The Michigan Insider

After receiving strong reviews from last week’s joint podcast, we once again invite an opposing beat writer to join us, as Michigan beat writer Zach Shaw and Illinois beat writer Jeremy Werner discuss the key storylines for both teams heading into this week’s game. Acknowledging that the game itself is rather predictable and that neither team is using the game as a measuring stick, they instead be...

Breaking down the Michigan football team's 10-3 win over No. 14 Iowa, we look at two game balls, four lasting thoughts from the game and answer seven user questions from listeners. Both of our game balls went to the defense, as we handed them out to two disruptive pass-rushers who had maybe the best games of their careers. We also acknowledge runners-up on the defensive line, the secondary, and li...

In this episode, Lorenz and Shaw use their weekly over-under segments to preview the Michigan football team's matchup against No. 14 Iowa and offer their final prediction for the game. First, they look at how well Michigan might be able to pass on the Hawkeyes mostly inexperienced pass defense, and why that might be the key to breaking a statistically elite overall defense that Iowa brings. After...

This podcast, a special crossover episode between The Wolverine247 Podcast and Hawkeye Insider’s Swarmcast, featured a discussion between Michigan beat writer Zach Shaw and Iowa beat writer David Eickholt about both teams. First, both discuss the teams’ respective starts to the season. Eickholt looks at Iowa and how much can be taken away from blowout wins, while Shaw digs into why the Wolverines...

In a rapid-reaction episode, we break down Michigan's dominant, 52-0 win over Rutgers. Sticking with our typical 2-4-7 format to postgame podcasts, we give out two game balls, offer four lasting takeaways and field seven questions from listeners. In our game balls, we give one to a member on each side of the ball, noting two successful starters who played arguably the best games of their careers S...

In this episode, we continue to discuss the news and notes of the week while previewing Michigan's matchup against Rutgers. First, we break down the premise that Michigan is playing itself following its shell-shocking loss at Wisconsin last week, and how critical of a bounce-back week it is for the Wolverines. We discuss what sort of things Michigan can show to indicate that it is continuing to ta...

Bucking our traditional postgame format a bit, we devote the entire podcast to tackling some of the key questions that stemmed from the Michigan football team's loss at Wisconsin. Among the questions included: -Where does the Wolverines' 35-14 loss rank among Jim Harbaugh's 15 losses as Michigan's coach? -Where do the 2019 Wolverines compare to Jim Harbaugh's other teams at Michigan? -What is hold...

After a bye week, we preview the No. 11 Michigan football team's matchup with No. 13 Wisconsin, looking at the key storylines and angles, as well as making predictions for the game. First, we open with a look into the constant do-or-die rhetoric that surrounds all of Michigan's big games. We note why the Wolverines are an easy target for national pundits and why this game is actually a big matchup...

In this episode, we recap the Michigan football team's narrow 24-21, double-overtime victory over Army, handing out two game balls, opining on four lasting takeaways and answering seven questions about the Wolverines. In our game balls, two underclassmen, one on each side of the ball, stood out the most to us to earn recognitions. Listen for more, but both have been highly competitive at positions...

In this episode, we preview Michigan's Week Two matchup against Army. First, we break down why there is fear over the Wolverines' matchup with a service academy, what makes Army's triple-option, possession-based football so tricky to face and how possible the Black Knights are at pulling off the upset. We then break down how Michigan can counter what Army does offensively, how the Wolverines' coac...

In this episode, we go in-depth with our thoughts on the Michigan football team’s season-opening win over Middle Tennessee, looking at two standout players, four lasting observations and answering seven listener questions. In delivering our game balls, we break down the play of Michigan’s top offensive and defensive player, while also looking at three other candidates who stood out. When looking a...

In our first game preview episode of the season, we take a look at the Michigan football team's matchup against Middle Tennessee. Given that the Wolverines are heavily favored to beat the Blue Raiders, our five things to watch for are Michigan-specific. First, we discuss how the offense could look and what our approach would be to unveiling the Wolverines' new offense. We also take a look at new s...

