IA-Wisc was like two past-their-prime heavy weight boxers
These are two pretty well coached teams (except for the final 12 secs) and it was great they are both top 15, but give me a f*&king break. This was like watching two old heavy weight boxers lean on each other in an over-hyped title match. I am not sure how many shots of Clayborn wheezing on the sidelines I really need to see. His flick of his hair is darling when he takes a knee, but give me a break when Wisc is a little to fast for you.
Listen, I thoroughly bought into the idea that we could not use a pro-style offense to compete with the USCs of the world (maybe this year) since we could not get enough skill position players to ultimately win championships. I also feel the lumbering Big Ten teams will become extinct like the dinosaurs, but damn it lets speed that up. It's year 3 and I am tired of watching teams simply out execute us. We have the conditioning, we have the scheme, I want to f*&king start burying our brethren in the Big Ten that have had their comeuppance while we have been figuring this all out. Send the dinosaurs back to the stone age, make them compete on our turf and lets put some fear back into the rest of the little 8. Go Blue.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^
I thought it was a great game between two solid programs that are near the peak of their potential. I was actually surprised by how entertained I was. And when you have two physical teams like that, players will be worn down by the end.
October 24th, 2010 at 12:44 PM ^
I don't understand the need to disparage teams that are better then Michigan at the moment. for the better part of a decade I heard PSU fans put down Michigan, only to lose to them.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:03 PM ^
Patience. Competitive sports with all the friction of more experienced opponents and trying to get dozens of key parts working together means stuff get's choppy at times.
Face it, we aren't going anywhere. I'll bet even the "ok, I am done" fella that had the movie made about him is back under the tent fired up for Penn State.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:06 PM ^
We're close to a breakthrough, but it won't happen until we get that D sorted out. Look at some of the games from 1985. I know the '97 defense was great, but that 1985 was damn good as well. Despite all the talk about the offense, a dominating defense is what instills fear.
As good as USC's offense was in the 2000s, it was Rey Maualuga, Taylor Mays and those other studs on D that made folks afraid to play USC. When USC went to Auburn and shut them down a few years back, all people could talk about was the D.
Those Big 2, Little 8 Years? Dominant defenses.
We'll get better on D as the year progresses, and if we make a bowl game? Wow, who knows what we'll be looking like then. It's a tough process, but we'll get through it. Just try to enjoy watching these kids grow up into young men.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:10 PM ^
Is there really a nickel's worth of difference between Iowa and Wisconsin? Except for coaching miscues at the end of the game, it was really just a matter of who had the ball last. Was there any defense in the 2nd half of that game?
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:26 PM ^
Don't get me wrong, Wisconsin is a physical team, and Michigan runs a fast-paced offense, but isn't Clayborn's tendency to duck out of games to catch a breath going to affect his draft stock? I don't think "the other side is good" flies as an excuse in the NFL.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:30 PM ^
Teams might just send him out there to rush the passer on passing downs. Hey, let his stock drop so the Lions or [insert your favorite team here] can get him. Since the second half of last season stunk, part of me wished BG would've folded up his tent and took the rest of the season off, just so he could've slid in the later rounds to the Lions. I know it's selfish, but I knew the Lions wouldn't take him as high as they were drafting.
October 24th, 2010 at 3:11 AM ^
No true Michigan fan would ever want to see one of our players get drafted by the Lions
October 24th, 2010 at 4:09 AM ^
I'm a glass half-full type of Lions fan. I'm always realistic about our chances, but still dream for late January football in the 48226. I'm one of those Lions fans who thinks that they should be 3-3 or 4-2 right now minus the stupid penalties. So what do I know?
October 24th, 2010 at 12:02 PM ^
Well, truth be told I am a former Lions season-ticket holder (I still would be one had I not moved to Seattle). I hope you realize I only meant that as a dig at the Lions, not their fans.
October 24th, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^
Hey, I am glad Brady never came here. The Lions would be the same and the Patriots may not have those Super Bowl rings. We ruined more lives than radioactive fallout.
It's funny that I moved back to Detroit in June. I actually live three blocks from Ford Field, and I just can't bring myself to get season tickets. Maybe next year, so I can have priority for season tickets. *Yawn*
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:37 PM ^
For most of the game, it looked like good, solid football to me. Iowa may be bland, but they sure handled our ninja, point a minute offense. Before we criticize these guys, we should try beating them
October 24th, 2010 at 3:56 AM ^
They sure "handled" us. If "handling" another team's offense is giving up over 500 yards, I don't ever want us to "handle" an opponent.
