MGoPodcast 15.1: It Started in Here
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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.
Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, The Phil Klein Insurance Group, Winewood Organics, Human Element, Venue by 4M where we recorded this, and The Nose Bleeds, which is the Sklars Bros’ reboot of Cheap Seats on UFC Fight Pass.
EVENT NOTE: We're hosting a tailgate with the Sklars at Venue before the UNLV game for anyone who has a ticket to see them perform live at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase this weekend, but we don't want to exclude anybody so we also will take hot takes in lieu of a ticket. Venue will have the noon games on, and provide an a la carte tailgate spread, food truck with four beers on tap, and bar. They also have parking (they're right across from the Stadium bridge) for $50 until they fill up. Tailgate starts at 12:30 PM.
1. Offense vs ECU
Starts at 1:00
Michigan football has returned! The red hat guy chased Brian out of the stadium at the end of this game. ECU kicked The Sad Field Goal to keep their scoring streak alive. Train made all the right people upset so bravo for that. Initial results are that JJ McCarthy has made The Leap and has taken the training wheels off (and also has the ability to “extend the neutral zone”). Are teams going to continue to stuff the run and ask JJ to beat them, especially if he says “ok”? Running dive five times in a row just to get Donovan Edwards a touchdown probably wasn’t necessary. The play action approach in this game was much better than last year. Myles Hinton probably isn’t going to be the starting tackle once the starting line is set, Trente Jones came in and immediately started moving people. Barnhart at left tackle seemed a lot more smooth. It was an excellent day for the receivers. Roman Wilson doesn’t block like Ronnie Bell but can get over the top of a safety playing 11 yards off the line. AJ Barner’s blocking wasn’t encouraging, Bredeson is probably the second blocking tight end. Is Colston Loveland so good that he’s just boring now?
[The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP]
2. Defense vs ECU
Starts at 42:32
Michigan rotated five DTs and five DEs and there seemed to be no drop-off. Hausmann looked really good, he’ll be a dude. You could also move him at either middle or weak side linebacker. The secondary was missing Will Johnson and Rod Moore, Josh Wallace looked really good. The Almost Interception was a great play and an encouraging sign for the season. Sabb looked competent out there, ECU isn’t going to stress safeties much though. The way Derrick Moore moves around the field, you have to imagine he’ll break out eventually. Kenneth Grant - OH LAWD HE COMIN. Josiah Stewart is looking like a fairly one-dimensional passing down kind of guy.
3. Hot Takes and Special Teams
Starts at 1:05:57
Tommy Doman has a cannon of a leg, so punting is back in a good place. His kickoffs were also bombs. James Turner had a really weird game at kicking. Missed an extra point and a long field goal but made the best field goal of his career. We did not see Alex Orji returning punts, sadly. Jake Thaw as a punt returner didn’t look comfortable at first. Plenty of opportunities this season to field punts, at least. Nice to see Michigan notice a defense that’s aggressive at stopping the run and airing it out sooner, rather than waiting a couple quarters. Keep an eye on Kalel Mullings as the season goes on. The scoreboards are bigger but the replay part of the scoreboards are not. Do we need to keep cycling what 7:30pm games are on that night? Officiating was… kind. That targeting on JJ was egregious, it was exactly the kind of hit the game is trying to get rid of.
4. Around the Big Ten with Jamie Mac
Starts at 1:33:48
Ohio State - 23
Indiana - 3
Ohio State really couldn’t do much against the Indiana defense… Egbuka and Harrison combined for 34 yards. This is not going to be the #1 offense in the country in SP+. They’re still getting stuffed on 3rd down. Indiana had a great defensive game plan but couldn’t do a thing on offense. McCord does not look comfortable being aggressive throwing downfield.
Michigan State - 31
Central Michigan - 7
We probably didn’t learn much about the Michigan State defense because Central Michigan has a freshman QB who can’t do much. Noah Kim had an awful first quarter performance. This was too much of a fight against a bottom half MAC team. Alante Brown was knocked out of the game and went back in later - it was a Shane Morris incident again.
Illinois - 30
Toledo - 28
Toledo held a lead for most of this game because Illinois couldn’t get out of their own way. 90 yards of penalties in the first half but they got a pick six in the second half.
Iowa - 24
Utah State - 13
Did not meet the 25 points required to save Brian Ferentz’s career. Cade McNamara resumes his role as a game manager, but they scored on their first two drives. Couldn’t do much more after that.
