2016 Colorado
Buffaloes just beat the Ducks 41-38 in Eugene.
Stats and Notes:
– In the 1st half: Colorado's back-up freshman QB Steven Montez was 17/20 for 217 yards with 2 TDs while the run game had 134 yards. That's 351 yards in one half of football.
– Colorado amassed 600+ yards of offense in the game. (Buffs took knees which lowered the stats.)
– Go check out Bryce Bobo's twisting catch for the go-ahead score. He made an incredible one-handed catch on a back-shoulder throw. It was initially ruled an incompletion but correctly overturned into a TD after review. (He caught and possessed the ball with one hand.)
– Colorado intercepted Oregon QB Dakota Prukop in the endzone to seal the game. Ducks were in the redzone so this was an especially costly mistake because Oregon could have tied it up with a FG to force overtime.
September 25th, 2016 at 1:15 AM ^
When Liufao exited the game immediately after the long TD bomb, Colorado was leading 28-24.
So through the first 31 minutes of the game, Colorado was our equal despite us having home field.
Judging by the downvotes, it bothers other Michigan fans that I called Colorado our equal through 31 minutes of action despite the *undeniable fact* they were our equal on the scoreboard and in yards. I would like to read a fact/stat based rebuttal to my stance.
September 25th, 2016 at 1:37 AM ^
They were equal in score and in total offense. Michigan's yardage total was deceptively low because of the play of the special teams, which provided the offense with multiple short fields. Michigan's huge advantage in field position doesn't show up in the traditional stats, which is one of the reasons that people have started to use advanced stats in the first place.
Besides that, Michigan's defense was well-described (on the podcast and elsewhere) as "break but don't bend." They gave up a small number of big plays and absolutely nothing else. Colorado's one sustained drive was kept alive by an inconsequential (to the result of the play), but correct, offsides call against Mike McCray; if he stays onside, Colorado scores 7 fewer points. If Khalid Hill picks up the blitz, or if Speight starts his arm forward a half-second earlier, that's 7 fewer points for Colorado as well. Luifau's final pass was a 70-yard strike, most of it in the air, from a hobbled player who threw off of one foot. When something like that happens, you tip your cap and move on.
The only way Michigan loses that game is if they beat themselves -- e.g., by throwing a pick-six, as Speight almost did. Colorado's offense was not going to be able to keep up with Michigan, despite it being an off-day for the Michigan offense. (An off-day during which they put up 31 points despite having two special teams touchdowns, limiting the number of opportunities).
You are looking at the results and proclaiming the teams equal. The people who are downvoting you are looking at the process and proclaiming Michigan to be a superior team, because they understand that sometimes weird things happen.
September 25th, 2016 at 1:47 AM ^
"You are looking at the results and proclaiming the teams equal. The people who are downvoting you are looking at the process and proclaiming Michigan to be a superior team, because they understand that sometimes weird things happen."
I'm currently working as data analyst. My job involves looking at the process and the results. Numbers can describe both but the eye test also plays a part...
If you had skimmed further down the thread, you would've encoutered the following points:
1. I'm an analytics guy by trade. And the numbers told me that Liufao was converting on explosive plays. When he exited the game, Colorado could no longer throw downfield. This helped us tee off on an inexpereinced QB.
2. My stance: Liufao might have made the game more interesting if he doesn't get hurt. We'll never know. But the notion that we "dominated" Colorado needs to be contextualized becasue of the injury. Colorado dominated the 1st quarter while we dominated the 2nd quarter. And Liufao played valiantly and gave his team the lead before he exited the game with his injury.
3. Once again, here's my stance: Saying that we "dominated" Colorado isn't false but it needs to be contextualized because of the injury.
September 25th, 2016 at 2:12 AM ^
part of being an "equal" team is protecting your quarterback from getting ground into a little pile of buffalo roadkill by the opposing defense. There were also clearly adjustments made by the Michigan D with Liufao in the second quarter and assuming he would have continued his success is silly.
September 25th, 2016 at 2:59 AM ^
"part of being an "equal" team is protecting your quarterback from getting ground into a little pile of buffalo roadkill by the opposing defense"
You mean like when Speight got leveled?
Or when our coaches went to a screen game to get the ball out of our QB's hands quickly because Colorado's experineced DL was peridocially getting pressure on Wilton Speight?
"...and assuming he would have continued his success is silly."
