Burning questions for Michigan's week one matchup against East Carolina
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00:00 I'll kick us off. Bernie questions. I'm so happy. This is back Brandon. This is one of my favorite segments that we do
00:05 I'll kick it off
00:07 I'm gonna I'm gonna start off with the transfers Michigan pulled in a ton of transfers this offseason and not just random guys
00:14 But guys that factor to be you know, they're gonna be major players this year
00:18 I'm curious which of the transfers that have come in
00:21 Do you think are gonna make the biggest impact in 2023 and just as a refresher?
00:26 We got Miles Hinton Drake Nugent Lederius Henderson AJ Barner
00:31 We got Hausman we got John or I'm sorry Josiah Stewart and kicker. Is it Josh Turner?
00:38 I know his last name is Turner Josh Turner, I believe Oh
00:41 Jacob
00:44 Are you sure are you sure somebody confirm that I believe it's Josh Turner somebody confirm that in the comments
00:51 Who do you think is gonna make the biggest impact in 2023 out of all of those transfers?
00:57 I got my answer and it's the guy you didn't mention who actually his name Josh and it's Josh Wallace
01:03 Josh, oh, he's not even on my list. It's Josh Wallace because unreal
01:08 Absolutely had to have him had to have him James Turner Josh Wallace. See that's what it was. I had them both
01:16 I said Jacob I was anyway, whatever
01:20 It's Josh Wallace
01:21 It's it's Josh Wallace because if he can if he can lock down that starting cornerback spot opposite Will Johnson
01:28 And he's played over 2,000 snaps
01:30 It will completely shore up the one and only question mark on Michigan's roster
01:35 Yeah, I think Ernest Hausman is gonna be incredibly productive
01:39 I think you know if you're two tackles, there's two if you're two starting tackles our transfers clearly
01:45 They're gonna have a big impact on what you do, especially with Michigan running the ball the way that they do
01:49 But I think importance wise
01:51 You don't need how much he's gonna do for for the whole I'll go with Josh Wallace that cornerback. I
01:58 was really wondering how Michigan was gonna replace Olu and
02:03 What I've heard about Drake Nugent so far in camp from the other offensive lineman. He's a dog high motor
02:11 This is a guy that just outworks everybody
02:13 I know that we've heard that Greg Crippen is gonna be in the in the mix as well
02:17 And I do think that's true to a certain extent
02:19 But I think Drake Nugent is gonna have a massive impact on this offensive line
02:24 I think he's gonna be exactly what they need up front and and for that reason to me the biggest impact as far as transfer
02:31 Goes Drake Nugent in 2023 man last year. I was so high on on Olu this year
02:37 It's new I thought I figured for sure there was gonna be a drop-off at center
02:41 And then they bring in a guy like Nugent and I'm like he might be just as good
02:45 Yeah, that's I mean it speaks to the level of AJ Barner. You know, I think we mentioned him briefly a burner as well
02:51 The impact that some of these guys didn't mention Jack Tuttle, you know, there were a couple guys
02:57 I didn't make no but you know, we know who's gonna play that position
03:00 Yeah, a lot of guys to choose from but probably could be right about four or five of them
03:05 Which is crazy to think about on an already stacked team new guys on an already stacked team
03:11 Several answers make a lot of sense. All right veterans former captains. I know it good guys. Let's get here
03:18 Let's get here on Saturday. Um, my first question is uh,
03:21 So you've got Darius Clements. He's rocking the zero. He's six threes to 15
03:28 He looks like a brick shithouse dude. Looks like he's ready for the NFL today
03:31 Got Omarion Walker looks like he's an all-time DB now
03:35 But the way he was built and put together as part of that wide receiver core
03:40 And then you've got busted up the tiny little Tyler Morris is Tyler Morris
03:45 You're locked up number three receiver for this season Chris. Is that your guy? Yes, I think it's Tyler Morris
03:51 You know based on what we heard JJ McCarthy say about Tyler Morris and the connection that those guys have together
03:58 I just think Tyler Morris is such an underrated
04:04 Asset on this team that I think as the season progresses
04:08 He's gonna be one of those guys that goes from a virtual unknown
04:11 To almost kind of like that Ronnie Bell type mold where you start off highly underrated and by the end of your career
04:18 You're the premier go-to guy. That's the trajectory I see for Tyler Morris and he's got a great connection
04:23 Chemistry with JJ McCarthy. And so I think it's it's all up for for Tyler Morris. Yeah. Yes
04:32 From everything we've heard. I mean, we don't have a lot to go from you know
04:35 in terms of what he's done in in Ann Arbor, but a lot of a lot of people forget he was
04:39 He was higher ranked coming out of high school than Darius Clemens
04:42 Like there's Clemens gets a lot of love because when you look at the guy like physically he just looks like he fits the mold
04:47 He fits the part. Well, yeah Tyler Morris
04:50 I think he's he's legit and people are gonna find that out this year a couple cool things real quick here
