Penalties and Turnovers (Lack of on D)
November 28th, 2015 at 7:35 PM ^
November 28th, 2015 at 6:29 PM ^
November 28th, 2015 at 6:33 PM ^
Look, we had nine wins, folks!! We will be going to a nice bowl game!! Everyone of us would have gladly accepted nine wins when asked at the beginning of the year. I know that the success, especially the three straight shutouts, led us to believe that the moon was achievable. We were thin at every position and our depth will be tested for another year or two. Please be patient. When I was an undergrad we never went tot he Rose Bowl, but our time came thereafter (maybe it was me?) and we went to several Rose Bowls afterwards. In Harbaugh we trust. That is all. GO BLUE!!
November 28th, 2015 at 6:38 PM ^
Lighten up, Francis and company.
Remember the history of this team and it's players.
How many coaches, including position coaches, in how many years?
This is a year one team. We should expect penalties, and blown time outs.
The turnovers will come when the defense matures, and the players learn the complete bag of tricks from their new coaches. (When the team begins to be capable of creating/forcing more errors, instead of just hoping an error by the opposition).
Top 20. 9-3. Bowl bound, and in the hunt for some of the best recruits in the country.
I say: Ahead of schedule, and Go Blue!
November 29th, 2015 at 8:26 AM ^
I remember history and really hoped yesterday was just like 1969. I even bought a sheet cake in anticipation. SHEET CAKE!
November 28th, 2015 at 6:40 PM ^
got the roughing the kicker penalty. They hadn't got their offense into gear and it would have put us in great field position. Sadly, I think the score would have been closer but still in their favor; the Bucks definitely outclassed us. I wasn't thinking about it when the penalties were thrown but several of those penalties were probably triggered by the athleticism of the Buckeyes. They're pretty good; the Spartans need to thank the lucky stars the weather was so bad during their game. Oh, and that someone probably sold their soul to the Devil.
November 28th, 2015 at 6:55 PM ^
November 28th, 2015 at 7:09 PM ^
but only because they sold it back in the Tressel days, lol
November 28th, 2015 at 7:17 PM ^
November 28th, 2015 at 6:41 PM ^
If we're going to talk about penalties and turnovers, perhaps we should add special teams into the discussion.
Aside from the kick-off and punt return teams that were improvements all season, the rest of the special teams really disintegrated in the last half of the season. Kick-offs returned for touchdowns, punts returned for touchdowns, blocked punt (not even including the MSU game), key roughing the kicker call in this game -- why even go for the block when we would have had great field position in a tie game? -- really set us back. Imagine the outrcries about special teams if Hoke had been the coach!
November 28th, 2015 at 6:41 PM ^
If we're going to talk about penalties and turnovers, perhaps we should add special teams into the discussion.
Aside from the kick-off and punt return teams that were improvements all season, the rest of the special teams really disintegrated in the last half of the season. Kick-offs returned for touchdowns, punts returned for touchdowns, blocked punt (not even including the MSU game), key roughing the kicker call in this game -- why even go for the block when we would have had great field position in a tie game? -- really set us back. Imagine the outrcries about special teams if Hoke had been the coach!
November 28th, 2015 at 6:45 PM ^
We were 9-3 with a negative turnover margin for the year and the worst or 2nd worst (NW/UM/Wisc were bottom 3) rushing attack in Big 10.
Without a single senior who is 'for sure' a NFL draft pick.
It's actually a victory of sorts that we accomplished this record with the holes we have - good teams usually have big ++ turnover margin (see Iowa) and can run the ball.
We forced 1 fumble all year by the way. Dead last in FBS.
November 28th, 2015 at 7:04 PM ^
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November 28th, 2015 at 7:06 PM ^
For next year, QB is for sure a question and we have 3 tough road games- Iowa, State and Ohio State. That said, our lines should get better and Peppers will be a weapon during year 2 with Harbaugh.
Go Blue!
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November 28th, 2015 at 7:14 PM ^
have to be the focus this off season. it is concerning that Durkin's position group(lb) struggled so much.
November 28th, 2015 at 6:46 PM ^
How can our db's ever intercept a pass when they never look for the damn ball? I mean Clark had a play on the td pass until he turned his back to the ball. Peppers looks lost in coverage at times. I mean damn! Why are they tought to not look for the ball?
November 28th, 2015 at 10:30 PM ^
Because if you turn and look for the ball you lose stride with the WR and get beat.
As CBs get more experienced in the system they'll get better at it, but this is not uncommon at all for teams that play press man. It's a split second, but it's intentional until you're skilled enough and can time if perfectly.
November 28th, 2015 at 7:17 PM ^
3) Costly injuries over the season on DL.
November 28th, 2015 at 9:10 PM ^
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November 28th, 2015 at 7:29 PM ^
November 28th, 2015 at 7:44 PM ^
Its not so much the amount of penalties, but the type of penalties. At least in my perception (for whatever that's worth), we've had an unusual amount of DL offsides and Glasgow false starts. I can only speculate at least on the DL side of things that the injuries has contributed to exhaustion leading to lack of concentration. BUT, I think a lot of the DL offsides against PSU were in the 1st half. So, hell if I know.... It just some of the worst penalties: pre-snap.
On the turnover side, I just don't know. I see our guys trying to strip the ball (in some cases instead of tackling smh). We're just not getting the ball on the ground. Maybe the last part of the season where everyone was running over us is to blame. I'd guess that % chance of fumble vs % chance of interception is much lower. So, with everyone running our chances are reduced. Then throw in luck, angry football gods or whatever.
November 28th, 2015 at 8:05 PM ^
November 28th, 2015 at 9:09 PM ^
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November 29th, 2015 at 4:18 AM ^
November 28th, 2015 at 8:16 PM ^
But I have to wonder if that's going to change down the road now that loads of rugby punters end up running towards the line of scrimmage before booting the ball. Not sure you can ask a defense to go all kid-gloves on a player running towards the LOS.
November 28th, 2015 at 9:29 PM ^
If the punter is running with the ball, I think he should become fair game to tee off on. He should only be protected if he stays completely within the "punting pocket", whatever you want to define that as.
I'm all for rugby punting, but prepare to get creamed if you do it.
November 28th, 2015 at 11:17 PM ^
That's what I was thinking when watching the game. Through all of the coaching changes, the one constant is a defense that still can't stop the spread!
Michigan is a flawed team. Both lines, the RBs and the LBs are subpar. These veterns got a mulligan by getting probably the deepest and most experienced coaching staff in the country. Some guys like Lewis, Peppers, Chesson and Butt got the training and proved they are good players, but these guys simply aren't good enough. We just have to hope and pray that their replacements come through next year.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:15 AM ^