The last tackle
Folks, I'd like to introduce you to someone. Bear with me though, because that someone doesn't exist anymore. We have a picture though:
#4. The fellow's name is Vincent Gray. Oh, he's a lot more athletic than any of us, but by B1G standards, he's a crappy football player. Can't run, doesn't know what he's doing, here in the process of getting roasted crispy. That happens a lot. Don't take my word for it; his advanced stats are terrible.
Feel free to dump on that guy. He sucks. It's OK, though, because he's gone. No one has to watch his garbage play anymore.
He was fading anyway, but last Saturday, he was finally, completely erased by another guy. This dude took his place on the roster and, on Michigan's last defensive play of The Game, smothered the best college receiver in the conference -- arguably the country -- to snuff out OSU's last hope of victory:
#4. The fellow's name is Vincent Gray.
November 29th, 2021 at 12:09 PM ^
Perhaps all Vincent Gray #1 needed was a good dose of Steve Clinkscale to become Vincent Gray #2. Every CB has shown major improvement this season.
November 29th, 2021 at 12:32 PM ^
I am astounded by what Clinkscale accomplished. It looked like Gray's limitations were athletic, i.e., fundamentally un-fixable. Guys were just running by him. What the hell did Clinkscale do?
But whatever the coach said, Gray had to put in the effort. That he made the last tackle was poetic, but he was good in coverage all game. It's like watching two completely different players, hence the narrative.
November 29th, 2021 at 12:10 PM ^
Odd post. Not really a fan of roasting our own players. Beyond that, even if he had missed that tackle. He had two teammates nearby who would have stopped Olave short.
November 29th, 2021 at 12:13 PM ^
He's not roasting him, it's sarcasm. He's trying to show his amazing growth, and how nice it is for him to end his career this way
November 29th, 2021 at 12:16 PM ^
Sarcasm? Please explain...
November 29th, 2021 at 1:19 PM ^
Not sarcasm so much as a literary device to communicate his metamorphosis.
November 29th, 2021 at 12:13 PM ^
I’m editing my comment. The post is discombobulated and a little hard to follow. It has elements of both sarcasm and actually a little demeaning towards Gray so yeah i just gonna edit my comment and leave it as this.
November 29th, 2021 at 12:14 PM ^
Here's the diary I posted after the Western game where I specifically identified my discomfort with Vincent Gray in man coverage among other takes of varying quality. Gray... has strongly outperformed my expectations this year. I don't think he's been beaten in single coverage on a receiver that was thrown to like he was on the play I pointed out since, and we've played some guys. Great combined work by both the defensive staff to coach him and put him in positions to succeed, and Gray (and DJ Turner and Gemon Green) to perform extremely well, even when manned up on guys.
November 29th, 2021 at 12:25 PM ^
wow. colored me shocked. college kids get better. who knew? i think a better example is J Ross. he has been stellar a LB this year.
November 29th, 2021 at 12:38 PM ^
To be honest, Ross has been a mixed bag this year, just based on the grading.
But his monster stuff on Henderson to end OSU's first drive in the second half was one of the most important plays of the game. We have that forever.
November 29th, 2021 at 12:33 PM ^
Redemption is sweet!
November 29th, 2021 at 12:40 PM ^
He has become a helluva player, dragonchild!
November 29th, 2021 at 12:46 PM ^
We all owe Vincent Gray an apology, and he deserves massive credit for his improvement and everything he's done this year. Full redemption and then some. I'm sorry for being a hater, Vincent
November 29th, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^
I'm with you if anyone was reacting to his play and making unsubstantiated comments about his character. Otherwise, I don't know that anyone needs to apologize for calling a spade a spade. His pass coverage last season was objectively putrid. He single-handedly lost Michigan games, but kept starting by default.
This is a very simple redemption arc, a practically Disney-esque turnaround. He was legitimately terrible; he changed. He went from chronic embarrassment to covering Chris effin' Olave. (Who, FWIW, pulled Gray up to his feet after the play -- I'll ack that sportsmanship.)
So, like I said. . . it's OK to crap on 2020 Vincent Gray (his on-field play, anyway), because 2021 Vincent Gray is a completely different player, and that's a marvelous thing.
