Michigan Football Chatter: MSU Week

• While we should be focused on the game in front of Michigan, let's start with a look at Don Brown's comments, which innocently enough came last week on the bye and only now are getting much talk because Ohio State beat writers found it and asked OSU coach Ryan Day about them.

On Jon Jansen's "In The Trenches" podcast Nov. 6, Brown was asked about getting ready for THE Game, and offered this response: "I think we’ve done a good job of giving our guys stuff on a week-to-week basis where they’re probably wondering, ‘Why are we practicing this play? Why are we practicing that play?’ So, we’ve done a good job of keeping their hands in it without really telling them their hands are in it. But, they know.

"It’s another year, it’s a different group. They better be careful now because we’re hitting our stride too. This is a two-way street, and I know our guys will be ready in three weeks."

The "they better be careful now" line is what's getting attention, essentially Buckeyes turning it into trash talk that Brown, who's defense gave up 62 points a year ago, is promising to shut down Ohio State this time around.

Among Michigan circles, that made numerous sources I spoke to laugh, though at least two mentioned they wish Brown didn't say it. Still, there is extreme confidence in Schembechler Hall that 2019 will not be a repeat of 2018 or Penn State 2017 or even Wisconsin 2019.

"Some of the things we were talking about in the preseason have come to fruition - this is one of smartest, highest football IQ, most experienced and most athletic defenses we've ever seen," an insider shared. "The exponential growth they've made week to week has been incredible. I dare say I haven't seen a defense get this much better throughout a season since that 2011 team.

"They have athleticism, they have speed, they have playmakers on every level. Don Brown has a terrific scheme in place, he's calling great games, they've implemented zone, they're solid in their man-to-man concepts. He's taken good long looks in the mirror this season and has adjusted every time there's been a weakness.

"I know no one wants to get overconfident, but there is really good reason to believe that the defensive performance we see on Nov. 30 will look like 2016 and not 2018. Will we be able to do it enough offensively to win, though?"

• THAT is the question. By now, it's pretty well understood what this Michigan offense is and what it's not going to be. The Wolverines self-identified their biggest potential strengths in late September, and that was the offensive line's ability to run block (though they're pretty good at pass blocking too), the ability to create big plays in the ground game, and the ability to hit a few big plays off play-action and getting their receivers the ball on the edge of the defense, with big, strong wideouts blocking downfield.

That approach didn't change in the bye week.

"Anyone expecting Michigan to come out against State and look like a completely different offense ... don't," one of our sources offered. "They've obviously been working to get better in every area, but when the lights go on Shea is gonna be Shea. I honestly give the coaches a lot of credit for working around his limitations.

"I think when we revisit this season, the biggest question is not going to be whether they got the most out of Shea, but whether they made the right decision to go with him in the first place. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Dylan [McCaffrey] was the better quarterback coming out of fall camp, but in my opinion and a few others I've spoken to, there was more clay to work with, more to mold.

"In retrospect, I think the staff was concerned about going on the road and beating Wisconsin and doubled-down on committing to Shea, and it obviously didn't work out well. If they gambled on Dylan, there was a greater concern about winning that game and so Shea was the guy. No one expected the regression we've seen."

• A second source isn't willing to let the staff completely off the hook for that decision or for Patterson seemingly taking steps back compared to last year. In fact, close to the Brandon Peters' situation and talking to coaches at Illinois, this person thinks there has been a common thread with U-M quarterbacks.

"Talking to some of the coaches at Illinois, they were shocked how mentally defeated Brandon Peters was when he got there," this source noted. "The physical talent was there, and they saw it on film when he first got his chance [for Michigan in 2017] but they had to rebuild his confidence from scratch.

"Now, I understand, that can be deceived as a disgruntled former player and comments from a competitor, but if you look at Wilton Speight, John O'Korn after he came in from Houston, Peters, and now Patterson they all got worse.

"I've been told by a former Michigan coach one of the biggest points of contention he had [with Jim Harbaugh] is the way the quarterbacks are coached. They grind them down, place handcuffs on them. The overarching philosophy is preaching not making mistakes instead of making plays, and it's reinforced over and over again in practices, in meeting rooms, watching film, and so these guys become so preoccupied with playing it safe that they never take calculated risks anymore.

"Whether it's a conscious decision or not, Jim Harbaugh is creating game managers in an era where quarterbacks are a team's greatest playmakers. And until something gives, you're going to see the pattern repeat, with McCaffrey, with [Joe] Milton with [2021 commitment] JJ McCarthy."

• Let's finish with some positive chatter. Multiple sources believe Michigan is poised and ready for a big weekend against Michigan State, and that given the opportunity, Harbaugh will put his foot on the gas pedal.

"I think what you saw against Notre Dame, when they're running up the score in the fourth quarter … that is only the tip of the iceberg for what Michigan would like to do against Michigan State," the insider shared. "Jim Harbaugh is a man that doesn't forget. He's aware of every smug comment, every dig, every slight that Mark Dantonio has thrown Michigan's way, even before Harbaugh arrived.

"The 2015 game, what went down in 2017, he hates these guys, and he feels the pain of Michigan fans every where when it comes to Michigan State. He wants to beat these guys 49-3 [like U-M did in 2002] not just this year but every year. He knows what he inherited, with MSU on top, and his goal is to make it clear to everyone in the state that Michigan State will never be top dog again."