October 11th, 2010 at 8:49 PM ^
Lloyd Brady looks like he's maturing. Seriously this is painful to watch. I don't envy Brian's job of UFR'ing it up.
October 11th, 2010 at 8:50 PM ^
Not sure I have the stomach to watch this one.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:06 PM ^
I saw the title and thought, "That's a tough to video to watch...must have been enough tougher to assemble."
October 11th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^
When did this happen? I had my buddy use a Neuralyzer on me sometime that evening.
October 11th, 2010 at 8:57 PM ^
I watched this expecting to be disgusted. Surprisingly, I was almost a bit encouraged. Specifically in the first half, we held them to hardly any first downs (2 facemasks killed us) and absolutely stuffed everything but two HUGE plays. You can't discount those, but this was not a case of consistent incompetence. Iowa runs a similar offense to State's, but it is in my opinion not as good.
October 11th, 2010 at 8:58 PM ^
Only five minutes in, but Mike Martin is fucking good. Not that we didn't already know that, but I just thought I'd throw it out there.
October 11th, 2010 at 8:58 PM ^
Dang, we look great! Strange decision by the schools to flip colors on us though... thought there would be more bad feedback from the fanbase on that decision.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:04 PM ^
That #45 looks like a hell of a player. I think he has the potential to be an All American.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:13 PM ^
Too soon man (/s)... every time somebody's said the word easy the past few days, my heart has ached a little
October 11th, 2010 at 11:55 PM ^
With all the bad decisions, poor tackling, and getting destroyed by every block, I look for Ezeh to break all records when it comes to this week's UFR.
October 12th, 2010 at 12:39 AM ^
cam will be in the running. don't think he made a play all game. and he's supposed to prevent the big plays. i mean c'mon, you're 20 yds off the line and you can't get to the RB on those big plays?
October 12th, 2010 at 8:50 AM ^
He just need a couple more years in a college strength program and a bit more time to learn the nuances of the position.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:06 PM ^
Can we have like 4 do overs?!?!?! We could make that so much less painful.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:10 PM ^
I'm gonna go put the kids to bed and say goodnight to my wife before viewing this.
I think that's best for everyone.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:16 PM ^
To be honest, I blacked out after the second interception (long story, and you don't want to hear it) so could I ask...where is the offensive video?
Also, it'll make us all less likely to say stupid stuff about how GERG should die, etc.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:32 PM ^
I find this video "offensive" don't you? lol
October 11th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
Looks like Ezeh was unblocked on both run long plays. In both plays, he attacked a gap that was already filled. Leaving huge holes as he ended up on the wrong side of the a mass of players. Allowing the rb to get through the second level with speed.
Magnus, Sharik please advise.
Not trying to pile on the kid, because there's no way to know what his assigment was. It's very possible the d lineman attacked the wrong gap as well.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:24 PM ^
As much hate as Ezeh has received over the past couple days, after watching this video for some replays, I really do think both long TD runs are on Mouton and the safety. Ezeh looks like he's maintaining his gap responsibility while Mouton is failing to read properly and getting blocked.
I could be wrong because you never can tell what a guy SHOULD be doing, but I think Ezeh (once again) got a bit of a bad rap for this game.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:29 PM ^
I thought on one of the long runs, the announcers even made a comment how Ezeh overpursued the run and shut down the outside gap instead of the inside gap, which led to the MSU RB cutting upfield for the TD. Perhaps I'm wrong. Or perhaps it was Millen.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:35 PM ^
I wasn't listening to much of the commentary. I usually don't. But at least on Baker's run, it seemed that Mouton was the one who overscraped.
It did look like there were two gaps to fill on Bell's run and Ezeh chose the wrong one, but I don't know how he's supposed to choose which gap to fill; that one also looked like it may have been Mouton's responsibility.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:40 PM ^
It's tough to know, just seems that when he's unblocked and vacates the exact hole the rb flies though. it's tough to see anything else.
A strong safety fill would hold this down to 10-12. However that can usually be said about all long runs including it seems most of Denard's. Plus without the rb getting slowed it all, it's a tough fill for the safety.
Thanks for the knowlege.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:48 PM ^
Yeah, the thing is, as soon as flow goes to the right, Ezeh books it for that outside gap. He didn't even delay for a split second. That makes me think that he KNEW FOR SURE that he needed to fill that outside gap. Otherwise, I would expect some indecision.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:06 PM ^
I see that too. He runs to the outside immediately on the first one, the Baker one.
On the 2nd one, he again takes the outside after delay taking on the lead blocker leaving the cutback. In theory, however looks like if Bell would have taken the outside, the DE would have held it to smaller gain.
Impossible for Ezeh to know that at full speed.
Thanks.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:21 PM ^
I see what you're saying on the second long TD run, but on the first it looked to me Ezeh ran himself out of the play and Mouton was left alone and there was little he could do. What are you seeing that I'm not?
