Michigan Monday: Have You Seen MSU's Schedule?

I thought the Big Ten hated Michigan, but there might have been a screw up in the BIG offices and somebody got U of M and MSU mixed up.   Sparty has an incredibly difficult streak of games coming up.

Of course they traveled to Ohio State for a loss last weekend, next Saturday they travel to Madison to play Wisconsin, then head home to host Penn State.   Lovey Smith then brings his Fighting Illini to EL, before heading to Ann Arbor.  Ok, they do have two bye weeks in there, but that is murders row schedule in the Big Ten with probably only 1 win and 4 losses.   Good thing they found a way to win that Indiana game.   Hat tip to Sparty for staying with Ohio State for 1 quarter, which is more then anyone else has done this season.

• Jimmy Speaks at noon and the hope is we get an update on Paye and his hamstring.  Other then that we will hear: Illinois is a good team, Lovey is a good coach, and the Wolverines have work to do this week in practice to become a better team. 

• Michigan is now #16 in AP

• NFL Wolverines had a good day yesterday, Peppers caused a fumble on the goal line, Brandon Graham had 3 sacks, Mo Hurst had 2 in London, Gary played well against the Cowboys, and Bush had an INT.   Tom Brady is Tom Brady. 

• 5 star F Isaiah Todd final 2 is Michigan and Kansas.  This could be Coach Howard's first recruit.  Todd will announce next week on his BDay on the 17th.  (Kansas got a notice from the NCAA and could be hit with some large sanctions if found guilty - they also let Snoop Dog preform last weekend at an open practice and had to apologize to the alumni)

• Best message board comment of the weekend on just realizing that Harbaugh is in a Downy commercial.  "Our offense could use a few wrinkles!"

• ABC has picked up the Michigan @ PSU game.   Get ready for another night/white out game. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/10/michigan-monday-have-you-seen-msus.html

From biohealth innovation to corporate donations, Maryland businesses tackle breast cancer

Businesses across Maryland are joining together this month for one special reason – raising awareness about breast cancer.

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, check out how several local companies and organizations are raising money, donating portions of sales, organizing events, and researching to find a cure.

from https://open.maryland.gov/blog/maryland-businesses-take-breast-cancer-awareness-month/

Iowa Post Game

John T. Grelick - DetNews

My last sentence of the preview post on Friday included this statement, "Michigan can win this game on defense", which is exactly what the Wolverines did on Saturday afternoon.  It was nice to see Don Brown not get out coached in a big game and even ran a bunch of zone, which blows my mind.

There is also plenty of problems, which we will get to in our traditional Cheers and Jeers:

Cheers:

• Best Defensive performance in nearly a calendar year. 
• Kitty Paye was regularly beating an NFL caliber OT 
• 8 sacks! 
• Iowa 1 net rushing yard! 
• 3 total points given up 
• 3 INT's
• Cam McGrone is the next Devin Bush (did Ross get Willie Pipp'ed)
• Hill was strong in coverage (minus that long 3rd down conversion)
• I'm super proud of Mike Dana's performance 
• Dax will be Michigan's next 5 star superstar! 
• Don Brown and his formations/game plan confused Iowa all afternoon

Jeers:

• Michigan's offense is awful 
• Shea is regressing and missing reads 
• WR's had some bad drops during the game 
• I didn't love the play calling, to me it looked like there was running lanes on the outside, running into the middle was a win for Iowa. 
• fumble issues 
• Special Teams were not good 
• 2 missed field goals (Judy Moody has to hit that last one)
• Multiple bad punts 
• Paye's hamstrings 
• To many missed tackles on defense 
• Iowa's 3rd and long conversions 
• Stunts still giving the OL issues 

I'm one to jump all over Big Ten officials for sucking, I thought the crew on Saturday did a good and fair job.  I only saw one missed holding call on Dana late in the game. 

Shea Patterson is lucky that his back-up is injured because I believe he would have been pulled on Saturday.  His pick was a terrible read, with a TE wide open short for a first down.  His lack of a running threat in this offense is causing the running game to be way below average.   He looks nervous with happy feet in the pocket and not the guy that led this team last year.   The OL played decent and still Shea didn't see the field well at all.   Now some of that goes to the Iowa defense, but I believe a lot falls to Shea. 

