Probably A Good Thing

Submitted by rbgoblue on

This was probably a good thing that happened to Michigan this week.  Yes, I am as disappointed as all of you are that we didn't get a chance to give some young guys a shot, namely Devin or Tate, but we won the game, didn't show anything special, and got served a little bit of a wake up call.  The team needs to refocus and play each game with intensity, one at a time.  I hope the message gets sent and I'm glad it doesn't have to come at the cost of a loss.

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NateVolk

September 18th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^

No major injuries. Offense looked very balanced. Denard made a team selling out against the run pay big time for outside man coverage. He showed an ability to throw over the top of the defense accurately for the first time.  Kovacs looked very active and showed he is rounding out into a playmaker. Cameron Gordon looked pretty good and seemed to be one of the few guys who tackled well.  We are 3-0 against the expectations of most outsiders.  We have another game to clean up things before the conference starts. The running backs looked better especially Shaw who began running down hill hard in the second half.  Teams will be way underestimating our defense in future games.

Joined: 07/19/2010

MGoPoints: 6863

C-BusWolve

September 18th, 2010 at 3:51 PM ^

Although I understand what you are saying, I have to respectfully disagree with your stance on this game. Anytime an FCS team does as it pleases against your defense and puts up 37 points, it is not a good thing. Our defense could not stop an FCS ground attack, applied very little pressure on the opposing QB and failed miserably to play assignment football for 4 straight quarters.

This game should have served as an easy win, a rest for our starters, and a chance to get our young and unproven players a chance to get valuable game experience that would prove crucial when we have injuries throughout Big 10 play. I could not help but think, "this is 2009 all over again" as I watched this game. Our defense has more serious concerns than we saw in weeks 1 and 2 and needs to find a way to be a bend but don't break type of team. We gave up big plays last week but this week we allowed an FCS team to smash their way down the field on us the entire game.

I do not think that this was a good thing in any way shape or form for our program.

If this is a 1 week deal and our defense can come out in the coming weeks and improve upon their performances from weeks 1 and 2 then I will gladly retract this post. I do not want to be negative as I do not actually believe this is 2009 all over again but our defense needs to get better every single week in order to be where we need them to be to have a chance against Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State or Ohio State and they failed to get better this week.

Joined: 09/15/2009

MGoPoints: 117

Meeechigan Dan

September 18th, 2010 at 4:57 PM ^

Disagree...a little. You say many true things, neglecting only to observe that all these teams can beat you if your head isn't in the game. I thought Toledo and ASU was be prevention against this, but rarely has there been such a week of adulation for a player (with a modest spill over to the team) and it apparently had the effect of letting the clock drain with UMass believing it could be ASU. This is the same D that held two good offensive teams to 34 points (not that they were great...just adequate). I am pleased for the wake up call. Special teams, though...someone needs to be executed.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 2319

wolverhorn

September 18th, 2010 at 4:01 PM ^

One thing I didn't realize was how many players from FBS schools UMass has.  Maybe this number of former D1 recruits is normal, I don't know.  They're not all powerhouse schools or anything but the team does have some talent, also shown by how high they're ranked in FCS (I don't know who started so I'm just taking these from the UMass roster).  

Offense:

-Andrew Krevis, TE (E. Michigan)
-Dan Sheeran, WR (Syracuse)
-Nick Speller, OL (Syracuse)
 

Defense & ST:

-Galen Clemons, DE (C. Michigan)
-David Cozzo, DB (S. Florida)
-Brandon Flanagan, DL (Buffalo)
-Mike Mele, LB (Syracuse)
-Caleb Violette, K/P (Virginia Tech)


 

Joined: 09/03/2010

MGoPoints: 1743

MadtownMaize

September 18th, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^

this helps the team have better focus. I would have liked to get some experience for some players, and build some confidence for our defense and special teams (ouch). This one was painful to watch.

Joined: 09/14/2009

MGoPoints: 3253

mmiicchhiiggaann

September 18th, 2010 at 4:02 PM ^

The Defense played really well the last two games. If the offense was shut down today and we won 14-7 or something would we be sitting here having a meltdown that our offense just got owned by a FCS team we are done??? The defense obviously didn't play with the intensity it has been or was prepared as much as it should of been. There will be plenty of bad days by this defense. Its young, inexperienced and has a ton of injuries. Its a win every week is a new week.

Joined: 01/31/2010

MGoPoints: 2138

C-BusWolve

September 18th, 2010 at 4:09 PM ^

VT was supposed to be better than us and James Madison wasn't ranked in the preseason FCS poll. How does any of that apply to the University of Michigan not taking care of a cupcake?

Joined: 09/15/2009

MGoPoints: 117

grumpy130lm

September 18th, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^

We may be YEARS and another coach from where we want to be, but our D is really starting to EMBARRASS  us on a national level. Mnay of the talking heads on various radio/TV shows are ALREADY calling for a new D coord!! WTF!! PICK IT UP GUYS!!

Joined: 08/21/2010

MGoPoints: -9

UMWest22

September 18th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^

I really think the team felt a little embarrassed by that (as they should).  When they came over for the Victors singing with the students, none of them had a smile, and they kind of seemed to go through the motions.  Hope you're right and this is a major wake up call for us.

Joined: 10/26/2009

MGoPoints: 437