Does this performance against Ohio save Borges and Funk?
I know Borges has taken serious heat from all of us this year, but the O looked phenomenal today. I think we all agree that the team that played today beats every other team in the B1G. I thought the Oline was really good considering the competition and the skilled players produced the below numbers:
Devin-32/45-451 yds 4TD
Gallon- 9/175yds 1TD
Butt- 5/60yds 1TD
RBs-24/137yds 1TD I
thought Borges called a great game and we were one phantom Frank Clark unsportsmanlike penalty and one bad throw away from beating Ohio.
My question to the board is, does the potential of seeing more performances like this make you tolerate the idea of seeing Borges and Funk stay around one more year?
November 30th, 2013 at 5:27 PM ^
Going back to what the Ohio blogger wrote...
Do we think Luke Fickell will be back after a 1 point win against us?
Maybe, but probably shouldn't.
November 30th, 2013 at 5:31 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 5:33 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 5:34 PM ^
Hecklinski for OC if Borgesis fired?
Does elevating Hecklinski to OC provide some semblence of consitency for the O system so the players do not have to start from scratch again?
If Hoke elevates him, I would think Hoke would insist on keeping the same system. I don't think it's ever been about Al's system; it's always been about the lousy illogical play calling. .
November 30th, 2013 at 6:15 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 7:53 PM ^
There are some insidery bitz on this. I don't know how I'd feel about Heck being promoted, but it would probably help maintain a sense of stability with the team.
November 30th, 2013 at 9:27 PM ^
No, there is no 'insidery bitz' unless you cite something trust-able. Everything else might as well be Ace Williams.
December 1st, 2013 at 5:54 AM ^
but not the whole enchilada. None of it exonerates Borges.
November 30th, 2013 at 5:40 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 5:40 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:14 PM ^
I am glad to hear someone say something logical. The game plan today was fantastic. The offense and the play calling were more than good enough to win this game. I got so tired today every time a play didn't work. OMG, bad call. Borges is fat. Blahblahblah. The offense was terrible this year and holding Borges accountable is fair. But blaming him for the loss today is just being blind. They played their best game and came up just short against a better team. Saying all of that, I do believe that next year will be better, with or without Borges.
November 30th, 2013 at 5:44 PM ^
but it will probably buy Borges another year. Unfortunately, that probably means another 7-6 season at best, and then what? I just can't see us every beating OSU or MSU every again with Borges running the offense.
November 30th, 2013 at 6:27 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 5:49 PM ^
This shouldn't "validate" anything about "we should have been playing like this all year."
There were several moments this season where the miscues fell on the players, nullifying a playcaller's ability to get anything going. Borges can't pick up a blitizing linebacker.
There were also several moments this season where the miscues fell on the playcaller, thus not putting the players in the best position for success. Gardner can't audible into anything more than a few plays.
This was one of the few games we've had all year where both things came together.
No coaches are going anywhere. And the young players are going to be stronger and more experienced.
Go Blue.
November 30th, 2013 at 7:06 PM ^
If anyone would know insane, it would be you. After all, it takes a special level of insanity to be an Al Borges apologist.
November 30th, 2013 at 5:47 PM ^
From everything we can determine as outsiders, Brandon, Hoke, and Borges have all bought into the same narrative: there is nothing wrong with our scheme, game planning, and play calling that better players, more development, and overall better execution won't fix. This game obviously helps reinforce that narrative, and thus has to reduce any (already slim, IMO) chance that Borges will go.
An equally interesting question is who would replace Borges. I'm 100% certain that we haven't seen the last of Mr. Hyde-Borges, and would love to see a dynamic new coordinator given the reins of a modern offense. But who's going to come work for a HC and AD apparently in thrall to antiquated MANBALL mythology?
