December 27th, 2021 at 1:01 PM ^
So odd that all 3 are in the CFP...
December 27th, 2021 at 1:20 PM ^
So, so, so odd.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
Interesting, but not surprising given how much PFF loves Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo. I suspect their enormous contributions propelled Michigan to the top of these rankings.
That leads me to some interesting thought experiments. Where would Michigan's line grade if:
- It did not include Hutchinson? Or Ojabo? Or both?
- It only included Hutchinson? Or Ojabo? Or both?
December 27th, 2021 at 1:31 PM ^
1. Not as good, not as good, not as good but worse
1. Not as good, not as good, just as good.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:55 PM ^
To expand further:
- Obviously, but how much worse? Would Michigan's line even crack the top 50 without Hutchinson or Ojabo? Top 100?
- Obviously, but how small is the drop? Is Hutchinson alone good for a top 25 finish? Top 15?
December 27th, 2021 at 1:58 PM ^
This is hilarious because that is exactly how I always picture her
December 27th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
Games are won at the line of scrimmage.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:11 PM ^
Say this out loud in the voice of John Facenda, the NFL Films narrator. Slow-mo footage of old timey NFL players battling it out with taped-up fingers, arm casts, bloody chins, dented helmets, and missing teeth will instantly flow through your mind's eye...
December 27th, 2021 at 1:46 PM ^
And OSU had a great run at edge rushers... Bosa bros, Chase...
We are getting there. Winovich, Hutchinson, Ojabo. We need to continue this.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:05 PM ^
Speaks volumes to the impact of Hutchinson and Ojabo, but also the growth of Mazi Smith, Chris Hinton, and the rotation at DT. They've really come along
December 27th, 2021 at 2:15 PM ^
This is where I was most wrong in my preseason predictions. I thought we’d get destroyed up the middle this year. I thought our DTs would not hold up making our edge rushes pointless. I also didn’t think our LBs would be that good. Ross has been a great leader at LB and the DTs have done more than enough to make sure the outside rush gets home.
Can’t wait to see them all play two (hopefully) more times. Great team and great leadership.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:12 PM ^
Zeke, I owe you an apology. I called you a buckeye fan before the season started.
I'm sorry, sometimes I'm a turd
Keep the content coming
December 27th, 2021 at 2:24 PM ^
How do you know Zeke is not a Buckeyes fan.
December 27th, 2021 at 3:08 PM ^
Um, I'm not. The only other team I follow is Arizona because of Jedd Fisch/Don Brown. And I'll be keeping an eye on UMass/Don Brown now. Also, I have a lot of respect for Nick Saban. I should be jealous of him and want him to lose all the time. I used to. But the years have changed me. Now I am just impressed with how he keeps a high level everywhere on the team. But no, I am not a fan of Ohio St. I hope what I see happening with Ryan Day, that being a head coach is turning out to be much harder than he thought it would be and he's in over his head, will continue. I think Utah is going to beat them.
December 27th, 2021 at 4:22 PM ^
Arizona State?
December 27th, 2021 at 4:39 PM ^
I saw that. I fixed it.
December 27th, 2021 at 5:20 PM ^
I thought you were an Ohio St. for a while too for 2 reasons:
I didn’t notice your name until Zeke Elliott was the OSU back and you were so in the tank for Greg Mattison but seemingly only after he left.
I only became convinced you weren’t an OSU troll when some of your takes resonated with my own - you seemed like someone who, like myself, wanted so badly for M to be successful but growing so skeptical of the same old stuff.
December 27th, 2021 at 7:27 PM ^
I don't think I was here when Ezekiel Elliot was playing at Ohio St.
But I am a fan of Greg Mattison. Look at all the great D Line players Michigan had under him.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:30 PM ^
Your profile says 2 years 9 mos. that’s 3 seasons after Elliott left OSU. I guess I just made the connection on my own.
December 27th, 2021 at 2:57 PM ^
And Putin said I'm an Ohio St troll.
I have no idea why you guys thought that.
But apology accepted. I've made bad mistakes too. Learn and move up and on.
More content. Well, maybe. I got some bad and strange news from a friend a week ago. I haven't made a post since, until today. Haven't really felt like it. Been soul searching about life.
December 27th, 2021 at 3:21 PM ^
I always read your name as “Ezekiel Elliott’s Creatures.” That’s why I always assume you’re a Buckeye fan.
December 27th, 2021 at 4:41 PM ^
I don't know if he has a copyright on the name.
December 27th, 2021 at 5:49 PM ^
Maybe if it was THE Ezekiel's Creatures.
December 27th, 2021 at 7:05 PM ^
lol
That's funny Chuck.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:17 PM ^
It's important to note that "highest graded" doesn't necessarily mean best
Edit since people are taking this personally: PFF grades based on decisions made and making the right play, not necessarily stats and play outcome. It's the reason Shea Patterson was graded higher than Justin Fields in 2019 and why Corum was graded higher than Kenneth Walker despite Walker being a borderline Heisman contender and Corum being our #2 back
December 27th, 2021 at 1:20 PM ^
I'd love to see the Venn diagram on that.
