How valuable our defense really is
It seems to me there's less and less defense being played every week in college football. Clemson and Louisville just played a zero defense shootout. Stanford laid an egg the other night. MSU's defense has gotten worse since Narduzzi left. Even power programs such as FSU, Texas, and Oklahoma are struggling terribly on defense this year. Alabama had a bad game against Ole Miss. The only defense I can think of that has been consistently good the last few years is...our biggest rival OSU.
Even though our offense has a lot to work on today showed that we have the talent to play bad and still win. The big question is though, can we stop the buckeyes? That will be our key to a big ten title and CFP appearance.
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:24 AM ^
I think this defense is built well to contain OSU. But if this is the offense's ceiling then the Buckeyes will win easily. Nevermind the kicking game.
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:34 AM ^
The offense gets some answers on cohesiveness, that ain't happening.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:36 AM ^
I didn't really think the offense was that bad. We had 350 yards of offense against a stout defense. Those 3 missed field goals hurt and Newsome going out hurt us too. We owned this game everywhere but the score. We need to convert on third downs and make field goals and we'll be fine.
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:48 AM ^
I agree, I didn't think the offense was bad. But Speight has to be at end of year Rudock levels if they're gonna win that game. I don't see that happening at this point.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:04 AM ^
Rudock was pretty bad early in the season. Let's see what OSU does against a legit defense against Wisconsin before making opinions.
October 2nd, 2016 at 6:02 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 7:24 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 2nd, 2016 at 11:06 AM ^
You could say that every week :)
October 2nd, 2016 at 11:50 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:37 PM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 7:28 AM ^
By game 5 last year you could see the change in Rudock. He was trending upward with every successive game.
Right now it seems to me like Speight is trending down.
But as I said in another post, I understand that's just feelingsball.
October 2nd, 2016 at 9:56 AM ^
You're comparing a guy, Rudock, who had multiple years of CFB experience at Iowa before coming here to a guy, Speight, who is basically a freshman QB.
This team with a talented and experienced senior QB would be dynamite, but that is not reality and that is what I've thought would put a limit on this season's ceiling all along.
October 2nd, 2016 at 4:22 PM ^
Yes he started strong but that was against 2 terrible defenses (Hawaii, UCF) he had an off day against Colorado, but came back and played well against penn state and was good enough to get the job done against Wisconsin who has one of the best defenses in CFB. I think fans are being a bit too reactionary to say Speight is doing poorly or "trending down" in your words.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:20 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:24 AM ^
I'm well aware of early season Rudock versus late season. I just doubt that Speight can repeat that transition. He isn't a seasoned veteran like Rudock was. I hope I'm wrong.
October 2nd, 2016 at 7:38 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 11:54 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 4:39 PM ^
I think the line has to keep him clean for more than a few tens of seconds before you will see him throw downield with accuracy. He doesn't seem to be able to reset his feet if he moves just a bit in the pocket, though, ironially, he can thrown well on the run.
I'd like to see the coaches roll the pocket when up against defenses like Wisky's. Speight can practice a planned rollout and get his mechanics down.
October 2nd, 2016 at 3:16 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 8:44 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 11:11 AM ^
thank you very much, great point.
October 2nd, 2016 at 11:33 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:23 PM ^
On the other had, Speight is a younger guy with fewer years experience than Rudock, which one could argue actually means he has even more room to grow than Rudock did. Seeing a 5th year senior take a big leap forward midseason like Rudock did is actually pretty rare, so yeah I do think "But Harbaugh" is tentatively a fair argument to make.
October 2nd, 2016 at 4:36 PM ^
Rudock came in with no off-season workouts with his receivers. His 'jump' was most likely him getting enough reps with his receivers to get timing down. Speight has had that opportunity and still doesn't seem as accurate as Rudock was. I'm not saying he's not going to get better, but I don't think it will be as dramatic as Rudock 's improvement was. I think Speight's issues will be solved over time as he gets better at reading defense and anticipating routes. Rudock 'improved', I think, because he got better chemistry with his receivers so opposed to just learning how to be a good qb.
October 2nd, 2016 at 4:43 PM ^
Your point would be arguable if Rudock's improvement was just back to pre-Michigan Rudock levels. That's not what we saw, though, so "he just got better chemistry with his receivers" seems like an inadequate answer.
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 5:08 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:51 AM ^
Right, leaving 9 points on the field was brutal. We played an elite defense today and should have had 23, not 14.
October 2nd, 2016 at 5:07 AM ^
They just have to finish some drives and clean up some mistakes. I thought that the WRs and TEs did not get enough separation vs. Wiscy D Backs and LBs. That has to improve, however credit Wiscy for being flat out good. OL and RBs had some protection mistakes which needs to get cleaned up.
I thought Speight looked great on 3 step drop, quick hitter type plays.... but he struggles more when straight back in the pocket looking downfield... then oddly enough gets much better when he breaks pocket and throws on the move. its weird.
I would like to see more quick slants and West Coast style offensive plays. There is plenty of speed and hands to do it and Speight looks more comfortable in that type of pass.
Run game did fine on Saturday. Too bad Higgy was injured but Chris Evans ran hard as did Isaac and Smith.
The OL was just starting to jelll and then Newsome went down. That hurt.
October 2nd, 2016 at 10:25 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^
Agreed. And I know if "if" was a fifth, we'd all be drunk but The score could have just as easily been 30-7. The 3 missed FGs obviously and as pretty of a catch as it was, had JD batted that ball down instead, we're on the 8 with 4 chances to get in the endzone.
October 2nd, 2016 at 4:46 PM ^
I don't think Harbaugh would have pulled out the stops to get into the endzone at the end. Against that defense, I don't think Michigan scores without pulling out all the stops.
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:58 AM ^
Wisconsin's defense is the real deal but our offense actually is very close if they kind find some cohesiveness. We could run and pass but it was putting it all together on the same drive that seemed to be lacking. OSU will be tough, but they haven't seen a defense like ours yet and as long as we can stay relatively healthy our defense will keep us in the game. If the offense can keep improving in the running game and Speight can somehow improve, any game is winnable. If it weren't for the damn kicking game this game would have felt a lot better. Anyone know why the hell we're pro-style punting again?
October 2nd, 2016 at 5:10 AM ^
No more Aussie punter. Kenny punted well with the exception of one semi shank that he got to kick over due to a penaty. He avg. close to 50 and fipped field position several times.
Id bet they are looking for an other Aussie punter in future classes though.
October 2nd, 2016 at 6:17 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 6:38 AM ^
When's the last time a Michigan offense put up as many points as we have this far into the season? I know the offense doesn't look amazing, but it is actually killing it. This Wisconsin game was against a very good D.
October 2nd, 2016 at 10:16 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:25 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:27 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:29 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:31 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:33 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:40 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:57 AM ^
So far this D has taken us to a 5-0 start. Regardless of personal ranking systems, the beat down of a top 10 team hasn't happend for our program since 2008. Everyone may not feel that's an accomplishment at this point during the season, but I, for one, am loving every minute.
October 2nd, 2016 at 3:28 AM ^
Amen to this
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:47 AM ^
Wisconsin has played maybe the toughest schedule in the country so far, and lost one game by 7 on the road to #4.
What 10 teams would you say are better?
I've got:
Us
'bama
OSU
Clemson
Louisville
Washington
Houston
Texas A&M
That's it. Top 10.
October 2nd, 2016 at 12:48 AM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:01 AM ^
I really hope that was sarcasm.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:01 AM ^
I agree except for Houston.
Wisconsin would wipe the floor with Houston.