Michigan at The Voice of College Football

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Welcome to Michigan at The Voice of College Football Network, your home for In-depth discussion, debate, & analysis on all things Michigan. We have you covered from offseason all the way to game day. Join Tj Konarske, John D'Adamo, and Jonny Olden Jr. as we embark on another season as Leaders & Best!Go Blue! For business inquiries please contact: Markrogerstv@gmail.com

  1. 1d ago

    Bryce Starting, Tommy Carr Emerging? / Michigan Wolverines LIVE 271

    Michigan Wolverines LIVE 271 Hosts: John D’Adamo & TJ Ronan Presented by: FanDuel Guest: Marty Leap (Penn State Nittany Lions / Voice of College Football) Focus: Post-bye week outlook, Kyle Whittingham press conference, Bryce Underwood still starting vs. Tommy Carr emerging, broader team issues, and Michigan–Penn State preview. Show context: Results phase after the bye. Fan base largely agrees things must improve regardless of QB stance. Oklahoma win noted as a quality result, but overall performance and record create urgency. Special note that Michelle is out of town and John will be out next week; regular schedule returns afterward. Marty Leap joins later for the Penn State breakdown. Opening & Early Super Chats (~02:20–09:00) Welcome and standard calls to like, subscribe, share, and use Super Chat. TJ frames the moment as “result time.” Fan base is frustrated; the staff and players need to step up. Oklahoma win has value even if the record limits its impact. Super chats touch on Sprague’s absence, Babalola returning to practice sooner, and Witt not buying into Michigan traditions/rivalries/Big Ten style. Quinn’s comment that it’s time to shop for a new coach is noted; hosts say red flags are piling up but started earlier. Brief basketball (Mike Boyden, depth, free throws, freshmen) and hockey (dominant, need to beat Denver, “natty or bust”) side discussion. Hosts urge patience until later in the season before setting expectations. Super Chat on Bryce: “If Bryce sucks again, Whit better bench him.” Hosts agree Indiana should not beat Tommy Carr’s first start and will address how the QB situation is likely to play out. Kyle Whittingham Press Conference & QB Situation (~09:40–~18:00 and continuing) Press conference clip highlights (Whittingham): Emphasizes ball security and turnovers: if the turnover problem is not fixed rapidly, “something’s got to give.” On Bryce Underwood: 6’4”, 230, runs like the wind, strong arm, year of experience plus five games this year. Staff still feels he gives the best chance to win at this point. Hosts’ analysis (primarily TJ, with John): Bryce remains the starter for Penn State. Many expected Tommy Carr to get the Penn State game; instead Bryce gets at least the start/beginning. Runway is no longer infinite. TJ sees Whittingham laying groundwork for Tommy Carr if Bryce does not perform. Tommy Carr received ~50% of snaps during the bye week (Whittingham called it by design). Hosts are skeptical this was purely standard bye-week backup work; it looks like an active evaluation/competition. Tommy’s name was mentioned among players who stood out in the bye (along with others, notably not Underwood). Bryce has a roughly two-game window (Penn State and Indiana). If he does not play at the level Michigan needs and show consistent improvement/cleaner football, Tommy comes in—even mid-game against Indiana if they are getting smoked. Good news framing: Fans will get one of two outcomes soon—Bryce improves and everyone wins, or Tommy gets the opportunity. Portal shopping remains a longer-term reality if neither works. John notes a caller’s prediction that Bryce starts vs. Penn State, looks good enough to keep the job, Michigan squeaks by, then Indiana crushes them and Tommy is inserted in a worse spot. TJ stresses Bryce should get the chance to respond (he responded after prior struggles) but does not get an unlimited leash. He is not a “forever Bryce” guy; patience is limited to confirming whether it can click. Key quote / takeaway: “If Bryce does not play at a level that is what Michigan needs out of its quarterback… I do see Tommy Carr coming in… A change at quarterback is very, very close.” Tommy Carr’s opportunity is “soon.” Broader Team Problems (Bigger Than Just the QB) (~18:00–~32:00) TJ argues the QB is not the sole issue and the simple “change the quarterback” answer is incomplete: Coaching staff is a problem (not out yet, but red flags mounting). Special teams are a problem. Running game is a problem (ranked in the 120s; not solely because of Bryce—box has been loaded for years). Penalties are a major issue (one of the most penalized teams offensively; many line penalties—primarily on Harding and the line). Offense ranked ~115th; schematic and execution issues beyond the QB. Jason Beck is limiting the offense (half-field reads prominent; using Rhino packages to create them). Last year’s offense had more explosiveness/deep balls. Beck has not fully adapted to the personnel (O-line used to power/Sharon-style run game, not zone/Hogan Hanson stretch blocking). He is stuck on Rhino even while shifting somewhat toward 11 personnel. Offensive line is okay in pass pro (often near max protection with extra blockers) but run blocking has been poor. Not playing elite or even really good. Situational play-calling consistency is lacking (better first-half creativity/flea-flickers/wildcat at times; second half goes flat and horizontal). Loss to Minnesota (first since 2014 under Hoke) and overall standard (should be competing with Ohio State/Georgia for 10–11 wins and playoff contention) make the urgency real. On the coaching staff / Whittingham: Whittingham said not much is changing; focus on what has worked and don’t panic over “one or two setbacks.” Hosts push back—offense ranked in the hundreds is more than a couple of setbacks; there are schematic issues. Some hope for gamesmanship (not tipping hand vs. Penn State). Whittingham’s stoic/composed approach in chaos is noted; some want more visible fire (comparisons to DeBoer, Cignetti, Saban, Harbaugh, Kirby Smart’s leaked “f**k the scoreboard… f**k these bitches up” speech). Punt returner change: Marsh is out at the position (inconsistent, muffs, bad decisions). Whittingham attributed it to injury; hosts call that misleading and prefer a direct explanation. New returner not announced. TJ’s bottom line on the next two games: If Bryce plays at a Minnesota level again, TJ joins the “bench him” crowd. But throwing Tommy in against Indiana is not ideal; a controlled look would be better. If Bryce struggles and the running game, penalties, and sloppiness continue, the focus shifts harder to Beck and Harding. Penn State Preview with Marty Leap (~1:44:00 onward) Marty joins for keys and prediction. Discussion covers both programs’ coaching situations (Campbell vs. Franklin historical comparison, fan-base patience, personality fit in central Pennsylvania, three coaches in ~70 years at Penn State). Marty’s keys & outlook: Defense: Contain Bryce Underwood’s legs. Penn State has generated a lot of pressure (high QB pressures, fewer sacks) but has not finished. Rushing up the pocket and allowing Underwood to escape into cleared space is dangerous. QB run has hurt them (Temple, Wisconsin). Injuries (e.g., Max Granville, Achilles) have hurt the pass rush. Offense: What version of Rocco Becht shows up? Better vs. USC (21/32, 289, TD) but still hesitant, bails early, underthrows deep balls that were open (missed potential game-icing throws to Eskildson). Can’t rely on the run game. Prediction: Ugly, low-scoring defensive battle. Michigan wins 15-13 or 12-10 type score at home. Not a fun watch for neutrals. Marty is not picking Penn State until they prove they can win again after the recent stretch. TJ / John keys: Michigan’s offense must execute against Penn State’s defense; Bryce must play well. If Bryce struggles and Michigan’s defense holds, Tommy enters. Turnover margin is critical: Michigan ~116th (negative margin); Penn State ~15th (+5). Whittingham said the margin must improve or something has to give. Winning the turnover battle + solid Bryce play + offense executing = Michigan win. Special teams (kickoff coverage, punt return) must improve—Penn State has a dynamic returner in Zay Robinson (strong averages, multiple long returns). Michigan ranks near the bottom in opponent kickoff returns. Michigan needs disciplined football (limit penalties); Penn State should try to force undisciplined play (jumping offsides, gimmicks). Predictions: Marty: Michigan 15-13 / 12-10 range, ugly. TJ: Michigan 19. John: Michigan 13, Penn State 9. All see a low-scoring defensive slugfest; Big House is a slight edge. Marty notes the Big House has historically been a house of horrors for Penn State (blowouts, few wins outside COVID year). He promotes Penn State VOCFB content (X: MartyL_53; weekly live postgame + midweek videos). Closing Super Chats & Wrap (~2:00–end) Discussion of coaching fire/passion (DeBoer, Cignetti, Kirby, Harbaugh). Personnel vs. scheme on the O-line; calls for more power/duo/inside zone that the line is used to. Beck has made some adjustments but still leans on wildcat/jet elements that stagnate. Recruiting/portal outlook: O-line is a must; other positions (tight end, corner, QB) likely addressed. High-school class is small. Reminder of Thursday call-in show and Saturday postgame. Final call: Figure it out and perform. “Go Blue and f**k Ohio.” Overall takeaway: Bryce Underwood starts vs. Penn State with a short leash (roughly two games). Tommy Carr is being prepped and is close if Bryce does not improve. Hosts see larger issues (Beck’s scheme/adaptation, O-line run blocking, penalties, special teams, coaching consistency) that a QB change alone will not fix. Penn State game is expected to be an ugly, low-scoring defensive battle decided by turnovers, discipline, and whether Bryce can play cleanly enough. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. 5d ago

