Second Game Improvement

Det News David Guralnick

Michigan didn't play a top 15 team on Saturday, they played a instate MAC team and were able to work out a few things.   I have been banging on this point for a week, but I see zero upside to playing a "big" game during the first week of the season.   Since your not able to play a pre-season game, you don't really know what you have until you play that first game.    We can talk about the difference in the offense, but the defense needed to get their sea legs as well and that showed on Saturday.

The first offensive series was another example.  Michigan looked like they were in South Bend, they get a first down on a pass to the sideline.  Get a quick 5 yard penalty and then run 3 bad plays and punt.  Western's first run play goes for 25 yards.  Then the defense stands up and Higdon breaks the game open with a long run.


Cheers

• The defense was almost perfect and the field goal came against the #2's.
• Shea Patterson can be a very accurate passer.  The throws to DPJ (in the back corner for a TD) and one to Oliver Martin were some of the best throws we have seen in the Big House in a very long time.   The deep ball to Nico was perfect as well. 
• Higdon and Evans looked like the RB's we expected 
• Blocked Punt
• Will Hart has been the surprise of the year and been booming punts!
• #43 Jake McCurry scored a TD! 
• Michigan rushed for 308 yards!

Jeers

• It's hard to point to a position group when a team runs for 300 yards, but I wasn't impressed by the offensive line again.   I thought they gave up way too many pass pressures and many runs were stopped at the line of scrimmage or for a loss.  
• Josh Meteelus is a talented guy and had 7 tackles on Saturday, but he got another personal foul penalty.  He seems to have a very short fuse. 
• DPJ didn't handle a bouncing punt well, put covered his fumble. 
• Missed field goal for Nordin 

I also really like the upside for McCaffrey as a back-up and future starter.  I like his decision making and seems to have ice in his veins.   Tru Wilson was another bright spot, I really liked how he played with the second team.   

Something else that was interesting on Saturday is when they brought in the second team offensive line:  LT was true freshman Jalen Mayfield, LG Filiaga, C Spanellis,, RG Honigford, and RT was James Hudson. Michigan needed this game for confidence and lets hope they can continue to build on this performance for SMU and into the difficult Big Ten schedule.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/09/second-game-improvement.html