Even Buzzfeed Recognizes Michigan's Coaching Troubles
Buzzfeed isn't really known for it's insightful analysis of anything, but even the writers over there can see the offensive woes and what Borges refuses to do (short passes where there is no defender, running into a stacked box, etc.). There is even a link to MGoBlog.
"Michigan has been successful in the past few years when it takes advantage of its excellent receivers and running QBs in shotgun formations. But Hoke and Borges (below) treat the shotgun like a special dessert, to be enjoyed only as a delightful change-of-pace treat from one’s normal diet. And that normal diet tastes a lot like being tackled in the backfield for a three-yard loss on 2nd and 11... It tastes like never, ever throwing short passes to the outside. Look at this! It’s from this weekend’s Penn State game when Michigan just needed to get a few yards to set up an easy field goal. There is actually, literally, no defender within nine yards of the slot receiver. They ran it into the line for one yard."
http://www.buzzfeed.com/bml/why-brady-hoke-is-both-the-greatest-and-most-frustrating-thi
EDIT: This wasn't really posted for a good reading of their great "analysis." It's pretty obvious where the information came from. It was more just weird/funny (or sad I guess) that a site like Buzzfeed would run something like this. Not their typical article.
October 17th, 2013 at 12:28 PM ^
after reading this I will now be screaming ay my assistant all day..."LLLLOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
October 17th, 2013 at 12:29 PM ^
Not sure where he could have sourced the content....
October 17th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^
Yeah, it's not like this guy has ever visited or bookmarked MGoBlog.
October 17th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
Wouldn't exactly call it insightful when they're just repeating what they read here and elsewhere
October 17th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
You are creating a dangerous reciprocal feedback loop that could create a black hole. Buzzfeed recognized our coaching woes largely due to its hyperbolic discussion here and on a few other sites. They are not independent realizations.
October 17th, 2013 at 1:03 PM ^
I can't look away.
October 17th, 2013 at 2:16 PM ^
from fear of evaporating into my screen through some crazy wormhole portal. Call me crazy, but I wasn't taking the chance!
October 17th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
Winning cures all. However, if we lose this week. KaaBoooooom.
October 17th, 2013 at 1:25 PM ^
Not to start a shit storm or anything, but will beating IU really cure anything? To me, the IU game is a lose-lose (like the arguments made for NOT playing teams like Boise State). We are supposed to win and - at least from perception - do it handily. If we don't, yikes.
October 17th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^
https://twitter.com/BenMathisLilley/status/390227783504248832
I've been a daily reader of this site since at least 2006 and that's not a secret Hi. I am also the editor of BuzzFeed Sports, AMA.
October 17th, 2013 at 3:34 PM ^
Nice summary, and good to see that Borges and/or Hoke's stubborn stupidity will get more attention outside of the diehard M fan community. I don't know how to tweet, but can someone (or many people) get this to Dave Brandon to apply some pressure/reason?
October 17th, 2013 at 5:39 PM ^
because you some off as someone who recently escaped Arkham Asylum.
Dave Brandon knows enough not to pressure his coach about on-the-field issues. That isn't his place. I can't believe you even wrote that rubbish.
October 18th, 2013 at 3:19 AM ^
Wow. Calmer than you are, dude. No need to make it personal.
DB certainly communicates with Hoke on a regular basis. Given how much he cares about public opinion/the brand/the dollars and the fact that he oversees the program, he can certainly ask questions and give feedback (e.g., "Hey, why did Al seem so stubborn in that interview?" and "How are you guys gonna prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future?").
He has a vested interest in the reputation of the program and doesn't want it to become a national laughingstock, especially when most casual football fans can see that some basic playcalling adjustments might have a significant positive impact.
October 17th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^
https://twitter.com/BenMathisLilley/status/390227783504248832
I've been a daily reader of this site since at least 2006 and that's not a secret Hi. I am also the editor of BuzzFeed Sports, AMA.
