Hey. Brian is back. Woo hoo! If he starts doing this thing again, then I'm definitely going to stop doing my homage to it. Although, honestly, I don't really think what I do is really all that close to UV. Now that I'm about three or four weeks into doing this, I feel like my 'style' is 1/2 reader's digest, 1/2 basic bitch online aggregator of other people who are aggregating things online, 1/2 pop-culture references and maybe some random Michigan observations thrown in there for good measure... I'd say probably half. Strangely, this has become an exercise in literally reading everything in the Michigan media universe and sharing the things that are interesting, and honestly, a lot of stuff that's basically medium interesting, but maybe you hadn't seen it yet. 

Ultimately, I'm just down here in the diaries, so shout out to anyone who reads and enjoys, comments, etc. 

 

[After the JUMP - there is no jump, I just like putting this here.]

 

This Time It's For Real. According to the daily numerical countdown that posts here or Michigan Football Twitter share, we are De'Veon Smith days away from the start of the Michigan Football season. By most national accounts, this season will be a colosal failure and Coach Jim Harbaugh will be ceremonially dismissed at the end of the season. 

Pete Thamel, Bruce Feldman, Pat Forde, whatever there's more, I'm done looking them up.

As such, Harbaugh spent his final preseason week at Michigan putting his affairs in order. He was likely seen packing one of those banker's boxes. Like Thanos, this is inevitable.

Ok great, that's done. If you're in the obligatory everything is terrible, "oh sad gloom" camp. Hopefully you've seen all you need to see here. Everyone agrees with you. Michigan is terrible. Harbaugh not only caused COVID, but he intentionally didn't recruit a Defensive Lineman to stop it, and then personally held Josh Gattis back from curing it. It's all true. 

I think there's a certain percentage of Michigan terror-fap "fans" who need this type of content. Hopefully, this little section has satiated that need. So now that we've gotten that out of the way, the rest of us can move on.

 

Ch-ch-ch-changes. If you've been around for hot tot summer, it has been impossible to miss the conversation about the changes that have taken place on the University of Michigan Football team. New coaches, new stickers, new energy, and I'm pretty sure the winged helmet is now a wolf in desperate need of an eyebrow wax.

All of that to say, like all weight loss, or all weight gain, or all jersey number changes...  all coaching changes, are definitely good?

One of the biggest changes needed for Michigan's football team to have success on the gridiron this year is a pretty hearty turnaround by the teams OL.

Harbaugh provided some insight about changes on the Offensive Line while appearing on the Inside Michigan Football radio show with host Jon Jansen Monday night.

"It’s a group that’s really surprising in a great way," Harbaugh revealed after saying that expectations for the offensive line are high.

"It is their first time playing together as a unit. Guys like [Ryan] Hayes and [Andrew] Stueber and [Andrew] Vastardis and [Trevor] Keegan and [Zak] Zinter and Chuck Filiaga, [who's] had a tremendous camp and entire offseason — guys that have put themselves in position to contribute and play and start.

"Not to say that there are battles going on — we know where it is right now — but there’s some good depth there. Good starters, good depth and guys that are interchangeable in a lot of ways. That’s the way it’s becoming."

Due to injuries last season, several younger players, like Zinter and Keegan, were thrust into action ahead of schedule. While it caused for growing pains a year ago, it proved beneficial for their development.

By my count that's six men. There's been rumor that one or two of the starting offensive linemen are a bit dinged up going into WMU this weekend, which was also mentioned on the pod this week and in board posts as well. So, what was a few weeks ago a gang of 10 appears now to have a little bit more shape. Our best bet is for those names to still be those same names in four weeks, that would hopefully mean quality and consistency.

 

I, for one, welcome our new coaching overlords. If we're going to drive this point home, let's go ahead and hammer this spike home hard. There were a lot of problems last year that needed fixing, the entirety of the defense. Change is happening. 

The Brew:

Macdonald has never called plays before, but Harbaugh feels like the spring and fall camps gave him enough of an idea of the type of playcaller he has in Macdonald. The first-year coordinator will also be down on the field for his first taste of game action.

“I got a good feel for that. Got a good feel for that,” Harbaugh said. “Feel like he’s ready. In fact, we’ve had a ton of situational calls where we didn’t script it. Especially in fall camp. We’ll see them in every situation. It wasn’t able to be scripted the night before – just was on him. He’s come in well-thought-out and come in quick. Got good adjustments, talked about the communication. When your players are communicating, when the players know the calls, know the adjustments, can execute them quick, that’s all of the good studying and good coaching.”

I can see it now... "Jim doesn't let Macdonald call his own plays!" I'm sure followed quickly by, "how come I can't get no Tang round here!"

Communication and culture have been two of the biggest improvements mentioned by many in the building throughout the offseason. The way that players are talking and connecting on the field is being noticed by outsiders, as well.

“I think the thing that strikes me and the thing I’ve noticed early on – just really anybody who’s come and watched our practice, former players – is the amount of communication,” Harbaugh said. “Communication on the field, also on the sidelines. Guys coaching guys, guys talking. Guys spitting out the calls. That’s been tremendous. Something I think is a consistent thing that we’ve seen throughout spring ball and training camp."

