Some ND Info
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:40 PM ^
If ND is week at CB, and ND's pass rush is effective, hopefully that can allow Shea to get out of the pocket and make some plays on the move if needed
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:46 PM ^
They should look at how Lincoln Riley dealt with OSU last year. OU had a better o line, but they were facing a stout pash rush with inexperienced corners. Indiana had some success in the first half against the buckeyes if I recall, getting the ball out quick. And they had literally no protection
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:49 PM ^
Wimbush is going to give us fits with his running. We miss on a blitz or get loose with the rushing lanes, and he's gone for 30 yards.
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:52 PM ^
I'm confused how ND is weak at CB, their fans keep saying Love will be the best CB on the field in the game. Is their second CB really bad or is Love not as good as the hype?
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:18 PM ^
Have heard the same. ND fans seem to be very pleased at CB and most concerned with S as far on D.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:35 PM ^
Fans and staff are a different story, right?
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:02 PM ^
All the ND reports so far indicate they think their starting CBs are primed to be lights-out. Historic, as far as ND corners go (which, granted, is not saying all that much ... often an achilles heel for them, relative to other position groups).
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:56 PM ^
Feels like it will be a replay of the MSU game last year. Wimbush does just enough with his feet to make Michigan pay and the offense can’t find any rhythm. ND wins 17-10.
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:56 PM ^
One can only hope that Michigan goes into South Bend and destroys them. It would be a great way to start the football season.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:37 PM ^
We are long overdue for a 38-0 win over ND.
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:57 PM ^
The fact that we are still having punter issues terrifies me. In a game like this, field position is everything and if we can't punt the ball 30 yards without it going into the first row then we are in big trouble. I think it's even more disconcerting knowing that we are using up a scholarship on one of those punters.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:02 PM ^
I don't know if my heart can take A REAL-HUM-DINGER game.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:45 PM ^
+1 for the Hoosiers reference.
August 23rd, 2018 at 8:20 AM ^
Well, I was remembering the Sports Illustrated cover from 1986 after the Michigan/ /ND game (24-23). That cover hung on my bedroom wall until I left home for college.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:22 PM ^
I see this game being a slugfest with both offense struggling most of the game. 17-13 Michigan with UM getting a touchdown in the final 2 minutes
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:30 PM ^
This feels like last year's Florida game. A greatly overrated opponent with a terrible offense and good defense that we should beat unless we are far worse than we should be and/or everything that could go wrong does go wrong. We are better at every position except OL (probably) but they lost their 2 best OL and OL coach while we hired the best OL coach in the country so who even knows.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:04 PM ^
I wish it felt like Florida last year.
A) This is a home game for ND.
B) Florida's QB situation was much worse than ND's is.
C) Florida was having more off-the-field issues than one RB, including at the head coaching spot.
D) We all joke about Kelly, and often rightly so, but he's a better coach than McElwain.
E) This is a rivalry game.
F) ND has been a lot better than Florida this decade.
So, yeah, I wish it felt like Florida. I'm with umbig11 on this one. I predicted 8-4, with 9-3 more likely than 7-5. Really hope I'm wrong, but our schedule is so difficult that it's really not fair, and this game is one reason why.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:32 PM ^
I think the offense is going to have some hiccups. Hopefully the defense can get some turnovers and maybe score a TD as well. Living in South Bend is horrible. All I hear is how bad we sucked last year and there is no chance we can beat them.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:43 PM ^
U know... I’d make a deal with the devil right now and lose this game if he guaranteed me we’d run the table the rest of the season.
But that’s the only deal I’d make. Just sayin’....
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:50 PM ^
I know the ND defense is no slouch, but I just don’t see how NDs offense is going to move the ball. Teams that play us that can’t pass get absolutely destroyed by Don Brown.
If you assume the turnover battle is somewhat even, I see something like a 23-13 Michigan win
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:05 PM ^
I'm with you... Not even JT Barrett did a good job moving the ball against Michigan last year. QB's that can't pass won't, and running ability won't help because Hill and Long. They allow the safeties to tee off on anyone running out of the backfield. And they aren't going to run up the middle - nobody has ever done that on Don Brown's defense, and it won't happen Saturday night. I just can't see ND's offense consistently moving the ball.
