Tag: Jarrod Wilson

Michigan vs. Penn State Awards

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Jehu Chesson. I only say this because Chesson appeared to hurt his shoulder when he was mugged in the process of earning a pass interference call. He fell hard on his left elbow in the endzone after throwing up his arms in exasperation. Michigan needs Chesson and his speed to beat Ohio State. He has 7 touchdowns over his last four games, and he had 4 catches for 69 yards – along with a 20-yard run – before he left Saturday’s game. He also recovered a muffed punt.

Let’s see less of this guy on offense . . . the referee announcing false start penalties and snap infractions. The pre-snap penalties for the past two weeks have been infuriating.

Let’s see more of this guy on defense . . . Taco Charlton as a 4-3 defensive end. I don’t like the idea of Charlton playing Buck linebacker, as some people have suggested, because I don’t think he holds much value as a guy who moves around, blitzes from various spots, etc. However, with Michigan’s current personnel, I think they’re best served by running a 4-3 with Charlton – who was previously a backup – out there along with Maurice Hurst, Jr., Willie Henry, and Chris Wormley. Those are their best four linemen. Michigan needs to be intelligent with how they rotate, because the backups are pretty weak. But at this point in the year, everyone is as conditioned as they’re going to be, and they might have to play a few more snaps than what is ideal simply because you want your best vs. their best.

Let’s see less of this guy on defense . . . the referee announcing offsides penalties, defensive holding, etc. Again, the pre-snap penalties are ridiculous. An occasional pass interference penalty or offsides call is to be expected, but Michigan was penalized 13 times for 117 yards last week. (Michigan’s record for penalties is 15 in one game.)

Play of the game . . . Jarrod Wilson tracking down Saquon Barkley. Penn State started off the game with a 56-yard run by freshman running back Barkley, and some teams would have been facing a 7-0 deficit just a couple plays into the game. Wilson was Michigan’s deep safety, and he didn’t have an angle as Barkley broke through the line, but Wilson sprinted to track him down around the 5-yard line. Michigan held on for three consecutive plays and forced Penn State to settle for a field goal, a 3-0 lead, and disappointment.

MVP of the game . . . Jake Rudock. Rudock was very efficient against a tough front seven. Penn State was giving up just 159 yards/game through the air, and Rudock finished with 256 yards on 25/38 passing (65.8%) for 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. The running game was going nowhere (2.9 yards/carry on 30 attempts), but Rudock spread the ball around to nine different receivers. The main trio of tight end Jake Butt and wide receivers Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh combined for 16 catches, 203 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

Michigan vs. Northwestern Awards

Jourdan Lewis

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Drake Johnson. Jim Harbaugh said that Johnson was dinged up going into this week, so add him to the list that includes starting running back De’Veon Smith, who seemed to tweak his ankle by the end of the game, too. Michigan needs these guys healthy in order to compete. Derrick Green had one nice run where he made a rare (for him) jump cut, but otherwise, he only gets what the offensive line blocks. The coaches have demoted Ty Isaac (2 carries, 13 yards) after his two fumbles last week, and freshman Karan Higdon averaged 2 yards/carry (8 carries, 16 yards). Johnson had 2 carries for 3 yards and 1 touchdown, but he’s a slithery back who needs to be available next week if Michigan wants to have some versatility at running back against Michigan State next week.

Let’s see less of this guy on offense . . . Karan Higdon. I thought Higdon ran hard, but he’s small and inexperienced. Michigan has a huge game next week against Michigan State, and it would be nice if the Wolverines can have their top two running backs (De’Veon Smith, Drake Johnson) available to take most of the snaps.

Let’s see more of this guy on defense . . . Channing Stribling. Stribling has missed two consecutive games with an injury. Harbaugh said last week that it was a one-week injury, but now it’s been two weeks. Jeremy Clark has done a good job in his stead (2 tackles this week), but Michigan gets thin at the position after him, with only the inexperienced Brandon Watson left before you get to position-switchers or true freshmen. I hope can get healthy, especially because the next opponent is the Spartans, who have a decent passing attack.

Let’s see less of this guy on defense . . . no one. Three straight shutouts. Keep doing what you’re doing.

