Army Snowflakes - Special Teams
September 7th, 2019 at 3:53 PM ^
I’ll bite: why does the punt returner let the ball bounce and lose 25 yards of field position on every other punt?
September 7th, 2019 at 4:02 PM ^
Agree. 30+ yards of lost field position. DPJ will Fair catch those. Bell is seemingly timid or at best over-thinks (including his east-west attempt one yard short of the fist down mark on his 3rd qtr reception). I feel that this team lacks the throat-cutting gene. Hopefully the bye week gives them 2 weeks to get pissed and nasty
September 7th, 2019 at 4:07 PM ^
If the ball isn't catchable without a long run to get to it, rather than muffing the catch it makes sense to let the ball bounce. The 64-yard punt was a good punt, away from the returner, then got a roll that made it an excellent punt. At least one of the other punts was not a good punt, and not easily catchable, but then got another Army roll. I would like to see the returner get over there downfield of a short punt ready to catch or fall on a ball before it rolls 10 or 20 additional yards, though. But with our current ball-security issues, I guess I'm okay with letting it roll.
September 7th, 2019 at 7:21 PM ^
No offense, but hard disagree on the 64 yarder.
I rewound it because I had to see why it dropped. Army punted from the right hashmark. The ball landed about 45 yards from the line of scrimmage between the other hashes and the numbers. It wasn't long. It wasn't that far out of the way. It was the exact distance you'd expect of an average punt. It had plenty of hang time. If Ronnie Bell can't run from the middle of the field to catch that ball, then somebody else needs to be back there.
Our returners should have their arm in the air waving 'fair catch' the moment the ball strikes the punter's foot. Run it down and catch it. Start with that. If you can't figure that much out, I don't need these guys attempting actual returns.
September 7th, 2019 at 7:44 PM ^
No offense taken, Reggie. Thank you for checking and correcting me. I never record these things--I have a hard enough time watching them once, let alone going through them again. Can't wait until DPJ is back, or someone else steps up, figuratively and literally, and stops surrendering excess yardage.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:23 PM ^
Plus, our #1 punt returner (DPJ) was out. A lot of dumb moves today, but caution on punt returns seems kind of prudent, especially with the way we were fumbling today.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:37 PM ^
Because he fumbles it if he touches it. We need DPJ Back soon.
September 7th, 2019 at 10:10 PM ^
Say what you will about Jabrill Peppers’ contributions to Michigan football, but I recall many times when he improved Michigan’s field position by racing upfield to a drop point where he could fair catch a ball five or more yards before it could hit the ground. That’s a skill that is not easy to replicate, but maybe the return of Donovan Peoples-Jones will help rectify the problem.
September 7th, 2019 at 3:53 PM ^
Thank God for heads up playing on the fake punt.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:29 PM ^
I've watched a million football games, and that's the first time I recall a team running a fake punt after taking a penalty.
Pretty ballsy call, well executed.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:53 PM ^
Imagine that, a player with poise throwing a catchable pass to a wide open receiver in the flat!!!
September 7th, 2019 at 6:40 PM ^
FWIW, Barrett threw him a pretty nice ball. Great having a guy who was a very accurate HS QB as the upback on special teams.
September 7th, 2019 at 7:22 PM ^
Then he had a 50-yard penalty not knowing the rules on kick return. Can't win 'em all, I guess.
September 7th, 2019 at 3:54 PM ^
Dax has a bright future here.
September 7th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
Army punter had shit punts that rolled to become amazing punts. I learned to dislike that guy.
September 7th, 2019 at 10:13 PM ^
Someday that Army punter might be making a decision that will help save the lives of many people. It's hard to dislike any members of service academy teams.
September 7th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
Love it when we win these noon games and I can relax and enjoy football for the rest of the day. Oh wait.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:03 PM ^
I hope the insane decision not to kick in the fourth quarter was simple arrogance and not based on a complete lack of confidence in the kicking game. The overtime kicks were successful, but hardly down the middle.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:21 PM ^
I thought that was moronic also.
You're tied 2-2 in the 8th inning and (ok the analogy isn't great from here on) and you decide to play for the big inning instead of just taking the lead with relative surety, against an opponent with a non-explosive offense.
I would say that's playing the game on Army's terms.
I had no issue with going for it on 4th and 2 in the last regular time possession, as I think that increased the chances of Michigan winning. It (barely) bore out that Army didn't have the offense to make Michigan pay for a turnover-on-downs.
September 7th, 2019 at 7:26 PM ^
Not to mention, it's.... EXACTLY WHAT OKLAHOMA DID!! They passed on a 4th Quarter FG in a tie game to try to punch in a demoralizing TD and it backfired. And there we sat in the same self-inflicted 4th quarter barn burner and made the exact same mistake. So disappointed in the coaches today. So many mind-numbing blunders.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:09 PM ^
I have nothing bad to say about the special teams.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:13 PM ^
Michael Barrett had the biggest highs and lows on special teams today.
Utilizing his high school QB experience to throw on the fake punt.
Had the "blindside" block which called back an otherwise good return from Giles Jackson.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:24 PM ^
You can thank me for reverse-jinxing Michigan into a successful point after in overtime.
