maison bleu
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OK, I watched both Michigan games this year, and here are my unbiased observations.
Schedule. I know, I know, Vandy and Central Michigan do not exactly comprise a murderer's row. And both schools have new QBs this year, a liability for any offense (ask Texas about that). On the other hand, a week after loosing to Michigan, Vandy was tied 10-10 at Alabama in the 4th Q, only to lose on a FG. A week before losing to Michigan, CMU came within 7 points of Fredo (who beat top-20 Clemson this week). So Vandy and CMU aren't, say, Nicholls State and Louisiana Tech (Nebraska's opponents so far).... Still, Michigan hasn't been tested against a team which is physically its peer, so it's hard tell how good they are. Or aren't. Saturday will clear that up one way or another.
That said, here's what I saw. Stats are two-game season totals (not per game averages).
Defensive front. Lamar Woodley anchors what looks like the best unit on the team. Michigan got lots of pressure with little blitzing: 9 sacks for 78 yds lost. Only 69 total yards rushing allowed. No doubt both stats are partly a result of playing with a lead for much of the time. But for long stretches of both games, it seemed like there was a Michigan lineman (or two or three) in the backfield on nearly every play.
Secondary. I'm a little cooler on the secondary so far. CB Leon Hall is a stud. Opposing QBs combined for 28 of 61, 252yds, 3TDs and 1 INT. But the secondary allowed 3 pass plays of more than 30 yards. The deep middle has looked vulnerable, especially since the Michigan DBs haven't seen anyone the likes of Shark or Rema McK.
Running game So far, so good with the Zone blocking scheme (a la Denver Broncos). which gives the running backs a lot more freedom. Three talented backs have been getting carries: Michael Hart (Jr), Kevin Grady (So), and Brandon Minor (Fr). Team total: 100 rushes for 498 yds, even though opponents knew they were going to run most of the time (being ahead, and, well, being Michigan!) ND hasn't really faced Michigan with a healthy Michael Hart--he wasn't a starter his freshman year in South Bend, and he got hurt in the game last year. The Blue are a different team with Hart on the field—it’s not just his running: he's a leader in the huddle.
Passing game: Chad Henne is 22 of 42 for 249 yds. Our fleet receivers have dropped a few too many balls, and I'm not sure any of them is up to the David Terrell/Braylon Edwards standard. Tight end Massey is good, and Hart can catch the ball. Henne's throws have been a little erratic, but he makes good decisions (why Oyddd Carr loves him) with no INTs or lost fumbles. I hate to point this out, because I really like Henne, but if Michigan loses this week, he'll be 0-5 vs ND and O$U with a trip to Columbu$ in November looming. And 0-2 in bowl games. Not really fair, because poor QB play hasn’t been the big problem. Nonetheless, a pretty big monkey growing there...
Penalties: 15 for 127yds. Not really that bad, since at least 4 (if memory serves) were committed by the second team D in the 4th Q of the CMU game.
Turnovers: 1 lost fumble, 0 INTs
Kickoff coverage. Freaking abysmal. Awful. Inexcusable. No TDs allowed. Yet. But its only a matter of time, unless things change. 11 kickoffs have been returned for 278 yds, nearly as many yds as the Michigan D has allowed from scrimmage (303). At least three kickoff returns were over 30 yds long.
FG Kicker. Rivas has been steady. One blocked FG against Vandy.
Stamina. Michigan paid a lot more attention to conditioning after several "come from ahead" 4th Q losses last year. They looked strong to the end, and more importantly, they looked fast.
Key match up: ND O-Line vs M front seven. If Michigan's front dominates the ND O-line, it will be a long day for BQ et al. (see Georgia Tech), and the Michigan running game will be all the offensive punch they need to win a low-scoring game. If not, it will be tough for Michigan to win. Unless it's a coming out party for the passing game, Michigan won't win a shoot out.
X-factor: Kickoff returns. I have nightmares about ND returning kickoffs for TDs. Can you blame me???
