The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1508023
OCTOBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 39 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL For the detractors, the new rules have affected pace of play as opposed to num- ber of plays in addition to more commer- cials during game broadcasts. Former Michigan assistant and current UMass head coach Don Brown shared his dis- pleasure with Brett McMurphy of Action Network. "There was a time in the third quarter [of UMass' opener] I could not believe how many [TV timeouts] occurred in a short period of time. I was like, 'Can we play the game, please?'" — Anthony Broome MICHIGAN REMAINS NO. 2 IN ASSOCIATED PRESS RANKINGS Following an uninspired 31-6 win over Bowling Green on Sept. 16, Michigan re- mained at No. 2 in the AP Poll released the next day. The Maize and Blue have ranked top five in the national polls for 19 straight weeks and top 10 for 31 straight rankings, including all four this fall, all 16 in 2022 and the final 11 of 2021. There were three other Big Ten teams in the top 25 with Michigan entering Week 4: Ohio State (No. 6), Penn State (No. 7) and Iowa (No. 24). The Wolverines will take on the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor to conclude the regular season Nov. 25 and Penn State in State College two weeks prior. Most experts believed that despite an effort that was lacking, Michigan was right to stay at No. 2 in the polls. "The top four teams in the AP Top 25 played on Saturday," CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah wrote Sept. 17. "None showed anything positive. No. 1 Georgia trailed by 11 points at the half against South Carolina. No. 2 Michigan only led by one score against Bowling Green until the third quarter. No. 3 Florida State allowed Boston College to mount a late comeback and nearly win the game. No. 4 Texas was in a 10-10 game against Wyoming until the fourth quarter. In total, the top four teams underperformed their respective lines by 65 points. "Granted, the issues are not central- ized at the top. No. 7 Penn State let Il- linois stick around far too long in a 30-13 victory. Alabama laid the clunker against South Florida. No. 11 Tennessee fell in embarrassing fashion. "Looking at the top of the game, no one looks unimpeachable. Could that lead to a truly unpredictable season?" — Anthony Broome MICHIGAN FRONT SEVEN THE BEST MIKE ELSTON HAS EVER COACHED Michigan has had great defensive linemen over the years, but perhaps never as many at one time as this year. Senior tackle Kris Jenkins is the leader of the group, projected as a potential first- round draft pick in 2024. Sophomores Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant have elite potential — Graham started living up to it last year, and Grant is off to a great start this year — and junior Ray- shaun Benny and graduate Cam Goode add very good depth. Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston was asked prior to the Sept. 16 game with Bowling Green if this is the best line the Wolverines have ever had. He was part of some great ones in the 1990s as a Michigan player but admit- ted he hadn't seen them all. He's been busy coaching elsewhere, after all, in- cluding several years at Notre Dame. "I'm not sure. It's my second year here, and for the last 20-something years prior to that, I was really kind of diving into my own world wherever I was," Elston said. "But across the front — and really even the front seven with [linebackers] Junior Colson. Mike Bar- 2023 MICHIGAN SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 2 EAST CAROLINA W, 30-3 Sept. 9 UNLV W, 35-7 Sept. 16 BOWLING GREEN W, 31-6 Sept. 23 RUTGERS (BTN) 12 p.m. Sept. 30 at Nebraska (FOX) 3:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at Minnesota TBA Oct. 14 INDIANA TBA Oct. 21 at Michigan State TBA Oct. 28 BYE — Nov. 4 PURDUE TBA Nov. 11 at Penn State (FOX) 12 p.m. Nov. 18 at Maryland TBA Nov. 25 OHIO STATE (FOX) 12 p.m. Dec. 2 Big Ten Championship (FOX) 8 p.m. Graduate defensive tackle Cam Goode (99) and sophomore edge Derrick Moore (8) are a key part of Michigan's deep and talented rotation on the defensive line this season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL