The Definition of Insanity
To continually do the same things, in the same manner and expects different results has to be the definition of insanity. That is what our defense has become to me; an exercise in insanity. We have been cocnsistently awful in 3rd and long situations were we almost concede first down yardage through this awful soft zone that we have not been able to execute all year, but yet we still go to it every time we've got 3rd and forever and it seldom works. How many times are we going to reach for that hot pot handle before we learn that it burns our hand? The next time I see a safety covering a slot receiver in any situation, I'm gonna loose my mind.
I don't like criticizing student athletes as I understand how difficult it is to play football at this level and how demanding it is, but I have to question the coaches at this point because if these guys are still not able to excute the defense by the 8th game of the year, irregardless of any transitions, then there is a major problem with the installation of the defense. For the kids to play fast, they need to be able to read and react almost without having to think and this is not happening, nor is it getting better. If you do not have the personel to run certain schemes then you don't shove the square peg into the round hole. You evaluate your players and put them in a position to be succesful. If the kids don't know where there are supposed to be our have any doubts as to what their assignments are, that causes hesitation and hesitation causes breakdowns in the defense.
Admittedly, I am old school and I love to question GSimmons about his love of the 3 man front, but there is nothing wrong with playing simple fundamentally sound defense. You don't have to disguise everything and get all fancy with your blitz packages, especially if the kids cannot execute them properly. One of my favorite stories from Bo was the one about the coach out of california that thought he had this new fangled way to be innovative in his playcalling and he goes through this big presentation with diagrams and slides, but while he's talking Bo notices that his defense was giving up like 400 yards a game. When the coach finishes his presentation, Bo raised his hand and asked the coach about the opposition's 400 yards per game and the guy responds with something about having problems tackling. The moral of that story is that no matter how fancy or innovative or diverse your schemes or your playcalling may be, if you do not execute the basic fundamentals of football, such as tackling, all the rest of it doesn't matter and it won't work. I believe that is what we are seeing now. We are seeing the fundamentals go by the wayside and the results are ugly.
If the players we have now cannot execute the defense, then how are new players or freshman going to have success in the defense? Every week these message board idiots call out the DBs, especially Brown, and rake them over the coals for making the same mistakes, but as genuine as their anger may be, why aren't they asking why our safety continues to take bad angles and use poor fundamentals 8 games into the year? These are correctable issues and there are two ways to correct it. You can either drill them to death and coach them to be fundamentally sound or you can replace them with someone who can execute the fundamentals consistently. Not that I advocate benching players, but before you can install any offense or defense you need to have the fundamentals installed and drilled. I know of this site, the idea of "out executing" the opponet gets a lot of flack, but there is something to be said for being more fundamentally sound than your opponent. This will continue to show up on the field if not corrected.
It killed me to see Dumb-tonio with that shit-eaters grin on the sideline towards the final moments of the game as if he'd really accomplished something great in beating and 2-5 team that lost to Toledo at home. But we let that game get away as we continued to give up big plays and play that ridiculous defense with the safety over the slot on 3rd and long and we go into a soft zone on the snap. A mediocre QB like Hoyer looked like Tom Brady today because of our playcalling and even when we had the right defense on the field we couldn't get guys on the ground or we lost people in our zones due to poor read and reaction, IMO. I am not someone who calls for the coaches job or starts websites about firing coaches, but I am not encouraged by what I've seen so far. My suggestion for the rest of this year would be to simplfy the defense, trash the 3 man front and play 3 Corners on 3 receiver sets and 4 corners on 4 receiver sets, and to start getting the new guys some snaps as we'll need them next year to have some experience. Otherwise, we'll be talking about this next year. Shafer may very well be a good coach and he's got two other guys on the staff with coordinator experience, so it's not like they don't have more knowledge that the entirety of the message board idiots combined, but sometimes it's good to dumb it down and do it well before you build it bigger as no house built on a bad foundation has ever stood for long.
Lastly, I just want to single out Brandon Graham as being the best player on this team on any side of the ball and claims that he takes plays off are completely ridiculous as some plays are designed for him to contain and spy and not rush the passer or blow up the backfield. For the past two years, BG has consistently provided game changing plays and today he was the lone bright spot on this defense.
October 25th, 2008 at 10:20 PM ^
October 26th, 2008 at 1:24 AM ^
October 26th, 2008 at 11:36 AM ^
"as good as" not "better than." They should be a relative strength and not a 3rd down liability that cannot get off the field. The offense is bad. We all knew that would be the case, but the defense returned enough starters that it should be less of a liability.
