October 19th, 2013 at 7:36 PM ^
If that is the case, the coaches are smarter than me. I was mostly concerned with Bosch but thought Magnusson played well. I'm already trying to convince myself that a Braden Kalis Glasgow Bosch Mangusson line could be really good and will be toghether for at least two full years and 3 years for all except Glasgow with Kugler getting ready to play.
October 19th, 2013 at 8:37 PM ^
They rotated. I didn't catch much Magnuson, but I had 4 minuses for Kalis out of 15 plays or so. One plus. Still not ready, but we have to roll with these guys.
Bosch looked pretty good. Hard to guage, but I didn't see any obvious busts.
Also, Indiana's defense is bad.
October 19th, 2013 at 10:43 PM ^
And the O Line still looked terrible in those games. Big improvement today.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:31 PM ^
Happy for Devin, Jeremy, Borges, and the O-line.
Also happy for myself. It took just a few minutes to see what a shit storm the game thread was going to be, so I logged off and enjoyed one of the funnest Michigan games ever.
6-1.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:31 PM ^
should have foregone the last TD so the punter got an extra rep against IU. WHAT IF THE PUNTER SHANKS THE BALL AGAINST MSU WITHOUT THAT EXTRA REP??!1!11!
October 19th, 2013 at 7:32 PM ^
How much whining about Borges will we have to hear this week?
October 19th, 2013 at 10:44 PM ^
After shitting the bed last week, it looks like Al shuffled the line some more, used a lot more passing to set up the run, spread things out a bit, etc.
I'd say he called a fantastic game against a subpar defensive team, and outscored them when he needed to.
Why does he have to be either 100% genius or moron each week.
People are pretty damn bipolar around here.
Today's game doesn't erase last week, but it sure points toward some cautious optimism for the MSU game in 2 weeks.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:32 PM ^
We put up 751 yards and 63 points against a terrible big ten defense. We did not do that against Uconn or Akron, who both have just as terrible defenses. That, to me, is an improvement. Now we just have to keep the momentum going.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:32 PM ^
Maybe I missed something but where was dileo today? He definitely didn't play. Kenny Allen was holding for kicks
October 19th, 2013 at 8:03 PM ^
Dileo held on the blocked FG.
October 19th, 2013 at 8:21 PM ^
I believe he returned (or at least caught) a punt as well.
October 20th, 2013 at 6:10 AM ^
From what I saw at the game, he was in for one KO return, one punt, and the blocked field goal. I'm guessing injury. Jeremy Jackson played in his slot spot 98% of the game.
October 19th, 2013 at 9:06 PM ^
He didn't hold any kicks after that so did he get hurt?
October 19th, 2013 at 8:53 PM ^
Ate some bad fish last night
October 19th, 2013 at 7:32 PM ^
It looks like Hoke listened to the Mgoblog contingent and brought back the richrod regime on both offense and defense.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:38 PM ^
I am confused. Is our offense good or is our defense bad now? Was it just Indiana's poor D, or a difference in offenseive strategy or both? Is our D regressing or is our D not up to handling 4 and 5 wide sets? Was O-line blocking better with this group or is it just Indiana sucks? I have many questions and no answers and wonder how we'll be against Staee.
Still, we have only one loss on the year with a very young team and Borges seems to have modified things a bit (but still needs to get rid of that horrible stretch play that always goes for -1 yard.
I think we're improving by schedme on offense but the toughest teams are yet to come.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:48 PM ^
I've said it before, I'll say it again...this team seems to play to the level of their opponents.
October 20th, 2013 at 2:58 AM ^
Exactly. We like to play our opponents game. So, the defense should be great next week and we'll be back to gnashing our teeth about the offense. However, today the offense was off the hook.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:39 PM ^
Not sure I understand all the folks saying this game shows Al was right all along. The fanbase has been screaming for basically exactly what happened today. Running from the gun, spreading guys out, letting your very talented QB and receivers play, quit telegraphing every play with your formation.
This game would seem to suggest that the fanbase was right and Borges was (previously) wrong.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:41 PM ^
Correct.
October 19th, 2013 at 8:52 PM ^
Closer to 50%.
Fitz had more success than last week, but he got at least 50 of his 150 from the I, sometimes into stacked boxes. That last drive was all into stacked boxes, but we opened holes and Fitz beat the extra man.
And on a day when we passed for about 350 yards out of the I, I don't think you can say this is what you were calling for. Especially since these exact passes failed last week.
Also, no bubbles.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:42 PM ^
As much as anything it was competent run blocking that made the difference. Big difference between gaining 4 and losing 2 on early downs. And the vertical playaction passing game (which we'd never have with RROD's noodle arms beyond the "QB oh noes" crap everyone used to be so obsessed with here) killed over and over again.
October 20th, 2013 at 9:04 AM ^
RR brought this particular non-noodle armed QB to Michigan.
October 19th, 2013 at 8:41 PM ^
Except the vast majority of our big plays came on the old I-form. Lot of huge play-passes out of the I. Running was better from the gun, but passing was better from under center.