    The Great QB Debate - Michigan Wolverines Call-in Show LIVE 108

    Michigan is on a bye after the Minnesota loss, and the fan base is split roughly 70-30. TJ Ronin and Johnny Olden spent the show on Kyle Whittingham, Jason Beck, the penalty problem, and whether Bryce Underwood still gets the ball coming out of the bye. Show setup Hosts: TJ Ronin and Johnny Olden Jr. MichiganVOCFB call-in, episode 108. Bye week, no game to grade. TJ frames the room as angry and divided, about 70-30, and says the Bryce Underwood–Tommy Carr debate is the live topic. Second hour is tied to Super Chats and memberships. FanDuel read is Lions -5.5 vs. Arizona; both take Detroit, with a nod to Drew Petzing knowing the Cardinals. Kyle Whittingham: Johnny is out ~4:10–6:15. Johnny is done with Whittingham. He says Whittingham was pushed toward a figurehead role at Utah, has no fire or attention to detail, and cannot coach week to week in the Big Ten. Western Michigan was a fight: undisciplined, penalties stacked, offense abysmal. Scheme complaint lands on Beck too. Johnny wants downhill runs with the two bruiser backs, not Rhino/read-option stuff that forces Underwood to read everything. Whittingham, as CEO, should have killed that weeks ago. Johnny does not care about the Utah résumé. “What have you done for me lately?” TJ is concerned, not out ~8:35–10:20. TJ agrees on the red flags: slow starts, no juice, 10–12 men, penalties. He says this is the most penalized Michigan team of the decade. He is not firing Whittingham yet. His read is that Whittingham trusted the defense (playoff-caliber under Jay Hill) and let Beck run the offense, and the bye is when real changes should show. Kerry Combs, Beck, and Whittingham all concern him. The line that sticks: Whittingham in Week 5 saying he does not have an answer, and calling this the biggest challenge of his career despite the most talent he has had. ~11:00–13:20. Johnny does not buy the “we’ll get it fixed, I don’t know how long” answer. Buyout talk lands around $20–25 million. TJ says Michigan already paid a roughly $30 million bill and will pay this one if the losses pile up (Penn State, Michigan State, Ohio State, on top of Minnesota). Johnny’s picture: lame-duck year, then out if it gets bad enough. Penalty numbers ~14:30–15:10. TJ’s on-air look-up: 2026 is at 7.6 penalties and 66.4 penalty yards per game. Closest recent comp is the 2020 COVID year at 5.6 penalties per game, about two fewer flags and 20 fewer yards. That is the cleanest “this staff is not the disciplined Utah brand” stat on the show. The QB debate Johnny on Underwood (~16:30–19:10): Cannot read the field. Locks on the first receiver. Fine early if he gets in a groove; once it goes bad or the game is on him, he regresses fast. Iowa was the exception because Iowa does not change much. Minnesota’s last two drives were the break for Johnny: locked on, threw into double and triple coverage, and on the last play faked a read, flipped his body, and chucked it. Johnny says the delayed tight end was open. PJ Fleck’s timeout saved an earlier interception into triple coverage, and Underwood came back and did the same thing. TJ’s counter (~21:10–27:30): Do not burn the season off two bad games. Western Michigan and Minnesota were unacceptable. Oklahoma, UTEP, and Iowa were usable data points, and the 70 percent was quiet then. Underwood was not the only regression vs. Minnesota. Andrew Marsh is scared to return punts. Whole offense is broken, which is why TJ wants Beck addressed. Fan anger is cumulative, plus expectations were higher. Winning covers ugly quarterback lines; losing does not. He cites the old USC win with Alex Orji barely throwing. Zach Marshall leak (~23:50–25:30): Johnny is not surprised. He had been in Marshall’s TikTok live two weeks earlier; Marshall agreed Beck was a problem. Johnny says some of the leaked complaints are fair, but Marshall trusted the wrong person. Three outcomes: team crumbles, stays inconsistent, or the leak forces coaches and players onto the same page. Build the offense around the quarterback you actually start. TJ’s plan out of the bye (~26:35–31:00): Underwood starts. Two-game leash: Penn State, then Indiana. He does not want Tommy Carr’s first start to be Curt Cignetti. If Underwood lays another Western Michigan, the hand is forced even inside that window. No playoff urgency. Do not rush the decision on a Friday of the bye. Johnny’s counter: The rest of the schedule is hard. Waiting means Carr still debuts into Penn State, Michigan State, Rutgers types who have not beaten Michigan in a while and smell blood. If you are going to start him, give him first-team reps these two weeks and build the offense to him. TJ hates taking reps from the starter you claim you are still developing. Later-hour final thoughts The back half (from ~2:07) is a panel, not just TJ and Johnny. Ben: Start the Carr clock. Staying with Underwood looks like 7-5 or 6-6. Carr might not be better, but there is a chance. TJ grants the development-clock argument and notes the locker room is still behind Underwood. Keith: Bowl eligibility is in doubt. He can see four or five more losses with Underwood. Best arm on the roster, not the IQ for a Big Ten job. Western Michigan throw is the proof of the arm. BW: Foundation over the quarterback soap opera. Clean up penalties, scheme better, run for 200. He thinks it is scheme and details, not “wrong players.” Did not sign up for a Utah-style fade. Two darker notes: how the Underwood recruitment went down, and the coaching fit. Defense credit (~2:12): Jay Hill has the defense sixth nationally and playing elite. Nobody is talking about it because the offense is wasting it. 2027 framing: One voice wants Carr now so Michigan knows whether it needs a portal quarterback. Staff is likely having that exact bye-week talk, and pulling Underwood is on the table because the coaches are taking heat. Dampier comes up as a name; the panel is already skeptical. Counter: a competent quarterback should lighten the box. Johnny’s better argument is that even when Michigan could run last year, Underwood still could not read pressure, and this year’s run scheme does not fit the backs. One-dimensional became zero-dimensional. Johnny’s close (~2:16): Blame Underwood or Beck if you want. The number one problem is Whittingham. He would not fire him today. Lame duck through the year, top three ready (Jay Hill, “Dilly,” whoever), new coach the moment the season ends. The fan-base kill shot is losing to Ohio State. They already lost the Little Brown Jug; last Minnesota loss of that jug was 1977. TJ’s close: Another week before anyone knows if the run game, the flags, the personnel, or Underwood actually moved. Most talent Whittingham has had, and he is botching it. Sideline color that stuck Big Ten basketball media day question to Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKinney: do they feel pressure to pick up for football? Hosts treat that as rock bottom. Rivals “feeling bad” is not to be trusted. No guaranteed wins left. Western Michigan should have been a loss. Sparty may have the better quarterback. Someone floats Jonathan Smith as a better scheme fit. Underwood as captain: hosts say they never see him settle the offensive line or lift the sideline. He smiles and talks to nobody when it is bad. Nobody on the show can remember a sideline shot of Whittingham talking to Underwood, or inspiring any position group. Johnny calls that weird for a head coach and a quarterback. Theory floated: Underwood is not Whittingham’s guy, and a $12 million collective decision may be above the coach’s head. TJ thinks any “you can’t bench him” order is fading. Whittingham told Underwood in Florida he was the guy. Harbaugh never really recruited Underwood. Panel splits on whether that was NIL timing or Harbaugh seeing something. Whittingham publicly said it is not only Bryce and not only Beck. TJ’s read: he is saying everything is broken, including the quarterback, in political language. Clip timestamps 4:12–6:18. Johnny: “I’m out on Witt.” Utah figurehead, no fire, Western Michigan as the evidence. 9:00–10:30. TJ: most penalized Michigan team of the decade, but not ready to fire him. Combs, Beck, Whittingham all concern him. 14:34–15:08. Penalty stat: 7.6 flags and 66.4 yards per game vs. 5.6 in 2020. 16:29–19:05. Johnny on Underwood’s locks, the Fleck timeout, and the last-play fake read. 26:37–28:20. TJ’s two-game leash: Penn State and Indiana, then Carr if it is still broken. 2:12:00–2:12:35. Jay Hill and a top-six defense nobody is crediting. 2:16:42–2:17:50. Johnny: Whittingham is the problem. Lame duck, then a pre-loaded hire. 2:18:35–2:19:00. Little Brown Jug. Last time was 1977. 2:23:00–2:24:45. “Have you ever seen Witt and Bryce talk?” Where they landed Johnny is out on Whittingham as the head coach and leaning toward starting Carr’s clock, but he would let Whittingham finish as a lame duck. TJ still wants Underwood out of the bye on a short leash and thinks the bye is the first fair window for scheme fixes. Both agree Minnesota was not good enough, the penalty profile is historically bad for this decade, and the defense is the only unit playing like the preseason pitch. No one on the show thinks the season is fixed until Penn State shows something. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  3. Oct 7

