Tag: Jabrill Peppers

Michigan vs. Minnesota Awards

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Drake Johnson. Much like last year, it seems like Drake Johnson (10 carries, 55 yards) is the only guy who can infuse life into the running game right now. For whatever reason, Ty Isaac and Karan Higdon did not participate in Saturday’s game, and Derrick Green (3 carries, 4 yards) is still just a guy. Meanwhile, starter De’Veon Smith (9 carries, 16 yards) is just limping along at this point. I’m unimpressed with Michigan’s options at the position, but there isn’t anyone new coming through the door just yet.

Hit the jump for the rest of the awards.

read more

Michigan 29, Minnesota 26

That was a great game for Minnesota. If the Gophers were facing almost anyone else, I would have been rooting for them to win. With the recent retirement of Jerry Kill, the frenzied crowd, the excited players, that was a fun game to watch. As a Michigan fan, player, or coach, you had to be wary of the emotions of the game. Some teams totally cave in that situation, and some play out of their minds. Minnesota did the latter. Unfortunately for them – but not for Michigan – I think head coach Tracy Claeys and his staff let the moment get a little too big for them at the end with some questionable game management.

I was closer to being right than I wanted to be. In my game preview (LINK), I predicted “Jake Rudock gets knocked out of the game, Wilton Speight can’t find his helmet, and Shane Morris burns his redshirt to come in and win the game.” Well, hot damn. Rudock did get knocked out of the game, and Shane Morris was warming up on the sideline, but it was Speight – helmet and all – who came in to throw the game-winning touchdown pass. Michigan seemed snake-bitten all game, and at one point late in the game, Michigan was without its starting QB, its starting RB, and its starting TE. I had started to think that it just wasn’t meant to be for the Wolverines on Saturday night.

Hit the jump for the remainder of the recap.

read more

Michigan vs. Michigan State Awards

Surely, this is targeting.

A fellow coach on my staff has been diagnosed with cancer, and we are raising funds to help him and his family with the costs of surgery and treatments. If you are feeling generous, please use the sidebar Paypal button or this link (LINK) and all proceeds this week will go toward the family’s expenses. Thanks for your generosity!

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Jake Butt. Arguably your best player on offense should not end the game with 1 catch for 4 yards. He did make a “catch” that was ruled a catch by the nearest official, only to be overturned by a more distant official, and the “instant” replay came back without indisputable evidence enough to distinctly rule it a catch. But even then, Butt would have had just two catches. Michigan and Jake Rudock need to find more ways to get him the ball.

Hit the jump for more awards from Saturday’s game.

read more

Utah 24, Michigan 17

Jake Butt

Not bad for a debut. Michigan was on its way to a very uninspiring debut with just 3 points at the half, but things picked up a little bit from there. This was a 5-7 team last year that had some things to clean up and some areas to improve. I think several of those areas have taken steps forward, but obviously not enough. Last year the Wolverines lost 26-10 without a lot of fight (Michigan’s only touchdown in 2014 was a Willie Henry interception return.) This year they scored a couple offensive touchdowns after halftime and had a chance to win/tie the game with their final drive. I’m disappointed in the loss, but things are looking up.

Hit the jump for the remainder of the post.
read more

2015 Season Predictions

Here are my predictions for the upcoming year:

Leading Rusher
I think Michigan will run the ball pretty well this year, but no running back is likely to run away with the yardage lead. There are three or four backs who could emerge as the leader, but my guess is that the week one starter, De’veon Smith, edges out the others.
Prediction: De’Veon Smith, 700 yards

Leading Receiver
The receiving corps is underwhelming, and the only big-play threats are guys who are totally unproven at this point. I’ll go with the consistent guy who lacks flash in redshirt junior Amara Darboh.
Prediction: Amara Darboh, 650 yards

Leading Tackler
Senior Joe Bolden finished his junior year second on the team with 102 tackles. The leading tackler (Jake Ryan) left, and the other inside linebacker (Desmond Morgan) isn’t quite as athletic as Bolden. I’ll give Bolden the edge here, and I think these two are really the only realistic candidates unless injuries occur.
Prediction: Joe Bolden, 100 tackles

Hit the jump for the rest.
read more