In our third annual all-prediction special, Lorenz and Shaw make 40 predictions for the 2019 season about Michigan, its schedule and the 2019 season nationally. First, we look at the Wolverines’ season, predicting who we think will be the team’s leading rusher, leading receiver, leading tackle-for-loss man, who scores the most total touchdown. We also make our predictions for the breakout player,...

Opening the Michigan football team's first game week of the season, we look at Jim Harbaugh's Monday press conference as well as some of our biggest takeaways from fall camp. We begin by looking at redshirt sophomore right tackle Andrew Stueber's season-ending ACL injury, what it means for the Wolverines' offensive line and where Michigan goes from there. We also discuss Harbaugh announcing that M...

Continuing our fall camp coverage, we open our show with listener questions about the team, then break down our top five freshmen through three weeks of fall camp. Our questions begin around the team, as we address inquiries on Zach Charbonnet, running back depth, potential additions to the running backs room, receiver depth down the road, defensive backfield depth now, Michigan's new captains and...

Steve Lorenz of 247Sports breaks down some fall camp standouts for Michigan and touches on the Andrew Stueber injury along with a few recruiting notes and a quick thought on the James Hudson/Jim Harbaugh situation.

After waiting to hear from Michigan assistants about the first week of fall camp, Lorenz and Shaw do a quasi-preview of the Wolverines' month by breaking down eight questions related to Michigan. First, they look at the Wolverines' potentially precarious running backs situation, respond to Josh Gattis' comments and what to make of Michigan's running backs depth. Then, they proceed to the Wolverine...

Reviewing Michigan's appearance at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago, we try to group a number of going-ons into five major categories. First, we look at the national media's ability to blow Jim Harbaugh's comments out of proportion. Though we also discuss some of Harbaugh's shortcomings when tiptoeing a little too close to James Hudson's transfer case, we look into Harbaugh's platform, and what to ma...

In a solo episode from Zach Shaw, he previews his coverage at Big Ten Media Days, outlining 10 things that he's watching at the annual event in Chicago. First, he looks at five non-Michigan things that he's watching, previewing what he is expecting to see from new Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and his thoughts on the rivalry and taking over a storied program. He also previews one of Jim Delany's...

In an episode entirely devoted to listener questions, we tackle a number of topics related to Michigan football. First, we look at Michigan's cornerback depth and how it shakes out a couple weeks before fall camp begins. Along the way, we look at the younger members of the Wolverines' secondary, and who could be a dark horse to emerge this season. We also take a. peek at who might start at the saf...

Answering two questions from our listeners, we discuss Michigan football players we feel are underrated along with things we might consider changing about the recruiting process. First, we look at which Wolverines aren't getting enough hype or attention. The list ranged from players stepping into new starting roles, surprise contenders in position battles, players who redshirted last season, who w...

In the wake of German wing Franz Wagner's commitment and signing to play for the Michigan basketball team this upcoming season, we break down what the Wolverines' first commitment under Juwan Howard means for Michigan.  First, we look at how good Wagner is, what he's good at, where he can grow his game and how he can improve. We contextualize what can be read from his play in Germany, and how it c...

In this episode, we break down each and every one of Michigan's commitments in the last week and a half, which has totaled 11 pickups. The flurry may continue, but we decided to dig in to the 11 who have pledged. Starting toward the bottom of the 247Sports Composite rankings, we first look at defensive end and son of former NFL lineman Kris Jenkins, Massachusetts athlete Eamonn Dennis, Brooklyn-ba...

Taking a break from our usual rotation of football, basketball and recruiting, this episode is solely focused on the Michigan baseball team, as we break down five reasons behind the Wolverines' epic postseason run to their first College World Series appearance since 1984 and now just their fourth-ever top-four national finish in Omaha. Mixing both macro and micro factors into Michigan's success, w...

In a recruiting-focused episode, we break down Michigan football's major recruiting visit weekend. Attempting to explore all angles, we begin by looking at the top targets for the Wolverines who are visiting during the weekend — one receiver and one offensive lineman. We then look at the next tier of recruits who will be in town, handicapping some of the recruiting battles that are brewing and oth...