Other than that, I agree with you.
October 19th, 2013 at 9:20 PM ^
the longest plays were from under center off of PA.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:43 PM ^
Or something like it. Can't believe no one has mentioned this. Heiko should get into the stat line!
October 19th, 2013 at 7:44 PM ^
Wasn't a bubble screen. And how often did we top the defense off playaction?
October 19th, 2013 at 7:50 PM ^
That was just the regular throwback screen that Borges has always run. They PA-faked actual bubbles a couple times though.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:46 PM ^
So...Bosch and Magnusun the rest of the way? Seemed to work (forget Indiana caveats, the other O-Lines didn't work against Akron and UConn who are probably worse on defense).
October 19th, 2013 at 7:46 PM ^
offensive line snowflake thread.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:49 PM ^
I have to say, that tunnel screen to Gallon that went for big yards in teh 1st QTR- the 1st thing I thought was "FU Borges, if you'd have run that last week, 2-3 times, we win"
the 2nd thing i thought was, if we hit 1 of 2 missed FGs and don't turn the ball over twice we also win
October 19th, 2013 at 7:51 PM ^
Devin Gardner's 584 yards of total offense was one yard short of the Big Ten record of 585 set in 1980 by Illinois QB David Wilson vs Ohio State. Wilson had 621 yards passing and -36 yards rushing The Illini lost that game 49-42.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:57 PM ^
Hey Al get ready to sign that big new contract.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:57 PM ^
Not sure where to put this, but you gotta feel for Joey Burzinyski. A Walk-on guy finally gets his start and goes one series before getting hurt. He made a couple nice plays too. Hope he gets another shot at some point, but with so many guys in front him and now Bosch too, it'll be tough.
October 19th, 2013 at 7:57 PM ^
...but I'll bet the offense doesn't even show up next week.
October 19th, 2013 at 8:06 PM ^
I bet the defense doesn't show up either. I'd also wager Gardner doesn't have a single turnover next week. Should be a good week all around.
October 20th, 2013 at 1:36 AM ^
Will suck
October 19th, 2013 at 7:57 PM ^
Complete reversal from last week. Definite improvement. Caveats apply since this was Indiana D but I think this is a sustainable offense. They have two weeks to work on it and make it even better. The defense needs to analyze what went wrong but Indiana's offense is good and plays a system that usually gives us fits. I'll take it and the bye week coming up. Much more positive feelings after this weekend's action. Keep getting better and let's see what happens.
October 19th, 2013 at 8:07 PM ^
jokingly posted in the predictions thread that Fitz would get 150 yards.
He got 152 yards and FOUR touchdowns today.
I am a genius, apparently.
October 20th, 2013 at 8:59 AM ^
...you didn't post it. So perhaps almost a genius?
October 19th, 2013 at 8:08 PM ^
was VERY impressive, I thought. Seemed to light a fire under Kalis as well. IU, etc but very promising.
October 19th, 2013 at 8:35 PM ^
How much time did kalis get? Earlier posters said he played much of second half over Magnuson while others seem to praise Magnuson. Just trying to get rough sense of how minutes were split throughout game.
October 19th, 2013 at 8:47 PM ^
I thought Magnuson was in there pretty much the whole game. I did see Kalis on a goal-line play as the extra lineman and a few more plays. I am far from certain this is correct.
I thought Magnuson, Burzynski and Bosch all looked good enough. None are likely to blow people off the ball, but they'll block the guy they are supposed and not be a liability against a pass rush. This is good enough for me in 2013.
October 19th, 2013 at 10:21 PM ^
He... he different.
October 19th, 2013 at 8:08 PM ^
I will be really interested to see how Bosch and Magnuson get graded out. I know the running offense was simplified and this was just Indiana, but they seemed to hold up rather well considering this was their first start.
October 19th, 2013 at 8:33 PM ^
Great game by the offense. I'm glad that our school record for yardage (751, set today) is now against a B1G school, whereas before it was against FCS Delaware State, which seemed a little artificial.
October 19th, 2013 at 8:46 PM ^
I thought Bosch played well. There was one play where he got beat inside but managed to pinch in enough to hold the DT off. The fact that he quickly recovered and made a block impressed me.
Playaction on first down, the draws, and just getting it to Gallon were all great strategies. And Devin broke Denard's record for total offense. Other than a few mistakes and bad throws, he was accurate and seemed comfortable.
October 19th, 2013 at 9:04 PM ^
Agreed. They had the RB baby sit him to start out on the first few pass plays, waiting in case he needed help. He generally held his own. MSU will be a tough test, and competition caveats apply here, but I definitely feel better about the OL. I didn't notice many LOL type busts or guys getting owned all that much.
October 19th, 2013 at 10:32 PM ^
Its the lack of busts that is reason for optimism. Thy blocked a lot better, but Indiana. That might not translate. That they didn't allow many free runners is the good thing, as that will translate.
October 19th, 2013 at 10:22 PM ^
than last week.
Very happy for the team.
- Beat MSU!