Gattis says "the blueprint is out" and "we won't beat ourselves" against OSU again

Submitted by UMxWolverines on March 20th, 2020 at 7:45 PM

I'll probably get negged by the mob, but anyone else tired of this nonsense? From Chase calling their 2018 win a "mirage" to Don Brown saying they "better be careful" before the game last year it seems like all this program does is talk.

Corona may limit us to work from home...... but don’t think we’re sleeping! 2019 is over but the lessons learned live on! 2020 we won’t be so kind to beat ourselves ...
The BluePrint is out! We have only☝? thing on our 〽️ind! #ARealOne pic.twitter.com/OXdtM20S5H

— Josh Gattis (@Coach_Gattis) March 17, 2020

UMxWolverines

March 20th, 2020 at 7:59 PM ^

Except we didn't beat ourselves, losing by 29 is not beating yourself. Fans and coaches all seem to have this similar mentality. I saw it a lot on here after the Wisconsin and PSU games. If you can't admit the other team just had a better gameplan and continuing to think your own gameplan was fine how can you fix anything? 

LabattsBleu

March 20th, 2020 at 8:06 PM ^

have to agree... 'beating ourselves' implies that Michigan controlled the game until they made an error to lose the game.

Give OSU credit: they outplayed, out schemed and out coached Michigan.

the last two games haven't been a case of Michigan losing the game as much as not even being in the game

clarkiefromcanada

March 20th, 2020 at 10:05 PM ^

Michigan was completely in that game for the first half. Mistakes by Shea Patterson cost points that would have made it even closer. 

This idea that they got run from the opening whistle is silly. 

t(tm)OSU ran them in the second half but Michigan could have done a lot of things to make that game closer. Hell, Michigan had a shot to make that a 7 point game mid way through the second half (then gave the ball up, of course).

LabattsBleu

March 21st, 2020 at 12:11 PM ^

Sure, Michigan 'has been in the game' in the last two game in the first half... unfortunately games aren't won on halves; you play 60 mins.

OSU made adjustments in both games at halftime and smoked Michigan in both games.

People suggesting "IF Michigan didn't do______, it would have been a different game" often don't acknowledge the same can be said for OSU; that Michigan not doing X automatically means OSU does Y. There's no way of determining that. I could easily argue that if Michigan tied the Game, OSU would have still won by 22 or 35. Both are equally as likely as Michigan winning by 3 if the tie happened. 

So, yeah, they didn't get run in the first half, only the second...I guess "hoorah"?

clarkiefromcanada

March 21st, 2020 at 1:13 PM ^

My point is they did not get outplayed and outschemed in the first half. They did shoot themselves in the foot on multiple occasions (some blame on Shea and some on Harbaugh conservatism, IMO). Similarly, second half they played well enough to close the gap and then shot themselves in the foot (again). 

Michigan may or may not have beaten themselves as Gattis suggests but without those (major) screw ups the odds of success sure go up significantly.

LabattsBleu

March 22nd, 2020 at 2:26 AM ^

so Michigan 'shoots themselves in the foot' in the close games, but the same excuse in the games they get blown out?

OSU is ahead of Michigan, in every possible way imaginable on the football field... people can try excusing it, rationalizing it, or be in denial of it.

If people want to take a moral victories out of losses, that's certainly their prerogative...Fact is they are 0-5, and 1-15 since 2003. At the end of the day its the only thing that matters.

 

bsand2053

March 21st, 2020 at 6:45 PM ^

Agreed.  Michigan recruits quite well but OSU, Bama etc are on a a different level.  Some of that is out of our control (bag, academics, character) but we need to step up in other ways (win big games, more involvement from Jim, prioritize recruiting chops when hiring assistants).

Bo Harbaugh

March 20th, 2020 at 7:56 PM ^

Meh.  Gattis called a good game.  Offense dropped balls, missed open cuts, missed open receivers, etc. How can he ensure that his players execute?

More importantly, is he coaching defense now?  How is he planning on keeping OSU under 60 points.

Yes, the blueprint is out.  Be Clemson., have Dabo coach your team, and have a deep d-line and game changing QB like Lawrence or Watson.