More Jim:

“You think you’re good. I think we have a very good team, and then you really have to play the game to find out exactly where you’re at,” Harbaugh said. “I believe we’re capable; I also believe it’s going to take playing our best every single week to have a chance to win.

“That will be the case each and every time we play.”

You're right Marge, just like that time I could have met Mr. T at the mall...

Macdonald's defense from the player's vantage point:

"I thought we just had our best practice in the stadium, another scrimmage, and we were flying around out there, executing, doing what we’ve got to do. We watched the film this morning. It was fun to watch us fly around, and I think we’re hitting our stride going into Week One.”

Aidan Hutchinson wasn’t going to give away any trade secrets, but he’s excited to show off what they’ve worked on all spring.

“It’s just different, because the schemes are pretty different,” he said. “It’s just a completely different feel in terms of my responsibility and everyone’s responsibility in the defense. It’s really fun when you can turn on that film and watch guys fly around like that, and just doing their jobs. It’s a fun defense to watch when we’re doing things right.”

If I go, I'm taking you to hell with me.

Hutchinson agreed that freshman linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green and redshirt junior tackle Donovan Jeter were two of the camp’s most pleasant surprises on defense.

“Those dudes are balling out,” he said. “Jete’s having his best camp, playing his best football since spring of 2019, probably. Nikhai has really come along, a young cat who is really playing his best ball right now and is going to be a really good player for us this season.”

In rod....er... In Macdonald we Trust. I can see the start line from here, just Marquise Walker more days!

 

Next man up. Same man up. Like mentioned above, if this team is going to have a significant turnaround, it's going to have to see significant improvement out of both lines. The problem is, both lines are mostly filled with the same guys. If we're to believe Hutch, and Jete is "having his best camp" then what about Mazi?

Coaches and players alike have insisted that third-year redshirt freshman Mazi Smith is the guy — or the first man up, at least – who will get the job done. The Grand Rapids, Mich., native is in the best shape of his life, he said Monday, after transforming his body this offseason and getting up to 318 pounds.

"I think I’ve kind of always put pressure on myself, whether I had a big role or small role," Smith said. "I’m always trying to be the best version of me. The pressure really hasn’t changed much, because there’s always been pressure on me, from myself."

And more:

"Trying to maintain that work ethic, keep changing my body and continue to elevate my game are some things I’ll never stop doing," Smith said.

Now, he's put himself into position to be as confident as he's ever been in his abilities, which lines up with the introduction of a new defense that suits him well.

"I kinda fit right in," Smith said of adjusting to Macdonald's system. "I gained the weight I was supposed to, and it’s pretty comfortable. Felt right."

"You just get to see everybody’s ability," Smith explained. "Everybody’s ability shows at once — whether it be interior defensive line or outside linebackers, the people in coverage. Everything just flows and works together."

It's a start, I think we basically file this one under a wait and see. Thank god we've only got Nico Collins days left to wait and see.

 

Vince Gray on Liberty, Utilitarianism and other shit. Vince Gray on change, because that's what we talk about 'round these parts.

"I was ready for a change schematically," Gray said. "I feel this is going to prepare us more for the next level. It’s going to allow us to compete and make plays on the ball, which is what I enjoy. I’m excited for it."  

On Culture:

"There’s a lot better energy. It’s a lot better feeling walking into Schem," Gray said. "It’s fun. Especially our defense, it’s fun to play. I’m really enjoying the scheme and the positions that our coaches are putting us in."

On Ja'Den McBurrows: 

“He’s really good. I can’t wait to see what he does here, too. He’s got a couple things to work on, but he’s gonna be really good here.”

On Wisconsin:

No. That song sucks.

Oh and while you're at it, go ahead and try to go deep on us.

"Most definitely, we expect that, and we’re welcoming it for real," Gray said. "We’ve gotten a lot of reps doing it, we’ve all improved at it and just being more aware and being smarter football players is going to help us be in better position to make plays on those balls." 

 

Our QB is a Leader and Best. Like bachelorettes and trap music, leadership skills and quarterbacking go hand-in-hand. We have a QB, his name is Cade. It's time to hear about how he's an amazing leader of men.

“I think my role on the team is specifically what has changed,” McNamara said on Monday. “I always wanted to be the starter and, last year, after winning the starting job at the end of the season, I never went through an offseason as being the starter. Just basically my role has changed. My job is to be consistent, so I’m just striving to be as consistent as I possibly can.”

McNamara was thrust into a role he did not expect to have late last season. He decided to let his play do the talking. Now, he feels like he is being given the license to be a more vocal version of himself.

“I think my leadership style began by example, just because of the position I was in the last two years,” McNamara said. “I feel like my leadership style is demanding more out of my teammates and contributing more with my voice, I wasn’t able to do that as a non-starter. I feel like my position now has really given me the ability to be myself again. It feels really good.”

"I definitely feel I’ve contributed to that part of the team. I’m confident in saying that,” McNamara said. “But there are a lot of guys in that locker room that have contributed to that, as well. It’s been anyone from Coach Harbaugh to Aidan [Hutchinson] to [linebacker] Josh [Ross], the captains on this team. It’s been everyone.