Maybe "as good as" was a bit of a stretch, but they shouldn't be this bad. Period.
October 25th, 2008 at 10:28 PM ^
October 25th, 2008 at 10:29 PM ^
October 25th, 2008 at 10:40 PM ^
October 25th, 2008 at 10:50 PM ^
October 25th, 2008 at 11:28 PM ^
October 25th, 2008 at 11:35 PM ^
October 25th, 2008 at 11:45 PM ^
All the talking Sparty was doing after App State and Oregon, Hart putting up over 100 yards with a bum ankle, and coming back in the 4th quarter earned him the right to wear that shit eating grin.
Dantonio came in with a 6-2 team against a 2-5 team, and won not because of his coaching prowess, but won because of the other team's incompetence. Dantonio can eat all the shit he wants but he does not get to wear that grin.
If Charlie Weis were thin, his name would be Mark Dantonio.
October 26th, 2008 at 1:04 AM ^
All the talking Sparty was doing? Seriously? You're right. Hart never, ever talked trash. That guy was all business. He let his actions do the talking.
Ringer put up almost 200 yards on your vaunted defense with a leg he injured in Thursday practice. He was questionable for the game. Did he earn the right?
Hoyer torched your pass defense for touchdown after touchdown, after Michigan fans jeered and said they would "make Hoyer beat us". Did he earn the right?
Dantonio is made fun of because of his comments about it not being over last year, then delivers in Ann Arbor the very next season, crushing Michigan's last bowl hopes. He turned around a crappy football program into a probable 9-3 team in just two seasons. He goddamn well earned the right. Do you think "coaching prowess" might have had something to do with getting to 6-2 or getting to 2-5? I'd be willing to bet the players on Michigan's team were more highly ranked recruits than those of Michigan State. How do you explain that?
October 26th, 2008 at 2:08 AM ^
Do you honestly have nothing better to do as a State fan then come on a U of M blog and talk shit to us?
We explain our more highly rated recruits being beat by State as just that, they're basically still recruits, eight games into their collegiate careers. In fact, you could make the case that Michigan's entire team may as well be freshman when they are all running new schemes that were just installed eight months ago.
Congrats on your victory, just realize that you won't have many more once we get back on track, because, no matter how much you want to deny it, State will always be Michigan's LITTLE BROTHER. You can't stand up to us in recruiting, talent, or coaching
P.S. You guys are a 3 to 4 win team at best right now without Ringer. Good luck next year with your great coach and team.
October 26th, 2008 at 9:11 AM ^
Weren't we a 3 to 4 win team at best last year without Devin Thomas? And hey, guess what? You actually ARE a 3 win team at best this year.
And I advise you to check on the date I joined mgoblog. It's, ah, earlier than you. I like keeping up to date on all the Big Ten blogs. I'm just annoyed now that even after getting drubbed at home, even with the officials' help, you still claim that this is the last win Michigan State will get for years. 2-10 is entirely within reason for this season, and I don't care if "they're only freshmen". Michigan should never, ever lose to Toledo at home. That's coaching. 2-10 and you can still talk trash? That's arrogance. Bragging about a past that's gone and a future that hasn't happened while ignoring the present? That's Michigan football.
October 26th, 2008 at 9:24 AM ^
Dr. Worm,
Congratulations on the win.
If you choose to post, the day you win your biggest rivalry game, in an online forum dedicated to your rival, you should expect sour grapes. If you want to hear a chorus of praise for Sparty, I may suggest visiting a different website.
October 26th, 2008 at 5:21 PM ^
Well, I've actually been reading this blog for about a year now and just recently joined to comment on people just like yourself. But you're right, you probably know more about Michigan football than I do since you've been a "member" of this blog for a whole 2 months longer than me, a lifelong Michigan fan.
I just find it hilarious that State fans have nothing to say for six, seven years until they finally beat us, a 2-6 team. Then all of a sudden you guys are world-beaters. Like I said before, congrats on your win. I seem to remember you guys losing to Central two years in a row a while back, but then again, State never, ever loses to a MAC team at home.
And you guys were GREAT last year with D Thomas. A loss to BC in the Champs Sports Bowl. Congrats man. You guys have been to 18 bowl games in your sad program's history while we're on a 34 year bowl streak (which will end this year). Oh, and you've only won seven of those 18 games. Can't State fans just be happy with a win or do you guys all have to blow shit out your ass every time something "good" happens to your team?
Get the fuck off this blog.
