As the title suggests, I’m not talking about Michigan landing in the first CFP committee poll at No. 5. Today we’re talking mostly puck, but peppering in defensive backs and football recruiting, too.
CALL ‘EM SMITTY WERBENJÄGERMANJENSEN, BECAUSE THEY’RE NO. 1
Where Ace provides your hoops updates, I’m here to catch you up to speed on hockey. And, in case you missed it Monday, Michigan is ranked No. 1 in the nation, after sweeping Western Michigan last week.
No pressure! Especially heading into Big Ten play! Chill! Cool.
If you’ve caught any of the Wolverines on the ice this year – though the early slate has been heavily paywalled – you’ll notice that the lines are a work in progress. That is, except for the first line of Dylan Duke, Adam Fantilli and Mackie Samoskevich. The “DAM” line in particular is responsible for a bulk of Michigan’s offensive production, with true freshman Fantilli eligible for the 2023 NHL draft next year. Fantilli is also the national Player and Rookie of the Month.
On defense, New Jersey Devils prospect Luke Hughes is your Big Ten First Star of the Week.
Michigan is the final team in the Big Ten to start conference play. This weekend, they play No. 13 Penn State, a team that backslid over the past year or two, but might have something cooking this season. From Sam Stockton:
Through eight games, the Nittany Lions are a perfect 8-0-0. Seniors Ture Linden and Kevin Wall, along with sophomore Ben Schoen, are scoring at a point-per-game pace or better. Junior goaltender Liam Souliere is off to an outstanding start with a 1.50 GAA and .945 save percentage through six starts. With non-conference sweeps over Canisius, Mercyhurst, and St. Thomas preceding a sweep of Wisconsin last weekend, it has not been the stiffest competition for Penn State (explaining a number thirteen ranking from USCHO despite a perfect record); nonetheless, a 60.5 even strength Corsi-For percentage suggests that early season success has been no fluke.
Oh, did I mention interim head coach Brandon Naurato landed a major recruit?
Listen, it’s very fun to see Michigan Football succeeding enough that I don’t need to brag about other schools and ignore football anymore for the bit. That said… the release valve is here if we collectively need it.
Speaking of football…
“PLAY YOUR ASS OFF. PLAY HARD. PLAY PHYSICAL”
Defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale spoke to the media on Wednesday. In more ways than one, Clinkscale’s group has been the subject of on- and off-the-field inquiry.
From the sheer football perspective, Clinkscale provided the best injury update he could on Ja’Den McBurrows and Gemon Green. Based on limited knowledge, the two are day to day. As for the rest of the room, he emphasized that, despite the “cliché,” the group remains united:
We’re gonna band together, we’re gonna work together, we’re gonna move past it right now and focus on the opponent at hand. And those guys, that’s how they would want it.
My gut feeling (no intel or anything like that) is, due to what appears to be an escalating legal situation, the coaching staff will be more tight-lipped than usual.
Beyond the tunnel aftermath, Clinkscale also went into more depth on the team facing tempo and limiting the impact of one-on-one scenarios. Tempo has burned Michigan on more than one occasion this season, particularly against Indiana and Penn State. The vertical shots, of course, were a defensive nitpick against Michigan State.
Knowing that one particular offense may try some vertical passes in, oh, say, late November, it’s good to know the defense is more adaptable on the whole, whether it’s week to week or at half (looking at you, Don Brown). That said, Michigan won’t see a passing offense of any merit until then; we may not see some of Michigan’s secondary adjustments in-person until then.
FROM THE MAIZE AND BLUE THINKING CHAIR…
Jury’s still out on whether or not Tuck Comin’™, but five-star quarterback Bo Edmundson won’t be. Apparently, Michigan State, a team now beset with problems on and off the field, is going to try and flip a five-star Oregon commit.
I am not a shit-stirrer. I like to mind my own business. You can draw your own conclusions on what I think of the apparently mutual de-commitment and their attempt to lure a five-star away from the Ducks.
MICHIGAN-ADJACENT VIDEO OF THE DAY
They’re saying Owen Power is very good at hockey. Keep an eye on No. 25.