Losing versus blaming
So after reading the board the past couple of days, I have a faint sense that people are unhappy with the loss to State and believe that something (in this case, Denard's passing arm and/or illicit love triangle with both Tacopants and Taquittoshorts) should be blamed. And while I understand the sense of anger with losing to the Spartans for the 4th straight time, I don't understand this patholigical desire to blame a TEAM's failure to win on a single player and, even worse, propose some half-cocked remedies like replacing Denard with Devin Gardner.
I get that it sucks to lose to a rival, especially one as mind-boggling annoying as MSU, and the way the team lost (with all of the personal fouls and rough tactics by the MSU defense) certainly didn't help. But sometimes teams just lose because the other team beat them, because players struggled or failed to perform, and it isn't because one player "cost" them the game. Yes, Denard struggled throwing the ball, but the whole offense failed to perform up to task. The offensive line was unable to open up consistent running lanes or provide a suitable pocket for Denard to work out of, and the RBs were never able to generate consistent positive yardage (a problem we have seen all year). The WRs, while certainly open at times, also dropped a couple of very catchable balls that would have extended drives (the Roundtree one jumps to mind, and I believe Koger also dropped a close one, amongst others). The defensive line was unable to create much of a pass rush against a mediocre State line, and the LBs failed to stop up cutback lanes and tackle MSU's running backs before they could get going. The defensive backfield, while solid at times, were also guilty of poor tackling that allowed MSU WRs to score near the goalline as well as extend drives. And the coaches made a number of questionable decisions on both sides of the ball, sometimes leaving players in positions where they could not succeed.
My point here is that the TEAM lost that game, and that's okay. It happens. Denard is a part of that team, but to lump the blame on his shoulder after what he has done these past two years is offensive. He had a bad game; so did Fitz, Smith, Hemingway, Martin, Demens, Borges, Hoke, etc. The TEAM lost, and hopefully the rest of the year the TEAM will win. But I don't hear people calling for Rawls to get more carries, for Schofield to replace Lewan, or for Campbell to replace Heininger full-time. I want this TEAM to win because it is a fun bunch and they have been through so much these past 4 years. But as a fanbase we need to accept that losses happen sometimes not because a single player "failed", but because the TEAM just didn't perform. And that's okay as long as they get better.
October 16th, 2011 at 10:29 PM ^
I give up....there are too many of them for me to take on alone and I have nothing but logic and reason to fight them off with.
October 17th, 2011 at 9:32 AM ^
Did you mean logic and reason like calling anyone who doesn't agree with you morons and idiots?
Look, I don't think Denard should be benched either. I hope a majority of the fans think this is a ridiculous idea. But that's not to say that someone else's opinion doesn't have some merit. We're not dealing in the realm of certainty on any of this. If we were, we wouldn't need to pay coaches, any armchair qb could see the truth of one option and rule every thing else out.
Here's my problem with those who want to yank Robinson.
We have new coaches with new systems in place. We are still working through some of that and will continue to do so. Also, any qb, no matter how accurate a passer, is not going to be effective when hurried and pressured. There can be constructive criticism to go all around, from the coaches on down. Guess what, this team is still a work in progress, and we'll probably lose another game or two this year. Most people coming in thought this team would lose about 3 games this year. We are still on track to meet or beat that. But if we go panic mode and start making radical changes (and yes, changing your starting qb midseason is a radical change), we're not going to be as successful.
October 16th, 2011 at 10:46 PM ^
"the RBs were never able to generate consistent positive yardage"
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<br>REALLY? Dude, did you watch the game? The RB's only had 6 attempts the whole game! Kind of hard to generate yardage when you only run 6 times. In fact the RB's had twice the YPC that Denard did, so your point is completely bogus.
October 17th, 2011 at 9:28 AM ^
Well, actually the RBs had 16 rushes (10 if you ignore Devin), with a long of 26 by Smith. Denard ran 18 times (though some of those were scampers after the pocket broke down). But my point is at no point this season did I feel the running game really take off, even against Minny. This is a pedestrian unit of RBs, good enough to grind out yards if the line is blocking but not designed to move the ball efficiently. Watch Baker on MSU - he moved the ball effectively all day because he could run through first contact and get yards. Name one RB on this team who can do that consistently and doesn't fumble or squirt through creases in the blocking like Smith? So no, Dude, I don't think it is wrong to question the RB situation, especially given how mediocre the unit was last year as well.
