Utah Open Thread

gsimmons, I tried to read your analysis but it's really hard to follow without down and distance. From my layman's perspective, it looked like our vaunted d-line just got flat out blocked on passing plays for 30 minutes.

I understand that you're saying the difference between their play in the 1st and 2nd halves was more about execution than any schematic adjustments. You also seem to be saying that the defense performed fairly well overall and that you're not really concerned about this lack of execution. Does that mean that you're chalking it up to first-game rust instead of something that could reemerge later like lack of concentration or motivation?

The d-line's performance in the 1st half was the most disappointing thing about this game for me so I'd really like to hear an informed explanation for why their QB had so much time to sit in the pocket during the first half, even in obvious passing situations.

Edit: I'm watching the game again and BJ didn't really have as much time as it seemed when I was watching live. He's getting rid of the ball quickly and scrambling to buy time when he needs to. I'm feeling a lot better about the d-line and a lot worse about the outside linebacker play the more I watch.

On the the long throw from Sheridan to Mathews did the entire offensive line remain in their stance for the whole play? I saw it the first time and thought I was seeing things so I rewound and sure enough as you see sheridan throwing the camera pans to follow the ball and there is the entire o-line just perfectly motionless. Was that planned? I have never seen anything like that before.

Why did we wait until the second half to switch our defense? We were running a very soft zone the entire first half, which left the flats WIDE OPEN. Any pass 7 yards or shorter was a free play. Our corners were playing 9 yards off for the zone.

We finally fixed it the second defensive series of the second half, and the entire complextion of the game changed. Ezeh got that pick (he was still in zone on that tipped ball) because they started jamming the wideouts.

Defensive ends. Our defensive ends were taking VERY wide paths the first half. The second half we started to just push the tackles in to shrink that pocket. FINALLY.

First Downs. Did anyone else notice how many people Utah kept in the box on first downs?! Always at least 7. For the love of god, throw the ball downfield on a first down!

While a new QB that fits the system is what will be needed to get over
the top and become elite.....First, To be respectable, consistent, and
steady....we need a strong O-line.  It will take time for these guys to
develop into the system, but we should at least be able run the ball
once the O-line is decent. 

The defense should be fine this year.  It took them one half to find
their stride, and then they played great in the second half against a
very  efficient Utah offense that runs a system that has historically
given Michigan fits.  The D-line and secondary looked impressive in the
second half, and Ezeh looked quick at linebacker.  

Call me crazy.....I would not be surprised if what we see at the end
of the year is a completely different team than what we see now....One
that keeps the OSU game close and even bides for an upset.

Lastly, this is soooo much more bearable than another wasted
monotonous year of 9-4 or 10-3 under Lloyd, because change is being
installed.  The struggles are well worth it, given that freshmen and
sophomores are getting significant playing time.  Once Forcier or
Beaver is running the offense....next year, I will expect a good year. 
And the following year....With all this year's freshmen as juniors,
should be the year the program ascends, and remains strong for the next
decade.

what was our starting center-right guard combo - Molk/Moosman??  I was at the game and couldnt tell b/c i didnt know their numbers.  I know they sucked though.

I still think, from a fan's perspective that this is a fun year. So many people go to these games because of some sort of need for pedigree or need for prestige. The whiners want the pedigree, the fans of michigan football just want to see the team they cheer for execute and play a good game. One style of fan feeds off of the tradition and one makes it. Fans need to question their own depth. I thought Michigan fought. That in itself is a Victory. Also the coach for Utah, his comments were acceptable but not needed. Yes they could've won by more. But yes they committed a lot of penalties. My question is did the game clock expire on the 1st half 7 minute field goal for Utah. I thought it had expired by 3-5 seconds. I did not record the game otherwise I'd check it. It's time for everyone involved with the program and even the fans to realize there will be no big rewards and the effort needed will be tremendous. That's what starting over is all about.

that poole guy is clueless.. i mean really clueless...

RR said that in his press conference... any word on mathews?  it looked bad to me....  he also said something about hemmingway

i got some stuff up on my site if anyone is interested...

I was so pissed yesterday, asking pointed questions at the TV time and time again, why won't you just f'ing play Carlos f'ing Brown, RichRod! He is the best of the RBs, goddammit.  Well, a Rivals article seems to say that Carlos Brown was sidelined by a shoulder injury.  Well that really sucks.  I hope he comes back soon.

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=844449

And OMG had Bass never gotten injured, things would be different, although the O-line has work to do.  But would RR be here had Bass been healthy last year?  I say yes, because Lloyd was going to retire regardless of what happened last year, Horror or not.  Bass is our John Connor.

I think this guy sat by me

http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh6Mutq3Zjo

Tate committed yesterday after the game.

