Time to Get Healthy, Time to Get Better

Submitted by MaizeBlueA2 on December 3rd, 2023 at 2:09 AM

13-0, incredible year thus far (and am incredible year regardless of anything that happens next).  But these seniors all came back for a reason, and it wasn't to get to this point.

Michigan now has 3 weeks to get better, everyone has to improve if Michigan wants to win a national championship. The biggest enemy is complacency and the biggest lie is "doing what got (us) here" will bring success. 

Saban has talked about his run and how he learned that if you do what got you there, you get beat. You have to be a different team and use the break to get better - especially while most teams use it to recover. "The team that is most improved is usually the team that wins."

At the same time, get healthy, boys!  When I saw the schedule for this season, I loved how it set up.

1. Easier in the beginning, allowing Michigan to build DEPTH.

2. Easier in the beginning, allowing Michigan to work on its weaknesses early.

3. A late bye week, to recover and prepare for the home stretch. Much better than having it after week 5 or 6...which is better for early season adjustments. 

We mastered the first part of the schedule, got a break, conquered the tough part in the middle. Now get 3 weeks to get as close to 100% as possible, get better as a team, and finish the last part of the season.

I won't list the areas that I think we need to improve, because we have the Snowflakes, but thankfully we have senior leadership to carry us these next 3 weeks! No one is satisfied. 

Let's finish! Go Blue!

MGoBoard
Football

MaizeBlueA2

December 3rd, 2023 at 2:28 AM ^

I'll list them here instead, feel free to do the same.

  • McCarthy has to continue to get better, and he has to be the most prepared player on the field in terms of knowing what he's seeing and what he might see in these next two games. He's accurate, but he has seemed to miss reads more (or maybe hasn't improved in this area as much as he has in others).

 

  • OL needs to get healthy, and I'd love for Moore to open the competition back up and find the best combination. Our second group has already gotten reps, we don't need to spend the break wrapping our best players in bubble wrap and giving the back-ups all of the reps (as some coaches have done in the past).

 

  • I think it's the flipside for the LBs, Barrett and Colson can watch a little more and focus on film study, but we have to develop a stronger 2nd unit in terms of live reps. It basically needs to be fall camp for those 2nd and 3rd team guys.

 

  • The injuries in the secondary (remember, Moore and Paige were both out early) has forced us to rotate guys. I expect the DBs to be their strongest for these last two games. Everyone should be healthy *knock on wood*, and due to all of the injuries they're "peaking" at the right time of year.

 

I'd like to see us "go for broke" in this semifinal. Attack it like it is the last game, the national championship. Screw letting the game come to us, go find the game...storm's don't wait until everyone is ready. Be aggressive and take it to whatever team we play.

Joined: 11/06/2018

MGoPoints: 49955

bamf_16

December 3rd, 2023 at 7:26 AM ^

McCarthy’s TD pass against Ohio State was 100% because of preparation; he knew the safety would turn his body & head and create the window where the ball went.

 

I hope it didn’t happen a ton last night because it didn’t need to, but Moore needs to scheme guys open when they’re struggling like last night. Identify and attack defensive tendencies, bring guys in motion pre-snap, etc.

 

And how safe is Barnhart’s starting spot? Not sure they’d want both guys on the right side to be new come playoff time, but I’m interested to see the UFR. Barnhart/Jones vs. Jones/Hinton?

Joined: 11/20/2010

MGoPoints: 14204

victors2000

December 3rd, 2023 at 9:23 AM ^

He knew the Safety was going to turn his head? Even if he did he was still taking a chance, that would have been major suck had the safety not turned his head, that was a gift waiting to be unwrapped. Great pass and all, but yikes! The timing...I don't want to think about it, it worked out great.

Joined: 03/21/2009

MGoPoints: 12912

AZBlue

December 3rd, 2023 at 10:06 AM ^

I guess you missed this in the last week….

JJ said that based on film study, EVERY time #25 on OSU looked at a receiver in coverage he then turned his head and body to chase the receiver rather than tracking the ball.  Therefore as soon as he saw #25 look at Wilson he knew he had the window.

Not only that but the may have been the ONLY snap #25 was on the field against M.  (Freshman LB with less than 150 snaps this year.)

Therefore that was a GREAT read by JJ, not a gift waiting to be unwrapped

Joined: 09/14/2008

MGoPoints: 16806

MRunner73

December 3rd, 2023 at 9:20 AM ^

The Michigan offense has to be prepared to score a lot of points. They'll need to have their best passing attack. It will be similar to TCU last year.

The defense also like TCU must somehow limit the opposing team's ability to score. The point being that the next opponent will have a passing attack superior to what Michigan saw against OH State and will no doubt have better QB play.

No doubt that Michigan will need to have a different look than what they showed all season. It didn't go well against TCU last year even if you take away JJ's 2 Pick-6's.

Joined: 11/11/2018

MGoPoints: 16883

MaizeBlueA2

December 3rd, 2023 at 2:33 AM ^

Anyone else just a little disappointed Georgia loss? I was excited to be the team to knock them off.

 

Also, now we have to change the Beat Georgia Drill to the Beat Texas/FSU/Alabama Drill.

Joined: 11/06/2018

MGoPoints: 49955

Midukman

December 3rd, 2023 at 6:58 AM ^

No excuses. We looked like poo.  Bring any semblance of that game in the playoffs and we get our asses beat. Sabans 100% correct and we definitely need to open things up and sharpen the hell up offensively. 

Joined: 09/13/2018

MGoPoints: 15906

growler4

December 3rd, 2023 at 9:19 AM ^

Sorry, but that is just not fair.

How about giving credit to the Iowa defense? They played lights out and they have been great all year.

Certainly, the offense needs to be better. Dropped passes hurt. The OL is banged up but needs to improve. JJ seemingly refusing to throw to wide open check down receivers (Corum and Edwards) for easy yardage when downfield receivers aren't open, lack of play action passing.

Our defense played great, even if Iowa's offense is offensive, and special teams stood out.

Joined: 11/24/2014

MGoPoints: 1700

brose

December 3rd, 2023 at 2:41 PM ^

I respectfully disagree with this take. You play the game you are in. That game plan was the perfect way to beat a team like Iowa. Turnovers will be the key in game like this. Michigan forced 2.5 of those. Play field position and let your defense strangle their offense. The two dropped passes by TEs are rare, and made this game way tighter than it should have been. Go blue

Joined: 02/19/2009

MGoPoints: 5768

Magnum P.I.

December 3rd, 2023 at 8:22 AM ^

Man, I’d love to see the team dial up a Lloyd Carr 2000 Orange Bowl or 2008 Capital One Bowl where our offense looked like a legit wide open NFL passing attack

Joined: 07/16/2009

MGoPoints: 30678

flashOverride

December 3rd, 2023 at 8:49 AM ^

Get Will Johnson back. Get JJ 100%, because I still don't think he is. Get the OL jelled after the shuffle from the Zinter injury. You're done playing the Big Ten, so get ready to open up that playbook a little. 

Do those things and this team can beat anyone, in fact I almost hope they get the shot to beat Nick Saban into retirement. GO BLUE!

Joined: 08/04/2013

MGoPoints: 9070