Michigan
Quinn Ewers says the Texas offense responded to Wink Martindale’s defense by ‘fighting fire with fire’
In 2023 Michigan had the best defense in the nation ranking No. 1 in fewest points per game (10.4) and yards allowed (252). Now a year later with plenty of new starters and a new defensive coordinator in Don “Wink” Martindale, No. 10 Michigan gave up lots of yards and points to No. 3 Texas in a 31-12 defeat.
Texas had 389 yards of total offense for the game and was particularly effective in the first half, scoring 24 of their 31 points before halftime.
Michigan’s defense ranks No. 109 in returning production (47%). Some of the inexperience showed against a Texas team that ranks No. 30 in offensive returning production (74%).
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers put on a clinic. It didn’t seem to matter if Michigan was playing man or zone coverage, or if they pressured or just simulated pressure — Ewers was consistently a step ahead and showed why he’s considered one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. Ewers was 24-of-36 for 246 yards with three touchdowns.
Part of Ewers’ success can be tied to what he expected Martindale to dial up in the game. Ewers expected pressure.
“We knew their defensive coordinator likes to blitz and likes to kind of win games with his calls,” Ewers said.
Martindale, whose last two previous positions were as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants (2022-23) and the Baltimore Ravens (2018-21), has had some of the highest blitz-rate totals in recent NFL history. The Ravens were No. 1 in blitz rate in three of Martindale’s four seasons as Baltimore’s DC.
Martindale said this offseason that he’s more aggressive, “sometimes to a fault”, than Michigan’s prior two defensive coordinators, Mike Macdonald and Jesse Minter, who both were on Baltimore’s staff with Martindale at one point.
Michigan totaled one sack, nine QB hurries, and three QB hits.
“For us to do what we did and kind of fight fire with fire, it felt good,” Ewers said.
While Ewers pointed to the blitz of Michigan as what he prepared for, Martindale’s aggressive tendencies were by no means why the Longhorns had sustained success on offense in the first half. Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore felt missed tackles and missed assignments were at the forefront of the defensive struggles.
“It’s tackling,” Moore said. “We’ve got to make sure we wrap up because they had 135 yards after contact.”
While it wasn’t a good day for the Michigan defense against Texas, they can still hold their head high on how they finished the game, allowing just one touchdown in the second half.
“That gives you some sign that there’s resolve there,” Moore said. “But now we’ve got to put the things in place so in the first half it doesn’t go the way it did.”
Michigan’s defense will look to get back on track next week against Arkansas State, a noon kickoff at Michigan Stadium.
Michigan
Dan Mullen Appears On Dakich, Seemingly Rips Michigan Over Alex Orjii
UNLV head football coach Dan Mullen joined OutKick’s Dan Dakich on the latest episode of Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich and talked about some of the new players he’s bringing to the Rebels including former Michigan Wolverines quarterback Alex Orji.
Mullen was talking about bringing in Orji as well as former Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea which he was able to do thanks to a ton of scouting, made possible in part by his job at ESPN.
“You know, the greatest thing you have been at ESPN is I’ve gotten to watch everybody play,” Mullen said. “You know, you sit in that room all day, and I’m watching every game in college football. I’ve seen them all.”
Mullen had a lot of praise for both of his new signal callers.
“I got to watch Anthony live,” Mullen said. “His ability to extend play, scramble around, throw the ball, tremendous arm talent. Really excited about what he brings to the table.”
He then moved on to praise Orji, but not without getting in what sure seemed like a subtle shot at Michigan in how they used — or, perhaps more accurately — misused their former quarterback.
“I mean, he’s undefeated against Ohio State. Mullen noted, but he didn’t seem to think that Michigan always used him the best way. “He was a guy that was head scratching to me last year. Sometimes I’m watching him and, you know, I don’t know. I’m not in the game meetings, don’t know what like everything going on at Michigan, but I’m saying, ‘I don’t know that they’re highlighting his strengths,’ right?
“I mean, you know, in football, the job of coaches is to put a guy in position to do what he does. Well, that’s what coaching is all about.”
Mullen continued by saying that while systems are important, they should fit the players, not the other way around, something he said confused him about Michigan’s handling of Orji.
“I was watching some of the games, and I’m saying, hey, when they put that guy in a position to do what he does well, Ohio State won’t tackle him, and they’re playing for a National Championship, Mullen said. “But to sit there and put him in a position to do things where you’re not highlighting his strengths all the time, that’s a little confusing.”
Michigan
University of Michigan basketball fans return to high school lot to find vehicles broken into
Ann Arbor — More than two dozen vehicles in a high school parking lot had their windows smashed and were broken into during a men’s college basketball game at University of Michigan.
Ann Arbor police said the break-ins occurred Sunday, WXYZ-TV reported. Damage was reported to 27 vehicles. No arrests have been made.
Fans watching the Wolverines defeat the Washington Huskies at Crisler Arena discovered the damage as they returned to the lot at Pioneer High School. Cash, purses, wallets and other items were taken from the vehicles, police said.
“Everything was great until we got back out to the car after the game and saw glass everywhere,” Joe Weitz told the TV station.
Weitz, of Kalamazoo, said he had taken his 8-year-old daughter to her first Michigan basketball game.
“It was pretty devastating,” he said. “My daughter was definitely pretty emotional because they went through everything in our car.”
Michigan
Residents speak out against Sheetz in Farmington Hills, Michigan
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