Beilein 4 Life

March 21st, 2020 at 9:35 AM ^

Obviously the 5 star elite athlete that is going to be drafted mainly because of his potential dropping a bunch of balls is going to be the offensive coordinator who has been here for 1 year’s fault. He is also at fault for the mental mistakes we have made against OSU for all the years before he was here as well. Duh

LabattsBleu

March 20th, 2020 at 8:02 PM ^

Hope springs eternal i guess...?

it seemed to me it was more of a case of Michigan's defense not being about to stop OSU's offense? maybe i'm mistaken as i am sure i was blank out drunk before the end of the game

DJMich23

March 20th, 2020 at 8:17 PM ^

No we need confidence right now. Even if it is useless (pathetic) smack talk. Something or someone needs to light a fire under this program. We need a sense of urgency from this staff and Gattis has provided that from day one. No reason to be silent now. We honestly have nothing to lose.

PTOAD

March 21st, 2020 at 9:28 PM ^

I agree with what you are saying, but I think this continued bravado is part of the issue. Continuing to act like the team is at OSUs level gives them even more reason to want to trounce us the next year. Why not be realistic? Why don't we try saying we are tired of getting our asses handed to us, and we have a lot of work to do? Why don't we say it is our job to make this a rivalry again?

Making excuses as to why we lose every year instead of giving OSU credit, isn't helping at all either. 

maize-blue

March 20th, 2020 at 8:35 PM ^

I think the offense will be fine moving forward. The problem is OSU has the UM defense figured out. I believe they are better prepared. They know exactly what UM will do. They know UM's adjustments. 

I think if UM gets run off the field again this season Harbaugh and Brown will part ways. 

I like Don Brown but everything comes down to OSU.

Gulogulo37

March 20th, 2020 at 10:36 PM ^

OSU absolutely had Michigan figured out in 2018. That's why Brown diversified things.

From Space Coyote and others, there seemed to be 2 big problems last year. First, not having a good DL. Second, Michigan couldn't defend Duo (a running play) right. Didn't even seem like OSU was particularly tricky with it. IIRC, that was mostly the DL and Khaleke.

The DL should be much improved with almost everyone back, and Hinton on track to a take a big leap forward (hopefully with one other DT). Khaleke was pretty good but not a huge loss. Starting LBs should be really good, and the backups will be very young but numerous and talented.

Brian Griese

March 20th, 2020 at 8:40 PM ^

I knew we couldn't make it through this shutdown without someone from the football program cranking up the hype machine with some line of BS for the Kool-aid chuggers in hibernation.  Does anyone get tired of this program, built on hype and mouth-running, with nothing to show for it?

Brian Griese

March 21st, 2020 at 7:26 AM ^

Exactly my point. We watched a basketball program get built from the ashes without sound bites and arrogance. Even when the wins came, the program displayed a high level of humility.  It gets old to hear the same narratives brought up year after year (we’re this close!) when the reality doesn’t jive with the truth. 

blueday

March 20th, 2020 at 8:43 PM ^

Another comment that wasn't needed. We could have snuck up on them. Question is ... are we going to prepare all year or just show up and play not to win again.

markusr2007

March 20th, 2020 at 8:44 PM ^

Just stop yapping about what you're gonna do and how you're gonna do it, and JUST DO IT.

This is becoming the dumbest thing ever when you have lost 5 straight games by an average score of 25 to 44. 

The only thing more embarrassing than the scoreboard is the insistence on flapping your jaws about how its going to be different next time.  Just shut up and show them.

Because right now they are just laughing their asses off, and not without good reason.

stephenrjking

March 20th, 2020 at 8:46 PM ^

Feels kinda good to gripe about something as meaningless as losing to OSU. Really does. 

So: I don't mind the statement too much, as he's only talking about fixing our own stuff. And I appreciate the fact that he's taking this stuff seriously.

Win the Game. 

Actually, first things first: Play the Game. Let's see about getting a season in, first. 

(A guy I know and care about is improving after being hospitalized with you-know-what.)

clarkiefromcanada

March 20th, 2020 at 10:26 PM ^

This.

If he says nothing then Gattis: a) "doesn't understand the rivalry" or b) "isn't focused on Ohio State...they practice for Michigan every day".

If he says something like the above then Gattis should: "just shut up until they win something".

Nice to discuss less important topics like football but at the same time /smh