2021 orange bowl

Squeezing out the potential. [Patrick Barron]

Formation Notes: UGA plays with a “Jack”—a small DE that I counted as a LB even though he sets up on the line, like below. The offensive formation here is what we call “Fritz.”

image

This from UGA is “Nickel Odd”—it’s like “Split” but with the DT at a perfect 0 technique. On Michigan’s side, Erick All’s split is what I’ve been calling “demi.”

image

Substitution Notes: Once again trueblueintexas has us covered. McCarthy rotated in until McNamara went on tilt and JJ finished the game, which works out to 46% McCarthy. Haskins got the start but the other two RBs got more run. All got most of the TE work as Michigan used more spread sets, which got Sainristil on the field more than usual and plenty of work for Henning. Andrel Anthony got on the field after but more often than Daylen Baldwin.

Hat: Instead of new “WRDIS” acronyms each week, from now on when a play didn’t work because the other team MADE PLAYS we’re going to recognize that with a tip of the hat, shortened to “Hat.” Hate hat.

[After THE JUMP: Some NSFW language, but most of it’s contained to the Erick All section.]

1 hour and 10`minutes

The Sponsors

Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com.

And let’s not forget our associate sponsors: Peak Wealth ManagementHomeSure LendingAnn Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law GradHuman Element, The Phil Klein Insurance GroupSignalWire (use the code MUPPETS), Prentice 4M, where we recorded this, Team Fan Club, and introducing The View from the Cheap Seats podcast by the Sklars, who will now be joining us for the Hot Takes segments. Please go subscribe and like their podcast, and leave your hot takes about this game in the reviews.

1. Offense

starts at 1:00

Miami, the city, is a weird place. Georgia's defense has a Devin Bush and even Blake Corum in space couldn't get around him. Run game didn't get anywhere and Cade's 3-4 yard passes at a time wasn't able to get Michigan down the field. JJ is probably the one with the ceiling to compete with teams like Georgia. 

[The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP]

[Bryan Fuller]

12/31/2021 – Michigan 11, Georgia 34 – 12-2, Big Ten Champions, season over

When you travel almost the breadth of a continent to go to a football game you want to win that game pretty badly. Failing that, you'd like to watch a game that's worth watching. You know, goes into the fourth quarter competitive, sort of thing.

This game was not that.

It in fact took one play for me to think "that's a bad sign"—Georgia ripped off a nine-yard chunk on the ground from their first play from scrimmage—and then various tight ends and running backs got isolated against Michigan linebackers in ways everyone had been extremely afraid of going into the game. One of Michigan's more productive first half plays was a flea-flicker on which both guys downfield were comprehensively blanketed and McNamara had to check down. Jordan Davis tracked down Blake Corum on a zone stretch. Nakobe Dean got stuck in man to man coverage on a Corum swing pass; my brain anticipated fireworks when I saw that and instead got a two-yard TFL.

[After THE JUMP: adios, season]

That moment when you wake up from a beautiful dream

it is time

Stars everywhere! 

Iowa, if all the players were blue chip recruits (except the QB)