The Michigan Insider

The podcast begins with recruiting, including discussion surrounding the Michigan football team’s loss of five-star safety commitment Daxton Hill to Alabama. We break down how it happened, what Michigan’s reaction was, and where the Wolverines go with Hill and others from here. During the talk, we also take a look at Michigan’s 2019 recruiting class just over a week before the December signing per...

This week, the podcast is almost entirely centered around the Michigan football team’s stunning blowout loss to Ohio State to lose out on Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff contention.  We first look at what went wrong in the game, from the Wolverines’ offense failing to seize opportunities in the first half, deciding to stick with their game plan rather than attack Ohio State in wa...

This week’s podcast is all about the No. 4 Michigan football team’s matchup against No. 10 Ohio State. We open with a lengthy discussion about Karan Higdon’s so-called “guarantee” that the Wolverines would beat the Buckeyes, how valid the guarantee is and what to make of the smack-talk gamesmanship teams and fans seem to try to use in today’s college football landscape. Then, we refocus to Saturda...

The podcast begins with a discussion surrounding the No. 18 Michigan basketball team’s 73-46 road romp over No. 8 Villanova. We break down how impressive the win was given history and context, what elements went into the blowout victory, what it means and what concerns still exist for the Wolverines moving forward.  Then, the discussion shifts toward the No. 4 Michigan football team, and its likel...

The show begins with a lengthy discussion of how the current Michigan football team — ranked fourth nationally — compares to the Wolverines’ 2016 team, as well as how Michigan’s current defense ranks among the best in school history. This also carries into a discussion of why the Wolverines are having so much success with the team that they have. Then, the duo switch gears to discuss recruiting, a...

This week, the duo dissect what to make of the College Football Playoff picture ahead of Tuesday night’s rankings unveiling. Lorenz makes his stump speech for non-SEC teams, while Shaw disagrees, though both agree on which teams Michigan — should it continue its winning streak and capture the Big Ten — needs to root for henceforth. Then, they revisit the wild Big Ten West, making their latest pred...

The show begins with plenty of discussion about the Michigan football team’s eventful trip to East Lansing and eventual 21-7 win over Michigan State. Included were Lorenz and Shaw’s thoughts on the pregame scuffle, how the rest of the game played out, what went well and what didn’t and a look at what the win means for the Wolverines. Then, the conversation shifts to the debate on if Michigan is in...

Since they put off recruiting last week, this week’s show opens with Lorenz and Shaw discussing a big recruiting visit weekend. At the top of the list is how things might stand slightly in Michigan’s favor with five-star 2019 Ohio defensive end Zach Harrison, and what things the Wolverines have done well to remain in the race. They also discuss others who visited this weekend, what Drew Singleton’...

This week’s podcast was almost entirely centered around the No. 12 Michigan football team’s matchup with Wisconsin. We talk about how the Wolverines have improved over the last five weeks in a number of key areas, as well as how Wisconsin and Michigan State look more mortal than when the season began, and what the next three games can and will tell us about the Wolverines’ season. We also discuss...

With fewer questions from readers this week, Lorenz and Shaw recap what is going well for the No. 14 Michigan football team on offense, defense, special teams and more after the Wolverines dismantled Nebraska, 56-10 for their third consecutive blowout win.  Discussions are centered around Michigan’s dynamic and unique offense, its conversion improvements on third downs and in the red zone, what th...

For the first time in a while, the show begins with a recruiting discussion, as Lorenz and Shaw break down Michigan’s pickup of five-star 2019 safety Daxton Hill and where it ranks among the Wolverines’ recent recruiting wins.  The two also discuss Hill as a prospect, what to read into safety recruiting rankings, some history with Michigan’s five-star recruits and what the Wolverines did on the re...

This week’s show opens, per Lorenz’s request, with discussion over the Detroit Lions’ meltdown against the New York Jets, and if there has ever been a situation in college football or Michigan history where a coach was so obviously in over their head in week one.  Following that, the two discuss the Wolverines’ newfound passing attack, which includes Shea Patterson’s early returns and apparent imp...

