MGoPodcast 15.7: The Bossa Nova Vibe
2 hours and 11 minutes
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1. Offense vs Indiana
Starts at 1:00
The first quarter was annoying but no one was ever worried, it ended up being a transitive property victory over Ohio State! “JJ’s incompletions” is once again a short segment. “JJ’s sacks” are a more interesting conversation. Credit Indiana’s defense for playing smart in this one. The offense scores on eight straight drives and that was that. JJ is elite when he has to go off script, exactly what you need to be a national championship contender. How Michigan football is like watching a ferret get drowned by a psychopath. Should Blake Corum be selling the flea flicker more? There were some run block errors. Is AJ Barner actually the best tight end on the team? Benjamin Hall looked great and is an encouraging replacement for Mullings right now. Apparently Semaj Morgan's nickname is "Jukebox", which, yeah.
[The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP]
2. Defense vs Indiana
Starts at 48:30
This was annoying for a quarter. Linebackers and defensive ends are still not doing great in drop backs. They're practicing their Ohio State defense every week, might as well practice it against Indiana. There was a receiver running wide open on the first interception. Linebacker play wasn't the greatest, Junior Colson doesn't have all the right instincts. Michigan is trying to develop depth by rotating defensive players a lot, this probably goes away against Michigan State. Mike Barrett is a tremendous blitzer. Mason Graham club hand fumble recovery! Can we get a FB Wheel touchdown to Kenneth Grant next year? Sounds like it's ride or die with Josh Wallace at CB2. Rod Moore played good, hopefully he's back to mid-season form.
3. Hot Takes, Game Theory, and Special Teams
Starts at 1:11:21
Takes hotter than Marcus Freeman after he defenestrated USC. Is Michigan football listening to this podcast?? Tyler Morris should be the go-to punt returner, Semaj Morgan is the go-to kick returner. KYLE, YOU AGAIN? Going for it on 4th and 2 near the endzone felt like the right thing to do.
4. Around the Big Ten with Jamie Mac
Starts at 1:30:11
Rutgers - 27
Michigan State - 24
One of the greatest comebacks in Rutgers football history went mostly unnoticed. Michigan State has Trouble With The Snap. The Situation Trophy is in Piscataway! Michigan State isn't a good team but they always show up for Michigan so Michigan can't have a slow start again.
Iowa - 15
Wisconsin - 6
Iowa gains 237 yards, 82 of them on one run. Deacon Hill goes 6/14 for 37 yards. Wisconsin throws the ball 50 times. Iowa has a clear path to the Big Ten title game despite being down a starting QB and their two top tight ends. Their punting is still top notch. Iowa is 10-1 in games where Tory Taylor punts at least 8 times.
Illinois - 27
Maryland - 24
We're in the transitive business until it makes us feel bad. Given how Ohio State looked against Maryland, this has to look good for Michigan.
Ohio State - 41
Purdue - 7
Purdue, buddy, you can't one-on-one Marvin Harrison. They have Purdue Don Brown as their defensive coordinator. Ohio State might have some concerning depth issues at running back, Trayanum went out with a possible concussion. Cade Stover has stepped up this year.
Penn State - 63
UMass - 0
Apparently Penn State just doesn't throw downfield. UMass also got five sacks. Their game against Ohio State might be a rock fight.
MUSIC:
- “Evicted”— Wilco
- “The Ruminant Band”— Fruit Bats
- “Catch a Glimpse”— Aaron Ross
- “Across 110th Street”
THE USUAL LINKS:
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- What's with the theme music?
"He would dominate at corn mazes."
October 16th, 2023 at 8:25 AM ^
"Michigan can't have a slow start again."
I hope that will be the case, but after the typical, MSU scripted first drive that nets them a TD and the Michigan offense using its patented "Hammer the Opposing Defensive Front Until It Capitulates" scheme, a slow start is practically assured.
October 16th, 2023 at 11:20 AM ^
You forgot to add "and MSU will be playing like their very lives depend on the outcome of the game."
If you gave the State fanbase (and probably most of their players) the choice of "win against Michigan but lose all your remaining games OR lose against Michigan and win all your remaining games I'm pretty sure they'd chose the former, not the latter.
