Saddest part of the season
Ok I could probably pick a million different things here. LB play, B Graham having an outstanding season and still not going to a bowl game, or even the personal disappointment of having to suffer through watching so many losses. Breaking things down on an individual level though I have to say the saddest part of the season has been our senior running back tandem. Throughout their entire careers each of them showed a lot of potential. Yet not 1 of the 4 years could either of them really stay healthy enough to play. I think Minor may have even been a pretty solid draft pick if he showed some durability. Really sad to see a senior season with him sitting on the sidelines 90% of the time because he's too banged up to get in. Anybody else have something that they think is the most disappointing part?
November 24th, 2009 at 9:43 AM ^
Finishing 1-7.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:06 AM ^
with the reality that RRod is:
0-2 vs Purdue
0-2 vs. ZOOK
0-2 vs Sparty
0-2 vs OSU
Depressing on so many levels. The 0-2 vs. Zook is equally embarrassing as it is sad.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:41 PM ^
O$U had only 1 defensive all conference player, and they dominated this year(on defense).
For all those haters out there saying that Mich defensively is not good because recruiting. Well, look at what Tressel did with subpar talent:
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/tag/_/name/3-point-stance
Now, can we say our defensive coaching was a little lax this year?
November 24th, 2009 at 1:58 PM ^
no i don't believe you can say our defensive coaching was lax! at least not yet. i think this proves the problems of changing DC's and schemes the last 3 yrs. with subpar talent, but the same scheme the last however many years it's possible to over achieve. after the next 1-2 yrs with the same scheme and DC and we still have the same results, then you can call or coaching lax.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:01 PM ^
The # of all-conf. players isn't important. A unit of 11 guys who just missed the all-conf. cut is going to be far superior to a team with Lawrence Taylor surrounded by turds.
November 24th, 2009 at 3:11 PM ^
But I was getting dogged on here earlier because I had a problem with the coaching. A coaches job is to take whatever talent is there, and make it cohesive. When I watched games this year, I saw defenders that were out of place and confused. I didn;t see a clear lack of talent.
I'll buy the arguement that we had three news DC's, but I have seen new DC's come in the first year and be successful(Wasn;t Hermann new in 97', and I think Mich had a pretty good defense).
What I am saying, is I will accept excuses as long as we need to use them.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:45 AM ^
Losing to aOSU................again.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:46 AM ^
Mostly how many games we won compared to how may games we lost, mostly...
November 24th, 2009 at 9:50 AM ^
The way we started, and the way we finished. Plus the fact that our D stepped up in the final game, but our offense sputtered.
Also, I hate the "could have been" games (ie: Iowa and OSU) If it hadn't been for all those turnovers, we would have won.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:34 AM ^
Dont forget MSU
November 24th, 2009 at 11:31 AM ^
to block that one out of my mind. I work with a Spartan alum and he gave me hell that next week. But yes, add that to the list of what might have been...oh yeah, and Purdue...UGH!!!
November 24th, 2009 at 9:55 AM ^
We actually regressed on offense. I figured that by the end of the season the offense would be like a well-oiled machine. I figured RR would start breaking out counters to their counters and keep opposing defenses guessing and bewildered.
On the contrary, it seemed like we didn't evolve the offense at all, and by the 2nd half of the season opposing defenses had us scouted and figured out. The complete lack of imagination as to how to use Vapor Trail Robinson was a total disappointment as well.
The totally predictable and ineffective QB draw plays with DR and the predictable zone stretch plays against OSU were depressing. How about a counter draw? How about a triple option wth Robinson?
November 24th, 2009 at 9:59 AM ^
-Minor injured
-Molk out for season
-Tate's shoulder
-Odoms missing the last few games before OSU
Yeah, I can see why we regressed on offense.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:05 AM ^
I will curb my dis-enthusiasm. I guess I will reduce my crtitique to a lack of imagination and adjustments with the play-calling. I think that's a pretty fair criticism, even with the talent we still were putting out on the field.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:34 AM ^
I agree with this assessment. The injuries were a huge factor in the overall performance of the offense over the last half of the season, but I would have definitely liked to have seen a little more in the areas you mentioned.
