ESPN's Rittenberg Calls out the D Line
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/16501/video-michigans-defensive-woes
I agree the defense needs more sacks but I think the problems are more with the LB's then the defensive line.
September 22nd, 2010 at 10:55 AM ^
In a three-man defensive front the D-lines job isn't to get penetration, it's to maintain gaps so that linebackers can make plays.
Obviously you see why our defense doesn't work great right now.
September 22nd, 2010 at 10:58 AM ^
I also don't think you can just say an "FCS school" and discount them as terrible or not having a good offensive line. Most of the line was transfers from other D1 Schools. Didn't they average over 300 pounds?
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:45 AM ^
quite a few NFL players for being an "FCS" school. Not trying to make excuses, but they obviously have talent there now and in years past. We just seem to schedule the tougher FCS schools when we do play them. Lets call Delaware State again!
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
Correct. Sagarin has them rated above UConn, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, etc. They are a better team than most Michigan fans, and most football fans give them credit for. BGSU should be an easier game this week than UMass was last week. Especially after the scare the team had.
September 22nd, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
Lets not forget though that BGSU put the wood to Marshall last week and Marshall almost beat WVU.
September 22nd, 2010 at 1:58 PM ^
Sagarin's ratings aside, (interesting how we never discuss him unless we try to understand a UMASS almost defeat) IMO this is revisionist thinking. The only players who choose FCS schools are guys who either could not get offers to FBS schools or transferred for playing time after not getting it at FCS schools. They may well have 4-8 guys who can play at BCS/FBS level--but the entire team is not at that level no matter what Sagarin says. Now, I do agree with you that the guys will bounce back this week, the scare will cause them to really focus, and I think we'll handle BG fairly easily.
September 22nd, 2010 at 4:08 PM ^
1) Guys who transfer there after flunking out of I-A schools (e.g., David Bowens)
2) Guys who transfer there after getting in trouble at a I-A school (e.g., William Peterson)
The FCS powerhouses have loads of transfers. That's where most of the guys they send to the NFL come from. I forget which team it was, but some FCS team is starting Caulton Ray at tailback. He began the 2009 season as MSU's starter before being booted midseason.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^
But in the descriptions I've read of the 3-3-5 (including HTTV), the DL still slants rather than taking a 2-gap responsibility. They did note that it helps to have a space-eating NT
The idea is a slanting line, with one or more LB's blitzing through other gaps. Obviously we haven't done much of the blitzing yet. But from watching the games - and admittedly not having much of an idea what I'm talking about - it seems that the DL is slanting for the most part, rather than holding 2-gap responsibility
In fact, "over-slanting" - getting too much one-way pursuit - seemed a big problem against UMASS.
September 22nd, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^
You hope you don't have to slant to get penetration, but it is just part of the game. The UMass backs were also seeing the slant and then running away from it even when we guessed the play direction correctly.
September 22nd, 2010 at 1:31 PM ^
In a 3-4, the three down lineman are space eaters responsible for occupying 2 gaps. In a 4-3, the down lineman are responsible for a single gap, and shoot it or slant into it
In a normal 3-4, a slant would be gamble as you say. But in a 4-3, a slant is typical
I'm saying a 3-3-5 also has a slant as typical, from what I understand. They're not 2-gap players. The LB's are reponsible for the open gaps. Often in a 3-3-5, one of the LB's will blitz, bring a 4th man into the line. Since it's unknown until the snap who that will be, this can cause disruption in OL blocking assignments.
What we haven't really seen often is that blitzing LB. I expect we will in B10 play
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:06 PM ^
A slant isn't as much of a risk as a blitz though. In a slant the the DL and LBs can just trade gap responsibilities, while in a blitz someone is vacating an area to rush the quarterback. If we slant our whole DL to one direction then we might be screwing ouselves, but if we slant our end to the B gap and have an LB take contain then it just throws off the tackle trying to block the end, and there is still someone in the B gap and someone for contain.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^
Double post
September 22nd, 2010 at 10:55 AM ^
They'd probably get more sacks if the refs didn't let every opposing teams' O-line hold like it was legal.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:10 AM ^
My brother and I must have replayed 10-12 passing plays just to see how bad the holding really was. I couldn't believe what they were gettting away with.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^
of the new "warning" rule that Mike Martin introduced us to during the Notre Dame game.
