Sources close to Northwestern cornerback transfer Rod Heard tell 247Sports he visited the Michigan Wolverines today.
The source says it was a “really good one” with the standout qualities being the defensive system, how the Wolverine players buy in and the strength program.
Every week TMI’s Sam Webb and former Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges come together for the Michigan offensive breakdown, a review of the prior week’s contest with a deep dive into game strategy and analysis. Borges uses his decades of coordinating experience to explain key takeaways for the Wolverines moving forward. To view the most recent installment in its entirety, press play on the video embedded below.
Sam Webb: Yeah, went through Semaj’s hands, Donovan had one drop, and then they had the…they had the botched flea flicker and missed field goal, that’s four drives in a row right there. And so, the defense trying to get their bearings, don’t really have a chance to do so. So, give Alabama credit for being able to find something. But it should make you think, or appreciate even more what Michigan has in Sherrone Moore, that you go back to that Penn State game you look at Ohio State, but especially Penn State.
Where you’re under fire and Battlefield decisions, I thought of you Al. I said, man where is…where’s Alabama? Where’s Nick Saban with a battlefield decision? In the moment? How are you the greatest coach of all time, not able to adjust in the moment? They got so thoroughly out coached on both sides of the ball. It’s not even funny. Al, I don’t want you to say that I’m not asking you to say that.
Al Borges: I will never, I’d set myself up for fall if I say that. But I will say this, I will say this, I think Michigan in crunch time for sure had answers. And Alabama didn’t. And that’s the difference because the game was so close, Sam. I predicted 24-17 would be the final score. I didn’t think there would be a ton of points scored, it ended up 27-20. And it played out, so similar to what I thought. When you play Alabama, if you think you’re running up a bunch of points on them. You’re crazy. Very few teams do that, once in a while, you’ll catch them with their pants down and maybe get them in one of those, but not very often.
So, to beat Alabama, you got to rush the ball to gain respectability, your defense has to play well, and you have to take advantage of opportunities that they give you. Now this is what’s a little different than I expected. We blew some chances, early on, we had a few opportunities to get some first downs. And particularly the second half, some from those plays, we’re talking about were doable, but we didn’t do it. I’m going oh no, we can’t do that. Not against these guys… we can’t, let’s save that for another opponent. But you know what Sam. In crunch time? It’s like JJ, he started slow right, started slow…first play of the game they got a little route in a flat. But in JJ fashion, he scrambles on second and eighth and hits Mullings for a big gain. Big gain. Yeah, it was…..it was Mullings who turned up the field on a scramble drill. Second time he scrambled again. He hit CJ, and CJ makes a phenomenal play. But JJ got them out… got them out of the jam. You know what I mean? Then he turns around runs that little OT read for a 16-yard gain in a clutch drive. Okay, and then hits that trap pass to Roman we talked about. So, no he wasn’t perfect. He had better games, but when it mattered, and not just him, but all of them. And my hat’s off, now they picked JJ. And I love JJ, but to me Blake Corum. He didn’t even get like 100 yards, but what he got he earned every inch.
