oliver martin

Resources: My charting, Iowa game notes, Iowa roster, CFBstats

Yep, it's Iowa.

The film: Yep, it's El Assico. Yes, Iowa has played two of Michigan's opponents—Rutgers and MTSU—since their 38-14 opening romp over Not THAT Miami. The only one of those with a pulse was ISU, a rain-soaked event in Ames that ended in a perfectly El Assico 18-17. For the un-EDSBS initiated, this rivalry is referred to "El-Assico" because it takes place early in the season before either team has really had a chance to remember how to football correctly. This particular episode will probably be the example we use in the future to show what that means. There was a rain delay. People were falling down. Linemen and linebackers, possessed by evil spirits, ran right past eminently hittable opponents to attack ghosts, or teammates.

Personnel: My diagram:

PDF version, full-size version (or click on the image)

Two NFL-bound OTs are the highlight here of course. Tristan Wirfs is a donkey-hatin' Taylor Lewan minus two inches, and easily the best run blocker I've ever charted. Left tackle Alaric Jackson, the Detroiter who was all set to sign with Michigan until Drevno didn't send an LOI, has been out most of the season with a knee injury. He dressed but did not play last week versus MTSU, and is listed second on the depth chart at LT this week behind Wirfs. I'm guessing they'll try to get him out there, but he won't be 100%. He has a star for past performance, which had him PFF's top offensive tackle in the conference and one of the best pass protectors in the nation.

In the event Jackson can't go, Iowa has been playing around with two responses, both fine. One is to put one of the twin vikings, sixth OL Levi Paulsen (+3.5/-0, –1 pass pro), at right tackle and move Wirfs to left. The other is to leave Wirfs where he is and play a redshirt sophomore named Mark Kallenberger (+3/-1, –0.5 pass pro) at left tackle. I think they believe Paulsen's a better run blocker, but I thought Kallenberger was the better answer; he's less refined but a load as a run blocker, athletic enough for pass pro (Paulsen is more of a guard), and allows Wirfs to stay at right tackle, where he's more comfortable smashing puny humans' faces into dirt.

[after THE JUMP: EL ASSSSSIIIICCCCOOOOOO]

2017's banner four-man wide receiver class is about to be down to three.

Can confirm that #Michigan WR Oliver Martin has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal; full story: https://t.co/8MzpUg1OR5 pic.twitter.com/fOAgmmsxvk

KICKSTARTER IS A GO. "Statement" and "Sponsor" tiers close the 12th.

Come to the library. It says something about the AADL that it's going to host the Fullcast your kind donations have won.

(extremely michigan voice)

SHUTDOWN FULLCAST: LIVE! WITH ESTEEMED @MGOBLOG GUESTS

- JUNE 21, 2019
- 7 PM
- AT THE DANG ANN ARBOR LIBRARY DOWNTOWN BRANCH - BECAUSE @AADL SAID WE COULD
- COST TO YOU: $0
- YOU FINANCIAL GENIUS

— Shutdown Fullcast, the world's only CFB podcast (@ShutdownFullcas) May 31, 2019

Also you can check out skeletons from them. Anyway: that. Preparation: minimal?

This week in probably unnecessary paranoia. There are enough outlets reporting that former St. Joe's head coach Phil Martelli is headed to Ann Arbor to become Juwan Howard's right hand man…

The source told NBC10 Sunday night that Martelli will work under new University of Michigan men's basketball head coach Juwan Howard, calling the move, “a done deal.”

hearing phil martelli to Michigan is done deal. so happy. will have to find my way to ann arbor. enjoy the ride, coach.

— Dick Weiss (@HoopsWeiss) June 3, 2019

…while it isn't done, it seems pretty likely to happen.

…that it seems done. I'm not pulling out the Hello post just yet.

My main concern is that none of this is coming from the Michigan side of things. Brian Snow, who's the third quote above, reached out to a Philadelphia source. Weiss was the NYDN college basketball guy for 40 years. And the NBC station in question is Philadelphia's. Philly's old boys network is notoriously tight and was furious that Martelli got the axe, so they might be racing ahead of the facts. One of their local blue check crew already did that a few days ago:

A source has told me former St. Joseph’s basketball coach Phil Martelli will soon be announced as the new coach at another college outside the Philly area. I wish him nothing but the best. #Big5

— Chris O'Connell (@CoconnellFox29) May 29, 2019

Probably a game of telephone there, but that dude seems to be reporting that Martelli's getting a head job somewhere.

So: yes, probably Martelli and probably not Mike Miller. I'm waiting for someone in Michigan to say it's happening before writing it up.

On the other hand this is tremendous content. Baseball plays for a regional championship tonight at 7 on ESPN2. That's what we're focusing on, not the fact that they went from 7-4 up to 11-7 down in the ninth inning last night.

[After THE JUMP: healthy WRs, suspended RB.]