Unverified Voracity Can't Find Darrell
Oh no. This is is getting passed around various message boards:
45-34-31-28-21-20-17-14-12-6
This isn't Brady Hoke's luggage combination (we know what that is). It's the number of points Michigan has scored against MSU over the last decade. It goes in one direction.
Oh.
Brady Hoke says coaches can sometimes tinker a bit too much in bye weeks. Says Michigan got back to its identity during break: run the ball.
— Dan Murphy (@DanMurphyESPN) October 20, 2014 I see.
Brady Hoke asked if Jabrill Peppers practiced yesterday: "We had a good practice. We had a good practice. We had a good practice."
— Kyle Bogenschutz (@KyleBogie) October 20, 2014 Coachbot is malfunctioning. Someone give him a whack.
Purdue coaches all look alike. Jerry Kill doesn't know what Darrell Hazell looks like.
So Michigan has lost to the Ebola coach and goofy Minnesota uncle this year.
Also in Minnesota, I would pay to see Jerry Kill do this:
The status (please don't be the status). Sam Webb laid out his opinion of the way things are going to go on the Scout message board in an extensive post. In brief: his guess at the moment is that Brandon is relieved sometime after the season and this delay may end up buying Hoke another year.
I find it implausible that Michigan would risk that. The fanbase is right on the edge of dropping out in droves—a recent Free Press story touting the fact that Michigan only lost about 700 season ticket holders ignores the fact that Michigan has now completely burned through its once-legendary waitlist. Hoke's return threatens to create a serious dent, and once you break the habit it's hard to get people back in it.
Recruiting shouldn't override common sense here. Even if Michigan goes with another Process that sees them hire a coach in the middle of January the recruiting impact won't be enormous because this class is so small. If Michigan hangs onto 8-10 guys they could add a few fliers and be fine. The guys they hang onto are actually touted recruits instead of the mess that was Rodriguez's last class.
Maybe I shouldn't worry. A lot of these projections come with disclaimers like "if Michigan splits with MSU and OSU". MSU opened a 15.5 point favorite—the most MSU has ever been favored in the series—and that was quickly bumped up to 17. That gives Michigan a less than ten percent chance to win. OSU just bombed Rutgers 56-10; that spread is likely to be in the same range.
/stares blankly at wall. So this happened:
Tony Gibson, the first-year West Virginia defensive coordinator, had an interesting dilemma midway through the second quarter facing the dynamic Baylor offense. The Bears had arrived in Morgantown averaging an FBS-leading 623 yards per game and 67 points in their past two meetings with the Mountaineers. Baylor had just retaken the lead, 20-14, on a 63-yard touchdown catch-and-run by Antwan Goodley.
On the play, WVU's Terrell Chestnut took a vicious block from Corey Coleman to spring Goodley. The WVU cornerback was down on the field for minutes and done for the game due to a concussion. The Mountaineers also had lost their other standout corner, Daryl Worley, for the game at the start of the second quarter after he injured his ribs on a punt return.
WVU blitzed 46 times, Petty got discombobulated, and WVU ran away with a win over #4 Baylor after holding the Bears to just 315 yards—their lowest total in four years. Without both starting corners. With Tony Gibson their defensive coordinator.
Good one, universe. Just when I think I can't feel your steel-toed boot you find the last possible nerve that feels anything.
Join us in our misery. Iowa, come on down!
Iowa really went the entire first half without completing a single pass to a WR.
— Brendan Stiles (@thebstiles) October 18, 2014 On the one hand, Iowa is 5-2. On the other, Iowa isn't any good and can't get a new coach. We might be able to get a new coach. I think I'd rather be us? Yeah.
Texas A&M, come on down!
![14-10-19-bama-am-halftime[1]](https://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/images/UV_A3D7/14-10-19-bama-am-halftime1.png "14-10-19-bama-am-halftime[1]")
That was halftime.
Florida, come on down!
WE KNOW. WE KNOW. WILL MUSCHAMP BROKE MATH. WITH HIS STUPID PUDGY HANDS. HE BROKE IT RT @patjburns oh no pic.twitter.com/iDvTR8dKQa
— MUSCHAMP-O-LANTERN (@edsbs) October 19, 2014 I hope this has made everyone feel momentarily better before we go into the dark this weekend.
