Michigan 35, UNLV 7

[Jeff Buchanan]

Nothing to complain about; maybe a niggle on the 4th down play-call. Pretty sure JJ sees the run stuffing defensive set and does not always have the option to change the play. UNLV has some decent speed from their LBs. A counter play with misdirection on that 4/2 would probably have worked better than inside power. That was a RPS win for UNLV. Those have to be set up and I can't say I saw any of that. We've had two examples of pissing away a TD with the "we will impose our will" on the opponent mentality. Both defenses M has faced have stuffed those play-calls

19 rush/18 pass. JJ is 17 of 18 (JFC) ........ UNLV is playing zone; looks like quarters. JJ and his receivers are feasting. This was not unexpected. Just glad expectations are being met.

Pulling out the read option. JJ is 3/38y running it.

5 sacks. The size and talent difference on DL isn't fair. I'll take the cruelty.

GoGo offense? D was well prepared for misdirection.

Starters start cycling out after M's first drive.

[Mike]

That story about the UNLV player who died and the JJ connection/TD to Wilson was nothing short of amazing.

[edindetroit]

How is that UNLV player not ejected?

[edindetroit]

I guess I'm the only one left watching

[Mike]

Our 2-deep clearly sucks.

[klondike]

Basically a carbon copy of last weak. Strong qb play. Weak running game considering the opposition but a little better this week and pathetic 2nd and 3rd string efforts. Good enough for a 30-35 to 7-14 range vs. bad teams.

[lineygoblue]

If you took Michigan to cover, YOU LOST.

For my weekly Captain Obvious moment: JJ McCarthy is the best CFB QB in the country. Show me someone with better stats.

Corum has recovered fully.

Finally, some sacks.

Hopefully Harbaugh got done with his responsibilities on the chain crew so he could see the game.

[edindetroit]

Hopefully Harbaugh got done with his responsibilities on the chain crew so he could see the game.

They said that he was home watching the game.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Look, I don't think you can assess M's run game as poor, failing or whatever negative take critics might take based on M's performance against vastly outmanned opponents who both clearly elected to stop M's run game at all costs. Those costs born by opponents doing that in the hopes that they'd try to stay close and snatch a win by a few freak plays produced dominating wins for M.

Once we get to league play, we're not going to see the level of run blitzing out of 10 in the box and cover zero. It is simply not a tenable strategy, with M's defense in a supporting role, against an M passing game that flamed two over-matched opponents and will likely do the same to conference opponents that take that approach. Fine with me if they do.

In these first two games, you've seen a game plan that is designed to quickly assert control and force opponents to conform to the catch-up role that is imposed on them. The best aspects of that strategy are seen in JJ's stats - those will jump out at you but they are what they are as a by-product of the game plan and play calling. The worst by over-playing the inside power run game when the flow of the game is saying, "try something else." The aggravating aspect of that is the stubbornness in sticking to the notion of imposing the offense's will via an inside power run game with little effort to set that up with counters.

I synced most of the CBS production with the audio from the 950 am radio broadcast with Karsh doing play-by-play and Jansen doing color. Nessler and Danielson were muted. When those two stuck to actually calling the game instead of puff, personal interest stories, this production was way better than the Peacock horror show. CBS has a unique way of diagraming plays after the fact and if more of this had replaced all the irrelevant banter, this would have been an A+ production.

[WingsFan]

Nothing to complain about

Right, can't expect a perfect game. Surprised JJ wasn't getting the TE's the ball in the passing game, but realized they were being kept in a lot more for blocking. Didn't like the stubborn call on running into a wall on 4th down and 3.

Nice to see a balanced attack on offense right now...

The 3rd/4th teamers need to start playing better as well. Might be time to remind them if they keep playing poorly maybe run the 2's longer and sprinkle in the 3's. I realize you don't want to get players injured in meaningless snaps, but can't keep rewarding guys playing time for poor play and on defense, we saw that the last 2-3 series.

Thought CBS did a good job, way better than shit Peacock.

[WingsFan]

Oh, I forgot why isn't Alex Orji seeing the field? Haven't heard of any injury troubles.


Edit: I guess he is hurt. JJ needs to stay healthy or the season is over. That hit to the thigh was nasty, Davis Warren is clearly not good.

[klondike]

Right, can't expect a perfect game. Surprised JJ wasn't getting the TE's the ball in the passing game, but realized they were being kept in a lot more for blocking. Didn't like the stubborn call on running into a wall on 4th down and 3.

Nice to see a balanced attack on offense right now...

The 3rd/4th teamers need to start playing better as well. Might be time to remind them if they keep playing poorly maybe run the 2's longer and sprinkle in the 3's. I realize you don't want to get players injured in meaningless snaps, but can't keep rewarding guys playing time for poor play and on defense, we saw that the last 2-3 series.

Thought CBS did a good job, way better than shit Peacock.

This is where they miss H'. Would be having a fit seeing this crap. Z team first teams are ass abusing UM's subs. Unacceptable. Considering, watching the rest of the top 25 teams perform considerably better in the same situations.

[lineygoblue]

Neither opponent has put their 3's and 4's up against M's 3's and 4's. Its been their 1's running against our 3's and 4's in an effort to avoid shutouts. So, late in games its been apples and oranges. But those guys do need to get better if they want to be Michigan's future team. Otherwise, look out because portal guys will replace you.

I really wish we could have seen Trent at QB a bit longer. I think he's probably quite a bit better than Warren, but we haven't gotten to see it yet. And the UNLV guy (hello #5) who threw him out of bounds should have been ejected due to a flagrant foul, IMO. Fortunately, Trent is okay, and will likely get more snaps against Bowling Green.

What is happening now, is Michigan is beating the teams (soundly) that they're supposed to beat. They're not allowing any 'shock the world' scenarios with these tomato cans.

And, it looks like (for now) that any team that employs a strategy to "Make JJ beat us with his arm", will regret that strategy, because he WILL. That's not always been true on State Street.

With regards to tomato cans, there's one left, before the big boys start arriving. I don't consider Rutgers to be a tomato can. They will put up a tough fight.

The team seems to be on schedule after two games. They're going to be in the mix for the B1G Title at the end.

[Jeff Buchanan]

On the 3's and 4's ......these players don't get the reps, they are patched into the game and have probably had zero opportunity to play as a unit. M's offense is probably as complicated as it gets at the CFB level. It works when a unit's play becomes synchronized through reps as that unit. Team play improves when all units of it are in sync. As a standalone unit, the OL is particularly sensitive to this reality. Add the synchronization of the RBs, TEs, slots and WRs to make a play work and it should be clear why subs, when they come in at garbage time, look like shit.

[klondike]

As an old timer, I watched Alabama, SEC schools, UM, OSU, Nebraska etc. 3rd and 4th stringers would come in and ther wouldn't be THAT much difference in performance.

In High School, my coach would get so mad when the 2nd stringers would stink the joint up after a blow out..