Oh, What The Hell

Muppets...yes! Muppets. Yeaaaa...MUPPETS! This made my day.

nice and tight and that's allright.

let's go blue

from the Detroit News:

"Michigan played a 3-3-5 defense at Purdue, and defensive end Brandon Graham said players frequently told the coaches during the game that they preferred a four-man front. Their request was granted, and the switch to a 4-2-5 paid immediate dividends.
Michigan's defense dominated the first half as the Wolverines built a 16-0 lead. The Wolverines held the Gophers to just 2 yards per play and forced three-and-outs on six of their seven possessions, not including a kneel on the half's final play.

When Minnesota (7-3, 3-3) moved the chains for the first time midway through the second quarter, the Metrodome crowd gave a loud, sarcastic cheer.

"We just tried to take their spirit away," Graham said. "Obviously, it happened."

Minnesota's six points tied for the fewest Michigan has give up this year.

"I don't think we're going to have no more problems with the three-man front," Graham said."

Did anyone see one of our O-lineman punch a Minn Defender in the nuts when the Minn player was lying on his back after we ran the ball left?  I should have noted his number when I rewound it and watched  again, but no penalty called and announcers missed it.  Their guy had to have the trainers out. They cut to him the next play on the sidelines bitting on a towel!!

So,

I Tivo'd the game and went and coached little league baseball all afternoon.  Then came home and asked my wife how bad we got beat.  She said "I think you beat them by 2 touchdowns", but I was still apprehensive (never totally trust a Bama fan when it comes to college football.  Still.  I settled in (with remote and scotch in hand) and started to watch the game without the standard dread I've felt this year, regardless of what the M lead might be at half.  This was fun to watch!  Hope has now again returned!  I could see in this game where we are eventually going with RR, and it is a good place.  Still, I plan to TIVO next Saturday's game against Northwestern, and once again coach a couple little league games.  Once I get home, I'll again ask if the ooast is clear.  I hope it will be.

Beaver. he's only slightly less crepy than tom lemming.

it was just Minnesota.  Don't diminish this win.  It was the first 4-quarter game the guys played all year.  It was on the road.  The D likely gained loads of confidence holding Minnesota to 183 total yards (yes, Decker was out but coverage was good most of the game).  The offense had one turnover but it's a far cry from the ND debacle.  Mentally, this is a HUGE win.

I checked out Tate Forcier in a high school game on Friday.  I could immediately tell that Forcier has the acceleration and top end speed to put a scare into the defense.  His arm is accurate and he throws really well on the run, but he does not have the zip of a Mallett or Henne.  He has a good rhythm for spread plays like the screen passes.  He made a couple jaw-dropping moves in the backfield while escaping would-be tacklers.  He did make a few questionable decisions on throws but spring and fall camp at Michigan will help him there.

Sheridan trying to force things and make plays beyond his capability = DEATH. Threet playing hurt and/or attempting a screen = DEATH. Sheridan w/ ball protection + Feagin >>>>>> a healthy Threet.

Today I applaud Sheridan and the entire team for playing a complete game, up to expectations given the talent and experience level.  Ok, so Sheridan and the receivers lucked out on a couple of throws that the gophers couldn't make a play on either.  So what? Should we all stoop down to Drew Sharp's level and use this victory to whine more about what could have been?  Instead, maybe this win should make us all settle down, step away from the cliff, put the razor blade down -- and ponder the exciting possibilities down the road (minus Threet, minus Sheridan, plus a real dual threat QB with Feagin in the slot where he should be). On defense I saw a lot of 4-2-5, which should be the BASE package, given the poor state of the linebacker play. Steve Brown and Charles Stewart are pretty scary at times, but you don't have to be Gsimmons to identify your best chance of success -- make the QB beat you while under pressure from front 4, and add a blitz here and there.  Of all the bitching going on about Rich Rod, Shafer, and rest of the coaching staff, the only hard evidence against them this season is their inability to recognize this weakness, and somehow think that a 3 man front is even an option, given their personnel.  I hate to speculate too much, but I wonder if the 3-3-5 scheme in the Purdue game was a temporary loss of faith in Shafer by Rich Rod, somewhat panic-induced by the mounting criticism he's been facing.