There were a lot of good things that came in this loss. I am sure, once the players who played in the game for michigan got back to their dorms, numerous loud fbombs were heard. Then this morning, you go to church or to the cafeteria and were moving on. Because Saturday brings yet another team wanting to whoop your ass. After every win or loss you have to sit yourself down as a player, coach or fan and say,"If we do not show up next week we will lose." I think this team learned that it will have to claw and fight for every victory. Even if that means first downs. The key is that it has to get to a point where week to week more answers are found. There cannot be OR's forever on the 2deep unless players are injured. I'd imagine the coaches now have a better idea of who they can win with.

I'm not sure exactly how to feel about the game.  The result is what I expected, a close game with Utah winning.  However, I feel like Utah could've won by a lot more if they didn't constantly bail us out with idiot penalties.

Please don't priase Zoltan anymore and please take his shirt off your site. His name does not deserve to be known by anyone other than his parents.

Maybe we should recruit an actual punter next year too...

GO BLUE!!!

It's not fair to knock the D's second-half success by saying that Utah was playing Lloydball.  We had six sacks.  The Utah coach wasn't exposing Brian Johnson to that many hits just for the hell of it.  The switch to a three-man front seemed to make a big difference after halftime.   

I
suspect Rodriguez is a better coach than Carr, and Michigan will soon contend again for national championships.

Good luck to Michigan in every game except the one that counts.

Rodriguez gets 1.  A real quarterback and 2. An offensive line that doesn't resemble my first crush's gash they will never be a good football team. 

 I love the fact that we played so many young guys right away.  This team will be great in the future... if and only IF we get a QB that can make plays (see Threet's throw on 4th down) and an O-Line that doesn't leak like a hooker on a period.

I puked after the third quarter.

JB

TV called BG over Pitt last nite (can't remember who)...

 Did anyone see that smug lil troll Holtz say he knew Michigan would lose and that they won't be that good this year?  Like he was the only one in the world who had the inside info that UM was going to have a down year.  No shit, Lou.

ive actually sent several kids to play there., know alot of the coaches very well, a fine little program...

Well that sucked, but it was the first game.  We have no offense.  Crap.  To anyone willing to answer, what is your assessment of the o-line?  I thought it was more a matter of the QB and the RBs struggling, but I'm not the expert. I just wish that Carlos Brown would have played more, definitely at RB.  I thought he was better than Minor last year, and he has speed and the moves.

The improvement by the D-line was spectacular, but the mistakes made in the 1st half and the beginning of the 2nd half were too big in the end, although that INT in the first half was the result of a bad decision.  Brian Johnson is pretty good though.

Clemson doesn't have it.  They will lose again and WF is going to win the And I called E Carolina or VTech.  I am a fucking guru.

What really impressed me was our DTs ability to run down a mobile quarterback.  Also the fact that we actually seemed to have more energy on defense in the second half even with a lot of 3 and outs by the offense.  Looks like the days of 4th quarter melt downs may have come to an end.

i couldn't see shit from row 63 in the endzone, but the defense looked phenomenal in the the second half (and like shit the first). how'd they look on tv/close enough to see? also, how did the o-line look? couldn't quite tell who sucked and who was ok from where i was. basically i was too far away to see anything. can i get a quick (or long) recap please? i don't want  to have to wait to read it in the papers/here tomorrow.

edit: also, was it just me or did they not throw anything over the middle, or get it to the receivers in stride? the o just looked like shit from top to bottom from where i was.

"Why did we do better in 2nd half than 1st half defensive wise?"

 Because Michigan now makes second half adjustments - something that was never done under the previous regime.

Or faster, anyway.  More faith in their reads?

EDIT: Or jsut read what the coach said. 

for the most part this was a good performance for the defense.   besides having trouble at first with the vertical seams olb's too worried about contain, and not holding the vertical, and a misplay by brown on the big pass.  even the first half wasnt that bad....  utah did a good job of getting the ball out early to keep the preasure from gettign there.  Michigan adjusted by holdign the vertcial seams better and the secondary breaking on more first move routes....   dont let the stats foul you.. michigan defense is good.. and much better able to contain spred offenses

I'm just really frustrated in that we can't stop any spread offenses.  Every year it's the same stuff; shreaded by a spread offense with no effective plan. I thought bringing in Shafer would help solve the schematic problem, but it seems that our personnel flat out sucks in defending the spread.  I'm just wondering if we will ever be able to defend a good spread team.  Do we lack speed? Do we have poor fundamentals? What exactly is the problem? Why did we do better in 2nd half than 1st half defensive wise?

Would be cool if McGuffie didn't have more carries than Brown and Minor combined with a ypc average of 1.