We’re a second half team now?
Remember the days when we didn’t seem to make any adjustments at halftime? I don’t know if “halftime adjustments” explain last night’s game. There are people on MGoBlog who are much better qualified than me to identify any changes that may have been made. But the following tidbit is from David Hale’s wrap up on ESPN.com:
“Rutgers led 17-14 at the half. Never forget that. On the other hand, in its past four games, Michigan has outscored its opponents 100-3 in the second half.”
November 6th, 2022 at 5:25 PM ^
That’s the fact Jack
November 6th, 2022 at 5:42 PM ^
You missed the comma /s
November 6th, 2022 at 5:29 PM ^
Affirmative
November 6th, 2022 at 5:30 PM ^
The scoop and score was a once in a season gimmick. The deep passes will not work for the entire game. The d showed up and answered. I am worried that the o stalled to start the second half.
November 6th, 2022 at 5:59 PM ^
Michigan's first second half possession was 8 plays, 54 yards, and a touchdown.
Second possession was 2 plays, 10 yards, and a touchdown.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:13 PM ^
How dare you question the narrative using...facts?
November 6th, 2022 at 7:35 PM ^
Only 2 plays? Sounds like they stalled
November 6th, 2022 at 5:31 PM ^
Interesting stat, 100-3 in the second half. Whatever they're doing, whatever "adjustments" they're making to be 9-0 and crushing teams 100-3 like that (edit/add: even if it's only in the last 4 games)? Those are certainly fine with me!
First half of the Rutgers game was not fun to watch, but that Q3 performance made it "all better". 👍
November 6th, 2022 at 5:47 PM ^
That 100-3 is simply over the last 4 games.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:01 PM ^
But over the entire season we’ve only given up 6 points in the 3rd quarter.
November 6th, 2022 at 5:33 PM ^
Seeing lots of great adjustments by the defensive staff. I also think the run game demoralizes our opponents and that shows more in the 2nd half.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:04 PM ^
I think this is a bigger variable than people seem to give credit for.
Same shit OSU always did under urban and funny enough before day got there they complained non stop about their passing attack. Can remember to this day when the Zach smith stuff was happening a co worker was happy because their receivers were “under performers”
November 6th, 2022 at 6:50 PM ^
Yes, we have great coaching, but the adjustments don't actually even wait to the second half. Will Johnson was inserted at corner when it became clear that they were going to toss up a bunch of 50/50s to try to take advantage of athleticism from their star receiver. That ceased to be a problem for the rest of the game.
The reason that we always win the second half is a punishing running game, and winning the line of scrimmage on both sides consistently. Other teams just cannot fight this battle successfully against us for 60 minutes.
David Hale is an absolute moron for thinking that this somehow justifies him for not even having Michigan in this top four. He just doesn't understand how football and games work.
November 7th, 2022 at 12:10 AM ^
They used Johnson to help the 50/50 fade routes against MSU. Johnson started the game against Rutgers due to Gemon Green being out. Maybe the switched Will onto the tall receiver instead of Turner, but he was already in the game.
November 6th, 2022 at 5:38 PM ^
2 missed FGs, drops, blocked punts do not happen that often. Many players missing time and BC wasn't himself. It is just a weird half. Impressed with how good they were in the second half. Tyler had probably the key play of the game. Remember that Georgia had to pull off a victory against an inferior team late in the second half. Michigan didn't even need that. 5 mins in 3rd quarter and all over. Great team.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:28 PM ^
Other than him vomiting (which he’s done before) do we know Blake wasn’t himself? He still juked guys out of their socks a few times.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:46 PM ^
True. He’s just that talented. He just seemed a little off though after his TD was called back and he puked. He wasn’t that lively BC he typically is. He looked fatigued from there on out.
November 7th, 2022 at 2:24 AM ^
Apparently he was asked by the media after the game about puking. He said he thinks he has a problem breathing that causes him to swallow alot of air (during the run?). Once he pukes he releases the trapped air in his stomach and he feels better. Said he will talk to someone (medical staff? trainers?) this week to get it checked out. He doesn't think it's anything serious.
November 6th, 2022 at 8:37 PM ^
Took care of the ball from a turnover stand point, only four punts, only three penalties (great improvement over the last three games), decent third down conversions... They're doing the little things right.
November 6th, 2022 at 5:38 PM ^
Found it curious Hale is one of three (out of 15) ESPN writers who don't have Michigan as a playoff pick. He's got UGA, tOSU, Tennessee and TCU.
November 6th, 2022 at 5:41 PM ^
Not unreasonable if all of those teams win out. Three undefeated power 5 teams and the one loss team lost to #1. Quite a reasonable take. Let’s beat osu again, instead. TCU will lose at Texas anyways, so it could be two from B1G and two from PAC. Oregon could have a say if they win out.
Edit: SEC (not PAC). Thanks Wayne’s world
November 6th, 2022 at 5:53 PM ^
Two from the PAC?