Memo to Nordin, Iowa gave Michigan free 3 points at the half, make the kick.   Moody that was a horrific miss in the 4th quarter and difference of being up 2 scores.  

This team is going to struggle all year and is nowhere close to Ohio State or even Penn State at this point.   The defense will need to win games until the offense can find something that works.  A win is a win and we will take it, on to Illinois.  On a side note, Brandon Peters was knocked out of Saturday's game against Minnesota on what it looked to be a concussion.   Which probably will make him questionable for next weeks game against his old team. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/10/iowa-post-game.html

Iowa Preview

Time: Noon
Location: Big House
Weather: 55 No Rain
TV: Fox
Stream: Fox Sports. com
Line: Michigan -3.5

We all know there are two Iowa teams: Home Iowa and Road Iowa.  The Hawkeyes play very well at home with the Children Hospital overlooking the stadium.   Road Iowa struggles, similar to a team we love when they leave Ann Arbor.   Yes, Oliver Martin is now a Hawkeye and will be on the field on Saturday but the biggest loss is probably the biggest recruiting mistake since Hoke turned down Joey Bosa.  Iowa tackle Alaric Jackson from Detroit had flipped to Michigan prior to signing day 2016 and former Michigan OC Tim Drevno didn't send him his LOI to sign.  Jackson is now a senior and considered a high round NFL draft prospect.    He has a knee issue and is questionable for Saturday after missing a few games.

Tale of the Tape  
Rushing D = Iowa
Passing D = Michigan
Passing O = Michigan
Rushing O = Iowa
Intangibles = Michigan
Consistency = Iowa

Michigan's offense has struggled until Rutgers came to town with a lame duck head coach.  It's time to test the engine and see if it really has improved.  

Can Shea find WR's quickly and also spot the buck naked ones?
Can the OL pick up a stunt by Iowa's defensive line?
Can Don Brown game play for Iowa better then he did against Wisconsin?
Can Michigan run the ball?

If Michigan can answer yes, to all those questions our beloved Wolverines are in good shape on Saturday.

Think to yourself, "well that is F'ing better" if...…………..

• The Oline has its best day 
• Shea looked like last weekend Shea 
• Don Brown shows he is one of the best DC's in the country 
• Michigan runs for 175 yards and passes for 325
• Michigan covers Iowa TE's

Think to yourself, "this is Wisconsin F'ing 2.0" if...…………………

• Don Brown's defense continues to curl up against a ranked team
• Michigan's offense is giving Iowa short fields with TO's
• Home Iowa actually shows up 
• Ferentz and Harbaugh are up late on Friday talking about the "good all days of the Big Ten" and slamming beers. 

Iowa lost a boat full of talented offensive players last year including the new Detroit Lion TJ Hockenson.  Their offensive line has been decent this year but banged up.  They could get healthier this weekend if Jackson can play and is 100%.   Iowa's QB Stanley is starting his 10th year at Iowa and has a strong arm, but will  pick you apart with dumps off if you let him.   Iowa's game plan is similar to Wisconsin's, control the ball and clock and let Michigan make mistakes.

Michigan just needs to play smart on both sides of the ball.  Have they gotten better or was it just the Rutgers effect?  Shea needs to play like Russell Wilson did last night, get out of the pocket,  hit some WR's down field, and scramble for a few first downs.   This is a game the Michigan defense can win if they stop the run, cover Iowa's TE's and RB's out of the backfield.

Michigan 24 Iowa 13

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/10/iowa-preview.html

Michigan Thursday: The First Play That Changed The Season

The Tennessean

This is how the first play of the season read in the Box Score - Play by Play recap:

1st &10 at MICH 27

(14:45 - 1st) Shea Patterson run for 15 yds to the Mich 42 Shea Patterson fumbled, recovered by MTnSt

Shea didn't slide, got hit in the ribs, fumbled the football and after a few more plays, Michigan is down 0-7 to Middle Tennessee State.

There is plenty to be concerned with the above statement including,  Shea hurting himself which will have plenty of negative effects through 4 games.   It started with over throwing open WR's.  But the biggest negative effect has been, limited to no QB runs.

