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

charblue.

October 30th, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^

who got upset with me because I got upset with my team for basically compounding a bad season into something more frustratingly awful, I think the good practice mantra is either a misnomber or a prevarication because if these guys practiced as advertised, there would be some better results on the field.

However, when your quarterback keeps giving the ball away at times when there is a chance for a good result, and Gardner has done that any number of times this year, this team just collapses on itself and regression results. I have never seen a Michigan team with less fight in it than this one. Now, that's a function of coaching and motivation and team personality.

We know all know how the motivation thing got fucked up on Saturday. But internally this team seems to try but doesn't appear willing to commit to overcoming any challenge in order to win. Not that they don't work or put effort into it, they just don't believe in themselves enough to succeed as a group. And that must explain why no one stands up for the other when other teams take liberties with their guys. That is the essence of fallen pride, and that is the hardest thing to accept about Team 135.

Joined: 05/25/2010

MGoPoints: 11391

GoBLUinTX

October 30th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^

and have been for some time, that Hoke has set the bar for excellence far below that required to be competitive against other teams.  Sure they practice hard, sure they compete in practice, but when you set your own benchmarks only half as high as what other teams are achieving, there is no way on earth you can expect to beat those teams.

Additionally, Hoke understood that last seaon there was a leadership problem amongst the players.  So what did he do?  He eliminated leadership and replaced it with committees.  Another trait of Hoke, don't fix problems, hide them.  A TE can't block, let's make him a WR.  Should we then be surprised when a player, rewarded for not doing his job, starts doing his new job with the same lacksidasical attitude?

Joined: 12/02/2013

MGoPoints: 5895

Ben Mathis-Lilley

October 30th, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^

The actual fulcrum of my ennui this season was probably when the game was 7-0 and Miller and Kalis ran past the only defender on the right side of the field (Jones) on the screen to Hayes. That happening in the second half of the season = offense not gonna "put things together." I was in California so soon after I headed for the pool, first ongoing Michigan game I've walked away from in...ever? 

Joined: 10/08/2009

MGoPoints: 446

Cranky Dave

October 30th, 2014 at 3:03 PM ^

that my new band is going to be named Fulcrum of my Ennui.  More importantly, I'm glad I didn't pay attention to that screen play to see a mistake like that.  It's so hard to figure out what is really happening in practice, meetings, locker room.

Joined: 09/08/2012

MGoPoints: 26240

tylawyer

October 30th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^

Brian, after reading this I want to make sure that you're aware of the "BRAT" diet, which is what one is supposed to observe after tossing one's cookies. "B"ananas, "R"ice, "A"pples & "T"oast. Stick with that for a few hours and you should be good to go.

Joined: 02/10/2010

MGoPoints: 352

Zero

October 30th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^

I was on vacation in Austin for a film/music festival during this game.  I was pretty bummed that it was going to be the first UM/MSU game I missed watching in probably 20 years or more.  As we got down to the festival, I noticed there was an adjacent sports bar.  I got excited as I knew I could at least watch some of the game in between bands playing.

I walked in there about 3 o'clock local time to catch the score....   the place was completely filled with Spartan fans.  Apperently this was the official watch party for MSU fans in Austin.

 

Fuck you Midway Field House.

Joined: 07/27/2009

MGoPoints: 1527

CompleteLunacy

October 30th, 2014 at 2:59 PM ^

Landed in time to see a text of the score 14-3. As I was waiting for my ride I checked on ESPN...21-3. And as I got home in time to watch the 4th quarter...28-3.

I think what frustrates me the most is how predictable it all is. Except for one or two games in Hoke's regime, he's never been able to get his teams to play above the level of expectation. Literally everyone could have predicted that Michigan wouldn't score a touchdown. Everyone could predict the awful turnovers. The underwhelming run game. The dropped passes and continual self implosion. The defense that tried its best but has never really been as good as we had hoped and expected. One that kinda sorta kept the game close even if it never really felt like it. Predictable, uninspiring play calling. MSU taking cheap shots and our players doing nothing about it. Hoke punting down 18(?) I'm the 4th quarter on a 4th and 3 from the 43...and then scoring when it was too little too late. Going for a meaningless two point conversion.

It just feels so familiar, sadly. So predictable. Michigan under Hoke has been completely unable to go against the script...except for maybe the OSU game last year. But that was a loss too.