October 16th, 2023 at 11:49 AM ^
TBF if you gave our fanbase a similar choice wrt OSU, most of the years from 2000-2020 it would have been a tough choice.
October 16th, 2023 at 2:11 PM ^
OSU is the last game, so easy choice. I take beat Ohio and lose all remaining games. LOL. Okay, okay, so you give up a bowl game. Oh well.
October 16th, 2023 at 8:44 AM ^
We're in the transitive business…
… and business is booming!
October 16th, 2023 at 8:53 AM ^
The obvious solution is rename the tunnel Benjamin Hall and rename the team bus Lloyd Carr. Everybody wins!
October 16th, 2023 at 8:58 AM ^
You know things are going really well when “should Blake Corum be selling the flea flicker more” is one of the few nitpicks lmao.
For the record, I don’t think so. Defenses already trigger hard, we have effective check downs if they recover, and having to check down on a flea flicker is not as bad as a potential turnover if Nugent gets beat.
October 16th, 2023 at 10:20 AM ^
Eh, I said the same in stadium. He turned and pitched so quickly it appeared to have negligible effect on IU. Given their own backward pass for TD play, I’m sure they were coached for the trick play.
Edit: I agree with your first paragraph too!
October 16th, 2023 at 1:31 PM ^
Good points and I generally agree. I'm guessing Michigan views that play as an extended (enhanced?) play-action rather than a trick play. They're just trying to get one or two guys to bite on it - whether that's the safeties or linebackers. They're limiting the downside - as you said - while still messing with the defensive keys.
October 16th, 2023 at 9:09 AM ^
The appropriate eligible number for Kenneth Grant is 0.
October 16th, 2023 at 9:11 AM ^
I have updated my 2023 MGoBlog music playlists with the songs from this episode - here are the links:
-
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/2023-mgoblog-music/pl.u-11z0ofMkqvL
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2a7Hw0FHtgqw351LwW8wPz?si=8690043244a24050
Go Blue!
October 16th, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
Is this a bot?
October 16th, 2023 at 9:12 AM ^
Can’t wait to listen to find out if “Iowa is 10-1 when punting 8 or more times” is a joke or real.
October 16th, 2023 at 9:24 AM ^
I don't fully get this:
Michigan is trying to develop depth by rotating defensive players a lot, this probably goes away against Michigan State.
I'd expect a closer game than UM has been experiencing lately, but not a nail-biter. I'm hoping there will be some time for practice.
One other thing: I'm looking forward to the thunder-and-thunder backfield of Mullings and Hall next year.
October 16th, 2023 at 10:14 AM ^
It'll be like having 2 Haskins and the OL replacements will have roughly 2 games worth of time together on the field just from Tuttle time this year!
October 16th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
Might Edwards be only our 4th best running back this year?
October 16th, 2023 at 11:42 AM ^
Or our 2nd best receiver. Also, he needs to be fielding kicks. Too good an athlete to not touch the ball more in open field situations
October 16th, 2023 at 2:34 PM ^
Secondary cohesion/communication is much like offensive line cohesion/communication. That is why developing the depth needs to stop starting with MSU. Just look how much our line has gelled in 3 weeks of a consistent lineup. The secondary needs to do the same, lots of non-verbal communication that needs to be practiced IN GAME. I rarely disagree with Brian but practice reps are NO WHERE NEAR AS VALUABLE as game reps, not even close...
October 16th, 2023 at 9:44 AM ^
"Penn State doesn't throw downfield" is going to be "Michigan doesn't run the QB"
Frames is gonna try to beat us with our own tricks
October 16th, 2023 at 10:15 AM ^
They don't throw downfield because Allar would get killed! Their OL doesn't seem very good at pass pro, which is why they make quick throws all the time. They sure as hell aren't going to have time to wait for someone to get open against the best DL they'll have seen all year.
October 16th, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
Except that there's a clear advantage to us using JJ's legs, while PSU throwing downfield may not in fact help them out (given their uncertain pass protection).