November 30th, 2013 at 5:50 PM ^
I love this blog to death first and foremost. I am a avid reader. But there is one problem... some posters in here aren't real michigan fans... they are bandwagon fans... all I hear from all of you in here in this post about Borges in particular all you do from week to week is complain about EVERYTHING. there is a reason i hate being apart of this fan base.. and that is YOU EXPECT TO GO 11-1, 10-2, AND GOD FORBID 9-3 or worse. We had a down year... do you see the players crying about it... no they move forward from day to day... do you think the COACHES LISTEN TO YOU FANS who are a bunch of headhunters to have a coach fired over one bad year... RR was a coach that had to go. 3-9, 2-10 and by god 7-6 and all you panzies called for his head and got it.... Hoke was hired and went 11-2 his first year and the only thing that went through the roof was THE FANS EXPECTATIONS.... Dave Brandon has called you folks out on his blog. You know exactly who you are.... I know who you are and can start calling user names out on it. Are Real Michigan fans like myself are disappointed with the loss today... Yes we are... Are there things in which the team can improve on... Yes and I believe they will... But you bandwagon fans need to go... REAL MICHIGAN FANS STAND WITH THEIR TEAM THROUGH EVERYTHING. WE RIDE MAIZE AND BLUE TIL WE DIE.... If you bandwagon fans have a problem with anything I say please feel free to comment or please call me out... I'll be here don't you worry none.
November 30th, 2013 at 6:03 PM ^
Most ppl you talk about have issue with Borges, who arguably single-handedly cost us the aforementioned games. All winnable. The offensive playcalling has been moronic at times thus year. This has nothing to do with youth or being on a bandwagon. Idiot. 11-2 was with RR's offense with a functional defense. Denard leaving (albeit having his own limitations) masked a lot of the rushing game weaknesses. If we want to compete with Ohio state and Bama we have to be maniacal in our approach to everything.
November 30th, 2013 at 5:50 PM ^
sorry for the downvote - it's a good thread, my downvote was my vote to your quesion. I guess I shouldn't have downvoted the thread, though.
But no. The answer is no.
One good game (or three) does not make his other shitty games disappear.
Absolutely no.
November 30th, 2013 at 5:53 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 5:58 PM ^
Not even mad about this loss. There is no difference between an 8-4 or 7-5 Michigan, loved the aggressive call at the end of the game.
November 30th, 2013 at 5:59 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:08 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:17 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:12 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:17 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:18 PM ^
Toussaint is a solid 3rd down screen option because he has good hands and can make the short open field cuts, but his running style could not succeed behind our line. It makes a big difference in the running game when the backs you play accelerate to the hole, keep their legs moving and drive through tackes versus stopping, dancing and falling backwards when hit. You can't get away with playing running back on your heels unless you are Barry Sanders. This was the pass blocking tactic for several five to seven sack games as well. Fred Jackson should be retire. Green and Smith were clearly better than Toussaint the second half of the season and gave us the best chance to win yet had far fewer carries/plays than Toussaint.
November 30th, 2013 at 6:40 PM ^
I think a combination of both existed today. I thought the screen game and passing on first down really allowed us to establish our running game bc ohio could not stack the box. I really liked that Al actually utilized the threat which really opened up the field bc ohio couldn't just key on gallon and funchess. I thought the use of the bubble screen allowed us to threaten the entire field which made ohio have to respect everything.
The offensive line played their best game since Notre Dame and actually did pretty good against the blitz most of the day.
I guess my biggest question is where the hell has this been all year, Al? You expect to get better as the year goes on. I would submit that ohio has better players then most of the teams we have played this year, so was it a one game epiphany? or is this what the offense is going to look like going forward?
Help lol
November 30th, 2013 at 7:06 PM ^
I hope it doesn't solidify his job. Although he called a better game today, where the hell were these types of game plans during the rest of the season? It's really disheartening that it takes all the way to the final game of the season to discover what works. It's time for an offensive change.
November 30th, 2013 at 7:24 PM ^
I think that Borges comes back and so probably does Funk, but I think they were coming back regardless. Should they, no way. One fairly well called game does not negate a whole season of poor calls and coaching.
Most Michigan fans will be encouraged by todays game, I am not. A loss is a loss. There are no moral victories. The only thing I found encouraging about this this loss is the the fact that Hoke went for two at the end for the win. If think it’s 50/50 that OSU with the time remaining moves into position and kicks the field goal to win. They had some momentum so I thought the call had a fairly decent chance to succeed. If your going to lose, lose being aggressive and go for the win. If he contines to make calls like that, and not like he did in the PSU game, we will win many more than we lose. I’ll believe it’s a trend when I actually see it though.
Unfortunately though I think all we will see in the future is more losses to half the decent team we play, and getting manhandled by the good ones.
November 30th, 2013 at 7:50 PM ^
i see a lot of people happy about the game and the fact that the team never gave up but am i the only one just a little annoyed that they didnt play like this earlier in the season?