Yeah, it's completely inconvceviable Liufao might have thrown a 4th or even 5th TD if he doesn't get injured.
The 2nd quarter adjustments sure helped stop the 70 yard bomb in the 3rd quarter...
*I can't help but roll my eyes in disbelief at what I'm reading...*
People keep using the the 2nd quarter as proof but then dismissing the 1st. Who's to say it wouldn't have been a see-saw battle if he doesn't get injured?
At least I'm conceding that we can't be sure but no one seems to be wiling to meet me half-way...
September 25th, 2016 at 6:40 AM ^
September 25th, 2016 at 6:57 AM ^
It is not an undeniable fact. We spotted them a 14 point lead. They made exactly one play after the missed field goal and that was a perfectly thrown hope and prayer ball on a blown assignment when the Dline was about to bury him.
Using the score after that bomb as proof that they were our equal with Liafau in the game completely ignores the previous 5 possessions they went three and out, the fact we had just scored 17 straight on them prior to the bomb and that on the next possession we went right down the field to retake the lead.
September 25th, 2016 at 6:57 AM ^
It is not an undeniable fact. We spotted them a 14 point lead. They made exactly one play after the missed field goal and that was a perfectly thrown hope and prayer ball on a blown assignment when the Dline was about to bury him.
Using the score after that bomb as proof that they were our equal with Liafau in the game completely ignores the previous 5 possessions they went three and out, the fact we had just scored 17 straight on them prior to the bomb and that on the next possession we went right down the field to retake the lead.
September 24th, 2016 at 9:48 PM ^
September 24th, 2016 at 11:04 PM ^
Hmmm...well let's see.
1. He didn't turn the ball over.
2. He completed a pass to a WR for a 1st down. But his WR dropped it. I think Colorado's punter shanked it on the next play iirc.
3. He gave his team the lead through 31 minutes of game action.
And given that Liufao is Colorado's all-time leading passer *and* kept his team in the game even on one leg, I think we should at least tip our hat and respect him rather than try to diminish him. I think Harbaugh would approve of my stance...
September 24th, 2016 at 11:15 PM ^
September 24th, 2016 at 11:53 PM ^
Don't behave like a Sparty fan.
The slot WR got a free release, went untouched for 30 yards, beat our safety with a burst of acceleration, and housed it.
"Lucky" or not it happened. Did you consider his 1st and 2nd TD throws "lucky." Because I can tell you Harbaugh certainly didn't consider it "lucky" since Liufao is the most accomplished QB in Colorado's history.
I'm always amazed at how fans try to diminish the positive things opponents achieve on us..."as if somehow
September 25th, 2016 at 12:15 AM ^
September 25th, 2016 at 12:25 AM ^
Do you want me to quote what Harbaugh said in his post-game presser about that "lucky" 70 yard TD bomb?
Harbaugh certainly didn't use "lucky" to describe it. But feel free to (mis)characterize things becasue of blue-tinted shades.
Apparently, it's hard for some of our fans to admit we just got beat (a third time!) on a pass play.
Moving on...
I was also confident Michigan would win this game. Some of my friends started panicking during the 1st quarter but I was patient. When we retook the lead before halftime, I knew we would win this game. Even when Colorado connected on the 70 yard pass, I knew we had enough fortitude to retake the lead and keep it.
But I also recognize fans can be stupid and fit things to their perspectie.
I'm an analytics guy by trade. And the numbers told me that Liufao was converting on explosive plays. When he exited the game, Colorado could no longer throw downfield. This helped us tee off on an inexpereinced QB.
September 25th, 2016 at 12:36 AM ^
September 25th, 2016 at 3:00 AM ^
Reminder: you called it "lucky." Not me.
And Harbaugh is surprisingly genuine/authentic in regards to giving praise to opponents. He's not a robot. It was a perfectly well-thrown long ball which is even more impressive given Liufao did it from one leg.
But I'm not surprised fans are having trouble admitting we got beat for a 3rd time on a pass play.
Moreover, fans don't want to admit Colorado's offense completely became a shell of itself when Liufao went out of the game. Yes, we struggled to get pressure on Liufao in the 1st quarter but succeeded in the 2nd quarter. (Albeit, it helped that Colorado missed a FG and dropped an easy completion on a 1st down.)