04:55 Roman Wilson in the one I love that love it. No felt so good to hear that news to see that. Yeah
05:02 Remember the last time this happened was Nico Collins and we never got to see it
05:05 It never it never made its way out of the field. So super excited about that for for Roman
05:12 Can I just say that I did say during the offseason that to me Roman Wilson is going to be wide receiver
05:20 Number one, I know a lot of people are looking at Cornelius Johnson and you know, he's had some production there
05:25 But to me what Roman Wilson bleep brings to the table not just in the short game intermediate
05:30 But he can take the top off of the secondary as well. I think that guy is gonna live up to that number one
05:35 Different different players that all three of those guys and I feel like they all gonna fit in together
05:41 Well, then you've got you know, love when going up and down the seams and it's yeah, kind of an Edwards out of the back
05:48 Jeez, let's get here Saturday. All right, and then Megan. Yeah, so
05:51 Yeah offense and defense. You've got a lot of duplicate numbers
05:55 So Mikey will still be in zero
05:57 Clemens will still be in zero at the only time you have to change something like that as if they're both on like a special
06:01 Teams unit maybe if they're but it worked last year, so I would assume it's gonna work this year
06:05 It is interesting to point out to that Tyler Morris played more
06:09 snaps and
06:11 Had more production than Darius Clemens and Omarion Walker
06:14 Combined last year. So kind of like the forgotten guy. Like you said he was he was hurt when he got to Michigan
06:20 He doesn't look I mean, it's not a knock on the guy
06:22 Not everybody can be built the same way, but he doesn't look like the other two
06:25 He just doesn't but he could be that guy so interesting
06:29 Your your turn. Oh
06:32 It's me. It's my turn. Uh, this is gonna be a very we are back very straightforward question Brandon
06:38 We talked about it a little bit early in the show
06:41 Do you think we see any in-game issues with Harbaugh not being on the sideline for the first three weeks?
06:48 Do you think we see any sort of hiccups or is it business as usual as Michigan?
06:53 Embarks on their new season, you know what? I'm gonna say. Yeah, because we see hiccups with our bar clock management
06:59 You know, what?
07:01 You see it. It's still the beginning of the season. It's still ironing some things out
07:05 It's still a new role for a lot of these guys. I don't I say hey, I don't nothing major
07:10 But I think we'll see like, ah, you know men are probably wishes he had that one back like I think that's just football
07:16 I think you'll see it a little bit here a little bit there
07:19 I mean Harbaugh has been doing this for ever and he's still you know bones up every once in a while
07:24 I I don't think anybody's immune to that. I don't think it's like I said, I don't think it's anything
07:29 That's gonna be like all that was a mistake to put him in that role
07:32 I think you'll see a speed bump here there. I think that's just natural comes with territory same
07:37 Yeah, I think you'll see some some minor penalties, but I don't think it's gonna be anything
07:41 That's the result of Harbaugh's absence. I think it's just you know, week one week two type things
07:46 You're gonna run into that type of stuff
07:48 But again, we talked about it earlier in the show the leadership that they have on this team
07:53 There's an elite coaching staff in place. A lot of those guys are gonna go on to become head coaches elsewhere
07:58 So for that reason, you know, I don't think there's gonna be many hiccups
08:01 Certainly not any they're gonna be affected by Harbaugh's absence. I
08:04 Guess I'll just ask it until it happens Chris. I don't know if it's on your list again or not
08:09 We've talked about it a million times
08:11 Does JJ McCarthy break the touchdown passing record at Michigan this season?
08:17 He's only got a 26
08:19 It is on my list and it was number one on my list and you know
08:23 you had 25 touchdown passes by Chad Henney in 2004 and Elvis Gerback in
08:29 91
08:31 Minute 2004 since a Michigan quarterback has done that look he was at what 22 last year
08:37 Yeah, I think that's right in a very run heavy offense
08:40 I think if they if the offense looks the way that Jim Harbaugh has said it's gonna look and some of the players have
08:47 Alluded to that. They are tossing the ball around a little bit more you you add to the fact JJ's matured a little bit
08:53 He's had a year as a starter under his belt. I do think I
08:57 Look, we've compared it to you know, different quarterbacks around the country quarterbacks at Ohio State
09:03 Throwing 26 touchdown passes in a season is not a lot for a college quarterback
09:08 I think certainly if this year is gonna be as good as everybody thinks it's gonna be JJ McCarthy's gonna break that record
09:15 It just says it's just not a hard record to break. It really isn't
09:19 It's really as two guys who are not athletic and do not play college sports. Well
09:25 Well, I mean, come on Brandon. Are we athletic? Are we athletic? We like to play
09:32 Sports, but are we athletic right now?