November 30th, 2013 at 7:54 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 7:53 PM ^
Where was this game planning all season long???
November 30th, 2013 at 8:14 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 8:23 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 8:27 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 8:33 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 8:44 PM ^
The game doesn't save Funk & Borges . . . because they weren't going anywhere. Brandon and Hoke are 100% behind Borges and Funk. And that's all that matters. I don't see attendance dropping at games. I've said it in other posts, but things look bright for the offense.
- Gardner is now experienced, and Morris will have had 2 1/2 years to get things down;
- Receivers are improving. With Funchess and Chesson back, along with Darboh healed up, and Harris and Ways coming in, along with Campbell in 2015, we will have solid receivers;
- The offensive line is gradually getting older and better. The depth makes a difference, and we'll start to see this next year, especially on the interior line;
- Bunting comes in at TE, Butt has exploded, and the other 4 TE's on the team will only get better
- Green and Smith are solid at RB, Hayes and Johnson improve depth, and Damien Harris will be added to the ranks soon.
Coaching continuity is very, very important. The coaches get along so well as a team. Funk and Borges deserve to come back, and I'm so excited they will.
One last comment, and it has to do with how the team played today versus some other games. A young team improves much more over the course of a season. I'm sure the Mathlete could provide graphs, but the rawness and inexperience of Michigan goes a long way to explain why they played so much worse early in the season than they did today. Honestly, if the schedule was different, and Michigan played against Akron, Connecticut, MSU, Nebraska, Penn State or Iowa next week, I firmly believe Michigan would play them much, much tougher than happened in the first game.
November 30th, 2013 at 8:49 PM ^
We played Iowa a week ago. Can I have what you're sipping on?
Does it make anyone else sad that all of the talent we have an offense will be squandered by Borges and will result in a middling offensive unit ala 1999. That just doesn't feel fair to our recruits. All that talent, one maybe two good games. (One of them against Indiana)
November 30th, 2013 at 8:55 PM ^
thank God nobody nobody listens to you
November 30th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
I hope people aren't listening to people who see one good game and think "If only the season started here" ... then we'd be straight.
It's asinine to think that one more week was all the experience the line needed to be able to be functional up until this point. More logically it took 3/4 weeks to get this new screen using offense to work. But unluckily for us Borges tried this new offense at week 9 instead of during camp. So say hello to 7-5, and loss 9 in 10 years to Ohio. yaaaaayyy!!! .
pathetic. We've always had the talent... but unfortunately we've always had Borges :/
November 30th, 2013 at 9:10 PM ^
I agree that it's unlikely that Hoke would have replaced them absent Brandon putting his foot down. This game was redemptive in many ways for the program.
Whether a change will be made or not, there is reason for hope.
December 1st, 2013 at 6:27 AM ^
if this game gives Borges cred then who are we as a program? I'm not advocating firing Hoke but a change is needed when you don't go for a score with a minute remaining in the half and one time out...when you look at the season...when you look at what Borges did with Denard...when you look at the game last year. The body of work is not good enough nor is this season's trajectory.
Iowa?... was last week... what are you saying? SRK ... I respect you but not this.
If Brandon and Hoke stand by Borges and Funk then so be it. That would not be a good decision in my opinion. Red letter games. I would like Hoke and Brandon to walk the talk. This is Michigan for god's sake.
November 30th, 2013 at 8:51 PM ^
This reminds me so much of DeBord. Most of the season you are pissed at him for being an R-Tard with play calling. Then the last few games/bowl game happens and all of a sudden you think...."we can make this work next year!". Thus the endless cycle starts.
This blog has covered this over and over.....but I agree that he needs to go. Maybe Mattison can talk someone into making the move from NFL to Ann Arbor. Could Mattison be our best offensive weapon? Mind Blown....
November 30th, 2013 at 9:01 PM ^
Until the 2 point attempt. How on earth do you run the same formation out there after they call timeout to see what we're going to do? He's just got to go.
November 30th, 2013 at 9:04 PM ^
I guess I'll break it to everyone. They weren't in trouble in the first place, and the opinion of those here just don't matter. Fortuneately.
November 30th, 2013 at 9:27 PM ^
don't ... doesn't
you... everyone.
November 30th, 2013 at 9:33 PM ^
fortunately....E-I-E-I O......
Dang nabbit