October 24th, 2010 at 11:22 PM ^
Yeah, I'm sure you wouldn't mind giving up 550 yards and getting the win.......or maybe not.
I guess Iowa didn't mind being handled.
October 24th, 2010 at 1:08 PM ^
Iowa may be bland, but they sure handled our ninja, point a minute offense.
Except that we gained the most yards (522) of any team against Iowa since USC in the 2003 Orange Bowl, playing nearly half the game without our starting QB.
October 24th, 2010 at 2:32 PM ^
...we probably gained that many yards because we were without our starting QB (Tate passed for 250 yards in a quarter and a half, I don't see Denard doing that when he's struggled both weeks teams put the "MSU Place the LBs in the Running Lanes and Force Denard to Pocket Pass" strategy (I know people disagree, but the lack of points produced is the clear indicator, yardage is mostly meaningless).
October 24th, 2010 at 2:37 PM ^
...we probably gained that many yards because we were without our starting QB (Tate passed for 250 yards in a quarter and a half, I don't see Denard doing that when he's struggled both weeks teams put the "MSU Place the LBs in the Running Lanes and Force Denard to Pocket Pass" strategy (I know people disagree, but the lack of points produced is the clear indicator, yardage is mostly meaningless).
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:56 PM ^
Dinosaurs ruled the earth for over 160 million years. They adapted through numerous climate changes and mass extinctions. Show some respect.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:58 PM ^
spread is the Ice Age then? But the spread can't work in cold weather!
PARADOX
October 24th, 2010 at 12:59 PM ^
It just dawned on me that if we're going through a period of global warming, the spread offense is an evolutionary advance. Bloggers and others have opined the spread can't work in cold weather so if we're gradually warming up, that won't be a problem.
Furthermore, some of the high school recruits have expressed concerns about playing iin the cold. Eureka!! It won't be cold much longer so we'll have a recruiting advantage. We can also negatively recruit against the SEC by telling players that it will be too hot down there.
We'l have the scheme and the players; if we can only get some jobs, Michigan will be like heaven again.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:57 PM ^
but re: Clayborn...he's gotta be overrated right? A freshman destroyed him all game long, start to finish (yes I know Huyge played significant minutes but Lewan owned him early when Clayborn had energy and at the end of the game). It's not like we ran away from him all game either.
I mean, I don't care who the freshman is, a freshman can't beat a mortal lock 1st round senior, right? Or is Lewan really THAT good? Once in a generation lineman + some mental errors? I dunno.
October 24th, 2010 at 3:57 AM ^
...could easily handle Clayborn (or any other DE) b/c he had to go against BG in practice last year.
October 24th, 2010 at 12:32 AM ^
Do people keep raving about Barwis ("we have the conditioning") when we are constantly and consistently being pushed around and tossed aside like rag dolls?
And that EPIC furth quarter "We will bury teams with our superior S&C God"? Really--not so much at all.
October 24th, 2010 at 1:11 AM ^
Can't say I've seen a whole lot of Michigan players being "pushed around and tossed aside like rag dolls". I have, however, seen physical line play and speed all over the field. S&C has nothing to do with defensive players making poor decisions or not having the natural ability to be good D-1A players.
And the fourth quarter has been fine on both sides of the ball this year in all games besides UMass.
October 24th, 2010 at 3:58 AM ^
...is the guy with the funky eye typing when we need him?
October 24th, 2010 at 8:47 AM ^
That would be a telling observation, if it weren't for the fact that you're wrong.
October 24th, 2010 at 2:27 PM ^
that offer no analysis to stated point.
1.Laugh.
2.Observe they got neg banged hard.
3. Ponder a + pity point to help them out.
4. Come back to reality (no point for you!) and hope one day they will include objective analysis with their emotive opinion.
October 24th, 2010 at 8:58 AM ^
A paleolithic pro-style offense won the MNC last year. Maybe it's more about coaching than about scheme.
October 24th, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^
it's more about talent than coaching or scheme.
October 24th, 2010 at 12:15 PM ^
...but it's easier to rain on GERG.
