upon further review
2014 michigan state

Upon Further Review 2014: Offense vs MSU Comment Count

Brian

FORMATION NOTES: MSU spent the entire game in their base 4-3 over aside from some passing downs in which they went to a 3-3-5.

MSU 3-3-5 m gun

Michigan was about as usual, with nothing particularly weird to call out.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: Nothing unusual. Canteen got some more run than he has in the past.

[After THE JUMP: a very brief discussion and some charts.]

Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M35 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 even Pass Rollout hitch Funchess 11
Rollout finds Funchess wide open for a nice gain; Gardner leaves it precariously short. Funchess digs it out. (MA, 2, protection 1/1, RPS +1)
M46 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Run Jet sweep Norfleet 5
Braden(-1) beat upfield; Calhoun takes two for one. Miller(+2) gets around one of the DTs, so that's a nice reach block; Glasgow(+1) cuts one of the LBs; Norfleet(+0.5) finds a lane and hits it upfield; he blows up a blocking angle but that's life. He pounds out two YAC after getting hit but two guys, too.
O49 2 5 Ace twins 1 2 2 4-3 over Run Counter power Smith 1
MSU playing to spill this so the playside end shoots way inside and cuts Kalis. This forces Smith outside, where he's exposed to an unblocked guy scraping over the top. RPS -2. It is fine if this happens to you as long as you can adjust later by, say, flaring the TE outside of the lead block and getting a lane. Cole(+1) and Glasgow(+0.5) had gotten one guy neutralized and then got to a linebacker, so without the RPS this could have been something.
O48 3 4 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass Slant Darboh Inc
Dangerous throw with a safety shooting past it, threatening pick six. Ball could be in front of Darboh more but then the safety might pick it off; Darboh gets no separation and Waynes there to PBU. (CA, 0, protection 1/1, Darboh route -1, RPS -1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-7, 10 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
O29 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 0 4 4-3 over Pass Yakety sax N/A -9
Gardner(-3) fumbles the PA exchange.
Drive Notes: Fumble, 0-7, 8 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M20 1 10 Shotgun trps TE 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass Bubble screen Norfleet -4
Lets run a bubble screen with zero MSU players deeper than eight yards. (MA, 3, screen, RPS -2) Also the throw will be bad.
M16 2 14 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Penalty False start Kalis -5
Kalis -1
M11 2 19 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass Shovel screen Hayes 5
Not a bad idea. Butt(-1) gets basically no block on an LB and can't even harass as he disengages so Hayes doesn't have time to cut behind him.Miller(+0.5) did get a good block on the MLB. (CA, 3, screen)
M16 3 14 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 3-3-5 nickel Pass Skinny post Darboh 23
Six man pressure and Waynes sets up with outside leverage; good pickup and Gardner rifles in a strike for a big gain against a coverage that can't cope with this route. (DO, 3, protection 3/3, RPS +1)
M39 1 10 Ace 1 2 2 4-3 over Run Counter zone Smith 6
Blocked well but tough to overcome a safety at nine yards. MSU actually seems to bust somewhat here with two guys attacking outside of Cole. One reacts to attack back inside; Butt(+1) neutralizes him. Glasgow(+1) gets good movement on the backside tackle; sizeable hole, but it's filled by a safety to hold down the gain. RPS push; MSU screwup offset by quick fill.
M45 2 4 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Run Counter power Smith 2
Gardner(-1) bobbles the snap and provides awkward timing for the play. Glasgow and Cole double a DT but Glasgow(-0.5) doesn't step around him so when Cole releases he is not sealed. Pulling Kalis cut to the ground in the hole; Smith has to cut back behind the Glasgow block. This kills Cole's angle, exposes Smith to unblocked guys.
M47 3 2 Shotgun twins twin TE 1 2 2 4-3 over Pass Rollout out Funchess 7
Americas rollout out. MSU's coverage is not set up to handle this. (CA, 3, protection 1/1, RPS +1)
O46 1 10 Ace 1 2 2 4-3 over Pass Flea flicker N/A -8
