Thursday, September 26, 2019

Michigan Thursday: Where are Michigan's DT's?

Michigan under Greg Mattison always seemed to have great defensive tackles and defensive ends.    We all know who the star DE's were, but how about the tackles?  Guys like Willie Henry, Chris Wormley, Mo Hurst, or Bryan Mone (who made the Seahawks as a non-drafted free agent).

Carlo Kemp who came to Michigan as a LB/DE has played a lot this year and showed flashes, but still seems to be out of position.  Dwumfour and Jeter have both been hurt and limited or not played at all (Dwumfour has had one snap all season).

These are the other DT's on the roster:

  • Chris Hinton, Freshman 
  • Ben Mason, Junior Former FB
  • Carl Myers, Senior Walk-on
  • Joey George, Sophomore Walk-on
  • Mazi Smith, Freshman 
  • Jess Speight, Junior Walk-on
  • Phil Paea, Junior 
  • Julius Welschof, Sophomore
I'm on record very loudly that I hate the defense Don Brown has been playing.  For some reason he wants to play a 3 man defensive line against Army and Wisconsin who do nothing but run the ball.  The reason is, he wants Glasgow on the field even when the opponent is in short yardage.    

I'm a huge fan of Ben Mason, but how the hell did he move over from FB and start beating out the other players on the list?  Phil Paea has been playing on the OL but he is 300 pounds and I would much rather have him in there then a OT pushing the 226 pound Glasgow around in short yardage.   What about the talented freshman, Hinton and Smith? I know Welschof came to A2 very raw but he can't get a few snaps?

I'm concerned about the offense with the turnovers, miss reads, and OL play but I'm more concerned about Don Brown and this defense which is clearly declining.   The injuries to Dwumfour and Jeter could be the most costly on the team.   I think Don Brown is killing this team in his defensive schemes and poor preparation.  

Don's style is to play man to man coverage and blitz the LB's against he pass.   The issue is Michigan isn't stopping the run and when the DB's are in man they have their back to the QB, which means he can get yards anytime he wants by scrambling.  The predicable blitz is also costing Michigan's defense as its very easy to throw a screen or a QB draw when you know the blitz is coming.   How you game plan to do that against the best RB in the nation, blows my mind. 

It's also fair to say that the middle of the defensive line played decent against Wisconsin and Taylor broke contain and made all his yards outside.   Which means the DE's, DB's, and LB's where out of position.   When Kemp would beat a block they were running away from him. 

  • The Urban Meyer to Michigan rumor is the dumbest thing I've ever heard.  

  • Gattis did say that ZC has been limited and missed a day of practice last week and that DPJ didn't practice last week but felt good enough to play on Saturday.   


29 comments:

MichiganMan said...

Bob, I know it may never happen about Urban coming to A2. But, the idea of it makes me forget about all the frustrations for the past 12yrs.


MichiganMan said...

Michigan 24 Rutgers 21

Unknown said...

Urban would come to AA in a split second once offered. He has no problem beating OSU and did it while at Florida. Also, we all know he was shown the door at OISU and we all know he loves to get revenge. He is head and shoulders above any coach we have had since Bo. I would welcome him and love it. Don't forget, meany athletes and coaches have gone to their main rival in every sport. If we are to arrogant to say NO to Urban is foolish and deserve any 2 bit mac coach replace JH and he will be gone at years end.

Unknown said...

TURN URBAN BLUE!!!!!

Cmfgoblue said...

Urban Meyer would not be my first choice... but 0-4 against osu sure wasnt my first choice either

Cmfgoblue said...

Bob you once posted about Jim being “ King of the North”, we all thought he could be... He is Stannis Baratheon reborn... no magical sword is being wielded for sure..... Urban is King in the North... whether we like it or not... many a good man has bent the knee...

Goose said...

This is fun here's my fantasy
Bill belichick head coach
Dabo sweeney offensive coordinator
Nick Saban defensive coordinator
Tom Brady quarterback coach
Charles Woodson d.b. coach
Mark dantonio special teams coach
Jim Harbaugh public relations
Urban meyer janitor/ beer vendor.

Cmfgoblue said...

We would have the coldest beers and the cleanest bathrooms to date

MichiganMan said...

If Michigan does ever offer Urban with the right amount of money he will come to Ann Arbor....

Cmfgoblue said...