Joined: 11/13/2010

MGoPoints: 12910

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

October 30th, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^

UFRs these days, imagine the GAs sitting for 12+ hours from Saturday post game until Sun noon poring over film - all to create a practice plan for the coming week. Then hand the assessment to Funk or some AC so they can "coach" their unit. Little opportunity to voice sarcasm or disgust. Horrible pay. Pure torture.

Joined: 11/01/2012

MGoPoints: 18049

M-GoGirl

October 30th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^

On MSU game day, U-M moved a 250 yr old oak tree to make room for expansion at the Ross School of Business. The veteran oak rolled 100 solid yards up the middle, edging its fellow Wolverines in both total rushing yards gained (91) and net rushing yards (61).

I'm pretty sure the conveyor was powered by the turbine-fast spinning graves of Bo, Yost, Crisler, et al.  Sadly, their spinning graves could be considered a sustainable energy source these past couple seasons.

Joined: 10/28/2014

MGoPoints: 738

AZ-Blue

October 30th, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^

More videos linked to each play please!   I know there are various limitations (time, space) but you leave us wanting more video.  Hire some schlub to cut clips for you.  Think of it as your contribution to the coaching staff.  We all know the assistants huddle at their home computers on the night of UFR publication.

Joined: 10/03/2014

MGoPoints: 457

PburgGoBlue

October 30th, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^

On the play they cal "pull and pin"? Is it jsut me or did Sparty know this play was coming? Or was the MLB blitzing on the play anyways? It seemed like at the snap he was gone? Was Hayes his man and he read his keys that well? That play and the play spart threw right at our blitzing corner just had me shotgun a beer, alone, while my 17month old napped, and think how the hell is this happening.

Joined: 07/21/2011

MGoPoints: -8831

Token_sparty

October 31st, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^

Jones anticipated that play- don't know if it was a presnap motion that tipped him, or he just got that intuition or whatever.  He attacked that play at the very snap of the ball- no time to see the pulling linemen.  Either lucky or good on that play; RPS +1.

EDIT: 'that play' is apparently 'and stuff' for me today.  Thanks Chevy Guy!

Joined: 07/20/2009

MGoPoints: 256

jmblue

October 30th, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^

I understand the desire to stop after that last INT, although it would have been nice to have our lone TD drive in there, however meaningless it was.

 

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102796

PurpleStuff

October 30th, 2014 at 6:14 PM ^

Between 2012 and 2013 (basically a season and a half as a starter), Gardner threw 32 TD (offset by 16 INT, not superb but not bad), completed 60% of his passes, and ran for 18 more TD.

His fall has corresponded with losing Omameh, Lewan, Schofield, Denard (as RB with him in late 2012), Fitz, Gallon, and Roundtree.  Those guys haven't been replaced and Devin has suffered because of it.

Joined: 04/21/2009

MGoPoints: 15969

autodrip4-1968

October 30th, 2014 at 6:37 PM ^

I like Justice as number one guy. He seems to see the prephriary much differently than Smith. Might be better off to run Devian in short yardage situations. Maybe give Johnson number two slot.

Joined: 10/20/2014

MGoPoints: 831

Michigan9

October 30th, 2014 at 7:07 PM ^

Just reading this re-affirms we have excluded the TE position from our offense. It's an option we need to figure out how to get involved in the offensive scheme. 

Joined: 10/13/2014

MGoPoints: 3476

Magnus

October 31st, 2014 at 8:30 AM ^

I agree on Hayes. I have never been particularly impressed with Smith, who can run through some tackles but won't give you many explosive or chunk plays. Smith is a short-yardage guy. Hayes is the best option we have right now. I wish Green were healthy, even though he's not perfect, either.

Unrelated to this season, I think Ty Isaac might take the starting job next year.

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 166007

Token_sparty

October 31st, 2014 at 10:35 AM ^

Give defenses something else to think about, especially against an aggressive group. He has the quickness to exploit any gap and already running at full speed he'd have a significant opportunity to exploit a busted gap for a big gain.  Hit a couple of those and you can fake and run an iso or veer inside with the other back, playaction, what-have-you.  But like many posters have said, this regime is gone and the only thing worth talking about is whether Brandon or the staff goes first.

Joined: 07/20/2009

MGoPoints: 256

EddieVeddersGuitar

October 31st, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^

for his job which immerses him in all things Michigan football.  Now, not so much.  He deserves a stiff drink for watching this.

Watching a Brady Hoke offense is like watching a Rich Rod defense, but without the fun of watching a Rich Rod offense.

Joined: 10/31/2014

MGoPoints: 1