Posts under: Blog

Citrus Bowl Preview: Pass Offense vs. Alabama Pass Defense

MICHIGAN PASS OFFENSE

Michigan is #47 in passing offense (252.3 yards/game), #49 in passing efficiency, and tied for #31 in yards per attempt (8.1). All those numbers sound about right. Quarterback Shea Patterson seemed to settle in during the second half of the year, and his yards per attempt were solid the final three weeks (11.6, 11.4, 7.1 against MSU, Indiana, and OSU, respectively). The numbers against Ohio State should have been better, but Michigan’s receivers – mainly Donovan Peoples-Jones – lost their focus and forgot how to catch. Speaking of former 5-star Peoples-Jones, he was somewhat pedestrian during the regular season with 33 catches for 404 yards and 6 touchdowns. Injury did play a part early in the season, but he was outplayed by slot receiver Ronnie Bell (44/705/1) and gargantuan outside guy Nico Collins (33/681/7). Tight ends Sean McKeon and Nick Eubanks are also factors with 36 catches for 464 yards and 5 scores between them. Michigan’s offensive line gives up 1.83 sacks/game, which is #53 in the country.

ALABAMA PASS DEFENSE

Alabama is #9 in pass defense (183.4 yards allowed/game) with the #7 passer efficiency rating defense and the #5 yards per attempt defense (5.9). There had been some concern about their defensive backs going into the season, but they played well overall; however, star cornerback Trevon Diggs is sitting out of the Citrus Bowl to save himself for the NFL, taking his 3 interceptions and 8 pass breakups with him. Sophomore Josh Jobe (6’1″, 189) and redshirt freshman Jalyn Amour-Davis (6’1″, 182) are the possible replacements and should be frequent targets of Michigan’s passing offense. Elsewhere, safeties Jared Mayden (6’0″, 205) and Xavier McKinney (6’1″, 200) have combined for 7 interceptions. Alabama is #52 in sacks, led by senior linebacker Anfernee Jennings (6’3″, 259) with 7.5. Second-leading sacker Terrell Lewis will be hanging out with Diggs and watching the game from their safe space.

Advantage: Alabama. I do think Michigan can get some plays in the passing game, because I don’t see them getting a ton of pressure on the Wolverines. But the defensive backs at Alabama are well coached, so unless Patterson can get some big plays against Diggs’s replacement, there won’t be a ton of separation.

Morning Roundup: December 29, 2019

Yes, this was targeting:

Was this targeting? #CFBPlayoff #Clemson #OhioState #clemsonvsosu pic.twitter.com/IFy6RY9Pdp

— 4.8 40 Sports (@foureight40) December 29, 2019

People are throwing out some solutions for the targeting rule, so I might as well throw my hat into the ring as a rule maker.

A lot of people – I would venture to say most – don’t understand “targeting.” The problem, in my opinion, is the word “targeting.” It seems to imply that there has to be something intentional about it. If you go out for target practice, you’re intentionally trying to shoot at a precise spot (a hay bale, a bullseye, etc.). If a missile hits its target, yes, it was intentional.

“Targeting” in football doesn’t have anything to do with intent. You either do it or you don’t. You can’t:

1. Lower your head to make contact with the crown of the helmet.
2. Create forcible contact to the head/neck area.

So change the terminology. Call #1 “spearing” and call #2 “targeting” or “head-hunting” or “flibbergibbing” or whatever you want. But I’ve discovered that a lack of education on a topic causes a lot of outrage. The “powers that be” of NCAA football need to show up on a national, widely watched broadcast and explain “targeting” or “spearing” or whatever the call ends up being. They need to show examples. And those examples can be provided on Youtube, Twitter, websites, etc. anytime there’s a question about “targeting.”

I’m glad LSU and Clemson are the two representatives in the national championship game. I’ll be rooting for LSU.

Meast ‼️ @tress_justin @CoachBenHerbert @TankWright pic.twitter.com/2jSwcHOQXl

— Josh Uche (@_Uche35) December 28, 2019

Afternoon Roundup: December 28, 2019

The holidays are busy. I hope you all are doing well and enjoying Washington State vs. Air Force highlights!

A couple wrap-up items from recent days on players with decisions to make:

• Nick Eubanks is returning for a fifth year at tight end, which is good because I don’t think he would get drafted in 2020.
• Kwity Paye is returning for his senior year at defensive end, which is also good because I don’t think his draft stock would be very high.
• It sounds like Ambry Thomas is coming back, although he hasn’t come out with that decision as definitively as the first two.

Hit the jump for more.

Review of 2008 Recruiting: Cornerback

THE ROSTER

• Doug Dutch (RS Sr.)
• Morgan Trent (RS Sr.)
• Donovan Warren (So.)
• Troy Woolfolk (So.)

THE RECRUITS

Boubacar Cissoko
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Ratings: 4-star, #13 CB, #137 overall
College: Michigan
Scoop: Cissoko made 31 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 interception during 1.5 seasons in Ann Arbor, but legal troubles cut his career short. He spent some time incarcerated and ended up playing in the Arena Football League and overseas.

J.T. Floyd
High school: Greenville (SC) J.L. Mann
Ratings: 3-star, #64 CB, #815 overall
College: Michigan
Scoop: For a discussion of Floyd’s career, you can check out this old senior profile from the end of Floyd’s career (LINK). He was not drafted in 2013 and did not play in the NFL.

Hit the jump for more.

Nightly Roundup: December 25, 2019

MSN has an article saying that Michigan is the only Power Five school that doesn’t offer online classes (LINK). In case anyone makes the argument that Michigan is the same as any other school, there’s some evidence for you.

Don Brown talks about the 2020 recruiting class (LINK).

Elle Johnson wants to wish you a merry (NSFW) Christmas: