FWIW ESPN's College Football Final Crew criticizes Borges.
It's not my intention with this thread to start another who's fault was it thread about last night. Perhaps I'm naive in that, but I'm just pasing along that when I watched College Football Final, Rece Davis, Mark May and Holtz all agreed that in their opinion the offensive game plan called for way too much pocket passing from Denard, and they criticized Borges by name, particularly May. IMO May is wildly inconsistent and Holtz is a parody (I admit to liking Rece Davis) so that critique does nothing for me, but since it's a national show I thought I'd pass it on. As for me, 6 turnovers does not necesarily equal poor game plan, but WTF. I think there may be some strategy changes made in the bye week.
September 23rd, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
It was both Borges and Denard's fault.
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
The Vincent Smith thing is probably what I'm most angry about with Borges. Denard, I'm just upset after all these years he still can't plant his feet when he throws.
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:30 PM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:38 PM ^
Everyone loved it when Smith threw the TD pass against Minnesota last year and they would have loved the play call if it had worked. The receiver was open and it was a bad throw. You take that risk with trick plays. However, to blame Borges for that game is ridiculous. We were moving the ball just fine all night and there is nothing that Borges can do to prevent interceptions except not call passing plays. If that happens, then we aren't going to move the ball anymore.
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:56 PM ^
We out gained ND and we actually outplayed them. We were in the game until the end of the 4th.
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:56 PM ^
"You take that risk with trick plays." That's exactly the point. It was not a risk we needed to take at that point in the game. Our offense was moving the ball just fine.
September 23rd, 2012 at 3:17 PM ^
in hindsight of course it didn't work. but while we were moving the ball fine, we were struggling mightily in the redzone with a compressed field. i think borges recognized that and went for the trick play.
borges and denard are both to blame, but i think denard deserves more of the blame. borges called plenty of runs for denard. we can't just not throw the ball.
denard just made some bad decisions/throws. and in denard's defense he has to throw into some awfully tight windows because while I love our receivers, they don't exactly get much separation.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:01 PM ^
We weren't struggling in the red zone yet, not at that point. It was an unnecessary call, and it cost us huge. There were many more chances to put this game away, and I thought the rest of the game plan was ok, if a little long pass heavy. Unfortunately, this one is on Denard. He's my favorite player by a long shot, but he just had a bad game.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:22 PM ^
the first redzone possession was ruined by the first pitch run, which was meant to set up the pitch pass. but since the pitch run failed so miserably, it didn't set up the pitch pass at all.
why force the play call? unnecessary trickery ruined first two redzone possessions, which set the tone for offensive incompetence.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:38 PM ^
overthought both of the first red zone possessions. First and ten at anybody's ten yard line, and Denard Robinson in your quarterback, you run Denard on first down, run him on second, and if by some miracle he is not in the end zone yet, you run him on third down or roll him out with a run pass option. I am just going to say it like it is, Borges is being stubborn and he is costing us big time. He called terrible games against MSU and Iowa last year, Alabama was what it was but last night was an abomination. He is so obsessed with making Denard a pocket passer that he is not accepting the fact that we don't need him to be to win games against almost everybody we play. It's true that Denard ran a fair share last night, but everytime Denard is put in a position to be a drop back passer, Borges is doing a disservice to the team and to Denard. If he wants to call that kind of game, the team is actually better off playing Bellomy. He is trying to fit a round peg into a square hole and it is not working, and it is really wearing on my patience.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:45 PM ^
I don't think borges called a terrible overall game against either MSU or Iowa, and no gameplan against Alabama would have made my soul happy.
I would say that in the iowa game, he stalled our offense by switching to gardner seemingly every time denard started clicking. In this game, the failed trick play was extremely costly.
But to say that his overall gameplan in this game, or iowa, etc. were bad is too simplistic, and ignores the fact that we had 300 yards of offense even after 6 turnovers.
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:03 PM ^
turnovers did not just happen independent of Borges. He is insisting that Denard do something he cannot do. He is placing him in positions where failure is all but assured. I do not know why he is insisting on doing this. Look at it like dunking a basketball, you can either do it or you can't. Denard cannot read defenses. Denard is a very smart, charming, articulate individual with what appears to be a heart of gold and ridiculous wheels, but he cannot do what is being asked of him. It is not a secret or a mystery anymore. So, either adapt to your quarterback or change quarterbacks, but don't keep banging your head against a brick wall. Doing the same thing over and over again with the same conditions present and expecting a difficult result = insanity. Enough.
