Michigan State 29, Michigan 6 Comment Count

Ace



Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog

Michigan had two weeks to prepare for Michigan State. This resulted in a record-setting day.

It takes a special kind of failure to achieve such lows: complete, utter failure from top to bottom. The gameplan from Al Borges lacked coherence, an issue that's plagued him during his entire tenure at Michigan. The play-action from under center isn't fooling anyone and still gets brought out several times a game, yet the shotgun runs somehow lack any sort of constraint or misdirection. A piecemeal offense isn't going to beat MSU's defense.

The offensive line couldn't open up holes for the running game, nor could they keep Devin Gardner upright. MSU registered nine sacks, and even with that yardage removed along with kneeldowns and a negative-20-yard bad snap, the Wolverines mustered 1.3 yards per carry.

Gardner often held the ball too long, for his part, and missed some open receivers, then capped the performance with an ugly interception when he hucked a designed back-shoulder fade three yards in front of Jeremy Gallon. By that point, however, he'd earned considerable respect simply for standing up and facing the inevitable beating.



Eric Upchurch/MGoBlog

Michigan mustered 168 yards on a meager 2.8 yards per play despite Gardner averaging nearly eight yards per pass when he could actually get one off. The defense fought valiantly, holding the Spartans to just 237 yards and 16 points through three quarters and setting up the offense with a chance to make it a game when Raymon Taylor picked off Connor Cook and returned it to the MSU 41. The Wolverines subsequently took a five-yard loss on an blown-up option followed by consecutive sacks—burning a timeout before the second one—to lose 21 yards in three plays; a Matt Wile punt, his eighth of the afternoon, opened the fourth quarter.

By the time Jeremy Langford capped the scoring with a 40-yard touchdown run, Devin Gardner's day was done—it would've been unconscionable to put him out there for another possession—and fans from both sides steadily streamed out of Spartan Stadium.

On Michigan's final offensive play of the game, Shane Morris tried to scramble on fourth-and-four, only to faceplant at the line of scrimmage. It was a fitting coda to a miserable day.

Comments

TXmaizeNblue

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:27 PM ^

about Michigan football since App. St. Even though RR ended as a tire fire, there was always some level of hope once the system and personnel were fully implanted - never happened of course, yet I saw a brighter day. This is different. Yes Brady still has a year or two to have his full recruits, HOWEVER, there are signs in this coaching staff that are not very encouraging. Brady's teams have been terrible on the road. That's preparation. He had two weeks for this. Unbelievable. The play calling is either unimaginative or not situationally suitable it seems on a consistent basis. And time management continues to be a problem. Two weeks. We have a running back that falls immediately after contact. And a kick off returner as well. [nothing to do with coaching, I know....still irks me]. For someone who is a trenches guy, Brady's offensive line may be the worst in the B1G. That is not personnel - that is a fricken coaching staff that has these kids thinking way too much, and not just coming off the ball and laying someone out. And if you are bent on the young offensive line excuse - then buckle up because next year the exterior will be the young guys. On the other side of the ball I did not understand the defensive play calling in this game. When Mattison brought pressure it was effective. Then he would lay off. He never maintained any consistency at bringing pressure, and they moved the ball as a result. The secondary looked like it was their first game at times. It seems to me Mattison did much more stunting his first year, now it is pedestrian.

orgdoctor

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:42 PM ^

I could not agree more with your comment about the decline in Mattison's defensive play calling. Why does he pick only one down to blitz? Why blitz on 2nd down, and then lay back on 3rd down? It makes no sense t me. He also has to take responsibility for the continuing abysmal secondary performance. He has tolerated the miserable coaching of the secondary for so long now that I have to conclude that he agrees with the totally wrong methods of pass coverage that the Michigan secondary is being instructed to use.

Your comments about the offensive line are right on the mark -- except I think it worse even than just about any FBS team I've watched in the last few years.

Franz Schubert

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:43 PM ^

When Mattison brought real pressure it was successful. Why does he lay off? I really think playing aggressively makes the game more enjoyable for the players and fosters an agressive competitive attitude (See MSU). Playing passive bend but dont break defense really robs you of your killer instinct.

orgdoctor

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:31 PM ^

This is the worst Michigan team I have seen in my over 40 years of devotion to Michigan football. Gardner is utterly worthless as a quarterback, period. He even wimped out and went down instead of taking a hit for a first down late in the 4th quarter. Then he comes up with what appeared to be a wimp-out invisible contact injury after throwing that last interception. He just didn't want to play any more! What a gutless wonder! This really pisses me off after all the Michigan players I've seen tough it out over the years with real injuries.