Schedule. I know, I know, Vandy and Central Michigan do not exactly comprise a murderer's row. And both schools have new QBs this year, a liability for any offense (ask Texas about that). On the other hand, a week after loosing to Michigan, Vandy was tied 10-10 at Alabama in the 4th Q, only to lose on a FG. A week before losing to Michigan, CMU came within 7 points of Fredo (who beat top-20 Clemson this week). So Vandy and CMU aren't, say, Nicholls State and Louisiana Tech (Nebraska's opponents so far).... Still, Michigan hasn't been tested against a team which is physically its peer, so it's hard tell how good they are. Or aren't. Saturday will clear that up one way or another.
That said, here's what I saw. Stats are two-game season totals (not per game averages).
Defensive front. Lamar Woodley anchors what looks like the best unit on the team. Michigan got lots of pressure with little blitzing: 9 sacks for 78 yds lost. Only 69 total yards rushing allowed. No doubt both stats are partly a result of playing with a lead for much of the time. But for long stretches of both games, it seemed like there was a Michigan lineman (or two or three) in the backfield on nearly every play.
Secondary. I'm a little cooler on the secondary so far. CB Leon Hall is a stud. Opposing QBs combined for 28 of 61, 252yds, 3TDs and 1 INT. But the secondary allowed 3 pass plays of more than 30 yards. The deep middle has looked vulnerable, especially since the Michigan DBs haven't seen anyone the likes of Shark or Rema McK.
Running game So far, so good with the Zone blocking scheme (a la Denver Broncos). which gives the running backs a lot more freedom. Three talented backs have been getting carries: Michael Hart (Jr), Kevin Grady (So), and Brandon Minor (Fr). Team total: 100 rushes for 498 yds, even though opponents knew they were going to run most of the time (being ahead, and, well, being Michigan!) ND hasn't really faced Michigan with a healthy Michael Hart--he wasn't a starter his freshman year in South Bend, and he got hurt in the game last year. The Blue are a different team with Hart on the field—it’s not just his running: he's a leader in the huddle.
Passing game: Chad Henne is 22 of 42 for 249 yds. Our fleet receivers have dropped a few too many balls, and I'm not sure any of them is up to the David Terrell/Braylon Edwards standard. Tight end Massey is good, and Hart can catch the ball. Henne's throws have been a little erratic, but he makes good decisions (why Oyddd Carr loves him) with no INTs or lost fumbles. I hate to point this out, because I really like Henne, but if Michigan loses this week, he'll be 0-5 vs ND and O$U with a trip to Columbu$ in November looming. And 0-2 in bowl games. Not really fair, because poor QB play hasn’t been the big problem. Nonetheless, a pretty big monkey growing there...
Penalties: 15 for 127yds. Not really that bad, since at least 4 (if memory serves) were committed by the second team D in the 4th Q of the CMU game.
Turnovers: 1 lost fumble, 0 INTs
Kickoff coverage. Freaking abysmal. Awful. Inexcusable. No TDs allowed. Yet. But its only a matter of time, unless things change. 11 kickoffs have been returned for 278 yds, nearly as many yds as the Michigan D has allowed from scrimmage (303). At least three kickoff returns were over 30 yds long.
FG Kicker. Rivas has been steady. One blocked FG against Vandy.
Stamina. Michigan paid a lot more attention to conditioning after several "come from ahead" 4th Q losses last year. They looked strong to the end, and more importantly, they looked fast.
Key match up: ND O-Line vs M front seven. If Michigan's front dominates the ND O-line, it will be a long day for BQ et al. (see Georgia Tech), and the Michigan running game will be all the offensive punch they need to win a low-scoring game. If not, it will be tough for Michigan to win. Unless it's a coming out party for the passing game, Michigan won't win a shoot out.
X-factor: Kickoff returns. I have nightmares about ND returning kickoffs for TDs. Can you blame me???
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