Borges Conference Video Up

Submitted by Gameboy on

If you can watch this without yelling and screaming at the screen the entire time, you are a better man than I.

http://www.mgoblue.com/allaccess/?media=411577

What is amazing is that he talks about how you need to go away from the power game when it is not working. THEN WHY THE HECK DID YOU KEEP RUNNING IT IN OT!!!????

 

TheLastHarbaugh

October 16th, 2013 at 5:29 AM ^

Seriously, like 4467667 things had to go wrong for Michigan to lose at night, against Penn State, in Happy Valley.

There is no reason for people to be abandoning ship like they are. 

It's ridiculous.

Ernis

October 16th, 2013 at 6:47 AM ^

A pretty pervasive trend in US culture these days is the demand for instant emotional gratification. Specifically in this case, people want the experience of feeling right without putting in the work to be right. Not to mention the almost complete abandonment of civility. But I digress...

This is not a binary argument of "Borges right or idiots wrong"... lots of pricks spouting off and in the wrong, but Borges is not beyond critique either. They stacked the box because they felt no threat from our pass -- why weren't we exploiting the mismatch with Funchess? Missed opportunity, I vouch. Our inability to run was amplified when we abandoned the pass almost entirely, late in the game. Up 10 at the end of the game, you run clock... up 7? Better score, otherwise you abdicate the outcome of the game to the other team's will. OT? Better score. Yes, yes, Gibbons should have rabble rabble. The probability of a FG being blocked or missed is real, and is why you don't simply rely on the FG. The coaches' plans and decisions effected the outcome.

So, plenty of room for critique, but there is a right way to do it, which is to be civil and stick to the facts. Sad to see this board abandon facts for tabloid-esque speculation... "oooh he's tugging at his shirt! What does this *mean*? It's obviously significant!" "Guys, for real, those gestures indicate that he is criminally insane. I saw it on CSI." Sad, weak little minds.

TheLastHarbaugh

October 16th, 2013 at 7:08 AM ^

I e-gree with most of your post.

None of what I said, I find to be particularly ridiculous. My main point is effectively, "Don't be an asshole."

Apparently people have a huge problem with that, because every time I say it, it seems to attract very defensive people who (perhaps no so) shockingly act like assholes.

Not once have I said anyone is above criticism or that no one can complain about anything.

In fact, I've said people are free to criticize whatever they'd like, or complain about whatever they'd like, just don't be an asshole.

You can make plenty of well reasoned points as to why you feel a certain way without being a complete and total asshole about it.

People would like to think that they're offering reasonable analysis or complaints, but most of the time people are just unholy asses about things, and I'm positive that anyone who has ever modded a liveblog can attest to that fact.

It's just an endless shit spiral of "this sucks, that sucks, he sucks, fuck player x, fucking coach x, this is bullshit, fire him, pull his scholarship, UNACCEPTABLE," and a bunch of other pointless nonsense.

I just don't understand how people can consistently be so negative all of the time. What is the point? What is the benefit of it?

Do you really need to post every single shitty thought that goes through your head online?

Do we really need to have an epic meltdown after--not even every loss anymore, sometimes we have them after wins?

We don't have to act like every bad thing that happens is the end of the world, and doing so doesn't make you "care more" or a "better fan."

The man who says, "I love my girlfriend so much that if she left me I'd kill myself," doesn't love his girlfriend more than the guy who says, "I love my girlfriend so much, but if she left me I wouldn't kill myself." He has an emotional disorder.

Ernis

October 16th, 2013 at 7:41 AM ^

Right, and I agree with most of what you wrote as well. Not much point trying to convince those with blind convictions that they're full of it, though... "does not compute" for them. Sign of a bad computer.

My point of contention is simply with your statement that "so many things had to go wrong for us to lose." Our tactics at the end of the game left the door open for an unlikely sequence to burn us, when there was a chance for us to clinch the outcome and crush all hope. Perhaps an aggressive plan would have burned us as well, but I think there's something to be said for going down swinging, instead of watching your fate be handed to you and leave thinking "What if..."

Fuck it Dude. Let's go bowling. Oh yeah and I'm still pretty sure we beat State. Both of 'em. Mark it, Dude.

