September 3rd, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
My expectations for the rest of the season are way too high now
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
Incredible!! Even with talent caveats.
September 4th, 2022 at 4:16 AM ^
Fun fact: A Jay Norvell coached team hadnt scored less that 17 points the last 26 games. There are a few games in there vs power 5 teams as well.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
Got some good film to review. Good game overall but still coachable moments.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
Harbaugh: DL might be better this year
MGOBLOG: biggest preseason BS in history
The DL (CSU caveats): Coach was right
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:13 PM ^
I think people misconstrued Harbaugh’s comments when he said that. What he was implying that the defense overall is as good/better at generating pressure than they were last year. People took that to mean we are better at edge than we were with Ojabo/Hutch instead of taking it in the aggregate.
Despite HutchJabo having great seasons individually, the team didn’t really stray from their normal sack totals. It’s not inconceivable that they can put up similar team totals this year and not have a guy with over 6 or 7 individual sacks. A more “by committee” approach with similar overall output.
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:22 PM ^
Michigan only had like 34 sacks last season. If we can spread it around and get those, or better, numbers all will be well.
September 3rd, 2022 at 5:17 PM ^
Well we're only on pace for 9,743 sacks this year.
September 3rd, 2022 at 5:41 PM ^
I think your math is off, off the top of my head I think it comes out to 4,227
September 3rd, 2022 at 11:23 PM ^
Are you @greg16676935420 from Twitter? Same math skills and that dude is killing it!
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:07 PM ^
Exactly. 34 last year. 25 just came from two players. For reference:
2019: 33, nobody with more than 7.5, only three with over 5+
2018: 34, Nobody over 7, only two with 5+
2017: 42(!!), Nobody over 8.5, five players with 5+
2016: 45(!!!) One guy with 10, four total with 5+
2015: 32, Nobody over 6.5, three players with 5+
September 3rd, 2022 at 7:16 PM ^
@MGolem
Exactly!
U-M averaged 2.43 sacks/game last season. Covid season aside, that was the fewest of the Harbaugh era. Of course they can do better than that. They have every year!
September 3rd, 2022 at 11:44 PM ^
Hutch and Ojabo were holding us back.
September 5th, 2022 at 6:03 PM ^
MGOBLOG: biggest preseason BS in history
I look forward to hearing Seth and Brian admitting they were wrong about Harrell and Anoma. Seth has been so adamant about Harrell just being a guy then he was our highest grade defender on PFF and looked great? Anoma had 2 pressures on 3 snaps after only being with the team for a few weeks. McGregor looked great as well
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
Still good. That’s my hot take.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:23 PM ^
Mason Graham is already a dude. Omg I can’t even
September 4th, 2022 at 6:44 AM ^
Exactly what I was gushing to my son who got called into work and missed the game. Imagine this kid with a few years working with Herbert.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:24 PM ^
uNnacCePTAblE!
Fire MiNTer
CuT WilL JoHNSon
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:24 PM ^
Beyond my wildest expectations. Edge looks like a strength.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:24 PM ^
I know the defensive line deserves all the praise in the world but it seemed to me that Junior Colson had an outstanding game. He was all over the field making plays.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:24 PM ^
Solid
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:25 PM ^
Michigan's defense just sacked the CSU quarterback again.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:26 PM ^
And again!
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:26 PM ^
Will Johnson needs some work on deep balls. D Line looks *real* good. I think Rod Moore might be a star.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:28 PM ^
Yeah, he got lucky on the first one down the R sideline. Then they got him the next time for the TD.
September 3rd, 2022 at 8:57 PM ^
I thought Johnson's coverage was actually pretty good on the TD. Sometimes a good receiver makes a nice catch.
September 3rd, 2022 at 10:26 PM ^
I somewhat agree with you. I think it was a nice throw and catch but he did get a little burnt. He was trying to close rather than running step for step.