This is the one thing about this coaching staff that mildly concerns me going forward, even when the personnel holes are filled...we were extremely predictable offensively at times this year. I understand true freshmen QB's and all that but at times it was very puzzling.
I was intrigued by the appearance of the pistol formation for a few plays against OSU and will be interesting to see if they continue with that next year at all.
I remember shortly after RR was hired, Brian linked a post from Smart Football, I believe, about the lack of sophistication and/or effective route combinations in RR's pass offense. This is an area I really hope we wee some improvements next year.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:11 PM ^
Odoms missing the last few games resulted in Roundtree getting more playing time. Through the Penn State game Roundtree had 2 catches for 44 yards. After Odoms went down, in the PSU game, he had 30 catches for 390 yards. Basically by losing Odoms for a short period of time allowed us to find our best receiver. Hopefully, the coaching staff can utilize 2 slot sets and get both Odoms and Tree on the field together.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:57 AM ^
I was on the fence during the entire second half of the season as to whether there is a God.
Late in the Ohio State game, when Tate threw that end-zone interception, I realized that the events we have seen these last two seasons (and last six Ohio State games) could not have come about unless they were orchestrated by a higher power.
Now that I know that God exists, I just have to figure out if he hates me, or if being omnipotent, omniscient, and infinite has just given the guy an incredibly sick sense of humor.
Anyway, that moment was, for me, the saddest.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:50 AM ^
I had the "come to Jesus" question when Texas kicked the field goal to beat us in the Rose bowl. I still have not found an answer........
November 24th, 2009 at 10:31 AM ^
made me throw up in my mouth. the overhead view on tv was bad enough, but having them all in one end of the stadium like this after the game shows how many there really were. i don't think it gets lower than that.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:59 AM ^
The inability to use D Rob in any unpredictable way. It made me hate when he got in the game, which is unfortunate. Hopefully next year there is some mystery when he enters.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:59 AM ^
1. Total incompetence of the linebackers to do anything constructive or learn from their repeated mistakes.
2. Inability to have D Rob do anything, but get the ball& run with it. he isn't capable of running the read option play after practicing for 1/2 the season?
3. Brandon Minor being constantly injured.
4. The waste of Brandon Grahams senior season. It must have been frustrating for him. He is an absolute stud/freak/beast/animal.
Wow, this comes off as extreme depression. Despite the above disappointments, I think we can turn this around in the next 2 years& I am still hopeful RR will come through.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:29 AM ^
(1) You are absolutely right, although they had to completely learn a new style of linebacking under GERG. Hopefully they improve in 2010.
(2) Did he run the spread read option in high school? If not, why do you think he'd be able to pick it up within 6 weeks? There's a reason most true freshmen quarterbacks don't play as true freshmen.
Let's not sugar coat it: Tate was also terrible at the spread read this year. He regularly missed his reads.
(3) Yep. He and Brown had a really disappointing 2009 season.
(4) BG was fantastic. I loved watching him play.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:03 AM ^
Discovering that the radios that they sell outside the stadium only work for one year!
And then watching some poor old couple actually purchasing two of them at the reduced rate ($5) before the OSU game.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:04 AM ^
Boubacar Cissoko's implosion easily takes the cake for me.
It was his fall from grace which directly led to Troy Woolfolk eventually moving to CB, which opened up the huge holes which plagued our secondary. While Cissoko didn't play great due to injury, he at least was able to play something resembling press coverage. Had he been available I'm not too sure Michigan State would have gotten all those 10-yard bubble screens. Further, had Woolfolk been playing safety, would Iowa have gotten those long TE TD runs or would Woolfolk have been in a position to stop them? Would Purdue have been able to break the long plays it did?
You all saw the improvement in the D when Woolfolk returned to safety at Ohio State.