This week, Lorenz and Shaw break down the Michigan football team’s loss at Notre Dame and what went wrong for the Wolverines. Topping the list, unsurprisingly, were Michigan’s issues on the offensive line, what it means moving forward and how the Wolverines should handle the starting tackle positions. Also on the list were Michigan’s issues converting on offense and a lack of an identity, what pan...

This week, Lorenz and Shaw don’t field questions from listeners, and instead open the show discussing the Michigan football’s team’s slew of apparent injuries, the impact of Tarik Black’s absence from games and the state of Michigan’s receiving corps. Then, the duo discuss how much credence they’re giving the heavy fall camp chatter that Michigan’s offensive line is improved, and try to gauge just...

This week’s podcast, nearly doubling the length of a normal podcast for our annual prediction special, opens with Lorenz and Shaw discussing Ohio State coach Urban Meyer’s three-game suspension and the findings the Buckeyes published following their investigation. The two also lament on Ohio State’s pitfalls in handling the situation with the public, as well as what it means for Meyer and the Buck...

This week, Lorenz and Shaw open by discussing the potential Jordan shoe resale scandal that has already caused North Carolina to suspend 13 players and is being investigated internally by Michigan. The duo discuss what they know and have heard about Michigan’s end of the situation, and offer their opinions on what various scenarios would and should mean for the Wolverines moving forward. Next, wit...

This week, Lorenz and Shaw open with a lengthy discussion of recent allegations that Urban Meyer knew about former assistant coach Zach Smith’s repeated domestic abuses and still kept him employed on the team, an incident that has prompted Ohio State to put Meyer on paid administrative leave. The two discuss their personal reactions, what they would do if they were Meyer or Ohio State, what this c...

Putting recruiting on hold until after Michigan's annual Barbecue at the Big House event, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz instead tackle some key team questions. They begin discussing their thoughts on Big Ten Media Days in Chicago, from dumb contrived narratives to genuine insight that Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines gave about their offseason and prospects this season. Then, the duo tackle a slew of...

This week, in a particularly slow week in Michigan sports, the crew opens with a discussion on the Wolverines’ annual Barbecue at the Big House recruiting event and how the event may differ from past renditions, the latest with five-star targets Daxton Hill and George Karlaftis and whether Michigan could ultimately land commitments from either of them or other five-star targets. Then, we shift to...

Combining a couple of questions we got about Michigan’s defense and utilizing Shaw’s in-depth offseason question series at each position group, we break down Michigan’s starters, reserve players and overall outlook at each defensive position.  In doing so, we highlight some freshmen who could see significant snaps in year one, players who could bounce back from injuries, potential All-Big Ten and...

This week’s episode was driven entirely by questions from our listeners, with a healthy mix of football and recruiting topics discussed. We opened by talking about Eric Gray’s pledge to the Wolverines and a discussion on Michigan’s running-back success on the recruiting trail as of late and what Jay Harbaugh is doing right as a recruiter. We also discuss the state of Michigan’s offensive line and...

This week's episode is almost entirely recruiting though, as Shaw and Lorenz break down the recent commitments of Mazi Smith, Zach Charbonnet, Erick All, DJ Turner II, George Johnson III and Joey Velazquez. The two also discuss how the productive weekend went for five-star targets Zach Harrison and Quavaris Crouch, what the headway means for the remainder of the class, what the final 2019 class sh...

In what could be the Michigan football team’s biggest week of recruiting for the summer, we break down the Wolverines’ two recent commitments, the bevy of offers  extended this weekend. We also discuss five-star running back Quavaris Crouch’s second unofficial visit to Ann Arbor, while also previewing a loaded visit weekend that will include several 2019 prospects. Then, we switch gears to talk ab...

This week’s show opened with Lorenz and Shaw opining on a couple odds and ends regarding Jeff George Jr., the World Cup and more. Then the duo reflect on John Beilein’s intrigue with the NBA last week, why he turned the opportunity down and what that means for Michigan. Sticking with basketball, the two then go on to discuss whether Michigan’s football or basketball team will have more success in...

In a loaded offseason news week, we discuss Charles Matthews, Michigan basketball's status in the Big Ten and the Wolverines' recruiting status. Then, we field football questions on Shea Patterson, MSU, Ed Warriner, assistant coaches' recruiting prowess, Luke Deal, Zach Carpenter and more.