Thoughts on the game: Michigan played like ass and still won that game comfortably. Maryland had 15 penalties the week before vs SMU. Didn’t have a single penalty vs Michigan. That tells me they were dialed in and focused and got up to play Michigan. That’s not going to happen every week for them- they’ll go back to getting penalties.
Michigan kicker Jake Moody missed a chip shot FG for him and that’s not going to probably happen again all season as he’s automatic. Kid is a fantastic kicker- was shocked when he shanked a 45 yarder left.
JJ played a pretty mediocre game- but still threw for 220, 69+% completion and 2 TD vs 0 INT. Like I said- if that’s his worst- Michigan is in good shape. JJ was way too amped up- he was trying to do too much and play hero ball- and really got lucky he didn’t lose a couple fumbles or have a disaster play. And he left 21 points on that field by missing 3 deep go routes where his WRs toasted the DBs crispy and he flat out overthrew it. He connects on those 3 throws- which all 3 drives wound up in punts- that’s 21 more points on the scoreboard. He just needed to settle down and play within himself and just run the offense- and live to fight another down and throw the ball away if nothing was there.
Play calling and pass scheme vs all that zone coverage sure as hell didn’t help him- but he’s got to make those deep throws in man on 1 on 1’s- which he has basically done literally every single time before yesterday since day one- which is why I think that yesterday was an aberration and not a trend. You can maybe tell now why they held off on handing him the reigns last year as a true frosh- Cade can’t make any of the plays JJ can- but Cade also doesn’t try to do too much or play hero ball. JJ has to cut that shit out. JJ has a lot to learn from this game and grow from. Fully confident in JJ, he will bounce back and grow from this game. That type of game could be exactly what the doctor ordered for this young buck.
Officially concerned about Michigan RB depth. They only have 3 guys apparently that can actually play- and one of them- Donovan Edwards has been out for 2 weeks with injury. The freshman CJ Stokes fumbled the ball once this game and we never saw him again. They were playing a 175 pound walk-on over Stokes. They need Edwards back- which he should be next week- and they need to recruit RBs HARD in 2023 and 2024.
OL was great, despite missing starter Trevor Keegan at LG. His replacement Giovanni El-Hadi looks like a real player- kid was a high 4* top 100 recruit and you expect those type of players to be good- and he was.
TEs are a mixed bag. They are missing Erick All something fierce- he’s the best TE they’ve had since Butt and it’s not close- and rumors are he may be done for this year- which just absolutely sucks. It’s almost like Michigan just can’t have nice things apparently. He is a beast in the middle of the field and run after the catch- and he’s their best blocking TE.
Maryland has a really good offense with a very good college QB and bunch of WRs who will play in the NFL. Also have pretty good OL and RBs. Michigan was never going to shut them down. The Michigan secondary balled out- they looked elite- especially when you consider they got ZERO help from their DL. And that’s what I really took away from this game- their edge rushers SUCK. Aside from Mazi Smoth and true frosh Mason Graham, Michigan DL is booty.
JJ and that offense will work out the kinks. He’s not going to miss all his deep throws every game. They are just too talented. Edwards will come back soon and make that offense way more multiple, dangerous, and explosive and help take the load off Corum. Keegan will come back soon and fortify and already strong OL.
The Michigan DL is absolutely concerning and I’m not quite in panic mode on that defense just yet- but nearly there.
