Michigan Tuesday: How Much? and a Too Early Look at Alabama

I usually don't read NFL insider articles on Jim Harbaugh wanting to go to the NFL.  They were wrong about him coming to Michigan and rarely have accurate information from the Harbaugh side.  For some reason, I did read The Rap Report by Ian Rapoport about Harbaugh before Christmas and he stated Michigan not only has offered the 5 year for 11M per year contract, but there is also a 10 year 125M deal on the table as well.  

That is the first I've heard of the 10 year/125M offer on the table.  If this big offer is truly on the table, in my mind there are two possible scenarios going on:

1. They are trying to work out the details of the offer and contract, 

2. Jimmy is slow playing this until after the CFP and NFL season concludes to see what options he has. 

I obviously don't like the #2 option at all.  

Moving on.  

Two fun facts on a post Christmas Tuesday. 

-Do you know why Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys are on in Primetime on Saturday?  Because the Wolverines will be playing on Monday Afternoon Football!  

-The last time the Detroit Lions won the division.  Michigan beat Washington in the Rose Bowl for an undefeated season.  The issue?  Michigan had 3 ties. What a strange season that was. 

Now to Alabama:

Record: 12-1 

Best Win: #1 Georgia 

Worst Loss: Only Loss, to Texas at home (2nd game of the year) 

Pass for: 228.5 per game - 59th 

Rushing: 172.7 - 47th

Score: 34.9 per game - 19th 

Give up: 18.4 per - 17th 

If you looked at those numbers without knowing the team, I bet none of us would have guessed Alabama.  This team struggled early in the year but got better each week.  Yes, they looked pretty bad in a rivalry game against Auburn but came back and put a solid effort together to beat Georgia the next week.   This is the magic of good coaching and Nick Saban is the best.  The reason he couldn't make it work in East Lansing was due to talent acquisition.   You could probably make the same case for the Miami Dolphins experiment.  Giving Nick a month to prepare for Michigan is a problem and I hope the Michigan staff is mixing up some magical shit to counteract that. 

• Want to know why Bowl Games are dying?  FSU backup QB Tate Rodemaker that filled in for Jordan Travis is now in the portal.  FSU will be barley bringing any starters to Miami for the Orange Bowl.  Another reason:  USF 45 - Syracuse 0, need one more reason?  The 5-7 Minnesota Gophers are playing Bowling Green today in the Quick Lane Bowl.  Minnesota had to bribe its 3rd string QB with $30K to play in today's game.  Good seats still available today at Ford Field, starting at $2 per ticket. 

Bowling Green Preview

Time: 7:30

Location: Big House 

Weather: 69 and 1% of rain

TV: BTN

Line: Michigan -40.5

There really isn't much to discuss on this game outside of the former Wolverines coaching Bowling Green.  Jimmy's dad and Urban Meyer are both former head coaches.  Scot Loeffler, former Michigan QB, is now the head coach, Soup Campbell and Steve Morrison are also on his coaching staff. 

BGSU has struggles on defense and has yet to see The Dynamic Duo RB's and the ultra-accurate QB JJ McCarthy.  

Most important question of the day: Does BGSU save on the overnight stay in A2 and just drive-up Saturday afternoon?

Another fun fact: Bowling Green, Florida has a really good golf resort called Stream Song.  

My last 2 letters Friday. 

Dear Jimmy, 

This is your last Saturday off at your U of M imposed 3 game penalty.  I'm still in the camp that the NCAA really doesn't have the power to sit you down for not recalling a cheese burger purchase.  The NCAA continues to shoot itself in the foot in the public, with the latest not granting UNC WR Tez Walker immediate eligibility.   UNC head coach Mack Brown torched them and now the NCAA committee members are getting death threats.   Maybe that entire organization should consider a new strategic direction. 

It's too bad two former Michigan QB's now head coaches won't face off on Saturday night.  Still your team is in great shape and a 40+ point favorite.  BGSU can't play defense and I assume this is the week to get the running game going.  

Enjoy your trip to Frankenmuth.  Do a little Christmas shopping and have the special chicken dinner.   I assume your family will want to hit the water park prior to the game.  Please check if the hotel has the Big Ten Channel before you check in.  

Dear Sherrone,

Sorry you and Jimmy didn't get to go to Cedar Pointe during week 1.  I hope this Saturday is just as fun for you.  Leading this program even for 1 day is quite an honor and I'm sure you will turn this into a head coaching opportunity soon (not MSU please).

Love the play calling this year and JJ is improved in his accuracy and decision making.  I know every defense will load the box to stop the run but we have to have Blake and Donovan over 100 yards.   Should Michigan be running a few screens for Edwards?  Maybe we are not showing much, but we would love to see him more involved in the offense.  

Since I have you and we need some WR's in the 2024 class.  Can we get the true freshman a few catches?  I think Michigan has really good young WR's which need some touches.  I'm also sure you know not to run the score up on a team full of Michigan Men coaching BGSU. 

Good luck on Saturday and enjoy the UTL game on the Big Ten Network.  If you need any holiday decorations ask Jimmy before he leaves the office on Friday. 