The running game is nonexistent. In fact, if Toussaint and Gardner had just sat down on the ground after each snap, they would have gained more rushing yards than they did (-48 was it?). Borges' play calling is in some category below incompetent that I simply have no word for.

The defensive backs are the biggest joke of all. As the ABC announcer said, if you're a DB and you're not watching the quarterback, your man is open. This is the way ALL our DBs play their positions! This has been going on with our DBs -- running to catch up with the guys they're covering with their hands waving in the air, their backs to the opposing QB -- since the Carr era. This does not occur except as an occasional mistake on any other team I've watched in college FB in my memory. The Michigan secondary coach should be the first of these incompetents to be fired, followed by Borges, and then Hoke.

I knew it was going to get bad after the Penn State debacle, but I did not foresee that it could get this bad. Mark my words: it's not going to get any better until this bunch of incompetent coaches, and the incompetent who hired them - Dave Brandon - is gone.

leu2500

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:49 PM ^

This was a physical game.  Did you bother to notice what Michigan's jerseys looked like at the end of the game?  How many times was Gardner sacked - 9 I think.  How much additional contact did MSU make with him.

And yet you, from your couch or your seat in the stands says <b>Gardner is utterly worthless as a quarterback, period. He even wimped out and went down instead of taking a hit for a first down late in the 4th quarter. Then he comes up with what appeared to be a wimp-out invisible contact injury after throwing that last interception. He just didn't want to play any more! What a gutless wonder!</b>

How about you try taking those hits.  Then let's see who the "gutless wonder" is. 

 

markusr2007

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:32 PM ^

Hailed as a hero returned. What a complete and utter embarrassment in EL again, yet somehow an expected outcome. There is no excuse. Michigan has far superior talent to MSU and PSU for that matter. What Michigan does possess in abundance right now is inferior coaching. Look at the caliber players on MSU's defense. Denicos Allen was a 2 star, non ranked WLB. Darqueze Dennard a 2 star WR. And UM's defense allows 30 pts to the infamous walrus. A disgrace.

ppudge

November 2nd, 2013 at 10:29 PM ^

Woah - coaching staff everyone wanted??? That's revisionist. Everyone was fearful of the hire. People started to warm to it after Hoke's initial press conference and then really warm to it after a very good first season and stellar recruiting. That said, not many wanted this staff at the beginning - it was better than RichRod, but I know personally I felt we were in trouble when we didn't get Harbaugh. He would have brought an attitude and he is actually one hell of a coach.

pullin4blue

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:33 PM ^

For the past several years I have paid nearly $10,00.00 per year in PSD fees for my premium club seats. I have been sold a bill of goods by you and the athletic department. Like a sucker, I bought in to the hype on Brady Hoke and his coaching staff. Hook, line, and sinker I took what I was being told about the turn around of the program and I believed. I am unhappy and I will do what you seem to listen to best. I will vote with my feet and with my wallet. I will not be renewing all of my seats. You can sell them to someone else who has more dollars than sense. When the product you are selling no longer sells you will be forced to change something. I believe your supply will quickly outweigh your demand, especially at the prices you are charging for this mediocre product.

Windy City Blue

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:35 PM ^

During his first year, I loved that Hoke was basically unflappable and constantly encouraging. I think the constant encouragement was important during that first year and helped ease the transition. It developed trust with the players and coaches, and was in stark contrast to RR. At this point, however, I'm sick of good-natured salt-of-the-earth Hoke. Attitude starts at the top and trickles its way down. His relaxed attitude is a liability at this point. Look at Narduzzi...the guy's an asshole (telling his kids he wants them to hurt people http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/36168/msu-coordinator-narduzzi-defends-defense) but the attitude has trickled its way down to the MSU D. 

It's time to take the kid gloves off. We need Hoke and the staff to turn up the intensity. This is no longer a "team in transition." It's year 3 and we seem to be regressing...Hoke and Co. need a big win, and need it now. It'll be another presser full of coachspeak about accountability and "evaluating the tape," but the message is clear: these guys are on their heels and this season is one game away from going off the rails. 

