The State of Wolverine Football: Week 2
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by user Juanito
As the season began, hopes were high that Michigan could begin to right the ship after a miserable 2005 campaign. Two main focal points were established in the offseason. First, this will be a running team first. Second, the defense will be much more aggressive than it had previously been. After two games, some things have emerged, both positive and negative, that can lend some idea as to what type of team the University of Michigan will be fielding this season.
Defense
The Positives
As it turns out this season, the areas many thought would be problem spots might actually be the team strengths. The linebacking corps has received much of the blame for the inability to control a running quarterback in recent years, as well as apathy at times on the defensive line. That seems to have changed with the promotion of Ron English to defensive coordinator. Mentally, the men in the trenches on defense seem to be noticeably tougher. Coupled with offseason weight-loss programs and increased focus on speed, sound tackling, and pursuit, many of the front seven have wreaked havoc in opposing backfields to date.
Individually, LaMarr Woodley has been an absolute terror. His speed pass-rush has been almost impossible to handle consistently, but that really wasn't a surprise. What has been a surprise is the play of his counterpart Rondell Biggs. He has been as productive, if not moreso than Woodley, as offensive lines have been focusing solely on Woodley's end of the defensive line.
While often considered gimmicky, the 3-3-5 stack defense has been a look that seems to give offensive linemen trouble. It consists of moving Woodley into the middle at one of the guard positions, and bringing a rush specialist, for instance Shawn Crable, up as a defensive end. The amount of speed has been overwhelming for those opponents on that side, often flushing the quarterback into the waiting arms of Biggs' side of the line. The philosophy is the most notable change. No longer is Michigan going to line up in the straight 3-4 defense and refuse to change despite getting torched by quarterbacks with any kind of arm.
The Negatives
The secondary, which many have said would be one of the best, if not tops, in the Big Ten, has been pedestrian at best and downright bad at worst. Big plays on blown assignments have directly led to two touchdowns so far in this young season against vastly inferior opponents. The safeties have been badly out of position at times, and worse, the corners, thought to be THE strength of the defense at the inception of the season, have looked overmatched. It would appear that Leon Hall is back for his fourth season for a reason other than avenging a terrible season last year. He appears to be a really good corner, but definitely not an All-American. On the other side, inexperience has been exposed and at times exploited by opposing quarterbacks.
These kinds of things are fine against teams from the MAC or the bottom feeders in the SEC, but against a quality opponent such as Notre Dame, mistakes will cost more than a stern look and a scolding in film sessions on Sunday. Because of this, the defensive line must get pressure on opposing quarterbacks using ONLY four rushers, five tops. This will allow linebackers to drop into coverage and perhaps step in front of potential checkdown receivers when the quarterback is hurried or on the scramble. This also allows more bodies to stop the mobile quarterback from gashing the defense for 10+ yards and wasting a solid defensive effort by the line and the linebackers.
Offense
The Positives
The running game has been flat out dominant, something sorely missing from last year's squad. Michael Hart has been healthy and it has shown. But in addition to Hart, both Kevin Grady and Brandon Minor have contributed at key times. Each brings their own specialty to the mix, but it is all too apparent that Mike Hart is what makes the offense and running game tick.
The new/old offensive coordinator, Mike DeBord, brought in the man responsible for the running scheme used by the Denver Broncos, and the zone blocking scheme was implemented at Michigan. The idea is to point the running back in the right direction, but to let them choose which hole to run in. This has played well to the skills of both Hart and Minor, who are both shifty and quick. It has even begun to help Grady, who has cutback on a couple of plays this season that would have ended last season with a run into a pile of bodies. In addition, the Waggle pattern is back, and seems to be as good as ever. One often watched Michigan in the late 1990's and wondered how a tight end that was nearly the size of an offensive lineman could possibly be that wide open down the middle. From what little of the passing game has been exposed so far, those days could well have returned.
Finally, the offensive line has been sensational. I know there are many that will disagree, especially when it comes to the right side of the line and pass blocking. But in both the passing and rushing games, they have mauled opponents with such consistency that the team is averaging well over 200 yards of rushing offense per game. With Jake Long on the left side of the line, there will always be a hole there for a running back to run through, and his importance is magnified by the fact that he is the blind-side pass protection. He has been nearly perfect in both aspects. The right side of the line has received a lot of criticism that I feel is completely unwarranted. They have been solid on run blocking, but what has impressed me is their ability to pass block, most notably in the game against Central Michigan. Central Michigan as a team is bad, yes. Individually, however, it is difficult to find a better defensive end than Daniel Bazuin at CMU. A Pre-Season All American, Bazuin's talent belongs in a BCS conference, not in the MAC. He has consistently outplayed nearly everyone who has lined up across from him. I say nearly because he was outplayed in a large way by the right side of Michigan's offensive line, and most notably, by often-insulted Reuben Riley. He allowed one sack all day long on a miscommunication with the tight end on his side.
The Negatives
The wide receivers seem to be having difficulty holding onto the football. In the first two weeks, there have been half a dozen times or more where there was a drop on what should have been an easy catch to move the chains. In at least two cases, a TD was more than likely what should have been the result. While there was some improvement by week 2, it was not nearly the amount of improvement needed in order to stay a balanced offense. Unfortunately, the coaches have passed the ball less than 25% of the time to date, so the official verdict is more an incomplete, but I definitely give the lack of attempts a big negative.
Likewise, the quarterback position has not shown anything yet. Chad Henne, whom many saw as an outside Heisman candidate, has a total of 240 passing yards in two games. While not exactly lighting up the world, there have been no interceptions or fumbles either. This again is more of an incomplete than a negative. From past performance, we know that Henne is capable of winning big games, and with an improved defense, perhaps he will win more games when he gives his team a late lead.
Special Teams
The Positives
Garret Rivas, Ross Ryan, and Zoltan Mesko. Rivas is has made four out of five attempts, and finally looks very solid inside of 45 yards. Ross Ryan, while not getting touchbacks with as much frequency on kickoffs, has been a real solid participant in special teams tackles. Zoltan Mesko, after being told to reel in his leg a bit so as not to outkick coverage, boomed a punt 52 yards in the air this past Saturday that had a hang time approaching 5 seconds. He will be a huge help in changing field position as he matures into the starting punter role. In addition, there are some young players who are getting chances on special teams who have been coming up with big plays and big hits as well, most notably, Anton Campbell and Carlos Brown.
The Negatives
Kickoff coverage and kick returns have been horrendous. Steve Breaston hasn't received any help from those responsible for blocking opposing gunners, and it nearly cost him a fumble against Vanderbilt. At some point, Michigan will need to give Breaston some time and the need to beat only one defender in the open field. He is more than capable after that, but he needs just a second more to get started. This could easily be fixed and could quickly turn into one of the biggest plusses for this unit.
The kickoff coverage, in general, has been atrocious. Allowing 30+ yard returns to Central Michigan is unacceptable, especially when better returners loom on the near horizon. It gives momentum right back to the opponent after the score has taken it away. It can turn a lifeless crowd into a problem very quickly. This must be shored up for there to be success against high quality opponents like Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Date
Thu 09/14/06, 10:06 am EST
