POST-GAME SNOWFLAKES

Submitted by uniqenam on

THANKS FOR LETTING ME FILL IN AS PBP, LET'S LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW.

 

Al Borges game ball plz.

MGoBoard

Avon Barksdale

September 8th, 2013 at 12:04 AM ^

So many mistakes and weak defense. That's what separates us right now from being a legitimate top 5 team.

If we can eliminate our stupid mistakes, and get back to playing physical and aggressive I'd feel comfortable saying we can play with just about anyone.

We ran nickel the entire game. We were outmanned without having Jake. Des missed tackles and got beat underneath over and over again.

Joined: 04/27/2013

MGoPoints: 12859

Zone Left

September 8th, 2013 at 12:13 AM ^

23 might be the fewest points that offense scores all season. They're huge and talented up front, have speed everywhere, and Rees can play when he has time. No one is going to get pressure with four on them--unless they end up playing Alabama or LSU in a bowl game. Gardner gives us a real chance against anyone. Otherwise, we need another two years to be a legitimate top-5 team in terms of talent. Hoke's first awesome class are redshirt freshmen and sophomores. They're not ready yet, but you should be thrilled with the progress. We don't beat that ND team two years ago.

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 16428

Avon Barksdale

September 8th, 2013 at 9:41 AM ^

That's what I meant by the weak defense comment. But that disappointed me, I was really ready to see the D take the next step and shut down/take the fight to ND.

Don't get me wrong, I love that we won and our offense played lights out. I'm just ready to see us go into a heavyweight fight again and our defense impose their will like we used to. But I'll enjoy the W.

Joined: 04/27/2013

MGoPoints: 12859

maizenblue92

September 8th, 2013 at 12:08 AM ^

Brian is going to have to go buy 3 or 4 packs of fig newtons. 

Gardner should petition the NFL when it comes time to wear 98 because goddamn that performance was special.

Joined: 01/01/2009

MGoPoints: 19492

PDX Blue

September 8th, 2013 at 10:03 AM ^

The PI on Funchess, the defender had his jersey the entire play and prevented the receiver from jumping to get the ball because he was being pulled down by the jersey... I do think that out TE need to learn body position and control a bit better though, use their size to box out or work across the body of the defender and get to the ball.

 

Joined: 04/17/2011

MGoPoints: 164

tbeindit

September 8th, 2013 at 8:42 AM ^

And there also were bad no calls on facemasking and horse collar earlier in the game.  Those calls may have been right or wrong, but I certainly don't think one team got more "good" calls than the other.  In fact, if Michigan had not gotten that no call on the facemask, they may have put up another TD instead of a field goal and much of the drama late in the game wouldn't have existed.  

Joined: 01/27/2011

MGoPoints: 2039

denardogasm

September 8th, 2013 at 12:15 AM ^

There is no reason this team shouldn't be 11-0 going into The Game.  Northwestern is the only team that worries me a little, but if we are prepared and focused we should win that based purely on athletic supremacy.  If we can do so much better against ND than we did last year, we should be able to do the same against Northwestern.

Joined: 09/11/2011

MGoPoints: 10688

MGrether

September 8th, 2013 at 12:12 AM ^

ND decided that they were not going to let the run beat them and left their corners on islands most of the night. DG  & Gallon said, "I'm okay with that." Game over.

Defense: This was a game against a spread team, that hit big plays all game last week and we had big Question marks at safety. I understand why it seemed like a soft game plan... but we forced them to march their way downfield and make the right read each time. Sometimes they did. When it mattered, they didn't.

Side note: you know your secondary is BAD@$$ when receivers start to short arm makeable catches because they don't want to get hit like the last time... I saw that all over the field. Our new slogan should be: We are Michigan. We hurt your people.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1523

tbeindit

September 8th, 2013 at 8:45 AM ^

It also worked a few times too.  Those kind of moves are high risk and high reward.  If you fail, you're going to lose a ton of yardage, but if you make it work, you're probably going to get a big completion.  We saw both last night.  Just like Denard with his usual 1-2 turnovers per game, this is just probably something we're going to have to get used to.  It's just how Gardner plays the game.