CompleteLunacy

October 16th, 2013 at 12:03 PM ^

Yes, a million things had to go perfectly wrong...the 80-yard drive on 3 somewhat circusy/lucky catches, to missing 3 game-winning field goals are examples of that. And at the same time, the coaches help put Michigan in the situations which things could go wrong. See, running the ball up the middle in the first OT rather than actually going for more yards and setting up your kicker for an easier field goal. They might as well have attempted the field goal on the first play of OT. 

 

An Angelo's Addict

October 16th, 2013 at 7:56 AM ^

@ The Last Hoke. I completely agree with many of the points you are making, including people acting like complete dicks and that a 5-1 record really isn't that bad. However, the real problem with Borges is that we are very lucky to be at 5-1 in spite of Borges, and honestly there are lots of games in the last 3 years that we won in spite of borges. He has shown that he is stubborn in regards to placing the current players in the best position to win and he never shows in game adjustments.

There have been many games the last few seasons that had it not been for some last minute miracles, There have been maybe a few very good games by him, but a few over 3 seasons is not good enough for the kind of money he is being paid.

TheLastHarbaugh

October 16th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^

I e-gree that Borges has called quite a few stinkers and that he and Funk should be on the hot seat for the performance of the offense.

I'm not going to demand that they be fired immediately, because I feel like that would be a terrible decision.

I'm also not going to demand their blood be sacrificed to the blood god, or that coach Hoke publicly raze them. That wouldn't solve anything, and would only be a negative for the program.

Maybe my expectations for this team were slightly lower than a lot of you (who it seems thought we were going to go undefeated or something), because 5-1 seems to be about right.

This team seems to play to the level of their opponents, so I really doubt we get blown out in any games this year. Maybe one, but who knows.

It's just funny to me how it seems like the majority of the board views the Akron, UCONN, and PSU games as totally indicative of our future, while acting as though the Notre Dame, CMU, and Minnesota games were all one off flukes.

If there is anything we know about this team it's that we don't really know much of anything.

Anyone preaching doom and gloom is just being a negative nancy.

Remember in 2011 when our running game outside of the QB position was utterly nonexistent, and then we flipped a switch in the 8th game of the season against Purdue? Who is to say that wont happen again?

MSU's offense looked like complete and utter dogshit the first few weeks of the season. I mean, it looked completely unsalveagable, and they've turned things around significantly.

We've seen this coaching staff tinker with things and find ways to make it work. We've seen Borges call good games.

Let's not whitewash history because it's more fun to have an MGoMeltdown circlejerk.

Red is Blue

October 16th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^

My expectation is simple. I expect the coaches to put the players in the best spot to win regardless of, or maybe despite, whatever shortcomings the players (individually or as a group) might have. I don't have a problem with us not winning per se and I don't have an issue with players failing to execute assuming they are putting forth effort.

Red is Blue

October 18th, 2013 at 8:28 AM ^

If the team is "flat out not good." then, how is 5-1 a horrible record?  5-1 might be a horrible record for a team that is great, but sounds pretty good if you buy into your premise that the team is not good.  Also, how does the fact that they came close to being 3-3 have any bearing on whether 5-1 is horrible?

ontarioblue

October 16th, 2013 at 8:08 AM ^

People are treating it like we are 1-5.  This team is young.  This team is frustrating to watch. Play calling is frustrating.  The O line is horrible.  But, they will continue to grow and will compete.  We all expected them to beat Penn State.  It didn't happen.  Get over it.  Exciting times are ahead for this team.

UM Indy

October 16th, 2013 at 8:11 AM ^

Is that this staff has convinced itself certain things are true, mainly by repeating them over and over again. You can say whatever you want, but it has to be proven on the field. It simply hasn't been. Borges is borderline delusional with this stuff. So is Hoke for that matter with his "I have every confidence in my O coordinator and O line coaches."

TXmaizeNblue

October 16th, 2013 at 8:15 AM ^

Did he just say "the thing I was impressed with was Devin Gardner" at 2:01?  Surely he did not say that!  IF YOU ARE IMPRESSED WITH HIM MR. BORG THEN PUT THE FRICKEN BALL IN HIS HAND WHEN THE GAME IS ON THE LINE!!!

