Michigan sideline reporter Doug Karsch goes deeper in his field-level takes from Purdue with senior editor John Borton.
Karsch gives opinions on Michigan's quarterbacks, its defense, the U-M switch at punter, and more.
Here's the podcast…
Here are some podcast highlights, including Karsch commenting on…
• U-M's quarterbacks situation: "[Fifth-year-senior quarterback John] O'Korn was very good. I don't want that to get lost in the mix. He came in and played exceptionally well. I think Michigan fans and the coaching staff hope he can keep it up…
"There are two things O'Korn brings to the table. He's slightly more mobile than [redshirt junior quarterback] Wilton Speight, and he's a smaller target for rushing defensive linemen. He ducked under a couple of pass rushes…
"Speight is probably too big to pull that off. O'Korn is a little bit faster. But many of the throws O'Korn made, we've seen Speight make them. Look, I'm not in the camp for anybody. They just need to get the best they can out of the position."
• Michigan's defense: "I'm sure they have grown, but the results from beginning to end have been outstanding. One of the pre-season storylines was that Michigan lost 10 starters on defense.
"Everybody knew they were talented, but to be living up to what last year's defense did is remarkable. I said after the Florida game, I'm not sure how many better offenses Michigan is going to play. Now, Florida's offense is a bit of a mess. Air Force gives you problems because of the style they run.
"But moving forward, Penn State is going to be an exceptional offense. They've risen to every challenge. I don't see that changing. [Defensive coordinator] Don Brown has horses, and he knows how to use them…
"It's funny, after the game I heard Purdue fans talking about play calling. I remember Michigan fans doing it after the Michigan State game up at East Lansing, where they rushed for negative whatever yards. Play calling doesn't work when you can't stop the opposing defensive front.
"Right now, Michigan's defensive front is remarkable. Everything they miss on, they allow linebackers to clean up and make plays.
"I remember when [sophomore linebacker] Devin Bush played in the spring game. I thought, man, they sure are blitzing him a lot. When they get to the real thing, they blitz him a lot, too, and boy, does he know how to get home."
• The idea that Bush is Michigan's fastest linebacker on record: "Dhani Jones and Ian Gold might take exception to that. But they probably love it. Those guys were really fast.
"[Bush] doesn't miss tackles. Probably the only thing he did wrong was, he had a potential interception [that he didn't secure]. The RPM is always in the red with him…
"I hope his aggression never causes him to run into the targeting calls or unnecessary roughness. But I know Don Brown likes it, and doesn't want to … I think he calls it, doesn't want to call off the posse. When they make mistakes, they make them with aggression. They're going to make a lot more plays than what is going to hurt them."
• Freshman punter Brad Robbins: "He looks like somebody lost their kid. He looks SO young. He's a college freshman, and he's got a big leg. He got rid of the ball pretty quick. I was trying to figure if it was that Purdue wasn't rushing him, or if his catch, one step and punt was just so quick.
"He's going to be a good one. We've heard good things about him. It was the first chance to see him in action. There are just so many young players, and he's another one that's going to be around for a while…
"I've taken some heat for saying I think this is going to be a three-loss team. I think there's just too much growing up, and some of these road games they've got coming up are going to be tough. Young teams mix in stinkers here and there.
"But I think you're going to be talking about a playoff-caliber team for the next several years, and maybe every year moving forward after this one, with Jim Harbaugh."
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