Michigan Wolverine Football: Miami at Michigan — Preview
Aug 30, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Devin Funchess (1) runs the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Posted at 5:15am — 9/12/2014
Michigan Wolverine Football: Miami at Michigan — Preview
How Will Michigan Respond
First year Head Coach Chuck Martin of Miami University expressed displeasure as to how Miami lost to Eastern Kentucky. The Redhawks dominated the game in most categories. There were three exceptions to the above: turnovers, mistakes, and the final score. Miami played pretty well, certainly physical enough, but had excessive negative plays and errors to seal a defeat.
Coach Martin essentially was most dismayed about not understanding what it takes to win. Being efficient on both sides of the ball is his stated mechanism to playing winning football. His recipe to obtain efficiency is playing hard, flying around, and eliminating the keys to defeat: negative plays, turnovers, and misfires on basic execution.
Jan 4, 2013; Fort Lauderdale FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive coordinator Chuck Martin during a press conference for the 2013 BCS National Championship game at Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY SportsMartin, a lifetime Notre Dame disciple, spoke highly of the Michigan tradition. He knows well first hand what the Big House is all about. He wants his team to play hard and look up at the clock at the end of the game and see what the final result is. Martin wants his team to handle normal game situations much better than the last two weeks. Errors of execution must be decreased to hang around past halftime come Saturday. Coach Martin is convinced that if his players make corrections good things will result. Second half play is a real concern.
Miami played Marshall tough in the first half, not so in the second. Eastern Kentucky became a lost opportunity as victory continuously slipped out of sight until it was too late.
Expect Miami to go for big plays, but still understand a few positive plays will not be sufficient. On defense, Miami will attempt to prevent the Wolverines from obtaining the big play, hoping to hold the questionable Michigan offense to small gains on the ground and minimal game breakers via airmail.
What Michigan needs to do is play more aggressively than the Redhawks, even considering Miami wants aggression as a primary end to better play. The sooner Michigan can hit a couple scores and get some control, the better, or the ghosts of Akron and Connecticut may reappear to the horror of all. Control is a must. Improvement is a must. More physical play is a must. And for once, Michigan must show evidence of correcting past mistakes. Both teams are seeking better execution as a mechanism to program improvement.
Aug 30, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner (98) passes the ball in the second quarter against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsMichigan has an opportunity to throw the ball deep; take it. Michigan and Miami both need to work on physical play in running situations. Third and ones will be statements in this game, one way or the other. Miami and Michigan have yet to show an ability to move the chains at will in short yardage. So, the Redhawks have a choice: keep trying on the ground or let the ball fly more than perhaps Coach Martin would like. To some degree Michigan faces the same dilemma.
Coach Martin does not buy into merely playing close to opponents; instead he is a realist and understands it will take development, personal responsibility after mistakes are corrected and good choices to ascend his program. He wants the team to get out of the shallow end of the pool and start swimming.
On defense, Michigan must improve greatly if press-man continues to be used. That may not be a problem Saturday, but take it to the bank that Utah will come in prepared to exploit Michigan shortcomings.
One other thing to consider: Coach Martin wished for bigger and nastier football players on his roster in the future. Some other folks have the same idea.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu
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