football

This post is predicated on the concept that all open, or theoretically soon to be open, positions at the University must be posted. Maybe the later is wishful thinking...

Unfortunately, you are out of luck for athletic department or coaching jobs, unless you are:

• a volunteer coach (Women's Lacrosse)
• a video coordinator (Men's Lacrosse)  
• a temporary personal trainer
• athletic facilities assistant

Go see for yourself:

http://umjobs.org/search?career_interest=050&work_location=&position=&regular_temporary=&keyword=

 I've done a little research, and I'm unable to confirm whether either Hoke, Brandon, or Nussmeier's jobs were ever posted.

So, any of you potential coaching or AD candidates, just move along. There's nothing to see here... yet.

Let me preface this by saying I am not attacking Shane Morris but just trying to figure out what is going on and comparing to his peers.  I am not saying he has no future, he is a bust, he is not trying, etc etc.

I am looking ahead to 2015 and am very worried about this offense as outside of Jake Butt I dont see an elite difference maker at any position (assuming Funchess goes to draft).  And with what I have seen from Shane, we face the reality Wilton Speight might be getting his first playing time on the road in Utah to open 2015.  To even have a respectful 2015 we are going to need some QB to be more than "ho hum", with the lack of difference makers everywhere else.

I viewed Shane Morris as a high ceiling low floor type of QB - if he put everything together he would be very Henne like but I was worried about his floor due to what he was missing (accuracy) and some comments at camps about his reading of progressions.  Ironically some of the same issues Devin faces.  But if he figured those things out - combined with a ridiculous arm - he could be a game changer.  I think a few guys on here who coach football, and/or run blogs (hi Magnus) had a similar view of high ceiling low floor.

Early results are dour in a vacuum and not promising versus peers.  He does not have the excuse of not having a so called QB guru coaching him now like he did last year.  I am looking at some QBs in his class ranked at his level or lower and a few of them are thriving - Kenny Hill @ Texas A&M, JT Barrett @ OSU, and Anu Solomon @ Arizona.  They look like typical young pimple faced QBs - some super highs, some lows, some mistakes, some flash plays that make you go wow.  I have not seen those highs from Shane.  

Disputing the LACK OF PRACTICE EXCUSE:   JT Barrett was going to be sitting behind Braxton all year until his injury so he was in the same situation Shane was - and Shane actually got the entire bowl season last year to get 1st string reps and then played in a game.  Meanwhile Hill was sitting behind Manziel all last year and Solomon didnt have a single snap in 2013.

Disputing the OL EXCUSE;  I don't think the OL was great in the bowl game or the Minnesota game but he was not facing doom terror type defenses and the pass protection was 4/10 not 1/10 like it was for some games Devin had to deal with in 2013.  It was not great protection by any means but 8-10 throws in the Minnesota game you should have seen something very promising, even if he was sacked 4x and looked hurried on 10 other throws.

I am confused what is happening here - along with so many other positions in terms of development.  Watching the progression of JT Barrett from lost soul v VA Tech to world beater the last 2 weeks... watching Anu Solomon "manage" a game for Arizona in the toughest venue in college football against the #2 team in the country (dude led multiple 80 yard type drives in that game, making clutch throws and looking like a senior), watching Kenny Hill go into South Carolina in his first game of his career (akin to Shane's first v KSU) and treat them like Purdue, then watching our guy look like Dan Orlvosky circa 2008 is boggling.

I won't even throw Christian Hackenberg into this conversation since he started last year and was #24 in Rivals but here is Shane versus a selection of guys ranked after him.  And to be fair there are other QBs in his class who have yet to see the field.

Shane Morris, #81 rated player in the country 2013, Michigan

• 14-39 (35.8%), 128 yards, 0 TD 3 INT

Kenny Hill, #137 rated player in country 2013, Texas A&M

• 155-242 (64.1%), 2110 yards, 21 TD 5 INT

Anu Solomon, #99 rated player in country 2013, Arizona

• 131-206 (63.6%), 1741 yards, 14 TD 4 INT

JT Barrett, #152 rated player in country 2013, OSU

• 88-133 (66.2%), 1354 yards, 17 TD 5 INT

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2014/10/michigan_state_true_freshman_m.html

Nicholson has been tearing it up in East Lansing thus far as a true freshman. He plays on all special teams, and is now the starting safety.

We had this kid 'locked up' until we told him we no longer had space in our class for him. Yet another coaching blunder over the past year.

I am telling you - this kid will be a first round pick after his junior year. With all the great defenses MSU has had lately, the coaches are saying he is likely the best safety they have seen. I predict he will start to get some snaps on offense next year as well.

After another extremely poor showing last night, we're all just as sick of Hoke and the administration as last week.  But, I fear that the prediction that Brandon could skate through this mess could be true if we (the fans and especially the students) don't come up with another way to focus anger towards Brandon.

We all know that Hoke is gone sometime after the OSU game (I personally don't believe it's possible that he'll be let go sooner than that).  But, I'm afraid of the situation where Brandon is still here and uses the firing of Hoke as his "Get out of jail free" card.  It seems that momentum towards Brandon's removal has stalled - my question is therefore, what can we practically do to restart that momentum and help Schlissel see that  adding walkie-talkies and firing Hoke is not reason enough for Brandon to be retained?

Alas, the only 2 ideas I have are:

1. Another "Fire Brandon" chant during the PSU game
   Although this is relatively easy to do, I doubt it'll have any practical effect as Schlissel may never learn about it.
2. Another rally outside the President's house
   I'm unsure how effective repeating the same stunt will be... but if students were to gather there on their way back from the PSU game maybe a critical mass could be achieved such that it would attract more than the 500-1000 that were at the original rally.
3. Edit: enlightenbum had the good idea to show up at the Regents meeting on Wednesday (10/8) at the School of Public Policy.
   This seems like an excellent place to show anti-Brandon sentiment to people with decision making power, Schlissel's ear, and who are willing to listen since they're elected officials
4. Edit: kakusei pointed out that Brandon obviously has a special place for UTL games.  If stduents showed up 20-30 minutes late en masse, that would send a message that the commentators couldn't help but talk about (especially if it's followed by a Fire Brandon chant).
   But, the logistics of making that happen would be... difficult at best.

MGoBlog is the effective epicenter of student and fan disapproval towards Brandon.  If we want him gone in time for a new AD to make the coaching hire, then I think it's our responsibility to come up with practical ways to ensure Schlissel can't ignore the will of the fans.

So... what's your idea?

Edit: Removed typo and made title clearer.

I'm Committed to michigan but just like everyone else I will take my officials visits this is based off of everything going at at michigan

— Chris Clark (@Clark8Chris) October 5, 2014

Can't say that I blame him. Let's hope that we can keep him committed in the coming months.

Just like the title says.  At 10:45 in the 2nd, Rutgers is punting from midfield. Norfleet is deep by himself.  5 guys on the line.  2 players covering each Rutgers gunner.

1+5+2+2=10.

How in the blue fuck does this keep happening?

*****EDIT*****

Decided to look at the rest of the punts.  

Next punt happens at 12:58 in the 3rd.  Michigan was set with only 10 men.  Had to run the 11th guy onto the field.

Next punt comes at 6:42 in the 4th.  They have all 11 guys on the field this time!!

So, 10 guys for 1st punt.

11 guys for second, after they noticed they were 1 short.

11 guys for third.

I guess that is progress?