Michigan man! Cheers to you for keeping things real and lets make this happen....The great Tim Russert once had a pray for a football team may this one be answered....

Goose said...

Lol cmf.

Cmfgoblue said...

Cheers to you as well goose I appreciate all of your comments...this blog is very fun even if Saturdays are not right now...

Voice of Reason said...

When we take a look at the current DL configuration is there any wonder why Michigan couldn't stop Wisconsin? We love our kids and we know they are giving what they have on the field but it should be no real surprise when they get pushed back by a stronger line.

Regarding Urban Meyer, he is not coming to Michigan. Like I said before, when he left Florida he wouldn't come to Michigan because we didn't have the talent. He went to osu because they were already stock piled with talent going back for years. Jim Tressel took over from John Cooper and all he needed to do was coach the team, he knew he had more quality depth than we did that is why he could make that "you'll be proud of your team in November" comment in his first year.

When Urban Meyer took over from Jim Tressel it was the same thing. Meyer inherited a loaded roster that was ALREADY WINNING, while Michigan was struggling. Almost anyone can be a great coach when you have deep experienced talent already there waiting for you. Harbaugh has rebuilt this roster to be somewhat competitive but keep in mind that osu like Alabama has been doing this when Michigan was struggling to beat Akron and the other MAC level schools under RR and Hoke. Yes, Harbaugh was able to do something with Hoke's players but let's be real, the talent that was here when Harbaugh arrived although nice was no where near the level of Alabama or Clemson's; remember when we got our lunch handed to us by Alabama in the first game of the season under Hoke's second year? Moral of the story: Nice talent doesn't compare with the top talent. And also keep in mind that this same Nick Saban couldn't win at all several years as msu, but when he went to LSU and his boosters help (cough: pay) recruit their players was when he started to win.
That practice seemed to continued at Alabama. As long as Michigan insists on not cheating and doing things the "right way," (aka) no boosters, bag men, or buying parents cars and houses then it will likely take longer to recruit and accumulate great students that want what Michigan has to offer.

Building a roster often takes a few years because not only do you have to recruit and sign the talent, they have to pan out and then you have to develop that talent. Ask Dabo Swinney of Clemson, it took him more than a few years to build Clemson and his record wasn't quite as good as Harbaugh's during his first 4-5 years. The school was patient probably because they didn't have the expectations as we do at... MICHIGAN!!! Now look at them they are the defending National Champions.

Let me close with this point, when Michigan was trying to replace Lloyd Carr they couldn't get a top tier coach to come to Michigan because if they could then they would have gotten one (IMO), but the proof was in the results.

Now we're talking about firing Harbaugh and hoping that he quits...when we don't have any idea who with a greater coaching resume "would" come here and turn this team into an instant champion. There are very few coaches the quality of Jim Harbaugh (yes I said it), and the ONLY, ONLY, ONLY reason that we have him at Michigan is because he is an alum of this school and loves Michigan. But yet, we're trying to chase him away.

No one wants to beat osu more than Harbaugh, and I believe that in spite of this slow start that we are closer to doing that than we think.

When osu was "curb stomped" by Purdue and Iowa and almost lost to Maryland no one said that they should fire Meyer (because of it). So when he out coaches Michigan now everyone forgets about it. Michigan struggles in a stretch and now the fans want to burn the ships. Go ahead and jump ship. I hope we don't turn into a Tennessee that chased away potential coaches. IMHO!!!

Cmfgoblue said...

Holy cow.....some people just cannot see it... urban won a national championship before getting curb stomped by purdue... even if Harbaugh beat osu he is still 1-4! Terrible!!!!

Captain Froglipps said...

Just give it a little more time...zzzzzz... a little more time zzzzz.... somebody hit the snozee button and wake up!

I think this Urban Meyer thing is getting out of hand... it's just wishful thinking (I believe), although pragmatic thinking.... it's like it's a hundred out and you are thirsty, and dream of a nice "cold one" or a large coke "with ice", but you will not be able to get one for a few hours

When the time comes for a new coach we will look for a "mother Teresa type", that also knows football"

Yes, Voice of reason is right... look at Nebraska and Tennessee, were not happy with great results, now they are bottom feeders.