    Start The Carr? / Michigan Wolverines LIVE 270 Part 2

    Start The Carr? — Michigan Wolverines LIVE 270, Part 2. Hosts John D’Adamo and TJ Ronin. Bye-week debate on Bryce Underwood’s runway, Tommy Carr, Jason Beck, Kyle Whittingham’s buyout, and the Chip Lindsey reporting. Core take TJ is in the minority (~30%) that wants one more look at Bryce after the Minnesota regression before flipping to Tommy Carr. He is not defending sustained poor play. His line: either Bryce responds, or Tommy starts — and that fork is close. John and chat lean toward the change now. They agree the defense should not be thrown out with the offense. Segment notes Protect Tommy’s development (0:00–2:10) TJ argues Michigan should ease Tommy in the same way he wanted Bryce eased last year. The “microwave” demand for instant results blew that up. He tells chat disagreement is fine; insults, misinformation accusations, and personal attacks are not. He frames his confidence as pattern recognition from consulting work, not emotion, and says he has no problem being against roughly 70% of the fan base on this take. Clip: 0:10–0:31 — “Protect Tommy’s development… we just fast-forwarded through that because we’re a microwave society.” Sherrone “romance” super chat (2:13–4:46) Adam Lamparello jokes the real story is romance and a redemption arc for Sherrone Moore. Hosts push back: the fan base was miserable under Sherrone (“goldfish memory”), and calling him back is not a plan. Side note that his wife stayed loyal. Whittingham’s buyout is floated at $5 million — “not financially tied” — with the caveat they can cut bait. They do not want to lose the defense; if the scheme fails, hire a more pro-style OC. Chip Kelly as OC next to Jay Hill is the hypothetical. OC history named: Josh Gattis, Kirk Campbell, Matt Weiss. Clip: 3:03–3:24 — “Goldfish memory… you were miserable with Sherrone… Whittingham’s buyout’s only five million.” Titanic / don’t open Christmas early (4:49–7:20) Chat calls TJ the guy on a deck chair on the Titanic. He runs with it: fan base jumping lifeboats with Tommy Carr’s face on them while the band plays. Counter: Rome wasn’t built in a day; Harbaugh took seven years and a chunk of the fan base was out on him before the title. Christmas-present frame — Tommy is the gift under the tree. Open it too early and you lose the surprise. Best case is Bryce figures it out and you still get a Tommy year later. Worst case, the Tommy season comes anyway. Clip: 4:49–5:27 — Titanic / lifeboats with Tommy’s face. Clip: 6:22–6:45 — “If you allow a little time… Bryce does figure it out… if it doesn’t, you get your Tommy Carr season.” Why no portal QB (7:21–8:19) TJ: portal QBs were scared off by Bryce’s NIL, and Bryce was given the keys. With a guaranteed starter, Fowler-Nicolosi was about the ceiling of what they could land. Not a real open competition this offseason. The Penn State deal (8:40–10:35) TJ’s public offer: if Bryce’s first half against Penn State looks like the second half against Minnesota, the staff makes the change. Leash is short. Outcome is binary — Bryce figures it out, or Tommy starts. He is not arguing for an endless runway if the Minnesota version continues. He wants the response to the regression, with training wheels off. Clip: 9:06–9:29 — “If Bryce plays the first half against Penn State like the second half against Minnesota… the coaching staff is going to make that change… either Bryce figuring it out or Tommy Carr starting.” Chase Herbstreit / Carr hype (11:00–12:44) Chase is not the answer unless they’re up big; arm talent isn’t there (spring game). Conspiracy jokes that he’s a Ryan Day “spy” get laughed off — he’s here for a better deal and a broadcast path. Tommy hype is amplified by the CJ Carr legacy and by how he’s looked in limited snaps (spring, UTEP). TJ: reasonable belief he could be more consistent, but not enough evidence yet. Juice, Chip Kelly, Michigan Metal (12:45–15:20) TJ wants more fire from Whittingham; slow starts and lack of juice bother him. Chip Kelly as 2027 head coach is a no — he doesn’t recruit, and his own comments suggest he doesn’t want another HC job. Michigan is not a “linear” landing spot anyway. Shout-out to Michigan Metal (@Michigan_metal) for All-22 and for pushing back on Connor Stalions. Frame for the show: town square, debate ideas, answers will reveal themselves. Utah OC aside (16:51–17:40) Who called the Utah offense that hung ~50 on Ohio State? Andy Ludwig. Long OC résumé (Utah, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, San Diego State, Cal); he later stepped down. Buyout correction (18:26–20:46) Steve asks who they’d hire if Whittingham has to go if there’s no improvement. TJ first says zero chance he’s fired. They reconcile the numbers: ~$5 million if he’s poached; if fired without cause he’s owed 75% of remaining base salary — about $24.75 million if fired this year. That is not happening. Other reasons to stay put: defense is the strength, this is mostly an offense problem, board of regents turnover, AD change, new president in about two months. New AD will want a year to evaluate. Best realistic move is an OC change, and even that is uncertain because Whittingham pulled Beck and company out of good situations and they followed him. Clip: 19:30–20:08 — Fired without cause ≈ $24.75 million. “That’s not happening… the defense is great… it’s an offense issue.” Poll: who’s the problem? (22:08–23:42) 252 votes. Jason Beck 40%, Bryce Underwood 37%, Kyle Whittingham 12%, run game 11%. About 63% say the biggest issue is not Bryce. Hosts: fan base wants a pound of flesh; TJ isn’t there, but the frustration is real. Christmas-present closer again. Chip Lindsey reporting (23:43–26:56) Wolverine notes Chip Lindsey was paid $750K to leave (hosts assume Mizzou covered it). TJ shares what he was told over the summer: concepts practiced during the week never got called on Saturday, including Donovan Edwards in the passing game. Frustration from players and staff. Chip was technically QB coach, but day-to-day work with Bryce sat with a coach transcribed as Synagoga. Sherrone reportedly did not want Chip working directly with Bryce while they fought over whose plays got called. TJ stresses he is not Sam Webb or Balas — occasional group-chat info, not a daily pipeline, and he will not burn sources. Clip: 24:14–24:47 — “They would run plays and concepts during the week and they would never see the light of day on Saturday… Donovan Edwards not being utilized in the passing game.” Donors and close (27:00–32:26) TJ: donors are frustrated after the Minnesota loss — unsurprising. No specific Underwood-donor chatter beyond that. Sign-off: Thursday show at 8 p.m. Eastern. Next Michigan Monday moves to Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern because of John’s Vegas trip (not Tuesday); Michelle can’t make that one. Community post coming. TJ will own it if Tommy gets the job and is the answer. Closing rant on Ohio State fans and Dave Portnoy being bounced from Fox — “F**k Ohio.” Go Blue. Quick hits Position: one more response game for Bryce, then the change is on the table. Not a defense of repeated Minnesota-level play. Portal: Bryce’s NIL and a promised starting job killed real QB competition. Fowler-Nicolosi was the realistic add. Staff heat: Beck leads the fan poll (40%). Whittingham buyout if fired without cause is ~$24.75M, so an in-season firing is a non-starter. OC swap is the only live lever, and loyalty cuts against it. Reporting: Lindsey was handcuffed on Saturday calls; Edwards’ passing role was practiced and not used; Sherrone didn’t want Lindsey on Bryce day to day. Schedule: Thursday 8 p.m. ET; next week’s show is Monday 8 p.m. ET, not Tuesday. Shorts timestamps 0:10 — Protect Tommy / microwave society 3:05 — Goldfish memory on Sherrone 4:49 — Titanic deck chair vs. Tommy lifeboats 6:22 — Christmas present / best of both worlds 7:29 — Portal QBs scared of Underwood’s NIL 9:06 — Penn State leash deal 19:41 — $24.75M buyout if fired without cause 22:24 — Poll: Beck 40, Bryce 37, Whittingham 12, run game 11 24:14 — Plays practiced, never called; Edwards in the passing game 29:33 — F**k Ohio / Portnoy close Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  4. Oct 7

