Michigan football embracing underdog mentality vs. Ohio State

Will this team be able to pull off the upset on Saturday?

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan players know the deal when it comes to Ohio State. They’re aware of the struggles of the past decade-plus when it comes to The Game.

On Saturday, everything is on the line — not just the opportunity to get an elusive win over the Buckeyes, a team Michigan hasn’t beaten since 2011, but also to make it to the Big Ten championship game the next week and a chance to get into the College Football Playoff.

The stakes are very high, and it’s something that the team is embracing.

“It means everything. Not only are we playing our rival, we’re playing this big game, but it’s a playoff game, and there’s a lot on the line and we know that,” team captain and fifth-year senior linebacker Josh Ross said. “It’s gonna come down to how we prepare this week and how we prepare on a day-to-day and how we approach it and attack it leading to Saturday – that’s what wins games.”

[lawrence-related id=52910,52905,52882]

But few are giving the Wolverines a chance, given the history.

From 1969, the year Bo Schembechler took over the program, until OSU head coach Jon Cooper’s last year with the program in 2000, the maize and blue weren’t just competitive with the Buckeyes, they got unlikely wins. Then, Jim Tressel took over and lost only once to Michigan. The lopsidedness continued when Urban Meyer took over the program in 2012, and Michigan’s sole game against Ryan Day in 2019 saw the Wolverines on the wrong end of a blowout loss.

Michigan now is well aware of the shortcomings, with just two wins in the rivalry since Tressel took the reins — 2003 and 2011. Every year, there’s grand talk about getting back on the winning side of things, but these players don’t care about the past, they don’t care about the talk. They’re eager for results.

“It’s brought up – not around here, but social media and stuff,” third-year wide receiver Mike Sainristil said. “That’s the past. None of that matters this week. It’s all about what we have to do to get the job done on Saturday.”

“None of that matters – we’re tired of talking,” Ross said. “None of the past matters. We know what happened in the past. We know all the stuff that happened. But at the end of the day, it’s about right now, having a great week of preparation and attacking it, having great days and having a great game this weekend.”

At the moment, according to Tipico Sportsbook, Michigan is a 7.5-point underdog to Ohio State. In a way, that’s right where this team wants to be.

In 2020, Michigan didn’t face the Buckeyes but went 2-4 in the COVID-shortened season. While teams like Penn State and Wisconsin got the benefit of the doubt from their bad years, the Wolverines did not. That lack of faith implemented a proverbial shoulder chip for these Wolverines, which helped inspire them to get to the 10-1 standing they have now.

When nearly everyone counted out this Michigan program, it was those players in the building that rallied, knowing they were capable of so much more.

“I guess you could say that in terms of the poor performance last year and the attitude of our program,” sixth-year center and team captain Andrew Vastardis said. “But all that matters is the team, everyone inside the building, how the team trusts each other, how the team believes in each other. I would say it’s a great matchup we’ve got ahead of us, a great opportunity. We’re confident in each other’s abilities and we’re just ready to compete.”

So, while the Wolverines aren’t expected to win outside of Schembechler Hall, that suits this team fine. In fact, they’re right where they want to be.

“That’s fine. That’s the attitude we’ve had all year, the underdog mentality,” Sainristil said. “We feed off of that energy. It is what it is – if we’re underdogs, we’re underdogs. We’ll gladly take that and use it to our advantage come Saturday.”

[listicle id=52900]

All Betting Lines are Courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook

Josh Ross addresses 2020 rumors that Michigan ducked Ohio State: ‘It’s B.S. to be honest with you’

It’s ridiculous that it was even a rumor last year.

[mm-video type=video id=01fn4j9yacym0npk4ghq playlist_id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fn4j9yacym0npk4ghq/01fn4j9yacym0npk4ghq-35317751a9ae99df3d0f2c30f8ee2d92.jpg]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A year ago around this time, though Michigan football held a Monday press conference in anticipation of facing Ohio State, it didn’t take long before The Game became a casualty of COVID-19.

The week before, the Wolverines had to pull out of the Maryland home game due to an influx of COVID-related infections around the team, and the same thing happened the following week. There were rumors circling on both sides. The real story was that Michigan was so decimated, it essentially would be fielding its scout team against Ohio State’s starters. But that didn’t stop speculation in and around Columbus that Michigan could have played, but chose not to so that it didn’t get blown off the field by a Buckeyes team that eventually played in the 2020 national championship game.

