I learned some things yesterday... Notre Dame
That was an unbelievable experience, watching the game with my family, unwittingly teaching my 4yo son a bad word or three, watching Michigan rewrite the 2009 script to include the new answer to all that ails Michigan Football. Because that is what Denard Robinson is, The Answer. Not just an answer, but instead The one and only Answer that you will need right about now. Let's demonstrate:
Q. Why is the sky blue?
A. Because Denard Robinson.
Q. What is the sound of one hand clapping?
A. De-Nard Rob-In-Son.
Q. Why do Michigan fans have a shit-eating grin on their faces?
A. The answer is The Answer, and he'll be here all season, just ask away.
Seriously though, enjoy this everyone. Denard Robinson is making Michigan Football history and for the first time I can remember we have a new script.
Other things I learned:
- Rich Rodriguez is old school. To hell with the latest in game theory, he will punt on fourth down and makable in the opponents end of the field, even on 4th and 2, if he wants to. No amount me ranting about it in my living room will make him change his mind. And let's not get started on trusting the leg of Gibbons a second time. Of course there was an answer to my frustration, see above.
- Michigan now has, I believe, the toughest group of players I have ever seen play anywhere. Roy Roundtree comes back a week after serious internal bruising, gets crushed again in this game, and gets back up to catch arguably the most important ball thrown all day. Odoms took a couple wicked shots as well. Of course Denard Robinson defies what every hater has said all week, getting up time and again and channeling the beating he is receiving into pure awesome. Credit to the almighty Barwis.
- Tate looks like he has decided to be a team player. His hug with RR at the beginning of the game looked a tad scripted ("Is the camera looking yet? OK now!") but it was nice to see him with the headset on, ready to help out. Others mentioned in various comments that he was getting the team huddled up during time outs and generally was with his teammates. I am glad to see this.
- This season our defense no longer looks incompetent, it merely looks young and inexperienced. Big plays burned us over and over, but for the majority of the plays faced, the defense appeared to be improving if anything. Man this Kool-Aid tastes good...
- Cam Gordon can really hit, but he needs to improve quickly as the deep contain. One bad angle and one letting a man behind him = burn crispy twice. Future opponents are definitely going to try to exploit him.
Looking Ahead:
The best-case scenario has come true through two games. Denard Robinson's amazing displays have shoved all talk about RR's hot seat and the NCAA investigation out the window, and we are looking at a probable 4-0 start (I don't like adding Indiana into that figure after last year's game). Pretty much everyone of note is healthy and I think this team is showing improvement on defense despite some issues giving up the long ball. Take away the two touchdowns totaling 148 yards and Michigan has at least an average day on defense.
It was easy after this game to get very concerned about our reliance on one player. With Denard Robinson accounting for 502 of 532 total yards on offense, what happens if he goes down? Let's not forget that the OLine is getting great push, creating holes, and protecting the QB. Let's not overlook that the receivers are getting open, catching the football, and blocking well. And most of all, take solace that in Tate Forcier we have a more than capable starter waiting in the wings, and that he appears to have adopted a team-first mentality.
Enjoy this time fellow fans.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:46 AM ^
I was also not happy with the conservative nature of the offensive calling in the 3rd quarter, I wanted the mentality that we would go for it on 4th down knowing our kicker struggles and that it would be a long FG or short punt. On a 3rd down and 4 right down there I felt like we should have ran twice to pick it up not pass and then kick a FG. We had 4 drives end in a punt or missed field goal where I wanted to go for it in the 2nd half.
We only used Stephen Hopkins once...to pound in a TD from the 1. Lets use him a bit more.
September 12th, 2010 at 5:34 PM ^
That's a good sign.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:51 AM ^
I mentioned this in a board reply, but I saw a lot of positives there.
Yeah, there were a few glaring errors, but this game actually makes me even more optimistic for the season. Everyone knew that there were going to be some secondary issues (understated slightly), between youth and AMSHG attrition, but I was really happy with the defense today.
The concern pre-season was about our offense needing to outscore teams for us to win. Yesterday, when our offense stalled, the defense kept us in that game. Yeah, they gave up yards and they gave up a couple bombs, but who thought that our offense could hurt themselves with penalties, go 3 for 16 on third down conversions, and special teams would miss two field goals, and our defense would still find a way to keep us in the game? 3 picks, a sack, only 4 for 14 on 3rd down for Notre Dame. They manned up.
