November 3rd, 2012 at 9:54 PM ^
Rawls
That is all.
November 4th, 2012 at 12:13 AM ^
November 4th, 2012 at 1:16 PM ^
I definitely want to see him get more reps in before anyone calls him the starter. More carries is what I have been wanting to see from Rawls all season. But even the carries where he was stopped at the LOS for no gain we beneficial because he has a different running style, is punishing the DL and gives the defense something else to worry about. I really think that the carry where Toussaint broke through for a TD was at least partially due to Rawls busting up that line all day.
November 4th, 2012 at 9:24 AM ^
let's see. I'm already itching to know about NWestern's D. Cuz I know our guys have got this thing covered on D.
November 3rd, 2012 at 10:08 PM ^
November 4th, 2012 at 5:13 PM ^
I really wish that RichRod (I know anything about wishing and RichRod is silly) had Gardner redshirt. Tate was a good backup even if he did need to earn his wings. Then Gardner would be a redshirt Sophmore and be able to play two more years at QB. Morris would redshirt himself and learn the system, back up, then start three years. That would have been ideal. Does anyone know it the medical redshirt has officially been denied?
While I am wishing, I want my hair line to return to what it was when I was 19.
November 5th, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 10:11 PM ^
GIF request: Jake Ryan keeping contain, then stopping the cut upfield and then making the tackle all while fighting a blocker.
November 4th, 2012 at 1:38 AM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 10:20 PM ^
5:40 - after the deep ball to Gallon - crowd shot, Michigan fan wearing shorts....with black socks. Wtf mate?
November 3rd, 2012 at 11:06 PM ^
Maybe he was paying homage to the Fab Five?
November 4th, 2012 at 1:56 AM ^
Great game for Michigan! The coaches were probably counting on Robinson playing more and not missing much time as QB. They wanted to get Devin involved and thought turning him into a WR would give Devin more playing time and would help out the team. Devin is a 4 star dual threat QB, so I'm looking forward to see him play in games the remainder of this season and to compete and start next season. I always thought the plan was Robinson, Gardner then Morris.
I wonder if Hoke will try to push for the injury RS for Gardner. If he does get an extra year, I would RS Morris. If not, I would play Morris as the backup to Gardner next season then give the keys to Morris. I wouldn't be surprised if Bellomy gets back on track during the off season and may perform a bit better while Morris learns the playbook, so may be Morris can RS?
I think we will be set at QB next year with Gardner.
I hope Robisnons ulnra nerve improves and he can play out the remainder of this season and the bowl game. Though, if we ever get way ahead of IA or NU we could rest Robinson and Gardner some more reps.
I hope Hoke hires a QB coach. I really liked Scot Loeffler when he was the QB coach, he really helped out Henne. I just don't think Borges has time to concentrate on both QB coach and OC. We could use one to work with Gardener and Morris.
November 4th, 2012 at 4:11 AM ^
That said, I really wish we'd take advantage of the unique skill set of DG and have him run some trick plays or have both be in the backfield for some plays.
November 4th, 2012 at 9:22 AM ^
I didn't have a chance to watch the game yesterday, so watching this recap was glorious. Love the goal line D, and Jake Ryan is playling like a man getting snubbed from the post season awards. Fuel that fire #47!
November 4th, 2012 at 9:54 AM ^
Jake Ryan is all over the place in these highlights its amazing
November 4th, 2012 at 10:17 AM ^
Jake Ryan - This is not a man. This is a torpedo with legs.
Devin Gardner - Looks like his upside is Denard minus the explosiveness but more consistency. I'll take it. He's not as physics-defying and thus isn't as likely to get those 40, 50, 90 yard runs, but he'll tuck it and scramble for 8-10 when the team needs it. I'll take it. His passing looked good today, but this is Minnesota's secondary.
Fitz - He's definitely lost a step. Maybe three. I didn't see it until now because he couldn't get to the second level (he didn't look nearly as quick but I withheld judgment because he was so bottled up) but on his TD run it was obvious; he almost got caught from behind by a guy he'd have smoked last season. Hoke may be hiding another injury. I know why they do it, but it puts the fans in a difficult position. If Fitz and Denard have been playing hurt this whole time, I think we'd be more understanding. We don't know so all we can do is assess what we see. For all intents and purposes, we've lost our elite back for some reason.
Rawls - Definitely looks to be more consistent than Fitz this season. Last season Fitz would turn a -2 yard run into +7; he's not doing that anymore. Like Devin:Denard, Rawls isn't as explosive as Fitz 2011 but at this point he's more likely to turn a nothing into something, even if it's 2-3 yards. I get that they want 4-5 but can everyone else see just how much slower Fitz has gotten?
