September 29th, 2018 at 8:10 PM ^
Defense played their ass off in the 2nd half kudos
September 29th, 2018 at 8:10 PM ^
They got punched 3 straight times. Then they shut the shit down.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:17 PM ^
But coming out flat on the road (offense as well). Surprise suprise. If this unit can put together a complete game then we have a chance against anybody on our schedule.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:11 PM ^
Hot take: Uche is good.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:38 AM ^
I agree, if Uche keeps playing like that, you have to get him in there on those pass rushes. I don't care who he plays over. Seems to me, he rivaled Gary's production in this game. Healthy or not. I could be wrong.
Another guy I saw play early in the replay here and no one has really talked about that I've saw is Devin Gill. I think you have to keep that guy out. He reads and analyses the play really slow. He's more often than not a step or two late. On top of that, his foot speed is very slow. He will get gashed in a bigger game. Mike McCray could read the play faster than Gill but had similar foot speed to me. Not good though for Gill to play a ton. Sorry Mr. Gill if you see this buddy.
September 30th, 2018 at 8:42 AM ^
I agree on Gil. I’ve said each game: he is slow to react. He looks like he needs to eat more and move to line, but he really is the worst linebacker getting time. I don’t care how well he may practice—every game he is late to the ball and gets caught in traffic. When they go to Ross and Furbush, the defense tightens.
Plus, Gary must be injures more than he let’s on. He has no bull rush or inside moves. He tries the outside speed rush, and not much else. The shoulder seems to be getting worse. He needs to develop some spin moves—study Dwight Freeney tape.
One reason our defensive line does so well in the fourth is the depth. All that talent behind Winovich is fresh. Uche and Paye and Dwumfour come in and just lay into tired offensive lineman who’ve had to deal with Win, Gary, Big Mone, and Kemp.
If Aubrey returns healthy, this line is even scarier.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:11 PM ^
Catch your breath Chase.
He's by far the best player on defense. I'd take 3 of him over 1 Gary.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:15 PM ^
I could see Gary coming back next season but his testing and measurables will probably get him drafted.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:25 PM ^
His chronic shoulder is worrisome. For now and for the NFL. I broke both bones in my AC joint and have never fully recovered. It isnt surgical like a rotator cuff. And continues to cause me pain 6 years later. I dont have 315 pound OT leaning on me either.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:48 PM ^
I doubt that Gary has been healthy since 2016.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:17 PM ^
Either Chase or Bush is the best on D... Bush didn't have the most impactful game against NW although I'm not sure why (I'm sure someone with better football IQ could explain).
Gary is a good player but he hasn't lived up to the #1 overall ranking yet. I'm not sure if that is a hot take or not, I'm rooting for the guy but he hasn't dominated like Suh in college at any point.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:21 PM ^
I think of how unblockable Suh and Aaron Donald were in college; and for ends Clowney as a sophomore and Myles Garrett....Gary is not at that level yet.
Paye seems to be a player. Need one of the other young guys to step up; odds are it will be Hutch
September 29th, 2018 at 8:21 PM ^
Gary was invisible today. I love the guy and he does flash great plays from time to time, but just not there today. It seems he has trouble disengaging from blocks. That’s surprising being that big fast and talented
September 29th, 2018 at 8:23 PM ^
He has trouble with his shoulder. That's the thing I would worry about if I were a scout.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:24 PM ^
He's playing with a sprained/dislocated shoulder injury, clearly. this isn't fair criticism
September 29th, 2018 at 8:56 PM ^
Right - I think his right shoulder is really killing him. I would sit him vs Maryland
September 29th, 2018 at 9:22 PM ^
I came to this thread to say just this. Gary is clearly not right, we need to sit him out so he can get some rest and rehab on his shoulder. He's such a beast when he's healthy, but he's clearly hampered right now.
September 29th, 2018 at 10:09 PM ^
Seems like hes been playing with this shoulder I hurt for 2 years now...hopefully we get to see him at 100% at some point. Thought he was dominant last week against NEB.
September 29th, 2018 at 10:11 PM ^
He has been largely invisible for his entire career. The fanbase makes excuses for him while other guys on this team and other teams just make plays.
September 30th, 2018 at 11:02 AM ^
Every time I have thought that & focused on Gary specifically on a play it is obvious that the offense is focusing on taking him out of the play by a combination of double (and triple) teaming, holding & running away from him. Every time you wonder how Chase goes unblocked you can rewatch the play & find #3 has nearly the entire team trying to stop him.
With that said, the elite find a way. Hope he comes back & makes that next step that will make him a top-5 pick.
