Wolverine Wednesday: Contract Signed

Warde didn't want to give Sherrone a contract until Michigan lost a football game.   Of course, that is not accurate.  Who knows what it takes to get a head coach contract approved at Michigan?  I'm sure it has to go through the Regents and everyone.  Many folks didn't know Bo didn't have a contract until late in his career. 

Sherrone has signed his contract and now has to worry about winning a Big Ten Championship.  

• Denard, Braylon, Mike Martin, and Shawn Crable are suing the NCAA and BTN for $50M for lost NIL rights.  Good luck guys. 

• Can we have a Butch Davis CAM this weekend?

• Jake Moody is the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Michigan Tuesday: An Offensive Problem

I will go back to my statement that I wrote in the post game.  I believe the Michigan Coaches are not stupid, mostly on the offensive side of the ball.  They knew Michigan didn't have an experienced QB and JJ wasn't walking through that door.  They also knew this offensive line was lacking experience and quality starts.  

Which makes what Michigan is trying to do very strange in my mind.  They are acting like its last season and running the same damn plays.  This offensive line is not suited for a power run game and Edwards is not a power runner.  They are not running special plays for Orji and just asking him to run the wildcat.  I'm not 100% out on Warren but he is not JJ and the running game is nowhere near where it was and the offensive line is struggling.  

Changes that need to be made:

1. Donovan Edwards is your best WR use him there.  

2. Run some damn play action. 

3. There must be special triple option plays for Orji or keep him on the bench.  Including throws. 

4. Open up the run game - Outside zone runs 

5. Traditional screens

6. If Tuttle is healthy, put him in the game.

7. Run plays with both Edwards and Mullins on the field

8. Think about removing the FB from the offense and spread the field 

9. Find your best combination on the OLine, it seems each week is an experiment 

10. If the offense continues to struggle it's Davis time.  

To remind everyone, Alabama was in this exact position last season.  They lost to Texas at home and Milrose was benched.  They fixed things and made it to the playoffs.  

Michigan's defense and Wink was exposed on Saturday.  He got completely out coached and that is a crime with his NFL background.  Everyone that reads this blog knows I think Wink is washed but some fans worried about him being Don Brown.  I wasn't worried about that but after the Texas game I'm now concerned he is Don Brown 2.  His job was to confuse a college QB and that QB laughed at him as he was throwing TD's. A washed OG.  

The offense might get a little bit better as the season moves forward.  The defense was supposed to be elite now.  They better fix things quickly or this season will be a wash.  

• RIP to the GOAT James Earl Jones.  That intro in the Big House is something special.  

• Money Moody was 6-6 in field goals for 49'ers last night on MNF.

• Harbaugh's new commercial is pretty good 

Michigan Monday: A Too Early Look at Arkansas State

We will get in how to correct the offense later this week.  I have thoughts as I'm sure you do as well.   For some reason, ND losing to a MAC school, PSU struggling with a MAC school, and Iowa losing to its instate rival made Saturday somewhat bearable.  

Jim won his first NFL game after his return to the league and Mike MacDonald won his head coach debut as the Seahawks Head Coach.  Neither game was easy on the eyes but a Win is a Win.  

Congrats to Sparty who upset Maryland on the road.  They made a good hire in East Lansing and a guy that will worry more about the X and O's than the other instate school. 

As Ann Arbor legend Bob Seger sings, time to "Turn the Page"

Arkansas State: 2-0 

Anyone guess their nickname?  Red Wolves is correct! 

Next question: Anyone guess who their head coach is?..............Butch Jones 

Best Win: Tulsa 28-24 last week.   After Michigan they play Iowa State. 

2023: They were 6-7

Pass: 286 per (37th)

Run: 140.5 (85th) 

Score: 37 (45th)

Give up: 27.5 (102nd) 

Butch is going to bring in a talented dual-threat QB in Jaylen Raynor who leads the team in passing of course and also rushing.  Michigan will need to spy him with one if its speedy LB's.   Butch dreamed of being a head coach in the Big House while he worked in Big Rapids and Mt. Pleasant.   Now he is counting on Michigan having a hangover from the Texas game and will overlook the Red Wolves. 

• Looks like the game we were hoping to get on Saturday was played Sunday night at Ford Field.  Was hoping to see Blake take a few snaps at RB.  

• Michigan is now #16 

• Are you aware there is a conflict between Comcast/Xfinity and BTN about the former PAC 12 teams now in the Big Ten?  Some viewers have those games blacked out in certain markets. 

 

A $20M Problem

I'm in the camp that believes coaches who live and breathe football 24x7 are not stupid.  Michigan was an elite team the last two years.  They had an elite QB, RB, OL, and Defense.  That combination Michigan rode to a National Championship after two years of hitting their head on the door of the CFP's.

Texas is the new Michigan and they proved that on Saturday.  

There are plenty of reasons to point to on what happened Saturday.  But the biggest is $20M. 

Ohio State, Miami, Oregon, Texas, etc was tired of losing and went into the portal and spent a boatload of money to bring talent to their programs.   Many of these teams tried to fish from Michigan's roster.  Alabama landed our backup Safety for $2-$3M.  Just think what Graham, Will Johnson, or Ken Grant would've fetched in the open market.  

This is college football now and you either spend with the big boys or your Clemson or Iowa.  Guess where Michigan is trending to. 

Fuck what happened yesterday.  We have 2023 and Early 2024.  Texas is the better team all around.  It wasn't close and Michigan wasn't even trying to win in the 2nd half.  It would've been a good game last season. 

Back to the $20M.  Sherrone and his new staff could clearly assess this team that 100% lacks playmakers on offense with a brand new offensive line.  They went into the portal and got a slot WR from Youngstown State.  Michigan didn't have $20M to spend and what they did have they spent on saving the current stars on defense.   I'm not saying either one is a life saver but Michigan had two former backup QB's starting for other teams on Saturday.   Matt Weiss and his lack of QB recruiting (or lack of money to recruit a QB) has potentially killed this season.  Michigan's best offensive player is a transfer and it's a kicker.  

How do you not bring in a serviceable QB?  Or another starting WR?  No money =No Championships.  This is college football now and the reason Saban works for ESPN now. 

I was against the Wink hire from the start.  Michigan had success with young DC's that could recruit and develop talent.  Wink might be the OG of this system but he is washed.  He was washed in the NFL and everyone knew it.  This team had to win on defense and it clearly didn't yesterday. 

Michigan has too many problems on offense to list.  We can dig into that next weekend.  Jack Tuttle please save us!