Michigan Monday: Game Analysis from the Enemy in Columbus

Submitted by StephenRKass on

The Ozone, one of the Ohio blogs covering the Buckeyes, has up their weekly column analyzing the Michigan game.

LINK:  http://theozone.net/football/2012/MichiganMonday/MM12_09_03.html.

You can read it yourself . . . Gerdeman really isn't too snarky. The upshot of his analysis is that you can't really tell a lot from the Alabama game about how Michigan will do this year.

A few bullets

  • Although he'd never admit it publicly, Hoke knew this game was close to a lost cause, with the offensive game plan, and with Michigan's player personnel, including Denard.
  • Fitz might have helped, but ultimately wouldn't have made a difference in the final outcome.
  • More running plays for Denard wouldn't have helped, and might have gotten him killed.
  • Neither Rawls nor Smith impressed:  Toussaint is the best back.
  • (not said, but an observation:  we need Green, and need to recruit another feature back or two for the 2014 class.)
  • Gardner may have potential, but he needs to improve a lot:  1 out of 8 is terrible.
  • Even given the deficiencies on the DL, the LB play leaves something to be desired.
  • Special teams was the main bright spot, between Hagerup's punts, Wile's kickoffs, and Norfleet's kickoff returns.

If you are a football junkie, Gerdeman's weekly "Michigan Monday" column can give you a bit of a fix from a somewhat neutral outside perspective while you're waiting for Brian's UFR. While the analysis is not perfect, it is analysis, unlike many of pieces found in the MSM.

StephenRKass

September 4th, 2012 at 10:25 PM ^

During the season, I'll check the Ozone on Monday or Tuesday to see what Gerdeman says in MIchigan Monday.

Depending on what is going on, I'll also check Eleven Warriors out every now and then.

But, in answer to your question, I don't go to OSU blog sites on a daily basis. And I never go to any Michigan State blogs, or any for ND. Other than Michigan, I want to know what Ohio is doing. Partly this is because they have been our most legitimate rival, and partly because my wife is from Cleveland and I have a bunch of in-laws who either went to Ohio or follow them. One nephew was the starting RB for St. Ignatius in one of their championship years, and another played QB for Ohio University until a leg injury sidelined him and he transferred to Ohio State.

I mostly follow mgoblog, but will also check articles at the News, the Freep, as well as Tremendous and Touch the Banner. And to answer the question behind your question, I'm cutting back on time at blogs. And I posbanged you for the reminder not to waste time:  thank you!

EDIT:  If I go to an Ohio blog, it is to read analysis from Gerdeman and other counterparts to Brian. I rarely will read comments or posts. I really don't care that much for what most of their fan base says.

Darth Wolverine

September 4th, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^

The only time I look at Ohio blogs is when someone on here links something that is supposed to be funny or completely ridiculous. Since that doesn't happen often, I rarely visit any Ohio blog. My number one reason is because I hate everything buckeye-related and two, I like to read comments on blogs and message boards, but since they have the most deplorable fans on this planet, I try to avoid their comment sections at all costs. Sometimes I just can't help myself and read some, then I hate myself for doing so because I usually get dumber when I read them.

AZBlue

September 4th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^

Seems like the writer spends a fair amount of time reading MGoBlog as well.

The comments however are AWESOME!  Did you know that Kenny Guiton would be the starting QB for Michigan if he hadn't chosen OSU?  (excuse me..starting QB for "meatchicken")

UofM-I-Hart

September 4th, 2012 at 1:40 PM ^

Run Denard in fear that he'd get hurt, then why is he our qb? It's a proven fact that he can't throw for shit (unless his run game is working well then he catches the defense off guard and can get some easy ones). Denard's only benefit of being our qb is his running ability and without that (as we all seen) he is overall non-beneficial to our team in any way. I know he occasionally makes some outstanding throws, but that's only 1 out of every 10 throws on a good day.



Love the guy, but come on people.... Stop protecting him. I'm not saying we have to bash him, i'm just saying we can't keep making excuses for him.



My point in breif, IF his running game isn't there (which it never is against great defenses) then he puts the team in a struggle to win ball games.

phork

September 4th, 2012 at 2:02 PM ^

Why is Denard your QB?  Because he is a senior.  He is your offensive leader.  In a blackout his smile can light the way.

Why wasn't he run more?  Because your year is based on Denard being the QB out of the shotgun doing spread work.  Once Denard is gone, you will revert back to your PlayActionPassing game of yore.  Until then he is the guy.  With 11 games to go and facing the likes of ND, MSU, Nebraska & tOSU, you don't need him killed in a game not many gave you a chance to come out of.

bluebrains98

September 4th, 2012 at 2:20 PM ^

I think the point of the analysis was acknowledging that Hoke believed this game was not going to be a W. Also, a loss here does not affect our chances at a B1G title, which has always been his stated goal. But, a loss and an injured Denard would affect our chances at a B1G title.

Whether this was Hoke's logic or not can be debated, but nobody can deny it is a valid proposition.

profitgoblue

September 4th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^

If this is true - that Hoke and the staff went in planning on protecting Denard from injury first and foremost - then one has to seriously question why this game was scheduled in the first place.  Because as far as I can tell, absolutely no good came of it.  The best that could have happened is that the program made some good money off it but we all know Brandon cried poor when the uproar about the MMB not making the trip exploded.  So what good came of it??

 

snarling wolverine

September 4th, 2012 at 3:44 PM ^

The game was originally scheduled with the idea that it would take place in Rodriguez's fifth season.  I suppose we could have cancelled it after we changed coaches, but I don't think Hoke would have stood for that.  I don't think that would have sent a good message to the team.

This game was a measuring stick.  We got an idea of where we stack up against probably the best program in the country.  The outcome was not very positive, but that doesn't mean it can't serve a purpose going forward.  It will give the guys an incentive, not just this year but beyond.  If they ever get complacent, the coaches will show them this game tape.  

 

inthebluelot

September 5th, 2012 at 8:20 AM ^

scheduled by DB and was nothing more than him waving his dick around to market Michigan. I'm reserving judgement, but there is a large group of long-time boosters and alums that are beginning to tire of his running of the AD. Jerseys aside, because I like those, and I like big time matchups, he is starting to overstep his bounds a bit. The facts are out, a home and home would have been more profitable and better exposure for the program. DB just wanted to hobnob with Jerry Jones and put Michigan in a spotlight. Too bad it was a bit too soon to avoid embarrassment.

snowcrash

September 4th, 2012 at 2:15 PM ^

That guy has been writing those columns for a long time and he is pretty consistently fair-minded and perceptive. I agree with him that we won't know much about this team until the ND game. Alabama is too good, UMass too weak, and Air Force too unorthodox.

kehnonymous

September 4th, 2012 at 7:03 PM ^

He's usually pretty fair but he got unhinged a bit towards the end of last season because he no longer had OSU's clear superiority as a security blanket.  This is the same guy who said that if you pooled 2011's starters for both squads, you'd only select 5 or so from Michigan total out of your best 22.  Followed that up with the infamous 'Urban Meyer dominating Hoke on the Recruiting Trail' article before the greatest mid-February weekend in the history of mid-February weekends.