Keep Calm

Submitted by Sleepy on
Despite the painful loss today, this coaching staff is still 12-4 in B1G play (8-0 at home) despite having zero-ish contributing players recruited to run their offense. Also, remember that they inherited a team that was 6-18 in the B1G previous to their arrival. I know we'd all like to be contending for National Championships immediately, but have some patience--these things take time. Does anyone here honestly think we aren't headed in the right direction? Can't wait for 2013. Go Blue.

ijohnb

November 24th, 2012 at 6:11 PM ^

everybody here knows that we are heading in the right direction.  It just hurts more when you have the better team and lose.  That is what is so painful about this year.  We should be 11-1 and blowing out Wisconsin next week.  The ship has been righted but this year just could have been a lot more than it was.

In reply to by ijohnb

jmblue

November 24th, 2012 at 6:57 PM ^

We definitely could have won today's game, and that stings - but I would not say we had the better team.  Our overall talent level is not where a typical Michigan team's is.  We're not going to have slew of high draft picks in 2013 and '14.

I feel that this year's team didn't overachieve or underachieve - it performed about as expected.  What's tough is that it comes after 2011, when we seriously overachieved, so it looks like a comedown.

 

 

 

 

In reply to by ijohnb

SalvatoreQuattro

November 24th, 2012 at 6:40 PM ^

The offensive and defensive lines were mediocre, Denard is a limited as a QB, and the WR's lack speed. UM was always a 8-4  team with this schedule.

 

It isn't the coaches fault that you had unrealistic expectations. Michigan was what I thought it was. A solid, but not outstanding team.

In reply to by ijohnb

ShariaLawFan

November 24th, 2012 at 8:15 PM ^

By my math, we are headed in the direction of 6 losses (linearly) or 8 losses (exponentially).  Unless you are an anti-fan, that is unequivicably a bad sign.

This hallowed university and its fanbase demand success in three years, or else.

UMRecruitingFannatic

November 24th, 2012 at 6:52 PM ^

The honeymoon is over and we're starting to realize our dream courting period (last year) might be very different from actual marriage.  This is the fight trying to find the airport in Rome when the husband has gotten lost four times already and the wife just wants to ask every non-english speaker for directions.

mdsgoblue

November 24th, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^

completely!  I hated to lose this game, but we finished 8-4 in the regular season which is what I expected.

Let's get the bowl win and move on, even though it feels butt hurt.

Go Blue!!!!!

Jkidd49

November 24th, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^

To say we are going in the right direction doesn't mean Borges is helping... These thoughts are not mutually exclusive.   He's clearly been the downfall of a number of games over the last two years so if that trend continues, why should we believe the resutls will be any different.

TNgoblue

November 24th, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^

I think we have moved past the RichRod days but worry today is a sign we may linger in the Carr days if Hoke does not correct his coaching problems. Don't blame the players. And don't forget, good players don't want to play for teams that don't win the big games.

Tight and Shiny

November 24th, 2012 at 6:20 PM ^

...if this will provide any solace, but Michigan lost 4 games this season to teams that are a combined 44-3. (That said, 3 of those losses were winnable.)

I saw nothing this season to make me think that we shouldn't be optimistic about the future of Michigan football.

Lac55

November 24th, 2012 at 6:20 PM ^

Nobody really wants calm right now. Sobering up has only made me feel worse. For once I would like some accountability instead of that same old dry tired coach speak we're going to get. That second half was almost like watching the Iowa game yesterday. Can I get one qb bootleg run pass option with DG? Unbelievable ...

Stuart

November 24th, 2012 at 6:22 PM ^

Seems like every year people are saying "We are going in the right direction" or "Wait until next year".  We should be winning now.  Something isn't right.

nyc_wolverines

November 24th, 2012 at 6:57 PM ^

Exactly... Look what Devin did with the passing game since NEB.

 

But today - and I undersand better OSU D than prior competitors- he had success then that disastrous 2nd half.

Sick of the constant losing.

