre was the quintessential prototype) play better with pain or after having their bell rung. Tau did not, and he may going forward. Past performance is no indication of future returns.
I didn't neg you here (do you understand the difference,) and I understand your stats and metaphors; they don't pertain to football. Morris has above-average DE NFL girth and is not yet full Wormley. To say the hit made a game difference is not saying much. To say that the edges in this game didn't contain better or make a difference is wrong.
It is ok to disagree. The edge play did make a difference. Morris' hit was a game changer. If the Grand Canyon doesn't echo that, so be it. That is what happened as I watched the game. The trailing route was wide open on Moten's INT for a considerable gain. The shot of the Maryland booth after that happened was clear. He didn't check down or look at route #1. It cost MD the game.
September 26th, 2022 at 2:52 PM ^
I’m glad you interpreted my snark and I’m sad your football interpretation isn’t up to par.
September 27th, 2022 at 11:26 AM ^
Sad,glad... it is all feelingsball now.
September 26th, 2022 at 9:45 AM ^
Michigan did not sack Taulia, they sacked the backup. For most of the game, he got to sit back and bounce for 5 seconds until a receiver came open. That cannot happen.
September 26th, 2022 at 7:29 AM ^
I think part of our strategy may have been to contain pocket to minimize rush lanes though even accounting for that pass rush will be an issue moving forward.
September 26th, 2022 at 10:37 AM ^
Watching it live I agree with this take. When I did focus on the DEs they rarely attempted any moves, just give the tackle a little push, grab his jersey and bob their head around looking for the QB. 6.9 YPA and 2 INTs with no pass rush... maybe they just trusted the secondary to get it done.
September 26th, 2022 at 11:11 AM ^
As you mention, with mobile quarterbacks like Taulia, it's important to "minimize rush lanes" so they can't do a lot of damage with their legs. Taulia had 20 yards rushing on Saturday and with that has almost equaled his total yards for last season (77 yds 2021 vs 74 yds 2022) which puts him on pace for 222 yards for this season.
There aren't very many mobile quarterbacks like him on the remaining UM schedule. I suspect next week we'll see better pass rush metrics.
The only other QB's that UM will face that can scramble are Clifford and Thorne and they don't do it all that much (163/64 & 181/31 respectively).
It's still a little early to panic on the pass rush.
September 26th, 2022 at 7:34 AM ^
I guess I assumed the lack of a pass rush was a conscious decision on our part. Isn’t that a method used when playing a mobile QB? Stay in your lanes and make him beat you with his arm?
September 26th, 2022 at 7:51 AM ^
Yeah that is what you do and what they were doing. That QB when healthy is dangerous both running and throwing which he has proven last year and this year. Just a little too much bad Brett Favre at times.
September 26th, 2022 at 7:57 AM ^
So, how does one make such a decision when faced with defending this week's dual non-threat QB, Steven Petras? Do you rush the crap out of him for the sack? Or do you force him to pass by containing his 'running' lanes?
HAHAHAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!
Iowa's offense isn't good.
Can we just move to Iowa? I just moved to Iowa...
September 26th, 2022 at 7:56 AM ^
Harrell Hutchinson’d the RT on the facemask play. Dropped him right on his ass. And Okie had Taulia wrapped but he slithered out. No question this bunch is less dynamic than Hutch/Ojabo but there were some moments. And Taulia didn’t have a lot of drive extending scrambles so the overall plan was effective. If our offense was sharper the game isn’t that close. I don’t think anyone was expecting to completely shut down their offense.
September 26th, 2022 at 7:59 AM ^
So did Eyabi actually, legally, change his name to Okie? I thought that was Brian's little joke, but everyone is using it so quickly and effortlessly I have to ask!
September 26th, 2022 at 8:25 AM ^
It’s an official name change on the roster/his jersey
September 26th, 2022 at 9:31 AM ^
Okie dokie! And thanks!!