    Start The Carr? / Michigan Wolverines LIVE 270 Part 1

    Michigan Wolverines LIVE 270, Part 1 — “Start the Carr?” Hosts John D’Adamo and TJ Ronin. Presented by FanDuel. The show is a bye-week reaction to the Minnesota loss, the Zach Marshall group-chat leak, Jason Beck’s scheme, and whether Bryce Underwood or Tommy Carr should start against Penn State. Cold open and sponsor (0:00–2:48) Frame: “Is it time to start the Carr?” Film, the leak, and what’s next. FanDuel TNF: Cowboys favored by 8.5 over Tampa Bay. Baker Mayfield is hurt; both hosts take Dallas. John is reluctant as a Bucs fan. Clip: 1:50–2:48 — both pick Dallas despite John’s Bucs lean. OL super chat (2:48–4:15) Austin: “Write Fano and Wilkes blank checks for 2028.” TJ: Fano cannot start yet. The OL is saved by development and the portal, not one freshman. Sprague and Babalola should enter the rotation once healthy. Competition should heat up. Shocked Michigan did not add a portal lineman. Guarnera returns. Babalola is the future left tackle. Guard is the biggest question. Nathan Afobia and Norton have been a struggle bus at guard. Clip: 3:05–3:45 — “what’s only going to save our offensive line is development and potentially portal.” Zach Marshall leak (4:45–11:16) TJ frames it. Leaks were already discussed on Michigan Monday without naming the player. He was told to lay low and did. He had the messages before they went public. What Marshall said (paraphrased, not posted on screen): Beck’s scheme is mostly power read. Tight ends are not a real factor. Frustration after a tight-end room meeting. Beck is telling Underwood where to throw it. Offense is worse than under Sherrone. Blitz them and there is no answer. Extra OL on the field every play. Different versions of power read every snap. Explicit: “Bryce is a good quarterback. This is a Beck problem.” He told the chat not to let it leave. It leaked within about 30 minutes of TJ seeing it. Takeaways: Post-loss locker-room venting is normal. This was tame compared with what usually stays private. Wins cover it up; losses leak. Bob Knight comparison. Marshall apologized and took ownership. He is not the only player who feels this way. Team is still behind Bryce. Marshall’s own texts said that. Parents have told TJ the same. Fan base is too emotional and too quick to dismiss. Have faith the staff is working, or at least wait for data. Clip: 9:14–9:32 — “This is where teams either come together and figure it out or break.” Clip: 10:31–10:55 — Marshall took ownership; he is not the only one who feels that way; team is behind Bryce. Diagnosis: Beck, Bryce, and the run game (11:16–22:40) John: Beck is at fault for some calls. They will show film. The problem is Beck does not have to call a perfect game for Bryce to be serviceable. They are “same floor, different elevators” on the diagnosis. TJ: Beck did not call a perfect game vs Oklahoma or Iowa. Iowa’s biggest issue was kickoff coverage and special teams. Playoff is gone. Priority is program health, development, and direction. Defense is fine. Jay Hill, keep going. Problems are everywhere else: Tighter, Toby, Norton, not just Bryce. Fan split is stuck where it was after Western Michigan: about 70 percent want to move on from Bryce, 30 percent want patience. Nobody changed their mind. They went quiet for three weeks because he was good enough vs Oklahoma, showed progress vs UTEP, then had his best Michigan game vs Iowa. Minnesota was a step back. Locking on receivers, missing open guys, guessing RPOs instead of knowing them (Devin Gardner and Jake Butt). Run game is producing less than half of last year. About 93 yards a game without Bryce’s production, same quarterback. Loaded boxes are real, but Michigan ran the ball the last several years with loaded boxes, including last year without a Joe Moore line. The run scheme has been bad since Week 1. That does not erase Bryce’s accountability. Change for the sake of change. No patience for development. Devin Dampier, Year 1 under Beck (Year 2 of his career, at New Mexico): 57 percent, 2,700 yards, 12 TDs, 12 INTs. This fan base would have benched him. He never would have had the portal-darling year. Bryce does not get an unlimited runway. If this continues, sink or swim. TJ is not “Bryce till the end of the year.” John: We know what we have with Bryce, an inconsistent quarterback who looks better when the defense stays static (Iowa) and struggles when it changes (Minnesota). Very few data points on Carr. It is feasible Carr looks better and Michigan finishes 9-3 and reaches a good bowl. Audio glitch around 17:10–19:00 (buzzing / mic mute). Side note from John: a lot of Sherrone-era players are learning a new offense after power run. Clip: 15:08–16:23 — three quiet weeks, then Minnesota regression. Clip: 21:35–22:10 — Dampier Year 1 under Beck, “y’all would have had him benched.” How they should handle the QB job (24:24–28:40) TJ expects Bryce to start vs Penn State: Staff will try to correct Minnesota. Locker room is behind him. One poor game after three games of progress in a true first healthy year. Last year was regression with no quarterback coach. Other points: First half vs Minnesota, Bryce was the best offensive player. Run blocking is not there. Pass protection has been fairly solid. Harding and the staff have said the run blocking is not where it needs to be. Ten men on the field. Andrew Marsh muffed a punt and failed to fair-catch at the 30, costing about 15 yards on a critical drive. Bryce cannot do that. Do not grade him on the JJ McCarthy curve. JJ had Cade McNamara, a Joe Moore line, and a stronger staff. This fan base wanted Bryce to start immediately last year. TJ was in the minority and wanted a gradual intro, the JJ path. Mikey Keene was hurt. Michigan botched the onboarding. He was not taught to read defenses last year. Window is closing because jobs and careers are on the line. He sees a student learning. Bad half sent him back to old habits in chaos, trying to do too much. Do not rush Carr just because the playoff is gone. Do not burn a second true freshman. Clip: 24:28–24:50 — three reasons Bryce still starts vs Penn State. Clip: 25:58–26:14 — ten men, muffed punt, fair-catch mistake. Blueprint film and half-field reads (28:40–30:40) John, setting up the Blueprint segment: First half, Beck dumbed the offense down. Almost entirely half-field reads. Marshall and the Rhino clear to the other side. Bryce only had two receivers to read. Some “option reads” were not reads. Beck told him where to go. Second half he opened it up. Risk: the defense only has to read half the field and can blow it up. TJ: Bryce clearly cannot read option reads. Coach it. Devin Gardner’s line is repetition. TJ watched the full Blueprint show and has about 15 bullet points. They pivot into a live response to the Devin Gardner / Jake Butt Blueprint film. Clip: 28:58–29:50 — Beck limiting the offense to half-field reads in the first half. Later argument (roughly 31:00–2:26, Part 1 close) The rest of Part 1 stays on the same fork, then opens super chats. Playoff math: TJ says the season is cooked after Iowa and Minnesota, with Western Michigan a possible committee smudge. John says running the table and beating Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon still gets you in. Chat poll is mostly “no” on Carr running the table. John lands on “more likely,” not a bet. Carr sample size: fewer than about 15 snaps. TJ likes how smooth the little he has seen looks, but will not crown him. Fan base is treating him like the savior. Size is the real concern (listed around 180, up toward 195, LSI program). Arm strength is not the issue. The throw to Moa is enough. He is not bulking in-season. Evaluation plan: week-to-week. Three games of progress, then regression. Give Penn State to see if he gets back on the path. If not, make the change. Same developmental curve will apply to Carr. Process of elimination, not an overcorrection. Staff conviction: if Whittingham and the staff have conviction in Carr, TJ agrees they have to change. He does not think they know yet. Whittingham’s first meeting told Underwood he was the quarterback and the leader. Glowing Carr comments since February are legitimate, not pure PR. No leak that the staff is out on Bryce. Portal path: if both QBs struggle, TJ thinks Whittingham keeps Beck and they get Dampier, because coaches stick with what they know. If Beck is fired, Dampier does not come. John is not sure Dampier wants Michigan. TJ says they did not pursue him when Whittingham arrived. Bryce had the full keys. Scheme critics: ball-knowers are questioning Beck, not just Underwood. Run scheme is broken. Passing scheme is more acceptable. Bryce is missing simple RPO reads and checkdowns, and he takes sacks instead of throwing it away. The one time he threw it away was 4th-and-5, the one time he could not. Game-on-the-line throws out of bounds are a red flag. Sideline chirping at coaches and Koi Detmer Jr. while playing like this is how you get benched. The $12 million deal creates an expectation he starts, until it doesn’t. OL names for Penn State: hope Sprague is cleared, Babalola is in the mix, Blake Frazier is good. Afobia is a liability. Guarnera is the only current starter who looks like a Michigan lineman. Argument for Frazier and Sprague. Norton over Afobia. Walbridge is interesting. Identity: some of the base wants Sherrone Moore football back. TJ wants a middle. Power spread can be modern if you have the horses. Luke Fickell comparison. Arthur Smith vs Chip Kelly split. Northwestern’s offense under Kelly looks like a problem. Glad Michigan does not play them. Ohio State does. Accountability order that surfaces late: scheme and run game, Whittingham getting the roster ready, Beck, then Bryce. Not a one-variable prob

