Players: We didn't coming out ready to play. Angelique: That's on the coaches
The thing that was most distressing Saturday was not play calling, right or wrong decisions made, whether it's Harbaugh or Gattis calling plays, or Don Brown's defense getting Brown'd again. It was the way we lost -- meekly. It was the lack of any emotion or fire. It was how according to Eubanks we pretty much gave up at 14-0. The lack of mental discipline. And finally the destruction--I would have been disappointed in losing 28-20 but it would be understandable. The way we lost is not. More player quotes about not being ready to play in Angelique's column today:
“We didn’t come out ready to play,” safety Josh Metellus said on Inside Michigan Football. “I feel as a whole team we weren’t ready to match their energy or have even more energy than they did. We came out flat and they took advantage.”
His statement was telling but three words stand out — “we weren’t ready.”
That falls on coaching.
Safety Brad Hawkins said on the show he couldn’t tell why the team was flat.
“We definitely came out sluggish,” he said. “And definitely came out slow.”
If all true, it's very hard to defend the coaching staff and Harbaugh. At bottom, the assumption with him was that we'd have a mentally tough team. We have the opposite.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2019/09/22/ugly-numbers-wisconsin-whopping-exposes-michigans-glaring-issues/2410923001/
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:26 AM ^
Well him (Metellus) and Shea made a statement like they promised.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:51 AM ^
And that statement was...... Let's go out and embarrass ourselves. Well put. I was thinking the same. Hope they don't want to make anymore statements. Just go out and PLAY FOOTBALL!!
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^
I believe the statement that Shea made was "I'm not the guy" and he made that statement loud and clear.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:12 AM ^
Scheme, play calling, and personnel is on the coaches. They fucking know it's hard to play on the road at Wisconsin. They need to look in the mirror.
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:20 PM ^
Metellus sure made a statement by dropping an easy INT on Wisco's 2nd or 3rd possession
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:35 PM ^
I don't think that was an easy int, but players make plays.
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:57 PM ^
Hit him right in the hands.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:27 AM ^
I am sooo displeased with Gattis. First, the spike the ball with 2 timeouts limiting Michigan to 2 passing plays inside the ten instead of 3.
Now, in a hugely imortant game, 2nd and goal from the 8 and you put in a fucking 280 pound defensive tackle to run for 8 yards? He is barely practicing at fullback, and you have a freshmen phenom 5 star running back, but you give a crucial 2nd and goal from the 8 to a defensive tackle up the gut?
He is in over his head.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:35 AM ^
How do you know that is on Gattis? This is Harbaugh's dumpster fire of a program. He owns it in every way,
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:13 AM ^
That whole sequence proved to me that Harbaugh is making the final decision on play calls.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:35 AM ^
I feel like some of the fingerprints on the offense aren’t necessarily Josh Gattis. The spike while confusing, also kept the dropped catch from being reviewed and overturned. I think that one is kind of a moot point. And in regard to Ben Mason from 7 yards out - that feels like a Harbaugh suggested play.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:45 AM ^
There was no dropped catch. Please stop with this false narrative. The freeze frame from Twitter was inconclusive.The fact that he was already down when he caught the ball, and the fact that there was no communication between ANYONE during that short time proved that anyone was worried about a review.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:22 AM ^
But, ironically, something a LOT of posters were wondering why the team wasn't doing somewhat the first two weeks. "Why don't we just give the ball to Mason to hammer in close to the goal line!". Stated quite a bit, and we got what we asked for...
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:34 AM ^
That one I’ll agree with. I don’t think it was a bad idea, I just think it isn’t the most fair to blame that entirely on Gattis
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:37 AM ^
Context matters. Mason running from the 2 yard line and in, Yes makes sense, he falls forward it's a touchdown. Mason runing essentially a draw from the 9 yard line..are you kidding me...no fucking way
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:43 AM ^
7 yards isn't very close dude.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:55 AM ^
Yes, we said that. CLOSE TO THE GOAL LINE! Not the fucking 8 yard line.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
I wasn't one of them. How many times did Mason get stoned last year on short yardage? At least 4 that come to mind. If you use him as a decoy, maybe, but a bull putting his head down and running right into the line doesn't work anymore.
September 23rd, 2019 at 7:25 PM ^
I think the play answered those who were asking that question
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:39 AM ^
As others have said, really hard to know exactly who to pin the blame on. But, Nico Collins was targeted, TARGETED... ONE TIME before the fourth quarter. He was matched up against a DB that might've been 6'0" on a good day. I'm not going to pretend I'm a better coach than those guys as I'm just some asshole behind a computer who loves Michigan, but how does a future NFL guy get one target through 3 quarters against an undersized DB. I just don't understand.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
1. Fans post days before on MGo about desire to see Ben Mason run ball on goal line.
2. Fans bemoan when Mason gets chance.
3. Fans blame coaches.
Sure, don’t blame the young men who fumble, blame the coaches for giving what you what you wanted.
Anyone who has ever played RB ever should know the number one fucking rule of carrying the ball is to hold on to it.
Mason is to blame—holding a football is not rocket science.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:20 AM ^
We weren't on the goal line unless you draw lines with a very thick marker.
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:00 PM ^
On the goal line means at the 1 or 2 or when it's 4th and 1 or 2 somewhere else on the field. Did you happen to see the game against army to get the context of those comments? Geez some of you Harbaugh defenders are so clueless.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:34 AM ^
Gattis? I doubt it. That play smelled like "man-ball", which is Harbaugh's cup of tea. I'd bet the farm Harbaugh called that.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:34 AM ^
Gattis? I doubt it. That play smelled like "man-ball", which is Harbaugh's cup of tea. I'd bet the farm Harbaugh called that.