Edit: I think the point you make is a worthy one. But I'm not persuaded since you're really just saying that there are better metrics to use to determine what D-line is the best. Using your own definition, this is a unit that, more than any other defensive line in the country, made the right decision and the right play. You rightly say that this doesn't necessarily translate into better stats. But you're presuming that the only (or best) quantitative metric to reach the qualitative statement, "this is the best defensive line," are game statistics. (which ones do you find persuasive? a composite?) My point about the Venn diagram was to suggest that there's likely to be quite a bit of overlap between the highest graded defensive line and the one labeled the best.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:32 PM ^
What does it all mean?
December 27th, 2021 at 9:20 PM ^
Does this mean that PFF grades also account for good coaching (i.e., being taught/conditioned to make the right decisions)? Honest question from someone non-versed. If so, I'd consider it a good sign that we have a staff that can up the game of D-Linemen. Would be a good recruiting point.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:18 PM ^
Wait... so M has the best offensive and defensive lines in the country?
By way of comparison, this is what a set of pillow-soft lines looks like:
December 27th, 2021 at 1:27 PM ^
The PFF grade on those lines? 42-27.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:33 PM ^
With 100 reasons why.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:25 PM ^
Elite D Line play is one of the major characteristics that invariably defines national title contenders. Perhaps second only to QB play... and perhaps it's not second at all.
I thought our window for this had closed after 2018. We figured Aidan would be good, but the rest of the DL coming on as it has was a surprise to me. And, of course, Aidan hasn't been "good" this year. He has been transcendant.
It's not a coincidence that these are the top three lines. Not at all.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:41 PM ^
Seems like a DL with elite pass rushers is the trump card against an elite QB/passing attack. Think of Brady and NE losing to the Giants in 2008 Super Bowl and the Bucs beating Mahomes and the Chiefs last year. Those two stick out to me, but I am sure there are other examples. Unfortunately, Georgia doesn't have an elite passing attack or an elite QB, and we will need to stop their running attack. If we can stop their run game, I think Michigan will win this game. If we struggle to stop their ground game, we are looking at a low scoring rock fight that will likely come down to turnovers, FGs, and a little luck.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:45 PM ^
Think of Brady and NE losing to the Giants in 2008 Super Bowl
Oh, I think of this often and quite fondly, since I'm from the Bronx and live in New England.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:48 PM ^
Yep. Hitting the QB is the best way to throw off a passing game. Those bumps and bruises effect mechanics, and mentally, it can speed up their clock and throw timings off. Hit the QB early and often.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:42 PM ^
So PFF has Michigan with the Best D line in football. Michigan just won the award for best Oline in America.
How are we 7 point underdogs?
December 27th, 2021 at 1:46 PM ^
Geography. We are not in the SEC.
December 27th, 2021 at 2:00 PM ^
The same reason why a 1 loss Michigan was under dogs to a 1 loss OSU...
The same reason why a fan base wanted to fire a coach after multiple 10+ winning seasons.
Perception.
Let's prove them wrong again!
December 27th, 2021 at 2:35 PM ^
They have 19 5* recruits on their team. We have 2. That's why. They have a massive amount of NFL talent.
December 27th, 2021 at 5:14 PM ^
Saw this earlier..its just an insane talent differential...because, yes, stars matter. But this UM coaching staff is 5-Star elite and might just be able to scheme UM's 4-stars to a win over their 5-stars. If UM wins the MVP may be Gattis and the offensive coaching staff.
December 27th, 2021 at 5:18 PM ^
So did Ohio State
December 27th, 2021 at 1:47 PM ^
Aidan's picture in that tweet is bad, as compared to the others. He looks strained and unsure. Sometimes (often-times) I question the picture selection that editors make...
I knew the DL was playing really good, but I didn't think it was playing this good! No doubt that Aidan and David lead the way here, but this line grade doesn't come without some pretty solid D-Tackles, also.
December 27th, 2021 at 2:25 PM ^
Seriously? Your take from this is "I don't like the picture they used of Hutchinson"?
December 27th, 2021 at 2:55 PM ^
Don't you get a kick outta this goof?
December 27th, 2021 at 3:25 PM ^
I mean, they kinda almost did have 20. I can remember quite a few that very well could have been caught. So, did they nearly have 20 INTs? One can make that argument. You're welcome. :D
December 28th, 2021 at 1:29 PM ^
Alright, I'll take it! Plus there's more games to play, let's still get there.
December 27th, 2021 at 3:52 PM ^
I appreciate the link. I’m enjoying going back and looking at all the preseason predictions in light of what we know now.
December 27th, 2021 at 2:56 PM ^
After years of hearing how competitive our lines were in practice only to find out later that neither were actually very good, hence the "competition", it's great having iron sharpen iron. Keep this going and it'll keep feeding our improved o and d line play!!!