September 26th, 2022 at 12:02 PM ^
I see what you did there
September 26th, 2022 at 8:19 AM ^
Missed holding calls? No no no, Locksley just yelled at his players so they became really disciplined, that's why they suddenly committed no penalties.
September 26th, 2022 at 12:29 PM ^
Are you still waiting for Klatt to point any of those holds out & destroy their Locksley narrative?
Good luck!
September 26th, 2022 at 8:46 AM ^
Michigan did not play self destructive Maryland, which was good for Maryland and aggravating for Michigan fans.
OTOH, a self destructive play on the opening kickoff was pretty much the margin of the game.
September 26th, 2022 at 9:58 AM ^
Remember, Self-Destructive Maryland (TM) only appears in November.
September usually features Looks-Pretty-Good Maryland (TM).
In all seriousness, that's very likely a bowl-bound team. Won't be surprised at all if they paste Sparty next week and give Ohio State a tough game.
September 26th, 2022 at 9:19 AM ^
I had another theory on the botched truck play. I think Wilson had no idea what he was supposed to do. Before the play he is confused and JJ has to keep moving him. Then on replay it looked to me like he was blocking, instead of looking for the pass. I also don't think he got the depth needed to stress the D.
September 26th, 2022 at 10:19 AM ^
You do realize on a trick jet sweep pass the receiver needs to sell run before releasing right? And if you’re talking about the end of the play he wasn’t blocking he was just blanketed by 8 men in coverage which is what happens when you haven’t run the actual jet sweep earlier to get the D to commit.
September 26th, 2022 at 9:29 AM ^
This is likely a very good game to have - close enough to make them work for a win, but it is still a win.
JJ missed what should have been at least 1-2 more TDs (assuming he hit on 50%) of the typical deep balls, if he connected on 3, the game looks significantly different in the box score. His scrambling seemed a bit of a mix of freshman JJ and I am guessing be certain you can run and not get hit as he seemed a bit off in his decisions to pull and keep in the running game as well.
The D seemed to be begging Maryland to run the ball and play contain on passing downs, at least on several series, a lot of cushion on the receivers and not stacking the box, not really selling out on blitzes either.
I think that better calls in the passing game and some receivers learning to come back to the ball and find a spot in the zone would have also helped significantly.
It is a game to put in the W column, learn from and then understand that the teams are going to have better players moving forward and arm tackles will not cut it.
September 26th, 2022 at 10:24 AM ^
Agreed on a couple of levels. Take the easy scramble yards and get down. Maybe devote some time to scramble drills because the WRs being stationary at end of routes seemed like a thing. Finally, JJ, it’s ok to punt once in a while.
September 26th, 2022 at 9:38 AM ^
Minor correction, to the writeup at least - O'Connell was a game-time decision and ended up not even playing, so technically Purdue lost their starting QB prior to the game ... also had a "starting" RB out (the RB depth chart isn't really clear to me this year) and a WR as well.
None of that explains what happened, though. That was a miserable performance. A season that looked like it had some promise (a schedule with no Michigan! and no Ohio State!) is starting to look like just another year. Thank goodness Scott Frost did an unforgettable job at Nebraska so the Boilers won't drop too far in the division.
September 26th, 2022 at 9:44 AM ^
Any reason Alex isn’t on the post game pods? No offense to Dave, but Alex adds far more to the conversation with some really good stats/analytics that aren’t obvious on the box score and a good radio voice.
September 26th, 2022 at 9:45 AM ^
I think JJ will run more when Cade is available as the backup.
September 26th, 2022 at 10:04 AM ^
Not sure if JJ was listening to too much media last week, about how he was flawless and certain to be a #1 over all draft pick.... or if he was trying hard to impress with is arm and not his legs.... there were too many plays where he needed to just tuck the ball and take would his legs would safely get him, rather than dance around like Fran Tarkenton (a name JJ would likely never have heard of, hell his parents may not have either) trying to make a spectacular passing play....
I'm guessing this will be address whole heartedly this week in the film room and on the field.
OnWard! GO BLUE!!!!
