NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
It was a rough Saturday for the Michigan Wolverines and their fans. Everything from seeing our stadium overrun by burnt orange to the Longhorns planting their flag at midfield. It was a serious wake-up call for anyone who thought losing all the talent we did to the NFL wouldn’t be “that bad”. Well now that we have had some time to watch the film and get those images out of our heads it is on to the next one, and the next one is Arkansas State. Nothing like a good ole bounce-back game at home against a team that you should beat. We got beat down by Texas and suffered our first home loss since 2020 time to start a new streak, and keep improving this season with a new roster. With USC coming my prediction of a 10-2 season is very much alive but these are the ones you have to win.
Attack On Defense
The Red Wolves like to control the clock and when chances appear they take them. The Michigan pass rush has to show up and have them running for cover. Do not allow them to run the ball and keep our offense which is far from put together off the field. Corey Rucker is the guy for them in the passing game and before we face the Trojans or the beasts that Ohio State has at wideout this is a good test. Arkansas State doesn’t have the skill or depth up front to keep our front four from hunting but the effort on our end has to be there. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant need to live in the Red Wolves back backfield all day long and set the tone. Hopefully, we come into this game angry and looking to knock some people around. Butch Jones has his guys putting up points and winning shootouts we want no part of that this week. A classic Michigan defensive performance will do good for the players and souls of the fan base.
Where Is The Running Game?
The bread and butter of the program has been and most likely will always be a solid run game. Well, so far in 2024 that can be found by watching YouTube videos of teams past, or playing EA Sports College Football 25. Can THIS be the game we get going and make life easier on our quarterback? Does the offensive line establish itself and throw some Red Wolves around? Donovan Edwards must be who we think he is and help put this game away early, while also building up the confidence of the offensive line. Football 101 run the ball and beat the other guy to sleep while setting up the passing game for Davis Warren who needs a bounceback. Ranking 120th in the nation in total offense is not the way to get things done and the struggle is REAL on 3rd downs this has to improve. Lots of new faces and it is only through 2 games but this is Michigan and we have a standard to uphold across the entire line.
Prediction
Coming off its best season in years Arkansas State does not have the manpower to beat Michigan. After hearing and watching everything people had to say after the Texas game this Wolverine team should come in pissed off and wanting to show who and what they are. The worst thing we can do is look ahead to USC or come out flat and once again have a shaky performance. `Is week 3 a season-defining game already? When you have the pressure that is on this program year in and out I would say YES. No way can we face USC coming off back-to-back loses or a close win against a team we should own. I call a Michigan win 42-21. What do you think about this game and the season moving forward? You know the drill #GoBlue
