Yardbarker: Michigan Wolverines

Unverified Voracity's Hiring Bob Stoops To Be An IHOP Line Chef

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:47:49 -0500

No, you don't get a pony. This Notre Dame coaching search is going to go exactly like the last three: everyone is going to get all hyped up about a wide variety of downright laughable names and they'll settle for someone not coaching at a power program. Unfortunately, the guy they "settle" for might be Brian Kelly—who ND Nation is hilariously opposed to—since there are exactly zero other major jobs opening up this year and Kelly has no buyout. But, still, come on peop...

Michigan Backdoor Lob Out of Open Post Motion

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:26:00 -0500

I'm a big motion offense coach myself so anytime I see teams execute motion offense well, it puts a big smile on my face. The Michigan Wolverines under John Beilein have become a big motion team. Coach Beilein has brought his open-post motion over from West Virginia, and after a couple of years of finding the right the players, the Wolverines look like they're back to contend for final fours again.

In this play in OT against Creighton, the Wolverines execute the backdoor lob to perfection. Setup is high-post open motion. 4 players on the perimeter, forward at the high post. The forward pops outs to receive a pass for what would normally be a ball reversal to the side of the floor. This is the most crucial part for any motion offense. Players must setup their cuts. If the forward simply cuts backdoor here, it won't work because the defender starts in position to guard against it. The forward must really plant his top foot and use his hands to indicate he is ready to receive the pass up top,

The defender bites and overplays the ball reversal pass. This is where eye contact and communication between ball-handler and player are crucial. Both players realize the overplay right away, the forward plants hard of the top foot and uses his lateral quickness to go backdoor,

The ball-handler sees it and looks to lob the ball to the forward guiding him to the rim,

What seems like a simple play, actually takes many many reps and whole-part-whole progressions to teach. It's important to remember that motion offense takes time and you must be patient to teach it. You can't expect to put it in late November and expect your players to win the season opening tournament. It literally takes hundreds of reps in multiple situations before players get used to how and when to do what, and to get used to their teammates. But once they get it, motion offense is the most beautiful thing to watch, it's basketball offense at its purest.

Coach Beilein doesn't have any DVDs produced but if you're a fan of motion offense like me, then check out Bobby Knight's new DVD on motion offense. The DVD includes 2 hours worth of motion wisdom from the legendary college coach.

Alternate Reality Heisman: Making the case for Brandon Graham

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:12:17 -0500

The most interesting aspect of the Heisman Trophy is always the players it excludes as a matter of course. With the field of favorites rapidly narrowing down the stretch, Alternate Heisman Reality looks at some of the more deserving candidates off the beaten path. Today: Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt. Generic Profile. Former five-star, all-world recruit turned two-time All-Big Ten pick at a high profile powerhouse and likely first-rounder in next April's draft. By the Numbers. Gr...

Harris leads No. 15 Michigan past Creighton

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:45:24 -0500

Manny Harris had 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds to lead No. 15 Michigan to an 83-76 overtime win over Creighton at the Old Spice Classic on Thursday.

Harris stellar

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:24:00 -0500

Manny Harris had 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds to lead No. 15 Michigan to an 83-76 overtime win over Creighton at the Old Spice Classic on Thursday.

Harris one board shy of triple-double in Michigan win

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:24:00 -0500

Manny Harris had 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds to lead No. 15 Michigan to an 83-76 overtime win over Creighton at the Old Spice Classic on Thursday.

The Knee Jerks for 11-23-09: Wolverines and Spartans

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:32:18 -0500

First, a semi-major announcement: “The Knee Jerks” will be moving up a couple of hours! Beginning December 14, you’ll be able to get your jerkosity two hours earlier. The show will debut its new 9:00-11:00 ET time slot, so everyone can get some sleep on Monday nights! Again, that's 9 PM eastern, 8 PM central, 6 PM on the west coast and 10:30 PM in Newfoundland! The Michigan Wolverines and MSU Spartans just finished their football seasons, so it was the perfect time to do a post-mortem...

Preview: Houston Baptist

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:44:02 -0500

Yes, there's an OSU preview coming. The Essentials WHAT #15/16 Michigan v. Houston Baptist WHERE Crisler Arena WHEN 7:00 EST November 20th, 2009 THE LINE No line, junkie TELEVISION BigTenNetwork.com Michigan Michigan will probably come out with the same lineup they played last game: Darius Morris at the point, Laval Lucas-Perry at guard, Manny Harris and Zack Novak at forward, and DeShawn Sims in the middle. Stu Douglass will replace LLP at...

