Michigan Monday at the Ozone
This was just posted. Excellent write up. Surprises me how balanced his perspective is time and again.
http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/All-Sports/All-Seasons/News/Michigan-Mon…
What are your thoughts?
September 1st, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^
My first thought was why didn't StephenRKass post this? Nothing against the OP but that used to be his weekly event around here.
September 1st, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^
I kind of like it this way, without a five paragraph analysis of a five paragraph analysis.
Michigan Monday is great reading.
September 1st, 2014 at 10:23 PM ^
I lked his synopsis. Saved me from having to actually go to an Ohio State site and get solied by the delusional comments.
September 2nd, 2014 at 6:38 AM ^
I'm fine either way (posting, or being "scooped.") I almost always enjoy reading Michigan Monday, although last year got brutal in many of the games after ND. Regarding not putting it up myself, it really just means that I had a good labor day weekend, with more than plenty to do with family, kids, chores, church, and outings.
Regarding the content, there really wasn't a lot, through no fault of writer Tony Gerdeman. He summed it up himself by saying
There are really only a few things to take away from this game, but the biggest one is that Michigan did exactly what they were supposed to do, and last season that was never a sure thing.
I think we all agree that we'll know a lot more about Michigan after the likes of ND, PSU, and MSU. ASU was one of those twinkie games, a tasty snack, a sacrificial lamb. Both schools had a fine financial payday. Really, though, it is little more than a glorified scrimmage and a pre-season non-game.
September 2nd, 2014 at 8:18 AM ^
At least our O-line looked good in this scrimmage.
September 2nd, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
There are really only a few things to take away from this game, but the biggest one is that Michigan did exactly what they were supposed to do, and last season that was never a sure thing.
SCHEDULE
|
Sat Aug 30
|
W 52 - 14 |
APLST RECAP | |
|
7:30 pm ET
Sat Sep 6 |
NBC | at ND | |
|
3:30 pm ET
Sat Sep 13 |
MIA (NTM) | ||
|
TBA
Sat Sep 20 |
UTAH | ||
|
TBA
Sat Sep 27 |
MINN | B1G #7 | |
|
7:00 pm ET
Sat Oct 4 |
at RUT | B1G #11 | |
|
7:00 pm ET
Sat Oct 11 |
PSU | B1G #6 | |
|
TBA
Sat Oct 25 |
at MICHST | B1G #1 | |
|
3:30 pm ET
Sat Nov 1 |
IND | B1G #10 | |
|
TBA
Sat Nov 8 |
at NWEST | B1G #12 | |
|
TBA
Sat Nov 22 |
MD | B1G #9 | |
|
TBA
Sat Nov 29 |
at OHIOST | B1G #2 |
http://247sports.com/Article/Ranking-the-Big-Ten-football-teams-from-to…
September 1st, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
It's been awhile. I forgot about his weekly post on this. I got excited.
Mods, Feel free to delete to let the big boys do their work.
September 1st, 2014 at 10:02 PM ^
I was kidding OP. He no more "owns" that post than you or I do. I just remembered he always put it up so I was surprised when I saw it wasnt him this time.
Snooze you lose.
September 1st, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
Needs moar lemon.
September 1st, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^
September 1st, 2014 at 10:08 PM ^
I'm sure it was deliberate, it jumped out to me too. Not all predictions of greatness pan out, as was certainly the case with giving Butterfield #1. I'm sure the writer's heard of Anthony Carter, Derrick Alexander, David Terrell, and Braylon Edwards and was just being a minor smartass there.
September 1st, 2014 at 10:44 PM ^
September 1st, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^
September 2nd, 2014 at 12:09 AM ^
That reference made me laugh heartily. I totally forgot about that dude. I couldn't watch many games during his era due to having a stupid job on the weekends. It turns out busing tables as a high school kid in no way covered my future college tuition. I should have stayed home and watched football. What is a couple grand more in student loans compared to Michigan football?
September 2nd, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^
I'm glad I went to the site to read. This reference proves that he has a very good knowledge of Michigan Football. His write up was very fair and balanced.
September 1st, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
For the most part he sounded like the rest of us have sounded the last few days.
With that said my only disagreement is that last years 242 against CMU at least to me doesn't seem like this years 250. Last year seemed like they worked way to hard for that 242 compared to this year.
September 1st, 2014 at 10:21 PM ^
IIRC, a good chunk of that 242 was Devin Garnder doing Devin Gardner things and making the best of a bad situation or a designed QB run rather than Toussaint (or whomever) running through gaping holes.
September 1st, 2014 at 10:40 PM ^
Last year's 242 was about 200 hero yards. This year's 350 was about 20 hero yards.
This year looks more repeatable once the B1G starts.
September 1st, 2014 at 10:36 PM ^
*This year's 350.
September 1st, 2014 at 10:43 PM ^
yards versus 242. The other part that felt different to me was the three really long runs.