Sacked. M has no hope of dealing with the LB as RB has turned around to pitch back to Gardner and Cole is trying to get around a guy Glasgow is blocking to get to him. Neither does. Gardner has a split second to throw this to Funchess one on one, hesistates, sacked. (TA, N/A, protection N/A, RPS -1)
M46 2 18 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 4-3 over Run Draw Hayes 4
Almost, but no. Braden(+1) sets up to pass block; Calhoun dives under him. Braden latches on and drives, nice block. Kalis(+1) gets good push on the other DT as Hayes takes a couple of careful steps before picking and accelerating. He gets hewed down by the combination of an unblocked guy shooting outside and around the Kalis block (Braden's gone blocking downfield now) and a guy coming around Miller(-1) way too easily, cutting off space and forcing Hayes into ankle tackles.
50 3 14 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 3-3-5 nickel Pass Screen Hayes -6
Miller(-1) and Kalis(-1) run right by a linebacker sitting, waiting for this. Either one gets a block and this is a nice gain, possibly a first down. (CA, 3, screen) RPS -2; they ran a screen right into a spy zone and this was hard for the linemen.
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-7, 10 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M34 1 10 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass Sack N/A -5
Gardner hesitates on first read, probably correctly, and then he's overwhelmed as Kalis(-1) and Cole(-2) get shoved back to him with both guys disconnecting to sack. (PR, N/A, protection 0/3)
M29 2 15 Shotgun double stacks 1 0 4 4-3 over Run Inside zone Hayes 2
Michigan seems to mis-ID which LBs they need to go for; MSU has those dudes flanked wide on both sides of the line, with Michigan blocking the MLB and the guy away from the play. This leaves the strongside backer free to hit. RPS -2.
M31 3 13 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 3-3-5 nickel Pass Dig Funchess Inc
Braden(-2) spun through instantly, Gardner with no time, tries to throw it to Funchess in a very Mallett-like decision and almost gets it there, but nope. (PR, 0, protection 0/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-7, 5 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
O31 1 10 I-Form 1 2 2 4-3 over Run Power O Smith 0
Slow developing play sees an MSU linebacker shoot the gap between the G and C once Miller(-2) decides to chase a DT shooting outside on a power play away; Braden feels the C show up to block that guy and goes outside himself but that's not on him. Cole(-1) shoved into the the backfield a yard and Glasgow(-0.5) stalemated at base so no room to avoid or try to grab YAC.
O31 2 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass Circle Funchess Inc
PA with a pull and Funchess running a circle route against one of the MSU safeties. Kalis(-2) way overruns his point as he pulls to fake a run; LB runs right up in Gardner's face and he has to let it go. Funchess's route is not at all convincing or good—this isn't' really a route for him anyway as it requires completely changing your momentum and he's real big and the DB is right on top of it; he extends to provide zero window as the pass fizzes by. (CA, 0, protection 0/2)
O31 3 10 Shotgun 31 1 1 3 3-3-5 nickel Pass Corner Funchess Inc
Plenty of time on a three man rush and Gardner finds a pocket for Funchess for a bunch. MSU's corner to that side make what looks like an incredible play after being in press man on an outside receiver. WR stops, CB fades all the way back into a 20-yard route, breaking it up as Gardner put it a tiny bit short. Ugh. (CA, 1, protection 1/1)
Drive Notes: FG(48), 3-7, 3 min 2nd Q>
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M25 1 10 Shotgun trips TE 1 1 3 4-3 over Run Inside zone Smith 3
Opportunity for a nice gain, though mostly because of fortune, that Smith(-1) does not take. Miller(-0.5) gets blown back but his guy does not disconnect into the hole; free release from Kalis(-0.5) is only slight hindrance to a LB. Kalis tackles LB, refs +2; this gives Smith a cutback lane behind a free-releasing Glasgow(+0.5), who got a definitive THIS SIDE OF ME BLOCK Smith ignored.
M28 2 7 Ace twin TE 1 2 2 4-3 over Run Inside zone Smith 4
