The Michigan Insider

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Digging into Michigan's struggles, Jim Harbaugh, Don Brown and more Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

In an admittedly lengthy episode, we review how Michigan has gotten to this point, what’s next and tackle listener questions about Jim Harbaugh, Don Brown and more.

We open by resetting our conversation from Sunday’s episode, looking at the seat temperatures of Brown and Harbaugh. We then go big picture and look at what has gone the most wrong in the Jim Harbaugh era, diving into defensive tackle woes, slow-to-adapt offenses and defenses and possible program-wide overconfidence. We also look at the recruiting side of things, discussing arguable shortcomings at defensive tackle, cornerback, quarterback and more.

In the second half of the show, we do more coaching-change discussions. We look at the viability of firing an assistant midseason, why the cons outweigh the pros to waiting until the season ends, what we would do in Michigan’s shoes with Don Brown and a potential Notre Dame comparison.

We then discuss Jim Harbaugh’s status with the program, including what we think will happen, coaching candidates we’d look at first if he left, what is going through Harbaugh’s mind and the Athletic Department’s role in what has happened to Michigan and what’s next.

Indiana recap and hot seat talk Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we break down the Michigan football team's 38-21 loss to No. 13 Indiana, what went wrong for the Wolverines and what's next.

We begin by discussing the biggest surprises for Michigan in yet another stunning loss. We look at the Wolverines' continued defensive coverage woes, lack of a pass rush and run game and whether or not Michigan had an energy problem in the first half.

We also discuss if the Wolverines can fix some of their issues on both sides of the ball, looking at Michigan's skill position players, the team's defensive tackles and some problems that can't be fixed.

We close by taking a temperature at the job status of Michigan's top coaches (Don Brown, Jim Harbaugh, Josh Gattis), then each take our turns "airing it out" on a topic we wanted to discuss further.

Michigan-Indiana preview 2020 Nov 06, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we preview the No. 23 Michigan football team’s road matchup against No. 13 Indiana.

We begin with some discussions of players we’re keeping a close eye on from the Wolverines. In doing so, we look at Michigan’s offensive line and a potential shakeup among the starting group, if Indiana’s offensive line is a potential weak point, if Daxton Hill’s role should change and how the Wolverines could fare in the ground game.

Then, we look at the areas where Michigan should be the most concerned heading into the matchup. Lorenz takes a look at the biggest schematic mismatch in the contest, while Shaw looks at some mental hurdles the Wolverines must avoid as they embark on the rest of their season.

Then, we take a look at some over-under predictions, which sparks discussion about Indiana’s defense, how Michigan’s linebackers and defensive linemen can stay involved, Whop Philyor’s potential impact in the game and more.

We close with our hunches about the game and our final predictions for the matchup.

Director of Personnel & Development Jay Smith, Projecting Chaundee Brown's Impact, Franz Wagner's Breakout, and more - Michigan Basketball Insider Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

Sam Webb and Tim McCormick chat with Michigan Director of Personnel & Development Jay Smith about his early impressions from practice, Juwan Howard's evolution as coach, the program's recruiting philosophy, and more. Sam and Tim also share thoughts Chaundee Brown's likely impact, Franz Wagner's improvement, U-M's projected lineup and the significance of Michigan landing five-star wing Caleb Houstan.

Consequences of Loss to MSU, Scouting Branden Jennings, and Projecting the Impact of 5-star Wing Caleb Houstan - Michigan Recruiting Insider Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu joins Sam Webb, Brice Marich, and Steve Lorenz to discuss the potential impact of Michigan's loss to Michigan State. Is Rayshaun Benny slipping away from Michigan? Is Andrel Anthony warming up to the Green & White? Was Donovan Edwards impacted by the defeat? Brice also recounts his trip to Florida to scout football commit Branden Jennings. Later 247Sports national basketball recruiting analyst Brian Snow joins the podcast to discuss five-star wing Caleb Houstan's commitment to Michigan, his fit on the roster, his potential impact on five-star wing Charles Bediako, and more.

