The 3-2-1: On Michigan football confidence, hoops’ pursuit of Jamir Watkins, and Saddi Washington to MSU
Michigan football heads into the 2024 season with much lower expectations after losing most of its team to the NFL, but head coach Sherrone Moore was in great spirits when we caught up with him at the Wayne State satellite camp last week. There are several question marks, especially on offense, but the defense should be nasty — and they know it.
That might be one of the reasons or Moore’s confidence heading into June. Yes, there are question marks, but you win a lot of games with great line play … here are three reasons for optimism this fall, two thoughts on the basketball side with Florida State transfer Jamir Watkins a possibility to join the team (?), and one thought on Saddi Washington joining MSU.
Michigan football, 2024 — Three reasons for confidence
3. That line play we talked about above — It’s real, and it should be spectacular on defense, especially. Talking with voice of Michigan football Doug Karsch yesterday, he noted that Miami (Fla.) enjoyed an era of dominance decades ago due in large part to nasty defensive line play.
Looking back at last year, many of the season’s most pivotal plays came as a result of line dominance. Four off the top of our heads — Derrick Moore’s scoop and score at Maryland, Jaylen Harrell’s hit on Kyle McCord to force the game clinching, Rod Moore interception vs. Ohio State, Josaiah Stewart’s fourth-and-3 stop of Jalen Milroe in which he knocked a guy 100 pounds heavier into the quarterback, and Mason Graham’s hit on Michael Penix that led to Will Johnson’s interception to start the second half.
Three of those for guys return, of course, and they’ll be a load with Kenneth Grant. But we trust Moore as much as anyone in the country when it comes to the offensive line, too. He has a high standard, and you can see it during every snap. It continued in the spring game.
You still win games in the trenches, and Michigan will have an advantage there in most games on the schedule
2. Sherrone Moore’s confidence — It’s clear Moore isn’t flinching under the weight of high expectations. Every time we see him, in fact, he seems a little more relaxed. While the fan base frets about the quarterback situation, etc. (and yes, we think Alex Orji will be No. 1 to start), Moore seems to take it in stride. And there’s no way he’s lowering his own expectations, having said of the “haters” it’s up to them to “shut their asses up” as he told a group of campers.
He also doesn’t shy away from the Ohio State challenge. The best Michigan coaches have met that one head on, and he’s no different.
“We know the standard of that team we have to beat down south and we always express that and work for that,” he said.
But every game is a big game with the schedule what it is this year, he noted. They can’t and won’t look past anybody. Moore acts like he should — a defending national champion who expects to win every game on the schedule
1. The coordinators. We all know about Wink Martindale, of course. He’s made a name for himself in the NFL and could probably have been coaching in the league again this year. But Michigan made him a great offer, and he’s off and running. Spotters say the “OG” of the Ravens offense added some of his own flavor to what the team did the last two years, and it could be even more fun. He certainly has the talent.
But O.C. Kirk Campbell, too, has earned praise from some of the best football minds we know for his knowledge of the game and his ability to make adjustments. Some compared him to Jesse Minter and Mike Macdonald in that sense (only on the other side of the ball, obviously) … he’s a “football junkie.”
“Kurt was right there with me as an analyst my first year and then my second year as a quarterback coach. In my mind, he thinks like me,” Moore said. “He’s very creative, very innovative …. extremely knowledgeable about the game, run and pass.”
Two thoughts on Michigan basketball’s current roster and the pursuit of Jamir Watkins
2. The Florida State wing is a potential difference-maker, and as written, could be the final piece to a championship puzzle. At the same time, Michigan coach Dusty May and his staff are happy with their roster, and they feel they very good about their chances as it stands. Watkins would have to be a great fit with the culture if they’re going to bring him in, understanding he’s one piece — not necessarily the piece.
But we trust May’s vetting process here. He puts chemistry first, so he’s not going to take someone just to take them. If Watkins visits this week (it’s been reported he will, but we haven’t heard it’s been set), that means a lot of that work will already have been done. If not, it probably means they’re not on the same page, whether it’s NIL, role, whatever.
1. St. John’s was thought to be the other team in the mix, but sources there (good ones, albeit second-hand) believe Michigan might have the upper hand here. At the same time, Watkins could also be looking for a better deal … that’s a possibility, and he’ll have options. Some we’ve spoken with have suggested Florida State will get him back if they up their NIL offer — one source today told us FSU spoke with Watkins last night, it was “all positive” for FSU, and probably “50-50” between U-M and the Seminoles.
So … we’ll see what happens here. It all starts with the visit — that’s when it gets serious — and again, we don’t think it’s been set yet. If it does, then it gets really interesting. Either way, we believe the Michigan coaches feel they’re in great shape with the roster.
One thought on Saddi Washington joining Tom Izzo’s staff at MSU
One, and only one — good luck, coach. Washington is a first-class guy and was always generous with his time, an outstanding assistant at Michigan. He passed up head coaching opportunities for family reasons and because he loved it at U-M. May interviewed him, but chose to go in a different direction.
But Lansing his home for the former Sexton standout, and we’re glad he gets to stay in state. No, we won’t be rooting for him to win (rivalries, ya know?), but we will pull for his personal success and are glad he gets to stay in state.
Thanks for everything, Saddi.
The post The 3-2-1: On Michigan football confidence, hoops’ pursuit of Jamir Watkins, and Saddi Washington to MSU appeared first on On3.
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