If CJ Bacher is still injured, we might possibly be favored.  If he's back, I doubt it.

the best we've played all season.    I'm not sure we'll be favored next week though.

Wow, what a week!! I just keep on smilin'

So my question now is do we go back to Threet next week or stick with the sheidan/feagin combo from today.  If it was up to me I would say stick with what is working, even though it was only one game, but I have a feeling RR will go with threet if he is healthy, although he might have a very short leash.

Sheridarnit . . . still bad, slightly less profane

I was really anxious to see feagin in the game today, and thought he did a good enough job running the ball.  If they continue to let him play, which they should,  I think they are going to have to let him throw something.  The buckeyes will eat him up if all he does in run when he comes in.  All in all though I was moderatly encouraged by what I saw today and have HOPE for next season.

Does anyone know the deal with terrence robinson, I haven't heard much about him, just wondering if he is being red-shirted or got hurt or something?

As soon as I seen 4 in the box, I had at least a bit of hope. Sheridan.........what can you say, the kid was decent, his passing still isn't crisp, but a HUGE improvement from where he was the last time we saw him. On the other hand, Stonum is starting to be a big concern, the guy can't catch the damn ball. Good speed, poor hands - not a good combo. Shaw definitely needs to carry the rock more, he hits the hole with purpose and speed, from what I've seen in limited action he's been better than McGuffie

Caughty by X - a true freshman

run by X2 for multiple yards - a true freshman

returned by x3 - a true freshman

For any naysayers - I think this game is just highlighted how many quality Freshman we've got who will be outstanding as "veteran" players over the next three years of their careers.

but my buddy coined Justin "More Than a" Feagin.

Wouldn't "The Jug" be a fitting nickname for Sheridan?

On the slant that was almost picked off I think Clemons was at least as much of a culprit on that one.

I don't think he deserves an ingratiating nickname, yet, but certainly not DEATH.  SheriDAMMIT works.

Yes, I think the biggest change between Sheridan today and Threet in bad games was Sheridan threw those bubble screens and short throws with a quick release (not necessarily a lot of zip) and into the receiver's stride. Once we were hitting those short flares and screens in stride so that the receiver could just take off upfield, you could see by the second quarter the safeties and corners were cheating big time up, and then Sheridan was able to lollypop enough downfield throws to induce some scare in the Minnesota DB's & LB's, making them backoff, openingn up the short stuff again. Vicious circle offense in effect.

Let's not get carried away with Sheridan's performance.  The best thing he did was not throw an interception, despite a few close calls.  Minnesota defenders dropped as many passes as Michigan receivers.

A great job by Sheridan managing the game today though, and a win is a win is a win.  The defense was excellent, playing high-energy all game.

 I wouldn't mind a little more Michael Shaw in my life, the kid has speed and the ability to finish a run.  It was nice to see a Michigan player shift the ball to the outside hand one time this season. 

You know, I don't think Sheridan was borderline good.  There's no "borderline."  He was simply good!  I can really only think of one cringeworthy pass, and if you give him a few of those drops, he'd have pushed 300 yards.  He threw dowfield with confidence and authority.  I was impressed, and have hope for him.  Dare I say, I thought he played better than I've seen Threet play so far.

May I just say "Woo!"

That, my fellow Wolverine fans, was (finally!) the first complete game of the year by the team.  Yeah, it is Minnesota and all that, but had we played this way for four quarters in most games, things would have been much, much different this year.   Very encouraging to say the least.

Nick Sheri-can win a game for us

The defense was dominant, which to me is the main reason we won.  I saw flashes of this defense in the Wisconsin, Utah, and Miami games.  Go blue.

I love these clips. They should be used after all victories, no matter how uninspiring.

I dont think you can state how important it is in this offense for those to be accurate and quick release.....Threet can't do that.  In fact it was strange to see a qb actual read his progressions.  Sheridan has been bad, but today he was borderline good.  WTF did that come from.  

 Heck Feagin ran with power and confidence even.