Etc.: Indiana is a 3:30 kick, so you have to wonder if you'll ever get to see most of a college football weekend again. Hooray Denard rushing for 129 yards in his first start. Canadian junior hockey facing a lawsuit for violating minimum wage laws. If you're not familiar with the hypocrisy of the CHL, imagine the NCAA without the education. Women's soccer is rounding into a real program. These numbers are beyond ugly.
What do you do when you're getting a ton of quarters coverage? Go deep in the slot. Roy Roundtree knows what's up.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:13 PM ^
What year is he talking about? I'm not familiar with this "running the ball" thing, as other than a QB named Denard, we have not really run the ball successfully in what seems like forever
October 20th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
A true Michigan Man sees Funchess and Norfleet on the outside and can't wait to run off tackle.
October 20th, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^
He said "run the football." He didn't specify how. I wonder if we are going to see more runs by Gardner.
October 20th, 2014 at 8:46 PM ^
as we basically have one functioning QB at this point and we really wouldn't be innovative enough to run him even if we could, would we? "Running the ball" is exactly what we know it means: trying to run it 20ish times for a long of 8 and an average of 2.2
October 20th, 2014 at 11:41 PM ^
Maybe he meant, "Throw the ball to Funchess, Norfleet, or some other WR and have them run the ball after the catch."
October 20th, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
As much as I'd like to think that Hoke is just saying that cause there's no way he'd come out and say they put in a ton of new wrinkles and gadget plays, I'm fully prepared to watch them try to run the ball over and over again Saturday.
October 20th, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^
Nuss has shown willingness to make the easy play so hopefully Hoke doesn't get his grubby fingers in that mess. The problem is that right now, nothing is easy. Not to repeat verbatim what was essentially an essay I wrote some time back, but the principle of constraint-based IZ (or any running game in particular) is to get 4-5 yards like clockwork against the opponent's base defense, then take whatever they give you when they overcorrect. It doesn't work unless you can reliably get those 4-5 yards, which a team just learning IZ can't do. It takes years to do that because defenses will throw various slants and stunts to mess up the assignments without committing extra defenders. It's working and will continue to work until they're punished for it.
That the O-line and RBs haven't progressed is alarming, but the defense has been very slow to correct against opposing OCs' adjustments and in some ways seems to be regressing.
But now here comes what got Borges fired last season -- we'll see if Michigan pisses away yet another bye week. My interpretation of the above is that Hoke means they're using the bye week to shore up their base plays, which still need work. Opposing coaches have keyed in on Michigan's weaknesses and it's better to work on that than rep gimmick plays that don't work anymore.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:52 PM ^
Ever heard of him? A 1041 yard rusher just a few short years ago. But in any case, if running is so unimportant, why do you suppose so many attach importance to Michigan not running well?
October 20th, 2014 at 2:17 PM ^
No one was saying it was unimportant. People are saying we've sucked at it for a long time.
Especially since we stopped allowing the QB to run.
October 20th, 2014 at 3:12 PM ^
If a team's identity is supported only by a runner who barely cracked 1,000 yds "a few short years ago" then that team clearly has an identity crisis.
October 20th, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^
on reading this, goes on about his preparations.
October 20th, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^
Devin is going to air it out baby!! Air Attack comin' at cha! Hittin' guys in stride all day up in this ....
Seriously though, I worry that in another week we are going to hear the phrase, "We are playing for our seniors." UGGH
October 20th, 2014 at 5:34 PM ^
They'll throw the ball, probably a bunch. But if you expect to hear anything new from Brady Hoke in an interview, you're chasing the wrong head coach.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
That sure took the shine off Kevin Sumlin.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
True. However, one bad outing versus Bama does not break a program. This really exposed a problem that always has been under Sumlin: his defenses aren't that good. However, when comparing, say A&M to UM, they are still in a much better place. They still have one side of the ball elite, and one that needs a lot of work. Sure beats the hell out of UM's situation where neither side is elite.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
I don't know how elite their offense is this year. They just got shut out by Alabama. Against MSU they were down 48-17 before theys scored 2 TD's in the last 3 minutes of the game to make the final 48-31 and against Ole Miss they were down 35-7 before they scored 2 TD's in the final 9 minutes of the game, with the last TD coming on the last play of the game
October 20th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
and are playing I think a true freshman QB now.
They're definitely not as good as past years but will probably be back to normal in a year or two.
October 20th, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
A/M offense is elite the way Rich Rodriguez offenses were elite at Michigan. Score lots of points, at times where the team doesn't need you to score points. (i.e. end of games, against bad opponents)
October 20th, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^
Kidding?