Stop me if you've heard this one, the running game can help the passing game.

“I think coach [Josh] Gattis putting emphasis on that part of our offense is good; good for the passing game, good for the play action game, good for all aspects of our offense. It’s something we’re not against at all … our scheme, that identity part of our offense is really the most important.”

And let's not forget the importance of having a short memory.

As is the desire to right last year’s wrongs. He didn’t doubt he’d be the starter, though he praised McCarthy as a “good player and a good guy,” and he knows the pressure that comes with being the starting quarterback at Michigan.

He was part of last year’s disappointment, and he’s ready to fix the leaks.

“Last season was very upsetting. I also got hurt in the last game, which was really my first start (against Penn State). That was obviously very frustrating,” he said.

“But everyone is aware of what happened last season. I think we’ve done enough this offseason to for sure set up a season that’s going to be different.”

Well, I feel like we're getting most of these clichés out of the way now while we can. And don't get me wrong, don't confuse this snark for apathy.

Here's the payoff for weeks now of hearing these same messages, notes, quotes, and themes.

This is exactly what they need to be talking about. And, for that matter, it's exactly what we need to hear going into the 2021 season.

Obviously, the converse isn't "we were great last year, we're going to try to run it back." That's not a thing. That said, the reasonable opposite of what we're hearing would be something to the effect of "COVID was crazy and it made things terrible for us." COVID was and is crazy, and it made things terrible for everyone. But in the few mentions you hear about COVID and it's effect on the 2020 season, you almost immediately hear them dismiss that as a reason.

If you're watching, listening, reading... there are no excuses. There's not even a fundamental misunderstanding of the problem, unless you are a 'Harbaugh did this to me' person (and didn't you already leave after the opening paragraph fap? You should be napping by now).

The past month has been about making the case, both on and off the field, for why things will be different this year.

And now, starting in Jim Harbaugh days, there won't be any more need for talk, we'll see it with our own Charles Woodson eyes.

 

Tweets because I can...

 

https://twitter.com/UMichFootball/status/1432438563132559366

 

Mike shouts out school. I'm more impressed with Gemon's hair. That's the hair of a starting CB.

 

 

https://twitter.com/blake_corum/status/1432352652126523400

 

 

https://twitter.com/nacionpatriots/status/1431319821053014020

 

 

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1432375652070604804

 

....

 

 

Christmas Cats Clash Cut. Per reports: “Due to uncertainties with scheduling, the Wildcats elected to not play this season,” the Michigan release says. The game is still on for 2022 in London with the other dates set to be moved around. The Wolverines replaced the Dec. 4 date with San Diego State instead.

This is disappointing, but the future games are still on. And let's all remember that this game exists because Juwan is the best person on the planet. 

Michigan's Non-Conference Schedule now looks like this:

Nov. 5 — at Wayne State (exhibition)

Nov. 10 — vs. Buffalo

Nov. 13 — Prairie View A&M (Washington, D.C., Coaches vs. Racism)

Nov. 16 — vs. Seton Hall (Gavitt Games)

Nov. 19 — UNLV (Las Vegas, Roman Main Event)

Nov. 21 — Arizona or Wichita State (Las Vegas, Roman Main Event)

Nov. 24 — vs. Tarleton State

Dec. 1 — at North Carolina (Big Ten/ACC Challenge)

Dec. 4 — vs. San Diego State

Dec. 18 — vs. Southern Utah

Dec. 21 — vs. Purdue Fort Wayne

Dec. 30 — at Central Florida

Let's get some quick observations out of the way. Coaches vs Racism, it's about time. I think we all can agree coaches have been pretty on-again off-again Cutler-Cavalleri with regards to their relationship with racism. I'm glad we have a basketball game to shine a light on this burgeoning fued.

Roman Main Event - shoutout Reigns, Polanski, Roy, Josi... dysfunction. Shoutout dysfunction.

Now for something a bit more serious, according to Bart-rankings, Torvik not Simpson, this schedule is actually a lot more difficult than it appears. While we're disappointed about the loss of Kentucky, notably our wagon-toting All-American Center, this schedule is a lineup that looks good at the end of the year.  

I know we're not a super-concerned bubble-watching schedule-strength fanbase this year, but kudos to the schedule makers for only having one team in the +200 range, four games in that desirable 100-190 range, and then some top 50 teams to go along with another highly competitive Big Ten lineup.
 
Preseason Torvik: Buffalo #82, PVA&M #169, Seton Hall #33, UNLV #187, Arizona #34 or Wichita St #55, Tarleton State (who?) #188, UNC #20, SDSU #37, Southern Utah #124, P Ft. Wayne #230, UCF #39
 

 

Etc. Tom Brady is 1593 days older than the next oldest player in the NFL.

Veteran WR Perriman among Lions' roster cuts. I saw this ESPN headline and immediately had concern that Herman Moore might be next. 

Eamonn Dennis is #1 in your heart, #0 in your program?

“Jake’s had a really good camp; Brad’s had a great Camp”