PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — The biggest battle in the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl is expected to be the TCU passing game against the Michigan defense.
The Horned Frogs have a long list of top-flight wide receivers; star Quentin Johnston leads the charge. With that in mind, what do the TCU receivers think of the Wolverine secondary? Johnson and slot receiver Taye Barber shared their thoughts on the Michigan defensive backs on Wednesday.
“The safeties come down to hit. But everything I’ve been seeing has been good,” Johnston said. “You’ve just got to come out and play. At the end of the day, I trust our players, trust our receivers, I trust the quarterback, trust the offensive line. So we’ve just got to come out and execute.”
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“There’s a lot of Cover 1, really a lot of single high, Cover 1, Cover 3, Cover 5, just the base, quarters, Cover 6 and they’re always gonna be in the right spot and do their job at a very high level,” Barber said. “Very well-coached and it’s gonna be tough going against.”
Where the duo diverge is which Michigan football players have stood out to them on film, as well as what stands out about them.
Barber was keen on Mike Sainristil as well as all of the DBs in the middle of the field, whereas Johnston didn’t seem to have many thoughts about the Wolverines.
“No. 0 and just the safeties,” Barber said, “because that’s what I’m gonna be going against the most so that’s what I kind of watch.”
“I mean, nothing, particularly,” Johnston said. “They both had their ups and downs through the season, like anybody, but I mean, they’re both good players.”
We’ll know more about how Michigan football will defend TCU’s talented, capable wideouts on Saturday.
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