Seriously, a warning. WOW!
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
I just about broke my hand from slamming it onto my chair numerous times, watching ridiculous holding penalties go unpenalized. My wife left the room in disgust at my behavior.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
wives are like that...
My wife continually tries to tell me that "you know they can't hear you..." I tell her that it doesn't matter. Now I have to be quiet because my 9 month old might be napping. But when he's awake, I get to clap lots when the offense is on the field. He likes that :) Teach them young, right?
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:40 AM ^
Yeah I know the feeling. We had to change my daughters nap times around so she wouldn't be asleep during the game. This past Saturday my wife had to explain to her that I was yelling at the tv because Michigan wasn't playing well. My daughter says "Go Blue" whenever I start clapping. It makes me so proud.
September 22nd, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^
My wife takes the kids and leaves for 3 or 4 hours on Saturdays. Sometimes my son stays home but most times he leaves too. It's costing me a fortune sending her shopping, but we all get along much better.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:31 AM ^
Yeah - after the last three years, I watch games alone pretty much now as well.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
I DVR them and watch them at night after my son has gone to bed. Its been difficult, but I think I've perfect the art of silent screaming. Its keeps me from waking up the little dude and is easier on the vocal cords too.
September 22nd, 2010 at 12:33 PM ^
It was the punt return by Dwight that put me over the top. Was sitting on the floor and just slammed my hand down wrong. Small knuckle on the right hand on a basement floor. I was also the greeter in my friend's wedding later that afternoon. Absolute misery.
September 22nd, 2010 at 10:58 AM ^
While I think the LBs are also the bigger problem, you have to admit that besides MM, the d-line hasn't stood out either.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:02 AM ^
Agreed, but as pointed out above, the DL is focused on gap responsibility. Yes, I would love to see more sacks and more plays by the DL, but the LB's need to be able to make the plays and we haven't been doing that very well so far. Mouton has done alright and Roh is making some plays, but all of the LB's are getting washed up in the play or are making bad angles and reads.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:40 AM ^
spider monkey crazy at the game Saturday, if one of our LB's actually steps up into a gap / hole during a running play and meets a blocker or the ball carrier "behind" the line of scrimmage (not 5 yards down field like most of the UMass game). Hell, I may be so excited, I may strip down to my tighty whities and go all Ricky Bobby on your assess and run across the field.....
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^
Well I will be there, so I will be looking out for a crazy man in tighty whities running across the field after one of our LB's makes a nice stuff. Hopefully you will have the urge to do this, because that means they finally did something right.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^
No one looked praticularly good on the defensive side of the ball Saturday.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:01 AM ^
False. Mike Martin was operating in beast mode.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
True. Even though I know a win is a win, and I anticipate they will view the UMass game as a wake-up call....I am still being a bit of a debbie downer. Saturday vs. Bowling Green, I anticpate them playing much better.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:06 AM ^
Rittenberg is one goofy looking nerd. He needs to stop analyzing football and go in his number crunching closet to attempt to calculate Denard's Dilithium speed.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^
He needs to stop analyzing football and go in his number crunching closet to attempt to calculate Denard's Dilithium speed.
This is a futile endeavour. Can you quantify Zoltan's Emperor-ness of space? Tacopants' leaping ability? MSU's definition of 2nd chance?
