September 14th, 2013 at 7:32 PM ^
Hoke has said that this team is led by its leaders. He is amongst them. Coaches, senior, and captains are to blame. Pretty simple.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:33 PM ^
I can agree with that as long as the statement is amended to include every single one of the other players that were on the field today.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:50 PM ^
between taking or accepting responsibility and being responsible.
The leaders of the team need to take responsibility for the performance of the team. It doesn't mean that they are actually entirely responsible for it. Everyone has to contribute. It is, after all, a team sport. Probably it is THE team sport.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:53 PM ^
You are a douche la rue.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:31 PM ^
I'm going to have to pull a wikipedia and put a [citation necessary[ for that statement.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:39 PM ^
I want to give the team the benefit of the doubt and say that this was just one of those games. Every team seems to have them at some point where they just play down to an opponent that has no business being on the same field as them, like LSU against Towson last year. We also know what this team is capable of when they're on their game.
But we'll know for sure next week. If we have another performance next week like we did today, I'd say we have a ceiling of no more than 6-7 wins, and the road would start going downhill with an upset next week. But I'd love nothing more than to see the boys come out next Saturday night with something to prove and just blow UConn right off the face of the Earth.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:49 PM ^
next week will say a lot about this team for sure. I agree if we have a similar performance as today, buckle up boys it's gonna be a long and bumpy season. hopefully the coach's can get things in order, but one thing is for sure. Both lines need heavy heavy attention from the staff. This is supposed to the staff's bread and butter and i wasn't overly impressed the first two games and was horrified today. There needs to be some serious improvement in the trenches
September 14th, 2013 at 6:54 PM ^
That DL is no joke. I'll take stalemaking that line. Today, however, was horrendous.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:39 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 6:52 PM ^
Yawn, heard it before from this group. Hey, you ain't Tebow. These same type of statements were made many times during the RR years and a few times last year (notably after Nebraska). Words mean nothing, actions mean something. Perhaps they should put away their Friday night party pants and concentrate on winning.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:54 PM ^
They did win...
September 14th, 2013 at 9:10 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 6:55 PM ^
- They did win. That is an action that means something. Ok, they didn't play well. I suppose you've always done your best over the course of your life?
- Taylor Lewan gave up millions of dollars to return for his senior season. That is an action that means something.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:56 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:00 PM ^
There was a party on campus last night that undergraduates attended. I am not in Ann Arbor, but I would bet one trillion dollars that this happened.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:02 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^
Can confirm. I live in AA. Saw some parties. Went to some bars. Did not see a football player.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^
From my understanding, the whole team spends the night before the game in a local hotel regardless of whether the game is home or away. This ensures that none of the players do exactly what you're saying.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:07 PM ^
I'm never said the players were at a party. My point is that us knowing about a party on campus is worthless. The idea that we as fans are entitled to know the activities of these 100 students 24/7 is absolutely ridiculous.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:09 PM ^
misunderstood you. although i completely with your second point.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:11 PM ^
Sorry, my sarcasm gets really thick after a game like this where people go completely out of their gourds and I have nothing better to do than read the board... :)
September 14th, 2013 at 7:17 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:19 PM ^
:)
This feeling is a big part of why we love sports. Without days like this the big wins wouldn't feel nearly as good.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:05 PM ^
As always, they stay at a hotel.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:08 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:25 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:23 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:32 PM ^
He isn't Tebow; he might actually play in the NFL for more than a season.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:25 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:21 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:28 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:16 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:16 PM ^
September 14th, 2013 at 7:38 PM ^
If I were a member of that team after the game, I would be very afraid of Lewan. I imagine he was ready to rip someone's face off after that "embarrassment," as he put it. I have confidence that he will get his OL in order and that Devin will watch film and fix some of his issues.
On defense, we need the DL to be better. They were not able to get a pass rush going and they weren't doing a good job establishign the LOS and keeping the run contained. Wonder what Mattison does going forward.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:49 PM ^
but as others have pointed, it was an embarassment at half time, and when Lewan and the rest of the o-line could have done something about it, we got more of the same. It was very disappointing second half.