October 1st, 2018 at 1:46 AM ^
Nonsense. He was dominant last season. Best lineman in the Big Ten not named Bosa. Dude was getting double and triple teamed all the time, and still creating havoc in the backfield. Part of the reason that Mo Hurst did so well last year had to do with offenses scheming to mitigate Gary's impact. If you haven't seen his speed and strength overpowering defensive tackles starting his freshman year, you haven't been paying attention.
That being said, a knock on Gary has always been that he isn't consistent play in and play out. He's been known to take plays off here and there, while Winovich is always 100% all the time.
But Gary has looked like a shadow of his former self this season. He appears to be playing hurt.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:41 PM ^
Did you mean that the other way? I’m pretty sure anyone would take 3 Winovich over Gary
September 29th, 2018 at 8:13 PM ^
Chase Winovich. Kwitty Paye. Amazing job in second half.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:23 PM ^
Mike Dwumfour and Josh Uche as well.
why doesn’t Uche play more???
September 29th, 2018 at 8:27 PM ^
Dwumfour had multiple good plays and flat out smoked some dudes a couple of times. Hopefully he's catching up to his preseason hype.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:06 AM ^
Uche played a ton today. Probably his most snaps all season.
September 29th, 2018 at 11:09 PM ^
#6 was the star in the second half. The dwumfour sack also was due to Uche.
Uche may get the defensive player of the game
September 30th, 2018 at 3:59 AM ^
Ehr, no...Winovich was on all 4 quarters and at times single-handedly kept this game within reach.
Uche was great, but Chase was the rock on Defense.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:13 PM ^
Damn good in the 2nd half...please start showing up in the first half
September 29th, 2018 at 8:17 PM ^
so either Hutchinson is hurt or they are dead set on red shirting him. Does that seem right???
September 29th, 2018 at 8:20 PM ^
Don't get this comment at all. Hutchinson played.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:31 PM ^
I honestly never saw him play.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:14 PM ^
Winovich was held on their final completion
September 29th, 2018 at 8:14 PM ^
Badly
September 29th, 2018 at 8:18 PM ^
I learned that it would have been holding on Chase because he let the guy tackle him like Higdon
September 29th, 2018 at 9:06 PM ^
underrated post
September 29th, 2018 at 8:22 PM ^
He was held to the point of being tackled from behind, one of several questionable calls/non-calls in this one.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:16 PM ^
A tale of two halves...sure looked like Don Brown was pre-installed by the NW OC, but Don Brown downloaded on the fly starting in the second half.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:17 PM ^
Dwumfour pressure led to the Paye sack late. He may not be living up to offseason hype but he could play a big role as a penetrator on obvious passing plays
September 29th, 2018 at 8:24 PM ^
He flashes some Hursty stuff on passing downs. We need that kind of penetration consistently and on run downs.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:40 PM ^
Mo is sorely missed
September 29th, 2018 at 9:16 PM ^
On that first TD for sure
September 29th, 2018 at 8:17 PM ^
Way to step up after getting punched multiple times in the first half. It felt like Michigan had no pass rush in the first half, which allowed Thorson to throw absolute dimes. In the second half, the pass rush was hitting home which totally shut down NW's offense.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:21 PM ^
Lack of pass rush was notable in the 1st half. Frustrating.
Lots of good pressure in QB in the 2nd half. An adjustment? Or NW d-line just got worn down? Or M players just played with sluggish effort in the 1st half?
September 29th, 2018 at 9:18 PM ^
Guessing that's why Paye and Dwumfore were getting a lot of run inside late. Thought Paye was just DE, but that really disrupted things together.
September 30th, 2018 at 11:42 AM ^
According to the presser, Don Brown made some second half adjustments with Dline twists and stunts which Northwestern had completely diagnosed coming into the game, explaining the lack of first half pressure. Those adjustments were responsible for giving Uche free runs at Thorson in the latter part of the game.
Btw, Michigan has given up 1163 yards and 74 points through five games putting them sixth in the nation in fewest yards allowed for rushing and passing and near best nationally in points allowed. And that number would rank them higher nationally, but for the fact that Iowa with 1042 through four games tops the nation. Michigan is averaging 84 yards rushing per game and 14.8 points allowed.
Let's also remember that Northwestern had two weeks to prepare, so they came up with some good plans to attack Michigan yesterday. Sometimes bye weeks help and sometimes they don't. NW used that extra week to its advantage along with some considerable help from the officiating.
September 29th, 2018 at 8:17 PM ^
Defense redeemed themselves after that awful first quarter. Ross, Uche, and Paye looked great. CB’s hmmmm .
September 29th, 2018 at 8:18 PM ^
Hill primarily.
September 29th, 2018 at 9:07 PM ^
Long was doing a lot of grabbing. Watson has looked good.
September 29th, 2018 at 9:39 PM ^
Great take on Watson!