Michigan football might be even tougher under Sherrone Moore

One reason Michigan football won the 2023 national championship is that the Wolverines were just tougher than their opponents.

That’s certainly true when it comes to the team from Ohio. Michigan football shouted down the Buckeyes as the two teams walked out to the second half during ‘The Game’ in 2021 and the tenor of the rivalry has been different ever since.

Michigan football became the bully. The Buckeyes became the team wondering if they will ever win again. You could see it on their faces in 2022 and 2023. They forgot how to beat Michigan, just like Michigan forgot what it takes to beat Ohio State in the decade prior.

Running the football and owning the line of scrimmage is key. Urban Meyer’s team out-played Michigan football in the trenches which is why he won all those games. Now, the tables have turned and according to Kenneth Grant, Michigan isn’t backing away from what has made it great.

Michigan football “even more physical” under Sherrone Moore

In fact, under Sherrone Moore, Grant, a future first-round pick, says that Michigan fooball has gotten “even more physical” during practices with its new head coach.

“I think it’s more physical,” Grant said to The Wolverine. “Even more physical because of Sherrone Moore. We definitely just play football more, 11-on-11 situations more.”

Michigan football famously installed the “Beat Ohio” drill a couple of years ago (3-0 since against OSU) and last year started using the “Beat Georgia” drill.

Jim Harbaugh said he wanted Michigan to be able to run the ball in any situation, which is what he said Georgia could do and it worked out. Michigan was able to run the ball whenever it needed to and won the national championship in large part because of that.

So the idea that the Wolverines have ramped up the physicality gets me even more excited for the 2024 season. Ohio State can be the flashy 5-star receiver school — that’s what they have been the past three years and it hasn’t gotten them anything.

Michigan on the other hand has been better and toughness is the biggest reason why.

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