so much for that
Yow!
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A reader forwarded me a link to footballcommentary.com, which, in the parlance of our times, is "the bomb," if you're a huge numbers dork like me. I haven't had time to go over it extensively but it certainly looks like the sort of thing someone should soothingly recite to Lloyd Carr as he peacefully slumbers.
In fact, I'm linking this bad boy on the left.
Monday Morning Um... First Line Center?
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So, right. Frigging hockey. A critical series against MSU and Michigan blows a 2-0 lead by giving up goals with 2:30 and ONE SECOND left to tie 2-2 Friday, and then lets in a goal with 3:18 left to tie 1-1 at the Joe on Saturday.
What to take from these games? Well... I think it's just bad luck. Total shots on the weekend: Michigan 85, MSU 49. Michigan dominated both games from start to finish. Vicari played out of his mind, and State got very lucky with a lot of pucks. One horrible turnover led to Brandon Graham's goal on Friday. The other two were just pucks that got away. I'm disappointed that Michigan couldn't turn their dominance into four points, but I will take this weekend in a second over their on-again, off-again performances against NMU and OSU. Michigan came to play this weekend and if they keep up a similar effort the rest of the way, they will win the CCHA crown.
Will they do that? Couldn't tell you. Michigan is still suffering from the Ortmeyer hangover. There's no one who can pick up the team when it needs picking up. Effort comes and goes. It's just the way of things. The good news is that, when motivated, Michigan can play like they did this weekend. And they will be motivated for the playoffs. The bad news is, well, sometimes hockey's funny and throws up results like we got against State. Or the BC game last year that we had no business being in.
As to individual players: Dest is playing much, much better. I haven't screamed at him in several games and have even found myself offering grudging respect. The next step is wanting him on the ice, and then a disturbing amount of knowledge about the young man. Tambellini has started performing like he can. I couldn't even follow his goal on Friday. It left his stick and my head was only halfway to the net when the light went on. He's driving people wide again and getting an absolute ton of shots.
Montoya played better. I can't fault him for either tying goal and the Graham shot that beat him was an excellent shot that was unexpected, coming right off of Woodford's stick. Speaking of Woodford, how many glaring errors does he have to have before Red removes his trust in him? There are two and half minutes left in a game you lead 2-0. Just dump it up the boards! Don Cherry is livid! You threw it up your own middle, you... curse you, mgoblog policy against swearing! Foiled again!
Michigan must come out and play the way they did this weekend against a much-improved UNO team. They must sweep. Three split weekends in a row has narrowed the CCHA lead from five points to one. It's time to get serious, now. Or I will... not swear at you.
Argh.
"Well, we were trying to hurry up."
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Folks, mgoblog has a policy against swearing. For the children. But if it did not, I would call out Andy Reid for the most shameless display of bull... uh... stuff I've seen from a flagrantly dumb coach in a long, long time.
This is what Reid said when questioned about this clock management after the game: "Well, we we're trying to hurry up. It was the way things worked out."
WHAT? WHAT? You should get the old Bobby Williams "I can't believe our head coach could ever say something that dumb" heave-ho for that one. You got the ball back with 5:40 do go and managed to score... on a 13 play drive! McNabb was dumping it off to friggin' fullbacks and then going back in the huddle down ten points. Absolutely flagrant clock management, and in the Super Bowl of all places.
It just goes to show you that smart beats dumb even if dumb has an edge in athleticism and talent. Witness Brady vs. McNabb. Not that McNabb is particularly dumb, but a Brady mistake is rarer than a Spartan Rose Bowl. And witness Belichick vs. well, Anyone. Compare and contrast Belichick's team engineering two Super Bowl-winning drives against the abomination foisted upon us by Reid and the Eagles.
If you had to take one play that represented this year's Super Bowl, it's the Eagles with first and ten and about 45 seconds on the clock. McNabb drops back, escapes from a defender, can't find anyone to throw it to, and dumps it off to some big gumpy white dude about two yards past the line of scrimmage. He catches it. He gains three yards. Game over. Dumb, dumb, dumb. McNabb needed to throw it 20 yards downfield and pray. No matter how good the coverage was.
Aaanyway. I think our basketball team is also dumb. But more on that later if I decide I hate myself.
Wells to OSU
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2006 OH RB Chris Wells has committed to OSU. Mom and the prospect of battling Hart and Grady apparently made the decision easy for Wells.
I'll talk hockey Monday, by the way.
Great Blue North Draft Report's big board
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Linked here, has Edwards at 4, Jackson at 16, Shazor at 32, and Baas at 38.
Also, the Dumbest Junior Award goes to Domonique Morris of Vandy, ranked #234. Nugent clocks in at #45, a solid second rounder, if you're interested.
Totally weird thread
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There's a three page thread about Michigan QBs on the PSU scout.com site. No, I don't know why. There's one guy claiming that he's cut up a ton of tape for SD-based quarterbacks; he says that Forcier is obviously better than Gutz or Richard. Take that with a grain of salt, methinks.
Also, MarshCreek does his usual Michigan bashing, and quotes an Ohio newspaper article concerning the recruitment of Ohio Jr. QB Mike Hartline wherein Hartline says that Loeffler told him Gutz may not return from a shoulder injury and Richard may transfer. Sounds like "maybe" means "these things could happen but they're unlikely". Not like Hartline really has to be concerned with Gutz anyway, since he'll be a fifth-year senior when Hartline is a true freshman. FYI, I wouldn't get your hopes up on Hartline. His brother just signed a LOI with OSU on Wednesday. We'll probably end up looking elsewhere for our QB.
Tyler Swystun linkfest
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Won a silver with team Pacific at the World U17 Hockey Challenge: 6 G, 3 A in 6 games.
#6 overall in last year's WHL Draft
"Swystun was a potential first-overall selection who was available at the sixth spot because of those[NCAA] rumours"
Uh... "Sweat keeps Alberta on top"
Likes Counter-Strike. Seriously! Clan name: -L33T-Quicksilver. I $#*& you not.
A "Mike Peca type" says the always-excitable hockeyscouting.ca.
Swystun to Michigan
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Says this USCHO post, citing USHR.com, which, if you don't know, covers amateur hockey all across the country and is generally extremely accurate. Think rivals.com for college hockey. tbarr confirms on The Wolverine.
What exact class Swystun is in depends on Phil Kessel. If Kessel becomes a Real American Hero, Swystun will be an '06 recruit. If Kessel decides he likes -40 degree weather, horrible football, and/or cheese, Swystun will be an '05 recruit.
Signing day 2006... 364 days away.
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Rivals has a junior All-American team up that includes a number of guys Michigan will be recruiting: OH RB Chris Wells, MI LB Brandon Graham, PA S Myron Rolle and KY DE Micah Johnson, plus more we haven't heard about probably.
One kid on the list, PA DB John Maddux, attends Slocum's school so he probably has heard quite a bit about UM already.
State also not at full strength
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Apparently State all gots the flu. That can't hurt, but given the way things have been going lately about six Wolverines will come down with it.