October 26th, 2008 at 2:25 AM ^
you're a moron if you think highly ranked recruits translate into super star team. Besides, how can you not make fun of Dantonio? The guy always looks like he's mad at the world. And when he smiles, it sends horrible chills down your spine.
Look Sparty, I understand you're happy. So happy that you're probably peeing your pants. I mean, you finally won a game in Ann Arbor! Congrats man! This must be the start of something special for the Green and White.
MSU= ROSE BOWL CHAMPS NEXT YEAR! Yay!!!!
October 26th, 2008 at 2:47 AM ^
It pretty much summed it up when the TV screen showed that beating Michigan is more important than a championship. That is a big commitment to mediocrity.
Enjoy your victory over our 2-5 wolverines. You were favored, i do not even have to go into the deficiencies on an offense that is learning a new system. It is sad to me that this is considered in SpartanNation as a program changing win, but so it seems that way. Remember you have to play Michigan every year, so enjoy it while it lasts.
October 26th, 2008 at 11:39 AM ^
October 26th, 2008 at 4:30 PM ^
Hart didn't set up a stupid countdown clock to a game that he lost, Hart didn't celebrate a MSU loss to another team. Hart did his talking after the game.
Vaunted defense?
Ringer put up 170 yards against the worst defense in the conference. Give any running back 40 carries and they'd probably get that much or more.
Hoyer torched a defense that is giving up over 200 yards of passing to every team but one.
Dantanio is made fun of more for his talking before the game, whining after the game, and then feeling so accomplished and vindicated by beating a team that lost at home to Toledo?
I mean sure, you beat us, mostly due to our incompetence rather than your talent and execution. Was it honestly that satisfying?
October 26th, 2008 at 5:34 PM ^
October 25th, 2008 at 11:46 PM ^
October 26th, 2008 at 12:37 AM ^
Doctorworm,
thank you so much for keeping us informed on the rules. We should go back in time and change the call and score, just to make the universe right again.
October 25th, 2008 at 11:43 PM ^
October 25th, 2008 at 11:44 PM ^
October 26th, 2008 at 12:18 AM ^
October 26th, 2008 at 12:26 AM ^
October 26th, 2008 at 1:04 AM ^
October 26th, 2008 at 1:15 AM ^
GMHW - do you think we have some of the worst defensive talent in the Big Ten? We're not just bad by Michigan standards, we're bad period. We entered today 8th in the Big Ten in total defense and 10th in scoring defense. (In conference play only, we were 11th in total D and 10th in scoring D.) Those stats will not improve after today's performance.
Given that our DL is pretty stacked with future NFL talent, our talent in the LB corps and secondary would have to be off-the-charts horrific for this just to be a personnel issue.
October 26th, 2008 at 1:29 AM ^
The other thing that needs to be considered is the offensive penchant for three-and-outs. The D has done its fair share of bailing out offensive turnovers and general inability to stay on the field.
Yes I have noticed the problems with third down conversions on the three-man rush, zone D; That Shaffer doesn't seem get it's ineffectiveness.
I just find it hard to believe that it all falls on the shoulders of a guy who turned around the talentless D of Stanford and WMU.
October 26th, 2008 at 1:47 AM ^
I agree with GMHW. Scoring D is pretty much meaningless. But our defense is constantly being given short fields to defend and only breaking down on long plays. Take away plays that are 50+ yards and there really isn't much yardarge or scoring going on. That is because the DBs have a hard time defending against the pass and the LBs bite on every fake known to man and/or commit to the inside when the play bounces to the outside. The line has very little to do with that.
So, Shafer is working with 3-4 talented players and 7-8 mediocre players at best depending on the set. He can't be held accountable for that until we see what he can do when people make tackles and correctly read plays. His defense is pretty stout when they don't give up a 80 yard screen pass or when they don't bite on play action.
October 26th, 2008 at 1:01 PM ^
I agree with GMHW. Scoring D is pretty much meaningless. But our defense is constantly being given short fields to defend and only breaking down on long plays. Take away plays that are 50+ yards and there really isn't much yardarge or scoring going on.
Don't care about scoring defense? Fine, look at total D - we're 8th in the conference overall and 11th when only Big Ten games are considered. Are we really the least-talented defense in the conference?
As for Shafer "turning around Stanford" - he was there one year. Before that he was working for a middle-of-the-pack MAC program. It's not unreasonable to wonder if he's really the best guy we can get, given that we are on pace to set school records - the bad kind - in points and yardage given up.
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