Michigan’s defense, which improved with a Rose Bowl goal-line stand, is prepared for the CFP championship game.
PASADENA, California: For Michigan, the numerous 9-on-7 drills were worthwhile.
A live tackling, good-on-good, run-blocking versus run-stopping drill that became the cornerstone of the Wolverines’ practices was the foundation for their comeback to national prominence. And Michigan’s defense made preparations pay off when that exact scenario arose on fourth-and-goal at the 3 in overtime of the Rose Bowl on Monday.
Running back Blake Corum said, “I knew we were going to win because we prepare for that.” “We play 9-on-7 all the time, and our defense is so strong that I knew we would win.”
In the College Football Playoff title game on Monday, No. 1 Michigan (14-0) will need another resolute performance from its tough defense to win its first national championship since 1997. At NRG Stadium in Houston, the Wolverines will take on the highly proficient passing offense of No. 2 Washington.
The Wolverines’ performance against No. 4 Alabama gave hope that they would rise to the occasion. Edge rusher Josaiah Stewart ran right through right tackle JC Latham when Jalen Milroe attempted to run up the middle on a keeper to extend the game. This gave edge rusher Derrick Moore the opportunity to knock down the quarterback after a 1-yard gain.
On the game-winning play, every Michigan defender believed Milroe would have the ball in his hands, either as a passer or a runner.
Defensive lineman Kris Jenkins stated, “To be honest, I think everyone was expecting him to get the ball, so the fact that everybody was able to bow up, everybody knew the situation and blocked the shrug block in, and the play played out how it did.”
READ MORE:
Richard Sherman Reveals A Problem He Had With Jim Harbaugh…
In the world of college football and the NFL, Jim Harbaugh, the head coach of Michigan, is the talk of the town.
In addition to leading his Wolverines to a College Football Playoff championship, Harbaugh may be a highly sought-after candidate for the head coaching position in the NFL this offseason, as many teams will be seeking a new head coach.
In addition, Harbaugh has coached a lot of football at both levels of competition. Prior to joining the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL, he served as head coach at Stanford and San Diego universities in college.
Richard Sherman, a Fox Sports analyst and former NFL cornerback, was a player for Harbaugh at Stanford. Although Sherman said Harbaugh did a great job assembling his staff, Sherman also mentioned that the two “butted heads” frequently.
He distinctly recalls a Washington game in which Sherman was perplexed as to why Harbaugh wasn’t pursuing the ball more aggressively on offense.
Sherman remarked, “We were down three scores and we weren’t throwing the ball down three scores.” “There were a few things we couldn’t agree on.”
According to reports, Harbaugh’s failure to get along with management was a major factor in his 2014 departure from the 49ers, which came after four seasons and one Super Bowl appearance.
Nevertheless, over the previous nine years, the coach has led Michigan to an 88-25 record and recovered at his alma mater.
He might decide to leave Michigan for the NFL this summer, but not before he has to defeat Washington in the CFP title game, which is expected to be a thrilling college football game, next week.