HAIL-YEA

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:37 PM ^

im just tired of the excuses. And firing Hoke will get us nowhere..USC and Texas are looking for coaches this year..who could we even get. We need a new offensive coordinator and an o-line coach badly. And holy shit can you please get a qb coach..our qb's cant read defenses, they play clumsy and scared. Like the rest of the team..they just arent being coached.

To me this staff is just not worth my investment anymore. There are no answers..only the same fucking questions.  Can anyone name a single player on this team who is obviously benefitted from coaching? I'm not talking about strength and conditong or a shitty kicker. I just mean someone who has obviously been developed through coaching. There are none and we are fucked as a fan base. This coaching staff will get 5 years minimum, based on recruiting alone. We're fucked.

blusage

November 3rd, 2013 at 12:51 AM ^

Unbelievable, you're saying that since Texas and USC are looking for coaches that we should just settle for more of the same with Hoke? Yeah, that's the kind of reasoning that's kept us out of the NC hunt for so long. We're the great Michigan, right? Then we should be able to lure a top coach away from Texas and USC. If we can't, then we shouldn't go around thinking we're the greatest.

jersie9

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:41 PM ^

There are plenty of teams that are young, and even changed leagues (Texas A&M/Mizzou), or go through a coaching change (Oregon/Ohio), and are still good! Actually, all of these teams have either gotten better, or stayed the coarse! This is Michigan Forgodsakes!

TXmaizeNblue

November 2nd, 2013 at 9:14 PM ^

In fact, A&M starts a freshman and sophomore on the o-line. Hasn't seemed to slow them down in the SEC. The young line BS, is just that - BS. The problem is over coaching techniques and fundamentals. Sounds strange to say, but I believe that is the problem right now. They're being told to do too much shit! Just line up and take your man out! Start there and add as you go. This pussy-foot technique, mental gymnastics, and foot work has them paralyzed at the line.

Puget Sound Blue

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:43 PM ^

It's hard for me to see what the cause of this team's problems is, aside from the obvious operational aspect: an offensive line that cannot run block or even protect the quarterback all that well.  But is it poor coaching, or maybe the talent isn't what we thought it was? Or some of both?

BlueRude

November 3rd, 2013 at 8:00 AM ^

From all the commnets here I finally saw what I'm thinking as well, good input. If the open recruits bale out it is the sign of the end of time for us. I'm really concerned about Hand right now and some others that are looking at this fiasco and saying per the Shark Tank, "I'm Out". If the trend of losing good recruits I feel the fan base at DB will turn the program around fast, he will have no choice. Funk has to go, Al should be next. Somewhere at Ft. Schem there are meetings we don't know, in all sports it starts in the locker room when players put the heat on management. JR is only the beginning........

1clay1

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:58 PM ^

This is a bad Michigan team.  Almost losing to Akron and UConn, losing to PSU, making Indiana looking like Oregon on offense?  This is a weak team all around, both lines, D-Backs, offense, they are below avg at best.

MSU has a great defense but we even made their offense look very good today.

We will still lose to Iowa and OSU, possibly NW and maybe even Neb next week if we have a downer hangover.

If Harbaugh or Meyer were here this would be a different team.

What's are excuse next year when Lewan and Schofield are gone from the O-line?

Why will are D-line be better?

With two weeks to prepare, I  expected way more today.  

Remember we play at MSU again next year also.

Bottom line, Hoke is responsible and this is not a good team.  If next year is not remarkably better, we gotta get someone else.

 

 

 

gomichigan

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:59 PM ^

No more excused.  This is Bullshit.

 

Michigan has the better talent

Michigan has horible coaches.

Hoke is not the man.  

 

dragonchild

November 2nd, 2013 at 9:18 PM ^

Note I was as vocal as any about how terrible Borges was through PSU.  I didn't say much prior to this game, for one simple reason:  I don't think anyone wanted to hear that Michigan was going to get blown out.

There is such a thing as a mismatch -- Team A is better than Team B, but gets upset.  Team A isn't much worse than Team B, but gets blown out.  Michigan State is not a great team.  They have the nation's best defense but their offense is only as good as the defense that's facing it.

Unfortunately, and while I hate to say it but it's the only real glimmer of hope here, is that Michigan State 2013 was Michigan 2013's kryptonite.  Let's do a run-down, shall we?

1) Preparation.  Borges lacks deception.  He just runs various plays based on situation and expects his players to execute.  MSU was going to prepare for this like it was the Super Bowl.  This wasn't going to change if Michigan had a bye month.

