A Key Michigan Football Player Must Stop Today
The Rose Bowl play, which hasn’t occurred in almost 30 years, is what the Michigan Wolverines are all about. When Jim Harbaugh and Nick Saban squared off in the Citrus Bowl four years ago on the first day of the decade, Alabama easily won 35–16. These two storied schools are now in very different places, even if Alabama is still one of the best teams in the nation. Wide receiver Isaiah Bond is a crucial guy that Michigan football needs to slow down if it hopes to defeat the Crimson Tide.
Michigan football must stop Alabama star wideout Isaiah Bond in the Rose Bowl Game
When Michigan football and Alabama faced off four years ago, Alabama scored a touchdown on its first play of the game by way of a long touchdown pass. Today, the Wolverines want to finally get over the College Football
Keeping Alabama from scoring in such a way will be crucial given their playoff struggles.
Both Jim Harbaugh and Nick Saban are aware that winning teams win games like this one by playing strong defense. Just look at the Fiesta Bowl game from the previous year, when one team scored two defensive touchdowns while the other gave up 37 points on the offensive end.
It is evident going into the Rose Bowl that quarterback Josh Lansingh has a unique bond with wide receiver Isaiah Bond of Bama. Nevertheless, Michigan football boasts the best defense in the country, and if the Wolverines are to win their first-ever postseason game, Bond must be restrained.
Jim Harbaugh stated yesterday, “Yeah, (Isaiah Bond) creates separation, increases separation, snatches the ball out of the air, good with the ball security.” “As Coach (Nick Saban) stated, it’s a risky offensive to stop. Because they do such an excellent job of extending the play, you have to defend it first, and then you have to defend the next play, which is in the same play.
Isaiah Bond told me that he and Alabama are feeling confident going into this game when we met earlier this week. Michigan may have the best defense in the country, but thanks in large part to their extensive SEC experience, Bond and Jalen Milroe believe they are more than up to the task Thursday afternoon.
Only time will tell how Michigan will do this afternoon, though this much is clear: Isaiah Bond must be a priority for the Michigan football defense if Jesse Minter and his Wolverines are to come away with a victory and advance to the national championship game.