Then you could point to examples of success.... my but still burns with the reception and treatment Rich Rod got, never made to feel at home and supported here... no we had to concentrate on "man-ball"... that's 40 yards against Wisconsin "sissy ball". Ohio State went spread, but we had to be "men", maybe we are "shemales"

Captain Froglipps said...

I do not think enough is said about our Q back missing open receivers (with consistency)... that's were the problem lies a bit, okay, protection is poor, but hit "quick hitters". I am the best arm chair coach in Texas.

Unknown said...

Meyer has a huge ego and that ego could be fed by a OSU man having to come in and clean up Harbaughs mess. Jim hire Gattis without even a one on one interview. I look at it this way, Urban is the best available coach currently that does not have a current Head coaching job. He can recruit and hire good assistants. We have a head coach that does not even call plays and if he is calling that crap he needs to go. Michigan, and i have been a fan for 57 years, is not in a position to hire a so called Michigan man just to keep up appearances. Time to swallow some pride and get the best coach possible. Meyer is and always has been a hired gun and Bo knows we need one.

MichiganMan said...

I am sick and tired of this stupid non-sense about "Michigan Man"...we haven't won a championship in 70yrs...1997 don't even count.....it is time to look for a young talented coach with modern football ideology in mind.

Lets go Lincoln Riley!!!

Unknown said...

Gosse, great reply man...you are funny. Maybe you should read what former Michigan stars are saying about our program. Steve Hutchinson, Charles W, B. Edwards, D.Howard and many others are saying it is time for JH to resign. All i am saying is this time we need to hire the best guy available even if he is not a Mich man. right now Meyer is not coaching and best available, unless you want to get some OC or DC from the MAC or Div 2. Your type of thinking is what has this program headed to the crapper.

Goose said...

I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused. I'll start thinking differently from now on. Thanks.

MichiganMan said...

Goose... Go away You're uneducated

MichiganMan said...

This program needs somebody like Urban Myers bottom line

Goose said...

Wait, I'm thinking differently now. I kinda thought me you & urban can all be friends. We could lie cheat & cover up all sorts of crimes and unethical behavior. It will be a real hoot.

Unknown said...

Voice of reason, Michigan has been curb stomped 3 of their last 5 games and almost lost to Army. I would take L. Riley but to say we need to stick with Harbaugh is insane. He has no fire this year and looks lost. The team is a shell of what it was a year at this time. We will get curb stomped, RKO'D, pedigreed and tombstone pile driven by MSU, Penn ST., OSU and we will lose to Iowa. TURN URBAN BLUE.

Goose said...

All jokes aside, I wonder if college football in a 4 team playoff world has given college football less parody than at any other time in the history of the sport. There are 4 or 5 teams that are consistently in the playoff and it seems interesting to me that those teams tend to be separated by regions. Ohio in the north,bama in the south, Clemson in the east & Oklahoma out west. My theory is most 5 star kids go to one of these 4 schools in Hopes of increasing their chances of playoff & national championships.
Michigan is not the only traditional powerhouse program that is struggling in the modern playoff system. Texas, USC, Oregon, Florida state, Nebraska. All traditional football powerhouses all struggling to get anywhere near the playoffs. My point I guess is there are about 5 or 6 elite programs and then there is everyone else. Michigan is an everyone else. No matter how bad we want them to be elite. Expand the playoffs renew parody in college football or every year will be more of the same. Just thoughts from my simple mind.

Cormac said...

I have to say that anyone who wants or even entertains the laughable idea that Michigan would Urban Meyer, you're a bloody IDIOT! Michigan prides itself on doing things the RIGHT way. The legal and moral way. I believe that former players would lead a revolt. If you thought that the Michigan social media had a meltdown because of a single loss, just wait if Michigan were to hire Urban Meyer.

cincykid said...

we should have never fired Gary Moeller.

Captain Froglipps said...

Interesting comment by Goose. about the play-off system creating a disparity in recruiting, there by creating super teams... never thought about it... but believe the theory could be quite valid.

Intended to solve a problem, created a new, unsolvable one unless you shorten the season and include conference championships in the play-off picture... a sweet sixteen is plausible.... then you would have to expand that....

Did college play-off picture create a unintended monster? Good analytical thinking Goose, maybe you are related to VOR.

Cmfgoblue said...

Good thing Harbaugh learned one thing from coach Ditka.... commercials.... good job coach! Hey there is a game tomorrow... um... your in charge.... just thought you should know....