"We'll do what we have to do to win the football game".  Was he coordinating for Penn State, or did I miss something????

Ok, I feel better now.

uofmdds96

October 16th, 2013 at 9:31 AM ^

Yeah, in the beginning of the video he said he didn't want to turn the ball over in overtime. Then he said he trusted Devin and Devin has made leaps and bounds from 2 weeks ago. So I trust him to run to the middle of the field and fall down. Pathetic.

MGoManBall

October 16th, 2013 at 8:27 AM ^

I completely understand now. Borges had money on PSU (+3). Michigan had a 7 point lead and were driving despite his best efforts so he was late to get the call in, caused a delay of game, and suggested a punt instead of a field goal to push the game to 10 points. He then prayed that Penn State would miraculously drive the field and tie the game. They pulled through for him. In overtime he had Michigan right where he wanted them. His strategy was for either PSU to beat him with a touchdown or he was going to kick field goals so that if Michigan DID win, the bet would push... and he would break even. Al Borges hit his bet Saturday night. You go, Al Borges.

Plausible?

Polisci

October 16th, 2013 at 8:38 AM ^

Come on, everyone!  You have to give Al credit.  It's not easy to be the author of the worst RB performance in the history of Michigan football!  It's not easy to call for your QB to spike the ball with the clock stopped on first down! It's not easy to come up with a way to not only tip your run plays, but also come up with a brilliant new way to also tell teams exactly where the run is going to go! These are innovations! This is the future of football!

Schembo

October 16th, 2013 at 8:58 AM ^

To me, the gameplan just seems like a severe overcorrection on Hokes part in reaction to the turnover tornados that were the Akron/UConn games.  I don't think Borges wants anything to do with this unbalanced line fiasco and I don't think we will see it anymore this season. 

Brandon_L

October 16th, 2013 at 9:12 AM ^

Once again its Borges fault. This is all I hear from a delusional fan base that wants blood for saturdays disguting defeat. I was pissed off about the performance as well. I have now moved past it. I'm sure the team has as well. Its time to move forward. I am certainly glad that so many of you have given up on this team. This staff knows what the problems are and guess what we cannot and will not have any influence over what they plan to do going forward. Yes, we should have been undefeated going into November, but guess what we got beat. Is it Al' s fault?  Hoke is the boss and he goes down with this ship one way or another. He will not fire anyone and he will stand behind his staff. He is that type of guy. I have scanned his tenure as a head coach and have found that he has never let anyone go previously. He is a loyal guy. Overall I think he is ultimately at fault for all the bad decisons. He should have called timeout when Devin lost his helmet, He should have called timeout late in the game to avoid losing out on a field goal that would have gave us a two score lead. He is at fault, but in life we live and we learn and I expect them to make the adjustments that are neccessary for this team to have a shot at the Big Title.  

blueblueblue

October 16th, 2013 at 9:20 AM ^

Fergodsakes people. One thing we can all rest assured of is that Hoke cares more about Michigan Football than he does about some allegiance to his ol' pal Al, or any of his coaches. And I have no doubt that every one of his coaches knows this. There is friendship, and there is Michigan Football. They know that Hoke will support them outwardly, professionally, but they also know he will also fire them if their work is not up to the standards of Michigan Football. The traits that manigest in that way are the same traits that lead recruits to like him.

If we continue to regress, or not progress, on offense, I have no doubt Hoke will make personnel changes. He knows this, his coaches know this, and you folks should know this.  

uofmdds96

October 16th, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^

His hand keeps wanting to choke him. Damn you hand, why couldn't you muster the courage to choke him???!!! FINISH HIM!

I have never seen someone so nervous to talk about something he is supposed yo be an expert in.

uofmdds96

October 16th, 2013 at 9:25 AM ^

His hand keeps wanting to choke him. Damn you hand, why couldn't you muster the courage to choke him???!!! FINISH HIM!

I have never seen someone so nervous to talk about something he is supposed yo be an expert in.

mGrowOld

October 16th, 2013 at 9:35 AM ^

What I find utterly amazing is the ability of the Borges apologists to claim any sort of football knowledge while simultaniously defending insanty.  I'm ok if you want to want say Al is a great guy, a wonderful neighbor, someone you'd like to have a beer with or spend a lazy Sunday chatting up movies but there is no way in hell you can defend his playcalling.  It's so bad we are being MOCKED nationally for it.  Do you guys get that?  Borges play calling has become a national joke on virtually all football boards for how increadibly, amazingly bad it was.  And yet you guys want to defend it for reasons I cant begin to fathom.