November 4th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
Fitz has never had great speed. He was run down by a MAC defender in 2010 on a 70 yard run just short of the endzone and suffered a season ending injury. His strength was always his quick cuts and enough speed to get yards when he has a hole.
November 4th, 2012 at 1:13 PM ^
Fitz has pretty good speed; he's a former track guy. The play you are referencing where he got run down was when he wasn't close to 100%, still fighting his way back from a knee injury.
I don't think we'll see him get caught from behind very often. Now, if he can just get out ahead of people a little more often...
November 4th, 2012 at 1:50 PM ^
He was wearing a massive brace on that run.
November 4th, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^
I know why they do it, but it puts the fans in a difficult position.
Well the fans will have to deal. If you publicize an injury that a tailback has, that puts him at risk. Don't think for a minute that opposing defenses don't target a player's injury to try to knock him out of the game.
November 4th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^
My issue isn't that they don't publicize the specific injury so much as they won't even say whether nor not someone's injured.
I'm not asking Hoke to say something like "Fitz has a torn meniscus in his right knee" just to see linebackers cut blocking him all day. But it'll take them all of one play to figure out when he's not at 100% (or even if they don't it won't really affect how they get to him) so at least being that vague doesn't change anything.
November 4th, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
November 4th, 2012 at 1:21 PM ^
I think the concern is more about some "extracurricular" action in the pile.
November 5th, 2012 at 12:23 PM ^
I don't remember who it was, but I remember hearing a former NFL player talking about injuries and getting up from the pile: You know a RB has a hurt knee? Well when I stand up after tackling him I may just put a hand on that knee to help myself stand up.
November 4th, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
November 4th, 2012 at 7:05 PM ^
If the public hates you, there's a reason. An AD isn't going to keep an unpopular coach around long. And believe me--if he's unpopular, he isn't winning.
November 4th, 2012 at 9:22 PM ^
November 4th, 2012 at 1:28 PM ^
I feel vindicated, as i've maintained that DG has the skills to be quite a good QB and expected that he'd show us ... and i'm willing to discount coming in very cold to difficult situations and not performing to the expectations of the average Michigan fan. (Just i'm going to maintain that Russ is a much better QB than one half at Nebraska makes him look.) Oh sure, he hasn't looked world beating in Spring games, but i'm not sure that means anything at all.
Let there be no argument, he's already a better passer than Robinson and perhaps the time at WR has helped him with that: he certainly understands the routes and the way receivers see the plays in a unique way. I've also maintained that you win or lose with Robinson this season because his spectacular upside is worth his spectacular downside; i don't see that changing.
And i agree with people above, switching Robinson out of the starting QB role would have blown up the fan base (also, no secure knowledge that Gardner was ready or is even completely ready now), especially this site. That being said and assuming Gardner has had these chops all season, the best move for the team would have been Gardner at QB and two back sets with Robinson as one of them or sometimes splitting out. Gardner has the thing Borges wants most: the ability to spread the field vertically and open the run, which with Robinson in the backfield would have been just scary. Plus halfback passes with regularity.
Finally, Gardner might be the most worst burned redshirt in a decade. If not for that, UM has Gardner at QB for two seasons, allowing Morris a redshirt and a pressure free RS freshman year.
November 4th, 2012 at 3:28 PM ^
Minny's fake FG was maybe the most pathetic thing I've ever seen. Especially considering it was 3rd and 16.
November 4th, 2012 at 6:07 PM ^
November 4th, 2012 at 7:56 PM ^
November 4th, 2012 at 8:30 PM ^
Jeremy Gallon may be the tallest 5.8 guy Ive ever seen.
Jake Ryan at 4:47 is all time highlight film stuff.
It is fun to see I formation alot. Devin looks well suited for playing out of the I and is very athletic.
This Michigan defense is one of the best tackling Michigan defenses in the past 10 years. They may not be super athletic (other than a few guys), but they are usually in position to make the tackle.
November 4th, 2012 at 9:56 PM ^
November 4th, 2012 at 10:19 PM ^
I've never seen Gallon go up like that to get a ball over a defender. It'd be great if he started to do that more often.
November 5th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
Hilarious unexpected outcome of the "Jake Ryan gets chopped then makes the play" play at 1:45 ... both Minnesota players numbers 20 and 4 simultaneously execute the frustration clap
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