November 29th, 2021 at 12:48 PM ^
You could make an argument for VG being the toughest kid on the roster. Takes one hard SOB to come back from what happened to him last year. So happy for him.
November 29th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
This. His on-field blunders were broadcast on TV and recorded and uploaded for the world to see. I probably would've quit playing football entirely after that. He even could've been pushed out by Turner, instead of Green. The fact that he wasn't indicates that by midseason he was arguably the best corner on the team!
November 29th, 2021 at 12:50 PM ^
I love this! Gray has been the object of more UM fan finger pointing and harsh criticism than any other single player on this entire team. And it all stems from a shitty game against MSU, when he was a raw freshman in Don Brown's press coverage only man-to-man defense. He was not given any chance to learn how to play - thrown directly into high pressure situations on a team that had no idea, no clue, and no desire to be competitive.
His play improved steadily after that MSU game, and has continued to improve steadily throughout this season. Saturday, he blanketed OSU's NFL WR's as well as DJ Turner did, as well as Gemon Green did. He delivered excellent tackles, including a few big tackles in run support on the edge. Nobody got by him with the ball like they got by Hill a few times.
Give the man his credit.
November 29th, 2021 at 12:54 PM ^
Not trying to be the turd in the punch bowl, but after watching the game, rewatching the game, and watching BIG 10 Football in 60, there is still work to do in the secondary. I believe we all recognize it.
I agree with the improvement aspect, but many posters have noted Dax’s tackling issues and corners not looking or knowing where the ball is. Could be a concern if we get into CFP.
November 29th, 2021 at 1:24 PM ^
We had serious tackling issues in the first half. I remember making many such comments.
It seemed like there was a change at halftime. Maybe they just settled down. Maybe the coaches helped them identify whatever they were doing physically and mentally that had led to those misses. But the second half was a very different tackling tory than the first half.
As far as coverages, halftime adjustment has been one of the huge differences between this and previous defensive staffs. This game was no different. OSU threw for a lot, but much of that was ridiculous throws by Stroud, plays by their receivers, and neglected/botched reviews by officials.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:27 PM ^
I think the change was just slowing down when moving in for the kill. I saw Dax, in the first half, miss 2-3 open field tackles he normally crushes. But the OSU WRs were athletic enough to dodge the hit and continue on their merry way. Most mere mortals cannot dodge a Dax Hill type of human coming at them so fast. So yeah, I'm pretty sure they just pulled up a step to be better able to deal with the attempted juke.
Also, I'm pretty sure the team was expecting some super-human athleticism from OSU, and didn't get it. They realized they matched them athletically. At that point its a mental game - and OSU had nothing to pull from when they realized they couldn't just out-athlete an opponent.
Makes me wonder... If OSU was a legit part of the unholy quadrumvirate, do they all think that athleticism alone will them games? Heh...
::It wasn't a word, but it is now::
November 29th, 2021 at 1:29 PM ^
And it's impressive when you can be a turd without even trying, lol
I love the "Not trying to be..." type of introduction.
November 29th, 2021 at 4:20 PM ^
November 29th, 2021 at 12:56 PM ^
(Deleted double post)
November 29th, 2021 at 1:01 PM ^
There's always work to do but that's the best receiver group in the country. #2, #5, and #11 are all surefire first round picks. You're never going to completely stop a group like that but keeping them from running wide open down the field is what let us win the game. No playoff contending team has a WR group that good, full stop.
November 29th, 2021 at 1:00 PM ^
Simply saying Vincent Gray has had a remarkable turnaround would have sufficed. I'd even agree with you Gerald.
November 29th, 2021 at 1:06 PM ^
Well, that's no fun.
November 29th, 2021 at 1:15 PM ^
One year ago a completely disinterested team took the Big House vs a winless Penn St team and looked like they’d rather be anywhere else.
How that team became THIS team isn’t remarkable, it’s pretty much a miracle.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:45 PM ^
Congrats to Gray he’s played great this year.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:49 PM ^
Isn't there an old saying about the greatness of a DB being their ability to forget the last bad play; well considering Vincent had to forget about every play last year, he might end up being the greatest CB of all time.
November 29th, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^
I’ve always knew that the Viper position caused our defense to suffer! The whole defense suffered. Thanks for everything V. GRAY you have totally redeemed yourself! GO BLUE FOREVER