  5. Oct 6

    What's Next!? - Michigan Mondays

    Michigan Mondays on MichiganVOCFB with TJ Ronan and Michelle is a bye-week reflection after the Minnesota loss. The hosts treat it as a start-to-finish offensive disaster, with the only real credit going to the defense, and they spend most of the hour on scheme, discipline, Bryce Underwood versus Tommy Carr, and the Harbaugh-return idea. Setup 00:01:41. TJ opens Michigan Monday with Michelle after a rough weekend. They skip the Lions and frame the show as reflection week: Minnesota, the Underwood–Carr debate, and the Harbaugh thesis. FanDuel shout-out. 00:03:02. Hate-watch talk turns to Georgia–Alabama. Michelle likes Alabama at home by more than 1.5, citing momentum off Mississippi State and Alabama’s track record against Kirby at Bryant-Denny. TJ takes Georgia on program strength. Not betting advice. Minnesota 00:04:49. Michigan versus “the fighting PJ Fleck.” Michelle says she over-bought the roster, the stars, and the coordinator upgrades, and even kept some optimism after Iowa. Minnesota wiped that out. 00:05:56. “There was no fight.” Start-to-finish disaster except the defense, which stayed on the field an “ungodly” amount of time. Offense cannot do anything right. She is hesitant to sell silver linings. 00:06:45. TJ says last week’s optimism, multi-area growth, is gone. Kerry Combs kickoff coverage and the punt return are flagged as red marks. Andrew Marsh’s muffed punt is later cited as not Bryce’s fault. 00:07:22. Coaching versus talent. Michelle: coaching. Talent is there (Underwood, Savion Hyder, Buchanan, Marsh). Production, especially the run game, does not match. She calls the run regression coaching malpractice. O-line remains an ongoing concern. 00:08:45. TJ’s numbers: last year under Sherrone Moore, same quarterback, about 186 pass and 210 rush per game. This year through five games, passing is still about 180, but the run is down to 92.6 without Bryce’s numbers. Fan argument is that boxes are loaded because of Underwood. TJ’s counter: they loaded the box last year with worse receivers. 00:10:30. Fan-base split he does not like: Carr versus Underwood, and coaching versus roster talent. He says some respected people fired back at a post he made after frustration leaked publicly. 00:11:12. Defense credit to Jay Hill. Hill got the ball back more than twice late. Offense did not answer. 00:12:08. Whittingham’s presser: no answers. Michelle does not know what is worse, having answers and not changing, or admitting you are as lost as the fans. She was very high on him off the Utah resume. Camera body language looks tired, exhausted, over it. Lack of energy, anger, and answers scares her more than the score. She wonders if he was ready to step aside at Utah and this job found him. 00:14:28. TJ’s concern is a longer learning curve than expected, especially on offense. Beck may still be figuring it out. Two theories: personnel does not fit the scheme (Rich Rod / Ryan Mallett parallel), and the competition is harder than Utah, where Beck had two first-round offensive linemen. Week 1 Western Michigan, Week 2 Oklahoma, then Iowa and Minnesota. East-west concepts they said they would stop still showed up and failed. Spread-without-power has not been sustainable in the Big Ten outside Oregon. Fickell at Wisconsin and Maryland are the failed comps. 00:17:28. Michelle: he is probably capable of an identity shift, but coaches keep trying to make the scheme work. Marshall and Hyder were supposed to be among the best backs in the country. A mobile Underwood should have fit what Beck did with Devin Dampier. It has failed. 00:18:10. Dampier deep dive. Year 1 under Beck (New Mexico, second college season): 57.9 percent, 2,700 yards, 12 touchdowns, 12 interceptions. Fans calling for a benching of Underwood would have benched that version too. Utah was Dampier’s later year with Beck. Locker room and issue ranking 00:20:09. Frustration is leaking. TJ was told to stay quiet, then screenshots went public and a player was named. He will not name the player. Two takeaways: the team still believes in Bryce, and some players think it is the system and are frustrated with Beck. Whittingham has said the runway is not infinite. 00:22:28. Michelle’s top three: play-calling that does not fit personnel, penalties and discipline, and Bryce going bad when he goes bad. 00:23:23. TJ’s ranking: 1) Jason Beck, 2) Kyle Whittingham and discipline, 3) Bryce Underwood. Two things can be true. Do not overcorrect. Fix one thing, then evaluate. Whittingham called this the biggest challenge of his roughly 40-year career and said they will figure it out, timeline unknown. 00:25:48. Michelle is irked by that “biggest challenge” line. Michigan has the resources, brand, fan support, and talent. Compared with being out-resourced at Utah against Oregon and USC, this should have been the easier job. TJ: they expected a smoother jump. Cignetti from James Madison is the counterexample of a coach ready for the stage. Bryce vs. Tommy Carr 00:27:46. TJ: fans are letting Minnesota erase Oklahoma-to-Minnesota progress. Until the second half, Bryce was the best offensive player, and that was close to unanimous. Penalties, a turnover, and the muffed punt wrecked drives. If Bryce is not the sole problem, Carr is not the sole solution. Carr has one notable throw against UTEP backups. 00:29:25. Michelle agrees he is not the primary problem. Discipline and unclean play put them in bad spots. She does not love the interceptions. Bryce plays better when the staff shows confidence. Mechanics erode when that confidence looks gone. Not an excuse, but observed. Premature Carr start risks trashing a promising backup and spiraling Bryce. Season is likely over for the Big Ten title and the playoff at 0-2 in league play. Oklahoma win looks worse by the day. Next year matters more: Bryce and Marsh as juniors, Hyder still there. Do not scrap the future with this year’s quarterback panic. 00:47:45. Leadership question. Players want Bryce to succeed. He is described as a hard worker with locker-room respect. Carr is younger and has not been asked to lead. TJ: players think it is Beck, not Underwood. Bryce still did not play well Saturday. 00:56:52. TJ’s position: Bryce starts against Penn State out of the bye and sinks or swims. If consistency is still not there, open a real competition. Michelle does not want alternating drives. She would rather see Carr in packages, the way JJ McCarthy was used behind Cade McNamara in 2021, not a full start that symbolically buries Bryce. JJ’s first year was not clean either, and that roster had a Joe Moore line and a staff with a pulse. Super chats 00:49:29. Has Witt lost the locker room? TJ: no, but frustration is normal and part of growth. Michelle: Utah’s room was built by him. At Michigan he was retaining portal-risk guys from a messy end to last year. Hold is more tenuous. 00:51:50. “Fire everybody, take Fleck, Braun, or Chesney.” Michelle: overreaction. Fleck would not be the name if Michigan had won. She has long liked David Braun. Bob Chesney is real, and she was wrong to doubt him. TJ has had some Chesney curiosity. 00:53:20. Ryan Hall wants a QB1A/1B into Penn State and Carr to start. TJ: already 0-2 in the league, but ripping the band-aid feels irresponsible. 00:54:13. Confirmed leak: Beck sat with a position group. Also accurate: surprise team meeting at 5:30. Separate chat says Beck was told to mold the offense around Bryce. Both hosts think the scheme was adjusted for him. 00:54:56. Devin Gardner line that Bryce is guessing, not reading. TJ pushes back: reads showed up against Iowa and UTEP. Work in progress, not a finished product. 00:55:50. Mike Middleton: fix the run, stand with Bryce. Harbaugh thesis 01:03:32. Ben Herbert is the piece Michelle did not want to lose in 2023. Secret sauce was strength and endurance, not Connor Stalions. Make Herbert say no, even if the role is S&C only. 01:04:44. Chargers struggling, Herbert not looking like the quarterback Harbaugh sold. Seat could warm. Show-cause: appeal window closed, Michigan did not appeal, suing the NCAA now is dead. He is not coming back. 01:06:12. Even without the show-cause, Team 144 is not rebuildable. Pre-NIL roster (McCarthy, Corum, that line, Roman Wilson) plus selective portal pieces. Harbaugh advocated pay but was not a portal/NIL operator like Cignetti. Different era. 01:08:41. Jay Harbaugh as a future name? Michelle: interesting, but no head-coaching experience. After Sherrone Moore, she will not elevate a first-time head coach. Special teams are a real problem. Freudian “special needs” slip, walked back. 01:10:55. Other names: Braun, Rhett Lashlee (translation question), Fleck. Fleck’s veteran years look like 8–10 wins, young years dip, similar shape to Ferentz. Michelle does not want to be Iowa either. Her current interesting name is Chesney / James Madison. Portal and NIL fluency matter. Fleck reads more old-school to her. 01:13:50. TJ walks Fleck’s Minnesota arc, including an 11-2 and Outback year and a COVID dip, and says he is better than the reputation. Joke landing spot: “F**k Ohio.” 01:15:20. John Gruden. Michelle was not ready for the question, would be in as a fan, does not see the university hiring him. TJ thinks Gruden would take the job and the energy would be a problem for opponents. Not happening. Close 01:16:22. They went over an hour. Disagreeing is fine. TJ frames himself as risk-averse. Off next Monday for the bye. Michelle suggests enjoying a weekend Michigan cannot lose. Penn State is the next real test. Tuesday show with John D’Adamo. Thursday call-in. They will watch the Blueprints Bryce breakdown and react, not live-react. Ryan Hall gifted 10 memberships. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal da

