jmblue

November 14th, 2010 at 6:14 PM ^

I'm not sure if that's out of the ordinary.  Teams mostly only go for it when they're very confident of converting.  I would imagine that most teams convert 4th downs at a higher rate than 3rd downs.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102833

Raoul

November 14th, 2010 at 8:08 PM ^

Based on a review of this year's "Team Downs Statistics," it does seem that teams tend to have higher 4th down than 3rd down conversion rates. If you look at the overall rates for all FBS teams, the 4th down rate is definitely higher, although the difference isn't huge (and certainly not as large as that of Michigan, which is 46% vs. 62.5%):

 

                 THIRD DOWNS                 FOURTH DOWNS
         MADE           ATT           PCT          MADE             ATT           PCT
6,478 16,807 38.5% 800 1,679 47.6%

 

Joined: 09/29/2009

MGoPoints: 13957

lilpenny1316

November 14th, 2010 at 9:00 AM ^

We've done this for years and it hasn't burned us yet.  Defenses have to play safe, so they can't put on the punt block or set up for a return.  If they do, we could hit them with a pass.  It's not a bad wrinkle.  It won't lose us a game, but maybe it will win us one by winning the field position battle.

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61836

samber2009

November 14th, 2010 at 1:31 AM ^

Oh man, I don't know why I put myself through reading the garbage comments at the bottom of  those pages. I guess I just have a sick need to punish myself with ignorant comments of others. 

Joined: 08/10/2009

MGoPoints: 2215

tenerson

November 14th, 2010 at 1:39 AM ^

Yeah, I did too. I especially like the one about RR personality. I don't know why sometimes people talk about the things they don't know about. Living Hawkeye country I get a lot of that. I went to the bar last night and I bet 5 people asked me who the new coach was going to be.

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 2371

Blue_Sox

November 14th, 2010 at 2:11 AM ^

"Rich Rod is a cheater and scum. He lost to Appalachian State at home! Bring back Gary Moeller even!"

 

Like, what a fricking idiot. It's amazing how clueless people can be, acting like they're knowledgeable when they know absolutely nothing. If you don't know a simple fact like that, how the hell can you be so vitriolic towards the guy. All I have to say is, thank God for MGoBlog. I don't know what I would do without the rational, level-headed commentary about the program I love so much.

Joined: 09/30/2010

MGoPoints: 4578

Michichick

November 14th, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^

If the comment were made on this forum, I might agree, but this was the entire comment:

The University of Michigan wants Rich Rodriguez to be suspended by the NCAA for his repeated offenses in their policy. So that way U of M can fire him without paying out the rest of his ridiculous contract. He keeps playing Denard when he's hurt just to save his job. The kid is talented. I just hope he's not severely injured during his career due to Rodriguez's negligence. Rich Rod is a cheater and scum. He lost to Appalachian State at home! Bring back Gary Moeller even!

I vote dumbass, not sarcasm.

Joined: 09/15/2009

MGoPoints: 169

GoBlueInNYC

November 14th, 2010 at 2:05 AM ^

Didn't Denard punt in a game earlier this season? I don't remember which game, but I seem to remember him having a short pooch punt that worked alright earlier this year.

Joined: 03/23/2010

MGoPoints: 8770

I Like Winners

November 14th, 2010 at 2:14 AM ^

They leave out ANYTHING that doesn't support their argument. There is just too much one sided drivil. Like a driving rainstorm when mentioning the fumbles and interceptions! For crying out loud.

Joined: 09/18/2010

MGoPoints: 25

Spread_Offense

November 14th, 2010 at 2:44 AM ^

I feel the exact same way every time I find myself compelled to read the comments for Michigan Football related stories on the free press website. Just to hate myself for doing it after.

Joined: 07/06/2009

MGoPoints: 161

tlh908

November 14th, 2010 at 2:56 AM ^

I was hoping to see a Denard tackle today for the highlights. I wonder if he decided to save his body on the attempt, but he had his chance. A tackle there and Purdue probably scores no touchdown today.

Joined: 09/25/2010

MGoPoints: 2842

bronxblue

November 14th, 2010 at 9:36 AM ^

I have always been leery of comment sections at sites that don't have active mods, and places like Yahoo and ESPN tend to be pretty horrible as a result.  Most of those posts drip of either idiocy or a desire to instigate (apparently like GR Press's resident Jabba the Hutt stand-in), so like my response to custom's officers who found my stash of hardcore, barely-legal prono, I only read them for the articles.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171779

moserd

November 14th, 2010 at 8:03 AM ^

That comment section is hilarious! Especially when you look at how many haters, WVU fans and all-round dipsticks actually spent the time to read and comment. 177 comments and growing.

Joined: 07/13/2009

MGoPoints: 119

U Fer M

November 14th, 2010 at 8:56 AM ^

I'm suprised Brian VanOcten in the Grand Rapids whatever, is saying RR will be out of a job because of this game, read the article, but don't think he's right, don't remember him as being a hater in the past, but don't go to Mlive all that much.

Joined: 08/01/2010

MGoPoints: 1068

Search4Meaning

November 14th, 2010 at 4:56 PM ^

Article says that the only thing Denard doesn't do well is punt.  (Ok, I know he has done better in past efforts... just humor me here)

Then it says the defense won it.

It's an OK, reasonably positive article.

Joined: 01/06/2010

MGoPoints: 3175

aaamichfan

November 14th, 2010 at 9:09 PM ^

I get a kick out of how many WVU fans are in the comments saying things like, "Thanks for taking Rich Rod off our hands! We were getting ready to fire him anyways!!!!!!!1!!!!"

 

Do these people live on another planet?

Joined: 10/23/2009

MGoPoints: 14362