Jonathan Bullard (#90)
Yesterday, I posted the preview on Michigan’s Defense vs. Florida’s Offense.
Michigan Quarterbacks/Tight Ends/Wide Receivers vs. Florida Defensive Backs
Michigan fifth year senior QB Jake Rudock (6’3″, 208) had a rocky start, but his finish to the regular season was outstanding until he injured his shoulder against Ohio State in the finale. In the final month, Rudock completed over 67% of his passes for 1,296 yards on 9.2 yards/attempt with 11 TDs and just 2 INTs. He settled in to become comfortable with the offense, and he started reading the whole field rather than the half of the field that he was limited to during his struggles. That emergence was coupled with redshirt junior WR Jehu Chesson’s (6’3″, 207), who had 25 catches for 423 yards (16.9 yards/catch) and 6 TDs during that stretch. Classmate WR Amara Darboh (6’2″, 216) led the team in receptions, though his yards per catch were lower than Chesson’s or starting TE Jake Butt’s (6’6″, 249). Butt was the conference’s best tight end with 48 receptions, 620 yards, and 3 TDs. The only other TE or WR with double-digit receptions was senior TE A.J. Williams (6’6″, 285), who had 12 catches for 129 yards. We should also see a fair amount of freshman slot receiver Grant Perry (6’0″, 185) and TE Khalid Hill (6’2″, 270), who have 12 catches for 124 yards between them. If Rudock goes down, the backup is a very unproven redshirt freshman Wilton Speight (6’6″, 235), who threw the game-winning TD against Minnesota but otherwise is 9/25 for 73 yards and 1 INT. Rudock is expected to be healthy-ish for the bowl game, but if he re-injures that shoulder, Michigan could very well be done for if they don’t already have a lead.
Florida has one of the best secondaries in the country, led by an excellent cornerback duo of junior Vernon Hargreaves III (5’11”, 199) and sophomore Jalen Tabor (6’0″, 191); each of them has 4 interceptions, and Tabor is #13 in the country with 14 pass breakups. Florida spends a lot of time in a nickel, three-safety look. Senior safety/slot corner Brian Poole (5’10”, 211) has broken up 10 passes of his own, junior safety Keanu Neal (6’1″, 216) is third on the team with 84 tackles, and junior safety Marcus Maye (6’0″, 207) is fourth with 73. All of those guys can come up and tackle, and they act as extra linebackers. However, they are not the most athletic, ballhawking group of safeties, and the middle of the field can be taken advantage of in the passing game. Florida finished #10 in passing yards allowed (175 per game) and #11 in passer rating defense. This is still a tough matchup for a largely unimposing group of wideouts.
Advantage: Florida
Hit the jump for the rest of the preview.
Michigan Running Backs vs. Florida Linebackers
Michigan’s primary runner throughout the year has been junior De’Veon Smith (5’11”, 228), a bulldozer without a lot of speed or great vision. He had just four carries all season that went for 20+ yards. He had the plurality of running back carries this year and ended up with 644 yards on 4.2 yards/carry with 6 TDs. Jack-of-all-trades Jabrill Peppers (6’1″, 205) became an offensive weapon in the second half of the year, and he was a focal point of the offense in the season finale against Ohio State with 7 carries for 30 yards and 2 catches for 25 yards; however, Peppers is not expected to play in the bowl game. The other two noteworthy runners are redshirt junior Drake Johnson (6’1″, 207) and senior FB Sione Houma (6’0″, 243), the latter of whom lines up at tailback occasionally and has run for 152 yards and 4 TDs. The dark horse is redshirt sophomore RB Ty Isaac (6’3″, 240), who was reportedly taking a bunch of starter snaps during Ohio State week but then didn’t play in the game; he averages 6.8 yards/carry and had one of just three 100-yard games for Michigan running backs this year (Smith had the other two). Michigan is #93 in rushing yards and #83 in rushing average (4.12 yards/carry), so the Wolverines aren’t a big threat on the ground. The most explosive runner is WR Jehu Chesson, who has taken jet sweeps and reverses for over 19 yards/carry for 2 long touchdowns.
It’s hard not to be impressed with Florida’s linebackers, especially after watching their Michigan counterparts this season. They are coached well by co-defensive coordinator Randy Shannon. Senior LB Antonio Morrison (6’1″, 229) and junior LB Jarrad Davis (6’2″, 230) do a very good job of reading plays, flowing to the ball, and shedding blocks. They have each made 94+ tackles and have double-digit TFLs. Junior LB Daniel McMillan (6’1″, 219) and redshirt junior LB Jeremi Powell (6’0″, 224) are backups who rotate in or play when Florida goes with more than two true linebackers, but Morrison and Davis are the real threats to tear things up at the second level. They will probably be stoning Michigan running backs in the hole time after time.