Corner blitz from the side without WR allows a hard slant playside from MSU. M doesn't really read this; Braden flares out right and ends up blocking no one. Kalis chases his guy outside and does block him. With only two LB types and an unblocked backside guy, though, M can still do some work. Miller(+1) delays the NT significantly while shoving him off the line. Cole(+0.5) gets another gent; Smith finds the hole and gets an average YAC.
M32 3 3 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass TE out Butt 5
Open short, rhythm throw. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
M37 1 10 I-Form 2 1 2 4-3 over Pass PA Fly Darboh Inc
Good coverage. Not a perfect throw but good enough to catch; Darboh reaches out, has it, DB whiffs on arm stuff. Darboh hits ground, ball pops out. (CA, 2, protection 2/2) MSU totally gets away with PI. Refs -2.
M37 2 10 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass Flanker screen Funchess 6
Easy and open for a nice gain; Funchess(-1) inexplicably tries to run outside of a good block from Butt(+0.5) that would see a safety tackle Funchess after about nine yards. (CA, 3, screen) RPS +1.
O43 3 3 Shtogun 4-wide 1 1 3 3-3-5 nickel Pass Dig Funchess Inc
Excellent throw from Gardner that a lazy Funchess drops. (CA, 3, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-14, 12 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M22 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Run Jet sweep Norfleet -1
Chesson(-2) looks at the playside LB and looks like he's about to block him, but instead runs by to the safety, allowing that LB to nail Norfleet at the LOS. Calhoun had quickly hopped outside Braden to string the play out and occupy two guys, nothing he could do. RPS -1.
M21 2 11 Pistol 2TE 1 2 2 4-3 under Pass Hitch Darboh Inc
Well wide, some chance for Darboh to dig it out but very hard. (IN, 1, protection 1/1)
M21 3 11 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 3-3-5 nickel Pass Dig Darboh INT
Only a three man rush with a delayed guy, plenty of time. Gardner moves up in the pocket and throws a pop fly in the general direction of Norfleet that's a bad idea anyway since it's way late and Norfleet is running into a DB; DB picks off the wildly inaccurate pass and scores. (INX, 0, protection 1/1)
Drive Notes: Defensive TD, 3-21, 8 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M25 1 10 Ace twins twin TE 1 2 2 4-3 over Run Inside zone Smith 12
MSU threatens blitz off the edge, Canteen comes in as tiny TE, apparently pre-planned. This works largely because Williams(+1) gets away with what looks like a blatantly obvious hold, refs +2. Williams did get nice push beforehand and got away with it, so results-based charting. Butt(+1) grabbed a blitzing LB and drove him down the line; Smith(+1) found that lane and ran through some tackles for a fine gain. Miller(+0.5) and Braden(+0.5) got passive but effective second level blocks.
M37 1 10 Shotgun twin TE 1 2 2 4-3 over Pass Fade Darboh Inc
Plenty of time after play action; Gardner loads up and fires to Darboh. Pass is way inside and short; with Darboh running at the numbers there was plenty of room outside to give the WR an advantage. Instead, Darboh has to play DB. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
M37 2 10 Shtogun twin TE 1 2 2 4-3 over Run Pin and pull zone Hayes -7
Hayes obliterated as the MLB charges straight upfield on the snap once he reads the pulls and tackles for loss. Miller(-1), RPS -2.
M30 3 17 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 3-3-5 nickel Run Counter power Hayes 13
Give up and punt
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-21, 6 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M25 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Run Inside zone Smith 5 +15 Pen
Norfleet motion, provides pitch threat on triple option look. This holds backside end and occupies a man to man DB in motion with him and the slot LB, giving M a rare numerical advantage in the box. Miller(+0.5) and Glasgow(+1) kind of scoop a DT, with Glasgow getting more push. Miller moves on to a LB; Smith finds the crease between them and hits it, getting hit from behind by the DE after he realizes it's a handoff. Penalty tacks on 15. RPS +1
M45 1 10 Ace twin TE 1 2 2 4-3 over Pass TE out Williams Inc (Pen +15)
Smith(-2) put in a slide protection against Calhoun, which goes very badly. Gardner tries to find Williams, who is open in a pocket in the zone but awkwardly throws off his back foot inaccurately. Close to a PR but he had an opportunity to step in still so (IN, 0, protection 0/2) Roughing the passer after the throw.
