Post-game Comments/Thoughts
"This was embarrassing - we will not come out like this again." - Taylor Lewan
— Michigan Football (@umichfootball) September 14, 2013
"We're not coming out like that again." - Devin Gardner
— Michigan Football (@umichfootball) September 14, 2013
"I'm not going to play a down -- but, we're going to coach our butts off this week." - Coach Hoke
— Michigan Football (@umichfootball) September 14, 2013
"I'm not here to celebrate - we have a lot of work to do." - Taylor Lewan
— Michigan Football (@umichfootball) September 14, 2013
This game certainly should not be an accurate depiction of what the rest of the season holds for us. This is still a very talented team, but like Hoke says, there is still much work to be done before this is a championship team. Between turnovers, the offensive line, and the entire defense, there is certainly much to do, but I am 100% confident that the coaching will come through. I fully expect them to win by four touchdowns next week at UCONN.
And let's never speak of this game ever again. And don't pay attention to the media for the next week.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:00 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 6:22 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 6:03 PM ^
This team must decide each game, 'who will you be'? Predator or prey. Predators cultivate a killer instinct. Predators strike with urgency and efficiency. Predators are merciless.
Every game somebody has to be the prey. Today Michigan was prey.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:10 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 6:40 PM ^
but every week, the fear level calculation should get a "+1 because Akron".
September 14th, 2013 at 11:05 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 6:20 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 6:24 PM ^
which is obviously a sore spot right now. I think he'll make a big impact right away
September 14th, 2013 at 6:23 PM ^
some people just do not see the big picture. Some just dont get it. here it is in a nutshell.
1) Our interior OLine is horrible. Point blank. There a year away from being average, assuming natural progression. Hopefully that at minimum happens because we lose by far the 2 best on the Oline next year. However, i did expect this unit to struggle, just not this bad.
2) Gardner is much, much beter than he used to be. He definitely has progressed from where he was in high school. I questioned if he would ever start for us when we recruited him. Im proud of how he progressed to be honest. HOWEVER, he still makes some very mistakes like he did in high school, and i guess i should expect that. He has always had some positive qualities (ice viens, strong runner, great leadership, good arm, long strides) but his decision making at times is extremely questionable and he continues to carry the ball like a loaf of break. Nontheless, i dont blame this game on him one bit for reasons which would explode this paragraph another 3 so i wont start. WIthout him, were toast.
3. Fitz is leaps and bounds MUCH better than anyone else. Derrick Green is extremely overrated, so just admit it to your kool aid eyes now, and save yourself the 'next year' greif for the next 3 years. I will say this though, Harris is definitely the real deal - hopefully next year Drake comes back strong, otherwise Smith is probably our best back. But i feel sooo bad for Fitz running behind this interior line.
4. Someone needs to help me in regards to the D-Line. I have no clue. I expected SOOOO much more from it. I really don't know where to start. I expected the line overall, with the constant substitution and fresh body's of high quality players to absolutely dominate Akrons line, expecially late in the game. I won't even pretend to know why this unit has performed so bad, i honestly do not know. Need help on this one, but nonetheless, its been very underwhelming.
5. Punting. Holy crap, i thought this guy was supposed to be as good a punter as Hagerup. Wile has been horrible.
Horrible game, but soo relieved we won. But in regards to a few things, we wont make it to double digit regular season wins. 8/9 wins is where this team is at.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:51 PM ^
Obvious /s is obvious. Take some Valium.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:04 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 6:35 PM ^
This is still a fairly young team, and this is part of the growing pains.
Are they ready to handle the success and expectations that follow a big win like the ND game? Not quite yet, as today's game proved, but they won.
Part of the on-going learning will be how they respond this week in practice.
I am optimistic the UConn game will show they are still learning- and still moving forward toward a B1G champion-caliber team.
Better days (and better wins) ahead. Cheers!
September 14th, 2013 at 7:02 PM ^
I, for one, am rooting for fairly liberal use of the banhammer in the next few days.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^
I might also advocate for a round of Bolivia trips if the banhammer is considered excessive.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:12 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:44 PM ^
"Worst win ever" is not hyperbole. I can't recall a more excruciating victory against an opponent of the caliber of Akron.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:54 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 8:10 PM ^
I think far too many people are reading too much into what happened today. Michigan just plain didn't show up. They need to beat up Uconn next week...and I think they will still.
September 14th, 2013 at 9:08 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:06 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:07 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:07 PM ^
The team looked like they ate those 5,000 donuts before the game.....
September 14th, 2013 at 7:12 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 8:25 PM ^
...or just coincidence?
"Five thousand donuts from head coach Brady Hoke didn't get the Michigan student section there early to Michigan Stadium for Saturday's noon game with Akron. Hoke's Wolverines spent a good portion of the game playing as though they ate them all just before kickoff in a 28-24 win over the Zips."