  6. Oct 5

    Jason Beck’s Scheme Just Broke Michigan - Minnesota Postgame Analysis

    Michigan falls 20-14 to Minnesota in Minneapolis, surrendering the Little Brown Jug for the first time on the road since 1977. In this comprehensive postgame film breakdown, TJ Ronin and John D'Adamo dissect the tactical collapse of Jason Beck’s offense, analyzing broken run blocking, disastrous situational play-calling, and the refusal to push the ball downfield. Bryce Underwood completed under 50% of his passes for just 101 yards, while Michigan was out-rushed 126 to 79 by P.J. Fleck's Golden Gophers. Did Jason Beck handicap the game plan by running sideways into loaded boxes, or is Underwood failing to read coverages? We evaluate Kyle Whittingham’s coaching adjustments entering the bye week, Jay Hill’s elite defensive stands, and whether Jordan Marshall should sit to heal. Subscribe to Michigan VOCFB for elite film breakdown and game-day analysis. 00:00 – The Broken Scheme: Refusing to Throw Past 10 Yards 02:18 – Why Are We Running Shotgun Wildcat on 3rd & 1? 04:45 – Out-Rushed by Minnesota: Running East-to-West 08:02 – The Jordan Marshall Dilemma & Hobbled Backfield 11:15 – Jason Beck’s Scheme vs. Big Ten Realities 14:30 – Jay Hill’s Defense Keeps Michigan Alive 17:10 – Passing Down Disasters: Half-Field Reads & Broken Routes 18:45 – Bye Week Fixes Before Penn State Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. Oct 2

    LATE NIGHT STREAM / Michigan Wolverines Call-in Show LIVE 107

    MichiganVOCFB Late Night Stream / Call-in Show LIVE 107. Host John D’Adamo filled in after TJ could not make the show. Roughly 1:32 runtime. Michigan at Minnesota, noon kick, Michigan −5.5. Show setup TJ out for family reasons. Host asked for thoughts and prayers and did not elaborate. Impromptu Thursday stream after X users said they wanted a show. Host came straight from a networking event on the Odyssey cruise in Alexandria. FanDuel read: Michigan still −5.5 at Minnesota. Next show: Saturday postgame, about 3:15 p.m. ET, planned for at least two hours (third hour already funded). Presented by Win Agency. Logistics close: wedding registry pinned in chat; looking for an Ann Arbor venue for an MSU postgame show / community meetup. Tio’s is closed. Spring-game postgame (Darin, rotating hosts) cited as the model. Injury report and projected O-line (3:15–4:47) Out / limited: Spragg still out; Miguel and likely Blake Frazier on the report. Host’s theory was Frazier is not 100. Questionable: Babalola easing back (not expected to be a real factor Saturday); Andrew Marsh; Dom Nichols; John Henry Daly. Edge next-man-up: Nate Marshall, Tariq Boney, Carter Meadow. Host’s starting five theory: Frazier, Afobe, Garner, Norton, and Marky Wallbridge. Wallbridge can play either tackle per Jim Harding. Evan Link still in the rotation if Frazier is limited. Underwood Unleashed: parents said Marsh has been in a boot but will play. Chris Balas-type reporting also pointed to Marsh giving it a go. Frazier expected to play. No read on Daly. Nichols was questionable last week and may still go. Caller: Underwood Unleashed (5:05–22:56) Iowa was the most brutal giveaway since Trouble with the Snap, with TCU still the emotional scar. Team is good enough to beat anyone and sloppy enough to lose to anyone. Media: three of four national picks on Minnesota despite Michigan −5.5 off a game they should have won. Caller framed a lot of that as anti-Michigan default (McAfee, some Sabin/Meyer-type picks). Host: Minnesota is playing tough football; do not sleepwalk the way they did against Western Michigan. Treat them like Ohio State. Discipline: Harding is running holding drills with a live official instructed to be ticky-tack, plus up-downs for holds. Brain-dead penalties (late hits, unsportsmanlike) hurt more than effort holds. Some Iowa holds looked cheap. Michigan’s D-line has drawn almost no holds (one on Boney). Host allowed that whistles have felt stacked since 2023 / the WMU narrative, but no excuses. Offense vs Iowa: 429 yards (276 pass, 153 rush) against a top-10 / then No. 1-ish defense. Joel Klatt’s counterfactual was about 21–10 Michigan. Host had them at 24–0 at half if the special-teams score and holds do not happen. Red-zone miscommunication INT on Marsh, shoestring tackle on Savion Haidider, then the pick. Fourth-and-1 and the two-point both looked like 10 men. Game ended with three timeouts. Beck’s third-and-5 (curl/slant open all day to Buchanan and Marsh; Hogan Hansen even caught two) and the jump on fourth-and-1 called out. Host theory: Underwood may have only practiced that jump at the goal line. Playoff case still alive if self-inflicted wounds stop. Indiana did not look like a juggernaut vs Northwestern. Bounce-back call: maybe 35–13 if clean. Caller: West Quad (24:20–44:49) Side talk: Aaron Rodgers looks washed; JJ McCarthy to the Giants needs a real chance (Stafford / Drew Henson comps). Instant-gratification culture is the problem; Bryce has done what was asked. Bryce path: Oklahoma progressions and no-turnover game, then the UTP outburst, then his best passing game in a year vs a top defense. Do not bust-label him or McCarthy without a supporting cast. Run game is the hole. Haidider and Jordan Marshall have missed some holes, but the best runs keep coming back on legit holds. Tight end / H-back is not working: Rhino is the worst YPC and still got late-series carries. Need a pop from Zack Marshall, Hogan Hansen, Tonelli, Mason Bonner, or a look for Malachi Lee. Wallbridge at tackle is fine; results over stars. Do not force Jaylen Hoffman and Eli Owens into