Al Borges Appreciation?

Submitted by Decatur Jack on

248 yards rushing

503 yards passing

751 yards of total offense

Devin Gardner breaks record for passing yards in one game (also, throws No INTs)

Jeremy Gallon breaks record for receiving yards in one game (yes, that was Braylon's record previously)

Fitz Toussaint had four rushing touchdowns

63 points

THIS OFFENSE BORES ME

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Al Borges is a mad magician
Fire Borges

somewittyname

October 19th, 2013 at 8:32 PM ^

Come on man. You're telling me the playcalling was the same? Just look at the first two drives, including the first three and out. FWIW I don't necessarily blame Borges for PSU gameplan, I still think Hoke may force his hands at time.

Joined: 05/15/2009

MGoPoints: -2510

Danwillhor

October 19th, 2013 at 9:35 PM ^

Borges (and Hoke not asking him wtf) lost the psu game. The gameplan today was polar opposite than last week and it had to be as Indiana was going to score. Period. I give All a but if credit for opening it up, forced or not. He still tipped run on every unsigned formation, etc. Yet, when boxes were attacked, he........omg......the the ball Shabbat stubble coverage! whaaaaaaaaa?!? This week he called plays to win and not to lose. Players also played better as they looked more comfortable/happy. Al isn't off the hook.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

Profwoot

October 19th, 2013 at 8:18 PM ^

That's obviously part of it, but it's not the whole story at all. There weren't half as many powers and isos, and even so, those calls (even though they mostly didn't work again) are a lot more understandable since IU wasn't stacking the box.

I understand the phenomenon of fans basing their opinions of playcalling on whether it worked or not, but that's not what's going on here. Borges called this game much differently, and did so largely in accord with what the fanbase has been screaming for.

Joined: 10/12/2010

MGoPoints: 155

Cope

October 19th, 2013 at 8:30 PM ^

gone a lot differently had they been stacking the box from the beginning. I thought it was a big mistake when I first saw it. Still, Borges, Devin, Fitz, and Co did a great job. I thought this was the perfect answer to the criticisms of this week. I also noticed they kept playing for the score with 2 and change left. I personally thought they were making a statement to their detractors. And, it has to be noted- Devin is improving as a quarterback. May it bring peace again to the boards. At least until the "Are our problems really Mattison's fault?" posts.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 2648

Muttley

October 19th, 2013 at 9:12 PM ^

If we had run and come up short, Indiana would have taken its final time out and got the ball back needing a TD and a FG (in either order) made  possible by an onsides kick recovery.  Not much different than had we thrown an incompletion. 

The first down, there, however, gives Mich at least four pre-snap downs with Indiana only able to stop the clock once.  Almost a kneel down, as we could have taken a good 2:00 off the clock on the three non-timeout plays. Nice to see Borges go for the high payoff / moderate-to-low risk play.

My only quibble with the Hoke 4th qtr strategy was not trying an unexpected onsides kick after the Indiana DB took a personal foul for drilling Gardner three yards into the endzone.  (w/ 13:40 left to go.) Wile booming the ball into the endzone brings it out to the 25.  A failed onsides kick would likely end up somewhere between the 35 and 40.  Isn't it worth 15 yards of field position for a good chance at a turnover?  (IU drove the length of the field for a TD anyway.)

Joined: 07/07/2009

MGoPoints: -73245

umchicago

October 20th, 2013 at 7:46 PM ^

You said "the game plan was basically the same". Seriously?!?!? 1. Out of I form this week it was probably 50/50 run/pass. Last week it was probably 80/20. 2. Last week it was probably 80/20 runs out of iform vs shot gun/spread. 3. The % of first down passes was much higher this week. The pass set up the run this week. So if those 2 game plans were similar I don't know what you were smoking.

Joined: 02/05/2009

MGoPoints: 33622

splitbackhacienda

October 19th, 2013 at 9:33 PM ^

Hey, Does Hoke's Home vs Away win/loss record have anything to do with his gameday traditions, specifically the no eating during the day one? I could see it not affecting as much in the home games because he already has a set internal schedule. But when he's away his schedule might be different.

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 49

pokoranger

October 19th, 2013 at 8:04 PM ^

Thank god for the offense today.  Glad to see the offensive talent utilized effectively.

That said, I prefer to reserve my opinion until I see the MSU game.  I had my optimism crushed in the OSU game last year, after the sweet play calling against IOWA in the previous week.

Joined: 11/24/2012

MGoPoints: 776

Wolverine Devotee

October 19th, 2013 at 8:05 PM ^

Maybe Michigan got all these yards because they played a team with a defense that that little girl football player Sam Gordon could shred?

Do it again in two weeks. 

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528