As we move on, we know the offense will roll, but it's extremely exciting to see they won't always have to.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:53 AM ^
The enemy was laying on the ground with the soft flesh of its neck exposed, and we allowed it to get back up and fight. Do you guys realize that after only one Hagerup appearance last week, we punted 10 times (including the Denard-Does-It-All Show)???
This game should've been at least 28-7 at the half, and we did get outscored 17-7 in the second quarter.
I was pretty upset in the third quarter, but the boys are still learning. Great teams are merciless, and we're not a great team yet. But what a ride... We've definitely started a new chapter in the history of the program.
Thanks for the perspective, Lordfoul.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:34 AM ^
You mean we were out scored 17-7 in the second half?
September 12th, 2010 at 9:37 AM ^
It worked out, but it's not a formula for ongoing success. There are still holes, even on the O.
Let's not make our reservations for the Heisman ceremony and the National Championship game just yet.
We are very young and learning and well into our journey, BUT WE ARE NOT THERE, YET. Let's keep that in mind and not be Manic Depressives the first time it does not work out.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:31 AM ^
September 12th, 2010 at 9:44 AM ^
He was probably too busy running around as a kid and his mother couldn't catch him to make him tie them.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:41 AM ^
1) Our defense is as pitiful as last year. Never mind the #'s . Rudolph's looonnggg TD pass. The long reception at the end of the first half to put ND at the 3. Piss poor defense. 2 of the 3 picks were gifts from garbage QB's. Our D line was getting blown off the ball in the 2nd half and we had a hard time making the first tackle on Allen.
2) Our special teams is worse than last year. Gibbons is dreadful as a kicker. Hagerup had a very bad day. Stonum has to learn when/not to return the ball. And every time we return a punt I have a nightmare that it's going to bounce off someone and just scream out "KEEP AWAY"
3) We make too many stupid penalties. Grady, please go back to basketball. The late hit on the kick off gave them a short(er) field. The last one on Floyd. Come on guys, play smart.
4) It's been 3 years and that damn bubble screen still doesn't work. I know they want to stretch the field, but that play always seems to be half an inch from being a backward lateral/fumble every time.
5) We need a RB to step up because Denard can't keep getting better every week,can he?
6) R Rod has to show some balls and play to win these games and not to lose them(MSU last Year) Gibbons had no business trying that 2nd FG. The long pass on 3rd down to Roundtree(yes, he should have caught it) Play call like you're going to use all 4 downs and run the ball to get first downs and keep the clock moving.
7)If Denard played for ND, that would have been the greatest performance in the history of college football.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:10 AM ^
You took the words right out of my mouth - great synopsis of what still ails us. While some things are better, we still have a long way to go. While the game had tons of offense, ND had no experience at QB yet could easily have won.
When we play, OSU, Wiscy and Iowa, we may not be able to rely on Denard continuing to do what he has done these first two games.
Still, we are 2-0 and should be 4-0 before Big Ten competition starts. We will probably be ranked, but I have some questions about that.
Remember these last two weeks folks. What we have witnessed is a treat of the first order. Denard's humility impresses me almost as his actions on the field.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:24 AM ^
1. Michigan's D isn't pitiful. It's not great, but three big plays are probably on Cam Gordan. Get some of his angles and responsibilities better, and hopefully a bit more pressure on the QB, and I think Michigan has an average defense.
2. Yeah, special teams isn't as good as last year, but that's hard to compare to. Hangerup had a bad day, so did Gibbons. Both just really need confidence right now. The punt muff was really just unfortunate and will be corrected.
3. Yes to way too many penalties. Absolutely no to Grady going back to basketball. Support the team, holy hell. You are that quick to throw him completely under the bus? That's real weak. He's made some good plays for us already this year and made a few mistakes today, it happens, but don't rush him to the gallows yet.
4. The bubble screen probably averaged about 4-5 yards a play yesterday. That's a solid run play. It also set up a bunch of DRob's draw runs and keeps the defense honest. This offense needs the bubble. Also, saying that it doesn't work is nonsense. Texas has run it with great success, so have a bunch of other spread teams. The play works and is fundamental to a bunch of other plays in the offense. Just because it doesn't go for a touchdown a bunch of times doesn't mean it's a bad play.