October 16th, 2023 at 10:14 PM ^
We'll see if he throws downfield against OSU. I disagree a bit with Jamie that PSU's offense is doing what they need to and are comfortable grinding downfield; they've not been asked to score much in these games because their opponents are comically inept at offense. I mean, they've played Illinois, NW, UMass Delaware, AND Iowa's offenses thus far. WVU is by far the best offense they've seen and they're 53rd per SP+. OSU can move the ball against them, and if they do they may have to throw the ball more than 5-10 yards downfield to get a score and then we'll see.
Allar strikes me as your classic first-year starter where the coaches protect him and set him up for success. And that's what you're supposed to do, but he's not an elite athlete and that line still lets guys through at a rate that will get him in trouble against better defenses.
October 17th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^
I do think the game state will matter a lot. Ohio State is likely going to have to rely on explosives, I doubt they'll be able to consistently drive off script. The OT issue is a big one for Penn State but they also will need to test the secondary.
October 17th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^
I do think the game state will matter a lot. Ohio State is likely going to have to rely on explosives, I doubt they'll be able to consistently drive off script. The OT issue is a big one for Penn State but they also will need to test the secondary.
October 16th, 2023 at 9:50 AM ^
Schiano looked genuinely emotional during the end of that game and his post game locker room speech. I still think he's kinda lame, but it seems to show that he's been under a lot of stress in the return to NJ.
October 16th, 2023 at 10:07 AM ^
The ferret comment was actually from last year:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/yjr67t/comment/iupq362/
Still applies a year later.
October 16th, 2023 at 12:42 PM ^
Respectfully disagree. The ferret comment was about the games where M would only be winning by a few points at halftime but then completely dominate the 3rd and 4th quarters. The 2023 team is (BGSU excepted) often holding a dead ferret in the 2nd quarter.
October 16th, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
Yeah, that's why Brian said the ferret doesn't draw blood - Seth was applying last year's meme. (But it's still hilarious.)
IMHO, this year our games against unranked teams is more like a boa constrictor vs a ferret that a psychopath.
October 16th, 2023 at 1:45 PM ^
Yeah, this was a better description for last year (although the Indiana game fits). This year, the psychopath is more Halloween/Friday the 13th just methodically hunting the victim down.
October 16th, 2023 at 10:17 AM ^
The Donovan Edwards 'no stats' game and Harbaugh throwing the post-game interview to him as the key to it all would be very on-brand for Jim Harbaugh. This must be done!
October 16th, 2023 at 10:37 AM ^
Wisconsin throws the ball 50 times.
Fickell or no Fickell, this is just wrong. Wisconsin, you are Wisconsin.
October 16th, 2023 at 10:47 AM ^
Off topic to this thread here, but can someone give me a good explanation of why Michigan is the slowest (least plays per game) team in college football? I mean, give me an explanation besides if it ain't broke, don't fix it (we are winning anyway).
Theoretically, if you are the superior team (athletes, x's and o's, etc..) then you want MORE plays. The less plays you have, the more the luck factor can take effect, and teams have a higher chance of an upset.
October 16th, 2023 at 11:04 AM ^
I don't know if this is our thinking or not, but the more plays you run, the more you expose your players to potential injury. If your objective is to make it to week 12 (OSU) with as healthy a roster as possible, you don't want to be playing a lot of unnecessary extra snaps in games like these.
October 16th, 2023 at 11:28 AM ^
Do you even know who Jim Harbaugh is, let alone who he was mentored by? Have you not watched the last 7 years of Michigan football?
I don't understand why this needs an explanation. Sure, we all want a faster pace. But we also want to have more money than Elon Musk. Some things just aren't going to happen...
October 16th, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
I want to be able to dunk
October 16th, 2023 at 11:41 AM ^
As a team Michigan was 19 - 22 passing against Indiana. Michigan had 42 carries. Out of 64 total plays, with the new rules, the clock basically never stopped running when Michigan was on offense (yes, I know last two minutes it stops, but you get the point).
The math:
40 seconds per play clock
Guessing Michigan's average snap time is 8 seconds remaining on the play clock using 32 seconds between plays
Average play length is 4 seconds
64 total plays, 61 plays when the clock didn't stop
64 * 4 = 256
61 * 32 = 1952
256 + 1952 = 2208 total seconds of Michigan doing something on offense
2208/60 = 36.8 minutes out of 60 used up by Michigan "doing stuff" on offense.