Michigan 40 BGSU 7  

Wolverine Wednesday: The Blue Man Group

Michigan is playing "under the lights" on Saturday night.  It's the first time we will see the new lighting and the scoreboards in a night game setting.  (On a side note, did you see that the NC State new video boards got hit with lighting last weekend?)  Even though the Big Ten Network forced this game into primetime, Michigan will still wear special jerseys on Saturday against BGSU.  The Wolverines will be going with the all-blue look (blue jersey and pants). 

Michigan is 11-1 is the all blues with its only loss to Georgia in the CFP.  The all blues clearly can't overcome Michigan's bowl curse.  Michigan is 11-2 in Big House primetime games. 

• BGSU QB Connor Bazelak and Michigan TE AJ Barner were teammates at Indiana last season

• Bazelak went 25-for-49 for 203 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT last season against Michigan's defense at IU. 

• WR Fred Moore leads all true freshman with 42 snaps so far. #2 is CB DJ Waller with 34

Michigan Monday: Too Early Look and a Salty Cade

Michigan plays a strange night game this weekend at the Big House when they host BGSU.  In a match-up that was supposed to be against 2 former Michigan QB's now head coaches, will only have 1 on the sideline.  

Bowling Green former Michigan coaches or players:

• Scot Loeffler, Head Coach 
• Steve Morrison, Co-DC 
• Erik Campbell, Passing Game Coordinator 
• Kevin Tolbert, Head Football Sports Performance Coach 

Record: 1-1 (Liberty Loss and Eastern Illinois Win)

Pass Yards: 252 Yards Per

Run yards: 166

Score: 37 points 

Give up: 24 points

Transfer QB: Connor Bazelak from Missouri and Indiana

Line: Michigan -40

TV: BTN

• Cade after a 12/22 and 123-yards performance with a pick, mentioned he wasn't used to the defense scoring TD's.   The internet reports Michigan scored 3 defensive TD's while he was a starter at Michigan.  I guess now Cade needs to get used to a program that "doesn't score touchdowns on offense"

• Harbaugh mowed the front yard before the game, got a snack at McDonalds during halftime and mowed the back after the game. 

• David Ojabo had a strip sack on CJ Stroud on Sunday.  😀

• Myles Hinton and Karsen Barnhart have won the starting tackle positions

• Wagner bothers beat the US in the Semi's and won the World Cup Championship

• Respect to 9/11 and all the NYC survivors and Americans we lost

If you want my thoughts on Mel Tucker, please see the post below from this morning.

Michigan Tueday: Wolverine News and Notes

Watching twitter and seeing all the fun the team is having in South Africa is just amazing.  This is the Michigan Difference at work.  Freshman QB Cade McNamara thanked Michigan Football for one of the best days of his life.

We're wrapping up our final day in Cape Town, and it's been a fun one.

Our morning began on Table Mountain, one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World!#UbuntuBlue 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/WCADgDEJFx

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) May 6, 2019

These kids should be in high school still.  Going to prom and graduating.

• Sam Webb says Michigan is looking good for 4 star RB Blake Corum 

• Scot Loeffler is clearly trying to build a mini-Michigan at Bowling Green.  He recently lost Jim Herrmann off his staff to the NFL and has replaced him with former Wolverine Jim Morrison.  If Michigan fans need a MAC team to root for, it could be BGSU.  

• Former PSU QB Tommy Stevens will visit Kentucky.   

• Coach B needs to rework his options for next year and one of those options could be Oakland grad transfer Jaevin Cumberland, who is planning a U of M visit.

• 2020 4-star Miami CB Henry Gray will be visiting soon.

• 2020 4 star OLB from Maryland Mitchell Melton will use one of his official visits to Ann Arbor.

Michigan - BGSU Post Game

Well that was more like it.   We got want we wanted but it just came a week late.  Michigan got all 3 QB's in and all 3 looked pretty good.   Tate went 12-12 in throwing the ball and Denard was lighting it up on the ground before he went out with a knee injury.  65-21 is an obvious mismatch but it's good to be 4-0 heading into October and The Big Ten season.

Devin looked pretty sharp throwing the ball and even had a long bomb dropped by Junior Hemingway.   The defense played well for most of the game.   

So what did we learn from this game?  Not much in my opinion.  BGSU was not a very good team.  Their backup QB seemed to struggle most of the day.   Michigan got whatever they wanted on offense and didn't punt all day long.  They didn't even attempt a field goal.  

This game was good for confidence on both sides of the ball after a pretty humbling week against UMass last week.  All the running backs found holes and ran the ball well.  It was good to see Fitz Toussaint, Mike Cox and Stephen Hopkins get some touches at RB.   I would like to see Mike Cox be the goal line/short yardage running back. 