November 6th, 2022 at 6:25 PM ^
It’s not an unreasonable take, I just thought it interesting the guy says to never forget we trailed Rutgers at half.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:44 PM ^
But I don't think the ESPN poll is based on year end projections. Most of the staffers have both Ohio State and Michigan in the top four.
November 6th, 2022 at 8:54 PM ^
So what happens if USC/UCLA, TCU, Ole Miss and Michigan/OSU win out? Who makes the playoffs? Would a 1-loss Georgia be picked over another conference champion?
November 6th, 2022 at 5:55 PM ^
The odd one to me was how many ESPN writers seem to be giving Oregon higher marks for getting smashed by Georgia than they give Michigan for winning against all the teams we've been able to play this year.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:12 PM ^
I think it's reasonable if you're projecting the end of the season and think OSU is the favorite in Columbus.
12-1 Oregon with wins over Utah, UCLA, and probably one of the two LA schools in the conference title game but getting curb stomped by Georgia vs. 11-1 Michigan with wins over PSU, Illinois, and...Maryland I guess would be third best. If we had kept our common opponent with the Ducks and beaten them by more than 25 that would be very helpful.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:29 PM ^
The PAC-12 is actually in an okay position as long as one one-loss team wins out. USC and UCLA still have to play each other and the winner would face Oregon in the championship game. Those are currently top-10 matchups. Seems like if TCU stumbles a one-loss Pac-12 champ has a case.
November 6th, 2022 at 5:59 PM ^
Well, above he tells us to “never forget” that Rutgers led at halftime, so I guess he votes based on first halves.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:41 PM ^
And he forgot to watch OSU game.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:51 PM ^
Maybe everyone should “never forget” about Georgia losing at halftime to Missouri by 10. Or that Georgia was losing by 7 after 3 quarters. Or that into the 4th quarter they Georgia once again found themselves down by 10 before finally coming back to win by a measly 4 points in a game they were favored by 31. That’s the same Missouri team sporting a 4-5 record that got beat by a terrible auburn team and barely beat an even worse Vanderbilt.
November 6th, 2022 at 8:10 PM ^
Hale sounds like a jive turkey
November 6th, 2022 at 5:50 PM ^
A second half of the season team? Sounds good to me.
November 6th, 2022 at 5:53 PM ^
We're closers. We get coffee too.
November 6th, 2022 at 7:58 PM ^
Always Be Closing.
November 6th, 2022 at 5:55 PM ^
I'd like to see big raises for the defensive staff guys who analyze first half video and feed data and recommendations to Minter for halftime adjustments. Minter keeps plenty busy with first half game action. His support staff is doing a great job.
November 6th, 2022 at 11:39 PM ^
We should probably thank Minters dad
November 6th, 2022 at 6:07 PM ^
I won’t lie, I’m starting to have faith in the staff. The way they finish games makes me feel like these guys can really coach and I’m absolutely ready to get hurt again.
November 6th, 2022 at 10:18 PM ^
I know the coaches are relieved to learn that after going 21-2 over the last two seasons, beating Ohio State and winning the Big 10 title, you’re “starting” to have faith in them. I’m sure they’re endeavoring to do whatever it takes to earn your full support.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:08 PM ^
A second half team and a field hockey school at the same time!!
November 6th, 2022 at 6:09 PM ^
I mean, right now we are. Next week I'm thinking we'll be a first half team again.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:10 PM ^
One of the things I always liked about Bo’s teams is that they usually course corrected after half time. This current trend feels familiar and I’m OK with it.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:27 PM ^
Is 100-3 good?
November 6th, 2022 at 6:31 PM ^
100-3 seems pretty good. As a Michigan fan though, it is only right to complain about that field goal.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:33 PM ^
I think it’s a combination of adjustments and both lines just wearing out the opponents lines.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:39 PM ^
A thought that I have been thinking about all day is 2nd half adjustments or lack thereof are going to be the difference in The Game. I know that sounds too basic but since Harbaugh has been here, all our games have been pretty even in the 1st half if not a slight advantage for us. Can we scheme a 2nd half that shuts down OSU, probably not. Can we continue to make adjustments that take away the downfalls from the first half, absolutely. I look forward to seeing how our coaches help our players improve the rest of the year.
November 6th, 2022 at 6:42 PM ^
Damn Skippy
November 6th, 2022 at 6:42 PM ^
David Hale is a moron. He left Michigan out of his current top 4 ranking for a Tennessee team that got crushed. Weird comment about never forget that Rutgers led at the half. Does it really matter in a 4 quarter game?
November 6th, 2022 at 8:06 PM ^
ESPN staff are paid to say outrageous things to get people to talk about them. Speaking of which, this thread.
It's all about clicks. An enthusiastic click has the same value as an outraged click. Also, idiots love nothing more than proving they're "smart". So the go-to these days is to pander by out-idioting the idiots. Hence you get David Hale, who is quite talented at saying things so stupid that even idiots set their hair on fire to disagree. It get them clicking, furiously. That's the business model.
The solution isn't to correct David Hale; it's to ignore him.