O40 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass Post Funchess Inc (Pen +15)
Good protection, though Norfleet comes in motion for the threat of a handoff and gets knocked over. Gardner can still step and fire a dart that is a tiny bit high and outside that Funchess, harassed by a corner, can't bring in. DB called for PI so this is not filed in the receiverchart. (CA, N/A, protection 2/2)
O25 1 10 Ace twin TE 1 2 2 4-3 over Run Inside zone Hayes 5
Slant for MSU fills lanes but doesn't get much penetration. Williams(-0.5) gets some movement on Calhoun but loses him; Butt ends up forced to let his guy inside but at least hits him reasonably hard. This puts Hayes(+1) on the edge against a safety filling at the LOS; Hayes cuts hard upfield and lowers his shoulder, running through a tackle for a nice chunk of YAC.
O20 2 5 Shotgun trips TE 1 1 3 4-3 over Run Inside zone Hayes 5
Blocking a push across the front, with nobody getting motion or allowing much penetration. Braden(-0.5) does end up falling and letting his guy upfield but he'd held a block a long time before that. Hayes(+1) sees nothing NS and starts extending outside, finding a small crease just inside the guy Braden was blocking and exploding in it for a quick first down.
O15 1 10 I-Form 1 2 2 4-3 over Run Power O Smith 4
Braden(+0.5) and Kalis(+0.5) do turn and bury the NT. Butt(-1) is at a FB spot and basically whiffs on a linebacker, constricting space; Williams(+0.5) gets a good kick. Smith has a decent hole. Glasgow(+0.5) gets a hit in the hole as well, and Smith can grind out a few. This close to the EZ 4 is a decent result.
O11 2 6 I-Form Big 2 2 1 4-3 over Run Lead zone Smith 1
Blitz catches M as they have no time to double a DT with a LB shooting a gap; he has a TFL chance that Smith(+1) runs through. Kalis(+0.5) and Braden(+0.5) drove a DT back a signficant distance; Miller(-1) kind of picked up the other blitzing LB but has no control and the FB also hits him. RPS -2.
O10 3 5 Shotgun trips TE 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass Corner Funchess Inc
Okay throw that gives Funchess a chance but also gives the DB a chance; Funchess has it for a long time before the DB rakes it out. (CA, 1, protection 1/1)
O10 4 5 Shotgun trips TE 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass Scramble Gardner 5
Six man pressure picked up with a LB trying to vault over Hayes and spectacularly cartwheeling through the air. Gardner is convinced to run by this and I totally agree with the decision; it's some serious bad luck/good play by MSU to bring him up a fraction short of the line. (SCR, N/A, protection 3/3)
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 3-28, 2 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR DForm Type Play Player Yards
M41 1 10 I-Form 2 1 2 4-3 over Pass Hitch Funchess 16
Seven(!) man pressure from MSU, picked up. Gardner finds Funchess for a first down after necessarily soft coverage. (CA, 3, protection 4/4)
O43 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Run Inside zone Hayes 4
Awkward decision for Hayes as Cole gets pushed back a bit and it looks like MSU will have a free guy in the usual IZ hole. Hayes(+0.5) cuts back behind Cole despite the awkwardness and manages to squeeze out a few before the unblocked end grabs him.
O39 2 6 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass Hitch Darboh 17
Six man pressure, picked up; Gardner fires it to an open Darboh, Darboh almost drops a routine catch but does eventually bring it in. (CA, 3, protection 3/3)
O22 1 10 Shotgun trips TE 1 2 2 4-3 over Pass Skinny post Canteen Inc
Screen fake, with Canteen setting up to stalk-block before jetting to the endzone. Zero deep safeties; Gardner puts it basically on the money, Canteen drops it. (CA, 3, protection 2/2, RPS +1)
O22 2 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass Screen Hayes INT
Hayes gets knocked down trying to get through the line, Gardner panics and throws it to no one in particular; Miller(-1) airballed a cut block on a linebacker, so he can intercept. (BRX, 0, screen)
Drive Notes: Interception, 28-3, 13 min 4th Q. Michigan gets the ball with nine minutes left down 25 and goes three and out so we're done here.

