Forcier playing to the level of his opponents?
Does anyone else think that Tate seems to be playing up or down to his opponent's level? When he's in big games, he comes up with sweet plays and does what he needs to do; when he's playing against scrub teams, he acts like he's in high school and keeps trying to do ridiculous plays. (I'd count WMU as a big game, since it seemed like one at the time). Ridiculous plays I'd define as plays that are physically dubious for Forcier to pull off against someone at this level, and/or just plain silly (bad throwaways, etc).
If so, that's a lot better than the other way around (aka Denard), but it makes me nervous, not just because of the whole losing to bad opponents idea but because we lose style points that could be important in determining which bowl we go to. I'd guess that he'll get more consistent (cliche +1) as he gains more experience, and brings his A game all the time, not just when we need it.
Thoughts?
October 8th, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^
Meh I don't really think so, pretty much every game this year has been fairly big except for the EMU game, so I think it's been kind of hard with a small sample size.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^
Tate has a strange ability to pull fantastic plays out of thin air every once in a while (read: all the time), and he's only really been forced to do that against the better competition.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:31 PM ^
His functional DNP against Eastern? His great day (as Brian has said) against MSU? Or just Indiana?
This post is pretty stupid.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:32 PM ^
I think he plays to win. With everything he has. In every game. Period.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:34 PM ^
Here is Tate's Passer Rating by game:
WMU = 189.68
ND = 144.73
EMU = 97.79
Indiana = 147.89
MSU = 126.04
Overall = 142.69
So very good for all games, except EMU
October 8th, 2009 at 3:50 PM ^
Ya know small sample sizes and everything.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:08 PM ^
Taking a closer look:
Pass efficiency D ranking by team after 5 games:
WMU = 79
ND = 76
EMU = 6
Indiana = 86
MSU = 101
Well, that supports your conclusion but not mine. However, my main point, which most of the other replies seem to have missed, was that Tate seems to play like he is a better athlete than everyone else (in a bad sense, as in trying to do plays that his level of athleticism doesn't justify) against teams not perceived to be good, and no one seems to have answered that.
Thanks for actually writing a serious response though, unlike some of the troll and run posters out there.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:33 PM ^
that this post is the first one made after a post entitled, "Sports Cliches."
October 8th, 2009 at 3:38 PM ^
This post is literally ironic and a microcosm of MGoBoard and not good for the scrappy city of Detroit.
Also, fisted.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:02 PM ^
Wow, you have succeeded in winning my heart with that comment. I must now +1 all of your posts that I see today. Thanks for the laugh.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:08 PM ^
WOOO HOOO. Half way through my battle for the hearts and minds of mgoboard!
October 8th, 2009 at 3:38 PM ^
His ups and downs don't seem to be related with whom the opponent is. However, I have noticed he performs better when it's a high pressure situation, like when we have to come from behind.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:56 PM ^
That's what she said.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:42 PM ^
Are you sure you have enough mgoidiots points to start are topic?
Silly me. You already did start one!
Potato Salad.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:46 PM ^
How many mgopoints are worth one mgoidoit point?
October 8th, 2009 at 3:51 PM ^
No one has more of those than me! (except maybe the other legends)
October 8th, 2009 at 4:35 PM ^
as the ratio of Unicorns to Leprechauns.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:50 PM ^
Anyone else read this m-go-I-do-it points? No, just me? Ah rats... (+1 mgoidiot point for me it would seem...)
October 8th, 2009 at 3:43 PM ^
I would say he definitely steps up when he needs to.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:43 PM ^
"T Force" IS playing consistent. The EMU stats are a result of the offense executing well in the ground game, giving Tate a game in which he simply became facilitator (also to give him a breather after the ND win).
This really isn't even an issue. Tate Forcier seems focused and ready to play each week. He also makes himself accountable for losses, as seen by his text sent to ESPN after the MSU game. He's got all the intangibles....surprised to see this post.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&page=d…
T Force Nation is in full effect!!
October 8th, 2009 at 4:51 PM ^
I will not be part of any campaign promoting the name "T-Force." I happen to like Tate Forcier and think he is an outstanding quarterback who will be the fundamental component of Michigan's return to prominence. Therefore, I see no reason to afflict him with a nickname as ridiculous at T-Force. That is all.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:52 PM ^
This makes sense to me. It's just like how Derek Jeter raises the level of his teammates just by being near them. He intangibled A-Rod to regress to the mean last night. It was positively Jetarian! I can only hope to one day see Tate reach this level of intangible-ness.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:08 PM ^
This is so dumb. Forcier single handily got us to overtime against State.
In every game he make ridiculous plays.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:27 PM ^
Tate has been consistent. Very good most of the time, few bad plays, and excellent when it matters most.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:36 PM ^
As a new kid in town, every game has to seem like a big game against a quality opponent. Plus, I think he's savvy enough to understand how important each game is, and that two or three big plays can make an average team very dangerous.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:41 PM ^
I don't have a vote in the Capital One Bowl/Gator Bowl/PizzaPizzaHot-n-Ready Bowl Selection Committee, but I feel comfortable in guessing that the they look at big games more than EMU-level games. As a result, if we're looking purely at style points, I'd want a quarterback who plays his best in big games.
Hell, no matter HOW you look at it, I want a quarterback who plays his best in big games. We can take Delaware State with a 'meh' outing from Tate. We cannot beat Iowa if he doesn't show up to play.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:14 PM ^
to the level of his offensive line and receivers.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:15 PM ^
Dumb thread.
More evidence that the Scout mentality is taking this board DOWN.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:20 PM ^
You are a moron. Where do you come up with this stupid shit? He has played 5 games at Michigan, won 4, lost 1 in overtime where he led 2 drives to make it go to overtime. You, my friend, are special.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:18 PM ^
I want some of your Kool Aid
October 8th, 2009 at 7:37 PM ^
Playing down to your opponents, or down in general is a trait of one John Navarre.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:07 PM ^
I believe young Mr. Tate's played in exactly 5 collegiate games....a bit premature to talk about trends. Saving the one where he's consistently pulled off something jaw-dropping in each game.