09:35 Right now that's a different kind of that's a different. Oh, yeah. I mean athletic back in the day. Sure
09:42 I
09:44 Just I don't want to think about it just bring it just brings up more stuff that you know
09:52 As we sit here today, we are the before picture before the weight loss before you know what I mean?
09:59 We're just we're not in game shape right now is what I'm trying to say built for the booth
10:03 I'm caught I like that. I like I'm writing it down. We actually had a we had person in here
10:10 I can't remember his first name, but his last name was booth and he was like, I'm loving that
10:14 Hey, look at that built for the booth built for the booth. Yeah, that's strong. Um
10:22 Yes, but Brandon McGraw. They're not gonna run 75% of the time this year. That's what we've been told
10:28 It's gonna be more of a 50/50 deal. And if that's the case, I mean throwing more than 25 touchdown passes
10:35 It just seems like a given and look guess who's calling plays week one the QB coach brah
10:41 He's gonna sling it around you might get sick. You might get six out of McCarthy in week one
10:46 Now we're probably not gonna see that
10:48 in fact
10:48 Jim Harbaugh was kind of asked about that today, you know
10:50 Like is there gonna be a big philosophical change and I I'd be shocked if it looks any different week to know
10:57 even with four different guys
10:59 being the head coach and
11:02 At least two different guys call play this a little he can't be on the sidelines
11:07 But he can he can absolutely have a hand in the game plan. Yeah
11:10 I was trying to find the number
11:15 No, it's not all quarterbacks, let me see if I can find it real quick
11:20 Here's my question Chris. We all know what Blake Horan was able to do last year if it weren't for the injury
11:26 He probably would have been in New York might have even taken the Heisman home
11:30 There's any doubt he's in New York kind of defaulted down the ladder and you know landed in Caleb Williams lab
11:36 Chris is there a Michigan Wolverine in New York for the Heisman ceremony this year by the way?
11:43 JJ McCarthy has the fourth best odds not Blake Horan
11:48 To be a Heisman hopeful. I think he's like 16 to 1 or something like that and Blake is
11:55 Maybe 30 to 1 or something. I I was trying to find those exact numbers. But anyway, it does Michigan get a guy there this year
12:02 They do because I think the season is gonna be as big as most people expect it to be. I do think now
12:08 I'm not sure that they win it
12:10 But I do think the Wolverines play for a national championship this year and if everything goes according to plan
12:16 I'm not sure who it is. I don't know if it's JJ. I don't know if it's Blake or him
12:20 hell, I don't know if it's Donovan Edwards, but there will be a
12:24 Michigan Wolverine
12:26 Representing Ann Arbor in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. I I have little doubt about that. I
12:32 misspoke myself JJ McCarthy is
12:35 1600 plus 1600 to win the Heisman right now the front-runner is Caleb Williams ranging from
12:42 plus 375 to plus 500
12:45 Blake Coram is down about plus 4,000 plus 5,000
12:50 And if you think about it in 2021 that Aiden Hutchinson there in
12:54 2022 Blake Coram is almost a shoe in if he stays healthy and I think Michigan's gonna have an even better year this year
13:02 And so again, I think they have somebody in New York man
13:05 How incredible would that have been to be staring at potentially three Wolverines back to back to back?
13:10 Make an appearance in New York, but I think you see one this year. I
13:14 Don't know. I do have money if you had to put money on one
13:19 Who is it?