September 23rd, 2012 at 9:04 PM ^
September 24th, 2012 at 11:46 AM ^
He did it brilliantly against Ohio State. He did it well against Nebraska. There was every reason to think this year would be a great leap forward in his passing. BUT Denard doesn't seem to be able to do it well on the road. It is hard to think of a road game against a good opponent in which he has played well since teams wised up and realized you have to make him beat you with passing.
September 24th, 2012 at 10:38 AM ^
Overall I like Borges' game plans EXCEPT for red zone play calls. I just don't understand the need for "trick plays: in the red zone. If you can't out football the other team ... take the 3 points and kickoff. Wasted red zone trips = losing football games.
Too many times Borges has taken the best player on the field (Denard) and has given him ONLY 1 option. Give me the ball at the 10 yard line and I'm rolling Denard on every play .... he then has the option to run or throw ... or even handoff on the counter or throw back against the grain to the TE floating to the other corner. And wait a minute .... we have 2 guys that are 6'4" (Gardner) and 6'5" (Funchess) that could EASILY go up and get a jump ball over a 5'10" corner !!!!
Argh ... throwing from the pocket is not using Denard in the most effective manner. Unfortunately, the list of of our red zone failures is growing ... and it really needs to be addressed, and I think Coach Hoke will.
Go Blue!
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:29 PM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:10 PM ^
We were up 14-0 already against a clearly overmatched team and at home. You could run the risk then. Doing this in a scoreless game against an impotent offense when points could be at a premium was stupid risk that didn't need to be taken.
And we were not moving the ball fine all night. We spent almost the entire second quarter throwing picks in our end of the field with an inaccurate passer. As much as I disliked Carr, he was famous for not chucking the ball on the road on his end of the field. The offensive gameplan was poor.
September 23rd, 2012 at 9:42 PM ^
we were moving the ball fine and didn't need a trick play called at that time. ND hadn't stopped our O on that drive so why put your 5'6" RB in that position.
September 24th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
Re the Smith part of your post, four things:
1) Minnesota does not have ND's defense. While I don't think ND's defense is great, one thing it does have is a good front 7 that bring pressure (as shown in their last two games). Vincent Smith is also short. So you are asking a RB, who very rarely throws, to throw the ball in the face of likely pressure. Not a recipe for good decision or execution.
2) It is always harder to complete a pass in the red zone, and in particular, within the last 10 yards as there is less space for the defense to cover. Smith's pass last year was actually thrown last year from about the 23 yard line, about 10 yards further out than the pass against ND.
3) Last year, Dileo was completely wide open. If you look at Smith's pass, http://youtu.be/Q_1249Nr75I?t=8s, he just nicely lolli-popped it to him, which was doable b/c there was no one within 10 yards of Dileo (or within 5 yards of Smith). Against ND, while the WR was open, it would have taken a nice throw that actually led the player and had the proper amount of arc over a defender - not too much, not too little. Again, a tough throw for an RB.
4) Minnesota was Smith's first ever pass. Doubtful Minnesota would have been looking for it. However, he also threw a pass against Purdue later. So ND, if they did some scouting, would likely not have been as fooled by a Smith pass.
In short, it was very dumb playcall. All trick plays are risks, but that had too many factors working against it.
September 24th, 2012 at 2:11 PM ^
We weren't playing MINNESOTA!!! We were playing Notre Dame...on the ROAD...and most of all the score was 0-0.
If we were up 21-0 in the 2nd half, I have NO problem with that playcall. None whatsoever.
But to make a boneheaded decision like Borges made when they score is 0-0 and they're basically GIVING you 7 point is ridiculous.
If we're up 14-0 like we should've been, the rest of the game is completely different.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:49 AM ^
We weren't playing MINNESOTA!!! We were playing Notre Dame...on the ROAD...and most of all the score was 0-0.
If we were up 21-0 in the 2nd half, I have NO problem with that playcall. None whatsoever.
But to make a boneheaded decision like Borges made when they score is 0-0 and they're basically GIVING you 7 point is ridiculous.
If we're up 14-0 like we should've been, the rest of the game is completely different.
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:18 PM ^
My issue with the call was that Borges called for a risky trick play on a 1st and goal when we had just marched the length of the field using the (mostly) non-risky Denard / Toussaint run. Save the trick play for later, it wasn't necessary.