Why?

Habit. I don't have anything particularly insightful to say about this game. We expected an asskicking and it was delivered. Michigan never found any way to punish Michigan State's hyperaggressive defense, as per usual. Gardner had a trio of boggling turnovers, as per usual. The wide receivers dropped a bunch of passes on which MSU made things difficult. Not sure if that's usual or not.

The run game went forward, so that's different.

I could go into more detail, but what's the point? Gardner's broken but he'll be gone the next time Michigan is competitive, and there wasn't anything particularly surprising about the way in which Michigan got stomped. No one is real good. The end.

I will say that it's frustrating that Michigan didn't even try to emulate Oregon's evisceration of the MSU defense. You've got safeties jumping slants in this game…

…and Michigan can't pop anyone open. Protection was actually quite good for most of the game and might as well go for the big play, so that's not it.

Maybe that is on Gardner—on boggling turnover #2 he had Butt popping wide open for a touchdown just when he decided to throw it to a very covered Norfleet. At this point I'm not interested in discovering what the issue is, since all of this is going away in the near future.

Nothing?

Oh okay, I do have one thing. It seems pretty obvious to me that Justice Hayes is at least in the running to be Michigan's best back, and I suspect he has been for a while. He looked by far the best guy in limited reps at Michigan's spring game-type substance and he has shown an ability to squeeze out solid yardage with limited blocking. He is so much quicker than Smith; compare these two events where the back ends up forced into unblocked perimeter help. Smith:

Hayes:

One rep doesn't mean much and Smith does have a real knack for clubbing out tough yards, yes. Hayes does this pretty consistently, and he's burrowed his way for respectable YAC.

The coaches say he's improved greatly and that's why he's getting more time. Given what we've seen with talent identification under this regime it feels like the more likely explanation is that Hayes was always better but the decision making was "manball bighuge go." I go back to what the coaches said after Norfleet moved to WR—I don't remember exactly but it was something about how Norfleet "saw all these big guys at RB and said 'I'd better get out of here'" which 1) was undoubtedly crap since Norfleet is the most positive guy on the team and 2) is almost certainly what the coaches saw. They did not see that one of their big guys needed a map and a local guide to find a hole and the other was slow.

Not that it matters anymore.

Oh.

Anyway, here are some charts.

Devin Gardner 2013

Opponent DO CA MA IN BR TA BA PR SCR DSR
Central Michigan 2 10(1)+ 1 1 2* - - 1 3 82%
Notre Dame 7+ 16(1)++ 4(1) 2 3* - 1 4 4 82%
Akron 3 14(2) - 5 3** 2 1 3 1 59%
UConn 2 13(1) 1 5*+ - 1 - 5 5 76%
Minnesota 4+ 7(1) 4 1 - - - 1 2 92%
Penn State 7+ 12(2) - 5+ 2** 3 1 4 4 66%
Indiana 5 18(3) 1 1 3 3 - - 5 78%
Michigan State 1 15(2) 1 5 4* 6 - 4 1 50%
Nebraska - 17(1) 1 4(1) 2* 5 - 6 - 62%
Northwestern 5 21(6) 3 5 6***** 1 2(1) 6 4 65%
Iowa 3 12(5)+ 2(1) 5(1) - 2 2 4 3 68%

Devin Gardner

Opponent DO CA MA IN BR TA BA PR SCR DSR
App State 1 11(4) - 2(1)   1 - 1 1 82%
Notre Dame 3 17(3) 2 1 6(1)** 3 - 2 2 68%
Miami(NTM) 1 9(1) 1 3 2 - 1 2 2 65%
Utah 2 9(2) 5 5** 1* 1 1 4 3 60%
Minnesota   3   1 1 1     2 N/A
Rutgers 4 14(3) 1 3* 2 2*     4 73%
Penn State 2 12(3) 2(1) 4   4 1 1 1 57%
MSU 1 14(11) 1 4* 1* 1   2 1 68%

Actually a pretty accurate day; Gardner was victimized by a bunch of drops and good MSU play. He also had three boggling TOs. That's him: explodes in all directions.

