Amateur Overanalysis: 5 critical plays not on Borges

I appreciate the write up, and I can't argue with the points you made, but those mistakes were rather small compared to the numerous ones in the scheme in the second half, giving those kids very little chance of success. Running a well planned, effective offense, then simplifying it drastically and attacking the defenses greatest strengths with our offenses biggest weakness repeatedly for two full quarters is a bit of an elephant in the room. Switching to that scheme at all was infuratingly stupid, especially since the team has proved that plans ineffectiveness repeatedly this year, but doing so after another scheme worked so well, then sticking with it for the rest of the game was just, I don't know, wrong? 

Well put.

Play, the second: I don't understand why M didn't simply punt here.  There was no reason to go for it at that stage in the game on our side of the 50.  I think this was the single biggest mistake of the game. 

Lots of 10 man football out there.  I noticed it as well.  Borges doesn't call interceptions / fumbles / blown assignments.  Although the counterargument goes, he needs to call runs that his players can execute, even if that only amounts to like 1 running play haha.

Excellent post OP.  

However, I disagree on the 4th down play.  I watched it over and over (sickeningly) on the game highlights at MGoVideo and Denard had already been engaged by a Buckeye defender.  Lewan does whiff his block completely, you are right, but it's unlikely that Denard would have gotten 3 more yards while being slowed by a defender allowing Buckeye help to get to him.

While this wasn't a straight up the middle play, it also wasn't attacking the edge which we did earlier extremely effectively.  

I'm still not sure why we don't just have Gardner rollout with a run-pass option.  That seems like our best play threatening the defense in multiple spots.

It seemed like there were several blown blocks on those short yardage plays.  Is our offensive line coach a problem?

In either case, in my opinion it's still on Borges for failing to recognize those things that our team does well and those things we do not do well.

Also, DAMNIT DEVIN, SCRAMBLE!!!!!!

Being in the stands there was a play in 4th quarter where devin scrambled and picked up a few yards but my biggest problem was tree was in the slot vs sabino and beat him on a vertical route bad with no saftey help. It was probably the biggest miss of the entire game from the passing aspect.

One key play that hasn't been discussed yet and pissed me off at the time was not kicking into the end zone after Denard's long TD run. Instead we squib kick it and OSU gets the ball at like the 40 with plenty of time left. We did pretty well to hold them to a 52 yd FG but 15 more yards is pretty significant in that situation.

Should we just ignore all of the critical failed plays that can absolutely be pinned on Borges?  In the last paragraph you say "not excusing Borges" so I know you aren't trying to ignore the elephant in the room.  It's just frustrating because it was such a winnable game and Mattison and Co. held in the second half.  Honestly, I think it's delusional to support Borges' choices in the second half.  

I would add the decision to squib kick it at the end of the first half to your list.  That is actually the point where the momentum began to turn for the worse.

EDIT: I just read that Goblue89 had the same suggestion a couple posts above.

#4 is the really frustrating one for me.  I hope that was a legit hold on Schofield because that really hurt right when it looked like we were starting to put a drive together.  As for #5, Gardner did do a great job to elude the rush and get the pass off, but yeah, the running lane was there.  He's got to remember on 1st down that he doesn't have to get it all on one play.  Of course, it's harder to remember when you've barely eluded a sack just before.  

Also the long pass play where Roundtree got the questionable offensive PI call was a pretty big momentum changer.

of the negative Nancies who have been clinging here for the last 24 hours, but. . . cooler heads than theirs were going to prevail anyway. If you fired every football coach whose head the "fans" call for after every loss, salaries would be more inflated than they already are.

After five, six years of coming here religiously, yesterday took some of the shine off in a way even the RR controversy hadn't. Somehow, even despite differences of opinion on that one, I felt like we all went through it TOGETHER. Yesterday we got. . . fart jokes. This is Michigan, goddamn*t. Act like a Spartoon somewhere else. 

On 2 you can add that Denard has admitted he made the wrong read and should have taken it outside. That play had lots of problems.

3 kills me because he should have been gone and looking at the final score, a TD instead of a fumble (obviously) makes a big difference.

I watched #5 on replay several times.  Gardner had running room, but that play had broken open.  Funchess had beaten Boren deep, the safety was only brought back into the play a bit by the throw.  It looked like Gardner wanted Funchess to switch to his right shoulder toward the middle of the field.  By the time the ball was in the air, it was too late and Funchess turned the wrong way (inside instead of outside). It wasn't a perfect throw, but it looked like the opportunity and mismatch we wanted was there.  On tv, you could see Funchess gesture that he had made the mistake.

does anyone with any reasonable football knowledge know the adjustments Ohio's defense made in the second half, or was it simply poor/predictable playcalling on our part???

I was talking 3 way on the phone with some friends, all watching the game, seeing play five unfold and hollering NO!  When he released it I was sure someone was open but I saw how much room that he had hoped that he would take the time to take a sure first down.  I think we might have thrown on all three downs that drive...