 

HOKE - not Borges, Mattinson, this is on HOKE... He better win next year or that's 11/12 years that we've been beat. And then, really, is it a rivalry if we lose next year given the consistent losses? If you want to be rational, when 1 team beats another consistently, it may be a rivalry but lacks true outcome uncertainty.

snarling wolverine

November 24th, 2012 at 7:57 PM ^

While this loss ultimately goes on the head coach's record, the losses before 2011 do not.  It's not Brady Hoke's fault that you might have accummulated frustration from the 2004-10 seasons.  He was not here during that time.  Hoke has only lost to Ohio one time - on the road, against an undefeated team, without his starting RB and with his starting QB unable to throw.   Let's keep that in mind.  Before the season, if someone had told you those would be the circumstances in which we'd face Ohio, would you have predicted a win?

 

Deli Cuts

November 24th, 2012 at 7:25 PM ^

Just think how far the program has come since Hoke has been hired. A few years ago Michigan was losing to Toledo and having offensive shootouts with basically every opponent on the schedule (UMass, Illinois, etc.) while getting torched by any elite opponents. Now Michigan is destroying lesser Big Ten opponents, and hanging tough with the upper level Big Ten teams. They even took #1 ND and undefeated OSU down to the wire. The program is moving in the right direction, I believe we just need a little more time to allow Hoke's recruits come in as well as build some depth and Michigan will be able to hang with the elite teams and pull out some of these close games against top teams.

tzwolverine

November 24th, 2012 at 6:24 PM ^

No putting Denard in motion, no mis direction plays, no short quick passes to Denard or any other of our playmakers, no use of the tight end over the middle to keep the chains moving. This was the worst display of play calling by an experience "high" priced OC I've ever seen. Hoke has to shoulder some blame for not getting on the head set and taking charge. Why would Borges keep taking Devin out after he would complete a pass? He refused to let him get in a rythm.

Calm you say!!! Calm is or after the season not now

True Blue Grit

November 24th, 2012 at 6:25 PM ^

I'm hoping today's game plan from Al Borges was an aberration and not something that's going to happen again.  I hope when Brandon reviews the program with Hoke that he says something about this to him.  I almost want to say Borges choked by calling a very conservative game plan when he had the weapons to do otherwise.  The 2nd half 3rd down plays were horrible - running Vincent Smith and Denard into the strength of their defense. And not putting Denard and Devin in the game at the same time for more plays was completely baffling.  

Blarvey

November 24th, 2012 at 7:45 PM ^

UM lost close games to two of the top three teams in the country and is possibly one injury away from playing in the B1G title game. Despite injuries to their best corner, losing almost the entire DL and OL, and next to no running game outside of Denard and Devin, the team won 8 games and has a chance for 9.

Has anybody else played the top three teams in the country? Has anybody else lost to two of those teams by one possession, on the road? This is not 1997, but it's also not 2010. There is a lot of talent and more coming in that will give us great depth for the next few years.

Believe me, I would have loved to spoil OSU's season and beat them every year, and when we lose, it sucks. That said, I am very happy that we did not get embarrassed like in 2008 and 2010, and very excited for the future of Michigan football and The Game.

leftwing19

November 24th, 2012 at 6:28 PM ^

Best post-game post of the day. Fact based; not emotional. Not including the Alabama game it's a much shorter list of plays we'd like to have back to get to a better record this year than in many recent years. Hoke has this - just like Beilein did a couple of years ago when people were impatiently expecting more in a shorter time frame. Chill out and enjoy basketball being further along the curve. Hoke et al do have this.

cp4three2

November 24th, 2012 at 6:38 PM ^

Sorry, but it's ridiculous to say they are the same. Beilein is considered one of the best, has succeeded greatly where ever he went. Hoke had a career losing record. Hoke has a talent advantage in 3/4 of the games he coaches in. Beilein had to build from scratch.

Even without talent, Beilein outschemed coaches and won upsets. Has Hoke ever had an upset win?

In ten years coaching Hoke as beaten a ranked team three times.

leftwing19

November 24th, 2012 at 6:47 PM ^

Not really comparing the coaches as much as I was comparing the time it takes to program build and the frequent call for a coaches head when it takes "too long". Right - Beilein has done more with less but that was primarily because it took him longer to sign 5-star caliber players; on the other hand, Hoke has had blue-chip recruiting success immediately. We really dont know at this point how that will influence outcomes next year Point is that it is a process to rebuild a program. Including being knocked around while you figure out how to be successful in the big ten (no matter how marginal a league in some years).