Play of the game . . . Jourdan Lewis’s interception return for a touchdown. First of all, the interception itself was very impressive, as Lewis raked out the ball with his left hand and secured it as the receiver came down on Northwestern’s sideline. But second, the acceleration from 0-to-60 for Lewis on his way down the sideline for a 37-yard score was impressive. Michigan has not used Lewis on offense and rarely done so on special teams, but with his speed and ball skills, Lewis could be a good kick returner or wideout, too. It was exciting to see something turn from a potential reception to a defensive TD so quickly.

Player of the game . . . Jarrod Wilson. I’m going to go with an unsung hero of the team this year, and that’s Wilson. Virtually every other defensive player has received more praise this season, but Wilson led the team with 7 tackles and cleaned up whenever there was a mess to be cleaned. He’s playing fast, hitting hard, and always seems to be in the right spot. There were other guys who had good games (Willie Henry, Jourdan Lewis, Ryan Glasgow), but Wilson has rounded into one of the best safeties we’ve seen at Michigan in a long time. He was always a good athlete, but I imagine quite a bit of credit goes to new safeties coach Greg Jackson.

2015 Season Countdown: #9 Jarrod Wilson

Jarrod Wilson

Name: Jarrod Wilson
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 210 lbs.
High school: Akron (OH) Buchtel
Position: Safety
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #22
Last year: I ranked Wilson #7 and said he would be the starting free safety with 60 tackles and 3 interceptions. He started ten games with 50 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, and 2 pass breakups.

I looked upon Wilson as a difference-maker last year and suggested that he might be in line for some all-conference honors. I was a little confused about how the safeties were deployed last season, because Wilson seemed to be employed almost as a fourth linebacker rather than a deep safety. With the options at safety last year, I thought he would be the best option to roam center field. The defense wasn’t bad, but the Wolverines lacked an enforcer in the middle, and the corners opposite Jourdan Lewis had issues throughout the season. He had an 11-tackle game against Michigan State and a 9-tackle effort against Minnesota, but since he was deployed mostly in the underneath zones, he was not heavily involved in defending the pass.

I think Wilson has some versatility with his ball skills and tackling ability. The new staff has been playing him as a free safety, and he is pretty much a guarantee to start in the defensive backfield. The other safety is a bit of a question mark at this point (will it be Jabrill Peppers or Delano Hill?), but Wilson is solid back there and should be able to get the defense set up properly. With Peppers or Hill blitzing off the edge or playing on the slot receiver, Wilson should benefit from a solid blitz package and front seven on the way to making some plays up the middle of the field. Several of the Big Ten’s best safeties moved on to the NFL after last season, so I think Wilson could slide onto some all-conference teams. I have been waiting for him to break out with a good year, and this is his last hurrah in a winged helmet.

Prediction: Starting free safety; 60 tackles, 2 interceptions

Michigan vs. Rutgers Awards

Jarrod Wilson (#22) broke up this dangerous pass (image via College Football)

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Da’Mario Jones. Jones is reportedly one of the faster players on the team, and Michigan is lacking a deep threat. Devin Funchess is being bracketed, Amara Darboh doesn’t have great speed, and Dennis Norfleet doesn’t know how to catch a ball that’s thrown at him. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Jones – it could be Freddy Canteen or Maurice Ways – but Michigan needs to find someone else to stretch the field besides a hobbled Funchess.

Let’s see less of this guy on offense . . . A.J. Williams. He is slow and does not have good hands. Devin Gardner threw a quick out to him on Saturday night, and the results were sad. The tight ends running those routes should be Jake Butt or Khalid Hill. We know Butt is good, but Hill is a guy who seems to be improving steadily.

Let’s see more of this guy on defense . . . Jarrod Wilson at free safety. I guess I don’t see the rationale behind playing the more inexperienced Jeremy Clark back there in loads of open space, while the more experienced Wilson is covering the flats or stopping the run. Those roles should be flipped. Clark has size and speed, but he lacks field awareness. Meanwhile, Wilson’s jarring hit on Leonte Carroo was the first of its kind for Michigan this season, and – surprise! – it came when Wilson was playing deep.