Unpacking Michigan's debacle vs. MSU and what's next Nov 01, 2020

Show notes

In a jam-packed postgame episode, we break down what happened, what it means and what's next following Michigan's stunning 27-24 loss to Michigan State.

We begin with fill in the blank questions, discussing what surprised us most, what the Wolverines need to be most worried about moving forward and, if anything, what Michigan may be able to take solace in. Among the areas we touch on include the Wolverines' pass rush woes, secondary issues, lack of a run game, Joe Milton, offensive play-calling and skill position players.

In the second half of the podcast, we go big-picture with our true-false segment. We look at whether or not this was Jim Harbaugh's worst loss at Michigan, what a recruiting impact from the loss might be, how warm the seats are for Don Brown, Josh Gattis and Jim Harbaugh and how feasible it is for Michigan to still deliver a "good" season this fall.

Michigan-Michigan State preview 2020 Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we preview the No. 13 Michigan football team's home tilt against Michigan State.

Similar to our formula last week before the Wolverines took on Minnesota, we begin by looking at offensive and defensive players that we're keeping a closer eye on. Along the way, we look at how Michigan State's rushing and passing attacks look, while hypothesizing what Michigan's game plan my be.

Then, we look at two things we think the Wolverines should be concerned about. We look at why Michigan State's passing attack could be cause for concern, and why the Spartans' front seven should be a considerable step up from Minnesota's.

We close with our weekly over-under segment, looking at how we think Michigan will fare on offense and defense. We then say our final piece before making our score predictions for the game.

Epic visit weekend on horizon, Recruiting Impact of the Minnesota victory, Josh Burnham, and more - Michigan Recruiting Insider Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

Sam Webb, Brice Marich, and Steve Lorenz discuss the potential impact of Michigan dominant victory over Minnesota on Donovan Edwards, Rayshaun Benny, and top 2022 LB target Jaylen Snead. Ten attention turns to the epic visit weekend set to take place in a few weeks. Ceyair Wright, Domani Jackson, and more. Josh Newkirk joins the conversation to discuss his recent trip to see 2022 LB target Josh Burnham and the former Michigan great the talented youngster compares favorably to. He recaps his trip to Georgia to see 2022 TE commit Marlin Klein and 2022 TE target Oscar Delp.

Michigan-Minnesota recap: Wolverines bully Gophers to open season Oct 26, 2020

Show notes

In our first postgame episode since the 2019 season, we break down the ins and outs of the Michigan football team’s 49-24 win over then-No. 21 Minnesota.

We begin by looking at two offensive and defensive MVPs, and break down how both familiar and new faces stepped up for the Wolverines and what to make of Joe Milton’s first start for Michigan.

Then, we start to look a bit beneath the surface, as we each pick out a player who surprised us. Along the way, we discuss how Michigan’s secondary held up, and what to make of the Wolverines’ freshmen offensive standouts. After that, we each pick a player who did well, but likely won’t get enough credit for their efforts Saturday.

Then, we get bigger picture, playing a round of true-false. We tackle questions on how significant Michigan’s win was, a couple other surprising results in the Big Ten, how good the Wolverines’ offense can be, how concerning some of Michigan’s defensive lapses were and more.

Finally, in an experimental feature, we “air it out,” with each of us dishing on topics on our mind that we hadn’t discussed yet.

Previewing Michigan's matchup at Minnesota Oct 23, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we preview the No. 18 Michigan football team's road trip to open the season at No. 21 Minnesota.

First, we begin by looking at a players to watch on each side of the ball. Along the way, we discuss the weather's role in both teams' run games, and how those matchups play a role in the contest. We also preview to hyped Rashod Bateman vs. Vincent Gray battle, and how Michigan's defensive line stacks up in this contest.

We then each look at one thing we think the Wolverines should be worried about, where we both selected offensive weapons Michigan fans might not have heard of. We close our opening segment by going with our guts, filling in the blank on the sentence, "I have a hunch that ____."

We then proceed with a staple we've used for multiple years, discussing over-unders ahead of the contest. We close with our final analysis and score prediction for the matchup.

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