Offensive Line
Player + - Total Notes
Cole 1.5 2 -0.5  
Glasgow 4.5 1 3.5  
Miller 4.5 7.5 -3  
Kalis 2 1.5 0.5  
Braden 2.5 0.5 2  
Magnuson       DNP
Williams 1.5 0.5 1  
Kerridge        
Hill       DNP
Butt 2.5 2 0.5  
TOTAL 19 15 56% They are not good by any stretch of the imagination but this is in fact better than last year by a lot.
Backs
Player + - T Notes
Gardner   -4 -4 Fumble, no runs on purpose.
Morris       One play.
Green       DNP
Smith 2 1 1  
Hayes 2.5   2.5  
Johnson       DNC
Shallman - - - DNC
Kerridge N/A N/A N/A moved to TE for now
Houma       DNC
TOTAL 4.5 4 0.5 Eh.
Receivers
Player + - T Notes
Funchess   1 -1  
Chesson   2 -2  
Darboh        
Norfleet 0.5      
Canteen   - - DNC
Dever - - - DNC
Jones - - - DNP
TOTAL 0.5 3 -2.5 Eh.
Metrics
Player + - T Notes
Protection 30 9 77% Kalis 3, Cole 2, Braden 2, Smith 2
RPS 7 15 -8

Usual.

Note that I didn't think Nussmeier could do anything about this RPS number. They had no options and MSU is hyperaggressive.

Receivers?

[0 = uncatchable, 1 = circus catch, 2 = moderate difficulty, 3 = routine]

Player 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
Funchess 2 0/2 0/1 1/2   16 2/7 7/11 27/29
Chesson           4 0/3 2/3 8/8
Darboh 3 0/1 0/1 2/2   10 2/4 3/4 12/13
Norfleet 1     1/1   1 0/2 0/1 12/13
Canteen       0/1   2   1/1 2/3
Butt       1/1   3 3/4   7/8
Hill           2 0/1 0/1 3/3
Williams 1         1     2/3
Heitzman                 1/2
Jones           1   1/1  
                   
Green             1/2   1/1
Smith           2 0/1   1/1
Hayes           3 1/1   4/4
Johnson                  
Kerridge             0/1   1/1
Houma                  

ROUTES: Darboh –1, Funchess –1.

Heroes?

You, the reader, for bothering to click through.

Maybe not so heroic?

Well…

What does it mean for Indiana and the future?

I want to put another video of ragequit deaths but Indiana is so pliable that Michigan will probably do well enough.

But on a slightly longer timeframe, it means Michigan will have a new coach next year.

Comments

gwkrlghl

October 30th, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^

but how did Michigan get so far behind MSU that ass-kickings from MSU are now the norm? Any Michigan fans just emerging from a10 year hibernation are in for a shock

Joined: 04/13/2012

MGoPoints: 72

UMaD

October 30th, 2014 at 12:59 PM ^

I'm actually still interested in how these players are performing individually - especially the OL.  These guys will be absolutely critical to how the team does next year with a (probably very bad) new QB and a lack of playmakers at the skill positions.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 4960

IncrediblySTIFF

October 30th, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^

Agreed.  The tone around here has become "our coaches and AD suck," and because of it there is not a lot of talk about the players on the team.  I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but it is nice to compare what others see with what I see.

The OL and their development this year is crucial to next year, even if credit (upon presumed development) will likely be largely misplaced.  Here's to hoping young OL will actually do what the national norm is, specifically improve significantly as they become upperclassmen.