Let’s see less of this guy on defense . . . tentative Joe Bolden and Frank Clark. On separate occasions, these guys seemed afraid to hit Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova. Bolden lacked his improving aggressive nature on a scramble up the middle, and Clark seemed to pull up on a pass rush that allowed Nova to side-step him and throw a touchdown to a diving John Tsimis. Were they tentative because of the week-long discussion about quarterback safety after the Shane Morris hit? Was it a coincidence? I don’t know. Maybe Gary is just a super Nova. (Sad people make sad jokes.)

Play of the game . . . unlike last week, there are a couple choices. The highlight reel choice was obviously the one-handed snag by tight end Jake Butt. The more meaningful play was Devin Gardner’s 19-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. On a bootleg, he juked the outside contain guy and outran the Rutgers defense to the pylon, all along gliding like only he and a few other quarterbacks can do. He really is fun to watch when he gets in open space. Not many 6’4″, 216 lb. guys can move like he does.

MVP of the game . . . Gardner. He didn’t have a great game, but nobody really stood out for Michigan. Gardner finished the game 13/22 for 178 yards, and 1 interception; he also ran the ball 10 times for 40 yards and 2 touchdowns. For the most part, he managed the game well, especially once he got comfortable in the second half. I also thought Joe Bolden played pretty well – he made 10 tackles, including 9 solo stops, several of which stopped Scarlet Knights in their tracks.

Michigan vs. Utah Awards

Willie Henry celebrates his touchdown (image via Zimbio)

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . nobody. I am growing weary of people who think the guy on the bench is better. Shane Morris is not better than Devin Gardner. Justice Hayes is not better than Derrick Green/De’Veon Smith. Michigan needs to keep “pounding the rock” and improvement should come. Michigan has outgained the opponent in every game so far, so there should be a breakthrough at some point.

Let’s see less of this guy on offense . . . Shane Morris. I don’t know the rationale behind inserting Morris into the game last night. Personally, I thought it seemed like a reaction to public presssure. Gardner was obviously pressing again, but he’s still the most experienced, most athletic, and best quarterback on the team. If Gardner was pulled as a punishment for bad decision-making . . . okay. If Gardner was pulled in order to keep him healthy . . . that’s lame in a two-score game with about a quarter to go. If Gardner was pulled because the coaches think Morris is his equal . . . that’s dumb. I realize that Gardner isn’t getting the job done, but sometimes that guy is still the best guy.

Let’s see more of this guy on defense . . . Jarrod Wilson. Wilson hadn’t been a standout this year, but safety was the huge question mark on defense this year because he was the only experienced guy back there. Of course, he got hurt and has missed the last two games. Now Michigan is left with redshirt sophomore Jeremy Clark, who is prone to fundamental breakdowns; sophomore Dymonte Thomas, who is a decent tackler but needs work in coverage; and sophomore Delano Hill, who played exclusively on special teams last year and has missed a large chunk of time with a broken jaw this fall. Michigan needs him back healthy.

Let’s see less of this guy on defense . . . nobody. Other than the mish-mash of young safeties mentioned above, the defense is doing a good job. They only allowed one offensive touchdown and five field goal attempts, and the main reason they got that many chances to score was because the offense couldn’t drive deep into Utah territory.

Play of the game . . . Willie Henry’s interception and touchdown. Near his own goal line, backup quarterback Kendal Thompson – temporarily replacing starter Travis Wilson, who had suffered a worse-than-it-seemed, face-first crash landing on the sideline – dropped back to pass. Smelling blood, Michigan’s defensive line tore through Utah’s front five, and Jake Ryan wrapped him up. Thompson tried to chuck it short over Henry’s head, but Henry got vertical (a little bit), bobbled the ball (a little bit), and then made a visible attempt to truck Thompson on his way into the endzone. Honorable mention in this category goes to Jourdan Lewis, who came all the way across the field to track down Utah running back Bubba Poole on a 67-yard screen catch-and-run.

MVP of the game . . . Jake Ryan. Ryan had 13 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 sack in the game. He’s coming around as an inside linebacker, and he even played both options on a power read option play, making the tackle on quarterback Travis Wilson for a loss.