Penn State - 38
West Virginia - 15
Drew Allar’s first start went very well against a defense that’s not supposed to be very good, but an encouraging sign for Penn State. Penn State running game was okay. West Virginia could possibly be really bad? Penn State missed two field goals.
Minnesota - 13
Nebraska - 10
You can take Scott Frost out of the state but you can’t take the Scott Frost out of the football program. Nebraska had a 94% chance to win this late into the game. Minnesota could not run the ball at all. Nebraska threw three picks, losing in the most Nebraska way possible.
Maryland - 38
Towson - 6
Moving on!
Wisconsin - 38
Buffalo - 17
Wisconsin has moved to an air raid passing offense and put up 300 yards of rushing between their two backs. Air raid not fully installed yet. Tanner Mordecai was 24/31 for 189 yards and two interceptions. Braelon Allen had 7 catches for 25 yards. Mo Linguist is Buffalo’s head coach so they have a good secondary.
Purdue - 35
Fresno State - 39
Purdue is going to take some time to rebuild, it’s year zero. Despite just playing Purdue last year, we don’t recognize any of their receivers. Get Donovan Edwards to this game and let him feast.
Northwestern - 7
Rutgers - 24
Nope!
MUSIC:
- “Love T.K.O.”— Teddy Pendergrass
- “Potions”— Day Wave
- “Chosen to Deserve”— Wednesday
- “Across 110th Street”
THE USUAL LINKS:
- Helpful iTunes subscribe link
- General podcast feed link
- Direct Download Link
- What's with the theme music?
Chip Kelly is mad about it.
September 4th, 2023 at 8:40 AM ^
How did the Peacock crew watch the hit on JJ and then say repeatedly that it wasn't targeting?
September 4th, 2023 at 10:34 AM ^
"Don't think it's targeting, I didn't see any contact with the head or neck area"
Proceeds to show 10 replays showing blatant contact to JJ's neck and shoulders
September 4th, 2023 at 10:37 AM ^
My brother and I were convinced that the rules expert guy was "working from home" and floating in his pool. He wasn't even watching the plays, just reciting cliche arguments for the play that was described to him.
September 4th, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
He did not know the rule about what constitutes a quarterback being over the line of scrimmage. It's not that the QB or the ball can't be over. As long as the quarterback isn't completely over the line, it's a good pass.
September 4th, 2023 at 12:34 PM ^
Right. I still think JJ was over the line, but it was a heck of a lot closer than the dude made it out to be. The rule is any part of the body behind the line when the ball is released, and JJ’s back toes were maybe a foot past the line at most, not a clear full yard like the replay guy insisted.
September 5th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
Totally correct. It's a bad rule, though. Ball should have to be released before the line. As is, the defense is in an impossible place (much like the lineman downfield rule).
September 4th, 2023 at 3:49 PM ^
Awesome picture painting comment. Definitely an official rep divorced from reality. Probably playing phone tag since he didn't actually watch the play.
September 4th, 2023 at 8:57 AM ^
Entire Peacock broadcast was full of errors. No analysis of the overturned interception, leaving viewers to figure it out for themselves. Missed an entire offensive play showing footage of Kalel's jump pass last year at OSU. Poor camera work. I like Tirico, but this was amateur hour.
September 4th, 2023 at 9:12 AM ^
Hopefully no more peacock games for us the rest of the season.....
September 4th, 2023 at 10:42 AM ^
Currently no plans for additional Michigan games on Peacock, but that is still pending some flex decisions.
https://awfulannouncing.com/college-football/big-noon-kickoff-ten-peaccck-exclusive-games.html
September 4th, 2023 at 10:15 AM ^
Full agree. It was painful. I'm not big on Doug Karsh ("Jon!"), but I'd have preferred him by a mile.
September 4th, 2023 at 12:53 PM ^
Tirico used to be one of my favs, but he really mailed this one in. The production team straight-up sucked.
Actually quite pitiful that they were waiting for Mullings to enter the game just so they could cue up the jump pass and act like it was some sort of season-turning play in 2022. (And a play that anyone who was watching the game had already seen a zillion times anyway.)
September 4th, 2023 at 4:52 PM ^
They also didn't show us what the hell happened on Turner's missed PAT. I still don't know if it was a bad snap, hold or kick.
