Restoring Sanity

Submitted by rbgoblue on

Like most Michigan fans, I was really upset following our loss yesterday.  Losing to your little brother sucks.  And what sucks worse is we have to wait another year to play again.  However, in reading some posts on this board and others related to Michigan sports, some of you guys are completely losing it!  Lets bring it back.  The season is far from over!

We are through the first 6 games of our schedule at 5-1, something that most fans would have taken in a heartbeat prior to the season.  Our defense has been exposed in a horrible way, but our offense, despite their lack of execution today, still is going to put up a lot of points.   We turned our our worse performance today.  Thats the case with any offense.  Sometimes you just don't click.  It sucks it came today, but in all honesty we stopped ourselves.

Looking at the remaining schedule, Illinois, Purdue, and Penn State look like very win-able games.  Thats 8 wins!  And who wouldn't have taken 8-4 before the season began.  If we take care of business, Iowa and Wisconsin will be tough, but both teams are beatable and both games are at home.  Our ceiling is still 9-3.

Far too many people are jumping off the band wagon.  Fine.  Just leave.  You probably weren't on board to start the season anyways.  Its easy to be a fan when your QB goes for 200 and 200, but I highly doubt that this team has thrown the towel in, so why are we?  It's a little harder to be a Michigan fan today, but at the end of the day, I'd rather be a disappointed Michigan fan than a Sparty any day.  The season is not over, fellow Wolverines.  This team will not implode like last year, so as fans, lets hold it together as well.  Show your true colors.  Mine are going to be maize and blue.

uniqenam

October 10th, 2010 at 9:56 AM ^

I'll stay on this maize and blue bandwagon, but if Rich Rodriguez insists on giving in, I can't support that.  I love this team, and I really support RR, but punting when you're down 17?  WTF?  And I don't buy that bullshit about trying to change the call.  If you want to change it, you call a damn time out, don't save that shit until the end of the game, where it prolongs your misery. 

blueblueblue

October 10th, 2010 at 1:58 PM ^

He may have said he made a mistake, but I dong buy the "I tried to change the call but they didn't hear me" line. It just doesn't make sense with the previous statement that "it was the wrong call". Honestly, if you watch the conference, he really looks like he is lying. I'm not sure what to make of it. 

Phil Davison

October 10th, 2010 at 5:17 PM ^

Was that RR was perhaps trying to keep it "close" by punting. Two things about this that strike me as absurd. 1. That means that RR had the confidence that the D wouldn't give up another score (with their tendency to give up BIG plays, that seems unlikely) and 2. That he thinks a big loss is worse than a small loss. Which also seems stupid, a loss to MSU is a loss. I don't think when Brandon evaluates RR at the end of the year he'll look to how bad it was. Just some thoughts and more reason to not pay attention to what Millen says on TV.

KC Wolve

October 10th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^

I think for me at least it is the similarities with last year. I know this is better team, but it still makes me nervous. I was in Iowa city last year and that loss was crushing. Another game UM could have one. That makes me confident going into next week. This week is huge, I think. Team should be upset about yesterday and hungry. Like Sparty, if UM doesn't have TO's, they can win.

ixcuincle

October 10th, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^

Some may say Michigan has been "exposed" or that Denard has been "exposed"

"He faced a good defense and got shut down"

Well let's see what happens against Iowa, a win next week would really help restore sanity

As you said Michigan still has a winning record, and those are Big 10 teams Mich should be able to beat. I am sick and tired of hearing about how this Mich team "is not ready for Big 10 football" or how they would be exposed in B10 football. It's time to prove all the doubters wrong and go .500 or better in conference play.

rbgoblue

October 10th, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^

I agree with respect to the Iowa game being huge for getting things back on track.  The last 2 seasons, this team would have thrown in the towel.  This year, I believe we are going to see a lot of fight.

Also, I don't think that our offense or Denard were exposed by there defense at all.  Their defensive strategy was to stack the box and make Denard beat them with his arm.  Denard's has proven he can be an effective passer, and had WRs wide open all day.  For some reason we could not execute yesterday.  Our QB played like a first year starter for the first time!  I'll expect Denard to grow from this game and i know this offense can get back on track.  MSU didn't stop our offense.  We stopped ourselves.

JewofM

October 10th, 2010 at 1:43 PM ^

that I am very interested in seeing how the team responds to the loss. I really hated losing to MSU, but I am fascinated to see how this team bounces back. I want to see us get smacked in the mouth and bounce back with a win. I think that is how you measure the quality of the team. They get knocked down, but that bounce back up. I honestly do not believe it will be like last year when we collapsed after the MSU game. I think the team has grown. We have plenty of deficiencies, but I do think we are moving in the right direction. I just get this feeling that if we can bounce back and beat a quality opponent in Iowa, than I think it will be a launching pad for good things to come from the program. I am excited for Iowa and even more excited that I will be at the game. GO BLUE!

