The 2 point conversion play call will bother me for eternity
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2013/11/29782/michigan-notebook-buckeyes-…
OSU knew exactly what was coming on the 2 point conversion. I'll forever love the fact that Hoke went for two, but if it was Borges' call for the 2 point conversion he should be fired (I think he should still be, one game does not save your job). I'll probably be thinking about what would've happened if Devin had rolled out for the rest of the week non stop. And I know I'll never fully get over it. Shit.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:05 PM ^
I can promise you OSU did not know exactly what was coming.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:21 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 5:26 PM ^
Because you can run more than one play out of a single formation. Sure, the bunch obviously revealed some information, but there's no reason to think they knew the exact playcall, especially after how lost their D was the entire game.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:06 PM ^
Is this really thread worthy? Multiple open threads already discussing this.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:30 PM ^
no upside to continue the thread
December 1st, 2013 at 8:13 PM ^
we're running out of football games to critique. Can't we commiserate?
December 1st, 2013 at 3:07 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 4:00 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 3:07 PM ^
OSU gave up 600 yards of offense but knew exactly what was coming.
OK
December 1st, 2013 at 3:10 PM ^
Money
December 1st, 2013 at 3:18 PM ^
It wasn't the whole game, just that one play.
That's unacceptable and it has me re-evaluating my desire to keep Borges based on our competitive performance in the game.
December 1st, 2013 at 4:23 PM ^
It's been said below but bears repeating. If they knew the play, had it dead to rights, the magic bullet, why was Gallon going to come wide open in another half second? It's complete bullshit.
December 1st, 2013 at 5:35 PM ^
Watch the play. Gallon is breaking open - there's nothing hypothetical about it.
They may have guessed correctly that Dileo would get the ball, but he was one of three options on that play. Devin rushed it - he just needed to wait a half-second longer and he had Gallon open.
December 1st, 2013 at 8:22 PM ^
is that the guy defending him saw Devin make his throw to Dileo. Same with the guy who made the actual interception. The play didn't have a chance; neither Jeremy or Devin F. were ready to receive the ball when it was already INTERCEPTED.
December 2nd, 2013 at 10:38 AM ^
Correct. It appeared that way to me as well.
December 1st, 2013 at 8:17 PM ^
the whole time the play evolved; heck, his defender ran into him getting back to Dileo when Devin threw the ball.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:14 PM ^
IKR, I call bullshit on that, too.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:16 PM ^
Their coaches prepped them exactly on the two point conversion play that was coming, then it did.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:19 PM ^
Did they know exactly what play or did they have it narrowed down to two? You're changing your own argument here.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:20 PM ^
Out of all we run, I'd say that's surprisingly specific. And it would be simple to look for only two outcomes. I'd like to know how they knew.
December 1st, 2013 at 4:13 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 9:25 PM ^
UM lined up in that some formation before OSU called timeout. I'm guessing UM had probably run that play at some point during the year so OSU saw it on film.
That's what bugged me about the play call - UM came out in the same formation after OSU called a TO.
December 1st, 2013 at 6:31 PM ^
when Dileo motioned and had no one following him because Ohio State already had 3 DBs in that area of the field.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:07 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 3:09 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 3:19 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 3:21 PM ^
Never try to understand Al Borges. You will go insane. You will find yourself spiraling down into darkness where not even kittens can save you.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:08 PM ^
I know it's silly, but I just can't let it go. We were just so close. Literally any other play would've been better. Delayed Devin run or something. Sighhh what could've been. Side note: This is the first year in a long time that I haven't heard any trash talk after that game. I think Ohio fans are still kind of shellshocked that they were 2 yards away from doom and disaster.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:12 PM ^
and $hitty coaching for the most part of the year.
many get blinded by one game, but we did fionish the seaosn with 5 losses - for the 2nd season in a row
We are 2-12 vs Ohio St over the past 14 years
Something needs to change - we need an overhaul on the staff
December 1st, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 3:45 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 3:22 PM ^
I think many Ohio State fans, including myself were very impressed with the heart and tenacity with which Michigan played. I do think the better team won, but Michigan played a game that was worthy of the storied rivalry. There's little shit-talking today because of repsect for what Buckeye fans saw from Michigan out on the field.