At 21-20, I told my daughter something like "It would be so like the rest of the game for it to end in a Michigan loss on a missed XP".
September 7th, 2019 at 4:27 PM ^
I think the call negating the big kick return was very questionable.
I understand they're calling that stuff close, but I don't know how you can teach a guy not to block someone there. It wasn't at all dirty. The emphasis on avoiding injury makes for some frustrating penalties.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:29 PM ^
Please learn how to fair catch the ball.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:33 PM ^
All negatives so far.
I'll reverse that by saying this. What a huge, HUGE, made field goal by Moody in the 2nd overtime. 43 yards for a college kicker is far from a gimme.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:42 PM ^
I would be totally fine with Moody handling all the PAT and Field Goal duties. Nordin seems to be a head case
September 7th, 2019 at 4:44 PM ^
It was like when a MAC team resorts to trickery and special teams miracles to pull a game out. Hmm, now I know what it is like to be a Sparty fan.
September 7th, 2019 at 4:50 PM ^
I wish Harbaugh wasn't such a hard-headed, stubborn, old-school, "WE WILL RETURN KICKOFFS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MANLY FOOTBALL PLAYERS DO!" type coach. Just take the ball at the 25. We had one nice return, but of course, it didn't count because of a penalty. Maybe use that time to PRACTICE PUNT RETURNS!!! We gave up so many hidden yards due to an inability to judge a ball in the air and fair catch a punt.
September 7th, 2019 at 5:17 PM ^
Jackson looks like he's 1 broken tackle away from taking it to the house most of the time. Completely okay with him returning it.
September 7th, 2019 at 5:08 PM ^
What are some realistic tactics that are to be used to get a prospective tacklers full attention before making a legal block on him in his chest to prevent him from taclkling your ball carrier? Would screaming "excuse me sir I intend to block you" sufffice?
September 7th, 2019 at 5:08 PM ^
Thank God for the consistency of Jake Moody. That's about the only thing nice I can say at this time about this team. So, I'll just leave it at that for Moody calmly nailing that 43 yarder in 2OT.
September 8th, 2019 at 8:26 AM ^
I wouldn't classify that kick as "nailing it". Sure he made it (which is obviously most important), but it was a bit of a sideways spinner that snuck in.
September 7th, 2019 at 5:14 PM ^
Nordin has gotta be done after this. He cannot kick a ball straight. Even on extra points, they come off his foot at weird angles and get inside the uprights by virtue of being so close.
From 40 - 50 yards, forget about it.
September 7th, 2019 at 6:12 PM ^
Who threw the ball on the fake punt? I wanna say it was Barrett but I can't be sure
September 7th, 2019 at 6:47 PM ^
It was Barrett. Was a very good HS QB.
September 7th, 2019 at 6:44 PM ^
Why in the ever loving fuck did they put that fake punt on film against ARMY? I can already see them trying the exact same play against MSU and having it get blown the fuck up en route to a 12-9 loss.
September 7th, 2019 at 7:50 PM ^
I think it was an audible based on the fact that the gunner, Dax, was not being blocked/covered as Army may have had a punt block attempt planned. At least that's what the announcers seemed to think. It's probably a play nearly every punt team has, but most don't try, so it's probably no big deal to have it on video.
September 7th, 2019 at 10:42 PM ^
I remember former Colts punter Pat McAfee, who also handled kickoffs for them when he played, said that the fake on sides kick was always on, and if the opposing team was in the proper alignment, he could just do it.
Obviously there's a difference between the NFL and college, but I do wonder if something like that, when it's that wide open, is always on, and the players just called it there.
September 8th, 2019 at 12:46 AM ^
I'm sure that's what happened. They're not going to toss it out to Dax if he's covered, obviously.
It's actually good coaching, you had a HS QB on the field and an elite athlete uncovered on the edge, and they called the correct audible as they were coached to do. Army took a gamble and played unsound, and Michigan executed.
September 7th, 2019 at 7:32 PM ^
Pick a kicker and stick with him.
September 7th, 2019 at 8:24 PM ^
Nordin is probably done for. I can forgive missing a 55 yarder, but he missed it by a mile.
Michael Barrett's block in the back was so unnecessary and dumb. Giles Jackson was already well past the defender. If Barrett just stands in front of the defender, he'll never catch Jackson.
September 7th, 2019 at 9:24 PM ^
I guess what I’m wondering now is, how many points is Harbaugh willing to sacrifice in order to keep giving the opportunities to Nordin to get his head back in the game?
September 7th, 2019 at 10:27 PM ^
This is weird. Nordin has missed a single 55 yard field goal this season.
September 7th, 2019 at 10:27 PM ^
BYU strikes first with OT TD
September 8th, 2019 at 2:07 AM ^
Also, I'm pretty sure that fake punt was the first fake Harbaugh has run in his time at Michigan.
I cannot recall any others.
September 8th, 2019 at 3:29 PM ^
Said the same thing in the stands - I can’t recall another fake punt under Harbaugh. In a way that’s encouraging.
September 8th, 2019 at 2:29 PM ^
Why not have someone back to return the FG at the end of regulation? It was catchable, might as well let one of our athletes take a shot against a unit not meant to be tackling anyone.