October 24th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^
I understand GERG is a reference to def coord. What is the origin of GERG?
October 24th, 2010 at 1:20 PM ^
We may need to add ths to the MGoBlog terminology list, because people keep asking about it. Back when he was coaching Syracuse, the blog Every Day Should Be Saturday was writing about him and accidently typed "Gerg" instead of "Greg," and then decided that it would be a fitting nickname. It has since become capitalized, to underscore his cyborg-like tendencies (no normal human could maintain that perfect head of hair during a football game).
October 24th, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^
Maybe it's more about coaching than about scheme.
Nick Saban's greatest coaching move was his "knock Colt McCoy out of game" defensive call. That worked like a charm.
October 24th, 2010 at 3:43 PM ^
Oh man, I completely forgot that Alabama only played 1 game last year. Silly me. I thought they ran through a tough schedule and mangled a bunch of good teams.
October 24th, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^
Well now that you mention it, they weren't really playing on a level field then, either. Signing four years' worth of recruits in three recruiting classes gave them a bit of an edge.
October 24th, 2010 at 8:58 AM ^
I can see the boxing analogy because these powerful offenses were certainly trading punches all game long, but I thought both teams looked very good and about as evenly matched as possible. Good news for us because we could clearly play with Iowa last weekend and Wisky would not have gotten past them without the fake punt
October 24th, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^
for the last two weeks. Top tier of the B10 can compete with the whole country, minus maybe Oregon (I'm assuming them for the NC). State, OSU, Wisky, and Iowa all look very, very good, and can play with everyone in the SEC.
Unfortunately, we are not in the top echelon of the B10, say what you will. We can hang with them, maybe, but--execution, D, special teams--not there yet.
I have assumed all along RichRod would get through this year. But unless we challenge in the B10 he will not be here the following year.
October 24th, 2010 at 10:58 AM ^
Is this the same Oregon that put up a whopping 260 yards against a Big Ten team in last year's Rose Bowl?
The same one that should have lost to Arizona State if Threet didn't throw 27 interceptions?
*yawn*
October 24th, 2010 at 1:16 PM ^
No, it's not. Darron Thomas is a clear upgrade over Jeremiah Masoli at QB, and their offensive line and tailback are playing at a much higher level this year. No one was touting LaMichael James for the Heisman last year, when he was a true freshman.
October 24th, 2010 at 2:54 PM ^
Shhh, Ohio Staes fans loveee talking about last year's Rose Bowl.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:35 PM ^
It's at least a data point. The rest is just conjecture. Oregon also had LaGarrette Blount.
I wouldn't doubt that Oregon is better this year, but so is Iowa, Wisconsin and even Ohio State.
I understand the "spread is cooler than you" meme, this Oregon love fest is pretty ESPN-esque.
October 24th, 2010 at 10:38 PM ^
that I was talking up the B10. . . something you got around to doing in both posts after dissing Oregon. And if you're tired, get some sleep!
October 24th, 2010 at 11:05 AM ^
I can see Iowa, OSU (again) and Wisky hanging with and beating Oregon. It's impressive to see them storm back at home against Stanford and beat a subpar Tennessee team, but they're beatable.
Besides if they played in the Big Ten, we'd beat them because the spread won't work here!
October 24th, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^
Oregon is among the national leaders in fewest yards per play surrendered. Because of the extremely fast pace at which they play, teams get a ton of possessions against them (and eventually accumulate some yards/points), but have a hard time moving the ball overall.
October 24th, 2010 at 2:35 PM ^
with some 3rd down stops by the D? I could sorta live with that.
I just remember seeing the Civil War a couple years ago that was 50-something to 40-something and other shootouts throughout the years.
October 24th, 2010 at 10:55 PM ^
Michigan-Bowling Green is a better analogy.
October 24th, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
I see the OP's point, and yeah, I don't know how long they will last as well. Personally I'm not a big fan of the spread but if it puts up points then whatever. The one thing we should be able to do POWERFULLY is DEFENSE. We run a 3-3-5 right now to fill in for what we don't have. That isn't good. We need to be able to run a basic 4-3 defense with decent lineman and secondary and LaMarr Woodley-like- linebackers
October 24th, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^
points, but I both liked and hated it! I have always loved Big Ten football, but there is something refreshing about the conditioning and speed that Michigan uses.