If we called a GD timeout before the Terps last TD.... I don't believe they would have scored their last TD..... I yelled as loud as I could at the TV, but JH still couldn't hear me.
September 26th, 2022 at 10:12 AM ^
"When you run four verts, everyone's going with the verts."
I actually used that to great effect in Tecmo Super Bowl with the Eagles. Call four-verts and then book it with "QB Eagles" Cunningham because the secondary had cleared themselves out.
Some things work because they're simple. You can do a lot of things when you've pulled the back 7 away from the LoS. With the receiving threats and backfield mobility we have, I'd think draw plays would be tremendously effective.
You don't even need to run JJ all the time. Keep Corum in to show "blitz pickup", but he's really a pitch option -- basically a reverse flea flicker. The O-line's in pass pro so they can't escort the ball downfield, but with Corum's speed and the defense panicking over the verts, do you need that?
September 26th, 2022 at 10:42 AM ^
True, but if the defense also dials "Up and B" them you're screwed.
September 26th, 2022 at 10:45 AM ^
It’s not a panacea; no play is.
It is, however, an effective answer to a defense dropping eight into coverage.
September 26th, 2022 at 10:41 AM ^
Meta question - on what percentage of Seth's comments over the last several podcasts, roundtables, etc. has Brian negged his comment? Sometimes Seth gets a little too worked up, granted, but man. I'd be getting kinda annoyed if I were Seth by now.
September 26th, 2022 at 11:40 AM ^
Well when the hyperactive squirrel is wrong, it's not offensive to say so.
September 26th, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
Seth can take it. There is no ego in MGo that I can determine. It is about football. It is Michigan down in front, Michigan vs everybody mentality.
It is why we are here.
September 26th, 2022 at 12:09 PM ^
I had to stop listening to the podcasts for a good couple years because this dynamic was even worse. It felt to me like Brian and Ace were both convinced they alone were entirely correct and constantly neg’ed anyone else around.
Brian seems like he’s in a much better place these days so the podcasts are much more enjoyable. Certainly winning helps a lot too.
September 26th, 2022 at 12:19 PM ^
Brian’s flaw can be that be that (and I think he’s gotten far better about this; he conceded that Seth was right all along in that Gemon Green needs to start getting his head around or he’s gonna get burned/called for PI) he thinks he’s smarter than everyone else in the room. I remember when Ed Feng was on WTKA’s mgoblog roundtable and Ed would have takes that were completely based in data & analytics and Brian would basically call him an idiot on the air. Well turns out Ed is very respected in the pro gambling/handicapping community and has gone on to be very successful in that realm.
September 26th, 2022 at 12:56 PM ^
Sometimes people, especially adults, can handle disagreement and even criticism.
September 26th, 2022 at 10:48 AM ^
I was at the game with my kids and at no point did I feel like the game was in jeopardy. There are games that are tight that I worry about, but it felt like live at the game that Maryland was having it's best effort and Michigan was having an ok performance, but was still clearly the better team.
September 26th, 2022 at 11:09 AM ^
Watching from TV, I felt pretty comfortable the entire second half - maybe their first drive I got a little nervous since we'd gone first down then out and they moved the ball to midfield and then we went 3 and out at our ten, but their second drive was stoned and then we had a nice long TD drive. after that they never had the ball with the chance to lead or tie.
But that first half, yea I was nervous.
September 26th, 2022 at 11:51 AM ^
I was there with my five year-old as well and totally agree with this take. Also...don't get me wrong, I love a good blowout, but it's nice to go to a game and be genuinely excited to score. We also went to the Hawaii game and I started to get a bit bored after TD number four (although my kids enjoyed every single touchdown just the same). Sometimes that somewhat nervous energy is nice to have and tests the team's resiliency.
September 26th, 2022 at 12:14 PM ^
I thoroughly enjoy blowouts.
September 26th, 2022 at 10:57 AM ^
I’m not particularly worried about the jj reads thing. He did a very young guy thing where he vastly overcorrected to a bad pull decision last week to give too much this week.
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