Fresno State Post Game

Jacob Hamilton Mlive

During the Harbaugh years I wrote a ton of post game articles where it mentioned "vanilla".  Where Jimmy and his staff called an ultra conservative game to protect from making any game changing mistakes on offense with the Wolverine dominating defense playing well and to hide the playbook from future opponents.  Harbaugh might have been in LA on Saturday but his parents were in the Big House and it was clear not much has changed.  

The game was a classic Harbaugh affair.  Where Michigan's transfer kicker was the star and Michigan controlled most of the game on defense.  The score doesn't tell the story of how close the game really was.   Before I get to Cheers and Jeers, let's talk about what we learned on Saturday.

Learned:

• Orji is not a throwing QB. 
• Edwards needs a power back at RB1  
• Defense continues to be strong 
• Michigan's only TD on defense was a Wink blitz
• Oline and Davis Warren are still learning 
• Michigan's transfer kicker is very good 

Cheers:

• Dominic Zada, take a bow you were the MVP of the game
• Josaiah Stewart is going to be a problem for OT's.  He had 2 sacks and 5 solo tackles 
• Outside an under thrown deep ball Davis Warren threw accurately 
• Will saved the game with a long pick 6 
• Mason Graham and Ken Grant shut down the running game
• Mullings had 92 yards and some strong running late, he is RB1 
• Loveland might be a TE but is WR1 with 87 yards
• Benny played well
• Michigan won the game 

Jeers:

• Michigan's stars had a tough day.  Will and Donovan had uneven performances
• WR's had 6 total catches for 34 yards 
• Offensive line struggled early 
• Orji out gained Edwards 
• Michigan struggled to run the ball
• Warren was a first read only passer and was sped up in the pocket 
• Barham had 2 tackles 
• TJ Guy lost his focus for a few minutes 
• That last Fresno drive was bananas with 3 picks, 4 personal fouls, and a TD for Michigan. 

There is a lot to be concerned about with Texas less than a week away in the Big House. Michigan's offense does not move if it doesn't move on the ground.  Every team loads the box to stop the run against the Wolverines and last night it worked.  The only good drive of the game was late, when Michigan's offensive line took over. 

The Michigan coaches have to let Davis look for at least 2 options.  He was first read thrower all game.  Other WR's were running buck naked open and he is trying to fit 5 yard tight throws to Loveland or Edwards.  I hope the coaches see that on tape. 

Michigan has to be creative on how they used Edwards.  He is not an RB1 and Michigan needs to get him more involved in the pass game.  Can we run a traditional screen please?  Orji is one of the best 11 players on offense and he needs more RB looks, not QB snaps.  He could be RB2. 

The defense and special teams played well.  The transfers highlighted by Zada were fantastic.  The secondary played pretty well most of the game.  Next week, will be the test of course.  I'm concerned that Michigan showed the blitz way too early on Fresno's TD throw.  

On the flip side, it was the first game of the year and lots of good teams struggled including Oregon.  Many of the issues Michigan had were one's we were concerned about.  Let's take a breath enjoy a day off on Monday and hope Michigan has the biggest jump of the year from Week 1 to Week 2. 

Fresno State Preview

Time: 7:30

Location: Big House 

Weather: 78 No Rain

TV: NBC (Eagle/Blackledge)

Line: Michigan -21

Michigan takes the field on Saturday for the first time since after the 1997 season as National Champions.   That will be a special moment.  After all the fanfare and celebration of last year.   It's time to turn the page to this season and this new Michigan Football Team. 

Harbaugh, Corum, Mikey, and JJ are off to the NFL and its Sherrone's turn to drive this historic program to more championships.  There are new coaches and new players in place.  The cupboard is not bare in Ann Arbor and Michigan should continue to have a dominating run game and a suffocating defense. 

The biggest question is at the most important position, quarterback.  Who will start on Saturday night and who will lead this program forward?  Sherrone has learned from Coach Harbaugh on how to run the "Submarine" and has kept that information locked tight.   Whether its Orji or Warren, Michigan needs to have a leader that can continue to move the offense, get first downs and score points when defenses load the box to stop the run.  Michigan's tight ends should have a historic season if things go as planned.  

Fresno State is no joke of a football program and they beat a Big Ten team on the road to start the season last year.   They have experience all over the offensive side of the ball and will try to air it out with a quick passing game against the Wolverines.  My guess is they watched at ton of Michigan/TCU game film.  Expect little to no run game from the Bulldogs and a quick passing game.  

Dear Sherrone,

Last year I joked you and Harbaugh spent the opener at Cedar Pointe riding roller coasters.  Now your the head coach after an incredible season on and off the field.  As head coach at Michigan you have already faced the Big Ten's best, now you get the job full time and we expect nothing less but a great effort from your squad week in and week out. 