October 12th, 2010 at 1:21 AM ^
still well deserved, even w/o the big plays. it just seemed that even when he was in position to make a play, he missed the tackle or got driven back several yards. he played soft all game.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:40 PM ^
Improperly coached.
Outside foot should be back, front foot should be pointed at near back, shoulders should be square to LOS. Cocked in like they are, a) there's no way they can get to their pass responsibility on time (see 4th play, hitch wide open when Kovacs is to buzz to the flat), and b) they are more easily reach blocked.
5:00--On 4th/3, you don't let the #2 receiver run unimpeded straight up the field, turn around at 6 yards and catch a ball. This is Harry High School shit; we should be jamming all seams in every single coverage, period.
Note: this post may be edited as I get through the footage.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
Drove me nuts. Mainly cause i saw that WR was going to be open just by alignment, whether he ran the stop or the out.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:55 PM ^
5:00-the 4th and 3 play. Mouton should have jumped that route. Once he recognizes pass, he looks up the number 2 receiver but stays in the curl zone. He had help inside, outside, and over the top. Alas, this is the difference between a guy who's played LB his whole career and someone who was moved there out of desparation.
Tough to blame the kid for that. He simply isn't a very good LB on pass coverage.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:59 PM ^
"see 4th play" Kovacs' stance
Would this be part of an attempt to disguise if Kovacs (I'm not sure what the diff between Spur and Bandit are - weakside / strongside?) would be blitzing or perhaps covering the TE instead of having the flat responsibility?
Sorry if I'm asking a dumb question. I played football a million (ok 20) years ago at a tiny tiny HS. Our offense and defense were uh... not very sophisticated :)
October 11th, 2010 at 9:31 PM ^
Steve, you don't know whether they're improperly coached, and you don't know whether they're being coached into that stance or if they're freelancing. To say they're "improperly coached" is jumping to conclusions.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^
It's defensive fundamentals 101. A little research will verify this.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:47 PM ^
Sharik-Magnus nerd fights!
October 11th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
Ah ha. So you know exactly what Coach Brathwaite and Coach Robinson have been telling those players on the practice field? That's impressive stuff. I had no idea you were such an insider.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:15 PM ^
I'm sure they were teaching him correctly and allowing him to do it the entire game.
As an old, wise coach once said, "You're either coaching it that way or allowing it to happen." Either way, this is a coaching failure.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:40 PM ^
1. 61-yard TD -- Well blocked. Cam takes a bad angle.
2. 41-yard TD -- Ezeh runs way outside while the dude cuts up behind him. Mouton got scooped. Patterson got Lewan mini-held.
3. Check out the Ezeh -2 at 8:38. Jumping in place while Martin runs by him.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
#3 - yeah Ezeh didn't recognize what was happening right away, then took a bad angle.
Speaking of watching the game again, I did force myself to watch most of the UM offense in the first half again. We left so many points on the board. The INTs, the Roundtree drop, overthrowing Stonum. The first pick DRob made the right choice but threw behind Roundtree.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:35 PM ^
Does anyone else really not want to watch this?
October 11th, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^
Lemme start this off by saying I don't know nearly as much as the coaches, don't see these kids play every day like the coaches, and don't know these kids strengths/weaknesses like the coaches do. But going through these plays 2-3 times each, I kept seeing Ezeh stand there, not figure out his gap until late, and get clobbered out of the play by a guard/tackle. In big plays, he wasn't in there, he was downfield tangled up with an OL. I'm not saying Demens should start, that'd be irrational. But like Sam Webb said dozens of times on his show today, if Demens comes in, how much worse can he be? And at least, if he's not playing well, isn't he learning for the future? From what I've heard, the main problem with him is his pass coverage ability, which is why he's seeing time exclusively in goal line situations. However, I just don't understand how bad he can be dropping into coverage to justify keeping him out in favor of Ezeh for the whole game. I watched him in what appeared to be his first action (correct me if I'm wrong) at 9:32, where he starts out the deepest man in the defensive formation, then manages to find his gap and plug it before the RB reaches the lane, and makes a brilliant tackle! I'm not advocating starting him, I just don't understand how GERG can justify playing Ezeh the whole game
October 11th, 2010 at 11:17 PM ^
Check out the read and scrape that Demens makes at the 9:32 mark on the goal line. That's a good play. I'm sure the coaches will give all the backers a shot this week. We will need Obi and Kenny.
October 12th, 2010 at 1:11 AM ^
I would like to see Demens get a shot with the first team. I keep hearing about his pass coverage but the last I checked UM was 120/120 in pass defense. Can it get worse?
October 11th, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
Long runs are well blocked, but it does seem on the second that Ezeh is sprinting toward the sideline and running out of the hole. Urgent, so maybe his assignment is out there, but not that far out there. I think an experienced safety limits the damage on both (Cam will get there). Trickeration play worked. Long bomb over Cullen was well thrown (and Roh almost got there).