BigCat14

October 10th, 2010 at 6:26 PM ^

I did not see any underwater predictions. That being said it is ok for all to have frustrations with a loss. We as fans in our opinions need not turn on each other, i am most assured that our players are not turning on each other or RR for that matter! Rationale tends to take a leave of absence when one is highly emotionally engaged! I wonder if we should employ the 24 hour rule from posting? Of course it has been 24 from the game but this has been my first op to get on. Certainly seeing some rational thoughts, however more irrational and turning on your own thoughts are somewhat discouraging. We are 5 - 1, keep the Hope and the Faith that our men are better physically and more importantly mentally prepared to handle success and failure! Go Blue beat iowa!

Syyk

October 10th, 2010 at 10:11 AM ^

For better or worse, there isn't such a thing as a "bandwagon" for me when it comes to Michigan football.  I'll be watching every Saturday no matter what happens.  There isn't really anything else that I can do. 

U Fer M

October 10th, 2010 at 10:14 AM ^

I would have been much more disappointed if MSU hadn't just beat a good Wisconsin team the week before. They are a good and experienced team, and may win the conference. M's own mistakes and lack of execution put them out of the game. Best way to put it behind them is to win next week. But I do agree, they need to be at least .500 in the Big Ten this year to show some progress.

meals69

October 10th, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^

in all honesty, i wasnt as upset about the loss as i was about the punt with 6 min. to go. sure i was disapointed we lost, but giving up like that really pissed me off. i'm sure we'll win at least 2-3 more games this year and end up in a decent bowl, and while the defense isn't exactlly what anyone would call good at a jr. high level, i don't think firing anyone is the answer at this point. this is a young team that still has alot of promise for this year, let alone the next several, so lets just sit back, RELAX, and see how the rest of the season plays out before we get the tar, feathers and pitchforks.

 

 

but if we implode....my ass is makin' a run to lowe's!

IdealistWolverine

October 10th, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^

I will support... but we HAVE TO, let me repeat, HAVE TO beat MSU next year and we have to beat OSU once in the next two meetings, either this year or next year.

 

Michigan football is built off of beating our rivals.  This is getting rediculous.  

panderberg

October 10th, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^

How would you like to be an Alabama fan this weekend? Losses everywhere. At least when our runinng game sputtered yesterday, we could think: "Dee Hart will make it better!"

 

Besides - didn't we all KNOW that even great athletes, like Denard, our  receivers, and the O-line (usually...) would have bad days? I just hate to read about "choking."

blueblueblue

October 10th, 2010 at 10:31 AM ^

I think any time you have to resort to talking about "the bandwagon" to make your case to people who are criticizing your team, you have already lost the argument. Mature adults should be able to criticize the coaching of their team and not have their allegiance questioned or denigrated. 

rbgoblue

October 10th, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^

I have no problem with criticizing the team or some of the questionable play calls.  I have done that a lot over the past 18 hours.  Being upset with a loss and criticizing coaching doesn't mean anyone has fallen off "the bandwagon".  What I was referring to were those who wanted to fire the HC or were saying the season is off after a 5-1 start.  There still is time to be rational and optimistic about the future of this team, both over the next 6 games and for next season as well.

blueblueblue

October 10th, 2010 at 10:53 AM ^

The problem is that there are more critics of those who are saying "fire the HC" or "the season is off after a 5-1 start" than there are people actually chanting it. It's you who police in  jingoistic fashion who are perpetuating those thoughts, not the folks scattered here and there that actually express them.

sum1valiant

October 10th, 2010 at 11:04 AM ^

I agree with you if you're speaking of this board in a vacuum.  Most of the posters on here are informed enough to know that there's a lot of good things going on with this football team.  However there are still a lot of people "chanting" outside of the Mgocommunity.  Continuing to circle the wagons, particularly after a loss like this, is never a bad idea.

blueblueblue

October 10th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^

Agree on all counts. Outside of this board and news articles, I am out of the loop. I don't pay any attention to message boards on Freep, AAnews, or Mlive.  

There are a lot of good things going on, and I do not think RR should be fired. But I do think the outlook for the rest of our season, taking our full 2010 resume into account, is grim. My main criticism of RR is that he needs to be a better manager. Just like Bush II needed to surround himself with smart people, I think RR needs to hire keen, eager defensive minds if he wants to be successful in the Big Ten. That means not having people coaching just because they are your friends, or because having a former D1 head coach below you elevates you politically. That is poor management. He has failed in that respect thus far, and it shows on the field. He needs to better manage the program. If not, he will fail at the program level (be fired). 

AMazinBlue

October 10th, 2010 at 10:32 AM ^

but when he sent the punt team out, I said to guys next to me, if he isn't going to try, I'm not hanging around.  He decision to punt was an admission that the game was over.  They most likely wouldn't have won any, but at least they would have gone down fighting.  At that moment, he admitted defeat.  That was the first time I was pissed at RR for an in-game decision he made.

The players didn't execute yesterday and the coaches obviously didn't coach well either.  GERG is failing to fix problems.  He said after halftime that they "fixed" the backside cut and long play issues from the first half and then they give up the big play to start the third quarter.  Honestly, if the defense doesn't find some answers soon, this season will get away from them and mayhem will ensue.