Advantage: Florida
Michigan Offensive Line vs. Florida Defensive Line
Michigan has a mediocre offensive line altogether. Despite a good amount of experience, they just don’t get movement off the ball and are #72 in Adjusted Line Yards. A couple players received second- or third-team all-conference recognition, but that was probably more of a nod to pass protection and simply playing for an improved Michigan team. Sophomore LT Mason Cole (6’5″, 287), redshirt junior LG Ben Braden (6’6″, 331), fifth year senior center Graham Glasgow (6’6″, 303), redshirt junior RG Kyle Kalis (6’5″, 305), and redshirt junior RT Erik Magnuson (6’6″, 296) make up the line. Glasgow is good for one or two snap infractions a game, Cole can be taken advantage of good edge rushers, and Kalis makes a fair share of mental mistakes. On the plus side, they have all improved as pass blockers (they are #21 in Adjusted Sack Rate), and Braden has done a nice job of pulling despite his mammoth size.
This is the truly concerning portion of Florida’s team for the Wolverines, who struggle to run the ball and need to keep QB Jake Rudock upright. The Gators are tied for #4 in sacks with 40 and they allow the 14th-fewest yards/carry at 3.39. They have a number of guys who can rotate in and do the job, but the guy most impressive on film is senior DT Jonathan Bullard (6’3″, 283), who has 63 tackles, 17.5 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks on the year. He seems to consistently win his battle up front and plow his man a yard deep into the backfield, reminiscent of a larger Brandon Graham. Joining Bullard on the line are redshirt junior DE Bryan Cox, Jr. (6’3″, 269, and yes, the son of loudmouth former NFL LB Bryan Cox), who has 43 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks, and junior NT Joey Ivie (6’3″, 295). On a happy note for Michigan, redshirt junior rush LB Alex McCallister was suspended for the game and declared early for the NFL Draft, and he was Florida’s best pass rusher. Into his spot steps redshirt sophomore Jordan Sherit (6’4″, 250), who has 23 tackles and 1.5 sacks. The key backups on the defensive line are freshman CeCe Jefferson (6’1″, 275) and redshirt sophomore Caleb Brantley (6’2″, 314).
Advantage: Florida
Tomorrow I’ll talk about special teams, some intangibles, and my game predictions.
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Nice preview.
It’ll be a good test to see how Chesson does against elite corners. If he has a productive game here there is reason to expect really big things next year.
I remember Morrison was recruited for a while by Michigan but then things fell off for some reason.
I’ll be very interested to see if Isaac plays. I hope he does because if he has had all these weeks to get some perspective and do whatever he needs to do to impress Harbaugh and he’s STILL in the dog house…it’s probably see-ya time. Let’s hope not. For all my skepticism on the overheated Isaac Hype Train, I’ll be the first guy cheering him on if he can deliver on the 5-star potential. Now that the Hype Train has thrown Isaac overboard in favor of Walker & Davis, rational discussion is on the table. Isaac showed me enough this year to believe he can be an asset to the team if he gets his head on straight. He (not Smith, who most people pine for moving) is a guy who I personally think would make a fantastic fullback/H-back if he ever shows the willingness to block. That’d give the Michigan offense another dimension if they had a big play threat there. Frankly his best chance at an NFL career is at a position other than RB. While that goes for Smith too, Isaac looks like the better overall athlete.
On OL, I’m looking forward to seeing Newsome and maybe some others get a few snaps. I hope to see some 6OL sets as opposed to more AJ Williams.
Bryan Cox was always an entertaining player to me, even if I didn’t like him much.
Should be a stiff test for this offense, which is a good thing.
Happy New Year. Go Blue!
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I think Chesson can have success if the offensive line can give Rudock some time to throw the ball. Florida has good athletes, but I trust somewhat that Harbaugh/Fisch can scheme some ways to
I really have no idea what you’re talking about when you discuss Isaac moving to FB. You spend more time than anyone else I know talking about why running backs shouldn’t play unless they’re good pass blockers, and then you think Isaac – who has never been much of a blocker – should move to a position that is 80% blocking. It’s like saying, “You know, Chris Graham has never been very good in coverage. Maybe we should move him to free safety.”
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I guess I should explain because yeah, I agree that Isaac’s a terrible blocker right now.
I think blocking is a skill you can acquire through hard work and effort. It’s not really about athleticism or strength or anything else that you have to be born with or takes a long time to develop. Chris Graham can’t suddenly get safety speed. Ty Isaac can suddenly get a willingness to block.
While Isaac won’t be a great blocker overnight, 8 months from now he could be good enough that his skills as a runner and receiver could offset the issues. At least hypothetically.
I’m not saying it’s likely, I’m just saying that for a guy who has been 3rd or 4th string most of the year at RB — with some talented recruits on the way that are likely to push him even lower — it might make sense to find another position. FB is wide open.
Do I think it’s likely? No. Isaac’s had attitude issues reportedly since he arrived in AA (and there’s a decent chance those contributed to his transfer from USC too). If you’re the kind of guy who has trouble being a backup RB you’re probably not the type of guy who will embrace blocking for somebody else. But some people grow, mature, and accept their own limitations…
I actually think Isaac’s best overall fit physically is as a TE/H-back, but FB seems more realistic because that’s a spot where you can still get 4 or 5 carries a game and maybe mix in some 3rd down usage as well.
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Playing FB requires a certain mentality, and I highly doubt that Isaac has it.
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