snowflakes [ED:BiSB - All ND blatherings go here]

Submitted by michgoblue on

Well, that sucked.  While these are fresh in my head, here are my thoughts on the game:

1.  Defense - we played a great defensive game.  When you turn the ball over 6 times, some of those well into your own territory, and only give up a single TD and 2 FGs, that is some damn good defense.  I was especially happy with our safety and LB play against the run.  Kovaks was just awesome today.

2.  Defensive turnovers.  I am somewhat concerned about why we are not creating fumbles on defense.  Not a knock agianst our defense, which see above, but are we just not swarming the ball and tacking hard enough or is it something else?  We will need to create turnovers to win the game.

3.  Defensive pressure - again, see #1, but we really do need to get more pressure on opposing QBs.  NDs QB situation is shit, but against teams with better QBs, allowing that much pocket time is going to hurt us.

4.  Ok, the offense.  I know that we put up a big 6 points, but the offense actually looked OK.  Denard ran well, and Gallon continues to be - in my mind, at least - our best receiver.  That kid is consistent and catches just about everything thrown his way.  No, he is not going to be Megatron, but he is a great possession receiver. 

5.  Denard - sometimes, you just have a crappy game.  This was definitely that.  Let's  not extrapolate too much from this.  Hopefully, he will never see a LB as good as Teo again this year (until the Rose Bowl?).  He just had a crappy game, and there is not more to say.  Yes, we all know about the problem with INTs, and no he is not going to pick a team apart like Tom Brady, but this is nothing new.  Denard will continue to save us in some games and cost us in others. 

6.  Fitz - he really needs to get his game back together, because he is just not impressive.  Not sure, though, if it is on him or his line.  Either way, if we want to have a chane to win the B10, we need to develop some non-Denard running game and fast.

 

OK, that's all I got.  What are all of your thoughts?

 

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Football

Sten Carlson

September 23rd, 2012 at 1:21 AM ^

Who is the alternative?  Gardner?  Bellomy?  This is nothing like the QB debate that raged in Baton Rouge last season in which the coaching staff insisted upon the inaccurate Jefferson, when Jarrett Lee had proven himself as a highly competent game manager.

Michigan lives and dies on the arm of Denard -- Tonight we died by it, unfortunately.

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: -56

M-Wolverine

September 23rd, 2012 at 1:36 AM ^

If you've been reading and a loss is what finally pushes you over the top to join- don't. Wait like a week, then try it. Because it probably wasn't a good idea at the time.

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

Sten Carlson

September 23rd, 2012 at 1:40 AM ^

Honesty is fine, and you're right , he didn't get the job done tonight -- he admitted as much.  But again, what is the alternative?  Is there a QB on the roster that we're all unaware of?  Is there another player that can do the things that Denard does well, but without the propensity to turn the ball over?

He's not the best passer, but he is an amazing runner, and he's the best QB we have at this point.

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: -56

WingsNWolverines

September 23rd, 2012 at 1:59 AM ^

choices throwing. I don't know why he thinks moving around while throwing will help. Needs to get his feet set and throw it in the director he's turned towards. He can be accurate when he's in rythem and in sync with the offense. Our WRs made a few bad dropped passes but granted some of those passes were either way too low or too high. I thought Gardner would of caught that 32 yard throw. Looked like he couldnt turn his body to make the grab. Jake Ryan is my favorite Wolverine on D next to Kovacs. He always comes up clutch when we need him. Makes good tackles and follows through with them. Kovacs had a great game also. Offensively when you make 6 or 7 trips to the red zone after mounting great drives only to come up with 6 points on the night thats coaching in my opinion. Denard had so many plays where he could of just ran it to the outside then punch it in with Fitz or by himself. Borges made some very confusing play calls when we were deep in Irish territory. Smith should of never made that pass and in my opinion should of just ran it wide. You can't go 2/6 or 3/10 whatever it was in the red zone with 6 turn overs and hope to win. Defensively we made a lot of great tackles and stops at the line but there's still some gaps in our DL that needs work on before we take on Purdue. Im not worried at the point of panic mode. I know Denard can be a beast and an animal when he's at his best. He had a horrible game. It happens. I even lost faith in him tonight but his throwing was frustrating as hell in that first half. Honestly Bellomy or Gardner deserved maybe a few snaps. Things clicked for ND when Reese came in and took over. Its tough loss but we will bounce back. Hoke will be running some tense ptactices this week and we'll take our anger out on Purdue in two weeks. Faith fellow Blue. Its long from over and the B10 looks to be up for grabs this year. GO BLUE always.

Joined: 04/27/2011

MGoPoints: 587

5th and Long

September 23rd, 2012 at 3:34 AM ^

Will be an All-American and 1st round draft choice.... And for other completely obvious statements Tonight sucked. I still love that we get to watch Denard every week. Demens and Morgan didn't look so tentative.

Joined: 09/04/2012

MGoPoints: 794

misterpage

September 23rd, 2012 at 3:42 AM ^

The Defense played great tonight.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Denard lost this one for us plain and simple.  He stinks as a qb.  We'll be seein him run back kicks in the NFL next year.

Joined: 09/10/2012

MGoPoints: 2466

FrankMurphy

September 23rd, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^

People who are tearing into Al Borges over his playcalling: don't you think that expecting Borges to suddenly become a spread offense guru is just as absurd as expecting Denard to suddenly become a drop-back QB?

Joined: 08/19/2008

MGoPoints: 31923