Anonymous coaches pick Washington to win
Love it. Adds fuel to our fire.
https://theathletic.com/5178400/2024/01/04/michigan-washington-coaches-scouting-report/
“This is probably the first time I’ve ever been fired up for a national championship game,” said one coordinator who faced Washington earlier this year. “I’m so fascinated with this game because they’re like two polar opposites going against each other.”
Michigan’s bruising play along the lines and run-heavy offensive style will square off with Washington’s high-flying, pass-first attack at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday night. The Athletic spoke with 10 head coaches, coordinators and assistants who have faced either Michigan or Washington this season to gauge their thoughts on the matchup, granting them anonymity to discuss both teams candidly.
No coaches leaned toward Michigan or Washington winning big, but a majority picked Washington to win as an underdog. One coach was shocked to learn Michigan was a four-point favorite. But another assistant said Michigan may be the better team in all aspects.
“It’s hard to go against Michigan, but I just think Washington is more battle-tested, and they find a way to do it one more time,” said one head coach.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:26 AM ^
Probably the same coaches who picked Michigan to lose to Alabama.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:41 AM ^
Probably the same coaches who picked Oregon over Washington... twice. When he mentions "assistants" it makes me wonder how serious this so-called poll is.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:53 AM ^
There is a reason why these these coaches are predicting the game instead of coaching in it.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:42 PM ^
Spot on, add to that, they all had a shot at winning and NONE of them did…shows how much you should value their opinions.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:50 AM ^
Penn State’s staff is on speed dial for reporters who want a negative comment about Michigan
January 4th, 2024 at 2:06 PM ^
There are tons of coaches who hate Harbaugh and hate Michigan. And will allow their emotions to overcome rational thought. Any surprise the Vegas line makers and the football analytics experts favored Michigan against Alabama and favor Michigan against Washington? Take emotion and jealousy out of it and just look hard at the numbers and it’s clear who the better team is.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:13 PM ^
Your comment is spot on. Well said.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:15 PM ^
I believe Feldman is secretly working for Michigan and just creating the best bulletin board material with fictitious coaches to spur Michigan into additional motivation on their way to a National Championship. Go Blue! Thanks Feldman!!
January 4th, 2024 at 2:55 PM ^
I mean.....Feldman did pick UM to win the national championship way back in August.....so maybe he is?? Thanks Bruce!
January 4th, 2024 at 11:26 AM ^
Please keep picking Washington.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:31 AM ^
The teams may be polar opposites operationally, but they both continue to win despite people picking them to lose.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:56 AM ^
Makes you wonder if this is Feldman trolling everyone to help Michigan.
Either way it goes I get the sense that it'll come down to line play in the trenches.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:12 PM ^
The only people who seem to properly guess our games is Vegas. They had us as favorites against Bama when no one wanted to take that risk, and they think we're even bigger favorites going into this one.
I'll side with Vegas
January 4th, 2024 at 1:20 PM ^
Never consistently bet against the house. Those hotels in Vega$ didn't build themselves
January 4th, 2024 at 2:20 PM ^
If the odds didn’t favor the house Vegas would still be a remote train station in the middle of the desert.
January 4th, 2024 at 3:56 PM ^
Actually, it was a man. A man of character. A man of vision. And that man's name was Moe Green.
January 4th, 2024 at 4:24 PM ^
This was a great man. A man of vision and guts. And there isn’t even a plaque or a signpost or a statue of him in that town!
January 4th, 2024 at 11:27 AM ^
Good. Michigan Vs Everybody round 3. LFG
January 4th, 2024 at 11:27 AM ^
Didn't he do this before Bama game? Washington is more battle-tested? Playing Oregon twice, UTAH without their QB and Texas makes them battle-tested but beating OSU, PSU and Bama is not battle-tested? Gimme a break. Feldman is onto more clicks.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:35 AM ^
And, they got Oregon at home and then on a neutral field. Whereas our top-5 games (PSU/OSU) had us going to one of the hardest venues in the nation). Not to mention, does 6 games without your head coach count as battle testing?
January 4th, 2024 at 11:47 AM ^
Northwestern handled Utah.
Northwestern.
January 4th, 2024 at 1:15 PM ^
Exactly
January 4th, 2024 at 12:03 PM ^
I don't think that coach realizes that this isn't a computer simulation that resets from year to year. Aside from the grad transfers and Semaj Morgan, every major contributor was on last year's CFP squad.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:53 PM ^
Dumb.
Anyone paying attention can see that this UM team is 3 seasons in the making. A ton of veteran leadership that has been forged in fire.
Washington is a flash in the pan team. They haven't been there, done that for the past 3 seasons and they likely won't repeat what they've done this season.
Admittedly, I didn't think this UM team was going to beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl. I've recognized my folly and have reformed my wayward position about this squad.