SalvatoreQuattro

November 24th, 2012 at 6:52 PM ^

 

If you knew anything about MAC football you would know how amazing an accomplishment is. Most of his losses came from his time at BSU.Then he got SDSU up and winning within two years. Hoke has a track record of success.

As to your second "point" about Hoke only beating three ranked teams in ten years is spectaculalrly misleading.  At BSU and SDSU, the opporunties to beat rank teams is few and far between. At BSU most times those were BCS schools. Schools with much better players. I hardly think it a negative that he failed to beat a top 25 BCS school while at BSU.

In two years Hoke has defeated all three rivals. undefeated at home, rebuilt UM's shattered defense, and won a BCS bowl.

cp4three2

November 24th, 2012 at 6:29 PM ^

He's been outcoached in every game where he didnt have a decided talent advantage except nebraska last year.

Last year: nd, msu, osu, va tech

This year, bama, nd, msu, nebraska, msu, osu.

This team could easily be 6-6 after a 9-4 season the year before if not for some miracle plays. Right now he looks like Weis, at worst and Les at best.

Stuart

November 24th, 2012 at 6:30 PM ^

Everyone does know that these players were NOT Urban's players at OSU.  Last time I checked they went 12-0.  I don't buy into the whole "these aren't their players" argument. 

Soulfire21

November 24th, 2012 at 6:31 PM ^

Painful that with a competent OC we are looking at 10-2 or 11-1.

Borges has had a terrible gameplan in all of our marquee games this year. And really, that extends to last year as well. Or losses are bound by a common thread: horrible, terrible play calling.

Off tackle runs and passes we destroying OSU, so what do we do? Completely abandon that successful formula and run the ball up the middle, punt. Repeat. Borges is stubborn, and bullheaded. He has a gameplan that he will execute, regardless of its effectiveness. He absolutely refuses to exploit the defense. In this case, he catered our 2nd half offense (after a successful first half, all the more maddening) exactly to Ohio State's strengths.

WingsNWolverines

November 24th, 2012 at 6:54 PM ^

This was suppose to be a rebuilding year but I will say this again Michigan did not lose to Ohio St, Michigan lost this game on their own with poor play calling and turnovers. You can't beat a team like Ohio St with 4 turnovers. We coughed up a lot of chances to get points today and didn't capitalize. The refs and all this other BS is exactly what it is. Excuses. Ohio St was practically giving this game away in the 2nd half. With that said I am very excited for the future and with Denard gone we can now focus on the offense we are suppose to be building under Hoke and Borges. It's still too early to say "fire Borges." With the 2013 class we have coming in Michigan is going to be scary good going forward, An undefeated season is on the horizon guys. Let them have their 365. We'll have ours in 2013. Book it. GO BLUE.

WingsNWolverines

November 24th, 2012 at 7:03 PM ^

It's still too early and everyone needs to stop being so cynical. If he regresses next year than yes fire him and replace him with somebody more capable. Next year is when we'll see if this staff is the right choice going forward for Michigan. Hoke is doing something right the man is what 12-4 in B10 play and undefeated at home since 2011 not mention bringing in 4 and 5 star recruits.

jmblue

November 24th, 2012 at 7:06 PM ^

Look at the recruiting a little harder. Do you see ONE difference maker on offense other than Morris?

 

What about Kalis, Magnuson, Bosch, Fox, Kugler?  Do linemen not count?  That would be odd if so, since they make up five of the 11 positions on offense.

How about Funchess?  Darboh?  Shallman?  Norfleet? All were/are four-star guys (and Funchess has clearly lived up to it thus far).

TheGhostofYost

November 24th, 2012 at 6:55 PM ^

I actually do not think we are heading in the right direction.  Our coaching staff is quite clearly inept at developing offense.  Our defense will remain stout and we will continue to struggle mightily against good competition, occasionally winning a few big games at home.  This feels a whole lot like the late Carr years. 

aratman

November 24th, 2012 at 6:57 PM ^

The champ-sports-outback who gives a damn bowl aside, I can't wait for next season.  I expect a team that is better in every way.  This was a solid season,  you all remember 2008 right?  Someone here said prophetically that they expected an 8-4 season but a better team than last year.   This is the right direction.