September 2nd, 2014 at 9:08 AM ^
vs CMU
MICHIGAN
WOLVERINES
|
|
vs Appy State
| TEAM STATS | ||
| APLST | MICH | |
| First Downs | 17 | 24 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 5-17 | 5-8 |
| Fourth Down Efficiency | 2-3 | 0-0 |
| Plays-Net Yards | 69-280 | 55-560 |
| Rushes-Yds | 36-153 | 36-350 |
| Passing Yds | 127 | 210 |
| Kick Return Yds | 82 | 36 |
| Punt Return Yds | 0 | 47 |
| Passes | 17-33-0 | 16-19-1 |
| Punts | 8-287 | 1-46 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Penalties-Yds | 8-69 | 4-44 |
| Time of Poss. | 29:52 | 30:8 |
| INDIVIDUAL STATS |
| RUSHING |
| APLST: Terrence Upshaw 18-109, Marcus Cox 11-47, Taylor Lamb 1-6, Kameron Bryant 6--9 |
| MICH: Derrick Green 15-170, De'Veon Smith 8-115, Drake Johnson 3-28, Justice Hayes 4-23, Devin Gardner 5-9, Wyatt Shallman 1-5 |
| PASSING |
| APLST: Kameron Bryant 8-19-58-0, Taylor Lamb 9-14-69-0 |
| MICH: Devin Gardner 13-14-173-0, Shane Morris 3-5-37-1 |
| RECEIVING |
| APLST: Simms McElfresh 5-25, Jaylan Barbour 2-40, Dante Jones 2-25, Isaiah Lewis 2-8, Tacoi Sumler 1-13, Malachi Jones 1-12, Barrett Burns 1-3, Terrence Upshaw 1-1, Bobo Beathard 1-0, Montez McGuire 1-0 |
| MICH: Devin Funchess 7-95, Dennis Norfleet 3-30, Jehu Chesson 2-22, Amara Darboh 1-26, Keith Heitzman 1-26, Khalid Hill 1-12, Freddy Canteen 1--1 |
September 1st, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^
IMO the rushing performances of last year vs CMU and this App State game aren't even close.
Last year the 242 yards came on 47 carries to the tune of 5.1 avg.
This year we saw 350 yards on 36 for an avg of 9.7.
Last year Gardner had to run for 52 of those yards, this year he had 9.
Last year Green had the most yards at 58. This year...170, with Smith at 115.
I realize he wasn't trying to compare them as much as he was trying to warn against blowing up expectations, but the performances were vastly different.
I don't think his analysis of the run D was totally fair either as it seemed like a lot of those yards came late when Michigan was rotating players through quite heavily and playing defense more vanilla than a sundae with no topings.
September 1st, 2014 at 10:37 PM ^
September 1st, 2014 at 10:46 PM ^
"Joe Bolden was the other starting linebacker with Ryan"
Uh, oh. Looks like it's official now.
*Slurp*
September 1st, 2014 at 10:50 PM ^
the transition from Borges to Nuss. I figured he would mention it somewhere in his write up.
September 2nd, 2014 at 2:51 AM ^
September 2nd, 2014 at 3:06 AM ^
....showing! Too many Schlitz from the moldy reaches of his larder.
September 2nd, 2014 at 7:18 AM ^
I felt his analysis of the Defense was off. The Michigan Defense in the 1st half held App State to 74 total yards in the first half. 63 of the 74 yards were on the ground. The Defense then let its foot off the gas in the 2d half, as they were up 35-0...
September 2nd, 2014 at 7:50 AM ^
Agreed. This was a bit disingenous since he opened saying he only watched the first half closely.
What's interesting to me is he like others he writes the ND game is the real barometer. The ND hasn't been a good barameter most years lately...and especially not last year. The first real barometer is Sparty. We'll know more next week, but not a lot.
September 2nd, 2014 at 10:40 AM ^
If I had a dollar for everytime Michigan recently crushed their opening opponent and then emabarassed ND, only to have a disappointing season after that, I'd have 3 or 4 dollars now.
September 2nd, 2014 at 8:24 AM ^
Sparty in E. Lansing is not a barometer. It's actually stepping outside into the tornado and seeing if your head rips off or not.
I think ND - not so much the result, but the way we play - will tell us something about how the season will go. Even though we won last year, it still looked like we were in store for a wild ride.
September 2nd, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
After all these years you still think the ND game can tell us anything about the team? No one thought we'd nearly get beaten by UConn or Akron after last year's game. As usual, people were pretty optimistic after the victory. The ND game is always magic and illusion.
September 2nd, 2014 at 8:33 AM ^
He mentioned that Gardner put the ball on the ground near the sideline, but that was only when he got facemasked.
September 2nd, 2014 at 10:21 AM ^
I couldn't remember Gardner fumbling without you pointing out that it happened on a play that didn't count as a fumble.
September 2nd, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^
Smith had a carry of 61 yards where he displayed the vision that I mentioned above. He is a patient runner, not unlike Mike Hart in the past. He does not have Hart's speed, however, which is a nice-ish way of saying that he is kind of slow. When Derrick Green is your speed back, then you better have stellar blockers on the second level.
I don't think he's remembering Mike Hart like I do at least. Smith and Green are as fast as Hart or faster IMHO.
September 2nd, 2014 at 12:42 PM ^
What I recall from all three long runs is Green & Smith being behind several ASU defenders (as in closer to the goal line), and not out-running ANY of them to the end zone. Perhaps Denard spoiled us all, because all he needed was one crease, and no one from any part of the field was going to catch him. In fact I turned to a fellow Wolverine fan at my side during Green's second long run, and observed that he is no Denard Robinson. I was wondering why Smith and Green were running side to side looking for blocks, because it appeared to me they had a couple yards or more lead on all the defenders, and all they had to do was sprint at full speed to prevent anyone from catching them.
Suffice it to say, what I remember was neither back being able to out run any of several ASU defenders. That's not a tragedy, but it is a fact that needs to be balanced against all the great things Green and Smith can do carrying the ball.