On Monday, with the rivalry being renewed after an uncharacteristic year off, Michigan linebacker Josh Ross was asked and answered about the rumor-mongering that the Wolverines were avoiding playing their hated rival in 2020.

“It’s B.S. to be honest with you,” Ross said. “That’s the game we always have circled on our calendar, always want to play. And as a Michigan Wolverine, that’s a game you would die for. Honestly, B.S., and it honestly doesn’t matter. This year is what matters and now is what matters.”

[lawrence-related id=52905,52882,52770]

There’s a certain fuel and added motivation that’s impacting this team now that it both had a bad year last year and since it was unable to have its shot against Ohio State. But it isn’t staying in the forefront of these players’ minds.

Instead, just like the focus has been on each game each week, the focus is on this year, not last year.

“Not playing last year sucked, to be honest with you,” Ross said. “It wasn’t good not playing last year. But at the end of the day, it’s now – the time is now. And last year is last year and all that’s over. It’s about right now.”

That said, how did it feel for Ross and the players when they had to sit at home instead of playing in The Game? Some of his teammates hadn’t known until that week that they had suited up against Ohio State for the last time in 2019, which caused some annoyances, to be sure.

But for Ross and these players, they intend to do whatever they can to have a good showing after having been blown out for two-straight years before the one-season hiatus. And with that in mind, they don’t want to just talk about beating Ohio State — they intend to actually do it on Saturday.

“It definitely was frustration, for sure,” Ross said. “We want to play that game – we always want to play that game. That’s a game that’s always circled on the calendar for us as players, as coaches, and as a program. But, at the end of the day, last year’s over, that’s done. And to be honest, as players, we’re tired of talking – we’re ready to just do it. We’re ready to have a great week of preparation going into this week – attack it, have great days leading to this game, and have a great game.”

[listicle id=52900]

Jim Harbaugh updates Josh Ross’ status for Wisconsin game

Michigan is really, really going to need him this week!

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — While it was a tale of two halves on Saturday as Michigan football’s offense sputtered against Rutgers, perhaps somewhat overlooked were the struggles and subsequent overcoming of adversity by the defense.

The defense bent but ultimately didn’t break in the second half against Rutgers, though it did surrender 10 points. When things were looking the most dire, that’s when it made some pivotal stops on the final two drives, sealing the game by forcing the Scarlet Knights into their first turnover of the season.

But why were there issues from one half to the next, especially considering that Michigan had held Rutgers to 131 yards in the first half before it managed to accumulate 352 overall?

Well, part of it was that Josh Ross had left the game with an injury after dominating in the first half.

After the game, head coach Jim Harbaugh said Ross would be OK, he just wasn’t cleared to return. So what’s his status against the run-heavy Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday?

“Josh — I think he’s probable at this point for the game,” Harbaugh said. “But good learning experienced for those linebackers (who replaced him). They were stressed in that read-option game, quarterback read-option game. They’ll learn from it and grow.”

[lawrence-related id=46120,45990,45953,45951]

If Ross is somewhat limited, then at least those young Michigan linebackers got some experience against a Big Ten opponent. Nikhai Hill-Green was already a starter, but he had to grow up fast. Junior Colson, the true freshman, has come in in spot duty while Kalel Mullings had been relegated mostly to special teams.

In the end, Harbaugh really liked what he saw from the trio against Rutgers.

“Yeah, I thought that was a real challenge and acquitted themselves pretty darn good,” Harbaugh said. “Really all three — Junior, Nikhai, Kalel. And the other factor is not having Ross out there helping them, making calls and helping them align. Giving reminders and tips. There was quite a bit that was lost without Josh being out there, from a physical standpoint, also coaching the inside linebackers up on the field.”

But it wasn’t without growing pains.

What Ross brings to the table is more than playmaking ability and leadership. He helps his fellow linebackers to get aligned, showing them what they’re supposed to see. When he went out, that’s when Rutgers particularly punished the middle of the defense.

With Ross being potentially limited, Michigan may see more of a familiar face this week when it heads to Madison.

“When Josh Ross went out, particularly, we were affected there,” Harbaugh said. “The eye discipline of the linebackers, responsibilities in the option and the read-option game was really stressed. Good learning experience for us. As I said, for the most part, I thought those three young linebackers played extremely well. Get Michael Barrett going again. This week he’ll be more in the mix.”

[listicle id=45919]

Jim Harbaugh updates Josh Ross’ injury after Rutgers game

Josh Ross has his injury status updated after the Michigan football LB left the game near the end of the first half.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It seems to be a trend: when a Michigan football player is having themselves a game, then they’re lost to injury.

