Wolverine Wednesday: Zettel's Decision leaves The Michigan Nation Unsettled

By now you know instate OL/DE 4 star prospect Anthony Zettel picked Penn State last night over long time favorite Michigan.   Michigan had been Anthony's leader since his recruiting process started and AZ had been to just about every Michigan home game this year and a number of other events like the Big Chill and Barbecue at the Big House.

So what happened?  How did he pick Penn State over Michigan during the quiet period when he had publicly stated his announcement was coming in January just days ago?

This is what AZ had to say about Michigan after his last visit earlier this month:  "I felt really good with the players and really enjoyed all the people," Zettel said. "They gave me insight on all of it and I asked every question I could about the school, whether it was a good fit for them, what they like about the school and what they don't like."

As you know, I like to do a Tale of the Tape when it comes to previewing a Michigan opponent.  Let's use that same format to weigh some the "recruiting factors" into Anthony decision between the 2 schools. 

Zettel's Tale of the Tape:  Michigan vs Penn State:

Head Coaching Stability:  Push.  One program is run by an 84 year old figure head that was rumored to be in the hospital all week.  The other program has a coach the needs AD David Brandon to "Lift him up or out" after the Gator Bowl.

State of the Program:  Push.  Yes, Penn State handled Michigan in Happy Valley this year but both finished 7-5.  Depending on what happens with the Bowl Games, I expect them both to be improved next year.

Location:  Advantage Michigan.  U of M is hours from home and of course in Ann Arbor, ranked one of the best places to live in the US routinely.  Penn State is in a Valley of happiness that got nearly 2 feet of snow this week or to quote the widely known wordsmith Terrelle Pryor, "The middle of nowhere".

Academics: Both are good schools but the advantage has to go to Michigan if that was an important factor to Anthony.  Some recruits talk about academics being a key factor but truly it isn't that important.

Playing Time:  Advantage Michigan:  Michigan is losing seniors on the defensive line (rumored to be where he wants to play) and would probably looking at a redshirt if he picked the offensive line.  I'm not familiar with PSU's depth chart but from a quick count of their roster they have 14 DE's or DT's that are currently Juniors or below.  There are also 2 other DE's in the 2011 class.

2011 Recruiting:  Advantage Michigan.  Penn State got off to a very slow start but has benefited from a coaching change at Pitt.  It should be a close race to signing day.   Tim at Mgoblog ranks the Big Ten recruiting classes and currently has Michigan at #4 and Penn State at #12 (he includes ND in the rankings due to ND fishing for the same pond as many Big Ten schools).

So to net it out, Anthony picked Penn State over a place that is closer to home so his family could attend every home game, has a quicker path to playing time, been a lifelong fan of, and currently has a better 2011 recruiting class.  Makes sense to me, does it to you? 

I'm guessing the status of Rich Rod and staff played a big role in his decision, that couldn't have waited 7 more days.   Which is too bad.  Maybe after the coaching situation clears up the Wolverines can take another run at the young man.  Penn State we are now even for Michael Shaw. 

Another alarming trend is that 4 top instate prospects (Thomas, Arnett, Zettel, and Showers) all have either gone out of state or Thomas to the Spartans.  Michigan has 5 instate kids in it's 2011 recruiting class including Rivals #84 player in Justice Hayes and 4 star prospect Brennen Beyer.

Wolverine Wednesday: Quick Recruiting Blitz

• Dee Hart is one of 8 finalist for Florida's Mr. Football Award.

• California kicker Connor Loftus now has a Michigan offer.

• Michigan is no longer in Darian Cooper's final 4 schools.  DT has become an urgent need for the Wolverines in this class.  Which you can add to the list with cornerbacks and safeties.  Side Note: The Michigan coaches are just trying to get to the "quiet period" with out losing too many more players on the recruiting trail.  They will resume recruiting visits in January when hopefully the entire coaching drama is past us.   

• If you enjoy pain, here's an article on the Avery Walls decision. 

• More Bad News for Vlad at Colorado:  Embree also informed potential transfer Vlad Emilien, who last played at Michigan, that the CU depth chart was already full at the safety position and needs more cornerbacks. Emilien is now considering Maryland and Southern Mississippi.
  Emilien was hoping former secondary coach Ashley Ambrose would be retained. When he learned that didn't happen, Ambrose told him he should still consider CU because Greg Brown was returning to the program and had served as Ambrose's position coach in the NFL and coaching mentor at the college level. But then Emilien said Embree called to tell him the bad news. "They need corners so I'm looking at other options," Emilien said.  Good luck to Vlad and I hope his knee continues to heal.

