We’re back with the second set of your questions. Once again, thanks for asking questions and keeping me busy!
From madler09: If you were in charge, who would you play in the non-con? Does it change when the playoff expands?
Regardless of playoff expansion, give me more games against the Fun Belt.
The Sun Belt has compelling teams that would make the non-conference schedule more intriguing. The games would have a little more heft for fans, especially at home. Plus, if you win against the conference’s higher-tier teams, you beat the “cupcake schedule” accusations.
There are risks of defeat inherent in playing teams like Coastal Carolina or James Madison, but upset threats persist throughout the conference. Marshall pulled off the unthinkable against Notre Dame this year. Georgia Southern embarrassed Nebraska. I would prefer not to deal with Appalachian State, but they weren’t members of the Sun Belt in 2007 so, like… it’s fine.
Speaking of, I’d also be interested in (ugh) getting Notre Dame back on the schedule when the new Big Ten media deal hits. 2033 isn’t soon enough to embarrass the Catholic Church.
From @JackLebourdais: Is Colston Loveland Baby Brock Bowers?
We have in no way seen enough Colston Loveland to make that comparison. He’s a true freshman. That said, this is an opportunity for us to look a bit more deeply at Michigan’s tight end depth moving forward.
- We’ll Miss U: Joel Honigford, Luke Schoonmaker, Carter Selzer
- We’ll Miss U???: Erick All
- Next Men Up (in alphabetical order): Josh Beetham, Max Bredeson, Louis Hansen, Matthew Hibner, Noah Howes, Marlin Klein, Colston Loveland
I’m anticipating Loveland to have a larger role next year. Assuming All’s surgery has altered his draft plans and he plans to stay at Michigan, Loveland is one of the better receiving tight ends on the team. Though Michigan tends to produce balanced tight ends, Max Bredeson will likely fill more of a blocking role than a route-running role.
Matthew Hibner and Colston Loveland both stand to gain from tight end departures. Harbaugh and company have spoken highly of them both, but Loveland seems to be the apple of their eye. Loveland is a former receiver with (in my opinion) more upside in a route-running role behind All.
In summary, he has the potential to be a star tight end on this team, and has both the physical traits and staff trust for an enhanced role as early as next year. And, even if he doesn’t end up becoming Brock Bowers-lite, he provides value on special teams and loves being here. I’m high on him.
From CoolNicePerson: Do you foresee the dual OC situation continuing to be successful?
With the exception of red zone cohesion, I don’t see it being an issue in the short-term. I can’t imagine Michigan would see this kind of shift this year, where the game plan seems to be “run it back with the Gattis offense, but better.”
Down the line, as the duo gets more reign, I do wonder if we see differences in Moore’s and Weiss’s respective philosophies. Year one seems like things are focused on continuity; past that, I wonder if we’ll see a clear line in what’s drawn up by Moore and what’s drawn up by Weiss. I doubt that would be a function of egos clashing – Harbaugh doesn’t seem like he’d tolerate that – but rather, it’ll become clearer who might get scooped up for a full-reign OC job sooner rather than later.
From jordraph: What will be a satisfying victory against Michigan State?
Nothing short of dominance. Run the score up. Next question.
(I’m not being snarky, this really does lead me into the next set of questions.)
A Brief Entrance into the MSU DANGER ZONE
From FallingButtress: Michigan has had trouble finishing drives again this year, and while it ultimately didn’t hurt them against Penn State, it did last year against MSU. How big a factor do you see that being in this game?
And from Madler09: What can Michigan show between now and OSU that would increase your confidence level?
Twitter user @mgoweigold also asked what the most frustrating part of the season has been so far, or what worries me going forward.
These questions are all related. Everything is connected. Finish drives in the red zone with a touchdown.