It seemed worse during. Penalties, that damn false start that helped them, the tipped pass. They played well and got the breaks. D kept us in the game well enough. But what the hell do I know?
October 11th, 2010 at 10:14 PM ^
I keep reading that in the 3-3-5, everybody has a gap. I take this to mean that there are 7 offensive players on the LOS, so the 3-3 part of the 3-3-5 take the 6 gaps in between the 7 offensive players, and the spur and bandit take the outside edge. But Ezeh is sprinting to the sideline, meaning he either read the play wrong, he doesn't trust the edge guys, or he's freelancing, or all of the above. In the first long run, Ezeh runs out of the middle leaving two spartan blockers to take out Mouton. Mouton has no chance in that situation. That, combined with poor angles and average speed in the secondary leads to 2 TDs.
Having said that, we didn't look too bad for the first 18 minutes. Then, Ezeh got hit with the facemask penalty and it all went downhill from there.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:59 PM ^
On the false start (3 minutes in), the officials should have just picked up the flag and said there was no foul on the play. It doesn't look like anyone on either team heard the whistle.
BTW, why does MSU use a completely different shade of green on its helmets from its uniforms? The green uniform trim is almost olive.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:00 PM ^
Is 2:45 the hit by Gordon everyone has been referencing? I don't know if I want a speed bump for an alley player, someone needs to teach that kid how to tackle. Granted it's a major step up from getting blown back while attempting to wrap up as he showed early in the season, now they just need to drill him to put it all together. And maybe keep his feet, that might be pretty key.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:03 PM ^
@BlueGoM...where is this offensive tape? If it's on youtube slap me with negs, but I can't find it. If you just DVRed it...well....nevermind.
@DGDestroys...On the depth chart given out by rivals today it had Moundros OR Ezeh as the starting Mike for next game. Demens was 3rd on the chart. Wish I had a link, but it should be behind a pay-wall.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:09 PM ^
In the words of some pirate who loves MGoBlog, "The reply butt'n be thurr fer a reason me lad." But that's nothing to complain about. I'm not a premium member at Rivals, so I can't see that, but that doesn't sound too far-fetched. I'm just terrified for the future if the coaches are more willing to form a make-shift tag team of RS Seniors, one who isn't improving and one who switched over to defense in the spring, over the guy who SHOULD be our starting MLB next year. I should say terrified/confused. I really just want to see Demens more.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:32 PM ^
Let's see if I can pick out anything at all for myself. I didn't think Ezeh looked that bad. It seemed to me he had two maybe three really bad plays. The first was the first touchdown run where he left Mouton alone and helpless, the other two were late read and poor tackle combinations.
I predict the biggest goat will be Cam Gordon. It seemed like he couldn't do anything right. A lot of terrible pursuit angles and tackle attempts.
Or then again I might be totally wrong about everything. We'll see.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:44 PM ^
I think the most frustrating part of Ezeh's game is knowing that he can do this
And this
While watching him do this
October 11th, 2010 at 10:36 PM ^
If Ezeh and Cam Gorden are anything, they are consistant.
1st MSU td Baker 61 yd td run Obi (unblocked) runs himself completely out of the play and Cam takes a terrible angle
2nd td Bell 41 yd td run Obi (unblocked) runs himself completely out of the play and Cam takes a terrible angle.In Cams defense on this it was cover 1 and he had 2 wrs split way out on the far side of the play in a formation MSU usually throws out of..he simply is not fast enough to rocover from that..There is no defense for Obi
3rd down and 8 from the 44 Obi has Caper stopped for no gain but Caper runs through his arm tackle and gains 5 ..MSU converts on 4th down..if Ezeh makes the tackle they probably punt
3rd down and 16 to set up the 38 yeard field goal..cam is late reacting to a screen..he is the only unblocked defender and wiffs on Martin who gains 14 and sets up the easy fg
41 yd touchdown pass on Cullen..announcer said single coverage..sadly it was not..it just looked that way because thats how far out of position Cam was..It was a 1 man route and Cam wasn't even close to deep enough.
If that game doesn't prove the whole your only as good as your weakest link saying, nothing will.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:24 PM ^
I was sitting 10 rows up in the endzone where Cullen was burned. I closely watched the whole play develop after freaking out as they aligned and Cullen was left alone out on the island.
Cam was playing his standard deep safety position and had plenty of depth but was confused and didn't move while spying the backfield rather than moving over to give help over the top.
Major coaching error to allow Cullen to get isolated that quickly...poor recognition by Gordon to not even react until the ball was well on the way. Cullen was just a deer in the headlights.
Actually, this was a very good example of how pitiful our CB depth situation is. Clearly the coaches are only teaching/using Talbott and Avery in the nickel and dime and when Rogers went down they went to Christian who is probably getting more reps on the outside.