A&M is a train wreck! Their fans are ready to let Sumlin go now.
October 20th, 2014 at 5:39 PM ^
At this point, they've lost three games pretty convinginly, and that top-10 win against USC to start the season looks pretty weak as well.
Kevin Sumlin's 2012 season feels a bit like Hoke's 2011; an unsustainable string of good luck that wasn't going to repeat itself. He's been blown out by anyone good on his schedule so far, and while obviously the SEC is good, giving up 142 points in 3 weeks isn't acceptable regardless of whether you offense is putting up points. Also, 14 of A&M's points against Miss St. came with 2:30 left in the game, and 14 came in the last 9 minutes against Ole Miss. So these blowouts are probably even worse than they look on paper.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:26 PM ^
Per mvictors, today is also the 80th anniversary of the Michigan-Georgia Tech game, and the benching of Willis Ward (October 20, 1934). Anyone else see the great documentary on this that came out a couple years ago?
October 20th, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^
Shouldn't the Board's collective brain go tilt, since RR's "offensive genius" scored fewer points than "stagnating in the 2nd half of his career" Carr?
I suppose the more rationale board members would point out that MSU's coach during the Carr years was John L Smith. RR's and Hoke's teams faced teams coached by Mark Dantonio.
October 20th, 2014 at 5:42 PM ^
Those teams were quite a bit different than the current iteration, and MSU was an absolute train wreck for long stretches of that, including the early Dantonio years. People forget now, but he was nearly run out of EL after a couple of crappy years.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
Here's the money quote from the CHL president.
“Our position is our players are amateur student athletes and we provide the best playing experience to our 1,300 players. . . It’s important that we defend this because it could have a huge impact on all amateur sport in this country.”
Amateur student athletes, who sign contracts and don't go to school.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
"Good one, universe. Just when I think I can't feel your steel-toed boot you find the last possible nerve that feels anything."
October 20th, 2014 at 1:31 PM ^
I just sat through yesterday's "Boys Bowl" at Detroit Catholic Central H.S. Quarterback couldn't throw a pass (except 2 to the De La Salle defense), the only runs were up the middle (for little to go gain and usually a loss of 3) and the special teams suuuuuucked.
Me, to my wife: "Who's calling this game for the Shamrocks? Brady Hoke?"
My wife: "Is the coach wearing a headset?"
October 20th, 2014 at 2:47 PM ^
Dupe Post.
October 20th, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^
Dupe Post.
October 20th, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^
CC has won a truckload of State titles and State runners up using Manball with stingy D's. Not sure what's up this year, but Mach has a pretty enviable record.
October 20th, 2014 at 3:11 PM ^
I'm a big fan of CC for many reasons, not least of which is that my son is a student there. DLS tore CC apart yesterday. Were it not for the late TD, it would have been a shutout.
I agree that Mach fields great teams year in and year out. I'm hoping this year is like Bo's in 1984 and next year, they come back and beat the crap out of everyone.
October 20th, 2014 at 3:18 PM ^
I graduated from there in '91. They've been my football touchstone when other teams are bad.
Mach did love Bo.
I remember when they had the Eastside/Westside football camp. Mach used to have film study of Bo describing his '5-2 defense'. It was fantastic. Bo was wearing a plaid blazer. I wish I could find those films now.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^
if it's announced Hoke is coming back next year.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^
No, the Florida thing doesn't make me feel better at all, because it means that Michigan will be competing with Florida for the services of certain head coaching candidates (*cough* Dan Mullen *cough*). Ask Notre Dame how well that worked out for them in 2004.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
As my mother used to say "There are always more fish in the sea." So, even if we don't get Mullen or Harbaugh or Harbaugh or Sumlin or ... this year, there will be some hot new coach next year to wish we had coaching here.
On the other hand, I've learned since adolescence that I had a pretty good shot at a few of those good looking girls in high school. All I had to do was ask them out and I never did.
Either way, it'll be one missed opportunity after another.
FML
October 20th, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^
I apologize for every bad thing I ever said about Al Borges.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
the further into this season we get, the less inclined I am to believe Borges was the problem last year.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
but at least he had some good games.
October 20th, 2014 at 2:03 PM ^
Borges was indeed one of the problems. His inability to stick to one blocking scheme set the development of the OL back at least one year.
October 20th, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^
You don't have to apologize. Borges did his best to screw things up all by himself. No offensive TDs multiple games in a row will do that.