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:02 PM ^
EXCEPT that literally every armchair quarterback and the fearless leader were imploring us to go back to the EXACT thing that resulted in this fumble, so...
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
Charbonnet and Tru Wilson are hurt, and Ben VanSumeren just lost a fumble, so that rep was either going to Ben Mason or Hassan Haskins. Since Ben Mason was pretty successful around the goal line last year; it seems perfectly reasonable to put him in. Don't pretend like you could have predicted that fumble.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:29 AM ^
Unacceptable performance by the entire program.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
How's the mentality within the walls?
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^
Great question! Not good if believe some of the reports. The big question is what is causing the issues inside the walls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^
Honestly a reporter needs to ask some tough and uncomfortable questions. They'll probably get fired, but something is rotten and I want to know what it is.
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:25 PM ^
A TV reporter named Urban Meyer said:
”You have to look under the hood”.
He said the players can play and the coaches can coach.
He repeated the “look under the hood” line again clearly insinuating that Harbaugh is the problem—not the players and other coaches.
Two feet away— Michigan legend Charles Woodson nodded affirmatively...
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:56 PM ^
That is you reading into it what you want. The issue is multiple and yes Harbaugh is responsible.
I think
September 23rd, 2019 at 2:43 PM ^
Salvatore you're a joke.. it's so fucking obvious what Meyer is talking about and all the signs are their. Of course Meyer is talking about Harbaugh, no one is imagining things like you insinuate.
Get the fuck out of here with this condescending BS.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^
What boggles my mind is how we lost some core competencies from before: O line; Secondary and run support; recievers getting separation.
We all knew that D line would have issues, that play calling might be an issue, and that there would be offensive transition costs. But it seems we've lost the ability to just play basic football.
With the way that the defense cratered when RR came in I'm beginning to wonder if there is an Ancient Michigan Spread Offense Hating God. Try the spread? Everything falls apart.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:56 AM ^
Yes. Agreed. I'm trying to figure out why? Also How? Maybe that's not possible. I mean why does
1) A team with everything to prove come out and get housed?
2) Harbaugh's team seem to be outclassed and confused?
3) An oline with a decade long malaise still have malaise?
4) A continued issue with QB play in year five. After years 1-2 were spot on. Year 3 was bad, year 4 an abberation? and now this in year 5?
Lots of questions. No answers.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:57 AM ^
For all his talk and bravado Harbaugh has always coached scared and played not to lose rather than aggressively to win. It results in a team that plays tight and scared, comes out soft looking to absorb a blow rather than land a punch and doesn't have the mentality to come back from adversity. It all goes back to the coach. Its a fine mentality to make sure you don't lose games you shouldn't and we've mostly avoided that, but its not a mentality that wins big games.
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:39 PM ^
Everyone in the locker room is to blame for what happened. Isn't Mettelus a captain? He's not helping himself with his statement. He was one of the "make a statement" guys. So, if you flap your jaw, you better be able to back it up on the field. Stop the jaw flapping and let your play speak for itself. They looked tight and unsure of themselves and fumbling on the first series, yet again, was the worst possible thing that could happen to a team lacking in confidence. Score and you are feeling good. Fumbling put them back in "Oh no, not again" mode.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:30 AM ^
I thought the team was looking to make a statement though? If this was their statement, we heard it loud and clear.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:30 AM ^
I think it is time that everybody take a breather.
One of two things is going to happen. Either Harbaugh will finish out a disappointing season or two and the program will move on or the team will find a way to turn it around and contend. Either way, I think we have adequately covered the 2019 Wisconsin debacle.
On another note, Game of Thrones for best drama?? Only one thing in history sucked more than the 2019 Wisconsin game, and that was GOT Season 8.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:05 AM ^
Disagree. the first half of season 8, especially the battle, was awesome. Then it went downhill.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:08 AM ^
The battle may have been awesome. I would not know. I could not see a damn thing.
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
Seven seasons building up to White Walkers, and they disappear in one show and then forget all about them. Wonderful.
I will say, our football team could've used the plot armor last weekend that the GoT characters had in that battle.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:31 AM ^
These guys are adults. At some point they need to get tired of getting their ass kicked and figure it out within each other.
Obviously the coaches are part of the problem but nothing can take the place of leadership by players on the field.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^
Yep, the players are equally, if not more accountable for coming out flat. This isn't fucking little league anymore. This team obviously lacks leadership.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:42 AM ^
Agree, I just posted the same thing. We have no Chase Winovich this year. No Devin Bush. No one seems willing to get in the face of a teammate when necessary. Zero emotion on the field. Better find someone quickly or we're in real trouble.
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:48 PM ^
Preach. Where is the devin bush ripping up the MSU field? Where is the winovich doing the mcsorely dance? These guys had swagger and played mad. I actually feel for guys like Metellus and Hudson because I do think they are leaders, but there appears to be not one go to person to get in someone’s face mask.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:33 AM ^
No shit. who's next to humiliate?
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:34 AM ^
Watching Georgia and Notre Dame Saturday, I couldn’t help but notice how night and day the coaches and players were involved with the game compared to ours. Kirby Smart was coaching his ass off the whole game. Harbaugh can’t motivate this team for shit. I knew this was the case especially after watching the All or Nothing on Amazon. He was so damn boring and the pregame speeches were so unenthusiastic.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:39 AM ^
Harbaugh has been the opposite of everything we thought we were getting. He his flat, uninspiring, soft and anything but an offensive "guru."