Thoughts on an Insane Week of Football

1. Michigan Won Harbaugh's Way

Jim Harbaugh did what he said he would do, winning Michigan's first national title since 1997 and their first outright national title since 1948. It's crazy to think back to 2020, when Michigan was 2-4, avoided playing Ohio State, and looked lifeless on both sides of the ball. Harbaugh had tried to change his philosophy to include the modern offense, pace and space, and had a flashy defense with top recruits. Three seasons later and they are physical on all fronts, pound the football to limit possessions of the high-powered offenses of Ohio State (and Washington) and then getting stops with a physical front and blanket coverage on the backend. I loved the blanket cover 3 and 4 that Michigan was running, it really shut down Washington.

It reminds me a bit of Villanova under Jay Wright struggling with the top recruits and then going back to finding their guys, leading to national success. Michigan had two 5-stars on the roster on Monday night. In modern football, that is unheard of. But they found guys that fit their roles, that bought into the culture, and sacrificed themselves. Massive props and Hail to the Victors.

2. Happy Trails Pete and Nick (and Where is Bill Going?)

Whatever you think of Bill Belichick, Nick Saban, and Pete Carroll (and there are a lot of opinions) you have to admire how their players all feel about them. That is what I keep coming back to. These guys could pull together men from all different walks of life to achieve a common goal. They also each did it their own way, Bill and Nick being gruff while Pete exuded enthusiasm unlike any other coach. Saban and Belichick are the unquestioned GOATS of college and NFL coaching and Carroll won championships at both levels, something very few other people can claim.

Carroll and Saban seem to be done with coaching, Carroll heading into an advisory role with the Seahawks and Saban likely heading to GameDay or some other television gig. But the Hoodie still wants to coach and needs just a few more wins to be the all-time leading coach. My guess is Atlanta. He struggled to get difference makers on offense and they have plenty, and I bet he will be better at using them than Arthur Smith (imagine having Kyle Pitts blocking while other tight ends went out in routes?). They obviously need a quarterback, but could get someone at eight or sign Kirk Cousins? We will see. I just know I am sad to see the era end and will miss seeing Pete Carroll chomp gum in khakis and Nick Saban tell us about rat poison. 

3. NFL Awards

MVP: Lamar Jackson (QB) - Ravens

The win at San Francisco helped solidify this one for me. No one meant more to his team week in and week out. How weird is it to see a quarterback that is more terrifying the longer his receivers are covered? When he gets in the scramble drill I automatically think it is going to be a huge play. Jackson is special and a lot of teams have to be upset that they did not honestly pursue him last off-season.

Offensive Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey (RB) - 49ers

It was a toss up between CMC and Cheetah, but McCaffrey meant more to his team in my opinion. The unique things that the 49ers can do stem from his ability in the run game and pass game. But it isn't all just cute plays. McCaffrey is a tough guy to tackle and a leader in yards after contact. Put him in the best running scheme and that is a problem.

Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett (EDGE) - Browns

I struggle to name a position that Garrett plays because he moves to whatever matchup he wants to hunt. Every snap is a double team and the guy just wins. I am excited to see what the Texans try to do to stop him. Maybe you just accept that he is going to ball out and block everyone else? Who knows, he's the ultimate game wrecker.

4. Play of the Week

Michigan kept running the ball on Monday night and wore down the tough Washington defense. It was a seven point game until about seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter. That is where we pick up the game, with Blake Corum's touchdown. Michigan shifts into an unbalanced formation and then counters away from it. It is a beautiful fit of scheme and physical football.

• Michigan shifts to have three tight ends (dot 1) on the same side as their best blocking receiver (dot 3) and star running back Blake Corum (dot 2). If you want to talk about an unbalanced formation, this is it.
• Washington shifts everyone over to defend this look and leaves no one to the short side of the field, a logical move.

• Michigan pulls a guard and tight end (dot 1) in front of Corum (dot 2) back towards the short side of the field. They have numbers.
• The beauty of pulling away from the side of the line that you have numbers on is that there are still plenty of blockers (dot 3) to stop the backside defenders from getting into the backfield and stopping Corum while he waits for the hole to open up.

• Washington's edge player to the play side crashes down on the guard (dot 1) who lets him take that angle and leaves the boundary for Corum with the tight end out front (dot 2). It's an interesting choice, but for a normal team it would take the guard out of the play. But the guard keeps moving, a must for long runs.

• The tight end (dot 1) kicks out the middle linebacker who flowed and now Corum faces the backside backer (dot 2) before the guard can get there. Patience is Corum's super power and why he is the starting Michigan back.
• If Corum can shake the backer, there is one man to beat with both guards able to help block.

• Corum makes the cutback, gets a block, and gets into the endzone. What a way to cap off a historic career.

5. Super Bowl Prediction

It should be a fun wildcard weekend for us with this insane weather pattern rolling across the country. I can't wait to hunker down and watch these games. I won't be doing a blog throughout the postseason as it is harder to get NFL film into Blogger but I will offer my Super Bowl pick so we can laugh in a month. Bet the unders this weekend.

Super Bowl: San Francisco 49ers over Buffalo Bills