WTKA Roundtable 12/4/2025: What's the Dog Number

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Dec 4, 2025

The hosts dive deep into Michigan's struggles against Ohio State, highlighting setbacks in both offensive and defensive play. They discuss Bryce Hunter's ineffective read options and critique Wink Martindale's predictable defensive schemes. There's praise for innovative run-game tweaks, but frustration over the lack of disguise and pressure tactics. The conversation shifts to recruiting, with big money moves on the horizon for several key players. Concerns over special teams also come to light as the team gears up for a crucial offseason.

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INSIGHT

Run Game Creativity, Passing Game Cold

Michigan's offense showed creative run-game tweaks but suffered from an inexperienced, cold Bryce Hunter in the passing game.
Limited read-option usage all year cost points versus Ohio State when it mattered most.

INSIGHT

27 Points Mask Bigger Defensive Flaws

Michigan allowed long, clock-killing drives that masked deeper defensive problems despite the 27-point total.
The defense produced almost no consistent resistance and surrendered wide-open third-down conversions.

ADVICE

Change Defensive Scheming Fast

Move on from defensive approaches that are easily read and produce no pass rush or disguise.
Implement fresh, college-friendly scheming rather than relying on NFL-style spot drops that Ohio State exploited.

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FOOTBALL v OHIO STATE

Offense had some neat ideas in the run game, not so much the passing game.
Problem with not running read options all year is Bryce blew too many of them.
Sherrone is a run guy, had some great run tweaks, but it ended up costing them in the passing game as Bryce was cold—gotta throw on early downs if you're going to be a successful passing team.
Defensively it was worse when we looked. "Only 27 points" is because they only had nine possessions and one of the killed the game in the 3rd and 4th quarter.
Wink: Not great. Felt mailed in, no interesting ideas, and the ideas he did have were bad ones, like delayed blitzes that won't get to Sayin until it's too late, or showing his hand. Sayin was never confused: he read out what he planned to.
Sam not a fan of spot-dropping. That was most of the defense this game; in the past Michigan's used a lot more switch and poach coverages. Wink is too easy to see coming, and that's not going to change. We're ready to move on, hope he is as well.
Differences aren't all on Wink: Ernest Hausmann was a big loss, and a big difference last year. Josiah Stewart was and The Gifts were a big deal last year. Getting off the field on 3rd & 3 is when those playmakers have to do something, and Michigan didn't have those guys.

SIGNING DAY

Got interesting yesterday. Big money plays at Zion Robinson, Travis Johnson and (from UNC) Julian Walker. Michigan is either getting Zion Robinson (who got a big offer from Syracuse) or Georgia commit Brady Marchese—if Calvin Russell is serious then they'll work that out separately.
Julian Walker is deciding today; his connection to Michigan in the first place was his dad, isn't sure he wants to leave home, which is understandable. If he goes to UNC it's just money.
Hiter was just a misunderstanding when his contract came and they got it cleared up eventually.
Underrated guys in the class: Alister Vallejo (we love), McHale Blade (fell too far after his injury) and Tommy Carr (we think he's better than Brady Smigiel, not better than Bourque).