13:21 If I had to put money on one, I would probably pick Blake
13:25 I think I'm leaning towards towards nobody and I think I think there's a couple reasons one
13:31 I just don't think JJ is gonna be productive enough - I think we're gonna see more Donovan Edwards this year
13:38 That's gonna eat into Blake's numbers and three
13:40 I'm glad you said that the running back position is it's hard to stay healthy for 12 13 games, dude
13:46 It is and if you're gonna try to protect them by
13:49 Taking a little bit off Blake's plate give it a little bit more to Donovan
13:52 Hell give it a little bit to some of these young backs
13:55 So you can have a healthy Donovan and a healthy Blake when you need it week 12 week 13
14:00 Championship playoffs because neither one of them were healthy down the stretch last year. And so I
14:06 Just think it'd be
14:09 It's not that they've gotten any worse so that I think any less of them
14:12 They're both plenty good enough to have the production to get there the numbers we saw from Blake last year
14:18 But I think that's I think that's a tall task
14:21 you know to ask you to stay healthy and
14:23 To just tote it enough when you've got two backs that are so freaking good man
14:28 Like, you know, they're individual success is gonna eat each other eat the other ones individual success
14:34 I don't know. That's tough. You got an echo going man. Yeah, so so in short
14:40 You don't see a Wolverine in New York cuz you're a hater. I get it. No, I get it. I get it
14:44 You're a hater. It's fine. We understand Brandon, but I do want to stay on the running back topic
14:50 I'm glad you said that you think Edwards is gonna make more of an impact this year
14:53 I think Edwards is also gonna make more of an impact this year. We saw what he did in limited action
15:00 We saw what he did when Blake corn went down that guy looks like a superstar
15:05 I mean, he's already as far as I'm concerned and I'm sure a lot of people in Ann Arbor are concerned
15:10 He's a Michigan legend for what he did against, Ohio State
15:13 So I'm gonna ask you this question keeping in mind that we've seen that you know, Edwards is the home run threat
15:20 He gets in the open field
15:21 There's not a lot of people that are gonna catch him which is why I was surprised about that that TCU opening run. Nevertheless
15:27 Who ends the season with more rushing yards in?
15:32 2023 is it Blake quorum or Donovan Edwards now as a refresher Blake quorum finished with
15:38 1463 yards in 12 games last year. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry
15:43 Donovan Edwards
15:45 991 yards averaged
15:47 7.1 yards per carry in
15:49 11 games that he participated in so who finishes the year with more yards if they can both stay healthy
15:56 It'll still be Blake Blake Blake quorum will still be your 1a. I
16:00 Think he's he's more of a I mean, he's a senior captain
16:03 He's he's the he's the you know, the the tough runner in between the tackles
16:08 Although I don't even like to say that Donovan's not I mean you look at some like that do that long touchdown run
16:13 He had against Purdue was one of the most beautiful between the tackles runs
16:17 I've ever seen where he was bouncing off defenders. Yes
16:19 Well, just slippery just enough to get off guys to break. Let you know break arm tackles
16:25 Dude, they're both so good. They're both so good. It just it just depends on who
16:30 Who gets the ball more and I think that's still Blake as the older guy the you know coming back the returner
16:37 But it's coming off a knee injury. And so you wonder like what's that? Really? Are they if you give them 50/50? I
16:44 Don't know how you call it
16:46 I really don't and I think the only way that Blake has a little bit of an edge in the production room is the production
16:54 Column is if he just gets more carry. I think they're just so freaking good
16:57 Yeah, I will go Blake, but I don't think it's gonna be by a lot and if they if they really do
17:03 You know try to split it close to 50/50 then it's a coin flip. I don't know how you call it
17:09 That is the big variable. What what does the load look like in terms of carries?
17:13 Who's getting what I since you went with Blake and you know, I love Blake quorum
17:18 Yeah, absolutely love the guy I've done. I've had the opportunity to do a couple things with it
17:21 I just big fan of him not only for what he does on the field, but I need blue-collar guy hard worker
17:28 Captain leader in every sense of the word all of that being said
17:32 I'm gonna go Donovan Edwards and I think that Donovan Edwards
17:37 Towards the latter part of last season you saw what he did against, Ohio State
17:42 You know the the MVP during the Big Ten championship game
17:46 He is a guy that is just so tremendously talented. He he starts practically anywhere else in the country
17:53 It just so happens that Michigan has Blake quorum, but if they're spreading these carries
17:58 close to 50/50 I
18:01 Just I think Donovan Edwards is more of a home run threat once he gets a seam that top-end speed
18:08 I just give him a little bit of an edge and for that reason
18:11 I think we're gonna get more big runs out of Donovan Edwards and I think by the end of the year you're gonna see him
18:16 Slightly ahead of Blake quorum. I know that the knee is a bit of a variable with Blake. He says he's healthy
18:21 He's ready to go. You never know how those things are gonna work and
18:24 Donovan Edwards is not without injury either. I mean he played Ohio State with practically one good knee
18:30 And did what he did so it's a scary thought to think about how good both of these guys are gonna be fully healthy