If Warren stays at Michigan, there should be enough CB depth for a safety with speed to play free safety. And that, should ensure a lot of improvement in the defense in 2010.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:07 AM ^
Western Michigan game. Before a huge third-down play on defense, the MMB plays "Intimidation" and only half the stadium can hear them.
WMU calls time out. During the break the defense tries to pump up the Michigan Stadium crowd, and out of the loudspeaker emanates the first strains of..."Don't Stop Believin'".
Defense looks at each other quizzically. Bluehair faces turn red. And Bill Martin's inbox is never the same again.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:07 AM ^
Blowing 14 point halftime lead at home. Sad, sad, sad. If we had won, we'd be bowl bound and get 15 more practices.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:12 AM ^
That was the nadir for me as well.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:21 AM ^
Sitting in the stands when Olesnevage missed the extra point...
Pretty Much summed up the season for me right there
November 24th, 2009 at 10:21 AM ^
with disappointing Sr RB's.
Only Grady's was an entire career, he was never the same after the knee injury.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:25 AM ^
first, second, third, fourth and one = zero points, spinning head
November 24th, 2009 at 10:29 AM ^
Far and away it was the Purdue game for me. That was more heartbreaking than all of last season's losses, including Toledo.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:31 AM ^
Minor not being able to play against OSU in his very last game. I felt so bad for the guy
November 24th, 2009 at 10:52 AM ^
I haven't seen this one in the list, but for me it was Illinois. Four cracks from the one and then.......that was where I thought things truly fell apart.
I completely agree with your point about Minor and Brown, both are talented college backs who could have made a big difference. To work so hard for so long and have injuries take away your senior year. I hate it for both of them.
The high point was BG. As bad as everything was around him, he never stopped being awesome. I'm glad he made himself a big pile of cash this year. He deserves every bit he is going to get.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:03 AM ^
I have been critical of Tate this year, but I really felt bad for the kid during the MSU game. He played his ass off at the end of that game, willing them to comeback and tie it up. Then to see it end the way it did, I felt bad for him and the guys around him.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:10 AM ^
Going to a bowl, any bowl, would have been nice and would have been more tangible progress. Not going to one does hurt.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:06 PM ^
I've been a fan of Michigan Football since the early 70's. This was the first year I bought season tickets and I bought them to watch the great change taking place first hand. I was not disappointed, I enjoyed the ups and downs with the very young team RR fielded. This was a great experience! If RR doesn't end up in the "political graveyard" Michigan will be back in the NC race, IN TIME!
What I am disappointed about is the negative fan base and most importantly the so-called season ticket holders that SOLD THEIR TICKETS TO OSU fans. If you are a fair weather fan holding season tickets please don't renew them! We had a bunch of talented recruits present at the OSU game and the stadium was filled with OSU fans. Thanks for helping the MICHIGAN recruiting effort you turn coat UM fans!
Bo is rolling over in his grave. Sorry, for the rant, I really want to see Michigan football succeed!
November 24th, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^
the saddest part about this season was seeing how many bandwagoners uofm football really has. no one on this board of course, but good lord.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:04 PM ^
...is remember the vast emptiness of Crisler Arena during the last decade, Yost during the '80s, or even Michigan Stadium during the '60s to know that most fans are bandwagon types.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^
for me, second half of the Illinois game because up until then I thought that we were a good football team. After that I could no longer be surprised by poor play.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:42 PM ^
This season will create an atmosphere amongst the team which will leave them hungrier than ever. Mark my words, the team next year will play with more fire, passion, and controlled rage than we have seen a michigan team play with in a long time. I think the team is embarrassed and hurt by this seasons results and will work like savages in the gym this off season to improve.
November 24th, 2009 at 3:57 PM ^
Didn't they feel that way last year??
November 24th, 2009 at 2:20 PM ^
Newspaper articles reporting David Cone being used as a goal line receiver and never seeing it in game.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:22 PM ^
Uh, the 2d half of the Illinois game (and what it wrought) kinda sucked...