In the first game, it was Ronnie Bell, and he ended up being lost for the season. Though the Wolverines managed to not have any major injuries since then, another surfaced in Week 4 against Rutgers.

Fifth-year linebacker Josh Ross was having himself a game, with six tackles and two tackles for loss. Just as he seemed like he was taking over the game defensively, he made his way to the medical tent, and was seemingly hobbled after departing.

However, unlike with Bell, there is some good news according to head coach Jim Harbaugh. He doesn’t expect Ross to be out for long, it seems, noting that he just couldn’t go in the second half of this game.

“Yeah, he’s gonna be OK,” Harbaugh said. “He had — he was working through something and just didn’t quite get the strength back to be cleared to go back into the game.”

[listicle id=45745]

Considering that the defense struggled, particularly in the run game, after Ross’ departure, Michigan will certainly need him this upcoming week as it travels to Wisconsin (1-2) where it hasn’t won since 2001. Though the defense did struggle in some respects, it mostly bent without completely breaking — a credit to the job that Nikhai Hill-Green, Junior Colson and Kalel Mullings did in his place.

[listicle id=45756]

RECAP: The newly-elected Michigan football team captains!

The team is in good hands with these guys! #GoBlue

[mm-video type=video id=01fe28d5c0cp6fnqe8pb playlist_id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fe28d5c0cp6fnqe8pb/01fe28d5c0cp6fnqe8pb-ebca6c42e8418056a22f47288c655f4f.jpg]

August 26, 2021:

• Aidan Hutchinson
• Josh Ross
• Andrew Vastardis
• Ronnie Bell

——————————————————–

In accordance with Michigan football policy, the media isn’t allowed to upload more than 5 minutes of footage from any press conference. But we found our way around that. Giving you the best of every press conference, we cut out the questions to give you the straight answers, with the most interesting parts of each media availability taking center stage.

WolverinesWire presents our new series: RECAP in five minutes or less!

——————————————————–

Topics include:

• Reactions to being named team captain
• Why the defense is ready to turn the corner
• Why the defense is done talking
• What J.J. McCarthy looks like in fall camp
• How the defense looks to the offense

And MORE!

Michigan players say the time for talk is over, promise ‘fun’ defense

They’re saying the right things. Let’s hope the defense now does the right things on the field.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In 2020, Michigan’s defensive players looked like they were going through the motions, executing a slow death march to the season’s end. Now, before any games have been played, those returning are singing a different tune, eager to prove that the past season was an aberration.

“I think right now, we’re hitting our stride right as we’re going into Week 1,” senior captain Aidan Hutchinson said. “I think that’s super crucial in what you need from your team in camp. I thought we just had our best practice yesterday. In the stadium, we had another scrimmage. I mean, we were flying around out there, executing. We watched the film this morning – it was fun to watch us fly around. I think we’re hitting our stride heading into Week 1.”

‘Fun’ was a word used often on Thursday, as the Wolverines defense prepares to wrap up fall camp for full-on game prep next week. ‘Fun’ is the opposite of what we saw a year ago, a big part of why the maize and blue were just 2-4 in 2020.

So what changed? Of course, there’s a new defensive staff led by Mike Macdonald, but the attitude of the players has also taken a 180. There’s a certain eagerness by the seniors to prove the entire team won’t let what happened last year happen again.

As linebacker Josh Ross says, the defense is in show-don’t-tell mode, as they’re ready to prove to fans that things are different than a year ago.

“The mentality of ‘let’s work!’ and ‘let’s move!’” Ross said. “You know the work we’re putting in. We’ve been (expletive deleted) grinding! We’ve been grinding. We’ve been grinding this offseason, changing the culture, doing everything the right way and we’ve been grinding this training camp. We’re just ready to go and play ball – enough talk. We’re not talking no more, let’s just go do it. Let’s go do it and let’s play.”

[lawrence-related id=38762,38759,38338]

“Buy-in is at an all-time high,” Hutchinson said. “What I’ve seen with this defense, guys – we all love the coaches, we love what they brought to Michigan. We’re all just ready to go. We just talked about it in (our meeting) – we’re done talking about it, we just want to go out there and do what we do and play our best ball.”

Both Ross and Hutchinson have been around for a while — 2017 and 2018, respectively — and both are team captains. Both have been part of some Michigan defenses that were among the top in the nation. How do they feel this new-look unit compares to some of the previous iterations they’ve been a part of?