October 17th, 2013 at 1:18 PM ^
While there are plenty of goofy lists and a lot of general silliness on BuzzFeed, of which we are not ashamed in the slightest (http://www.buzzfeed.com/bml/most-famous-butt-in-nfl-set-to-retire), some people may not know that we also do a lot of longer articles with, like, big words and reporting and such. Here are some such pieces you may enjoy in the field of Sportz.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/joelanderson/college-footballs-top-pipeline-fri…
http://www.buzzfeed.com/samgf/remade-in-taiwan-manny-ramirezs-season-ab…
http://www.buzzfeed.com/stevekandell/the-ports-guy-the-making-of-darren…
http://www.buzzfeed.com/joeflood/how-the-redskins-debate-goes-over-on-a…
October 17th, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^
(You can tell from the double post and the typo that I'm an internet publishing genius.)
October 17th, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^
October 17th, 2013 at 1:05 PM ^
...on the author. Michigan native who never lived in or near Detroit (he's from Midland). Harvard alumnus. Seems to tweet about Michigan a lot. I'm guessing he's a fan or at least his heritage keeps his focus on Michigan.
Yes, definitely a fan.
Oh, hey. bml has outed himself right above me.
October 17th, 2013 at 1:20 PM ^
Midland Online, nice find. Even I didn't remember that.
October 17th, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^
hate life.
October 17th, 2013 at 1:24 PM ^
October 17th, 2013 at 1:33 PM ^
I seriousl hope Brandon isn't stupid and full of enough hubris to offer coaching tips and advice to Hoke.
October 17th, 2013 at 1:47 PM ^
October 17th, 2013 at 5:33 PM ^
October 17th, 2013 at 1:33 PM ^
double
October 17th, 2013 at 2:17 PM ^
October 17th, 2013 at 2:33 PM ^
October 17th, 2013 at 5:45 PM ^
who spends HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS watching film don't see the samething Brian and everyone else does? Of course they do.They dont need Dave Brandon's advice.
They had a reason for running those seemngly insane plays. It probably had something to do with Gardner generously donating the football to the opposing defenses for the first 6 weeks of the season.
October 17th, 2013 at 7:14 PM ^
usually required a defender somewhere withing thirty yards of the ball.
October 17th, 2013 at 2:28 PM ^
"This season’s team is lucky to only have one loss, and the second half’s schedule is a lot tougher than the Akrons and UConns they squeaked by in the last month. But none of the games are unwinnable, and Michigan gets to play Ohio State in Ann Arbor."
In a nutshell, this statement above - we are quite lucky, and there are even tougher challenges ahead. I am prefectly prepared to marinate in the implications of saying this, but yes, by the numbers anyway, none of the remaining games would be unmanageable, but they will likely require some alterations to the current strategy. Because we don't really know the extent of what is being considered or what the staff's learnings from the PSU game are (in their view), we can only speculate (have we ever done that this week...)
October 17th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^
and right it is deserving of the criticism. They need to right the ship. Al Borges is under fire and I can't reasonably defend him. People still haven't forgotten Nebraska and OSU from last year.
October 17th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^
2011 featured multiple offensive game plans that just made slap your head in disbelief.
October 17th, 2013 at 5:49 PM ^
They have multiple gameplans that have impressed.
October 17th, 2013 at 9:58 PM ^
October 17th, 2013 at 4:13 PM ^
Buzzfeed did not let the cat out of the bag about the PSU game. The announcers during one of the Tigers ALCS games (Sunday I think) spoke at length about the PSU game. Of course it was all over ESPN and it was a featured live broadcast, replete with announcers giddily repeating "white out" more times than I could count. I wish the team's shortcomings was known only to our fanbase.
October 17th, 2013 at 4:16 PM ^
That should have been "were known" not "was known" I blame the error on the rain.
October 17th, 2013 at 5:25 PM ^
The sentiment has been around for at least a year:
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/petition-fire-al-borges
October 17th, 2013 at 5:34 PM ^
Incredulous is the feeling I have when I see the wide open slot and consistent runs into 8 or 9 men boxes. Wow. Aren't these situations where Devin has the luxury to audible? if not that is a crime. If he has the luxury but is missing it then our problems are way bigger than I thought. Damn it!