Preview Wisconsin

Time: 12:00

Location: Big House 

Weather: Hot 80-87 No Rain 

TV: Fox 

Line: Michigan -17.5

When Wisconsin hired Luke Fickell I thought it was a great hire for them.  A traditional football coach that likes to run the ball and play great defense.  What a perfect fit for at team with the same sensibilities.  Luke wears the word TEAM on the back of his jacket.  I know what team means, but there is clearly a second meaning to Luke:  Together, Everyone, Achieves, More  (which is an accurate statement).  

The problem is Luke tried to change the offense when he got there and it's been a disaster because he loses a transfer QB to injury every year when the team really just wants to run the ball and Jump Around.  This year Wisconsin has loses to Alabama and Maryland back-to-back, barley beating Miami of Ohio, and blew out MTSU.   After Michigan they have Iowa, Ohio State, and Oregon in the next 3 games.

Dear Sherrone:

Welcome back coach! Did you enjoy your vacation?  Biff did a nice job while you were out and even had a funny back and forth with Saban on Game Day.   Biff gave you 2 wins going into your bye week, which was the goal.  

Now back to business this Saturday with a frisky Wisconsin team coming into Ann Arbor.  Yes, they are struggling but this is not a game you can overlook.  Wisconsin and Michigan always play a close game no matter where the game is played.  

We need to discuss the injuries.  It seems the players are getting hurt during practice and during Fall Camp.  I like that your being physical during practice but it may be impacting your depth chart.  The Nebraska injury report was ridiculous.  Re-thinking how you practice is going to be very important as the year moves on.  Many times the healthiest team wins championships. 

Now to the wide receivers.  You have a great one in McCulley and some really good Tight Ends.  I would like to see the young WR's use their speed to go deep and then hit the TE's for first down and in the red zone.  If Simpson knows the playbook lets try to see if he can fill the slot WR role.  Not sure you have the time to watch Chad Powers but I hear Ronnie Bell is available. :)

I know you have another high profile road trip next week and lets not let the team over look the Badgers.  They are looking for anything to save their season and a win at the Big House would suffice.  Let's continue the evolution of the offense on Saturday.  Get Justice 100 yards on the ground and Bryce 250 yards passing.  I also would like to see the defense keep the Wisconsin offense to under 10 points.   My hope is the team is healthiest its been all season and we see the best players we have on both sides of the ball on Saturday.   Play clean football,execute on both sides of the ball, and be great on special teams.

Michigan 28 Wisconsin 9 

A Michigan Chad Powers Situation and Big Ten Preview

First a funny:  Chad Powers was a funny idea by Eli Manning that now has become a show on Hulu.  So that got me thinking.  Follow me here:

• Michigan has issues at WR 
• The Lions just cut Ronnie Bell from the practice squad 
• Ronnie has a brother on Michigan right now
• Can we make this happen? 😀

Big Ten Weekend Preview Week 6

No Friday games this week. Not a great week for Big Ten match-ups. 

Illinois (-9.5) @ Purdue:  Illinois is a strange team, they get waxed by IU and then beat USC at home by 2 points.  Illinois 28 Purdue 20

Penn State (-26.5) @ UCLA:  There is no better medicine for a heart wrenching loss last weekend then playing UCLA with a free trip to LA.  PSU 45 UCLA 7 

Washington (-6.5) @ Maryland:  I think the Terps are on a heater.  I will take them in this boring game.  Maryland 24 UW 21

UL Monroe @ Northwestern (-11.5):  No idea here.  I hope NW has the better team but I'm concerned.  NW 21 ULM 14

MSU @ Nebraska (-11.5):  One of the best Big Ten games this week.  Nebraska takes another shot at a Michigan team at home.  I like Nebraska but I think Sparty competes.  Nebraska 31 MSU 27 

Minnesota @ OSU (-23.5):  The Glen Mason Bowl (I think like 8 people gets that reference).  Can Minnesota pull off the biggest upset in the history of the program?  I think not.  OSU 34 Minnesota 10 

Wolverine Wednesday: News and Notes

• Dusty grabbed another commit this morning at 4-star 6'5 shooting guard Joseph Hartman committed to Michigan Basketball.  He is rated as a top 65 prospect!

• Tigers got 1 against Cleveland in the Wildcard! 

• The GOAT Jr. will visit A2 soon and is now being predicted to be a Wolverine!  

• Speaking of the GOAT,  Woodson Whisky and Champions Circle is selling a special Bourbon that helps Michigan NIL 

• Michigan is expected to have a few visitors in town this weekend that are flip candidates from other programs.  LB's and CB's please!

Michigan Tuesday: Wolverine WR Problems

Michigan has some WR issues right now.  Donaven McCulley is the clear #1 with great hands, size, and winning 50/50 balls.  Semaj Morgan has good experience and can be electric, he just has too many drops. 

We have yet to have a Fred Moore sighting, Andrew Marsh seems very talented but has made some crucial freshman mistakes already. Channing Goodwin had a really nice start to the season but also has had issues catching the rock lately. 

Other WR Options:

#5 Anthony Simpson is the UMass and Arizona transfer.  He has a lot of catches in his career.  He might need more time on the field. 

#6 Jamar Browder got some nice camp buzz but has only played a few snaps against CMU.

#8 I'Marion Stewart has been on the injury report most weeks 

#10 Kendrick Bell, Ronnie's brother has been more a special teams player this year. 

#82 CJ Charleston who made a couple good catches last year has also been injured this season.

BHB Solution:

I think we need more experience to go with McCulley.  That would be Simpson in my mind, if he knows the offense.  He and Semaj can rotate at slot receiver.  If Simpson has better hands, then you have one issue fixed. 

Next, bring the youth.  Get Browder and Marsh more snaps, bring the speed to the field and let them run go routes.  Spread the offense a little and see if one of those guys is the next Manningham. Lastely, Bryce has to find the TE's more, they are walking miss matches on LB's.   They need more targets! 

Health and hands seems to be the #1 and #2 issues in the WR room right now. 

• USC game in less then 2 weeks will be a 7:30 kick on NBC.  

• I hope I have NBC then as Youtube TV and NBC are now in negotiations with a deadline pending.

• Coach Morgan was out to see the GOAT's son Charles Woodson Jr. in Orlando last week.