Speaking of Darian Cooper, JoPa told him he plans to coach maybe 4-5 more years.  If you haven't heard it yet,  below is JoPa's radio interview that didn't go so well.

Big Ten Week 9 Previews

With all the NCAA news breaking, I all most forgot to give you the most anticipated post of the week.  My thrilling Big Ten Preview.   I know, it's exciting.   Which is just the opposite of the Big Ten match ups this weeks.   Not one good match up.  That's right not one. 

On to the show........................

Minnesota at Michigan State:  Not much to say it this one.  It's the Big Ten's last place vs the Big Ten's first place team.  MSU got embarrassed at Iowa after MSU's head coach allowed a player to leave a jail cell and step right into practice and play on Saturday.  Sometimes karma is a B*tch, right coach?  Back to the game.  This one won't be close and the Spartans are a 24 point favorite.   MSU 42 Minn 10


Iowa at Indiana:  I am officially off the IU train.  Michigan has made them out to be something they are not the last two years.  Here is another game that won't be close with Iowa favored by 17 points.  I expect Iowa to be a bit asleep early since this game comes after the Michigan, Wisconsin, and MSU stretch.   It will be closer then we think.  Iowa 28  IU 17


Wisconsin at Purdue:  Wow, here is another miss match.   Purdue is struggling without a healthy QB and  made news this week as Danny Hope complained about Zook running up the score on the Boilermakers last week.   The last Big Ten head coach that made a statement like that was Tim Brewster against Wisconsin and now Tim is out of a job.    I sure hope The Badgers keep it within 30 points.  Wisconsin is favored by 20.  Wisconsin 38 Purdue 3.  Can you ever get enough of this guy?  I can't

Northwestern at Penn State:  This is the most even match up of the weekend.  Penn State is coming off an impressive offensive performance against Michigan's dazed and confused defense last weekend.  Northwestern got by Indiana 20-17 to get to 6-2 this year.  This game could be JoPa's 400th win and the reason it's the 3:30 game.   This game will be really close since Northwestern is a bit under rated and Penn State after last week might be a bit over rated.  JoPa is favored by 6 points. Northwestern 30  Penn State 24 


I will preview the Illinois at Michigan game on Friday.

Michigan - Penn State Preview

Date: Halloween Eve
Location: Happy Valley
Time: 8:00 EST
TV:  ESPN
Weather:  High 54, Low 37 Partly Cloudy
Line: Michigan -3

Michigan is coming off a bye week after 2 losses in a row.  Penn State got a win over the coach less Minnesota Golden Gophers last week where they gave up 433 total yards. So what do you make of that?  I think neither team is where they want to be and that is competing for a Big Ten Championship.   Both have two losses in the Big Ten and holding on for a Bowl game. 

There are other similarities between the two:

• They both have a first year starting QB's. 
• Both are injured (it seems Robert Bolden will be out, while Denard will play)
• Both defenses have struggled
• Both teams have lost to Iowa
• PSU is 4-3
• Michigan is 5-2
• There are questions if both coaches will be there next year.
• Michigan has Michael Shaw that de-committed from Penn State to go to Michigan.   Penn State has Anthony Fera and Kevin Newsome who de-committed from Michigan.

Who wants it more?  That is the most important question on Saturday.  Both teams have the opportunity for their seasons to go bad in a hurry.   Michigan is sitting at 5-2 with 3 winnable games in a row in the Big Ten before Wisconsin and Ohio State.   Penn State is barley over .500 and needs wins to get to a bowl game. 

The reason Michigan is favored in this game is due to their top five offense against Penn State's banged up defense.   Michigan is expected to run the ball effectively with Denard and their host of running backs.  Michigan can also stretch the field with their wide receivers if JoPa over commits to the run.

Penn State on the other hand is really banged up at QB where the true freshman starter Robert Bolden is most likely out with a concussion he suffered against Minnesota.  Which leaves Matt McGloin a walk-on sophomore.  When Michigan's defense has played well this year it has been against teams with young/in-experienced quarterbacks.  It's the upperclassmen that have picked the Wolverines apart.   With that said, Penn State does have a talent running back in Evan Royster.  I expect Evan to get a lot of carries this week against Michigan's defense that has given up some big plays in the running game. 

Tale of the Tape

Michigan Offense vs PSU D =  Go Blue

Penn State Offense vs Michigan's D = A real ugly push

Special Teams = Penn State (better place kicking, punting is a push, return game who knows?)

