Minnesota Snowflakes: The Defense
October 7th, 2023 at 11:39 PM ^
Mr Mason Graham is a frickin BEAST!!
Unblockable 💪
October 7th, 2023 at 11:56 PM ^
Thinking about Mike Martin. Gotta find at least one former wrestler at DT every two recruiting cycles.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:03 PM ^
Didn't need the offense tonight
October 7th, 2023 at 11:03 PM ^
Held Minnesota to 169 yards ofoffense with 2 pick sixes, some sacks, good pass rush, and an assortment of tackles for loss in a road conference game. Who's got it better than us ? This team is special. The poise and camaraderie they play with is fun to watch. Thank you Michigan football. Keep it going. Stay healthy and hungry.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:05 PM ^
Goddamn, son
October 7th, 2023 at 11:08 PM ^
The defense needs to stop scoring so much. It’s killing us in the time of possession battle.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:13 PM ^
What did Fleck said to that "what's the most important stat in a football game?"
Also, on a completely unrelated note, did Tucker say ToP to that question?
October 8th, 2023 at 4:56 AM ^
Pretty sure Tuck said the amount of time the ball is in the quarterback’s hand…
October 8th, 2023 at 8:18 AM ^
The time of balls possession?
October 7th, 2023 at 11:09 PM ^
Looked real good
October 7th, 2023 at 11:10 PM ^
Mason Graham is incredible.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:13 PM ^
Welcome back Mason Graham!
No idea how their noodle arm qb uncorked that pin point perfect pass at the end of the half. Other than that more domination.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:13 PM ^
Sheilds and Stars for everyone!
October 7th, 2023 at 11:13 PM ^
That was fun.
Minnesota was only able to capitalize on it once, but I noticed that they tried to target Mikey a few times. I wonder if it was something they saw on tape that made them feel comfortable doing that. Minnesota is incompetent, so it didn't matter.
Keon Sabb looks like a future 1st round pick. Doesn't even start, but popped off the screen all year.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:14 PM ^
They would have had to target something!
October 7th, 2023 at 11:18 PM ^
Exceptional game other than 1 play to close 1H.
Great plays by Will J and Keon S to deliver pick 6s. DL dominated.
Gophers crushed. Onward.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:20 PM ^
One of the best college defenses I've ever seen.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:22 PM ^
After last week, many of us had questions about the secondary in pass coverage, and Will Johnson in particular didn't look like himself. I feel like that has now been emphatically addressed.
October 8th, 2023 at 10:06 AM ^
Johnson looked more like his old self, for sure. Did Rod Moore play?!... did not see or hear his name called.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:28 PM ^
Incredible. Dline is killing it. I wish we can get some more practice on pass D before OSU. After watching MD today, I am not sure if they pose a threat.
Regardless, this D is built to be aggressive and young guys are stepping up. We are going to have some incredible plays in the second half. These reps are going to pay off. Oh Mason is awesome.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:37 PM ^
Boa constrictor 🐍
October 8th, 2023 at 10:49 AM ^
Boa constrictor cobra rattlesnake.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:41 PM ^
What is not to love about the defensive line? Welcome back, Mason Graham.
October 8th, 2023 at 10:04 AM ^
Well they were gashed quite a bit especially in the first half on runs. Not sure if thats the LB's not filling properly or the DT's being pushing around? Film study will tell the tale.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
Not sure what people expect. We gave up 117 rushing yards at 3 YPC. We gave up 169 total yards on 56 plays. Two pick sixes. A bunch of sacks and QB pressures. On the road, hostile environment. Sure, Minnesota is not a good team but they are not a G5 team either. They are well coached. That was total defensive domination and it started up front. Michigan gave up a few chunks but adjusted. We're not going to win every single play.
October 8th, 2023 at 12:02 AM ^
The last time Michigan returned two interceptions for a touchdown in the same game was Sept. 9, 2017, against Cincinnati, a 36-14 win. Tyree Kinnel and Lavert Hill accounted for those. #2 and Sabb benefited from us playing zone.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:37 AM ^
Ah, *that* game.
This team is so, so much better than that team, it's crazy. The only player on that team that would be a clear improvement on this one is Devin Bush; Maurice Hurst would, of course, be an important DT rotation piece. Maybe, without looking, CB#2? But that's it.
We're better at all 11 offensive positions. Way, way better. Better at pretty much every staff position, too.
October 8th, 2023 at 9:17 AM ^
I’d probably take Mason Cole over Nugent on offense, but the difference at the offensive skill positions and overall depth is massive.
Defensively I think the talent is pretty close. Will Johnson is the best corner on either of those teams, but Lavert Hill + David Long is a better combo than what we have now. Similarly, Devin Bush would be the best LB but as a group 2023 is far superior. Both D lines are outstanding.
October 8th, 2023 at 10:01 AM ^
Looked like quite a bit of zone was called this game. I bet Minter thought the young QB would have trouble reading the coverages and he was correct. There are other young/younger inexperienced signal callers on the schedule coming up that mixing up the coverages should work well on too.
October 8th, 2023 at 10:51 AM ^
McCord will struggle. He’s slow with his reads and can get confused. And his O line is only above average at pass pro. Can’t wait for that game!
October 8th, 2023 at 12:22 AM ^
That first pick six was chef's kiss. Will Johnson/Minter baited that all the way, made it look wide open and then burst in front of the WR at the last possible moment.
October 8th, 2023 at 12:44 AM ^
Better than advertised is how I'd call the defense. I can't help but think Michigan and Georgia are on a collision course.
October 8th, 2023 at 12:58 AM ^
One pass play, a few runs otherwise wrecking a team that will still have a chance to win the West (they won't, but you never know).
October 8th, 2023 at 8:28 AM ^
The mason Graham stats are crazy when you think about that it’s his first game back, with a club on his hand. 6 tackles (5 solo), a sack and 2 tfl. All in 55 plays total for Minnesota where he probably only saw maybe 25-30 of them.
October 8th, 2023 at 9:57 AM ^
Yes was surprised how well he played with basically only one had to battle, grab, shed blockers, etc. He was the best interior DL/DT this game.
October 8th, 2023 at 9:55 AM ^
Mikey needs to stay in the slot, the inside, not on the outside as a normal CB where his lack of height/size and physicality can be exposed like on the TD he gave up this game. He is going to grade out badly again like last week.
October 8th, 2023 at 10:50 PM ^
He also lacks long speed. Quick as a cat but no make up speed and gets pretty far behind guys in trail.
Great slot nickle though.
October 8th, 2023 at 10:35 AM ^
De ja vu with the Will Johnson pick 6. That same play has happened twice before that I can recall in Michigan history. The first was against Minnesota in the second half of the 2003 come back. It was the exact same disguised zone coverage and Stewart took it back for a pick six. Also against Iowa in 2009 on the second player of the game Donovan Warren took back a pick 6 from almost the identical spot on the field.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
Does Michigan give up over 20 points in a game this season? Really only two teams on the schedule have a shot. I'm not sure but its crazy to consider this as a real possibility.
October 8th, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^
Overall a good performance. Though, I did not like the 4th and 3rd down conversions made by the Gophers.
October 8th, 2023 at 7:25 PM ^
One bust between Sainristil and Sabb at the end of the half marred what was otherwise an absolute shutdown performance. Graham did WORK, and with only one hand at that. Will Johnson, superstar, even in the postgame interview. Superior performance. God, I love this team.