Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh met the media to look back at a 33-17 win over Florida, and he touched on a number of topics.
We address them here in our News and Views format:
NEWS: Michigan’s offensive line had more ups than downs in the win over the Gators, and fifth-year senior center Pat Kugler was the pleasant surprise.
HARBAUGH: “He did outstanding. He graded out the highest of all offensive linemen. Just very effective … really happy with the way the offensive line played. Pat played his best game.”
VIEWS: Kugler knew this was his last shot, and he started training in the winter for it. That he graded out higher than either senior left tackle Mason Cole or sophomore left guard Ben Bredeson is extremely impressive, and he did it against a very good defensive line.
We said earlier in the year thatfreshman Cesar Ruiz might push him because Ruiz is going to be that good. We take it back, though — with a huge tip of the hat to Kugler. This position no longer looks like a question mark.
NEWS: Fifth-year senior running back Ty Isaac ran for 114 yards on 11 carries to lead the Wolverines and was the offensive MVP.
HARBAUGH: “Yhat was the plan going into the game [to run him]. He had a terrific game. He’s going to be our offensive player of the week. He really got us going on some off-schedule third-down runs. I thought he played brilliantly … really, really happy for him.
“[Sophomore] Chris Evans had good runs, and so did [junior] Karan Higdon. We really felt good about those three backs in the ballgame, and we continue to feel good about them going forward.”
VIEWS: Isaac looked the best of the three, like the back who stood out as a freshman at USC. He showed five-star qualities, and while Evans and Higdon missed a few holes or stumbled, Isaac made the most of his opportunity.
Right now, he appears to be the No. 1 back whether he starts or not.
“Ty has been a very elusive runner,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been outstanding. I think his pass protection has improved greatly, and he’s always been a good catcher of the ball. His instincts are good and improving.”
NEWS: Redshirt junior end Chase Winovich sealed the game with a sack and strip to force a fumble (which was recovered for a touchdown), and he also provided big hits on quarterback Malik Zaire.
HARBAUGH: “The motor. His energy, his effort … fast. The speed at which he does it. He’s a strong player. Speed and strength, those are huge in football as a team and as an individual player.
“Combine that with his get up and go, his motor, his gung-ho attitude … it’s a great combination for a football player.
VIEWS: He benefited from a lot of one-on-one situations, which we figured he would with sophomore end Rashan Gary on the other side usually getting double-teamed. But make no mistake — Gary played extremely well and, as Harbaugh noted, should have been credited with a half sack.
Winovich, though, might be the Wolverines’ most improved player this year. He’s an asset.
NEWS: Redshirt sophomore Nolan Ulizio came out of nowhere to start at right tackle.
HARBAUGH: “He competed and won the job against [redshirt junior] Juwann Bushell-Beatty and [redshirt sophomore] Jon Runyan … all were in competition for the job. He was just a little bit better.
“I thought he did good … but he has some things to improve on. I would say there were some mistakes, physical mistakes, where we got beat. I would say that for our offense in general. There were some good things, and there’s a lot for us to coach.”
VIEWS: Ulizio gave up a couple sacks, but he was also solid at times in protection. The unit slid some help his way a few times, too. He was physical at the point of attack in the run game and part of an offensive line that Harbaugh said was more athletic and even better than last year’s veteran group.
“I thought that showed,” Harbaugh said. “I was very happy with [redshirt sophomore right guard] Mike Onwenu. You go into it and think okay, Mason Cole is our best offensive lineman and then Ben Bredeson is right there, close. Mike Onwenu or Ben Bredeson, who’s better? They’re both ascending, and Mike’s ascending real fast.
“Pat Kugler, to have the type of game he did, Nolan Ulizio … we’re better, and it shows. We are more athletic. There were times consistently last year we were getting beat, free runners on the quarterback. There was a lot less of that in this ballgame against a very good defensive line and linebacker corps. They were fast … a very penetrating, physical front.”
It was evident.
NEWS: Redshirt junior quarterback Wilton Speight threw two interceptions, but also had some positive moments. Fifth-year senior John O’Korn briefly replaced him after a second pick-six.
HARBAUGH: “There were a lot of good things, a lot of things to coach and improve. Definitely if you can’t handle that type of situation when something goes bad, it’s the wrong position to be playing. I thought he did very well. Sometimes it breaks a guy. Sometimes they can bounce back from it the next game. Sometimes they can bounce back from it in the same game, sometimes they can’t.
“Definitely if they can’t, it affects you to the point that you can’t go execute or are unwilling to take any chances or risk after that. That’s the sign you can’t handle it very well. He kept firing. It was very reminiscent of a golfer that hits one in the water then takes another one out of his pocket, drops it, shooting for the flag again. I thought he showed that.”
VIEWS: They challenged Speight, too, with the first drive in the third quarter, and he led a touchdown march. The quarterback needs to be better if Michigan is going to win a title, and they know it. At the same time, he’s the best the Wolverines have.
“Wilton is going to be the starter, and John is very much [in there]. I believe in John. John will be used again,” Harbaugh explained.
But it would take a lot to replace Speight.
NEWS: Michigan’s offense seemed to loaf in chasing down Florida's defensive backs on the two interceptions.
HARBAUGH: “When you throw an interception, receivers, tight ends, backs, skill players, quarterbacks, the line, everybody has to make that tackle. We were atrocious just standing there and watching. That starts with me and the coaches. But it will get addressed. I’m champing at the bit to go address that."
VIEWS: Freshman receiver Tarik Black is one who is going to get an earful in film study.
But, as Harbaugh said, it will be addressed … and it probably won’t be pretty in the meeting room.
NEWS: The tight ends caught five passes, but other than sophomore Sean McKeon, the blocking needs work.
HARBAUGH: “Talented guys that are very athletic did really good things. Sean McKeon blocked really well. [Redshirt sophomore] Tyrone Wheatley had his moments. [Sophomore] Nick Eubanks showed what he can do. [Redshirt sophomore] Zach Gentry has come so far as a blocker. He has the license and ability to be just phenomenal.
“All five of our tight ends, I feel like, are really talented and improving. We didn’t pitch the perfect game, but we played well and are ascending.”
VIEWS: No mention of redshirt junior Ian Bunting, who seemed to struggle at times and was held without a catch.
McKeon is reminiscent of some of Michigan’s great pass catching tight ends, and he seems to take run blocking personally, too. He’s a rising star in this offense.
NEWS: Sophomore linebacker Devin Bush Jr. notched seven tackles and was dominant as U-M’s defensive MVP. In addition to his team-leading tackle total, he added a pair of sacks and three tackles for loss, which both also paced the squad.
HARBAUGH: “Devin Bush Jr., I thought he stood out. He contributed, ran sideline to sideline, made the tackles …
“The defense, the way they played, it was the best since I’ve been here coaching that I’ve seen our defense run to the football. Holes opened up … then they closed. Pursuit, nobody on the ground, everybody getting up running, making the tackle … that's what we need to do when we have an interception."
VIEWS: It might just be the fastest defense in Michigan history. This team has a shot to be a playoff contender if the offense continues to improve, and while there are still tests to come against teams that will line up and run right at them, it’s clear this group could be even better than last year’s unit that led the nation in total defense.
And that’s saying something.
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