5. Running back and O-line blocking particularly for RBs) need to get a bit better, I can agree with that.
6. Yeah, how to answer this one. I'm going to go ahead and say RR didn't play to not lose the game last year against MSU. I really don't see how that makes sense. I think he did slow down too much after Michigan went up 14 on Saturday, and I would have liked to see him go sometimes on 4th down, but that's not my call. Also, OMG HE GAVE HIS KICKER A SECOND CHANCE! Look, if in the second game he's already telling the kicker I won't trust you at all if you even miss one field goal, that kicker will never bounce back. You complain about him not going for it on 4th down, I'm assuming because you think it shows he lacks confidence in the offense, but if he completely dismisses his kicker for missing one in a game that kicker will never get confidence back. If any position in football is a mental game with yourself it is kicker. Just because the kicker missed one doesn't mean you go completely away from it. I expect Gibbons to make some big kicks for us going forward, he just needs some confidence back. Showing no confidence could be the worst thing for this team. The times RR should/could have gone for it on 4th were the ones on ND side of the field that were out of field goal range.
7. Maybe, but don't act like he isn't already getting a ton of love because he also plays for Michigan. The national media is all up on the Michigan bandwagon right now, and if there is a team that gets hype really quickly out there that isn't ND, there's a good chance it's Michigan
September 12th, 2010 at 6:35 PM ^
You HAVE to give the kicker a second chance. That's the only way to know if he can buckle down, get past the first miss, and nail the FG. The second try tells the coach more than the first, I think.
Now, if he had gone to Gibbons a third time at the end of the game I would agree with you. I think the second kick really told RR what he needed to know: Gibbons is a freshman and needs development time.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^
Two things i noticed, our offense can move the ball with ease as long as we dont get stupid holding and crackback block penalties and two, I defense was solid against the run and for the most part decent against the pass when they didnt take bad angles which accounted for the 3 big pass plays. We had 3 ints, one on each quarterback! The secondary will learn from this game, and its nice to see that we are no longer just totally outmatched in the secondary just inexperienced!
September 12th, 2010 at 10:26 AM ^
victory regardless. At ND and with all the adversity, less than a perfect game, and M still found a way to pull it out. I'd say great progress, though the real test will start with the Big Ten season. Can't wait to see what unfolds...
September 12th, 2010 at 10:32 AM ^
Denard Robinson's amazing displays have shoved all talk about RR's hot seat and the NCAA investigation out the window, and we are looking at a probable 4-0 start (I don't like adding Indiana into that figure after last year's game).
Oh, I wish that talk had gone away. It was a constant - "embattled coach Rich Rodriguez" yesterday from Hammond - which while true - has been played. This will not go away with success either. The new meme will be that RR is overusing DR to save his job and that his team is no good and he has one good player who is saving him. No credit will ever be given to Rodriguez for his successes (last week it was Calvin McGee who coached the team to a win over UConn). There will always be someone else who deserves the wins, but no one else who deserves the losses.
It will take a lot more than a 2-0 start for those critics to go away quietly. For some reason, it will take victories that Robinson is not the dominant player. Tressel never got an asterisk for Troy Smith, but it seems RR will not get credit for being the only coach to give DR a shot at QB and for developing him in a short time from a fast guy to a qb.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:33 AM ^
This season our defense no longer looks incompetent, it merely looks young and inexperienced.
Agreed. They aren't always making the play, but it seems like more often than last year, guys are at least close to being in the right position. The yards against numbers are still pretty ugly, but there does seem to be a lot of improvement over last year -- and they've been able to limit the point totals and come up with key turnovers, both of which were lacking last year.
September 12th, 2010 at 1:13 PM ^
It's amazing what having two years under the same defensive cooridinator has done for their organization. They get beat due to a lack of athletes and experience at some positions, but are looking far more competant. The improved linebacker play (especially Mouton) might be doing more then I expected to paper over our secondarys cracks. And hey, put down enough paper and the cracks disapear.
September 12th, 2010 at 1:22 PM ^
I was fortunate enough to be at the game and one of the things that struck me throughout the warm-ups and game was how much Tate seemed like a team player. As the players were walking off the field after warming up, Tate was walking with his arm around Denard. Then throughout the game he was all over the sideline looking like he was always trying to pump up the team. Whenever a player went down he also was over there trying to help out.
It was really great seeing him consistently being a team player (even after Devin went in).
September 12th, 2010 at 10:19 PM ^
Looking at some of the comments on this blog you would have thought we got blown out yesterday. Relax, let the coaches teach, and let the players continue to learn. Enjoy this win, it was an amazing, historic win where are quarterback went over 500 total yards.
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