If UM can do anything on offense, ND is gonna lose.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:21 PM ^
The strength of last years defense for Notre Dame was their pass defense. Their overall defensive stats were pretty good but not terribly intimidating (top 30ish). I suspect the pass defense feasted on teams playing from behind against a team that could run time off the clock. The defensive backs played the second half knowing the other team would be in pass mode. They were well positioned be efficient and effective given the game situation and team makeup. If Michigan has the lead or is within a touchdown most of the game then I expect Michigan to pull away in the end.
Although it may take more insight than I have to explain why an offense that was top 100ish can get to top 40ish. And I guess it is possible that ND improved more than we did over the summer but that is not quite what I am hearing out of South Bend. The traditional ND bandwagon is a little quiet.
August 23rd, 2018 at 12:16 AM ^
This thread is buried now, but here's how I would try to defend the idea that Michigan's bad offense from last year can become above average:
First, consider what we had last year: The good? Hit some big plays against Florida, and could run the ball using gap blocking in the second half of the season when not facing stacked, talented fronts.
The bad? Everything else.
Michigan had serious problems at QB, including injuries and Wilton Speight seriously underperforming from even his 2016 level. Pass protection problems that went far beyond overmatched personnel and crossed into issues of catastrophic disorganization. Receivers suffering from both injuries and extreme youth, with poor positional coaching on top of that.
In other words, everything was trouble. Small amounts of it, but add it all up and it was a huge problem.
Literally every area of the offense is going to improve. The OL may still have some issues, but I have a strong belief that the basic organizational problems (they got just destroyed on stunts) will be fixed, and the interior looks to take a big step forward into plus territory. The receivers get Black back and get a year of solid positional coaching; they should be much, much better. The QB should be able to hit the receivers much more of the time. And all of this will help the already-decent running game by punishing defenses for stacking against the run.
With all of these improvements, a combination of Michigan's quality schematics and terrific talent should all mesh in a way that it just could not last year.
Michigan wasn't bad last year because one thing was wrong. Lots of teams can produce functional offenses when there's one thing that's not great. Michigan was bad last year because almost everything was off. But not in a way that suggests they can never get better. In fact, thanks to the talent and the coaching that is present, it is reasonable to expect improvement in each of these areas.
The line between success and failure is small. Michigan's offense began to die the moment Wilton Speight threw a post route to Kekoa Crawford that was just a bit high. It wasn't so high that Crawford couldn't get to it, but he had to reach, and when he whiffed on the pass, it went into the arms of a Florida DB for a pick six. The disaster began.
Improve Crawford's catching and that's a nice grab of a high pass. Improve Speight's accuracy and it's a dumb drop that falls to the ground, live to play another down. Improve both and it's a catch-and-run for a big gain and Speight never blows that next pass and Michigan wins by 40 points.
Michigan has improved both the passing and the catching. I hope for some improvement to the blocking. Incremental improvements add up to one big improvement for the offense.
That's the hope.
August 23rd, 2018 at 9:31 AM ^
Outstanding analysis. Thank you for that. I agree 100 percent! I also think the lack of true leadership at the QB position was a major role in our slow offense for 2017.
To me, O'Korn seemed to hang his head when he made a bad decision with the football, and I wonder if that didn't trickle down to the entire offense. Lack of leadership and questionable QB play spelled disaster for us in 2017. As you also pointed out, it was not just one single thing that made our offense abysmal, it was many things!
Peters came in, and was the instant savior! (or was he?) Again, to me, lack of leadership and that confidence did not show from Peters, in my opinion. Peters seems quiet and not very "commanding". No need for me to recap the 2017 season from the most important position any more, but I agree with you every step of the way.
I believe that the 2018 team can only improve and get better. I trust this coaching staff. I am not going to predict and undefeated season and a complete blowout of Notre Dame, but I do like our chances of coming out of South Bend with a narrow win, and setting up the rest of 2018 nicely! I also like the certain "swagger", as the kids are calling it, that Shea Patterson seems to bring to the table. Time will tell, but I think we will improve vastly and have a fun 2018.
Thank you for your great, and extremely reasonable posts Stephenrjking.
