not a ton to glean from this one but post game thoughts:
Caveats apply due to level of competition, but JJ looked terrific. Excellent command of the offense, accuracy, touch, and they seemed to really want to work on the passing game and build chemistry with JJ and his WRs- and it seemed like a connection with Roman Wilson and Colston Loveland are brewing. This is EXACTLY what I was hoping and praying they would use the first 4 games for. No need to work on the run game and run the RBs into the ground- we know they are elite. Rep the passing game vs live bullets vs real teams and workout the kinks and build the connection with JJ and his WRs, cause you're gonna need it late in the season vs the best teams (PSU/OSU). JJ was 26 of 30 for just under 300 yards and 3 TDs, was throwing some absolute dimes and he might've had 1 or 2 off the mark passes- everything else was on the money.
Not much to learn from the defense. They were unloading the bench all game, trying all different kinds of combinations on the field at DL, LB, CB, and S. The two young players that popped to my eye test were S Keon Sabb and the transfer portal LB Ernest Hausmann, both looked legit. From a size/athletic ability point- they look exactly what you want in a safety and linebacker. Hausmann outplayed RS SR captain Michael Barrett. He should be starting over him. Kid is a STUD and they were fortunate af to get him from Nebraska. Sabb was only playing so much because Rod Moore is out, he's not going to start this year but he 100% is a shoe-in to be a starter next year. Big, physical, rangy safety who covers ground in a flash and hits like a truck. Not much to glean from the CB position, Will Johnson was held out. Mikey Sainistril got beat for a long bomb, but the ECU WR dropped the ball- he got fortunate there. The transfer portal CB Josh Wallace looked like the best CB on the field for Michigan on the day- made a great INT that didn't count for some reason (those refs were awful). They tried a lot of the younger CBs, Ja'Den McBurrows flashed to me on some tackles he made- really quick at closing on the ball carrier and he really hits- almost like a safety- which is great to see bc lot of times young CBs don't like tackling- he seems to embrace it.
LB Mike Barrett and EDGE Josaiah Stewart both struggled setting the edge and defending the run. Makes sense, both are on the smaller side. When LB Ernest Hausman and EDGE Braiden McGregor were in instead of those two the run defense was noticeably more stout. Really think it's only a matter of time before Hausman replaces Barrett as the starter and they were trying out all the EDGE players because they haven't named a starter there yet- but my guess is Stewart won't be a stater at EDGE but will rather become a situational pass rusher- he just simply isn't big enough and strong enough to set the edge and defend the run imo.
Not much to glean from the DL, Mason Graham and Kris Jenkins didn't play too much. Makes sense, trying to keep them healthy, get other guys more reps. They played Kenneth Grant a ton at NT and my god was he blowing sh*t up in the middle and collapsing the pocket and putting pressure on the QB.
They need to use the next 3 games before going on the road to Minnesota to keep tuning up the passing game and getting JJ and his WRs reps and building chemistry there and keep experimenting with different combinations on the defense. Gotta figure out who their #2 outside CB is and have to find out who the starting EDGE players are. Also wouldn't surprise me if again they wind up starting Ernest Hausmann and putting RS SR captain Mike Barrett on the bench. Hausmann is just bigger, stronger, faster, way more explosive, and violent. That kid is a future NFL draft pick at LB. Mike Barrett is not.