Intangibles = Push (both need a win, night game at home favors PSU but talent favors Mich)


I think the Michigan faithful is much more confident in this game then they were at the beginning of the year.  With that said, this is not an easy win for the Wolverines, no matter who is playing QB for JoPa.  Michigan will have to stop the run and make that young QB beat them with his arm.  The Michigan CB's will have to show improvements over the past two games in letting WR's run free.

Sing Hail to the Victors if..........

• Denard is week 1-5 Denard
• Michigan doesn't turnover the ball
• The young PSU QB looks young and confused
• Denard has 150 on the ground and so does two Michigan RB's
• The Michigan D gets stops against the young PSU offense

Shout I hate saying Go Blue when Penn State is wearing blue jersey's if..........

• Evan Royster is finding huge holes in the Michigan D
• Matt McGloin is the next Troy Aikman
• Michigan is sloppy and confused after the bye week
• Michigan's LB's keep losing contain
• Michigan beats themselves

I expect the Wolverines to have renewed focus and rest after the bye week and play a very good game.   I hope Michigan fixed things on defense and worked in a few new looks on offense.  A win = Bowl Game which they haven't had in two years.  With the game on prime time national TV they should be ready to play.  

If Michigan doesn't make the same mistakes they made against MSU and Iowa they should win the game even if the defense shows up for only part of the time.  With that said, I expect Michigan's D to get a lot of stops against young Penn State's offense. (examples UConn and ND first half)   If Michigan can pressure the young QB and not let Royster beat them, they should be in good shape.    Michigan 38 Penn State 24


GO BLUE!

Rich Rod's Press Conference Notes - Now with Denard Updates..........

Excited about the night game.  It's a fun experience at Happy Valley.

Big Will is working on the offensive line and Quinton Washington is now on the defensive lines, the moves are permanent yet. 

Fitz Toussaint should be ready to play this week, not sure if he will contribute or not.

Denard is the starter, Tate has played well but Denard will continue to play.  Not expecting to play both QB's.

Denard just needs to minimize the major mistakes.

Devin has a back issue and it might lead to a medical redshirt (really didn't answer the question).   He is learning the offense and picking up more each week.

Watching games on TV is not as good as watching the tape, you don't pick up enough of the play on TV.

Saw Auburn QB Cam Newton at Florida when Tebow was there, knew he was a special player then.

Mike Martin and David Molk did a little bit last week and should be ready to go this week.  Same with Shaw.

JoPa is a great coach with a great staff.

The Penn State fans will be jacked up and they have really good players that are ready to execute. 

Every game we play is critical.  Everyone puts a little more importance on a league game.

You can't press the issue and let the game come to you.  The times we have pressed the issue we have gotten in trouble.

Denard's shoulder needed some rest and he got that last weekend.


Craig Roh:

A week to heal is great looking forward to this weekend. 

He feels refresh.

They have been working on fundamentals the past week.

Just watched the Penn State game.

He gets more out of watching film but he can get stuff from watching the game on TV.

Defense has been improving and it's slowly showing on the field.

Thought Quinton Washington should have been playing defense weeks ago.  Just has the right mentality for defense.

Mike Martin is an amazing athlete and can take on 3 blockers.

Loves night games.  You feed off the excitement from the crowd.

Team is looking forward and staying positive.


Vincent Smith 

Didn't watch any football on TV this week.

Trying to get his body right this week.

This bye week got us back on track.

Saw that Hopkins was special at the end of camp, a good down hill runner.

The team is hungry and been correcting mistakes the past week.

He likes being in space and doesn't mind playing wide receiver.

He is 100% healthy.

Denard Robinson

Feeling good and it feels great having a week off. 

Hung out, slept a lot during the week.

Treating the shoulder everyday last week

Team came together during the week and learned from the mistakes.

Didn't like sitting out practice.

Trainers kept him out of Iowa game, he couldn't go. 

Cam Newton played a great game.

More as a team this year.

The turnovers were preventable.

(about his speech to the team after the MSU game) He rather lead by actions then words but didn't want the season to go the way it did last year and felt he needed to say something.  Didn't want anyone to be down.

Big Will is going to be a good offensive guard.

You don't hear the fans when your on the field.  Just focused on the game.


Steve Schilling

Big Will is going to be a good offensive lineman when he figures out what he is doing.  He almost played D line like an offensive lineman. 

When Quinton hits someone it's going to hurt.  They always joked about the two changing positions.

Team is excited about the trip to Happy Valley. 

Recharged the batteries and watched some football last weekend. 

Jibreel Black will have a great career here.

Taylor gets amped up and Steve tries to calm him down a bit.

Only going to run through the tunnel 2 more times.  Looking forward to the last 5 games to end the season right.