Former Wolverine Marcus Ray has a Michigan message, despite the learning curve for Jim Harbaugh’s team: it’s still 3-0.
Ray joined the post-game podcast, not avoiding the issues the Wolverines are facing, but upbeat about how Michigan can win in the Big Ten.
Here’s the podcast:
Here are some podcast highlights, including Ray on…
• Michigan’s offense: “It’s just not there yet. It’s not just the quarterback. I thought it was the offensive line to begin with, and it’s just not there.
“Michigan is struggling to go vertical. The good part is, they can run the ball, sometimes. These teams are coming in here very confident defensively, because I don’t think Michigan scares anybody on offense.
“There isn’t any one position where a defense looks and says, ‘Oh, gosh, we have to deal with that guy,’ or ‘we can’t stop THAT.’ Kind of how Michigan looked at the triple option: ‘Oh, we’ve got to stop the triple.’
“Michigan is going to have to do two things, if they’re going to win the big games. They’re going to have to out-athlete some people … and they’re going to have to scheme their way out of some of this.”
• Freshman wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones and his bounce-back game with a 79-yard punt return touchdown: “He’s a guy who is obviously back there for a reason. He hasn’t really found his niche offensively, but Jim [Harbaugh] and those guys found a way to get him the ball.
“He’s a freshman, too, and that was huge for his confidence. He’s dangerous. I think his punt return gave Michigan new life. That's what I mean when I say Michigan is going to have to out-athlete somebody or out-scheme somebody.
“Donovan did a great job. I was proud, and I was happy to see him get a chance to show what he can do. They gave him another shot and he made the most of it.
“He’s fast. He’s like a long strider fast, track guy fast, once you get that motor turning. He looks big and strong, too. He runs strong, kind of like Eric Dickerson used to look. You don’t know how fast he’s running. It’s straight up and down, high knee lift when he’s rolling …
“He’s a good kid, too. A great kid.”
• Redshirt freshman placekicker Quinn Nordin’s five field goals: “That’s good, and it’s bad. Michigan can’t score in the red zone. THAT is alarming. But they’ve got a field goal kicker who is knocking them in, and his performance made a difference.
“Special teams may have more to do with this than offense or defense. That’s how Jim Tressel used to win. His offense didn’t light it up, defense was okay, but the special teams…
“Here is that I’d tell Michigan fans: you’re 3-0. Take it, I don’t care how you get it. You’re 3-0, going down to play Purdue, and if you have to win on special teams, so be it.
“You would like to see the offense and other stuff start clicking. It’s hard to win in college football. You’ve got to take it how you can get it. If you can win on special teams, then win on special teams.”
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