Last Saturday's win vs. Last Year's 1st game (Minny)

Since I was super optimistic after the Minnesota game last year, I am self-enforcing a one game ban on all message board commenting until after week 2.  See you all next week.

I feel much better this year, if only for the fact that I saw accurate throws from our QB’s and the deep ball wasn’t overthrown every single time like in years past!

I'd think the biggest note from the Minnesota game in retrospect was how many good players they were missing from the lineup. 

Yes I think it’s different. During the first quarter it didn’t feel that much different and then the game went on and we hit a few bombs, blocking on the perimeter was good and there was hustle in this game that was lacked last year. Cade is much better than Milton and looks like we’d be ok if we had to play McCarthy. 
 

As long as the offense is willing to open up more and take those shots when teams decide they’re not going to let us run I think we’ll be fine. 

I remember the Milton-for-Heisman chatter after the Minny game. Let's hold off...

I agree that Michigan looked like a better team this year, but with Bell out, and tough opponents ahead, I'm not sure how that will look in the standings.

As far as I'm concerned the 2020 season didn't happen. We're picking up where we left off after the Citrus Bowl.

I think saying that there were red flags in 2020's first game that we didn't see in 2021's first game is stretching it.  If this season falls apart like last season, we will be able to point to red flags from the WMU game too.

But it's always better to play well than play poorly.  This game was not like the Akron game or the Army game, and that's a good thing.  A very good thing.

I've purged a lot of 2020 from memory, but my recollection of the Minnesota game is that we got a handful of key plays on defense/special teams that turned the game into a rout, when it was looking to be a competitive game otherwise.  I seem to recall some "Is this sustainable?" discussion after it.  (It was not, apparently.)

Saturday's game was more one-sided.  WMU had its one scoring drive in the first quarter and then nothing until garbage time.   Now, whether WMU turns out to be any good remains to seen, but it was a solid performance overall.

All three phases of the game were better and more crisp. Running game looks much improved; Haskins and Corum are a legit great 1-2 punch. It was great to see a fit JH on the sidelines, more focused. Defense looked much improved and I’m glad we have moved on from Don Brown and I think we have a good one in Macdonald. We still have a lot to prove and I think that’s ok, this team looks really focused compared to previous seasons. I think the future is bright. 

Totally different. Last year was year and I distinctly remember everyone all gitty and didn’t understand why. Last years win verse MN was the same old crap. They didn’t do anything better they just played a crap team and got lucky. 

If you can stomach it take a look back at that team and you’ll see there was really nothing to be excited about. 
 

Edit: my response also isn’t intended to mean that in indicates UM will be good. The point is last year was smoke and mirrors, this game gave actual reason for optimism. Nothing more, nothing less. 

Reasons last year's opener > this year's opener:

• First and foremost, the Minnesota game was the best playcalling of Gattis' career and the offense was opened up to a level we haven't seen since. 
• Minnesota had serious offensive playmakers with Bateman, Ibrahim and Morgan. 
• It was a Big 10 road game at night against a team with a lot of hype/confidence.
• No major injuries :(

Reasons this year's opener > last year's opener.

• Execution by the players was better in all three facets of the game.
• Defense seems somewhat sound and sustainable, even without forcing splash plays (sacks/turnovers).
• Efficient QB play in the passing game. 

Personally, I'd feel better about this year's game if we had operated a less-vanilla, more-balanced offense (quick passes to put Cade in rhythm, attack the edges/run off-tackle vs continually lining up and running inside at 7/8-man boxes out of the shotgun with no QB reads) and we didn't have the same bullshit clock management issues for no reason at all. But, in the same breath, it was encouraging that we could line up and smash a team on execution alone and it wasn't a surprise that every time we attacked the edge, we were able to create chunk plays (Corum swing pass, Henning TD, Wilson sweep). 

Nothing from this year compares to anything from last year. Last year was the kind of iteration that you throw out in order not to skew your data.

Not just data that's too many standard deviations from normal, but data where you assume the experimental variables were skewed, and you don't even look at the measurements.

After watching last years Minnesota game, and listing the succession of called plays by the Michigan offense, I'd say they were almost 4 different teams between the two games.

Milton ran QB keeps some times back to back after throwing around the field. The Mini D was stretched and confused by the +1 advantage. He was 15 of 25 with 31 rushes and Keepers.

Minnesota was overwhelmed. However our OL play wasn't the best although Milton didn't get a lot of pressure. We know the rest of the story on the season. Milton under pressure rarely found and 2nd read or he bolted the pocket usually with unsuccessful blocking. 

A different Michigan team played Saturday. Cade is not a double threat and after last season I doubt Milton had much of an OL to assist him in that chore. However, we saw a game manager who can offer a balance we've not seen under Gattis given his ability to read, check down, move in the pocket, make actual decisions quick enough and drop a dime here and there. isn't that mostly what we need?

We didn't have but two RPOs to my count. That is coming in the near future also with some keeps. But I hope the keeps aren't frequent given our luck with QB injuries. 

Lastly, WM has a truly good air game. Until the pressure from the back end of our D slowed the WRs enough for Macs guys. And the single coverage tightened up as well.

So thats the plus from this years first game compared to 2020s.  A game manager, a more efficient ratio =  81% to 60% without the need for QB to run every time pressure presents, a Defense with a strategy that helps stop the run and being pass shredded. 

What teams we face in the future, this team gets my vote to play them. 

I think the corners looked night and day.  Last year they were out of position and scrambling to make up ground, Saturday they seemed engaged and confident, consistently having good coverage and making plays.  Could it be a strength this year? I hope so!

WMU had the #9 offense in the entire country last year.  I liked that the Michigan defense did not look lost running a zone.  

Last year’s win was a bigger challenge: higher ranked opponent, road game, night, brand-new QB. Soundly beating a directional school at home just doesn’t mean all that much.  

We still don't know much about how good this team is, but huge differences in the defense and the qb position.

Milton is decent with scripted plays that go well, as the game goes on he gets worse and he is terrible under pressure.

Cade is a really good qb. In Madden he would be like a 95 in awareness, Milton would be a 30.Cade sees the blitz, and will throw to where it came from. When the defense jumps offsides he takes advantage of the free play. I wish he was taller and faster but whatever, between the ears he is the best qb I have seen play here since Navarre I think.

I am basing most of that off what I saw last year, yesterday did nothing to change my mind.

On offense - we used tempo; couple plays using the backfield as receiving weapons. Only one penalty that I recall. Cade looks in charge.

defense- they settled nicely. No flashes but they looked cohesive. I.e. Aidan didn’t look like he was trying to carry the defense. Dax had a great game, particularly shedding blocks. 
 

STs - outside the obvious, excellent game. 
 

overall - team settled in nicely, adjustments made, second string in for more than a quarter - when was the last time that happened? Fun game! 

hope the team stays focused on the next game  and the next game only. Last year should have taught everyone to never underestimate an opponent.