October 20th, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^
In his 7 games as OC the offense has failed to score a TD in two of them (ND and Utah) and I won't be surprised if after 8 games, it'll be 3 games without an offensive TD.
Borges by my count only had 4 games in 3 years where the offense failed to score a TD (MSU '13, MSU '12, ND '12 and Nebraska '12).
October 20th, 2014 at 3:06 PM ^
I stand corrected. They scored all of one TD against Nebraska but ran for negative yards and were 20% on third downs. NO TDs in regulation against Northwestern. And also 3/17 in third down conversions (Stats on mgoblue.com)
Iowa: 4/14 third downs, 2 offensive TDs. (I must have been having nightmares and not remembering those TDs--that second half stood out for being particularly bad).
But overall, Borges was as responsible for that offense falling apart through the year as Hoke. Especially when considering how Hoke does not get involved. But Funk somehow survived--he is the constant here to really poor OL play.
October 20th, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^
am I saying Borges was some offensive genius, I just think it's ironic that so many people felt he was the reason for the offensive struggles last year and through 7 games this year, I'd say this offense is worse then last years.
October 20th, 2014 at 5:39 PM ^
And remind us, how many points did the inept Borges offense score against ND, PSU, IU, Minnesota, and OSU?
Through seven games the much heralded Nussmeier offense is averaging a little more than 20 ppg. Through seven games last year the Borges offense was scoring almost 42 ppg.
October 20th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
Borges had an unbroken Devin Gardner, Jeremy Gallon, Devin Funchess, SR Drew Dileo, 1000+ yard rusher Fitz Toussiant, two NFL tackles and a wealth of young premium OL talent to choose from.
Nuss has a broken Devin Gardner, Devin Funchess, no proven returning RB, no NFL tackles, no proven alternative to Devin Funchess, an injured Jake Butt and a wealth of young premium OL talent to choose from.
While I'd say its entirely fair to question a lot of what Nussmeier has done, I would also that a big part of any success Al Borges had last year comes down to Devin Gardner playing out of his mind and having a lot of proven talent, while this year Devin looks like a shell and a lot of the guys who helped the offense last year are now gone. They should still be better, but Borges was a huge part of why we are where we are.
Although, if it comes out that it was Nuss rather than Hoke who hasn't wanted to use QB runs to help the offense, he can burn in the Borges fire as well.
October 20th, 2014 at 4:19 PM ^
You write about a unbroken/broken Gardner as if this is something that can factually be proven. How do we know his less than stellar performance this year is a result of too many hits last year versus poor offensive scheming this year?
Nuss has a 5th year senior quarterback, a bunch of 4 star offensive linemen that are a year older, two stud running backs - at least according to the recruiting services - and enough weapons at the WR position that we should be throwing the ball downfield occasionally, like, more than once per game.
October 20th, 2014 at 5:12 PM ^
He didn't seem to 'broken' in the last game he played in 2013 - Ohio St. If Borges had a wealth of young 'premium oline talent' wouldn't Nuss have the same thing except those guys are all a year older?
Losing players: ask OSU how hard it is to replace players. They lost 4 of their 5 starting oline from last year, their stud running back and then lost Miller in fall camp but they don't seem to be having to many problems on offense now. In fact, OSU fans are wondering what in the world Meyer is going to do next year when he has both Miller and Barrett battling for the QB job.
Like I said above I'm not Borges was some genius but the 2014 offense isn't good. Depending on how they finish the year, they might not end up averaging 20 pts/game.
October 20th, 2014 at 5:42 PM ^
that the offense will average less than 20 ppg for the year, they're just a smidge above 20 ppg right now.
October 20th, 2014 at 5:45 PM ^
repeat
October 20th, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^
I find it implausible that Michigan would risk that.
I also found it implausible that Rutgers and Maryland would be invited to join the Big Ten, that Michigan would give away tickets to a Big Ten home game for two Cokes, and that Hoke would leave a player who had suffered a probable concussion in the game and then re-insert him after finally taking him out.
I hate to say this, and I really hope I'm wrong, but I think Michigan is in the midst of a prolonged program slump that will not end anytime soon, no matter what happens with Brandon and Hoke in the coming weeks. I don't see the stars aligning for Michigan to grab the right head coach to turn the program around next year. As bad as things are now, there will be more suffering in years ahead. Again, I really hope I'm wrong.
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