2) Line Play.  MSU's lines are meh, Michigan's D-line is meh, Michigan's O-line is awful.  In a "physical" game, Michigan was never going to win the battle at the LoS.

3) MSU Offense vs. Michigan Defense.  They have a decent run game and a short passing game.  Michigan's run defense was untested and their linebackers are vulnerable in coverage.  They've been pretty badly abused by other team's TEs this season.  They can't get a pass rush, so even young QBs have played above their talent level.  The defense is very young so they just can't do aggressive, complicated things to shut offenses down.  But playing "bend don't break" plays right into MSU's hands.

4) Michigan Offense vs. MSU Defense.  MSU has one of the nation's best defenses; Michigan has an awful O-line.  MSU likes to blitz their linebackers and press with their QBs.  Their only weakness is being beat deep, but you need a line that can pass protect. . . but MSU likes to blitz the interior.  They take away the easy stuff, making quick passes over the middle an interception risk in a game where turnovers were going to matter.

So long and short of it is that Michigan's offense was doomed for failure.  MSU is the nation's best run defense, Michigan's offense isn't tailored for quick passes (they're still basically in transition with a MANBALL OC, a young line and spread-n'-shred skill players) so the one thing MSU is weak against -- long-developing PA backed by a run game -- is something Michigan was never going to be able to execute.  That ain't on Borges, and to his credit at least he tried.

Losing to MSU makes me sick to my stomach because I find their fans so insufferable, but I don't think the bye week really makes much of a difference in this gameplan.  MSU's defense is legit, and their offense matches up well against Michigan's young D.

My only real question is that while not even the coaches will say youth is an excuse, Michigan is NOT the only young line in the country.  And they've had young lines before.  Honestly, how can they be coached this badly?  Am I the only one who remembers that Steve Hutchinson was one of two converted defensive tackles on the '97 team?  The entire line combined for one start at the beginning of the season!  The offense frankly wasn't that good (I'm not denying by any means that team was foremost a defense) but they were in much, much worse shape than this year's team. . . and they were never held to 6 points or -fortysomething yards rushing.  They didn't set any offensive records for futility.  They won the National Championship FFS, and that was a Lloyd Carr team.

Youth and attrition are why this O-line is not great.  It is NOT why this O-line is this awful.

I'm not picking on Borges' playcalling this week, but I really wonder what they're trying to teach the O-line because it's not working against anyone.

PasadenaFan

November 4th, 2013 at 11:45 AM ^

Some thoughts:

Saying that a team prepares for MICH like the Superbowl is TIRED.  I want MICH to prepare like they are playing the SUPER BOWL.   These UM teams are not prepared, maybe in the second half.  Get fired up for the first second. Geez, I see peewee teams more fired up.

I am now GLAD that the ND series is coming to an end.  To Hell with ND, yes, but winning that game each year gives UM a false sense.  It will be better to play other teams from around the country in order to get a sense of where competition is.  ND sucks and I hate them, but beating them doesn't help UM.  Eff ND I hart them.

Need a new OL line coach PERIOD.  This O Line sucks.  I am tired of Taylor Lewan's talk too.  He needs to man up and be somebody.  If you have a cut on your head than block the shit out of the other team.  

Need Rbs. Or need to try other RBs.

KingsWolverine

November 2nd, 2013 at 9:16 PM ^

What baffles my mind is how could hoke continue to let Toussaint stay in the game??! Missed block after missed block he is the main reason Devin was on his back all night. It's just downright absurd. He's playing the sympathy card and it pisses me off.

TXmaizeNblue

November 2nd, 2013 at 9:43 PM ^

No, that was not an orgasm. That was me agreeing with your bafflement. I kept yelling play after play - WHY THE HELL DO YOU KEEP FITZ IN IF YOU HAVE ABANDONED THE RUNNING GAME??? He CANNOT block to save his life! That alone killed us. You have Green, weighing + 30 lbs just standing there on the sidelines. He could not have possibly done worse. Piss poor coaching Brady. Feel free to react to game play sometime this year, would you.

michnumone

November 2nd, 2013 at 9:21 PM ^

Let's face it.  Hoke is not the man.  He is a MAC level coach at best.  He will never put Michigan over the top.  Michigan needs to fore him now before he destroys our program.  We all need to unite and force Branden to fire Hoke.  He needs to be fired RIGHT NOW>

 

Go Blue,