-Chris Balas, The Wolverine
Not accusing, just amused b/c I just read that.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:33 PM ^
M doesn't have the players to run the offense from under center. It was already obvious before this game, but hopefully the results from today will seal the deal, and it will be all pistol and shotgun from here on out. If it doesn't work agains the Zips, it's just not going to happen. I know that Borges doesn't like for Gardner to run so much, but this offense needs him to be a ground threat to be successful.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:49 PM ^
What is the deal with this D? You'd think we'd be able to get some pressure on AKRON, but once again the Akron QB had all day to throw. Don't tell me Mattison planned that. The defense was garbage, period.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:51 PM ^
Also earth to Borges, WE CAN'T RUN BETWEEN THE TACKLES FROM UNDER CENTER! No matter how many times you try it!
September 14th, 2013 at 7:58 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 8:16 PM ^
Most embarassing win in Michigan history. The only.
September 14th, 2013 at 8:42 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 8:42 PM ^
the shout out but its Umizoomi, however the D-line is not getting enough pressure with just a four man rush. Where the hell is the Frank Clark hype-train now? The line has to start getting more pressure, but I guess it never did last year either, this is where we miss Jake Ryan.
September 14th, 2013 at 9:09 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 8:51 PM ^
Zips started 10 jr/sr on defense and 8 on offense. Experience does make difference- we did win and it certainly looks like we have teaching points going forward and lessons learned. They will go to work and improve.
September 14th, 2013 at 8:54 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 9:34 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 10:32 PM ^
That said I think all returns to normal and we get better each week from here on out. We will beat msu bc I still feel like what they do offensively bodes well for our defense. I believe we can score enough to win by 7+. Nebraska has a very poor defense. Stop Martinez and they lose. We get them at home. I am not worried. I'm not worried about Iowa or Minnesota in any way shape or form. I'm not too concerned with UCONN. I worry about northwestern because they can spread us out just like Akron. Ohio is the same way. If our front four doesn't get any better we lose both of those games and possibly a 3rd.
I still believe today was an anomaly that will not occur again. Fans were half assed. Coaches were half added and the players were definitely half assed.
September 14th, 2013 at 9:08 PM ^
Combine that with the dumb option in the red zone and the bad decisions Devin made trying to force things and you let a team in the game
September 14th, 2013 at 9:23 PM ^
things are never as good or as bad as they seem. I think people maybe just were a little TOO high after the Notre Dame game, and are probably a bit too low right now.
We are probably not a national title contender, but we're also still probably a really good B1G team. Let's just hope they come out next week with a little more fire.
September 14th, 2013 at 11:47 PM ^
September 15th, 2013 at 12:05 AM ^
September 15th, 2013 at 1:03 AM ^
Akron's best hope for an upset? Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who tortured Michigan during his tenure, is the school's vice president for student success. Maybe Michigan can chalk up Saturday's near upset to The Curse of The Vest, as Akron's student-athletes had plenty of success at the Big House.
Michigan was a yard away from arguably the worst loss in program history. It wasn't Appalachian State, as the 2007 Mountaineers were miles better than the Toledo team Michigan lost to in 2008 or the current Akron squad. The 2008 Wolverines might have been the worst edition in school history. Michigan entered Saturday off of an impressive win against Notre Dame. A letdown was possible? A letdown loss to Akron? Not a chance.
September 15th, 2013 at 1:24 PM ^
I was searching for perspective and looked to Ohio State's (ughh) 12-0 season last year. The results were interesting. Some games of note:
- OSU vs UAB, OSU favored by 36, won by 11
- OSU vs CAL, OSU favored by 17, won by 7
- OSU @ Indiana, OSU favored by 19, won by 3
- OSU vs. Purdue, OSU favored by 17, won (in overtime) by 7
And that was just OSU in 2012. The point I am trying to make is that good teams sometimes struggle against teams they should beat handily. Perhaps the CAL example wasn't great, but Ohio State had troubles against UAB, CAL, Indiana, Purdue, and Wisconsin last year.
That eases the doom and gloom mood following yesterday's debacle against Akron.
Some others to note (2012):
- Texas A&M @ Alabama, Bama favored by 14 but lost
- Notre Dame/Purdue, ND favored by 14, won by 3
- Notre Dame/BUY, ND favored by 14, won by 3
- Notre Dame/PITT, ND favored by 19, won by 3 (in 3OT)
I could continue on and on. Perhaps none were as bad as what transpired at Michigan Stadium yesterday, but my point remains: sometimes good teams struggle against inferior competition.
September 15th, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^
September 15th, 2013 at 2:51 PM ^