Michigan 33, NWU 7. Post game thread.

[Hannibal]

I think that I'll predict a 45-17 M win. Slow motion blowout, as mgoblog would call it.

[lineygoblue]

I can see that happening. NW is going to score. Their WR's are good, and their QB is bound to hit some passes. I don't think their defense can contain M's offense though.

[Hannibal]

You mentioned upthread that their linebackers kept Rutgers in check but their DL is poo. Seth at mgoblog thinks that the MLB play is poo also. Getting crushed at the LOS and having bad middle linebackers seems like a bad weakness to have against M. Provided we don't come out with our shitty Rutgers game plan.

[lineygoblue]

I just got the impression in watching NW vs Rutgers that their DL was disappearing, and the LB's had to clean up the mess on nearly every play.

I think its going to be a matter of Michigan having more talent on both sides of the ball. NW can hang for a bit, and maybe throw some stuff in that Michigan hasn't seen in film, but I don't think NW can contain M for 60 minutes. M's defensive personnel are quick, and they seem to be tackling better this year. On offense, M will overwhelm with a steady diet of Corum and Haskins. I don't think they'll be forced to throw a lot. I could be wrong. Maybe they'll play their best game of the year.

[Mike]

NW has the worst rush defense in the Big Ten. We should roll them.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Jesus H Liney. fNw is a fuggin dumpster fire.

HARBAUGH!!! 49 FITZ!!! 14

[lineygoblue]

You're cute when you're angry.

[THE_WIZARD_]

XOXOXO

[Tslisher]

I’d say we come out prepared tomorrow. M 35 - NW 10. Something close to that. Harbaugh shuts he offense down when we are up by 20.

[Jeff Buchanan]

So why is the NWU offense "bad?" OL and QB play being well below average is primary. As far as match-ups go, M's thought to be a weak spot at DT (Mouton and Mazi Smith) early on, has been shored up. Frankly, NWU OL is over-matched. By a lot. The combination of Hutchinson and Hill lining up on the play side and Ojabo opposite those two is a nightmare scenario for NWU's center and LG along with the right side OT. Brian Hillinski - a seasoned but not great QB who transferred from the Gamecocks - is going to be mostly running for his life. McDonald will go blitz heavy out of the gate because of the mismatches. That approach has shown up consistently in the defenses the NWU offense has faced and it explains Hillinski's low completion percentage and the inability of the offense to sustain drives.

NWU has a set of "guys" at RB. Fitz will start off trying the run game. Its his thing but it won't prove to be effective. Once M gets up by two scores the NWU O will become pass heavy. Game analysis clearly demonstrates that pattern. They'll flail around with that approach. By mid 2nd quarter, it's beer and popcorn time for M fans.

When M has the ball, last years's NWU defense that got the WIldcats to the CCG, is gone. They're mostly new guys with the exception of returning LBs. One again, the personnel mismatches favor M, big time. That NWU replaced their DC, Mike Hankwitz, who called it quits and retired at the age of 73, has created a rough transition to a new DC. NWU runs a base 4-3, cover 2 zone D. Its the classic vanilla D that shows few variations and that is because of a new DC and new players learning to play together. Their pressure metric sucks. Given this, McNamarra should have a good day throwing the ball and that assumes Gattis will actually call pass plays. The run game is going to terrorize the NWU defense. While defenses with a pulse can load the box and grind M's run game to a halt because McNamarra/M's offense don't run counters to facilitate their base split zone run play, Its not likely to matter in this game.

On offense, M will pound with the run game which will probably render this game boring and uninteresting. It will also hold the score down if Gattis sticks to that game plan. Harbaugh's strategy is to win games by controlling the game tempo. I don't think he cares about energizing the players or looking pretty - at least he hasn't in the past. He's shown some willingness to play aggressively setting up then calling big plays. I won't predict he'll do that against the WIldcats because there is a definitive trend line of turteling when the control JH seeks is achieved.

M 38 - NWU 7. ...... M will score 28 in the first half, 10 in the 3rd quarter. NWU will score a futile 7 in garbage time.

[lineygoblue]

What I'd like to see is M get off to a fast start, and then coast. Get some significant playing time for other guys that will be needed in seasons to come. Specifically, I'd like to see Donovan Edwards get some good carries.

I don't want them to fart around with the Wildcats, and let them think they have a chance. Get this one tucked away early, and get prepared for the bloodbath next week.

But, as the Rolling Stones say, you can't always get what you want. M could struggle a bit early on if NW comes in amped up. Seems like talent alone should be enough to win this, but I've seen stranger things happen.

[klondike]

But Rutgers kept it close vs. NW and UM did nothing in the second half vs. Rutgers... Oh well another win regardless..

[THE_WIZARD_]

Blowout. Period.

[Obi-Jon]

Michigan is fighting for a new trophy today, the George Jewett Trophy. Dr. Jewett was the first African American to play football at M and the first at NW. From Wikipedia -


Jewett grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan , the son of a successful blacksmith. The family was residing in Ann Arbor at the time of both the 1870 and 1880 Censuses. Jewett attended Ann Arbor High School where he was the class valedictorian in 1889. In high school, he was the captain of the debate, football and baseball teams. He was also the fastest sprinter in the Midwest, having won the Amateur Athletic Union 100-yard dash competition, and was fluent in German, Italian and French. Jewett attended the University of Michigan from 1890 to 1893, where he became the first African American in the school's history to letter in football. In 1890, Jewett was the starting fullback for the Michigan team that went 4-1 and outscored opponents 129-36. In 1892, Jewett was the starting halfback on a Michigan team that beat Amos Alonzo Stagg's University of Chicago team, went 7-5 and scored 298 points. At Michigan, he was the leading rusher, scorer and kicker. Jewett was regarded as "one of the greatest stars" in Michigan football in the pre-Fielding H. Yost era. In addition to playing as fullback and halfback, Jewett was also the team's field goal kicker and has been called "the Afro-American phenomenon of the University of Michigan." Oberlin College coach John Heisman described Jewett as a "superior athlete," and University of Chicago coach Amos Alonzo Stagg referred to him as "a very tough opponent."

Dr. Jewett was not only the first African-American football player at both Michigan and Northwestern, he was also the first African-American athlete to letter in football for any of the schools that formed the Big Ten Conference. After breaking the barrier at Michigan in 1890, Jewett was followed in the Big Ten programs by Fred Patterson at ohio state university, Preston Eagleson at Indiana University, and then Jewett again at Northwestern.


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[JRB]

Northwestern hits a chunk play on the first snap, but Michigan forces a four-and-out.