Degrees of Loss Separation: Michigan > Ohio State

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:12:00 -0500

The Degrees of Loss Separation is a simple concept, I go out and find a highly rated team with some losses playing against a crappy team with lots of losses. Next I find a chain of losses which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt (not at all) that the underdog is going to pull the major upset and storm the field. The Final Outcome is calculated simply: Add up the scores of the losers, add up the scores of the winners in the degrees of loss separation and divide both by the # of degrees. The ...

Big Problems in the Big House

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:09:13 -0500

The Michigan Wolverines, who play rival Ohio State on Saturday, are 1-6 in the Big Ten and could have their first two consecutive losing seasons since 1963.

Michigan Injury Report for Ohio State - Minor Out

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:20:00 -0500

Via UM Media Relations:Out David Molk (knee) Brandon Minor (shoulder) Doubtful (25 percent chance of playing) Mike Williams (ankle) Probable (75 percent chance of playing) Martavious Odoms (knee)Minor...out?! WOW. Star running back in his last game in Michigan Stadium and he's listed as "out" on the injury report?Now, granted these injury reports that surface each week from the athletic department are not always spot on...but "out" seems pretty definitive. That&#...

Upon Further Review: Defense vs Wisconsin

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:57:08 -0500

Personnel notes: Smith replaced Williams for the whole game, and the linebackers were always Ezeh and Mouton. On (rare) obvious passing downs Floyd came in for Smith. I think there may have been a few plays where Floyd subbed in for Woolfolk, too. Formation notes: Michigan spent the whole game in an eight-man front; late they moved up Kovacs for nine. Video note: there was no HD torrent this week so the quality is poor. Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards O...

Michigan Brandon Graham Talks Justin Boren

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:59:04 -0500

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Michigan Brandon Graham Talks Justin Boren

Brandon Graham came out today when asked by the media about Justin Boren’s move to Ohio State with some hard words. He felt that Boren never gave the new coaching staff a chance and transferring is equivalent to quitting. Graham plans on making some noise on the field on Saturday and hopes Boren is on the receiving end of some of the trash talk.

By Steve Patterson

Not Justin Boren

When talking with the media today Michigan senior Brandon Graham started by stating that his kids would never be allowed to consider Ohio State. “I’m not Justin Boren. I couldn’t do that” he said. He plans on doing just as much talking on the field on Saturday. “Some people talk back, some people don’t”. he explained about the trash talking he customarily does during a game.

Michigan Front Four

Graham feels the Michigan front four on the defense will be able to handle the offensive line of Ohio State. “I trust and believe we’ve got a good front four that’s going to get the job done.” he said about his defensive teammates. And he added about Boren, “He’s going to have to prove to me he’s still got it. He was good here, but I don’t think he’s good there because it’s O-State”

Ohio State Proficiency

Boren will be the starting left guard for the Buckeyes when they face the 5-6 Michigan Wolverines on Saturday in the Big House. Ohio State has already secured a piece of the Big Ten title for 2009 and been invited to play in the Rose Bowl versus the winner of the Pacific 10 Conference. The OSU offensive line has provided space for the running backs the past two weeks to run for more than 220 yards a game against two ranked opponents. Ohio State hopes to have similar success against the Wolverines, ranked 84th nationally against the run.

Wednesday Presser Notes 11-11-09

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:23:45 -0500

Injuries: Brandon Minor practiced a little bit yesterday, and they're hoping he can go today. Minor is day-to-day with a shoulder injury from the Purdue game. Playing can't do any more damage, but he needs to get practice reps in order to see the field Saturday. Carlos Brown should be fully healthy for this week. Junior Hemingway is day-to-day with a back issue. Martavious Odoms is still day-to-day with his knee injury. David Molk's knee surgery will take place tomorrow. ...

The Decimated Defense

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:33:28 -0500

[Editor's note: I was working on a post similar to this today that examined the past five years of defensive recruiting with a particular focus on the secondary. This is broader but I may as well not reinvent such a well-put-together wheel. I will take this opportunity at the top of the post to rephrase something I stuck in a mailbag. Here are the members of the secondary in the recruiting classes that comprise this year's team: 2005: None. (Harrison, Sears, Richards all gone.) 2...