Location: Big House
Weather: 77 feels like 87
TV: Fox
Line: Michigan +5.5
This is a tale of two programs through one game. Neither team let in a touchdown in Week 1. One team won 51-0 another one won a Hail Mary. One team is ranked 11th in the country the other was ranked 16th but no longer ranked. Oklahoma was posed to make a title run last year after their Michigan win, they got to the playoffs but their QB got hurt after the Michigan game and they weren't the same the rest of the year. Any chance that OK State shows up on Saturday?
Dear Coach Whitt,
I'm not sure I have words for what happened last Saturday night. I do have some advice for you as you got a Michigan Head Football coaching experience in one fire hose blast. First off, the all maize uniforms are weird and we don't like them. Secondary, Michigan does not play well in night games at the Big House. Third, Michigan has a tendency to be very sleepy in its first game of the year at home.
I'm sure you also learned that no matter the opponent you will get that team's best effort times 10. Something makes the other team play at another level when they see that Maize and Blue. This job is unique and nothing like Utah. You have your hands full this week to not be embarrassed on Saturday.
Lou Holtz used to say that there are no greater improvements then between Game 1 and Game 2. I sure hope that is the case for your team. Outside of punting and not allowing a TD, there wasn't much to love from last week. When everything is broken, where do you start to fix the problem was your greatest issue this week during practice.
It has to start at QB. I think Bryce has potential but he is snake bitten, falls back into old bad habits, and completely lacks confidence in his play. It's hard to bench someone that is making so much NIL but that might be the right approach, he has never been able to watch and learn in college and he currently isn't equipped with the proper experience to deal with fire hose of college football yet. I think Carr has better fundamentals but he is not ready for Oklahoma. That leaves BFN if he knows the offense.
These are very difficult decisions and reason your in this role. You inherited Bryce and maybe he can't be fixed in a way that will win you football games this year. If that is the case, we need to move on quickly. On the other hand, the kid has a ton of talent and if you can fix him, his upside is through the moon. Good luck with that decision.
This week can change your season. It's an opportunity to flush the Hail Mary that still seems be a topic on all the sports shows. Or it can be one of the most embarrassing loses of your career. The game will need to be won on defense for the Wolverines. No matter how much your OC learned or Bryce can execute, it won't be enough to beat The Sooners, without a dominating defense. In fact the defense probably has to score for Michigan to win.
Final advice, the turnovers and penalties are not acceptable. That is not Michigan Football and has to be fixed right away. Finding a way to score points against Oklahoma's defense will need another Big House Miracle and I think you've spent those dollars. My only hope is Michigan surprises us once a year in a game and I hope its this weekend. Again coach, I'm at a loss for words and please don't embarrass the program on Saturday.
Oklahoma 31 Michigan 10
5 comments:
That score feels right - 10 will be lucky after last week. Still don’t understand how our running game was so horrible last week. And I’m not sure this week will be much different.
Desperately wanting a Michigan victory. On every 3rd down when Michigan has the ball > throw the long ball (hail Mary) .... same as a punt if intercepted. Underwood is a long ball slinger, try to use that ... forget most of the short dink passes. I stand with a wish for victory in in one hand > a big gob of scat in the other ..... anyways Go Blue! Give Oklahoma hell and leave it all on the field.
Bryce Underwood's last stand? I don't think they'll throw Tommy Carr to the wolves tomorrow, i.e. Brent Venables defense. that's a tough spot for a true freshman. I think tomorrow will be BU's last chance barring injury to prove he deserves to not only be the starting QB, but a Michigan Wolverine! Another week of locking on the primary receiver and throwing into double, triple or more coverage will lead to Tommy Carr leading the offense versus UTEP!
Look there are 12 million reasons to not like BU besides his lack of ability to be a major college QB. The dude is just not likable. I've never been a fan of hubris and being brazen. Confidence is one thing, but running your mouth before you've done anything is another. Go out and show me you know how to play the game at a high level, then do your talking. not the other way around
I said last Saturday night and I'll say it again: run him more! More read option. what little read option they've run in the past year plus, BU rarely keeps the ball, even when the DE crashes down. Run the dang ball! Find a way to open up the run game and then the passing game will come. BU will never be a multiple read thrower that can go thru his progressions. the best you can hope for is a bigger version of Shea Patterson. Running enough to open up the first read in the passing game.
Chowman: Your ideas about Underwood running are sound .... alas, a lot of times coaches do what they want to work, and not what should work .... in other words, they adjust slowly like mid-season (if then)
Post a Comment