Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Michigan Tuesday: Masterclass in Game Planning and Corum is Back!

On Monday night the only 2 teams that beat the Wolverines over the past 12 months played each other.  Cinderella's clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve and their run was over.   In turn the National Championship game turned into one of the worst blowouts in college football this past season.   Which led to two different emotions:  

1) How did Michigan lose to this terrible team?

2) Glad our team didn't get that beat down on Monday.

Let's start at the top.  I really think 3 things, hurt the Wolverines in the CFP.  One - the month off killed all of Michigan's momentum.  Two - Michigan's coaches underestimated TCU and came in with a very poor game plan.  Three - Michigan waited way too long to open up the passing game.  Scoring 6 points against that terrible defense in the 1st half is a crime (TCU's last 6 quarters they gave up 104 points).  Last point, TCU's QB Max Duggan is gritty and plays hard but he is not an NFL starting QB.  He is not an accurate passer and if he can't scramble, TCU can't win.  Did you know he passed for only 225 yards against Michigan? 152 yards last night. 

I think Michigan would've been a better match-up against Georgia, but without Corum and a healthy Edwards hand.  I don't see the Wolverines winning that game.  Georgia's game plan was a masterclass on how to beat everything TCU had success with against Michigan. 

On to next season..............

Speaking of next season, Michigan had some NFL decisions on Monday:

  • Blake Corum decided to stay in school for another season.  Reports are he has a full tear of his meniscus, needs 6 months recovery time and NIL money came through.  Smart decision and it's great to have him back! 
  • Mike Morris declared for the NFL Draft 
  • Mazi Smith declared for the NFL Draft 
Mike and Mazi's decisions were not a surprise and Michigan will have some big shoes to fill on the defensive line.   Jimmy did his Broncos' virtual interview on Monday and the Bronco's asked permission to interview a number of other folks.  If he does an in-person interview, it will become more serious.  I don't expect any interest from Phoenix after watching Harbaugh coach in their stadium. 

  • Michigan finished #3 in the AP Poll. 
  • Alan Bowman is transferring to Oklahoma State.  Good for him.
  • Congratulations to walk-on RB Isaiah Gash who earned a scholarship!  
  • Vikings named Josh Metellus a team captain 

17 comments:

Ron said...

Hope he gets the job. I love him as a coach but if this is going to happen every year forget it let him go goodbye

Thom said...

The Jimmy soap opera continues. Each day this goes on is really great for recruiting. Might as well say goodby to whatever chance we had with the unsigned. And you all know who I am talking about.

szanreno said...

Let's see, every year he does this and every year recruiting suffers you say. But the last two years we've been to the playoffs. Must be the coaching right?!?

Tim said...

I am frustrated with the Jimmy soap opera as much as the next guy. However, Jimmy can coach and I am not ready to push him out the door. I remember RR roaming the sidelines and any conference win was huge ANY conference win at all and being competitive with OSU was out of the question.

Hoke wasn't much of an upgrade and he lost to Toledo!

Yes - this is frustrating but let's remember how low our program was before Jimmy arrived.

szanreno said...

Tim, true that...

Thom said...

You are correct...it must be the coaching. Give credit where credit is do. The coaching staff. The best he has done as a coach is hire some of the best to coach the talent up. When little jimmy leaves and all the coaches stay, Michigan won't miss beat with him and his antics gone.

szanreno said...

Everyone wants him gone, but who are you going to get. Unless their last name is Meyer, Sweeney, or Saban there isn't anybody, and two of those I wouldn't want. I don't want to hear PJ fleck, or Matt Campbell or Greg Schiano or etc they're not going to get you there. As far as I'm concerned Jimmy can stay as long as he wants...

Thom said...

Oh ya lets hear it for jimmy. Lets look at what he has done for Michigan since he was hired against the likes of our "Hated Rivals". Ohio State 2 wins 6 losses. Michigan State 3 wins 4 losses and Penn State 4 wins 3 losses. Total 9 wins 13 losses. If you want add in his Bowl Games, 1 win 7 losses. The guys is a real winner, against the cup cakes every year. A good way to pad his resume. Loves Michigan until the end of the season, when he can start begging for an NFL job.
Bothers little jimmy that Brother John has a Super Bowl Title. He just can't get over it.

szanreno said...

Boy I really hit a nerve, I'll try to go easier on you. How do you know that he wants a Super Bowl title like his brother? Has he personally told you this? I'm open to hear your alternatives as a coach...

Tim said...

Thom - serious question. How do you know all the coaches will stay? If they hire internally there is a decent chance some will stay (my opinion) but maybe not. If they go external the new guy will bring his team.

Yes - Jimmy did hire a bunch of young top notch coaches, but give Jim some credit. He found them and hired them. It's not like he just fell into them and did nothing.

And yes - his overall record isn't awesome. But he walked into a mess. His last two years have been as good any two years at MI.

I am old enough to remember many weak/ below average years. I believe pushing Jimmy out the door right now is premature.

szanreno said...

Let's suffer through the lean years and then when things get rolling in the right direction can him. Seems logical to me...

Thom said...

You don't have to worry about pushing him out the door. He's on his way all by him self sooner or later. IMHO it can't be soon enough to maybe rescue recruiting. Last year Michigan beat Ohio State for the first time under little jimmy,goes to the play-offs, then starts interviewing for the Vikings and ends losing top recruits. Looks like these 18 and 19 year old kids are smarter then a bunch of pundits. Why play for a University when your head coach says he will be there for you and then starts looking for another job. Also didn't little jimmy tell Warde that he was finished looking at the NFL? Answer me this...Why should any one believe what he says?

szanreno said...

Refresh my memory. What recruits did we miss out on? What were their names again?

Thom said...

Hard to refresh someone memory when they have no memory of little jimmy past.

Thom said...

Hey szanreno.....I didn't mean to push all your buttons...I was just trying to hit mute.
Have a nice day.

szanreno said...

Still nothing...

Rudy said...

After watching TCU last night, I'm convinced our biggest mistake agains them was getting in the way of them trying to be lousy. GA was smart enough to let the train go ahead and wreck. Props to Sunny for getting to the natti in his first year but that team was punching above it's weight class the whole time! If Jimmy goes, I think it'll be Indianapolis. But I think he's staying. Team next year should be as good or better and playoffs chances are legit. After next year, the shelves will start to run dry as evidenced by this poor recruiting year. That's the time to bail.