SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Michigan is known for its repetition. Decades have passed – and countless opponents have been grounded into the turf – as the program sometimes continues, sometimes perpetuates Bo Schembechler’s bully-ball mentality.
That’s why Jim Harbaugh was hired – to resurrect Bo’s legacy one tackle run at a time. So why would you expect less from Michigan’s Tuesday practice? There’s a segment of it called “Beat Ohio” — a dissenting reference to the show’s biggest rival by intentionally omitting the “state” part.
Without going into too much detail, the practice period involves each side of the ball being loaded with giant packets and stopper headers. Again and again and again. Repetition. bullyball.
“No throws, all inside. All hits”, edge rusher mike morris said on media day during the Fiesta Bowl semi-final. “Strap on your helmet and punch someone in the mouth.
Sum up the essence of Michigan’s season, and those practice Tuesdays weren’t just worth it, they worked. Michigan rolled over ohio state by a 28-3 margin in the second half to seal a 45-23 win that had Bo smiling somewhere.
If not for that, we’re not reporting on the Wolverines’ return to the college football Playoff, a second straight Big Ten championship, and perhaps even more importantly, a second straight win over Ohio State for the first time since 2000.
“It’s easy to move a guy where he doesn’t want to be when your team does it every day,” Morris added. “…That’s why we call it ‘Beat Ohio’, baby.”
Now the goal is to “beat everyone” and win a national championship. Don’t forget the past but build on it. The distracted nature of Michigan’s effort in last year’s 34-11 loss to an eventual national champion still stains the road up to this point. Georgia.
There was such an admission into the program that Michigan was just happy to be there against Georgia. Some form of that satisfaction was continually expressed in interviews this week with Wolverines staff and players.
Second-year linebacker Junior Colson“Last year we were all happy to be there, happy to have won the Big Ten. … We were probably not prepared all the way for Georgia. I just want to get a rematch. “
student helper JD Johnson“I wouldn’t say last year took us by surprise, but it was kind of surreal. We were all like, ‘Wow, that’s awesome.’ Now we all know what that entails.We are all ready to do business.
Senior defensive back Mike Sanristil“It was like a feeling of relief. We beat Ohio State. We won the Big Ten championship. It was like, ‘Okay, we’re done.’ You live and learn.
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter: “Maybe we were, mentally, really happy to be there. The approach all year was, ‘Let’s go as far as we can.'”
Predictably, Harbaugh didn’t bite when asked about the happiness of being there.
“I never really like to compare anything,” he said. “As soon as you start comparing something, someone or something is diminished.”
Get connection? This playoff repeat for the Wolverines was built on repeat. Bo’s version. These Tuesday practices were necessary to return to the CFP.
“Anything, the second time you will be better prepared”, quarterback JJ McCarthy said.
He should know. Backup Cade McNamara During this 2021 season, McCarthy was limited to a few series per game. Still, he saw enough in first year.
“That was our goal last year: beat Ohio State, win the Big Ten championship,” McCarthy said. When you set goals like this and achieve them, there’s a feeling that you already have and that you’re a little full.
“This year, we are starving.
Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore had his own version of a repeat. His offensive line won the Joe Moore Award for the second year in a row. That’s good news for anyone who should have moved the trophy out of Michigan’s offices. The prize – representing five offensive linemen – weighs more than 350 pounds. (Basically the size of your average offensive tackle.)
“You can’t move it. You have to take it apart if you want to move it,” Moore said of the award. “We would have known if we weren’t going to win again.”
The fact that they further narrowed the objective of this game. It’s that physicality that No. 2 Michigan brings against the finesse of No. 3 TOS. The Horned Frogs’ approach has dominated college football for at least 15 years. The Wolverines approach is why Harbaugh was brought in eight years ago to reconnect the program to Schembechler’s fundamental structure.
“You don’t win championships by cutting yourself in the middle,” he said. Mazi Smith, the defensive tackle for the Michigan Big Ten. If the medium is weak, it is difficult to [win like] this.”
And Michigan is definitely strong in the middle. Center Olu Oluwatimi won the Rimington (top center) and Outland (top inside lineman) trophies. McCarthy had a breakthrough season. Donovan Edwardsnursing a broken hand, has rushed for a combined 400 yards in the last two games.
They all bought into what Michigan was, what it lost and what it has now regained.
“As a lineman you always want to be the bully and smother people,” Oluwatimi said.
As an inside lineman, Smith is a rarity. A game changer in the middle at 337 pounds. Smith and fellow defensive lineman Chris Jenkins have racked up as many midfield tackles as team leader linebacker Junior Colson (95). This is unheard of for a player in his position in most teams.
“The longer we fight, the stronger I get,” Smith said.
Joe Gillespie may need ID to enter State Farm Stadium. Gillespie is the 51-year-old defensive coordinator of a program known for its offensive exploits. As TCU program architect Gary Patterson, Gillespie — in his first season since leaving Tulsa — uses the 3-3-5 “Stack” defense. Unlike the Patterson stack made famous at the TCU, Gillespie’s is a work in progress.
If TCU won the national championship, it would do so with the worst defense since teams began being ranked in 1936 — and it wouldn’t even be close. The Frogs are 74th nationally in total defense, giving up 385 yards per game.
“We definitely think we have a physical football team,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. “In a lot of ways people look at the Big 12 and look at the history of the league and all the scoring and the lack of defense and assume that’s always how the league always is. It’s not. .”
Noble thoughts. Colson was then asked what worries him the most about TCU.
“Nothing,” he said. “We are ready and prepared.”
Saturday’s game poses an ultimate question: who prepared better for their first CFP: 2021 Michigan or 2022 TCU?
Morris may not have the answer, but he saw the truth. He’s been there – both at the CFP and in the trenches to see the look in the eyes of opponents – when the daunting ball starts rolling.
“It’s like the world is falling apart and your dreams aren’t coming true and you’re folding,” he said.
Again and again and again.
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