This is good hard running right up the gut by Edwards. The safety has a clean shot, but it’s Dono who’s the aggressor. Better looking line blocking, too.

Touchdown Michigan. ArkSt runs a run blitz, which helps displace the LBs. Good work by the line, especially LG Josh Priebe finding work down field. 14-3 Michigan

A productive offense is a defense’s best friend. The energy level seems to elevate when the offense isn’t shooting themselves in the foot. Ernest Hausmann with the sack on 3rd & 6 to boot ArkAt off the field again.

Watch 5 come across the formation and insert to block. I like this kid. Bonus OL Andrew Gentry 75 with a key block on the playside LB. And watch the safety make a “business decision” when faced with Kalel Mullings and a full head of steam.

Mullings for the score. Watch RG El-Hadi and C Crippen put the nose guard on skates. 21-3 Michigan

Loveland is out of the game with what’s hopefully nothing serious. In steps Marlin Klein - the pride of…./checks notes…Germany🇩🇪 on a well executed seam route.

Ben Hall has been getting more relevant snaps this year, and here’s why: A significant aspect of the run game is for the RB to get a LB or Safety to commit to one gap, then cut to another, unoccupied gap. Blake Corum taught doctorate classes on it Ben Hall was paying attention

Halls track, eyes, and stripes on his helmet say “I’m going here”. The LB buys what Ben is selling. Once the LB commits, Hall bounces it outside, where SURPRISE, there’s no Linebacker. It’s beautiful, when executed properly.

And then….💩 Pass pro by the RT has been an issue this year. Like bad. Really bad. This isn’t a bull rush; the defender isn’t coming off the line with his hair on fire. But he gets enough depth to hit Warrens arm, forcing an errant throw that gets picked.

I could watch Max Bredeson block all day, every day. He and Klein double the edge, then Klein aptly comes off to pick up a backer. Max blocks “til the echo of the whistle “ as Jake Butt said on the broadcast.

late in the 3rd still 21-3 Man coverage There’s 3 levels of routes: 1)Mullings shallow 2)Morgan on a long intermediate crosser 3) Walker taking the safety with him on a deep route Warren cocks for the deep ball but Walker fell down. QB resets & just chucks it. 404 page not found

Following the INT, ArkSt moves down the field. Luckily the D responds and Makari Paige picks off a badly overthrown ball in the end zone to squash the threat.

So now it’s Orji time. If this offense isn’t a threat to pass, and defenses can crowd the box to sit on the run, 〽️ absolutely HAS TO get the QB involved. It can’t be 11-on-10. Here’s what Alex can do. And if the defense must account for a running QB, it makes it 11-on-11

Honestly don’t think we’ve seen this play this year. But again, if the defense has to worry about Orji running, that means they’re devoting mental resources on each play to the various possibilities. Put them on their heels and good things will happen.

The drive couldn’t have gone much better. The rushing attack worked, and that opens up an unlikely pass to a guy (80 Hogan Hansen) who’s never caught a pass in his Michigan career. 28-3 Michigan

So here we are. Is Orji the new starting QB? You gotta think so, right? He lacks the passing element, but brings his legs which helps balance the scales . I also gotta believe Crippen starts at Center. It felt like the communication was better, and there was more movement.

There’s still a fair amount to clean up on O, but it also felt like they took a step forward. Unfortunately, they lost 3 weeks to work on an Orji-led offense in real games. Also….

There’s an opportunity to create a dynamic offense: Orji QB Mullings RB1 Edwards utility RB/Slot/WR Loveland (hopefully healthy) That forces a defense to spread its resources: You want to stack the box and leave 18 & 7 1-on-1? Or cover them leave a light box for 20 & 28 to work?

Defense still needs to get right too. Hill is still trying to understand his technique and responsibility. Time’s run out because USC is gonna come after him. On a positive note, they held ARkSt to 58 yards rushing And the second unit (Guy, Benny, Iwunnah) was effective.

On to conference play. Let’s see if the coaches can pack a month’s worth of catching up into a week’s worth of preparation. Have itself a great day. Also, take a baking class at Zingermann’s bakehouse with a loved one. Me and my daughter did yesterday and it was great.