Joined: 03/26/2011

MGoPoints: 7962

Bez

October 30th, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^

Totally agree. I can't remember what year it was 2010? 2011?  Where State was presumed to have had the worst offensive line in the conference because they had been so bad the year before (but were young) and went from badish/below average to one of the best.

Things take time to click and I think there is too much overall talent on the line for that not to happen next year (fingers crossed we see some more signs by end of year.)  Everyone that plays returns.

Joined: 12/31/2010

MGoPoints: 450

UMaD

October 30th, 2014 at 3:23 PM ^

I think we have 4 good backs, but not of them are great.  People want to think Isaac is a star, but he was 5th string on USC last year and behind classmate Justin Davis, who is a backup this year. USC has talent, but we're still talking about someone who would be 3rd or 4th string there.

If our OL can block - any of these guys will find success. If they can't - none of our backs will look outstanding.

RBs get a ton of attention, but I don't think anyone out of our group of B+ backs moves the needle on next year.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 4960

PAproudtoGoBlue

October 30th, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^

Which one of our big backs is slow? I agree that finding a hole(when available) was/is the problem for the bigs I just never considered them as slow. Technically we are all slow if you run three yards and then slam into a mass of humanity.  The thing about Norfleet not wanting to compete because of size is crazy on the staffs part. Don't they know in his mind he's 6'3 230 with several hearts beating in his chest.

Joined: 07/11/2013

MGoPoints: 547

BlueMan80

October 30th, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^

when it's needed, they might actually be respectable.  It's just amazing that they always find a way to pull out their gun and shoot themselves in the foot.  Dropped passes, fumbles, bone headed INTs, wiffed blocks, penalties, etc.  At least they vary the mixture of sucky plays from game to game.  Ugh.

Joined: 01/21/2011

MGoPoints: 13097

Baloo

October 30th, 2014 at 1:03 PM ^

I don't really care anymore, but it is amusing/annoying to see MSU's defense offering us touchdowns right up the middle and essentially saying "yep, we knew you wouldn't hit it."

Joined: 10/03/2014

MGoPoints: 3647

Credit812

October 30th, 2014 at 1:14 PM ^

Not that i want you to subject yourself to more torture, but why didn't you chart the one TD drive?  Given how rare that occurance has been recently against MSU, it might be important to document it for posterity.

Joined: 07/30/2009

MGoPoints: 960

GoBucks11

October 30th, 2014 at 6:06 PM ^

I think he is going by S&P+ standards of charting drives. They stop looking at drives that contribute to the overall stats when the game is out of reach. And with scUM down 28-3 with ~9:00 remaining in the game, assuming no miracles, S&P+ is done charting. That's probably why.

Joined: 11/12/2013

MGoPoints: 52

mGrowOld

October 30th, 2014 at 1:14 PM ^

I cant help but wonder why our offensive coaching staff suddenly became such poor evaluators of players ability.  Perhaps Borges and now Nuss fooled everybody at all their other coaching stops or maybe their's another voice in the room when it comes to deciding who plays and who doesnt.

It sure seems to me that somebody without a clue about running an offense is making important decisions.

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 212673

Hannibal.

October 30th, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^

At this point the common denominator is Hoke.  I wasn't overly impressed by Borges before he came to Michigan but Nussmeier's credentials were absolutely impeccable.  He looked good coaching under John L Smith.  He has looked good everywhere else.  He is one of many individuals who for some reason has done by far the worst work in Ann Arbor over the past half decade. 

Joined: 09/09/2008

MGoPoints: 9051

Tim Waymen

October 30th, 2014 at 3:13 PM ^

I've been thinking that it's not Nussmeier. I think he's an at least decent OC who ended up in an awful situation. I have no idea at all if this is how it went down but I figure maybe Nuss gets to Michigan and the players are underdeveloped and defeated from last year, the biggest area of concern is the OL, and the rest of the coaching staff is shit. A lot of focus was spent on the OL but the rest is FUBAR because of Hoke, maybe Brandon if it's true that he meddles.

