MGoPodcast 15.3: The Ledge People

2 hour and 10 minutes

The Sponsors

Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com.

Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, The Phil Klein Insurance Group, Winewood Organics, Human Element, Venue by 4M where we recorded this, and The Nose Bleeds, which is the Sklars Bros’ reboot of Cheap Seats on UFC Fight Pass.

1. Offense vs Bowling Green

Starts at 1:00

At least everyone else in the country played the same game this weekend. Allow us to talk you off the ledge! Let's talk about JJ's interceptions, the first one was probably a bad read into a zone. Take our word that this was a very visual segment. Should not be throwing to Cornelius Johnson on the 2nd interception. The third interception was maybe not a bad idea? It kind of feels like the program didn't take any of these non-conference games seriously. Run game ran a zone stretch for zero yards and then shelved it entirely. There's some concern that a lot of off-season time was wasted because a lot of transfers couldn't practice together and they're learning new material. They ditched outside zone and suddenly things looked better. Tight end blocking was pretty good. One nice thing about this game - it felt like Blake Corum is back! 

[The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP]

 

2. Defense vs Bowling Green

Starts at 44:56

Connor Bazelak doesn't play, Bowling Green's 2nd string QB gets hurt, they play a 3rd-string walk-on for the second half and pretty much just mail it in. Not a whole lot to say otherwise, but they did at least try in the first half. Josh Wallace got beat on a play that should've been a touchdown. Shout out to Kris Jenkins for making the 2nd half far less annoying. We apologize for bringing up the 2005 season. 

3. Hot Takes, Game Theory, and Special Teams

Starts at 57:21

Takes hotter than the media maelstrom around Coach Prime. Please stop kicking it to the up-back, thanks. Interesting to see them go back and forth between Jake Thaw and Tyler Morris for punt returns. It feels like they didn't take these game super seriously and they used it as an opportunity to try new things, like outside zone. The discussion of the light show is pretty reflective of the overall fanbase. Stop buying Dr. Pepper to protest the abysmal number of college football commercials! Everyone switch to Phil Klein insurance because they don't advertise during football games! 

4. Around the Big Ten with Jamie Mac

Starts at 1:22:57

Rutgers - 35
Virginia Tech - 16

Rutgers has accomplished this with 46 passing yards! Virginia Tech has fallen on hard times, and Rutgers is 3-0. 

Michigan State - 7
Washington - 41

It was worse than this sounds. Washington set the record for yards against Michigan State in a game with 713. Michigan State had the opportunity to rally around their program here but they looked like they wanted to go home after the 2nd drive. Their offensive line is god awful again. 

Maryland - 42
Virginia - 14

This looked grim early when Virginia took a 14-0 lead but Maryland blew the doors open in the 2nd half. The Terps seem to have a functioning passing game. 

Penn State - 30
Illinois - 13

Penn State got most of their first half points due to Illinois throwing horrendous interceptions (Altmyer threw four!). This made it look like Penn State isn't going to be able to move the ball against Michigan much. 

Indiana - 14
Louisville - 21

Looks like Indiana has found their quarterback in Tayven Jackson (24/33, 299 yards 1TD 1INT). Indiana had a chance to tie it on the Louisville one yard line and couldn't punch it in. They've averaged 2.9 yards per rush between Louisville and Ohio State. 

Minnesota - 13
North Carolina - 31

Not sure if this changes much about what we think about Minnesota. Maybe their identity should be run-first but their offensive line is really struggling. PJ Fleck put in a true freshman at guard. Defense gave up 414 passing yards but did get two interceptions.

Nebraska - 35
Northern Illinois - 11

Nebraska's QB, Heinrch Haarberg, threw 24 times for 158 but also ran 21(!) times. Heinrich wasn't even on the travel roster last year. Nebraska's 3-3-5 will be interesting when they play Michigan because Michigan's answer to that is supposed to be outside zone and Michigan's scrapping it. Nebraska's still trying to get the Scott Frost out (they ran their first offensive play with 10 players) but they've still got some good players. 

Purdue - 20
Syracuse - 35

Purdue let Syracuse's QB go Denard on them. Purdue's defense is still a project and the offense is still very Purdue.

Wisconsin - 35
Georgia Southern - 14

Georgia Southern's quarterback turned it over six times! They actually outgained Wisconsin. Tanner Mordecai had a stretch where he completed one pass on ten attempts and then he turned it back on near the end of the 3rd quarter. Not sure what's going to happen in Wisconsin vs Purdue next week.

Iowa - 41
Western Michigan - 10

Cade McNamara was 9/19 for 103 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs, look what they've done to my boy. Iowa offense is in mid-season form. Iowa's starting tight end might be done for the season, so it's time for Erick All to step up. 

Northwestern - 14
Duke - 38

Ohio State - 63
Western Kentucky - 10

MUSIC:

• “Quarry”— Wednesday
• “Les Fleurs”— Minnie Riperton
• “When the Morning Comes”—  Kalapana
• “Across 110th Street”