September 22nd, 2010 at 12:33 PM ^
Since the universe is ever expanding, Zolton's "Emperor-ness" is also ever expanding. It will eventually approach infinity.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:16 AM ^
Cool pic bro
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^
When did UM fans start liking Rittenberg? Or maybe I struck a chord with the "nerd" comments.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:24 AM ^
links to MGoBlog about once a week? Actually gets facts from the source? Is one of the only MSM people who look into things, investigate, and report? He doesn't unfairly bash Michigan most of the time?
Cites Mgoblog?
Yeah, that's probably why.
Also, you didn't comment on his writing, analysis, or anything of value. All you said was "he looks like a nerd, and belongs in a closet"
So yeah, quality comment there too
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
I forgot, he is on our football team. Oh wait, he's not. So he steals information from Mgoblog, and has to cite it. Why would I have to show any allegience to Rittenberg? And why are you? I'll email him and let him know you want to give him a hummer.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:35 AM ^
oh wait. No you're not. I expressed that I like rittenberg's writing.
Now you're dropping to homophobic remarks...
Way to contribute, Bro
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:39 AM ^
No one on this board is on the team. That wasn't the point dumbass. The point is, why would I get negged for saying I don't like Rittenberg, when he has no association to UM football except he cites our blog every now and then. That's cool, ban me.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:47 AM ^
You didn't say you dislike Rittenberg's writing, or any of his analysis.
You said he looks like a nerd, and therefore, shouldn't be analyzing football. That's what I took issue with. Also, typically at MGoBlog people don't just start insulting other people with disagreements. There's some level of common decency not usually found on the interenets.
Also, the first rule of mgopoints, is you don't talk about them, you've done that a bunch too...
I'm done feeding the troll, anyone else?
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
What a waste of time trying to reason with you. Keep being proper assholes, which reflects our fanbase to a T. Just look at the type of people attending our games, quiet and proper "Iive in a metaphorical proper box." I'll keep watching my team play and try to forget some of the dbags who wear the same colors as me. Peace.
September 22nd, 2010 at 12:39 PM ^
Why do you keep using the word 'proper' like that? Are you British? What is a "metaphorical proper box?"
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:24 AM ^
Or maybe you're just a troll.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:31 AM ^
Me making fun of Rittenberg is no indication of me being a troll. The term troll is thrown around here way too often.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:34 AM ^
haha ok let the negging continue. If anyone with over 5000 points would have said my comment, they would be carried off the proverbial field while getting +1'd left and right.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
someone who has been around for a while and has over 5000 points likely would not be engaging in ad hominem attacks of this variety.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:49 AM ^
Wrong. I have been reading this site for years now. The "haha gay joke" was just meant as a way of saying, "dude, why are you so f'ing in love with Rittenberg and why are you defending him when half this board was hating on him a couple months ago." That is all.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:34 PM ^
Wow, what an ass. No literally, that avatar... what an ass.
Seriously bro (eek, i can't believe I just said bro) just take a second and breathe. Rittenberg is solid and he gets respect out here. Referring to him as a nerd is uncalled for. It's not really an insult anyway. He does a solid job of knowing more in depth about M than most MSM and that's why he gets love out here.
EDIT: Thanks MODs for making my comment look absurd/out of place.
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:02 AM ^
It became obvious at a point prior to your post that comments had been deleted. Do people think that the Moderators should leave the posts with a substitute message along the lines of "Content deleted."? Is that possible.
As I said, it became obvious here because there were so many gaps but there are occasions when I'm not sure if that's what happened. Also, unless the deleted poster is banned, it would be nice to know which posters have been so out of line that they merited this attention.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:13 AM ^
Roh has looked promising so far this season, and obviously Mike Martin hulking it up is a no brainer. Not that he's played poorly, but I am disappointed that RVB has not been making the +2 and +3 plays he would somehow find a way to make last year. He seems steady but unspectacular, though I am afraid we probably require better production than that to win 8 or 9 games.
September 22nd, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^
also, roh has been disruptive but there have been so many plays where he couldn't finish. frustrating watching the QBs break contain. he could easily have a half dozen sacks by now if he was able to wrap-up the QB.