What can UM's staff do to make linebackers better in a hurry?
For the second year in a row UM's linebacking core appears to be the weak link on defense late in the season. This is troubling, but can it be fixed...and quickly? Last year Ryan Glasgow's injury was a huge loss but we can't blame line injuries now. What can UM's staff do to help improve the play of say Mike McCray? Is the answer simply playing a more athletic Devin Bush Jr.? I'm not football smart enough to know but it sure seems ineffective linebacker play is UM's Achilles' heel versus the run and intermediate passes on an otherwise elite defense.
If the mods feel this has already been hashed out let's move on but I'm still unsure as to the answer.
Go Blue! A big Thank You to all student athletes for working your *sses off this season!
November 16th, 2016 at 10:47 AM ^
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November 16th, 2016 at 10:47 AM ^
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November 16th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
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November 16th, 2016 at 11:04 AM ^
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November 16th, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^
November 16th, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^
Unicorn blood?
November 16th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
November 16th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
have gotten at their positions. I expected some growing pains but I do think we have athleticism and just need to read keys better. Edge runs, wheel routes and slants are killing our LBs.
November 16th, 2016 at 2:35 PM ^
Gedeon is an avg athlete while McCray runs slower than some of the Michigan DL and that's a problem. I'm pretty sure McCray runs 4.8-4.9
November 16th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^
We've been recruiting faster LB's since Harbaugh has come here. In the future, we will not be getting beat on the edges as much and our LB's will (hopefully) be able to contain RB's on screen passes and short routes. At the end of the day, McCray, Gedeon and Peppers are still playing at a very high level. This defense has been so solid all year. In the OSU game, I think we need Peppers to shadow Curtis Samuel all game. If there is a breakdown in assignment and McCray or Gedeon has to cover him, it is a nightmare waiting to happen.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:09 AM ^
Both McCray and Gedeon were top 250 guys and Gedeon in particular was lauded for his athleticism. Also, Peppers is Peppers. I realize flashy new recruit always sounds like he'll be an upgrade in speed, but I find it hard to expect our LBs will be that much faster.
That being said, I agree we'll have a hard time with Samuel. So does everyone else.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
Right, isn't every high school recruit going to seem faster than they'll be when they play here? They also probably haven't gone through a serious S&C program so they're likely to gain 10-30 lbs once they arrive and will lose some of that speed
November 16th, 2016 at 1:38 PM ^
November 16th, 2016 at 12:23 PM ^
The thing that scares me about Peppers shadowing Samuel (althought I agree it will end up being our best tactical move) is that we could use him shadowing Barrett as well. That QB draw, or him tucking and running when protection breaks down, is very dangerous. I would feel much better about our chances if Peppers could spy him, especially on third and medium situations.
November 16th, 2016 at 12:48 PM ^
I agree with this! I'd rather have Peppers spy Barrett, and leave Samuel to Jourdan Lewis. I think Stribling and Hill/Thomas can handle thier wide outs. Especially if the DL squeezes the pocket decently.
November 16th, 2016 at 8:17 PM ^
Need a pure cover guy on him... Let Peppers babysit JT.
November 16th, 2016 at 1:19 PM ^
November 16th, 2016 at 1:43 PM ^
Could definitely happen, especially when Samuel is not on the field. It's just my opinion that having McCray or Gedeon try to follow Samuel on those quick throws and pitches will be a disaster. Maybe they will have a corner or safety closer to the line for support. I guess we'll see.
November 16th, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^
Last week we were talking about how they were supposed to be a weak link at the beginning of the season, but they turned out to be above average and sometimes were considered a strength(!) of this defense. A loss stings for sure but I think we are being incredibly reactive over one bad game. And we can't be incredibly reactive until we beat MSU AND OSU.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:24 AM ^
Exactly. Also, losing Bush early couldn't have come back to bite us any more that game. I think his speed could have been used, or at least experimented with.
Also, I'd have to go through and rewatch (obviously not looking forward to it), but our alignment may have simply put the pressure on our LBers, because like your post says, they've actually been a pleasantly surprising group all season.
But Second,
we ran for: 98 yards
threw for: 103 yards
And we didn't win the TOP.
Our defense gave up 230 total yards.
They held up their end of the bargain.
Our offense stalled, plain and simple (and Iowa played inspired, let's not kid ourselves). It's a long season, but we're still in the hunt for the BIG Title, and control our own destiny. So we're good.
November 16th, 2016 at 10:52 AM ^
November 16th, 2016 at 10:52 AM ^
To answer the question, I believe the one and only correct answer is: COACH EM UP.
TYVM, TTYL & HAND.
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November 16th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
Make sure McCray isn't responsible for covering a RB on a passing route, and trying to get Peppers on the field side of the formation.
November 16th, 2016 at 5:56 PM ^
Yeah it's tough because we have two huge Mike's, who are a legit 250lbs, in Gedeon and McCray, and then Peppers.