Our expectation is you have this team ready to play.  That they are not spending time looking at their 4 championship rings and reminiscing about last year.   Team 145 hasn't done shit yet and I hope they have that mentality.  

Now on to Fresno State.  This is no roll over opponent and a team that was 9-4 last season with a bowl win.  They are going to test your secondary a ton and I expect Hill will see a ton of balls, as they won't test Will too often.   They are going to try to dink and dunk all the way to an upset win and Wink better have a game plan to stop it.  I'm no DC, but keeping Michigan's talented LB's at home and in the zone should stop that nonsense. 

Let me give you some advice on the QB situation.  The QB that starts and plays most of the snaps is your call of course.  The thing you must remember is that position has to get Michigan out of situations with his arm.  JJ was incredibly valuable to the team on 3rd and long last season when Michigan needed it.   Every defense that Michigan will face will try to shut down Edwards and company.   They will load the box to make you throw the ball.  Don't fall for that.  Run a balanced offense, throw screens on 1st down, you have the best TE's in the nation, get them the ball!  Spread it out with your WR's and don't let those safeties get into the backfield.  A running QB can be a great threat but QB's have to throw accurately to win championships.  

Last thoughts as you take the field on Saturday night.  Have the team ready to play, expect the unexpected from Fresno State, continue to make in-game adjustments on both sides of the ball at an elite level, play clean, protect the ball, and finally be yourself.  You have earned this job, we have your back, go make us proud. 

Michigan 38 Fresno 10

Michigan Monday: Game Week and the Story that will never Die

There are lots of bad things in this world.  There are bad people, bad business, corrupt politicians, the list goes on and on.   As long as there have been people walking the earth there are bad people trying to take advantage of good ones.  

This brings me to the NCAA and how they have handled Spygate.  What type of organization, leaks information non-stop during their investigation, has zero legal authority to speak to anyone, and continually tries to derail a season on purpose?  That was the NCAA last season.  You either cooperate with the NCAA or you don't.  They can't force you to do anything.  You either share your phone or you don't.  If you don't they will make it very difficult for you to do your job.   The NCAA has targeted Jim Harbaugh ever since he didn't remember buying a kid a cheeseburger and the NCAA found a receipt that he did.  

Most of that stuff happened last season or during COVID.  So let's fast forward to now.  The NCAA leaks the proposed NOA against Michigan to ESPN a few weeks ago.  Since there was nothing going on in sports, that led to 2 days of media attention.  Now, Connor Stalions Netflix documentary is due to release on Tuesday.  It's also Game Week to start to start the 2024 season.  Guess what the NCAA did?  They sent the official NOA to Michigan on Sunday.   Wow, what a coincidence?  Alanis Morissette should write a song about the NCAA. 

There is a old saying when something is leaked and they are trying to identify who leaked it.  Who did it benefit?  Michigan has taken a hit everytime Pete Thamel gets behind a keyboard and types out a tweet.  

BTW, the notice being offically delivered barely made a ripple in the media.  Connor's lawyer has already released a statement and we get to hear from the man himself on Tuesday.  I'm not a huge fan of the Untold series as they have really missed the mark on a few of them.  The Urban Meyer Florida Gators one was terrible.  

The NCAA is an old "Karen" yelling at kids to get off her lawn.  Their time has passed and they have barley have any control left with NIL and these Super Conferences.  It's time to shut them down and start from scratch.  

Did someone mention Game Week?  It really is happening!  I expect Sherrone to do his first Monday game week press conference and the permanent head coach today.   The biggest question remains, who is the starter at QB?

Too early look at Fresno State:

Last Season: 9-4

Best Win: Purdue and Arizona State

Worst Loss: 18-42 vs. San Jose State 

Coach Tedford is a highly regarded head coach but he had to step down a few months ago due to health reasons.  That leaves Tim Skipper in charge.  

2023:

Pass: 282 yards per (21st)

Run: 105 yards per (118th)

Points scored: 30 (46th)

Points against: 24 (56th)

Fresno likes to air it out and I expect they want to test the Michigan secondary on Saturday night.  They will have a hard time stopping Michigan's defensive line and pass rushers so expect a quick throw passing game.  Hard to know what Fresno has this season but this has been a solid program and a game not to take lightly if your a Wolverine player, coach, or fan. 

• Nice to have college football back this weekend.  I think some leagues missed a window to put better games up when football fans are just "jonesing" for more football.   For example there are a ton of Thursday night games this week.  

• Vegas was way off in pretty much every line this weekend.  Even Vegas has a hard time predicting what will happen early in the season with all these transfers and quick turn programs. 

• Former Michigan player Pat Kuglar has gotten arrested and the allegations are not good.