Whatever the case, you see Nussmeier on the sidelines and he looks like the only coach who gives a shit. Joke is just fucking clueless. I mean, Morris was concussed and Hoke is God knows where, and Nuss was the one trying to get him to stay down. I think the team is so broken and Nuss can only do so much.

Either that, or Nuss isn't that great, but I'm going with talented OC in a bad situation. Hopefully this nightmare will all soon be over.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1973

DrewForBlue

October 30th, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^

Surprised no discussion on Gardner's worst interception.

So, I do think Gardner is a hero for even surviving this far. BUT, there are interceptions that are bad, worse, and horrendous. And during that game I saw a new category invented. Still not sure what to call it. An underhand toss interception to the middle linebacker with literally no one else close by.

I was not even mad. Just laughed and turned off the TV.

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 2133

User -not THAT user

October 31st, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^

The ND interception was worse because that play effectively got the Irish back into a game in which they were pretty much already whipped.

It is also the last time I remember getting so angry at an individual play that I was watching ON TV that I actually yelled at the television, using a torrent of profanity that would have made Darren McGavin's character from "A Christmas Story" blush.  For like, five minutes.  While I was visiting my father.

I'm 47 years old, and I had convinced myself that at tis point in my life...steady job, wife, kids, mortgage...that I was "beyond" such action.

Nope.

Devin Gardner was able to release the inner meathead that I had thought was long buried from back in my 20's.  Okay, 30's.

Fortunately it conditioned me for the remainder of Hoke's time here...I haven't had that kind of reaction since.  Now I'm like "He just did what?  Oh, of course he did.  Good effort out there, boys (*clap, clap, clap*)."

Joined: 06/05/2012

MGoPoints: 2422

BlueinOK

October 30th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^

Hayes needs to get the ball more. Maybe the new coaching staff will see his talent. In the carries I've seen this year, he looks quicker than any other RB on the roster. Obviously Ty Isaac could factor in next season, too. The running game could actually be pretty damn good.  

Joined: 12/06/2009

MGoPoints: 15029

charblue.

October 30th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^

coached, the RB's who played a lot, did so because they could pass protect, and understood protection needs, with running ability and vision secondary concerns. It just seems that Hoke puts a greater value on size and bulk rather than quickness and agility because he comes from the Dline coaching perspective. I don't think Hayes is a huge step up at RB but it seems to me that he should get more of a greater rotation and a bigger opportunity to see what he might do as an everydown back especially when he represents your only backfield speed.

And historically, Michigan, other than throwing screen passes, never throws the ball to a back out of the backfield, even in checkdown situations except when they are ill-advised shovel passes. Which probably explains why this option is never really used as a constraint play.

Joined: 05/25/2010

MGoPoints: 11381

GoBLUinTX

October 30th, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^

the RB as a check down receiver for the simple reason that it is extremely rare for Gardner to throw to anybody but the designed receiver.  Take the last play of the very first drive as an example.  Gardner threw to double covered Darboh (INC) when he had Smith coming out of the backfield all alone in the left flat ready to catch the ball for serious yardage.  Something he would do again later in the game for a Pick Six.  Both times he had more than enough time to look around for better options, neither time did he do so.

Joined: 12/02/2013

MGoPoints: 5895

UMCoconut

October 30th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^

You could FEEL the apathy soaking through the screen. I don't think I've ever read something online that has conveyed an emotion this strongly. I just want to curl up and say, "meh".

Joined: 08/12/2011

MGoPoints: 2055

Wolverine 73

October 30th, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^

The guys who spend hours dissecting one depressing game after another so we can see in more detail just how and why we sucked.  Man, I don't see how you can stand doing it.

Joined: 08/03/2009

MGoPoints: 27145

ChicagoGangViolins

October 30th, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^

 
61 yds rushing, 26 attempts (2.3 yds/rush)
125 yds passing, 15/31 (4 yds/pass)
3 turnovers
 
The other stats just pour gravy on the cinder-beast.

Joined: 09/07/2014

MGoPoints: 840