If you ask a DC, most will admit that preparing for an athletic QB that can run is nearly impossible.  The reason is, the defense doesn't usually have a LB or Viper shadowing the QB.  It's also hard to play man to man coverage because all the DB's will have their back to the QB.   With Michigan's offense lately they have been giving the defense too easy of a time.   Since Shea hasn't been a threat to run, the opposing defense can stuff the box to shut down the running backs or blitz the QB.   It's a huge advantage for the defense.  I'm now starting to understand why Jimmy wanted to play multiple QB's this year (when everyone was healthy).   Shea will never be a runner like McCaffrey or Milton and could be the reason Michigan had hoped to get those guys in the game.

With Dylan improving but still doubtful for Saturday, I expect to see the same offense from Michigan.  Hopefully, Shea's health is improving but with the hits he is taking each Saturday, I think the odds are that he is still hurting and will continued to be limited in the run game.   Let's hope Shea's field vision improves and can see the un-covered Wolverines wide open downfield.

• Dark horse candidates for the Rutgers job are two current Michigan coaches:  Chris Partridge and Anthony Campanile (whose brother is currently the interim head coach at Rutgers). 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/10/michigan-thursday-first-play-that.html

Wolverine Wednesday: Is Michigan Better Than Iowa?

We did something similar last week and it was scary how close the numbers where between Michigan and Rutgers.  Well the proof was on the field and even though it was Rutgers, Michigan looked like what many of us expected at the start of the season.

So how does the same metrics look against Iowa?   There are two different Iowa teams, like there seems to be two different Michigan teams.  There is home Iowa and there is road Iowa.

Total Offense
Iowa #60
Michigan #98

Passing 
Iowa #79
Michigan #69

Rushing
Iowa #41
Michigan #110

Total Defense
Iowa #5
Michigan #16

Passing D
Iowa#17
Michigan #4

Rushing D
Iowa #10
Michigan #70

Did u hear that?  That was Bo turning in his grave hearing that Michigan is ranked 110th in rushing offense and #70 in rushing defense.  I'm actually grateful that Bo didn't have to witness the RR and Hoke years.  This year is no beauty either.

Michigan and Iowa are very even in passing metrics on both sides of the ball.   The huge difference is rushing the ball.   Iowa can run the ball, Michigan can't.  Iowa's defense can stop the run,
 Michigan can't (outside of Rutgers).   Let's hope those stats were from "Home" Iowa as "road" Iowa gave up 418 yards to a very average Iowa State team.

• RB Connor Heyward has left the MSU Football program and entered the transfer portal.   Connor is the son of the late "Iron Head" Heyward and brother of the Steelers DE Cameron. 

• Former Michigan WR Oliver Martin will be catching passes for Iowa in the Big House this weekend.  That is two weeks in a row the Wolverines will be playing against a former teammate. 

• Zavier Simpson was named to the pre-season All Big Ten team. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/10/wolverine-wednesday-is-michigan-better.html

Michigan Tuesday: Is It Time For Hinton and Smith?

Yes, it sounds like a law or maybe a consulting firm, but is it time to start seeing more of the combined 9 stars true freshman DT's Chris Hinton and Mazi Smith?

Jimmy and Don think so.   Jimmy did his regular press conference on Monday and it was all pretty much of the standard stuff: Joe has a live arm, Iowa is consistently good, McGrone and Paye played well, Carlo Kemp lives football, Nico had strep throat last week, and that he loves the entire Glasgow family.

The news worthy bits were the following:

• Dylan is expected to practice this week but continues to be doubtful for Sunday (that is Jimmy talk for out).   Same goes for Josh Ross. 

• Jimmy believes that both Chris and Mazi are close to being able to contribute more on game days. 

“Mazi looks really good," Harbaugh said. said. "Just what he’s done with his physique in the last nine months. Talked to him this morning at our morning practice and he looked great. Chris Hinton is getting in there quite a bit and playing on special teams."

Chris played on special teams and also got a few snaps on the line on Saturday and recorded his first two tackles as a Wolverine. 

Don Brown said on Saturday before the game:  “Chris Hinton looks like he’s getting closer to where he can help us," Brown said. "Mazi is starting to improve. Getting a little bit more consistency out of him."

Jimmy on his radio show:  "Just right on the precipice of earning more reps," Harbaugh said. "Been practicing well, showing it in practice. They are very close."

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/10/michigan-tuesday-is-it-time-for-hinton.html