18:36 Give me the slight edge to Donovan Edwards in yards
18:39 You give you have Donovan the edge and the top-end speed
18:42 I I think I give Blake the edge and maybe making a guy missing the whole team. Yeah. Yeah vision
18:48 They're both they both have big runs that involve cutbacks way across the field
18:52 So, you know
18:53 The vision is that you give Donald a slight edge as a receiver because he's a little longer a little more fluid as a route runner
18:58 I
18:59 Think I'd probably give Blake a slight edge in terms of you know running through contact because he's more compact
19:05 He's probably a little stronger a little bulk do they're they're incredible. It's an incredible one-two punch at running back and I
19:12 Like I think it could be a coin flip if their carries and their touches are close. I really do we've said it before
19:17 Michigan fans enjoy what you're about to see this year out of the backfield because this
19:23 Even though Michigan is recruiting good running backs and they're gonna continue to have running backs good running backs this what you're seeing Blake
19:30 Korman Donovan Edwards in the backfield together. This is something special. Enjoy it
19:33 Well when Michigan sends both of those guys to New York for the Heisman ceremony, they'll have their pick of the way
19:41 Figure whichever back out there is a superstar, but isn't getting enough touches or production. No, we're gonna win helmet next year
19:47 No, I it's it did you're right, dude
19:48 It's a it's a it's an embarrassment of riches and I'm super pumped to watch it cuz they're gonna get it a lot both of them
19:54 Are gonna get it a lot and we know that
19:56 So it'll be it'll be a lot of fun to watch Chris
19:58 I'm gonna put you on a spot again. This might be this might be triple down quadruple down Clint up all down
20:04 I'm gonna give you the chance to do it again
20:06 Penn State is a harder game than Ohio State
20:11 Yes, yes, he's on that. He's on it folks. There is all over a hero
20:16 Question in my mind that that Penn State game even though there's some question marks, you know
20:22 Most notably at the quarterback position with Penn State. I
20:25 Just think you go to Happy Valley
20:27 You've seen what that environment can do Michigan's likely gonna be going there as the number two
20:32 Maybe the number one team in the country. We've seen you know, college football is crazy
20:35 I could see a scenario where Georgia loses early
20:38 That is gonna be a tough game. And when it you know when it comes to Ohio State
20:43 look
20:45 If Penn State has question marks, Ohio State has more at least Penn State knows who their starting quarterback is gonna be
20:52 Ohio State isn't quite there yet. And then you add in some question marks on the offensive line
20:57 You look at what Michigan did to them
20:59 On the defensive side of the ball at least, you know in terms of Michigan's offensive line how they bullied
21:06 Donovan Edwards was able to get whatever he wanted
21:08 JJ McCarthy had a great game and then you factor in the fact that it's back in Ann Arbor
21:14 I just don't see a scenario this year where Michigan loses to Ohio State
21:19 And so we've talked about it before man that this is the first year that I can remember
21:25 This is the for I'll just this is the first year I can remember going into a season not fearing Ohio State and I'm knocking
21:33 On wood. I know they're gonna be good
21:35 But they're just they don't have that. Holy shit. Ohio State is gonna be a problem this year. I don't feel that
21:42 You know what? I hate to say
21:45 first of all, I agree with you the but but I hate to I think
21:49 2023 Penn State is so much like
21:54 2021 Michigan so much like 2021 Michigan with
22:00 with the
22:03 What's the with the advantage that they have their?
22:06 Sophomore JJ McCarthy going right now because that's what drew Aller is. Yeah 2021, Ohio State
22:14 I'm sorry, 2021 Michigan got Ohio State at home
22:18 Kind of imposed their will better defense than everybody thought JJ was not really a factor. That's where I think drew Aller
22:25 He's a problem dude. He's a big athlete. He's six five. He can wing it all over the field
22:31 They've got tons of athletes and length and versatility on defense. They've got like a top three or five pick on the offensive line
22:38 I don't think across the board their offensive line is as good as Michigan's was in
22:43 2021 but they've got
22:45 Yeah, there is that James Franklin is kind of a clown. There is that I
22:49 Think they've got a lot of things in place to have a real shot this year because they're getting Michigan at home
22:56 if they
22:58 They're gonna have a boost at quarterback by the time that game rolls around
23:01 Yeah, let me ask you. So you're going you're going Penn State
23:06 I am also if both games were in Ann Arbor
23:10 Would it change would it change the way you looked at it?
23:14 Then then we're saying all things equal the Wolverines get both at home. Who do you think's the bigger problem?
23:19 I'll let me ask it to you this way. I'll ask you a question with a question
23:22 Who are you starting drew Aller Kyle McCord or Devin Brown?
23:27 Drew Aller. Yep, so I'm taking
23:29 Got a quarterback that can elevate other people and change a game and make a play
23:36 That's that's the team that I'm going with and I think I
23:40 Don't know I don't want to give him too much praise because Michigan's got to go in there and beat that dude
23:46 But I think he's I think he's got a chance to be really freaking good this year. I know