“It’s just different because the schemes are pretty different,” Hutchinson said. “Yeah, it’s just a completely different feel in terms of my responsibility and everyone’s responsibility in the defense. It’s just really fun when you can turn on film and watch guys fly around like that and just doing their jobs. It’s just a fun defense to watch – when we’re doing things right.”

“I’m not gonna compare, because this is a new year and this is us and we’ve gotta show it starting Sept. 4,” Ross added. “This is a defense that’s tenacious, this is a defense that’s gritty. This is a defense that y’all gonna see is playing together and having each other’s back every play and having fun. I can’t wait to go out there and have fun and play ball. And that’s what we’re about to do in a week – eight, nine days. Thank God!”

[listicle id=38136]

The Big Ten’s top five Inside linebackers heading into 2021

Do any #Buckeyes inside linebackers belong among the Big Ten’s best?

Ohio State football kicks off in less than a month, and we have been rolling through the best of the best of the Big Ten at each position. We have already completed our list of top five quarterbacks, running backs, wide receiverstight endsoffensive tacklesguards, centers, and defensive ends.

The Buckeyes lost all three of their starting linebackers from the 2020 season and judging by the lack of presence on this list, it’s pretty clear someone will need to step up.

As always, we give you this list with more disclaimers than a credit card terms and conditions section. It’s early way before the ball is put down anywhere for real, and you’ll see injuries, breakout players, and disappointments.

What Michigan football veterans see in Donovan Edwards in spring ball

What current Michigan football veteran players have seen out of true freshman Donovan Edwards in spring ball thus far.

[mm-video type=video id=01f27bz7twxekfgg3b playlist_id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f27bz7twxekfgg3b/01f27bz7twxekfgg3b-89f76ce44bc8098bcd8b362233b38379.jpg]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan’s strong and steady pursuit of five-star running back Donovan Edwards paid off when, on early signing day, he chose to stay home and become a Wolverine instead of heading south to Georgia.

Considered a potential early impact player, Edwards has everything you want in a tailback. Before Ohio State gained its commitment from TreVeyon Henderson, the Buckeyes compared Edwards to J.K. Dobbins, seeing him as a freshman who could come in and impact the game immediately. In fact, that was how most schools saw him.

Now, Michigan has a few players, theoretically, ahead of him on the depth chart. Senior Hassan Haskins and sophomore Blake Corum already have the requisite experience and loads of talent to boot. While that still holds true, when sophomore offensive lineman Zak Zinter was asked how the running backs have been performing in spring ball, Edwards’ name that was the first out of his mouth even though he praised the entire group.

“We’ve got a great running backs room – it’s arguably one of the best running backs rooms in the country,” Zinter said. “Donovan – he’s an amazing player. He’s gonna have a very, very bright future ahead. All of the running backs – Hassan, Blake, Donovan. It’s pretty incredible the amount of talent we have in our running backs room right now.”

For now, Edwards is in competition with Corum and Haskins. For the former, he’s seeing a guy who still has to learn more of the playbook as well as the speed, but he can see him already starting to catch on as spring ball rolls on.

“Donovan came in right away and he got used to the game,” Corum said. “Obviously, college ball is a little faster than high school ball. But I see him coming in every day, working really hard, getting used to all the plays and stuff. I think he’s gonna be a really good player and I like what I see from him so far.”

Perhaps the biggest compliment Edwards received on Thursday came from one of the players tasked with defending him, fifth-year senior linebacker Josh Ross.

While Edwards is quite versatile and has numerous tricks up his sleeve, skill-wise, and team captain points to his innate talent as being one of the things that sets him apart.

“Speed. Speed, speed, speed,” Ross said. “That dude is flying. He’s so fast. Young guy, still learning, still getting better. But he can fly. I’ll say that. He definitely can fly.”

Nonetheless, there’s a lot of time between now and the Sept. 4 season opener against Western Michigan. With that in mind, what’s the most important thing Edwards can do to ensure he sees the field early as a true freshman?

Corum has some advice as a player who gained a significant amount of playing time in his first year.

“I would just say be yourself,” Corum said. “You know what type of player you are. Just do you. Go in there with confidence, don’t think too much. Just be a baller. The other side of the ball, they put their pants on just like we put our pants on. Just ball out, that’s the advice I would give him.”