But the fact that CSU threw downfield twice on Johnson, to me, means they saw something. Whether it was "go after the freshman" or something else, I'm not sure. Either way, he'll get there.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:26 PM ^
Couldn’t have asked for much more. Week 4 vs Maryland is where we’ll get a better idea though. Then they’ll get another break for week 5.
September 3rd, 2022 at 5:20 PM ^
Then they’ll get another break for week 5
If Iowa somehow scores 10 points (on offense), I'll eat a lemon. Brian Ferentz appears to be writing his magnus opus as OC this year
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:19 PM ^
Exactly. Only scoring 3 points on offense against anyone should get you fired. Jay Harbaugh has done so well at Michigan, yet many here complain about him being employed by UM. I have no idea how Iowa fans put up with Kirk.
September 3rd, 2022 at 8:32 PM ^
Are you gonna tell Oregon?
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
Competition need be taken into account, but D-line looked deep.
The hopes that we could replace Hutch and Ojabo by having production across the line now feels plausible. Mazi is a beast and demands a double every play - we have athletes around him.
Could be very similar to 2016 dominant D-line, which was the hope and vision.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
How about some Mike Morris love?? ❤️
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:21 PM ^
Loved how he set the tone early. I counted a sack, maybe a sack and half, and two other TFLs.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
I was really impressed with the defense overall... but, especially impressed with the play of Sainristil!
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:28 PM ^
Allowed 7 points.
Sunday morning windsprints for everybody.
heh. I kid. They look like a keen edged weapon.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:30 PM ^
Very impressive. Lot of playmakers making plays. Millen CSU QB took a lot of clean hits and was under pressure all day.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:31 PM ^
Looking good on D!
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:31 PM ^
Excellent scheme leading to tons of pressure
D line looked very competent, some of the edge guys look like they can maybe play
didnt notice the linebackers making mistakes, so good there so far as well
this went about as well as could be hoped
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:32 PM ^
Think there'd be more to glean from this game if it wasn't game 1 for Norvell and his system at CSU, even with that caveat: They showed a lot of good play, potential for growth and there were indications that the smoothness of the transition to Minter and expansion of looks and rushes wasn't just camp hyperbole. Seemed like there might have even been a few moments were CSU went pace and the defense was mostly ready.
Maryland looms as the first big test.
September 3rd, 2022 at 5:32 PM ^
I agree particularly on the pace observation. It appeared to me several times early that CSU looked to go tempo but M was mostly ready unlike last year.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:32 PM ^
DDDDDDD-lightful!
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:37 PM ^
CSU’s OL is a patchwork and it showed today, but Michigan still did what it should’ve done anyway, which is encouraging. Mullen spent the entire day running for his life.
Mason Graham is going to be very good before his time is done here. Same with Derrick Moore. I did see McGregor in on a sack as well so that was really encouraging.
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:47 PM ^
McGregor was tearing dudes up. If he hits his ceiling or close to it this year he’s going to blow up.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:40 PM ^
Really wanted the shutout today....
Just dominant. Pass rush up the middle was great. Contain needs work
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:41 PM ^
Biggest stars of the game:
D-Line
RG III
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:42 PM ^
the 'no name' defense looked very very good. That said, it was CSU who had an astonishing 59 new players on the roster, so I don't know how excited to be?
but with some of the single matchups on the DL, there is a lot to be excited about imo...
We'll see but pitching 3 shutout quarters is pretty good... the CSU TD pass was just a very good throw (Anoma was just a second behind getting to the QB as well).
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:44 PM ^
Need a better review than my eye, but I think the pass rush might be ok. Seems like they gave up trying to pass. I have high expectations for the rest of the season. Interesting to see Anoma and Moore. They seemed to do pretty good.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:50 PM ^
High point was the depth - there were 15 different guys putting pressure on their QB. Berry, Mazi, Graham, Jenkins are dudes. Grant showed major push late. Great to see McGregor with power-to-speed rush and looking fully healthy. Anoma and Moore will give QBs problems all season, especially if they are fresh as a 3rd down package. Colston, DJ and Moore are dudes.
Minter just needs to put it all together against the good offenses on the schedule.