Joined: 01/27/2011

MGoPoints: 2039

Muttley

September 8th, 2013 at 7:45 AM ^

So Gardner will just need to watch some film to distinguish between times there is a 2nd rusher who will anticipate his move versus times when there's only one guy who can't catch him.

I keep waiting for a trailing defender to anticipate one of Braxton Miller's lateral cuts.  (Hopefully, he is OK so we can beat a full strength Ohio team.)

Joined: 07/07/2009

MGoPoints: -73245

snarling wolverine

September 8th, 2013 at 12:13 AM ^

Devin (aside from the one INT) and Gallon were fantastic, but Fitz was quietly a huge factor.  He had to earn the yards he got all night against that defensive front, and made two huge plays on the clinching drive.

Speaking of running, I just looked at the box score and saw that ND rushed it only 19 times (for 96 yards, 5.1 per).   I was surprised it was so few.  They did throw for over 300 yards so their gameplan wasn't necessarily bad, but I thought they could have hurt us worse on the ground than they did.

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 97963

Victor Hale II

September 8th, 2013 at 12:15 AM ^

We got owned in the trenches (both O and D) and still won. Nice to be on this side of a maddeningly good dual threat QB proving himself unstoppable. But Lou Holtz still thinks ND will win this game. I won't jinx the team by opining about how they should be undefeated going into the OSU game.

Joined: 12/28/2011

MGoPoints: 8846

michgoblue

September 8th, 2013 at 12:16 AM ^

1.  ND's D-Line is scary.  Our interior OL struggled, leading to too many hits , scrambles, hurries by Devin.  I am not sure if this is on our OL or just that ND's D-Line is that good.  The only other somewhat scary D-Lines that we see are Sparty and Ohio.  By then, our interior OL should have "gelled" more, so I am hopeful.

2.  Our D-Line needs to get more pressure on the QB.  Frank Clark looked very good, but as a whole, we didn't put enoug pressure on Rees.  He had tons of time to pic us apart from the pocket.  We MUST be able to rush 4, and not have to rely on blitzes to get pressure.

3.  Countess.  So happy to have him back.  He had another great game.  Consistenty in the right spot and reall lays a hit.

4.  Ok, Devin.  Wow.  Putting aside the almost costly mistake, he played an awesome game.  His ability to extend plas with his legs, and to make tough throws on the run is seriously impressive.  The comparison to Vince Young's game is apt, and if we can get some of our other receivers to develop aruond him, he could be scary.  

5.  Fitz - obviously, he had some great runs, and his cuts look ver quick and sharp.  I expect that he will continue to get over the mental aspects of the injury and will continue to improve.  My only concern is that he doesn't really look like a back who can consistently run through the tackles. Not sure if this is on him or the interior OL, though.   Either way, good game, and he really came through when it counted.

6.  Borges.  He was the man today.  I love our offensive style, and I am really excited to see what he can do with more and more experienced TEs and bigger receivers.  

That's about all.  Go Blue.  Great win.

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: 32160

Louie C

September 8th, 2013 at 4:12 AM ^

I truly believe that this was the best D/O line that Michigan will face all season. I was amazed at how ND's O line stood our front up, and at how much pressure their front  seven got on our front line. Sparty seems to be riding on the coat tails of defenses past, and Ohio has some issues up front on their D line. 

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: 1144

SHub'68

September 8th, 2013 at 1:12 AM ^

We had penalties for movement, a hit out of bounds, a bad kickoff, a shanked punt, allowed a big return, got sacked, threw an INT in the end-zone.  Man, I didn't realize how much started to go downhill during the 4th quarter...but Gardner lead them back down the field and put the game away.  Another great win that leaves a lot they can learn from.

Joined: 09/29/2010

MGoPoints: 6663