That left Indiana 23.2 minutes to try to score 53 points.
Because Michigan's defense is so good and the offense is so efficient and able to finish drives with points, Michigan is basically depriving other teams the chance to keep up.
In other words...The boa constrictor.
October 16th, 2023 at 11:58 AM ^
I think Klatt mentioned on the broadcast after the offside play that all the fake claps we do are designed to diagnose opponent blitzes so we can get the protection right. That seems to be what nearly every good NFL offense does as well.
October 16th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
As a counterpoint, consider USC. 109th in time of possession. In their game against Arizona, they scored 28 points in regulation over 11 drives. Those drives averaged 2:13. Against Colorado their average drive was 2:00. And their defense just got worse and worse as the game went on. Look at the drive chart: 2:27 TD, 1:32 punt, 0:48 TD, 1:19 TD, 3:38 punt, 0:43 TD, etc.
The always gets more plays thing ignores 2 things: 1. going super fast also gives your opponent more plays, and they are significantly less likely to score while you have the ball and 2. players arent machines and get tired, especially defensive players which have to react to offense.
So yeah there is probably some balance that needs to be struck. Going super fast in an attempt to get a lot of plays can easily backfire.
October 16th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
Jim Harbaugh knows football. If uber-competitive Harbaugh thought that running more plays would give him a tactical advantage, he would absolutely be doing it. Seems like he thinks the exact opposite, based on how the games have actually been played.
October 16th, 2023 at 2:39 PM ^
Yes but winning the time of possession limits the OTHER team's ability to run offensive plays. Also, with our style of play, taking our time to wear them down is where we make our money. We do not need fast scores, we need long sustained drives which also allows our defense to get the rest they need. Quick scores don't wear down their defense either, which we capitalize on huge late in games.
October 16th, 2023 at 11:11 AM ^
I was actually against going for it on that 4th and goal at the 2 yard line (until we scored the TD). I thought if we got stuffed it could be a big momentum boost for IU that could turn this game into a nail biter well into the fourth quarter. I guess Harbaugh knows more about football than I do.
October 16th, 2023 at 11:20 AM ^
I continue to be baffled about people wanting osu to lose this game. I’m much more comfortable playing for the big 10 East at home against osu than on the road at penn state. This seems blindingly obvious to me.
October 16th, 2023 at 11:24 AM ^
On the other hand: fuck Ohio.
Also Frames gonna Frames. He's better at home, but still.
October 16th, 2023 at 12:26 PM ^
It's mainly that we trust Frames to muck things up against us while we're still getting over our OSU PTSD.
Based solely on this season, I do think PSU looks better than OSU, though.
October 16th, 2023 at 1:55 PM ^
Very reasonable. But as someone else stated above, it basically comes down to Fuck Ohio. My plan is for Michigan to win all the games so it doesn't really matter.
October 16th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^
ESPN box score has UMass with 1 sack against Penn State. So was it 1 or 5?
October 16th, 2023 at 3:38 PM ^
Penn State has only allowed 4 sacks all year. The write-up is not correct.
October 19th, 2023 at 2:41 PM ^
Whoa, I just got around to listening to the episode. As my comment above suggests, I just assumed that the OP BlueBarron wrote the error. Not at all (Sorry, BB). Just listened to the podcast and Brian Cook definitely is under the impression that UMass produced 5 sacks. And, then Seth Fisher, oddly, agrees with him. It's almost as if neither of them did any research. What an odd thing to not fact check.
October 16th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^
If the opponents goal line was at the Michigan 40 yard line Michigan would still be 7-0
Cumulative Statistics for opponent snaps inside the Michigan 40 yard line:
Run: 45/157yards. (Starting Defense: 34/65yds)
Pass: 11/29/1td/2int, 103yards, 2 INT (Starting Defense: 6/19 2int, 40yards (2 INT))
Other: Offensive Penalties 5/-25, 4/7 FG
1 offensive TD
1 defensive TD
October 16th, 2023 at 11:47 AM ^
Maize mazes was right there
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