OL and Justice Hayes appreciation
Thank you dearly for executing your blocking assignments on the play after Shane was concussed. You were, quite literally, the last line of defense.
Had any of you slipped up we might be having a very different discussion right now and it was only because you guys did your jobs on that play we might have avoided real tragedy.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:34 AM ^
I hope the people who wanted to boycott games have reconsidered. Brandon needs to go, Hoke, too, but these players committed to play for the University of Michigan and I believe they need our support. Sounds like they aren't getting it anywhere else.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:40 AM ^
But that's the point. The people they are playing for are not protecting them. We should not support those in charge until these kids get the protection they should have.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:53 AM ^
As long as the boycott community is vocal about why they are boycotting (see this blog) I think the players will understand.
No one is against the players. Everyone understands this.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:54 AM ^
You can start an appreciation thread if and when our OLine and other players ever start sticking up for our QB each time he gets cheap shoted by the opposition. In the meantime please desist from starting unnecessary threads.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:23 AM ^
what is the point here? Shane was hit by Minnesota's defensive end. It was targeting and he should have been tossed from the game. So how does that play justify any appreciation thread reagrding blocking? ugh ...
Go Blue!
September 30th, 2014 at 8:53 AM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 8:58 AM ^
I hope they are able to rally themselves up and fight for each other. Maybe this gets them to play more like a team. Still wish they would've gone after Cockran after that hit and stood up for Morris a little more. This is where this team shows me they aren't together, when you fail to stick up for your QB.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:01 AM ^
OL? No offense to the kids in general, but that is a massive weak spot on the team. You are aware, correct?
September 30th, 2014 at 9:11 AM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 9:35 AM ^
Appreciate those two for trying to get coaches to get Shane out of the game after the initial hit. Shane waved them off, but they knew and tried to get the attention of the staff on the sidelines.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:06 AM ^
Nothing against Justice (would actually like to see him utilized more), but I am not convinced that in the clip which catches him signalling to the sideline, he is doing that in relation to Morris. It seems to me like he is asking whether he (Hayes) comes out or stays in for the next play.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:40 AM ^
You mean the offensive line full of 300 lb 20+ year olds who watched their QB take a free shot to the head and didn't stand up for him? Nah. They are big boys. They can handle a little criticism.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^
This is getting so stupid. Maybe we should give every member of the offensive line a Congressional Medal of Honor for protecting Morris from this attempted murder by our coaches. On a play in which Morris took two steps back and handed the ball to an RB.
Leaving Morris in was stupid and reflective of a frustratingly regular incompetence we've seen from this staff. They didn't all of the sudden stop caring about their players, and let's not overstate the actual danger that Morris was in. Hell, you want to see actual danger and true disregard for player safety? Look at what our last coach did when his QB, Matt Scott, was concussed at the end of a close, big game. That's a fireable offense.
This has become a convenient place for fans angry about Michigan football to funnel their anger and display some self-righteous indignation. I want Hoke fired. I want him fired because I think there are better coaches out there and I no longer believe that he's going to turn this around. I'm frustrated by this incident and I think his staff did a terrible job of staying on top of what was going on here. At the same time, literally every past and present player I've ever heard talk about Hoke has talked about how much Hoke loves and protects his players. It's possible to be angry about what happened on Saturday, angry about the direction of the program, ready for new coaches... but still a little level-headed and fair.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^
Again... Matt Scott always pukes. Always. He is probably puking right now. He's like the kid on South Park.
Just because that particular kid puked doesnt mean he had a concussion. Just an FYI. RR goes through protocol. He did so with Denard in a very close, very must win game in his tenure here.
RR is not responsible for the actions of this team some 4 years after his firing and I'm not sure why he is even being brought into this.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:03 AM ^
Obviously, I'm not blaming Rodriguez for the Morris thing. (Is that really how you interpreted that?) My point is that people are turning this into something that it's not... an exceptional case in which coaches knowingly put a player in grave danger. What happened was awful, and it warrants hard questions with real answers, a commitment to improving that process going forward, and real frustration/concern from people who watched. In the context of what happens in college football regularly, though, and the actual circumstances of the Morris situation, this isn't what people are making it out to be.
I'm pissed, too, but it's so clear that the MGoBlog response to this would be different if we were 5-0 and serious national title contenders right now. The self-righteousness around this incident is starting to feel really disingenuous to me.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:16 AM ^
I interpreted it correctly, you brought up RR for no reason whatsoever.
You think people are out for a witch hunt? Probably so, but for damn good reason. Look around you. The walls crumble.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:16 AM ^
RR is not responsible for the actions of this team some 4 years after his firing and I'm not sure why he is even being brought into this.
But for the record, I think it is being brought up because Brian has referenced the RR/Denard concssion incident a few times to suggest that he (RR) cared for his players more so than Hoke.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
Sort of one that defies normal blocking expectations for a given play?
I can see logically that our QB was under pressure all day and didn't have much time to throw.
However to make a jump of logic that general poor OL play on the day in question is responsible for this particular play is a bit irresponsible.
I think it was clearly targeting after seeing the replay. A guy trying to ring a young QB's bell on a dirty play and get away with it. I hope the B1G responds with the appropriate suspension for Cockran.
September 30th, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
Fire Fred Funk, NOW!!
September 30th, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 12:54 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 12:54 PM ^