NFL Sunday open thread: stretch drive edition

Submitted by Hotel Putingrad on December 6th, 2020 at 1:47 PM

Okay, Cleveland just scored a Fat Guy Touchdown and are up 10 early on the Titans.

Loins are looking spey on offense today. Unfortunately the defense is still the same.

Jets are actually winning, curiously.

The late afternoon window doesn't offer much, unless you have a NFC Least fetish.

But this is the time of year when the games start getting interesting, especially with the extra wildcard.

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Bo Harbaugh

December 6th, 2020 at 2:42 PM ^

Many players "don't look ready" while playing at Michigan.

Many seem to be doing quite well once they reach the NFL.

We can shit on Harbaugh and "player development" as part of the problem, but we also must be realistic about the time on task our players get in college vs. those at unapologetic football factories.

Everyone bitches about bagmen, cheating, etc - but the biggest difference between our program and the elites is the willingness to let "skool" slide.  Recruiting will begin to decline going forward if we stick with the traditional student-athlete model. 

The choice is to football factory or not to football factory.

 

Joined: 08/03/2019

MGoPoints: 38615

Bluesince89

December 6th, 2020 at 2:55 PM ^

This is a dumb take.  Most of the football players are not toiling away in chem labs all day long or in exceptionally challenging majors.  Maintaining a C average isn’t that hard, especially with the grade inflation.  The problem is the coaching and not putting your best players in a position to succeed.  Plain and simple.  

Joined: 09/14/2008

MGoPoints: 14739

Bo Harbaugh

December 6th, 2020 at 3:53 PM ^

Also true. 

But if you think football is as important at UM as it is at OSU or Bama you are being intellectually dishonest. A big part of our problem is that the times have changed and our program/administration hasn't. CFB is not a college sport at Bama or OSU, it is NFL prep.  

Should Harbaugh and staff do better given current resources, brand, $, roster, etc - no doubt about it, this year has been a complete failure - from scheme to roster management to motivation.

But "better" will get us what we had the past 5 years, before this year's implosion; It won't get us to Bama/OSU if that's what the goal truly is.

If the goal is 9-4, 10-3 every year we can keep things as are and hire any "solid" coach.  If the goal is to compete with Bama, OSU, we need a culture change.  Some are for it, some are against it.  I appreciate both sides of the argument.

I'm ok with football factory and don't believe it will tarnish the academic reputation of the university. Other alumni do not agree with this approach and I can respect their point of view.

Joined: 08/03/2019

MGoPoints: 38615

Michfan777

December 6th, 2020 at 2:39 PM ^

I saw this loss coming for the Titans.

Due to the crazy amount of injuries of key contributors (Adoree Jackson, Lewan, Clowney, Jason Brown, and other starters) They are nowhere near as good as their record shows anymore.

Of they are healthy still, they are a super bowl team, but they are just too depleted.

Since Lewan had his awful injury, the offense has regressed, and Tannehill has not been nearly as effective. Their pass game has been totally transformed into a 1 read offense because of that injury cutting Tannehill’s time in the pocket in half.

In addition, their defense has totally fallen off a cliff since early in the year, and it wasn’t that great then.

If they get to the playoffs, I expect them to bounce out right away. It’s the worst kind of season for a fan. One in which the team really was a super bowl contender and has just slowly succumbed to injuries that started after their 5th game. In fact, since that game, they will have gone 3-4 after today.

They still have losses to the Packers and Texans coming up, and I expect the Jaguars and loins game to be close. If they were healthy, this team is a legit 13-3 record team. Just sucks. 

Joined: 10/10/2018

MGoPoints: 24520

MadMatt

December 6th, 2020 at 2:20 PM ^

Thread jack: SI reported that B1G Athletic Directors are likely to vote to change the rules to allow a hypothetical 5-0 Ohio State to play in the Championship Game.

This changes whether we want to play "The Game." Now the best way (if unlikely) to punk the Schmuckeyes is to beat them. If Indiana beats Purdue, then a 6-1 IU would get the bid over a 5-1 OSU. This is the best chance we are going to get to mess with them for months, if not years. Carpe Diem!

Joined: 11/06/2013

MGoPoints: 13910

cGOBLUEm

December 6th, 2020 at 2:55 PM ^

I'm good with that for 2 reasons:

1) There is no upside to Michigan playing OSU this year. 

2) If the B1G changes the rules mid-season and allows OSU to play in the championship, it will further expose the corruption and money-hungry mentality of those in charge....not that it will really mean anything in the long run. 

Joined: 02/11/2014

MGoPoints: 25540

cGOBLUEm

December 6th, 2020 at 3:16 PM ^

No need for the newsflash. I, along with everyone else on the blog, realize that college football is big business. That is glaringly obvious. What I stated is that it is corrupt, and that is the truth. To change the rules during the last week of the season to benefit the league's cash cow is wrong. There is no arguing that. Such a decision would rob Indiana of a chance to play in the B1G championship, albeit under odd circumstances, but they have earned it nonetheless. 

Also, leading with "what a dumb take" every time you disagree with a point of view?...do better, man. 

Joined: 02/11/2014

MGoPoints: 25540

fatpete

December 6th, 2020 at 3:36 PM ^

I'm over the "first-down" motion that players feel they need to do after getting a routine1st down - especially during insignificant times during games. Or, even more irritatingly when they are losing badly......  my God, dude, act like you've been there before. 

Sorry, just irritated watching the stupid Lions. 

Joined: 09/22/2012

MGoPoints: 6769