Michigan is fourth in the Big Ten in red zone score percentage, but ninth in the Big Ten in red zone touchdown percentage. Ohio State fans seem to think their red zone offense is a problem, but if they were watching Michigan’s red zone offense carefully enough, they’d finally shut the fuck up about everything else they hate about Michigan and see an actual issue. (This is said kindly to all of our OSU subscribers and my colleagues; I love and respect my Buckeye sugar daddies.)
It’s equal parts playcalling and execution. This run between the tackles where Penn State forced a field goal was probably the right call, but wasn’t going anywhere. Michigan loves a run up the gut anywhere, but especially here.
The third down before the missed field goal against Indiana was well-defended by Indiana, but watching McCarthy’s wheels actively turning was painful.
And who could forget Michigan taking a delay of game in the red zone against Iowa, when Michigan made a third and 12 into a third and 17 after a bad delay of game. They then relied on Roman Wilson to snag the fade. Iowa got away with mild DPI, but that’s not the kind of situation you want to be in in the first place, you know?
Michigan State’s defense isn’t world-beating in the red zone – on 27 red zone trips, they’ve allowed their opponents to score either a touchdown or a field goal 23 times. That said, they’ve only allowed eight rushing touchdowns in red zone situations. Relying on Corum is not a guarantee, meaning the passing attack will matter here, in my view.
Red zone hiccups shouldn’t make or break Michigan in the game against Michigan State, but prepare for at least one infuriating red zone drive. Or, hell, just let Corum cook or get scores in before the red zone – Michigan’s offense is great at that, at least.
As for what’ll impress me down the line, leaving the red zone with the maximum amount of points they can (er, well, seven of the eight points they can leave with) would be great. Dialing in McCarthy’s deep ball would also be a treat, and he’s got an opportunity to do so against Michigan State’s putrid secondary.
Okay, enough of the MSU Danger Zone and into…
the shameless Self-Promotion Zone
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Back to your regularly scheduled mailbag.
From demeland: How funny would it be if Michigan goes to Columbus and runs all over their ass just like we did last year with our one (1) player offense?
I think it would rock, but it would also be the end of this website as we know it.
I dropped these charts in Blue’s News earlier this week, but Ohio State and Michigan are two of the best teams in the country in maintaining leads, evidenced by their cumulative point differentials per quarter. The team ranked higher is in bold:
- Ohio State: No. 1 in the first quarter (+71 points), No. 13 in the second quarter (+35), No. 1 in the third quarter (+71), No. 18 in the fourth quarter (+21)
- Michigan: No. 2 in the first quarter (+64), No. 5 in the second quarter (+58), No. 6 in the third quarter (+43), No. 2 in the fourth quarter (+48)
On a related note, Corum is responsible for 37.1% of Michigan’s total touchdown production. Looking at Corum’s production doesn’t tell the complete story of what Michigan is doing to dominate all four quarters of a game, of course, but sure, yeah. Michigan is not beating the “one guy” accusations.
If Michigan manages to stunt the best offense in the country and beats Ohio State the same way they did last year (with, you know, just one guy), I am retiring and moving to a log cabin in Maine. You all won’t need me to post anymore. A two-game win streak based off of a brutally run-heavy offense predicated on one guy? *Chef’s kiss*
From @mgoweigold and @iamstefanzonia: Who is the most fun player on this team? / Please identify one player each from offense and defense who have the chillest vibes.
I feel like I’m being asked to do senior superlatives, but I’ll certainly try my best.
Let’s start with the offense:
- Most fun: Blake Corum. He’s been juking guys out of their shoes and making competent defenses look like absolute fools.
- Chillest vibes: Erick All. While he’s presumably out for the year after his major surgery, he started in a glorified scrimmage hours after his baby was born. I don’t know how you get cooler and more collected than that.
Defense:
- Most fun: Mike Sainristil. There’s nothing more satisfying to me than seeing him succeed, even when I was leading the charge on doubting what he brought to the table at nickel other than leadership.
- Chillest vibes: No one player, but the mere concept of the Turnover Buffs.