The D-line was especially concerning. If we can't get a pass rush with 4 against akron, i'm not sure who we'll be able to pressure. Akron has the weakest lines we'll see all year. This didn't bode well whether the team came out flat or not. Even if there was a big let down, this team should have gotten a push and pressure on talent/size alone.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:59 PM ^
People's skill set is not going to change from 1 game to the next. If it's a matter of the team playing flat that is one thing but some people here need to accept UM has some MAC level talent at some positions, sorry it is difficult to accept. I am not picking on Heitzman (just using him as an example) but his offer sheet was almost all MAC teams (so was Jake Ryan's but I digress, every so often a player supersedes his offer sheet by a large amount). Heitzman is our starter. Compare that Noah Spence being the starter at OSU and Tuitt at ND. I dont care how "inspired Hietzman" gets the probability is he will never be a better player than those guys. Sorry. Maybe he will be better than this week's level of play but what does that mean. And I am saying that to the whole team and especially the lines. A walk on is challenging for good amounts of playing time on the D line (Glasgow). A walk on is a starter on the OL. (yes I know Kovacs). But no matter how peeved I was when I played sports, I didnt get 20% better the next game nor did my getting peeved, make everyone around me better even when I was a captain. God bless these kids for taking responsibility and being upset but what does any fan expect from them? To walk in happy? And what do they expect it to translate to? I am sure practices will be more intense and they will come out in the UConn game firing - in fact I expect a big win next week. But that doesnt take away talent issues.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:54 PM ^
Hopefully this can be corrected soon.
September 14th, 2013 at 8:16 PM ^
My iPhone 5 almost never shows the videos people embed on this site. Dunno what the issue is, but it is certainly annoying.
September 14th, 2013 at 8:39 PM ^
That is because you bought an electronic device based on a marketing campaign. Next time, don't do that.
September 14th, 2013 at 9:15 PM ^
I'm an iPhone owner, but even I lol'd.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:56 PM ^
He could do more damage than a lesser QB who took less on.
It's not a question if watching film. It's an issue of being responsible.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:56 PM ^
They have played presumeably one good team. The win against ND could have been a very emotional effort just as we saw with Akron today.
No doubt Michigan line play on both sides of the both have been atrocious. Granted they are young but one would think they are strong. Yet, the offensive line of Akron must have been laughing thier asses off watching the Michigan line try to rush the passer.
Our offensive line today was a house of cards. Tom Brady could have been back there and he would have had a bad day. At least DG can run.
Hoke said it best they are not a top ten team. It is questionable if they are a top 25 team.
September 14th, 2013 at 9:24 PM ^
ND is losing to Purdue right now . .. 10 - 0
September 14th, 2013 at 7:58 PM ^
I would say that the people who went right to the Internet to vent should at least watch these - they should provide you with some insight into how aware of its own status this team is. Watching these does give me a positive vibe in the sense that this is a team that exists in a culture that is conducive to learning and recovering from an ugly win such as this. They are all too aware of the mistakes and weren't making excuses or trying to explain it away. That is what makes you confident that they will address what they saw in that game as best they can.
September 14th, 2013 at 8:02 PM ^
This is no time for rational thought, my friend.
/s
September 14th, 2013 at 8:05 PM ^
" That is what makes you confident that they will address what they saw in that game as best they can. " Agreed. But the larger question i what can be addressed. You could put me into a basketball game and coach me up all day but I am still my height and skill. I am using an extreme example but I think this now falls on the coaches. They know now with these 3 games what they have, so they need to scheme around it. Yes players will get incrementally better but you are not going to get leaps btw now and Nov. We are not a manball team on offense despite the hope nor will be for at least 2 more years since next year's OL will be younger than this year's. We are not a manball defensive team either. Mattison needs to take more risk to get pressure on the QB and yes that exposes us to big plays more but good teams are going to tear apart this defense with this philosophy - OSU NW and Nebraska all have better offenses than ND (or at minimum the same) and you cant count on Vince Young showing up at UTL 2 to win all those games. But I get your larger point, my larger point is "as best they can" only can take you so far - you need raw talent and some of these players simply dont match up to the top level of the Big 10... which is not a great conference in football right now. Hence they are being neutralized by MAC talent.
September 14th, 2013 at 8:06 PM ^
about DG saying that the bad game almost ruined M's championship chances. I've grown really fond of this guy in a short time, but he and the team need to dial back the big talk and concentrate on getting better week to week.
And (could be wrong but) I think that DG was was a mite casual out there today, and therefore a little behind on a lot of his throws. A tiny bit more urgency, please. We are not the anointed, we are a work in progress. What you see, Week Three, is to a certain extent what you are going to get with line play--both sides of the ball. Derrick Green in for one play and running into the brick wall of his own O line kinda confirms this. We have some tough games ahead of us; progress will be incremental, not miraculous.
September 14th, 2013 at 9:16 PM ^
Going further, Gardner said the team's goals were for the national championship.
It might have been him simply misspeaking after a disappointing showing.
But your point is spot on ... play every game well and wins will follow. Then, if things fall right, the B1G championship follows. Only then can you start talking about NC.