As for the decision to go for two, I think that it was a good one since not having a reliable PK in OT could have been a big handicap. Normally, if it was a home game, I think the decision would have been a poor one. I can't comment too much on the playcall itself.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:08 PM ^
When Hoke held up the 2...I was completely expecting (or hoping for, not sure which) the same play they scored the TD on...put Funchess alone, make them double him if they choose...and either toss one up to him or roll the other way
December 1st, 2013 at 3:09 PM ^
That they knew what two plays it could be and we did one of those exact plays. Can't believe we could be so predictable. Shouldn't we be able to do any number of plays than have two scripted two point conversions plays prepared? And how are they so transparent (used before? predictable?) that OSU's coaches know them by heart?
December 1st, 2013 at 3:09 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 3:12 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 3:13 PM ^
Biggest play of the year and that's what they come up with? A play that had limited options and didn't create any mismatches or try to get the defense out of position. It was just lazy.
December 1st, 2013 at 4:28 PM ^
I concur with this assessment. If you go for two, in the biggest game of the year, you better be somewhat unpredictable.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:13 PM ^
He is well worth the $$
December 1st, 2013 at 3:13 PM ^
Just remember, you are not alone... Doing my best to try to get over it, but fate has been so cruel to Michigan for so long now...
December 1st, 2013 at 4:52 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 5:35 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 3:14 PM ^
Why did so many people want to see Gardner trying to run on one leg? It makes as much sense to me as wanting to have Denard throw with a rubber arm his last few games.
I know he was sort of able to run earlier, gingerly, in space when OSU defenders had turned their backs in coverage. That wasn't likely to happen at the goal line.
Some sort of up-the-middle run like we'd just seen earlier behind Kerridge, ok, but then everyone would have complained that Borges kept running the same play. But an option or rollout with a limping quarterback?
December 1st, 2013 at 3:59 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 6:52 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 11:09 PM ^
If they could have used his legs, I'm assuming they would have (certainly hope that's the case, at least). If Gardner was unable to do it after the gladiator show he put on Saturday, that's unfortunate, but what else can you ask the guy to do?
December 1st, 2013 at 3:15 PM ^
Players say that all the time. It doesn't mean much. Even if they knew what was coming, Gallon was breaking open on the fade route and there was also a hole for Gardner to run, if he wanted. For that matter, the throw to Dileo could have worked if it had gone to his outside shoulder.
The main problem on the play was that Kalis let his guy get through to pressure Gardner. That forced Gardner to make a quicker throw than he wanted to, and it was too far to the inside of Dileo.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:18 PM ^
The other problem was that Gallon got rerouted by the corner and was closer to Dileo than he should have been, as was his defender. That's probably what caused the throw to the inside, or at least that's what I saw at the time. I'll have to watch it again.
I didn't see anything particularly wrong with the call, but I wouldn't have expected anyone to like it no matter what it was.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:37 PM ^
Yeah, realistically, I would have loved the call if it had worked and hate the call now that it didn't. (I loved Hoke's call to go for two.) I haven't watched it closely since seeing it live, but my biggest gripe at the time was the lack of spacing. Then again, that spacing might have come if the line had held up for another second or two.
The bottom line is that crappy call or not, the offense did more than enough to win yesterday. I'm more tempted to crap on the defense than the offense. Even there, OSU's offense is damn good and we were missing a bunch of guys up the middle who really could have helped (Pipkins, Ross, Wilson).
Plus, I haven't seen much discussion of this, but I would NOT have felt comfortable with a one-point lead and 30 seconds left. In that situation, I think there's at least a 25-30% chance that OSU drives for the win. Even a 75-yard TD pass wouldn't have surprised me.
December 1st, 2013 at 4:02 PM ^
I can't say I'd have felt comfortable, but Miller didn't have a great day throwing the ball, especially in obvious passing situations. With 30 seconds left, play-action wasn't going to fool anyone. I think we'd have held on.