September 4th, 2023 at 9:46 AM ^
After watching a replay of the game last night and listening to this podcast I’m less concerned about the offensive line. Very much looking forward to the UFR on that unit.
Crazy to hear the reactions of OSU v Indiana. When was the last time people reacted that way about OSU offense? Maybe the Oregon game of 2021? Even further back?
September 4th, 2023 at 1:59 PM ^
When they lost 35-21 to Virginia Tech in 2014. THE BEAR DEFENSE. Then they housed Bama and won the natty
September 4th, 2023 at 8:23 PM ^
After the infamous 2016 Game, they made the playoff and got spanked by Clemson, 31-0.
September 4th, 2023 at 10:10 AM ^
Alante Brown was knocked out of the game and went back in later - it was a Shane Morris incident again.
Almost a decade later and football still hasn't figured it out.
September 4th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
No, they figured they don't care about the players.
September 5th, 2023 at 7:34 AM ^
alante brown was worse than shane morris x 1000. dude went out in a stretcher.....then came back.
September 4th, 2023 at 10:30 AM ^
I’m a little surprised about the Allar love. The positive is no major red flags, and climbed the pocket well, but like 6 of his first 8 passes were screens or something. Besides the one scramble long bomb, how long was the biggest downfield pass? Like 12 yards? Lots of screens, roll outs and scrambles to the right. One of the few times he rolled out to the left or stayed in the pocket for a downfield throw both were almost picks.
September 4th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
WVU secondary was terrible too. Nobody within yards of receivers.
September 4th, 2023 at 12:59 PM ^
Same here. Do PSU fans and national pundits really think Clifford wouldn't have been just as good if not better? Also, Allar was nearly always throwing to his first read. Which, yes, if that read is as wide open as dumpster fire WVU's secondary left it, then good for him, but I really wonder how well Allar will react to an even average secondary covering up his first option.
September 4th, 2023 at 5:28 PM ^
Allar looks like a one-read QB right now. He was regularly scrambling when that first read wasn't there.
That's fine most of the time. He moves well, not a blazer but not a statue. He throws very well on the run. With their running game they will be able to get a lot of PA looks that he executed just fine. But, at least at the beginning of his true sophomore year, the complex stuff isn't ready yet.
That will be enough against most of their schedule. It may cause them serious trouble in the games against the conference giants; it's mostly fine for his future outlook. Though I'd watch those two major near-pick errors closely to see if there is more like that in the future.
September 4th, 2023 at 9:14 PM ^
Yeah, I saw Ant Wright put out some conference power rankings for QB and I thought "oh, so he just looked at the box score" because while Allar played well enough it sure seemed like he was getting the training wheels version of the offense. Yeah, other than that one big throw on their first drive he rarely pushed the ball downfield except when his receivers were blindingly open as WVU had terrible cornerback play, and the two near-picks were both on bad throws that were either batted up or way behind his receivers. He's going to Illinois in a couple of weeks and while this isn't as good a defense as last year's Illini squad that'll be a real test for him.
September 5th, 2023 at 2:39 AM ^
Allar looked good relative to realistic “first game as starter in B1G” expectations.
Relative to insane PSU fan “will immediately make Clifford look like a chump” expectations, it was a disappointment.
September 4th, 2023 at 10:34 AM ^
Seth's commercial jingle career is about to blow up.
September 4th, 2023 at 6:40 PM ^
Better than his pirate-themed comedy. He didn’t even say “ECU needed to get more yarrrds!”
I’ll… show myself out.
September 4th, 2023 at 10:34 AM ^
Re: the Peacock ads, the second greatest offense after the quantity of ads was the quality of the ads themselves. What the absolute hell, Jack Link's? Never will I lose the association of jerky with sasquatch piss. Not a flavor I'm looking for in my snacks.
September 4th, 2023 at 11:18 AM ^
Then you're not our target audience. Signed, Jack.
September 4th, 2023 at 10:07 PM ^
Must have been some pretty amazing focus test group recruitment.
September 4th, 2023 at 10:57 AM ^
Rutgers had a Rushing Rutger and it needs to be acknowledged.
September 4th, 2023 at 11:17 AM ^
You can say that again!
September 4th, 2023 at 10:57 AM ^
Rutgers had a Rushing Rutger and it needs to be acknowledged.
September 4th, 2023 at 6:41 PM ^
Twice even!