Maize and Blue…

October 10th, 2010 at 11:44 AM ^

to run right past the hole he was supposed to fill twice.  It's all making sense now the players never make mistakes only the coaches.  If you want to blame Gerg blame him for the calling a blitz and leaving CC in man just after he entered the game for James Rogers (Dell TD).

I will be amazed if Obi starts next week.  He continues to not fill holes, is a sponge when it comes to absorbing blocks, and never stops the ball carrier in his tracks.  A Mike should be the hammer instead Obi is the nail.  Our HS has a saying- Talent is important, dependability is critical and I'm it's obvious that both talent and dependability is lacking from the Mike position now.

bluebyyou

October 10th, 2010 at 10:34 AM ^

I think yesterday's game was a bit of a wake up call.  Pure and simple, we lost to a better team on both sides of the ball.  Denard had been so amazing that we all expected miracles. Yesterday we saw that young QB's make mistakes.  Our offense should continue to improve, but the painful reality, having been said here numerous times, is that our D is just plain lousy. Turnovers are just a plain killer.

Next week will be another big test.  I think Iowa can be beaten, but it will take another very strong effort and  Denard getting back on track.

Maize and Blue…

October 10th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^

we left 21 points on the field yesterday.  They get a TD after we stop them on a third down, but a false start gives them another opportunity and they take advantage of it.  Better team questionable, more experience and older without a doubt.

The biggest difference in the game is the Mike position where they have an All American and we have someone who twice ran right past the hole he was supposed to plug giving State 61 and 41 yard TD runs.

Durham Blue

October 10th, 2010 at 10:59 AM ^

Our D cannot carry us when our offense has a bad day.  Denard learned some tough lessons yesterday.  He is a hard-working, humble kid and a great team player.  He's going to bounce back and redeem himself against Iowa.

Don

October 10th, 2010 at 10:58 AM ^

There's nothing wrong with being optimistic. However, based on what has transpired on the field this year in our first two conference games (not to mention what has happened in the previous two seasons), being skeptical about the remainder of the season is also entirely rational. With our putrid defense and awful special teams, Illinois, PU, and PSU also look like very loseable games.

We were all assured by the optimistic experts here that IU was going to pose no problems because their schedule was so bad according to Sagarin. We were assured by the optimistic experts here that Sparty was overrated because Wisconsin was overrated, that MSU would have no answer for our offense, that Greg Jones was too stiff in the hips, and Little Brother.

As far as the bandwagon stuff goes, I said we'd go 6-6 before the season started, so I guess I never hopped on in the first place. Anything over that and I'll be surprised.

The fact that Mark Dantonio has as many conference victories in Ann Arbor that RR has in the entirety of his Big Schedule over 2+ years in Michigan Stadium is not very encouraging, and I've been a big supporter of RR since he came here.

ShruteBeetFarms

October 10th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^

It was frustrating to watch b/c we knew the offense could have played better. We knew going into this season there was little margin of error for offense since our D is not good.

I hate Sparty, but as a rational football fan, MSU played very well. Technically, they were ranked higher than we were. MSU beat a good Wisconsin team last week. 

MSU may be the best team we play until OSU. 

Our kids are young, and need to be coached up. Our youngsters are getting valuable playing time each week.

NateVolk

October 10th, 2010 at 11:04 AM ^

Good thoughts. The fans on here are exceedingly loyal and passionate. Events like yesterday are a kick in the nuts.  Emotions run high.

Iowa is a great opportunity to accomplish all the perception alteration goals Michigan failed to reach yesterday, except the favorite story that we are dominating MSU.

Have to wait another year to start restoring that.  

Beating Iowa would be a larger win nationally though.  

Dallas Wolverine

October 10th, 2010 at 11:07 AM ^

everyone needs to calm down! Our offense will give a chance to win every game we play this year! I have heard that from just about everyone that posts on here. This is just one loss plain and simple. Its time to forget this loss and move on to Iowa and remember we CAN win every game left. I still have the faith in the team and RR.         HAIL

DC Dave

October 10th, 2010 at 11:07 AM ^

it would probably be appropriate at this point to stop talking about the remaining games on the schedule that Michigan should win.  I agree that there are some very winnable games left on the schedule (all of them, but some obviously more than others) but I did enough premature win-counting last year.  Lets just see what happens week to week.

My favorite part of this post is when you said that before the season started that Michigan fans would have been very pleased with a 5-1 start.  After Woolfolk's injury I was thinking that if we were 4-2 at this point and could somehow scrape together wins over Illinois and Purdue that I'd consider it a successful season.  Now, if we end up 6-6 or even 7-5 I'll be disappointed but that is because my expectations for the team have improved, which is a positive.

ShruteBeetFarms

October 10th, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^

I think we all knew there was going to be a learning curve this season. So...

I saw Hopkins in the game early, but only had 2 carries.

We did make a field goal (hey, that's something)

Our receivers did get open.

Denard did have over a 100 yards rushing (not counting the sack)

I didn't notice any false starts or pass interference penalties.

It was hard to tell on tv, but how did some of our young defensive backs play?(Avery, Talbott, Chrstian)