Moar Michigan/MSU Postgame Thoughts [Sunday Snowflake Thread]

I don't know if anyone else saw this, but I definitely saw a number 16 lined up around the 20 on the opening kickoff of the second half.What was the plan there?

Couldn't agree more about watching the final few minutes again. Everyone should do it. There is so much to pick up on without having the emotions running high.

Does anyone know why MSU wasn't charged a timeout on their lost challenge of the spot on the final drive? I'm almost certain it was announced as a challenge and not a booth review.

but does it drive anyone else nuts that one of those ESPNU commericals has Jason Seahorn saying "It's all on Denard Robinson. If he doesn't electrify the stadium, they don't win."

Has a stupider thing ever been said? I don't know why ESPNU is so proud of it such that they decided to put it on their commercial that they air 10 times a day

Suffering those tough 4 years under Rodriguez with heart breaking losses to MSU was an awful experience. It still makes me sick that we let them have a 4 year streak but it was awesome to see Hoke's reaction after the winning field goal and the team mob around Gibbons after nailing the kick. It's moments like that, that make a Michigan victory so special and its just awesome to have Paul Bunyan back home where he belongs. On a side note when was the last time Michigan won a game scoring only field goals? I can't recall any wins like that in my lifetime but then again I was born in 1989 so I'm sure the 1990s may of had a game or two of just field goals. Pardon my bad memory. Thoughts of this game. Offensively frustrating especially because we had 3 or 4 trips to the goal line amd couldn't punch the ball in. When Kovacs picked off Maxwell I felt so confident knowing "here we go TD drive right here" only to settle for 3. We will put up points against Nebraska though. State has a solid defensive line but I was wondering why Denard stopped going to the air late in the game? Those post sideline routes were working and caught State falling asleep in their passing attack. Fitz had a much better game. Looked he he was finally being his normal self out there on several rushes. Our defense was amazing. I know we gave up a touchdown but they shut Bell down all game and really limited Maxwell in the air. Jake Ryan is an absolute monster and next to Kovacs he's one of the most electrifying players on our defense. JT Floyd broke up some nice passes yesterday too. Thought he looked good in down field coverage. Dileo had a PHENOMENAL game! He was the reason why we won that game in the final minute. Making huge completion after huge completion. He should be proud of himself. MVP without a doubt offensively yesterday. Overall despite not scoring a TD this was an amazing game defensively on both sides of the ball. Both MSU and Michigan accounted for a total of 600 + yards and passing wise I believe Michigan gave up 168 or something like that. Was a classic MSU vs Michigan matchup and it feels so good to get this win and erase that streak finally! Now time to start our streak! This defense has me very confident going into Lincoln and soon to be Columbus. Great win and a great birthday! GO BLUE!

Anyone notice the clock running after Denard stretched for the first down on the final drive? The chains were being moved, and the clock was rolling. Then they reviewed it, and it was clear that the clock should have been at about 43 seconds. They didn't reset the clock after the review, AND the clock was running before they even had it set after the review. We lost 10-15 seconds. I would have went apeshit had we lost (or if we were on the road).

First we won, so not a big deal....but Barnum missed a huge block on the denard run (the second play off the drive- right after the smith draw). Denard cuts to the left and there are only two guys on that side of the field- Barnum and a lb. Barnum just stands there. Doesn't really make any effort to get to the second level and block that lb. If he makes that block denard has 15 yards before he sees a defender and given denard, he may be gone.

In the end it didn't matter, but at the time I was disappointed.

I swear I saw a handful of plays with #85 on the field, and haven't noticed Joe Reynolds out there in previous games (at least in critical junctures of the games).   Must be a good down-field blocker?    If so, kudos to Joe for working his tail off to get on the field in a pressure-packed setting.  

Proposed new play:   Reynolds enters the game.  Opposing DC says "must be run, #85 is on the field".   Play-action fake to Reynolds side.   After a feeble block attempt, Reynolds runs up the seam uncovered.   Instant TD.  We all rejoice in the goodness that is Joe Reynolds.

 

I don't think Floyd is getting the praise he deserves for the run support established on the edge. He has definately changed his approach to tackling in the last couple weeks and was stout forcing the counters and pitches back in. He has progressed immensely since week 1.

Was he hurt?  I don't remember seeing him in the game once Saturday.  Box score indicates no carries for him as well.  I don't understand how are most physical runner didn't even get in for one play against MSU's defense....??????

Just some thoughts about Borges (I know he is a touchy topic as of late).

I thought his gameplan yesterday was good/fair, but not great.  I know a lot of people like to look at the scoreboard and say "No Touchdowns, Borges sucks", but in hindsight, looking at the last few years against MSU and this year against ND, TOs really cost us dearly.  He put a leash on Denard and picked his spots to go downfield.  I thought the conservative gameplan was the right one. 

As far as the no TDs thing goes, I thought the playcalling in the redzone was actually pretty good.  We had nothing to show for it, b/c of some poor execution (for example, Denard under throwing Funchess, throw behind Gallon, poor read on the zone read).  I do think execution is on the coaching staff to some extent as well, but we're never going to be perfect and we were playing a pretty good defense.  In the end, I think the general theme was to minimize mistakes and put points on the board when we could with little risk.  It turned out to be enough by a razors edge.  I think some of the opinion's of Borges' game are forgetting that the offense isn't a vacuum in the sense that the play calling had a lot to do with how our defense was playing.

Just my thoughts.  

Agree, I think Borges' plan was to not let bad Denard show up, even if it meant that for most of the game it would also keep away good Denard - except for late in the game when it really mattered.

I agree with the folks noting that these are actually the good times. M was 11-2 last year. I realize that M is recruiting well, but there is no guarantee that that will automatically turn them into a yearly National Title contender. I'm pretty happy with the team M has right now. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love good recruiting and damn if I wouldn't like some more playmakers at WR, not that Denar would necessarily throw it to them accurately, but it's not so bad right now. I don't know how much better M is going to get on defense in terms of production, yardage etc. They are pretty good. I, like all of you, hope they get better, but I wouldn't denigrate the current team by trying to imagine how great they'll be next year. That said, that is the prerogative and enjoyment of being a sports fan. Well, there is always next year. My wife did say she was worried M wouldn't win another National Title before I die. I'm thirty two. I'm hoping we don't have to wait fifty years, and I also hope that she's not poisoning me. Go blue. 

So how much of a bump in the BCS rankings do we get for beating Oregon's helmets? Go Blue!

This new era looks and feels a lot like the "Bo" years! Go blue!!

On the second to last drive we were on the MSU 25 yd line, Denard gets TFL'ed, a false start, and a holding penalty take us out of field goal range.  I was going nuts.  ND was also like that where we gave up points because the offense went backwards.  Hopefully we can get more disciplined on that in the future so that it doesn't cost us another one.