I do not think he should get fired mid season unless we've got somebody better on staff who can take over and I dont think we do.  But I sure as hell want Hoke to tell Al this shit has to stop and stop right now or he will make changes at the end of the year.  That is what bothers me the most - the fact that there is nothing that indicates anybody on our football team finds the debacle of last Saturday's play calling problematic while the rest of the country laughs at its stupidity.

I didnt like being the brunt of football jokes after the horror and I sure as hell dont like it now.

Brandon_L

October 16th, 2013 at 9:43 AM ^

How are we so sure that Hoke is not the one telling Al to go this route???? Hoke doesnt wear a headsset because the plan is the plan it seems. Hoke wants this style and will drive Michigan into the ground to get there. The point was made on saturday. I did the same as a middle school coach, yes I said it (Middle School). It worked come year two because the 6 plays we ran were finally executed so well we were city league co-Champs after winning one game the year prior. I stuck to my plan and it worked. This is the same methodology. Hoke will make adjustments as November looms, but it has been made clear that this is what he wants to do.

TheLastHarbaugh

October 16th, 2013 at 9:46 AM ^

So you want us to make decisions based on what the internet says? If not, then what is your point?

Who cares if people are mocking anything about us? The internet mocks everything and every one.

Brian Kelly and Notre Dame were a huge joke most of last year, up until the point they were undefeated and playing in the national championship game, and even then they were still a joke because of the Manti Te'o deal, as well as the fact that they got blown out.

People were mocking Denard "Arm Punt" Robinson all the way to a BCS bowl win and running for the most yards for a QB in college football history.

The internet laughing at us should be so far off anyone's radar. It's also one of the singular dumbest reasons to be upset about anything. Wait 5 minutes for a new cat video to pop up, or a clip of Les Miles doing anything and Al Borges' play calling that one game is 1000 years in the past.

mGrowOld

October 16th, 2013 at 9:51 AM ^

No I want us to make decisions based on sound football practice and logic and in your zeal to defend Al at all costs you seem to have forgotten that.  Does it not seem odd to you that literally the entire football universe thinks our playcalling last saturday was laughingly bad and predictable?  How do you simply ignore that?

Can I ask what experience you have in organized football?  I'm not trying to be jerky here I just want to know.  Cause you are definitely the only person I've seen that thinks what we did last week made sense and liked it so I'm curious what your unique background is.

TheLastHarbaugh

October 16th, 2013 at 10:11 AM ^

This post is complete nonsense.

I've been defending Al Borges. If you call saying, "Hey, the play calling has been bad at times and Al is definitely deserving of criticism, but maybe there are more issues here other than 'ZOMG AL SUCKS, FIRE HIM!' and maybe we can criticize Al without being complete dick bags?"

I don't know what you mean by "the entire football universe" and no, to be frank I haven't heard much of anyone say much of anything about it. Again, who cares, and why does it make you so angry?

What does my experience playing high school football have to do with anything? I haven't made any sort of schematic arguments of any kind on this thread. In fact, I loathe people without football experience making those sorts of points, because they generally don't know what the hell they're talking about. I think I said one thing about it being hard to set up the run with the pass when your QB keeps throwing interceptions, if you can call that "schematic."

If you can point to me defending our game plan last week, that would be great. Seriously, comb through the thread and go for it.

Good luck.

mGrowOld

October 16th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^

"When Devin is throwing interceptions like it's his job (as he has been prone to do at times this season), it's hard to throw to set up the run.

As a coordinator you have to go into damage mitigation mode at that point.

There is not a lot you can do if your QB can't throw and your offenseive line can't generate the requisite amount of room for the running game to be effective."

 

"The offense put the team in position to win the game on multiple occasions. You can certainly argue the play calling should have been more aggressive, but the bottom line is two easily makeable field goals were botched, and our defense gave up an 80 yard TD drive with 47 seconds left on the clock and PSU sans timeouts.