It will definitely be a match-up with other teams going forward, as well as running at Stribling.
But Don Brown will adjust for it.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^
November 16th, 2016 at 10:56 AM ^
November 16th, 2016 at 10:55 AM ^
unfortunately i don't know what
November 16th, 2016 at 10:56 AM ^
Just need to do a better job sealing the edge. Most of the rush yards gained has been around the outside. The defensive ends need to share some of the responsibilty and the corners need to be able to shed their blocks.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:47 AM ^
Channing Stribling* needs to be able to shed blocks and actually make the tackle when he gets there*
I haven't seen Jourdan struggle on the edge once this year IIRC
November 16th, 2016 at 12:30 PM ^
Great point. As good as Channing has been in coverage, I have been less than impressed with his tackling and ability to shed blocks the past few weeks.
November 16th, 2016 at 10:59 AM ^
Teach them to "Execute" ?
/ducks
November 16th, 2016 at 11:01 AM ^
Lose a game, preferably one that doesnt really matter, to wake them up. Oh wait....
November 16th, 2016 at 11:03 AM ^
November 16th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^
For a second I thought you were reporting that Glasgow was injured again. That would have made me very, very sad.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
If Speight didn't have a bad game last week no one is complaining about 12 points and 230 yards allowed.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^
Does Furbush have more lateral speed than McCray?
November 16th, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^
I swear by Michael's Secret Stuff.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:25 AM ^
The last few games our LBs are getting beat bad in coverage and to see them on skates in the Iowa game adds to the already glaring weakness. I too have thrown things at the tv when Gedeon gets matched up with a RB out of the backfield wondering why the hell Peppers isnt covering out ot of the backfield. It just seems between McCray and Gedeon that there's a 1/2 step slow to the outside play or RB quick pitch plays. I think the issue is fatigue and I think Indiana will get yards because of it. LB depth is not good and that shows the more ground those two guys have to cover as the game goes on. We just need more bodies at the position.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:27 AM ^
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November 16th, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^
They need to practice really well. You want to be able to really hear them playing.
All this per a former coach, so I think it's pretty solid.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:30 AM ^
I hope the linebackers and defensive line are more effective at stopping the run than they were at times against Iowa. However, Michigan currently sits as the #1 defense in the nation. I don't know that I'd call linebacker play a large problem. Michigan needs to be better offensively, and yes, they've struggled a bit tackling in space these past two games. I hope they can gum up Ohio State's inside run game and force Barret to pass.
That said, I was amazed at some of the cuts that Wadley was making when the tape was in slow motion. I think he might have been the best back Michigan faced this year. Though I'm not sure that he's better than Barkley. Dude was good, and I think better than anything Ohio State has this year.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
Do not allow the free release of offensive linemen up onto our backers. If our DT's would have realized that they were being whamed, they should have talked to Brown and informed him as the DC. Whomever was upstairs on the headset should have seen it and called it down.
By taking the free release of 300lb linemen away, our backers can now flow and attack to the ball. If it is even a simple violent shot to the Olinemen, it is enough to give our LBs time to read, diagnose, and take the proper angel to the RB.
That is how you can get your LB's better.
November 16th, 2016 at 12:07 PM ^
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November 16th, 2016 at 1:26 PM ^
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November 16th, 2016 at 1:54 PM ^
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November 16th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^
Peppers got to shadow Barrett, not the RB. Barrett scrambling to extend drives will kill us.
That said, OSU doesn't have a perfect team either.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
Yeah but if Peppers spys Barrett, who covers Samuel? Please dont say Stribling cuz....woof. Peppers has to match up on Samuel. Maybe a Winovich or Furbush gets put in on passing downs where Barrett's a threat to run.
November 16th, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^
Look, Samuel is going to get 100+ yards.
Let our DL and LB do their best, but they will get gashed once in a while.
What you don't want - which will turn it into another blowout - is Barrett getting 100+ with his feet.
You can't have 3rd and longs keep turning into easy QB scampers out of bounds for 1st downs.
Penn State contained him - he was 26 yds on 17 attempts - 1.5 average.
Every other game was 4 yds average or higher.
November 16th, 2016 at 10:50 PM ^
Chop the head off of the snake. Take Barrett out of the game. That is the key. Penn State got pressure on him and look what happened. Michigan has the secondary to take away their quick passing game, which they suck at. Barrett throws 98 miles an hour like a dumbass. Balls way off the mark half the time. LMAO! Lets make a guy a heisman trophy winner who cant hit a 5 yard slant.
November 16th, 2016 at 11:39 AM ^
Iowa's longest drive of the game was 52 yards.
Iowa probably has a more difficult game-winning kick if not for a questionable at best facemask call.
This does not feel like the week to complain about a defense because they weren't perfect enough.