[listicle id=34442]

Two unheralded Michigan football defenders standing out to senior leader

According to Michigan football senior captain Josh Ross, two unheralded Wolverines are making an impact during spring ball.

[mm-video type=video id=01f27bz7twxekfgg3b playlist_id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Every year in college football, for nearly every team, there will be those players who come seemingly out of nowhere, unknown to the average fan and unheralded, making a big impact once the season rolls around. Those reps and the reputation are built more in the offseason, as said up-and-comers establish to the coaching staff that they’re worthy of playing time.

For Michigan football, on the defensive side of the football in particular, there’s certainly an area of opportunity, with a number of players moving onto the NFL, and a lot of starting jobs not exactly safe, whether it be due to play in 2020 or the new coaching staff coming in and reevaluating the various roles on that side of the ball.

One player, assuredly, will be a starter in 2021, in middle linebacker Josh Ross, who was voted a team captain a year ago. When it comes to defensive players who have caught his eye this spring, two stand out in particular.

“A couple names come to my mind,” Ross said. “One: DJ Turner. He’s been playing really, really well and having a great spring ball. And the other is Nikhai Hill-Green. He’s gotten so much better. He’s in my position group and he’s been playing really, really well and doing a lot of good things. It’s been a pleasure to see him get better and grow and learn.

“Also, just as far as a lot of our young players: just getting better and learning. We are learning a new scheme and we are learning new things. But the privilege of being able to learn and grow and build off of certain mistakes and mishaps from last year has just been a blessing to see. I’m looking forward to next year.”

[lawrence-related id=34482,34478,34421]

So, what about those two has been so impressive in his eyes?

While both Turner and Hill-Green are his unheralded standouts through a month of spring practice, it appears that Hill-Green is leaving a lasting impression on the fifth-year linebacker.

“The way they’re playing and performing,” Ross said. “Specifically with Nikhai, the way he approaches every single day. He’s such a hard worker and he’s so willing to learn and wants to learn and wants to get better and wants to improve and wants to get an edge. And that’s been a pleasure to be around guys like that and see that in such a young guy every single day. Definitely, with him, he’s gonna be a good player.”

Don’t just take it from Ross, though.

Michigan sophomore running back Blake Corum came to Ann Arbor in 2020 along with Hill-Green, as the two committed to the Wolverines out of Baltimore (MD) St. Frances Academy. When it was noted that Ross was singing Hill-Green’s praises, it came of no surprise to Corum, who notes that the second-year linebacker’s work ethic has always been unparalleled, even when the two suited up for the Chesapeake Bay high school powerhouse.

“Nikhai – he’s a worker and he’s always been a worker,” Corum said. “Every day that he comes into this facility, he puts in the extra work, whether it be in the classroom or on the field or in the weight room. He’s gotten bigger and his IQ for the game is really good. What I see Nikhai doing on the other side of the ball right now is really phenomenal. He’s definitely gonna, I feel like, be an impact player.”

[listicle id=34442]

Report: Michigan football retaining two fifth-year players in 2021

Both fifth-year seniors, Michigan football is retaining two key starters heading into 2021, per a report.

[jwplayer EG391Tjw-XNcErKyb]

Everyone always talks about attrition when it comes to Michigan football, but seldom does retention gather similar narratives for the Wolverines. And it turns out, the maize and blue have both heading into 2021.

Yes, there were some key losses, both via the NFL draft and via transfer. Linebacker Cam McGrone and offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield are early draft entrants, while Zach Charbonnet and Luiji Vilain have opted to seek better fortunes at other schools. But Aidan Hutchinson, the star defensive end and team captain announced a return in 2021, and he’s apparently not the only one coming back.

According to MLive’s Aaron McMann, Michigan football is getting back two key defensive players in 2021, as fifth-year linebacker Josh Ross and defensive tackle Donovan Jeter are set to return to Ann Arbor this fall.

Two key defensive players are expected back for Michigan football this fall, sources tell MLive, providing much-needed experience and leadership to a unit ravaged by injury this past fall.

Defensive tackle Donovan Jeter and linebacker Josh Ross are both planning to return to the Wolverines for the 2021 season, utilizing an extra year of eligibility provided by the COVID-19 abbreviated schedule this past fall.

[lawrence-related id=32840,32838,32832]

This is big for a Michigan football team that’s low on returning defensive players in the front seven. Both of the aforementioned started games, and while the defense will assuredly look different under new coordinator Mike Macdonald, both players could be linchpins in the overhauled defense.

[listicle id=32677]