September 4th, 2023 at 11:06 AM ^
Question for the X's and O's peeps. This was the formation Michigan shifted into from the Harbaugh tribute train. Who are the eligible receivers? Which players can legally catch a pass over the LOS from this formation?
September 4th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
The eligible receivers are:
- Cornelius Johnson
- Donovan Edwards
- Colston Loveland
- Blake Corum
- (Technically) JJ McCarthy
Roman Wilson is ineligible as he is covered up by Johnson.
The eligible receivers are the furthest outside on the left and the right of the 7 that are on the line of scrimmage. However, the furthest right in this case is an offensive lineman who is not wearing an eligible number. Everyone lining up in the backfield is eligible.
September 4th, 2023 at 12:11 PM ^
Yes. Excellent. What is the rule for being considered on the line of scrimmage for a receiver in college football? Is it within one yard of the football or within the hip line of the lineman next to you? Technically, or at least one could make the argument, that Johnson is a yard off the football and thus not covering Roman Wilson making both eligible. Also, since the RT isn't wearing an 80 number and likely hasn't announced he is tackle eligible, doesn't he have to be covered up? An ineligible receiver can't be uncovered at the end of the line, correct, or is that just the pros (or maybe I'm confusing all the rules)?
September 4th, 2023 at 12:53 PM ^
Refs are incredibly charitable with determining who is on the line of scrimmage (a personal annoyance of mine), but the general rule is within one yard of the line of scrimmage. Wide receivers get tons of latitude and generally declare themselves on or off the line of scrimmage (that's what that point thing they do means).
You must have 7 players (or more I guess) on the line of scrimmage to be properly lined up.
Anyone in an ineligible number can be lined up in an eligible spot, but would be deemed ineligible due to their jersey number. Doing so just reduces how many eligible receivers there are (like in this play).
September 4th, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
The beauty of using the train to get into this formation is that the defense doesn't have time to recognize Roman is not an eligible receiver
September 4th, 2023 at 1:15 PM ^
The sugar huddle is the more normal way to do it, but the train is way cooler.
September 4th, 2023 at 11:29 AM ^
I don't think defenses are daring McCarthy to stop them as daring Michigan to pass. They know McCarthy is dangerous, but they're expecting Michigan to do stupid things like run dive with Edwards over and over.
They're not completely right, but as of now it is by far the best bet if you're physically overmatched.
September 4th, 2023 at 12:56 PM ^
I also think ECU scouted last year's tape and schemed for the run game to be a greater threat than Michigan's wr's. Basically, how everyone played Michigan last year.
September 4th, 2023 at 5:52 PM ^
Not everyone played Michigan that way last year. In fact, it was surprising how frequently they did *not*.
Penn State being the most startling example, and we know what happened in that game.
September 4th, 2023 at 7:22 PM ^
I could be wrong, but feel like Illinois was the first team to decide to really load up to stop the run
September 4th, 2023 at 9:13 PM ^
Yes I think you're right, Illinois was the first to take an aggressive approach and try to have +1 in the box on every play. Then Ohio State tried to do the same the next week - it did actually work for a while but we all know very well how that left them vulnerable to explosive plays
There was a stretch in the middle of the season where Brian was just baffled in UFRs as he watched Iowa, Michigan State, and Nebraska sit back with soft coverage all game and allow themselves to get ruthlessly steamrolled one after another
September 4th, 2023 at 9:19 PM ^
I think Indiana tried it as well - Corum had that one 50-yard run on the first drive where he just juked a bunch of Indiana players out of their shoes but the next longest run for anyone in that game was, I believe, 9 yards. IU gave up 304 yards and 3 TDs to McCarthy but absolutely weren't going to let UM get going on the run.
September 4th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
does anyone else feel like Brian is always pushing Jamie out the door.. I get its the end of the Taping of the podcast but man sometimes he has some good stuff to say
September 4th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^
If you listened to all the preview podcast over the past couple weeks, Brian has definitely been a time keeper of sorts with the rest of the crew. I don’t think it’s personal against Jamie, just that it’s what Brian does with every one.
September 4th, 2023 at 12:19 PM ^
I've been at the recording of these podcasts since 2015, and Brian has gotten much better about making sure everyone gets to talk about what they noted and researched, but also does so in a timely manner. I think it's definitely improved the quality of the show and the working environment, as well. Props to him!
September 4th, 2023 at 12:31 PM ^
Jamie definitely has interesting stuff to say, but it feels like if he was left unchecked they would do 30 minutes on each game.
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