August 23rd, 2018 at 10:40 AM ^
Agreed. They have a lot of talent on offense this year, and having a functional QB should make a huge difference. But I don't think the O-line will improve enough to run the ball consistently against the better defenses (ND, Wisconsin, MSU, OSU). Tackle is such a critical position and that looks to be a continued weak spot.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:23 PM ^
ndbig11
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:23 PM ^
(Double)
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:23 PM ^
Alex Bars (Sr, 315 lbs) is playing well? 1st brother was starting line backer at PSU. 2nd brother was an O-lineman for UM but did not start. 3rd brother is stepping up. Dad played for the great Al Fracassa at Brother Rice in Birmingham, MI.
ND o-line is as big as ours. Can Brian Kelly come up with a game plan that will help them stand up to the Michigan d-line?
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:29 PM ^
Why is our OL the Achilles Heel year after year? So frustrating.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:43 PM ^
Holy shit!
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:44 PM ^
Holy shit!
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:44 PM ^
Holy shit!
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:57 PM ^
I'm buying into the hype and I am very excited for the season. I'm looking to see lots of improvement on the offense. I'm still befuddled looking from afar on how the offensive staff was organized last year.
Drevno coaching centers and guards while being run game coordinator/ offensive coordinator, Frey coaching tackles and tight ends. You may wonder why there was so much confusion. Pep Hamilton pass game coordinator coaching both qb's and wr. Jay coaching rb's.
What do you expect but a disjointed offense. No dedicated wr coach for 4 freshman. Coaching te's and tackles together seems odd. Different coaching styles on oline.
Now we have a very good Oline coach focusing solely on the Oline. Drev was previously a good coach, I just don't think he could handle the extra responsibilities and still focus enough time on coaching the Oline. Now we have a wr coach and a grad assistant in Roundtree. I'm expecting the wr to be much better. Having someone dedicated to the position should make a big difference. An actual Te coach, not having to also deal with tackles. Pep can focus on Qb's and Jay on Rbs and Jim can oversee everything and also work with Qb's.
The defense should also be better with everyone being a year older and stronger.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:21 PM ^
I'm willing to wager w anyone who thinks this will be a close game. UM defense will suffocate a mediocre ND. This is a 2-3 touchdown win for us.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:32 PM ^
Well since umbig11 is not confident in us beating ND, I also am no longer confident
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:45 PM ^
What a report! So many things! News and facts! Also, other things! So much excitement!
August 22nd, 2018 at 11:43 PM ^
Wait a minute, wait a minute! I keep hearing about the vaunted ND defense, but every time I look up the stats it says that they finished 51st in pass defense, 49th in run defense, and 44th in total defense. Are we supposed to scared of THAT?!!
Here's a few of the teams that we played who finished higher in defense than ND - Indiana (26th), Minnesota (29th), Florida (31st). In each game, we exceeded the average ypg that those teams gave up. Even with the putrid offense, and offensive execution, last year, Michigan moved the ball against statistically better defenses.
Unless we expect the Wolverine offense to be equally as bad as last year, then I don't see how there are expectations for a low scoring output for Michigan. Where is the evidence of a very good ND defense? Mid 40's? Are folks just repeating media assumptions, or is there something I'm missing? Mid 40's? O'Korn started against Indiana. An agitated Speight started against Florida. And, Peters threw for 58 yards against Minnesota. Do we expect Patterson to be that bad? Do we expect the O-line, with one of the best coaches in the game, and with a new, simplified approach, to be as bad as last year?
Mid 40's defense??? Are you fkn kidding me???
August 23rd, 2018 at 10:55 AM ^
Username does not check out. More like Confident Bird amirite?
August 23rd, 2018 at 8:13 PM ^
I agree but for reference, the ND pass defense efficiency was #5 in fancy stats. I suspect it was aided greatly by the ND run offense.
August 23rd, 2018 at 7:45 AM ^
Perhaps the defense can rattle Wimbush to the extent he throws some balls to the guys in white? Perhaps Patterson can use his legs to buy time and find the open guy down field and throw a ball he can catch? I think it'll be a close game and I hate that. It's gonna kill me. I hate these bastards.