Snowflake Thread: Special Teams
Was surprised to see this wasn't posted, as it had a humongous impact on the outcome of this game.
- Giles set the tone in the second half with his second career TD return (1st at Maryland to start the game last year)
- Nordin with three excruciating missed kicks (one was not his fault)
- Rutgers' hilariously Italian-named kicker won the game for them, until he didn't
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:24 AM ^
All in all, probably a push. Missed FG's offset by Jackson's TD. 3 missed FG's is...yikes.
Robbins punted well. Felt like we covered kicks pretty well, and got some pretty good field position when Rutgers kicked away from Jackson.
Schiano made a great call with that onside kick - fortunately it didn't quite work.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:29 AM ^
Never got a good look at the replay, but did the ball never touch the Rutgers player? If it did, it should've been our ball at that spot plus penalty yardage. Instead they just got called for illegal blocking (never heard that one before) and got to re-kick
November 22nd, 2020 at 8:22 AM ^
They didn't show a different angle of the replay but I think it may have been a weird bounce instead of it hitting a Rutgers player. I hadn't heard of that call either. This seems like something that happens all the time on onside kicks but never gets called.
The worst part about this play was just how insanely unprepared we were for it. The kicker was ONE STRIDE away from the ball on his approach.
November 22nd, 2020 at 2:50 PM ^
If we were playing Dantonio's MSU, I'd be angry because he almost always pulled out kicking game shenanigans - you'd better be ready for it.
IMO Schiano's call was great precisely because it was so unexpected. I really think any team would have been surprised.
Onside kicks have a much better chance of success when they're not needed or expected; Michigan, like most teams, was set up for a return.
Plenty of other places to criticize coaching; in this case I'd say props to Schiano rather than boos to JH.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:25 AM ^
Kicker's name reminded me of Alessandra Ambrosio, the VS model:
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:43 AM ^
You can bet she never missed a kick.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:31 AM ^
Nordin had karma take a huge bite out of his ass when he missed the fg attempt late in the game.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:36 AM ^
Was amazed they sent out Nordin for that one. Fg unit has been a misadventure all year and already missed two today. Distance was 4th and 6 and with the way the offense had been operating, I think I like the odds of that better than a 49 yard try
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:04 AM ^
It was 4th and 2 actually. I definitely wanted to go for it then.
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:12 AM ^
Karma almost took a huge bite out of our ass in the process.
It is one thing to have big balls and be that good vs. just being a prick, IMHO he seems to be the latter. Will never forget his private plane commitment video to ped state, this for a kicker even, not a 5 star qb!!!
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:50 AM ^
I fully expected us to lose on a missed extra point by Nordin in the 2nd OT. Have seen him miss way too many of those. We got super lucky to win this game - ambrosio saved our program. (Ambrosio to UM football is the antithesis of Jeff Meyer to IU bball)
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:54 AM ^
Two straight missed game-winning kicks by kickers against Michigan, tonight and Army last year. Let's stop doing this, please.
November 22nd, 2020 at 9:08 AM ^
I turned off the game the moment Nordin missed that kick in 1OT... was so frustrated that the team comeback looked to be for naught. Checked espn for the final score confirmation a few minutes later only to see that Rutgers had scored a touchdown... in 2OT.
November 22nd, 2020 at 7:24 AM ^
Giles Fucking Jackson. Playmaker.
November 22nd, 2020 at 8:55 AM ^
Brad Robbins has quietly shown why he is a 6 ⭐️ Punter
November 22nd, 2020 at 10:31 AM ^
Robbins seriously should be the team mvp. Giles finally busted loose, hes a feast or famine on kickoffs like Peppers was. I dont know whats going on with our kickers, because Moody missed 3 against Minnesota and we were calling for Nordin. Only thing with Nordin is he seems like he has a serious attitude issue.
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:00 AM ^
I’m glad Schiano called two OT plays that lost yardage before that field goal attempt. I don’t know why he didn’t just hand off to Pacheco two more times. If that kick is a 40-yarder instead of 45 we may have lost.
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:47 AM ^
Correct, the lost yardage before the kick was huge. It hooked left slightly, just missing the upright. 5 yards closer, the kick was probably good.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:04 PM ^
Fire Jay
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:23 PM ^
The only thing worse than a missed kick, is a kicker screaming “do your fucking job” at a teammate and then proceeding to miss another fg.
Nordin, grow up and do your fucking job
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:33 PM ^
Let Moody be the placekicker. Enough.