October 16th, 2011 at 11:53 PM ^
It's really hard to pass the ball when your oline isn't giving you a whole lot of time to throw and your offensive coordinator isn't trying to run the ball. Not to mention the howling wind out there. I'm not second guessing the coaches, they had a game plan, we just didn't execute it well. I do believe we should have ran the ball a whole lot more but thats just me. I hate losing to State as much as anyone, but I'm happy with a 6-1 start. I definitely believe we are much better than last year. As poorly as we played we were still 9 yards away from tying it up, on the road in terrible conditions. Last year we got blown out at home. Brady and the coaches have most of the same players but I see a huge improvement overall, and were going to continue to improve. We all hate to lose but did any of us really believe we were going to go undefeated??????? I still see 9-3 or 10-2 for us, which I think we would all have taken very happily at the beginning of the year. WE may have a ways to go but we will compete hard and continue to improve with each new recruiting class. I'm very excited about the future of this program and no shitty loss to a bunch of thugs from East Lansing will change that. I'm much more proud to be a Michigan fan and lose with class then win the way they did. There's a big difference between playing tough and physical and just plain being cheap shot artists and thugs. With tempers like that I'm sure we'll see them in jail soon enough for beating their girlfriend or getting in bar fights.(oh wait, that has already happened!) That being said, time to move on to the next one, long season yet to go. Keep the faith, this year and team are different! Go Blue!!!!!
October 17th, 2011 at 6:40 AM ^
"I want this TEAM to win because it is a fun bunch and they have been through so much these past 4 years. But as a fanbase we need to accept that losses happen sometimes not because a single player "failed", but because the TEAM just didn't perform. And that's okay as long as they get better." -bronxblue
This rather encapsulates something I have been trying to say throughout several threads, and I think it is at this point that you see the clear distinction between fans and fans who are also students of the game itself. It is absolutely a dynamic problem on the offense, not the sole problem of a single player.
Again, with better play on the line, Robinson runs more and/or some of those passes which fell harmlessly to the ground fall into the hands of Roundtree or Touissant or Koger or whomever. With better footwork from Robinson, some of those passes are lasers. It's all stuff you can work on - stuff the team can work on.
We could also have this discussion about defense, but as about 50 others have had it already, no need to contribute - someone just needs to bury the horse and let us start preparing for Purdue.
October 17th, 2011 at 9:00 AM ^
that 2011 = 2010 in that Michigan couldn't beat a good team (I guess ND was "good" but maybe they are the 1 exception) and we are on the same path this year.
Look at your post and tell me what was not the case in 2010 (I know GERG sucked, but 1 year ago, when Michigan was 5-1, with 1 loss to State, he didn't seem as awful as he was)?
October 17th, 2011 at 9:31 AM ^
This I agree with. People fear 6-1 becoming 6-7, but this team is way better than last year, especially on defense. People forget, but that whole 2nd quarter UM was living on MSU's side of the field, and each time stopped MSU drives close to their own endzone. If the offense had been even a little better, UM goes into halftime up 7-14 points and we have a different game. I do think this team can beat good squads, and will before the year is done.
Last year, UM needed late-game wins over UMass and IU to get to 5-1; this year, they had an close game against ND but otherwise trashed their competition.
October 17th, 2011 at 9:49 AM ^
so much as the dirty antics. I would rather have lost by more in a clean game.
I don't care much for the late hits, those will happen. I'm pissed about Gholston. He should have been thrown out in the 3rd.
Frankly, I'm willing to overlook the punch, but what he tried to do to Denard in the pile, torquing his helmet, was unacceptable and dangerous. If you watch the video, it was a completely malicious attack that he tried to hide. You can see him try to cover his actions with his body.
Combine the punch with that action, and he should be suspended for the next game, if not the season. I will be livid if he plays on Saturday. If he does, Dantonio can never again (not that he could before) claim he runs a clean and disciplined program. The MSU fanbase should not accept this type of play either.
I know I should get over it, but it still stings because it feels like an attack on a friend.
October 17th, 2011 at 9:50 AM ^
couldnt of said it better myself....