Let's quickly get to the Cheers and Jeers:

Cheers:

• The Michigan offense was un-stoppable
• Michigan finally got some pressure on the opposing QB and recorded 3 sacks
• Michigan got to go deep in the depth chart
• Confidence should be high going on the road to IU next week
• Defense seemed to be more aggressive this week

Jeers:

• Michigan seems a bit banged up with Denard going out with a knee and Shaw getting tripped in the 3rd quarter.  Shaw's injury could last into this week.  He was limping coming off the field after the game.  RR said Denard will be ready to play at IU next weekend.
• The Michigan defense did give up a big play on a 71 yard screen for a touchdown.
•  No punts or field goals mean our kickers didn't get any more confidence
• Devin's redshirt is for sure gone

Michigan played well and blew out a team they should of blown out.  It's difficult to see Denard go down in such a mismatch but it gave Tate a chance to show he isn't dead or transferring.  I still don't understand why they would blow Devin's redshirt unless they fully believe they will need him this year.   I guess he could always redshirt next year? 

So Michigan is again 4-0, just like last year.  The Big Ten season is now on tap with  a trip to IU next Saturday and then huge games against MSU and Iowa at home.  Michigan needs to prove they can win on the road and start off the season the right way.  IU likes to score points and they will test Michigan's defense.  Let's hope some of the guys banged up at linebacker will be back for next weeks game.

Let's also hope Denard's injury isn't serious and he will be 100% next week.

Go Blue!

Enjoy some photos from the game:

Barwis and Big Will

 Mike Martin

 Denard after the game

The last drive of the game

Michigan - Bowling Green Game Preview

Time: 12:00
Location: Big House
Line: Michigan - 25.5
TV: ESPN2
Weather: 63 and Sunny

I find there are a lot of similarities between these two teams:

• Both have fairly new head coaches (ok after 3 years, I guess we won't be able to use that much longer)
• Both have young QB's
• Both have a young defense
• Both teams like to score lots of points
• One team lost their first two games but had a good win last weekend, the other had two good wins but didn't look so good last weekend.
• Both schools are 72 miles apart from each other
• On Saturday, I will drive by one stadium and sit in the other.

The big difference is talent.  Michigan has much more talent on it's roster but these days it really doesn't make a difference.  See any FCS school that has played a D1 school close this fall.

What will we see from BG?

Bowling Green likes to run a "west coast" style offense with high percentage throws.  Which means lots of short routes and screens.  This offense is made for ball control and first downs.   BG's starting QB is out for the game and their new QB is making his first start.   BG's offensive line is young and has been struggling.  

BG is also young on defense where their DB's and LB's are very young but talented.  They got a pick 6 last week and 4 total interceptions against Marshall.   I didn't see the game but I expect some of those 4 picks were poor decisions by the Marshall QB.

What will we see from the Wolverines?

I don't see the BG defense being able to contain the high powered Michigan offense.  So points shouldn't be a problem.  Michigan hopes to use a number of new running backs to give them some experience.  So look for Cox, Hopkins, and Toussaint. 

Michigan's defense is the big question mark going into the game.   They played well for the first two games and terrible against UMass.  Will we see some new guys at LB?  How will Cam Gordon and the CB's play against a passing team?  Will they pressure the young BG QB making his first start?  Did they learn something from last week?

Tale of the Tape

Michigan offense vs BG defense =  Michigan

Michigan defense vs BG offense = Push

Special Teams = Push

Intangibles = Michigan

I expect to see a lot of points in this game.  What will Michigan's defense do?  If the same unit that showed up last week, shows up this week.  They will give up some points again.  I feel pretty good with BG's offense line and a new QB making his first start that the Michigan D can be successful.   I would like to see Michigan pressure the QB and get a bunch of sacks.

I would also like to see Tate and Devin (please redshirt him, please!!) (Yes, he could get a medical redshirt if he turns an ankle or something) and a number of new running backs.   I want to see the RB's get most of the carries like last week with another 100 yard rusher.

Sing Hail to the Victors if:

• Defense gets stops
• D pressures the QB
• Michigan gets 5 sacks
• Michigan makes a field goal
• Michigan catches and returns a punt
• Offense skill players stay healthy
• We see some backups on both sides of the ball
• This game isn't a replay from last week

Start to get that weird feeling in your stomach if:

• The defense didn't learn anything
• Ezeh and Mouton have a UMass type of Saturday
• Michigan attempts a field goal
• Denard has to play the entire game
• That fish taco you ate on Friday night isn't sitting well

I'm not worried about Michigan scoring points, I would like some linebackers that can read/react quickly and a kicker that can make field goals from 40 yards or less.   That would be nice.   I don't want to witness a UMass style game this week.  I want to see Mr. President Jack Kennedy (4th string QB) take some snaps.  That would be a good Saturday.   Michigan 48  BGSU 21


GO BLUE!

Michigan Mash Report: Bowling Green

OUT

Ferrara, John  Hand
Herron, Brandon  Ankle
Johnson, Carvin   Knee
Jones, Mike   Leg
Van Slyke, Jared  Clavicle
Williams, Mike   Head
Woolfolk, Troy  Ankle


PROBABLE (75% PLAY)
Robinson, Marvin     Shoulder
Toussaint, Fitzgerald    Knee

 
It's good to see that Marvin and Fitz might be on the field for the Bowling Green game.  Michigan will need both players for the Big Ten season so they need to get some live snaps in this game.  It's too bad about Brandon Herron who we thought might be ready this week.   Let's hope the LB's can step up after a poor game last Saturday.