Who the heck is Alex.Drain? I checked Mgoblog for a game preview and it is sad. Given that they don't do any actual reporting like on-site interviews, it takes maybe an hour.
Evidence.
With due respect to Western Michigan, a team with an around .500 or better recent record in the MAC, they are not Penn State, Wisconsin, or anywhere near Ohio State. The game was typically Harbaugh conservative, with a lot of shuffling, particularly on the defensive line.
Dull sums it up. Cade McNamara leads the charge. He made a few throws, just to keep them honest, but he was there mostly to hand it off or make passes that are really pitches or laterals. He is not a runner, or mobile, and he is only a modest drop-back threat. McCarthy made one play but on the ones before that he looked lost (or someone else there to hand it off), and almost had the ball taken right out of his hand. Third string? Ouch.
Hassan Haskins is as expected--tough--and Blake Corum is productive but at this point not endearing to this writer. Ronnie Bell is or was the leading receiver on a leading receiver-less team. I do not see who this team is going to go to, or how the ball will get there, when they are behind. They will be behind. The offensive line is heavy and experienced--seemingly a strong spot on the team--but they looked average. The entire attack is not explosive enough.
Brad Robbins should pick it up but this was not his best game.
New coaches... Why is that, doesn't the head coach know what is going on? Mike Macdonald had to have a look and the defensive line was a turnstyle. Two players I didn't notice were Speight and Welschof. Hutchinson is of course excellent. Mazi Smith looks fat and slow. It is great to see them have a chance to play and see what they can do, but... I don't think any of them will stop the three previously-mentioned Big Ten teams nor some others.
As for the rest of the defense, Gray looked a little more composed and filled-out; Green had one go right over his head into a receiver's hands. There was shuffling among the linebackers too. They are unspectacular if not unimpressive.
Michigan had the familiar game of wasted offensive plays running straight into nothing. (There was one end around, until garbage time.) It is not going to work against better teams. Variety and space means one end around (duplicated again later). It is a new offense and boy wonder Josh Gattis just hasn't had an opportunity to implement it!
I don't recall seeing young, up and coming, reason to be optimistic about the future players. Edwards and McCarthy played.
Blake Corum does not come off as the most likeable guy; after some nice plays, team members were not the priority. There was a lot of me-congratulating on both sides. Yes, David Ojabo (starting at nose tackle), running up to a tackled opponent 30 yards away to yell in his face is taunting. Sad to see Ronnie Bell, a complementary offensive player injured. I did not enjoy learning McCarthy already transferred once, to IMG football academy. Sky, the receiver for Western Michigan, looked as surprised and forlorn as Ronnie Bell when he was injured. Your football career may be over; it could be the best thing that ever happened to you. From now on you get NIL.
Those were first impressions. I still think it is going to be tough sledding in the B1G East. Just given the history around Harbaugh, near Indiana or Maryland in the standings is likely. Offseason coaching changes and attrition--yet the head coach remains the same--always win out. You cannot blame injuries or Michigan State because everybody has them or plays them. Harbaugh looks healthy and in command. The roster is large and deep. Something always happens under him: they do not and cannot win against the top conference teams.
All through the game I thought, is this a parody? Why are they even doing it. Two years is a long time but if it takes three, so be it. 1,500 people are dying a day.
A good ways through, a good portion of the 107,000 were not even there.
Time begins on opening day and you never know. Maybe I am wrong. The players and the coaches have to be optimistic to have a chance and who am I to stop them. Usually someone leaves--homesickness aside for twenty year-olds--because someone else or better is right there. These days, that future is one season.
McNamara managed the game well and showed he can make the throws. Bell looked great on the punt return--a few moves and a beeline for yards. And the two long ones on either side of the field were almost flawless. Henning did the end-around proud. The thing about Haskins is he is strong (and he sees the field; I would have liked to see him in a direct snap for the 2-pt conversion). Daylen Baldwin is a player who can help.
The kicker and punter are back.
Many players who spend four or five years at Michigan become pretty good--solid in Big Ten play and capable of trying the NFL. Chris Hinton could be one of those. Morris, Jeter, and Smith too... Ojabo has earned the right to start. By the end of this game they were getting push. Hill-Green. Overall, the defense was smart, well-spaced, and fast. They tackle well. The secondary is experienced.
The McCarthy bomb was impressive. He got smashed by about five guys.
Now that's optimism!
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