23Nov 2016
Bleacher Report: Being Jabrill Peppers
Bleacher Report has a feature article on Jabrill Peppers (LINK).
Hit the jump for some pictures of model Bo Krsmanovic.
Bleacher Report has a feature article on Jabrill Peppers (LINK).
Hit the jump for some pictures of model Bo Krsmanovic.
Darrin Kirkland, Jr. (image via 247 Sports)
Former CB commit Gareon Conley: Conley made 1 tackle and 1 interception in Ohio State’s 17-16 win over Michigan State.
Former defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin: Durkin’s Maryland Terrapins suffered a 28-7 loss to Nebraska to fall to 5-6. They have a chance to become bowl-eligible with a game against Rutgers this coming weekend.
Former RB commit Damien Harris: Harris made 13 carries for 91 yards and 1 touchdown in Alabama’s 31-3 win over Chattanooga.
Hit the jump for many more updates, including Brady Hoke, Ondre Pipkins, and Mike Weber, among others.
Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Ty Isaac catching the ball, Wilton Speight, and Jabrill Peppers. I have three suggestions going into Ohio State. First, Isaac has been underutilized as a pass receiver. Coming out of high school, there were some who thought he might be best suited to play wide receiver or tight end based on his hands. Saturday’s catch on a screen pass was just his second reception of the year, but it went for 21 yards – just like his first catch of the year (against Colorado). He has 8 catches for 111 yards in his career. Michigan has not used the tailbacks in the passing game much this year, but Isaac could be an asset for a team that might have a dinged up or backup quarterback. Second, let’s see Wilton Speight. He’s the starting quarterback, and Michigan needs him if the Wolverines want to play in the Big Ten championship game or the College Football Playoff. He’s still not 100% after getting injured against Iowa, but I think you have to at least give him a shot and try to keep him upright as long as you can against OSU. Otherwise, a lot of your other team goals go down the drain. Lastly, Peppers is a potential difference-maker. I heard last week that he would probably play more running back against Indiana, but then he only saw one snap there, perhaps because it was such a tight game in cold, windy, snowy weather. Michigan has been deploying Peppers on offense throughout the season, to varying effects, but they need to use him effectively against a solid Ohio State defense. That includes using him as a decoy, handing off the ball, and then keeping it at times.
Hit the jump for more awards from the Indiana game.
De’Veon Smith (image via The Comeback)
Phew! Michigan is a better team than Indiana, but the combination of wind, snow, and the backup quarterback made this one questionable. My game preview failed to take into account the weather, but if I had realized the weather was going to be that nasty, I would have throttled down my 31-17 prediction. Backup quarterback John O’Korn grew up in Pennsylvania, but he played his high school football in Florida, played most of his college football in Houston, practices indoors at Michigan sometimes, and played most of this season in balmy weather. This would have been tough weather for starter Wilton Speight to excel in, so O’Korn did about as well as should have been expected.
Hit the jump for more on the win over Indiana.
Options are limited. She’s wearing red and white, so she counts, I guess.
RUSH OFFENSE vs. INDIANA RUSH DEFENSE
Despite a rough outing against Iowa last week, Michigan is still #19 nationally with 236 yards/game and #23 with 5.31 yards/carry. Some fans are getting antsy with De’Veon Smith after he averaged just 2.3 yards/carry last week and failed to burrow out of the endzone, resulting in an Iowa safety. Meanwhile, freshman Chris Evans is averaging 7.82 yards/carry through ten games. The Wolverines offensive line struggled, too, and right guard Kyle Kalis was largely to blame for the safety on Smith. Michigan is #55 nationally in Adjusted Line Yards. On the other side, Indiana is #72 in Defensive Adjusted Line Yards. They’re #52 in rushing yards allowed (156 per game) but a respectable #31 in yards allowed per carry (3.74). Maryland, Michigan State, and Ohio State are the only three teams to top even 3.7 yards/carry on them, and Penn State with Saquon Barkley averaged a measly 1.71 last week. Linebacker Tegray Scales (6’0″, 230 lbs.), linebacker Marcus Oliver (6’1″, 240), and strong safety Marcelino Ball (6’0″, 210) lead the team with 94, 74, and 68 tackles, respectively. Scales (15.0) and Oliver (10.5) lead the team in tackles for loss. Statistically, it seems like Michigan would have an edge, but based on last year’s inability to run against the Hoosiers and the struggles last week, I’m not sure about that.
Advantage: Indiana
Hit the jump for more on Indiana.