route-running; they were brought in as fullbacks / blocking tight ends. Use them in I-formation and as a one-time decoy. Zeke Berry late hit was selfish and would have been called anywhere. Also on Beck (third-and-5) and Harding. If the WMU holds had been fixed immediately, Iowa might not have happened. Need a run of games. Score the jug at noon. Break the oar. Caller: Bull (45:08–1:02:54) Injury-timeout rule: this year a player who stays down generally costs a timeout (anti-fake-injury). Host could not find a rule barring a subsequent timeout after an injury timeout; consecutive timeouts were already restricted. Clarification still open on the final Iowa snap. End zone should have been blanketed on the back-shoulder throw. Penalty stack: holds plus illegal formations (four in the backfield; some of that on Bryce’s pre-snap look) plus about eight personal fouls / late hits. Correctable. Ron English-type take: pull the late-hit guy; nobody is above the team. Block in the back on the return TD not called. Minnesota O-line is also beat up (four listed, not all starters). If Michigan’s Iowa pass game shows up and holds drop, Gophers have no answer. Tony Lebert did not have one either. PJ Fleck: gimmick (row the boat, blood on the face, “frontiersmen” explanation). Players still run through a wall for him. Whittingham’s calm is fine if they win; year-one roster is still mostly Sherrone’s. Link vs Wallbridge: chemistry over pure talent. Double-teams not coming off to the linebacker. Snacks bit: Bellacino’s steak at lunch; Culver’s cheese curds with marinara. Final: smack the Gophers. Closest personality comp in the division is USC (talent, coaching the variable). Score: 31–13 Michigan. Caller: Glenn (1:04:31–1:12:39) Babalola: do not rush. Sprinkle packages if healthy; real factor is next year, not Saturday. Travis Johnson’s fourth-down catch is a real freshman sign; 50/50 incompletion was a good defender, not a bad rep. WR3 race with Celestia Moa (Tommy Carr throw-and-catch). If Marsh is on a snap count, both can play Z/slot; some Beck concepts are two-WR plus tight ends / Rhino, not a true slot. Jamie French possible in the slot. Punt return if Marsh is limited: Smith Snowden or Cudstall. Goals unchanged. Beat Ohio State, run the table. Minnesota “died” to Mississippi State; QB is good and may be gone next year (portal / power-program). First true road game is not a long trip. Path is still there; the L taught more than it cost. Caller: Kase (1:13:23–1:22:28) Underwood’s Iowa game was the best of his Michigan career. INT was on Marsh. Offense looked good; holds, illegal formation, and red-zone misses are why it is 3–1 instead of a double-digit Iowa win. Whittingham’s “disciplined team” offseason line has not shown up. Utah film was clean after 20 years; Harbaugh Year 1 cut penalties faster. Host and TJ took an L expecting instant discipline. Micah Simon is the WR-coach upgrade over Ron Bellamy. Two 100-yard receivers in one game (Buchanan and Marsh) for the first time since 2022, without a real WR3. Buchanan has been the advertised player, arguably WR1. Season: still on a 10–2 prediction. 11–1 or 10–2 is doable; Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State remain. Improvement every week is the contrast with last year (same personnel and timeout mistakes, no sideline QB coach). Two fixes: Harding’s hold work, and a QC eye so 10 men never happens again. Minnesota is the get-right game, not a trap to overlook (Washington win). Win and cover, stay clean, bye week, then Penn State. Goals: beat Ohio State, Big Ten title, playoff, championship. Close (1:22:33–1:32:39) Austin super chat on MSU tickets: host is in Vegas-conference mode for ~10 days, then MSU. Courtney and TJ also planning to go. Coordinate with TJ. Ann Arbor business / bar wanted for postgame broadcast and meetup. Michigan should play mad, but not another Zeke Berry personal foul. Mad inside the rules. Subscribe, all notifications on the bell, like on the way out. Host: John D’Adamo on X. Go Blue. Clip timestamps 1:32–2:18: Impromptu Thursday show, TJ out, “people on X asked.” 2:48–3:08: Michigan −5.5 at Minnesota. 4:30–4:47: Projected O-line, Wallbridge name riff. 5:39–6:12: Iowa as worst giveaway since Trouble with the Snap. 7:59–8:27: 3-of-4 media on Minnesota. 9:35–10:09: Treat Minnesota like Ohio State / ’85 Bears. 11:16–11:46: Harding holding drills with a ticky-tack ref and up-downs. 15:10–16:08: Still a playoff team; Klatt 21–10; 24–0 at half. 16:41–16:58: 429 yards, 276 through the air, vs a top defense. 18:03–18:44: 10 men on fourth-and-1 and the two-point; three timeouts left. 22:28–22:47: Bounce-back 35–13 if they stop beating themselves. 27:28–28:11: Bryce did the Oklahoma checklist, then UTP, then Iowa. 32:12–33:19: Zeke Berry late hit, no name, “George picking” comp. 33:28–34:25: Beck third-and-5; curl and slant were open. 36:02–36:53: Rhino is the worst YPC; need a Penn State-’23 line to run it. 41:34–41:56: Haidider breakout “might be Saturday.” 44:24–44:49: Noon, break the oar, take the jug. 53:41–54:38: Fleck blood-on-the-face / frontiersmen rant. 1:02:42: Bull’s 31–13. 1:05:50–1:06:47: Travis Johnson fourth-down catch, WR3 race. 1:16:03–1:16:46: Micah Simon; two 100-yard receivers since 2022. 1:29:22–1:29:48: Play mad, but not another personal foul. Working scoreboard Host did not lock a number. Bull 31–13. Underwood Unleashed ~35–13 if clean. Kase: win and cover, not sure it is 31–13. Consensus on the stream: Michigan should win if holds, formations, and late hits get cleaned up; Minnesota’s pass defense and banged-up O-line are the openings. Host