My stance: Liufao might have made the game more interesting if he doesn't get hurt. We'll never know. But the notion that we "dominated" Colorado needs to be contextualized becasue of the injury. Colorado dominated the 1st quarter while we dominated the 2nd quarter. And Liufao played valiantly and gave his team the lead before he exited the game with his injury.
September 25th, 2016 at 12:52 AM ^
And anyway, the guy that replaced him just beat Oregon.
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September 25th, 2016 at 1:48 AM ^
Probably not right?
"And you act it was 'luck'..."
Uh, no. I'm not acting like anything. That's your misinterpretation of my stance. I'm only responsible for what I type and not what you misunderstand.
We got to Liufao 23 times and finally knocked him out of the game which is a credit to our defense. But what if he doesn't get injured? It might continue to be a see-saw game well into the 4th quarter. We don't know and won't ever know...
Yes, Michigan roared back in the 2nd quarter. But guess what? Colorado recaptured momentum with the 70 yard TD pass to take the lead. We took it back when we answered...
Once again, here's my stance: Saying that we "dominated" Colorado isn't false but it needs to be contextualized because of the injury.
September 25th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^
September 24th, 2016 at 10:02 PM ^
September 24th, 2016 at 11:54 PM ^
This is an embarrasing post from you. Your post is the equivlaent of Jay Bilas creating a graphic for Harrion Barnes which asked "what if Barnes made one more FG per game." If you don't know what I'm talking about, then google it. Jay Bilas caught a lot of grief on twitter from fans and rightly so.
You don't know Lewis intercepts Liufao twice.
You don't know Taco sacks Liufao.
What we do know is that Liufao played well against our vaunted secondary through the first 31 minutes of game action.
September 25th, 2016 at 5:51 AM ^
September 25th, 2016 at 6:23 AM ^
So say Team A and Team B have the roughly the same number of points and same number of yards at a certain point in time during the game.
A reasonable person can't say the the two teams have played each other evenly up to that aforementioned certain point in time?
Seriously, stop being blind.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:46 AM ^
September 25th, 2016 at 11:10 AM ^
Frank, just posting to say that you're right about Colorado being our equal through 31 minutes with Liufau in there, and that we don't know what would have happened after that (or before that with 3 of our starting D in there).
If Liufau had been healthy, Colorado probably would have put up 60 against Oregon yesterday.
Also, your attitude, though kinda-sorta understandable, wasn't helping you convince anyone.
September 24th, 2016 at 10:32 PM ^
September 24th, 2016 at 11:47 PM ^
September 25th, 2016 at 12:54 AM ^
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September 25th, 2016 at 1:09 AM ^
Now I know (1) you're disingenous and (2) should be ignored in serious discussions. Thank you for revealing yourself. You're also welcome to ignore me.
September 24th, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^
Oregon is not who they have been recently but they do at least still have a pulse so i think this still beefs up Michigan's resume at least a little.
September 24th, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^
Damn, Oregon intercepted their own QB? How does that work?
September 24th, 2016 at 9:18 PM ^
Fixed.
September 24th, 2016 at 10:36 PM ^
September 24th, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^
screw people complaining about our non-conference schedule
September 24th, 2016 at 9:24 PM ^
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September 24th, 2016 at 9:47 PM ^
UCF has a ton of talent at their disposal in Florida...many recruits don't want to leave home, and they clean up... They are NOT Purdue.
September 24th, 2016 at 10:17 PM ^
I agree that they are not Purdue in the grand scheme of things, however, they are Purdue if you're looking at the type of team they are this year. I think a Purdue vs UCF game would be fairly close.
September 24th, 2016 at 11:13 PM ^
September 25th, 2016 at 10:47 AM ^
September 25th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
September 25th, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^
September 24th, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^
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September 24th, 2016 at 9:31 PM ^
They are adding real feathers to the uniforms.
September 25th, 2016 at 12:33 PM ^
but somewhere a Nike intern is already working on the concept. The players will also wear orange flippers to look even more like ducks
September 24th, 2016 at 9:49 PM ^
an entire team of mascots. Ridiculous.
September 24th, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^
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September 24th, 2016 at 9:54 PM ^
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September 24th, 2016 at 9:16 PM ^
As I said in the other thread, which will probably be deleted in five minutes, the Brady Hoke-as-coordinator experiment has been all but exposed as a total fraud. Nice guy, wrong job. Again. Can't help but feel bad for the guy, but it seems he can't help but get in over his head.