That's not on the offensive play calling at all what so ever. You can try to pin those things on Borges, but that doesn't make it true."

 

 

TheLastHarbaugh

October 16th, 2013 at 10:55 AM ^

So how are either of those statements defending Borges and the game plan?

I said it's hard to effectively call a good game when your QB is throwing interceptions and you can't run the ball at all.

Doesn't sound like any sort of a pro-Borges statement there, and would you care to argue that point?

Also, one of those quotes I said you could argue that the play calling should have been more aggressive, which directly contradicts your continued insistence that I've been blindly supportive of Borges. I also stated that the offense wasn't solely to blame for the loss, and did put the team in a position to win the game on multiple occasions.

Care to argue that point, or did the 2 botched field goals and 80 yard TD drive with 47 seconds left and no time outs not happen?

You've also conveniently ignored about a dozen posts where I've said the offensive play calling was bad.

In short....You're not only wrong, and being a dick about it, but you're also making a very blatant attempt to misconstrue the things I have said while simulataneously ignoring anything I've said that doesn't fit your very wrong opinion about my position.

I mean, I literally said a few comments up from this:

"I e-gree that Borges has called quite a few stinkers and that he and Funk should be on the hot seat for the performance of the offense.

"I'm not going to demand that they be fired immediately, because I feel like that would be a terrible decision.

"I'm also not going to demand their blood be sacrificed to the blood god, or that coach Hoke publicly raze them. That wouldn't solve anything, and would only be a negative for the program."

Wow. What a ringing endorsement. I'm such a Borges defender/apologist. Look at me.

CompleteLunacy

October 16th, 2013 at 12:15 PM ^

He has some real-world football experience, I believe. And he is one of the more forgiving people on Borges here. Less so with Funk, but still not too sour on him. 

And please, please, stop calling people who maybe don't want Borges fired right now "apologists". That label is utterly ridiculous. It is possible to have a more nuanced position in between "BORGES IS AWESOME YOU GUYS, IT'S ALL DEVIN GARDNER'S FAULT" and "FIRE BORGES FIRE FUNK!" It seems like anyone not on the latter end of the specturm instantly becomes an apologist and is delusional, somehow.

blueblueblue

October 16th, 2013 at 9:47 AM ^

We lost. Everyone associated with the team finds the loss problemmatic. If you think Hoke doesnt question every aspect of that game, inclusing the offensive playcalling, then you have your head up your ass. Use some rationality, and then rationally project some of that on Hoke. Hoke is through and through a professional. There is what happens behind the doors of Schembechler Hall, and there is what happens in front of the media. Very rarely shall the twain meet. Hoke will not throw anyone under the bus - players, coaches, etc. But if you think he has not had sat down with Al and discussed how they can, as a coaching team, improve things, then you are just not being rational. If you think he has not, constructively, communicated to Al that things must improve, then you are again not being rational. 

mGrowOld

October 16th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^

No I dont necessarily think Hoke did that.  As I've said before, based on his public statements coupled with the playcalling itself, I am much more inclined to believe that Hoke approved of what was called and liked it and that scares me even more.  

There appears to be a mindset on our team that it's somehow not "manly" to take free yards if they are given and that real men call plays where the other team knows where the ball is going to prove how tough we are.

I've played up through high school ball, I've coached up through high school ball and I've recruited for Michigan from 1992-1994.  And I've never, ever seen that philosophical approach by any OC anyplace else.  Everybody else tries to the opposite (go where the defense aint - not where they are).  It's insane.

uncleFred

October 16th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^

for a few decades are used to our team being mocked by national commentators. Seriously between dissing the dinosaur style of football played in the big ten (this was in the 70s btw), suffered constant carping and suffered in the rankings. 

So if we got used to dealing with the talking heads consistently telling us our team was ranked to highly and couldn't compete with modern football, why would we care about what "virtually all football boards" are saying about the team. 

The team has a deeply flawed offense right now. Can't argue with that. Some is on Borges and Hoke, some is not. Suck it up. This will eventually get better. The Oline issues are not simply an excuse, they are a reality that has no quick fix, not by scheme, nor by coaching. Some mitigation MAY be possible, but the offense will be a slow progression all season.