The team is too talented, too experienced, too deep and especially too well-coached to lose to a team like Washington. Moore and Minter are going to precisely and methodically use superior talent across the board to dismantle their opponent next Monday night.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:41 PM ^
To be fair, I don’t think he goes into the interviews thinking the majority will pick Washington, or only selects coaches who hate Michigan. I think he asks his questions and this is how it played out. What I don’t know about is his editorial process, because there’s more negative stuff being said about UM than UW.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:28 AM ^
Michigan remains undefeated against Anonymous Coaches. Let's see if we can do it one more time...
January 4th, 2024 at 11:28 AM ^
Washington is more battle-tested? Based on what? Because they were in more close games? Holy smokes what a comment.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:32 AM ^
I mean they struggled with Arizona State. That doesn't count? /s
January 4th, 2024 at 11:35 AM ^
And Arizona State only lost to Fresno 29-0, only gave up 59 to Arizona, 55 to Utah (without their QB), 49 to Oregon... But they did beat S Utah, 24-21.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:14 PM ^
That and they let California put up 30+ on them so thats battle tested right?
January 4th, 2024 at 11:49 AM ^
Which team is more battle tested is a joke. Michigan had to win at PSU without Jim Harbaugh plus face a Top 5 defense. Next was facing the Terps with what turns out to be an injured JJ and again with Jim Harbaugh. A close win vs Mr 3rd Base and his team with another Top 5 defense, minus Harbaugh.
The B1G championship game was in slow motion and yet another Top 5 defense but it was about avoiding a letdown after beating Ohio Sate. The ultimate battle test was coming from behind to beat the Tide with a 6th ranked defense in the Rose Bowl and seeing our special team play leaving 4 points off the board.
This year's Wolverines faced more adversity that any other major program could have ever endured.
Michigan vs Everybody, one more time!
January 4th, 2024 at 12:06 PM ^
exactly. take the UW coach out of their 3 biggest games (against worse competition) and they aren't undefeated or sniffing the CFP.
January 4th, 2024 at 1:36 PM ^
Its just another sign of the Media's bias with Oregon. All year they were the darling of ESPN, even after losing twice. Its almost like Mr. Knight is making sure his University stays relevant
January 4th, 2024 at 11:29 AM ^
I hate this style of article and wish they would die
January 4th, 2024 at 11:46 AM ^
I agree. He could be literally making all of these up, or taking a liberty with a word or two, and really nobody would know.
I think it's the same as the last time around. Pac-12 coaches are backing Washington, and Big 10 coaches are backing whoever is playing Michigan, cause they are sour ass grapes.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:19 PM ^
It's also possible that the quotes or 100% real, but they are allowed to just hang out there without any real pushback and context.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:06 PM ^
Lazy writing.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:29 AM ^
Good. Hilarious. Versus Bama it was "Michigan can't stay on the field with them" but with Washington it's "Yeah Michigan is the better team buuuuuuutttttt, Michigan just has to lose."
LOL what is with these people? Please please please take the underdog chip on the shoulder away from Washington.
Did you people not hear Harbaugh say this exact thing is Michigan's unfair advantage?
January 4th, 2024 at 12:22 PM ^
Yeah. I remember two things from those comments-- JJ will be in trouble because how stout Bama DL is and their pass rush, UM has not seen anyone like Milroe.
Then UM goes on to sack Milroe six time and pressure him so many times that they have to stop throwing past 10 yards. JJ was not sacked and only felt mild pressure.
These people should not be giving opinions.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:30 AM ^
Bwahahahahah!!!! Good! I Agree! Washington is just sooooooo good. All that big Penix energy. Little ole Michigan probably doesn't have a chance against that offense.
Bet.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:30 AM ^
Ryan Days brothers have hacked Anonymous Coaches? Through Catapult? Tsk, Tsk, Tsk.
Oh well Day in, Day out.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:30 AM ^
"I just think Washington is more battle-tested"
I think Washington is very capable of beating Michigan, but claiming they're more "battle-tested" is just ridiculous.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:31 AM ^
but a majority picked Washington to win as an underdog
January 4th, 2024 at 11:31 AM ^
I'm 80% convinced that these anonymous coaches are just voices in Bruce Feldman's head
January 4th, 2024 at 11:33 AM ^
You mean "anonymous" voices in Feldman's head?
January 4th, 2024 at 11:55 AM ^
Feldman has said Michigan is the team to beat all year (while jumping on the pearl clutching "signal stealing" nonsense). Don't diminish the assholery of anonymous coaches by saying Feldman made them up.
Jim is a weird guy but I do NOT understand why opposing coaches hate him like they do. It's like he did multiple Chicago Sunroofs at the coaches' meetings.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:06 PM ^
He's got a pretty strong coaching tree too.
But he's so damn quirky that I can imagine that some love him while others don't get him or find him off putting.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:08 PM ^
i'm afraid to ask (or to google it) but i'll ask anyway: what is a 'chicago sunroof'?
January 4th, 2024 at 12:32 PM ^
I don't know either but I'd guess it's similar to a Cleveland Steamer.