WolverineFanatic6

November 16th, 2013 at 7:39 PM ^

I thought the defense was better then they have been most of the season.



Offensively we were as bad as we always are on the road. Hoke is probably happy he bought Al another year ultimately. I can't support Al another second and am rooting for us to win as many 9-6 games as possible.





The 40 pt osu loss may do it though...

GoBlueInIowa

November 16th, 2013 at 7:39 PM ^

Like the aggressiveness to go for in on that 4th down - don't mind the play call but it should have been called to the wide side of the field - so play not bad just wrong side of the field.



That quick field goal is due to great coaching - that was the best executed quick field goal that I have ever seen.

G. Gulo of the Dale

November 16th, 2013 at 8:33 PM ^

I saw multiple drives stall out because Gardner missed an open receiver, or because Gallon dropped a first down (or because Gallon dropped a TD).  I'm happy for the players, but fans are pushing back against the "execution" mantra so hard and vilifying Borges to the point that every mistake is a coaching error.  I'm not angry at college kids for messing up, but certainly part of the reason that the team had its back against the wall was because of mistakes made by the players (in addition to mistakes made by the coaches).

umchicago

November 17th, 2013 at 10:21 AM ^

i give him some credit for that.  i was at game and didn't have benefit of replay.  but that play seemed to work a lot.  i'm a huge critic of borges, but imo he did a decent job of play calling.  but his redzone calls sucked.  i can't ignore that.  i still hope he and funk are canned.

jdon

November 16th, 2013 at 7:49 PM ^

I just won a parlay on michigan and the under... never in doubt...

I would fire Borges, then hire him again on thursday... that would shake it up...

 

seriously I think this win, and overtime, was what this team needed...

jdon

 

Black Socks

November 16th, 2013 at 7:51 PM ^

Why don't we throw deep routes or fades to Funchess?  I know Gallon is a good WR but he is a huge risk on a fade.  I was upset with Borges about 35 times in this game.

umchicago

November 17th, 2013 at 10:24 AM ^

once all game he tried a fade in the redzone.  ONCE.  i was screaming through the rain for it.  gallon, funchess and even chaisson have all proved they can go up and get the ball.  but big AL failed to call the play.

the lions call the play to megatron in double/triple coverage and the play still succeeds.  not Al though.

ericcarbs

November 16th, 2013 at 7:57 PM ^

Didn't mind the fourth down call by Brady



But the FG at end of regulation was GREAT planning by him. 90% coach, 10% players. Brady deserves huge credit for that

Princetonwolverine

November 16th, 2013 at 8:09 PM ^

"Great planning" ? Are you kidding?  It was a coaching travesty that he used his third and final timeout with more than 3 minutes to go and down a field goal.

It was a series of incredibly lucky breaks that field goal at the end even happened. The ref RUSHED to place it down.The NW players rushed to get back and if not for Dileo's slide and hold we would all be screaming coaching incompetence.

Sten Carlson

November 16th, 2013 at 8:16 PM ^

But we ARE NOT because they were successful. As Mason said, that takes organization and preparation. If my aunt had a dick she'd be my uncle. Greatest play I've seen since UTL 1 ... Totally amazing!

Go Blue in MN

November 16th, 2013 at 9:37 PM ^

using the last TO was a mistake.  It saved 40 seconds clock time.  When you have the ball, you can get out of bounds, get first downs, run up and spike the ball, use no huddle, etc. to conserve time, and you won't ever use 40 seconds to run a play.  It's quite possible that if we hadn't used that last TO when NW had the ball, there would have not have been enough time left for our offense to get into FG range.

MGoGrendel

November 16th, 2013 at 8:29 PM ^

because of the Wisconsin game earlier this year. I'm sure a memo went out to all refs after that game and these refs took care of business professionally. They put the game on the players hands, like they should.



Surprised no one mentioned this yet.

Princetonwolverine

November 16th, 2013 at 8:40 PM ^

Yes. Thanks to the ref. However, we should have had a TO saved just in case. If you can't ask Wisconsin then ask Chris Webber. A TO at the end of a close game can be the difference between winning and losing. 90% players, 5 % coaches (getting players out onto the field), 5% refs.

G. Gulo of the Dale

November 16th, 2013 at 8:40 PM ^

It was a coaching travesty that he used his third and final timeout with more than 3 minutes to go and down a field goal.

Hoke was using his timeouts when NW was running the ball to save 35 seconds of clock per use, rather than saving them when his own offense had the ball to save 10 seconds per use.  We would likely not have won the game if he hadn't used his last timeout when NW had the ball.  Fans were blaming Hoke in previous weeks for employing the same strategy that you are advising.

EDIT:  And the players said after the game that they practice that quick field goal situational play every Friday in practice.  So... not simply luck. 

Muttley

November 16th, 2013 at 9:09 PM ^

A timeout employed when the opponent has the ball with the clock running saves 40 seconds. A timeout there would have saved 10 seconds at most.

We never get to that play without Hoke saving 80 seconds on two timeouts taken while NW had the ball with the clock running.

Go Blue in MN

November 16th, 2013 at 9:42 PM ^

Every offensive player got off the field in the few seconds we had, and every ST player got on the field, and everyone was lined up and ready.  I was certain the game was over when Gallon was tackled in bounds, as I did not think it was humanly possible to kick a FG in the time we had.  The ball was already in the air by the time I realized what was happening.

Durham Blue

November 16th, 2013 at 7:57 PM ^

Meh.  No progress in the offense.  Dumbshit play calling.  Probably should've lost after not kicking a FG on 4th and 2 at the 6.  Yeah we won but do I feel better about my team?  Not at all.  That Russian Roulette went our way.  Big deal.  We're not any better than we have been the past 4 weeks.