  8. Oct 1

    WAKE UP CALL? / Michigan Wolverines LIVE 269

    WAKE UP CALL? | Michigan Wolverines LIVE John and TJ take 48 hours to process the Iowa loss, then ask the only question that matters: does this team wake up or slide? The talent is there. Bryce Underwood had his best game as a Wolverine (17-of-28, 276 yards, two touchdowns) behind nearly 500 yards of offense and two 100-yard receivers, and the defense is still top 10 nationally. Strip out the penalties and a kickoff-return touchdown and this was a comfortable win. Instead, Michigan has eight-plus penalties in three of four games under Kyle Whittingham (Sherrone Moore had two such games in 26), sits among the most-penalized teams in the country, and put 10 men on the field for a fourth-and-one QB sneak. John and TJ put the first red mark of the season on the coaching staff, from Jason Beck going conservative late to Kerry Coombs' kickoff coverage. Also in the show: why the "bench Bryce" and "Bryce can't throw" takes are lazy narratives, the updated PFF grades showing the offensive line finally cracking 70s, Hogan Hansen earning real snaps, Savion Hyder waiting for the game to slow down, and whether freshman Marky Walbridge gets the start at right tackle with Andrew Sprague and Blake Frazier questionable. Plus the latest on Andrew Babalola and John Henry Daly, and a live back-and-forth with Alfie Birch, father of recruit Asa Birch, on progression vs. results. Then Tony Liebert of Bring Me the Sports previews Saturday's trip to Minnesota, Michigan's first road game and the Gophers' first-ever Big Noon Kickoff. P.J. Fleck is coming off an emotional win at Washington with his best wide receiver room since 2019, a pass-first offense built around Drake Lindsey, a front seven that just racked up seven sacks, and a defense ranked 18th nationally on third down. The line has already moved in Minnesota's favor since it opened. Keys to the game: start fast and hit explosive plays (Tony), settle the offensive line and get the running backs seeing lanes (TJ), and play clean, disciplined football (John). Score predictions: Tony takes the Gophers 23-20, TJ has Michigan 31-17, John has Michigan 31-13. Michigan at Minnesota kicks off Saturday at noon ET on Fox. Follow Tony on X @TonyLiebert and at BringMeTheSports.com. Follow TJ @Tj_Ronin and John @johndadamo. Catch the call-in show Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, Michigan Postgame Live Saturday, and Michigan Mondays with TJ and Michelle. Presented by FanDuel. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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3.8
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Welcome to Michigan at The Voice of College Football Network, your home for In-depth discussion, debate, & analysis on all things Michigan. We have you covered from offseason all the way to game day. Join Tj Konarske, John D'Adamo, and Jonny Olden Jr. as we embark on another season as Leaders & Best!Go Blue! For business inquiries please contact: Markrogerstv@gmail.com

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