Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Wolverine Wednesday: What Have We Learned Through 3 Weeks

Michigan has now completed its 3 game non-conference schedule with only a little scare from Bowling Green with an assist by multiple turnovers.  Now, they start the Big Ten portion of the schedule on Saturday as Wolverines welcome Rutgers to the Big House.   What have we learned about this team through 3 games?

  1. Teams watched the TCU tape: Many of us thought that Michigan would be able to line up against anyone and run the ball down their throats.   That has not been the case through 3 games and Michigan opponents are loading the box to shut down the run. 
  2. JJ Can Be Really Good: With opponents saying, "beat us by the pass" JJ has honored that request with 2-3 really good games.  Roman Wilson is always open and he needs to find more TE's.  If he makes the right reads and puts some air on the deep ball, Michigan will be in good shape. 
  3. Defense is playing well: Michigan has been beat up in the secondary and the defense has been playing great.  The starting defense has only given up field goals and hopefully Johnson and Moore will be back this week. 
  4. Special Teams can be special again:  Michigan had really good special teams the last few years with Moody the best kicker in the country and AJ returning punts.  Seems Turner is now more comfortable after a shaky first game. 
  5. Concerns? The depth in the secondary is a concern if Michigan gets more injuries there.  The pass rush has been good, but the 3 offensive lines were questionable.  Michigan needs to be more creative to get the running game going.  More Donovan Edwards please! How about a traditional screen pass?

I'm a bit concerned about Michigan on the road.  The Wolverines haven't played well at Nebraska and Penn State is one of the top teams in the league/country.  The teams and challenges are only going to increase from this point on.  

  • Top Pressure Rates in the NFL through 2 games: #1 Josh Uche: 25.0%
  • OSU AD Gene Smith is telling congress today that recruits are asking for $5000 just to do an official visit.

5 comments:

Chowman said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tom said...

I think recruits should be able to ask for $5,000 or any amount to visit a campus.
No one is forcing anybody to pay that amount. This is a free country. The kid's time is very VALUABLE.

However, the colleges should come up with a mutally agreeable commitment that the recruit has to abide with (so that a recruit has to be honest and have integrity that he's truly interested in that college). Something like earnest money of $500 - or 10-20% of the fee he's received - that has to be returned to that college if he decides not to attend there.

Otherwise, you'll create a marked to scam colleges.

Chowman said...

Not sure I completely agree with point #1 entirely. Sure teams are going to load the box, but I don't think any of the first 3 opponents have the horses to stand up to the UofM OL for a full game. Also thought in the first 2 games both Corum and Edwards showed a lack of patience to let the blocking set up

2. Yes JJ can be good, but he's shown he can be not very good either. There are times he locks into his primary receiver and forces balls that he shouldn't throw.

3. Defense has some concerns. The edges haven't been getting to the QBs as much as you'd think playing the likes of ECU, UNLV, and BG. Most of the pressure has been coming from the DTs. Bottom line: the D hasn't faced a dynamic multi-facet offensive attack yet. And yes CB depth is an issue.

4. I don't know that Turner's been really tested yet. He seems to have recovered from game 1, but he's also not had to kick in a pressure situation yet! Moody was money!

szanreno said...

Paying a prospect / recruit any amount over his travel expenses is nothing more than blackmail... College football is now in a no return downfall...

MichiganMan said...

Guys lets talk about what Michigan is not doing...it is running wild on you...

Blue for life