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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"He would dominate at corn mazes."
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Njia
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.
Joined: 09/15/2009
MGoPoints: 34645
mGrowOld
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.
Joined: 10/04/2010
MGoPoints: 192827
ca_prophet
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.
Joined: 09/07/2010
MGoPoints: 5581
Hugh White
October 16th, 2023 at 8:44 AM ^
… and business is booming!
Joined: 11/26/2012
MGoPoints: 11480
LSA91
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!
Joined: 11/28/2011
MGoPoints: 1698
Gustavo Fring
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.
Joined: 09/29/2009
MGoPoints: 4540
M-jed
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!
Joined: 10/09/2010
MGoPoints: 2518
echoWhiskey
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.
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 1003
enlightenedbum
October 16th, 2023 at 9:09 AM ^
The appropriate eligible number for Kenneth Grant is 0.
Joined: 06/06/2009
MGoPoints: 56796
andyburdick72
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
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2a7Hw0FHtgqw351LwW8wPz?si=8690043244a24050
Go Blue!
Joined: 11/15/2022
MGoPoints: 135
GoBlue96
October 16th, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
Is this a bot?
Joined: 07/01/2008
MGoPoints: 37473
cheesheadwolverine
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.
Joined: 10/25/2008
MGoPoints: 6766
blueheron
October 16th, 2023 at 9:24 AM ^
I don't fully get this:
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.
Joined: 03/26/2009
MGoPoints: 20253
Bo Schemheckler
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!
Joined: 09/04/2013
MGoPoints: 33165
champswest
October 16th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
Might Edwards be only our 4th best running back this year?
Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 25013
MGoOhNo
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
Joined: 08/12/2014
MGoPoints: 7346
MGoCarolinaBlue
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
Joined: 03/19/2013
MGoPoints: 5543
1VaBlue1
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.
Joined: 01/31/2016
MGoPoints: 111063
jmblue
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).
Joined: 11/07/2008
MGoPoints: 94089