September 24th, 2012 at 11:27 AM ^
Actually marched down the field with the Pass.
Play by Play:
Gallon 8 yard Run
Denard 6 yard loss
Denard to Gardener 18 yard pass
Pass inc
Denard to Roundtree 9 yards Pass
Denard 2 yard run
Fitz 0 yard run
Denard to Roundtree 11 yard pass
Denard to Gallon 12 yard pass
Denard to Gardener 9 yard Pass
Denard 15 yard run
Smith int
So 59 yards passing and 19 yards Rushing
September 23rd, 2012 at 3:18 PM ^
They have run that play before with Smith to great effect. Teo just blew it up and forced a bad throw.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:22 PM ^
poorly executed by smith
don't be the guy who thinks the play call is good if successful but the same call is bad when unsuccessful
September 24th, 2012 at 9:45 AM ^
September 24th, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^
obviously, this particularly refers to Te'o, but it was shown throughout the game.
This is reason #1 for me that the wide, wide sweep call and then the ridiculous HB option on a compressed field were unforgivably terrible calls.
I just can't see any word for this strategy other than "stupid."
September 24th, 2012 at 12:00 PM ^
Yeah, lets ignore the fact that ND's secondary is inexperienced and they were hoping to get them to bite on the run. Or the fact that it is a run/pass option and Smith made a bad decision compounded by a bad throw. I like the aggressive play calling, it sure beats getting beaten like a drum in a Rose Bowl because the defense knows what play you are running every time. Borges, I am sure, was trying to loosen up the front 7 and put pressure on an inexperienced secondary. Lets not forget the notion that sometimes you call a play to set up another play. Sometimes you succeed and sometimes you fail. This over analysis of every play ignores the fact that the offense put up nearly 300 yards of offense with 6 TOs...against a good front 7. Every play does not have to be a home run...thinking like this is why Denard makes bad decisions...Live to Play another Down.
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:14 PM ^
On one hand, it's not unreasonable to expect a senior QB (and three-year starter) to make better decisions with the ball than Denard Robinson made. On the other hand, it's the coaches' job to recognize the skill sets their players have an adjust their game plans accordingly.
I recognize what Borges is trying to do with Denard, but maybe after this game, U-M will have to go with a more run-heavy offense (with maybe some short passes thrown in here and there). Of course, defenses will then stack against the run, but Michigan may just have to accept that and find a way around that.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:17 PM ^
i've been getting negged on the Denard thread for saying this same thing.
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:05 PM ^
It's not my intention with this thread to start another who's fault was it thread about last night.
You just did. Way to go. If you didn't want to start another thread about it, there are a few other places you could have put it.
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:36 PM ^
Yeah, but whose fault is it that he started the thread about whose fault it was?
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:41 PM ^
yo dawg....
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^
that is one ugly predator or i guess arnold would say "your one ugly mother fucka"
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:10 PM ^
The thing is, he looked fine when he had time to throw. When he had ND in his face, instead of taking a sack or chucking the ball out of bounds, he threw it downfield.
Hopefully during practice these two weeks Hoke will instruct the O line not to block and have Denard deal with all the pressure. He's got to get that out of his head. Stop trying to make plays like that.
September 23rd, 2012 at 10:59 PM ^
Denard did in fact throw some excellent passes when he had time.
I think that the changes Borges has made to the offense have begun to set in and Denard is so focused on an improved passing game he tries to pass more than any quarterback might in pressure situations. He has a good arm and as long as he knows he has the freedom to run I think he will more quickly know when to run vs. throw.
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:26 PM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:47 PM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:55 PM ^
but as a senior he should know better by now and be able to adjust accordingly to any game time. I think he forces throws a lot to try and create something for the offense, but it'd be interesting to see how the offense would do without him forcing anything, take a sack or throw it away and move on. I'm interested to see how he improves after this game, I think he'll come back strong against Purdue but will never be an elite QB until his football IQ and decision making improves on the field.
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^
lolwat? one play doesn't break an offense for the rest of the game.
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:11 PM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:24 PM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:31 PM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:38 PM ^
Correlation does not equal causation. Many things play into the outcome of football plays/drives/games. Making the claim that one busted play significantly altered the outcome of the next X plays is pretty silly if your best justification is just your gut.
September 24th, 2012 at 9:35 AM ^
What a tired line. When you're trying to determine causation you often look for correlative patterns.
September 23rd, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^