We knew what they we're doing=Fail
Brian brought up that T. Anderson is the latest in a long line of victorious players who claim after the victory that "they knew what they were doing". The 1st couple times I heard it I used to think boy that team got outcoached and of course provided ammo for the Lloyd bashers, but I have since come to the realization it is probably horse shit. First, if you studied film all week like you were supposed to, you should know what the other team was going to do for 80% of the snaps. 2nd is after almost everyone of Brian's UFR you can see he points out several instances that a simple execution error by 1 guy sabotaged a whole play. Did MSU have a good defensive game plan for UM, sure, but there were also 5 or 6 plays that would have been touchdowns had Mich executed correctly. Wher's Bo when you need him?? Execute!!!! That'll be the Michigan version of MAKE PLAYS!!!
October 9th, 2009 at 8:17 PM ^
The line of "we knew what was coming" was pretty painful to hear after USC crushed us. But I think part of the reason was that it emphasized how much better they were than us, and made us feel pretty helpless.
All the rage is about "spread this, schematic advantage that." In reality, I think execution has become underrated in the past few years.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:18 PM ^
You're right. What makes plays work or fail, more times than not, are players. Is the New England offense brilliantly schemed out in the passing game, or do they run fairly standard plays that involve the most terrifying WR in football (Moss) receiving a larege amount of attention and a QB able to make lightning-quick decisions? Was Rodriguez more brilliant in 2007 than in 2002, or were White and Slaton doing things his previous players couldn't?
It's not a matter of "having something new" every week - it's a matter of doing what you have correctly. Also, Tate's jab step isn't "scheme" - it's the way he fucking plays football.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:21 PM ^
Remember when Charlie Weis thought he had a schematic advantage? Remember when he went so far as to put in an option package to go along with the pro style? Sure, the plays were probably unpredictable, but the results were hysterically predictable: FAIL!!!!111
October 9th, 2009 at 8:26 PM ^
Right. Charlie's offense looks fearsome when he has a mature NFL caliber QB and at least one elite WR. Go figure. Is Weis running a differenct scheme now than he did in 2007? I'd wager no.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
There are new wrinkles (based on personnel) and packages (like the wildcat) but the it is largely the same
October 9th, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^
and we almost lost anyways.
Says it all, brah.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:14 PM ^
Whether you have the best scheme and no players, or the best players and a crappy scheme, it won't work. You need good players and a good scheme. I think next year and subsequent ones will be a different story, anyway. An MSU team on their way down caught a UM team on their way up, but still won. I don't think they will be so lucky very often in the future.
Besides, if UM is tipping plays, I think RR will probably use that to his advantage next time against MSU. Tipping a run and passing or vice-versa on a regular basis would turn all of Dantonio's work into a negative, and MSU would be so off-balance that UM would pretty much have their way with them.
If both teams' respective trends continue, I think UM will pretty much be having their way with MSU in the future, anyway, even if Dantonio's obsession with UM results in knowing what is coming most of the time.
I'm just glad that the MSU kids are still running their mouths. This provides locker room material for next year and proves that the culture in EL is still one of losing. Let 'em brag.
October 9th, 2009 at 11:23 PM ^
"we knew what was coming" from a defeated opponent, everybody here will mock and dismiss what he's saying as an impossibility.
October 10th, 2009 at 12:47 AM ^
What team reinvents itself every game? I guarantee you that right now, the Oakland Raiders know roughly 98% of what the Giants are going to do Sunday, and they're going to get stomped mercilessly despite that.
October 10th, 2009 at 7:31 AM ^
Don, I'm not saying a team can never have schematic advantage from film study or a new wrinkle to their game plan, what I'm saying is that most kids are convinced by their coaches that they know how to stop their base plays from film and practice the week before the game. If they stop it and win they often times make it seem they had some secret formula. If Mich won I'm sure Kovacks could have come out and said we knew what they were doing that is why I had 17 tackles blitzing from the edge time and again.
If the UM receivers don't drop balls right in their hands and they have just a small upgrade in execution in the run game we score over 30 looking at scheme. Brian pointed out how poor our downfiled blocking was C. Brown had 3 huge runs ready to burst, but he made the wrong cut on one and Minor and Ferrarra made horrendous non blocks. Tate puts smudge more air under the boot pass and Koger goes for 95yd TD. Not scheme vs MSU execution
October 9th, 2009 at 11:37 PM ^
Yeah, if you didn't know that UM was going to try to throw some bubble screens and run the spread option on offense, you probably were not paying attention. Those Nebraska teams in the mid-late 90's had some of the most predictable play-calling in history, but nobody could stop it because they executed it so well (and they had good talent). I'd be much more surprised to hear a losing team say "We had no idea they were going to play that way."
October 10th, 2009 at 12:04 AM ^
T. Anderson is the biggest douchebag on that team, other than the head coach. Is he back for next years game in AA? I hope so. Revenge is a dish best served down shoved down their throats.
October 10th, 2009 at 6:45 AM ^
Co-sign on the douchebag assessment. Unfortunately, he's a 5th year senior and won't be back next year.
Personally, I found his pre-game comments about "disgusting lack of respect" to be perplexing, since he went to Cinci his first two years, transferred to State when Dantonio got the job, and had only played U-M once (a convincing State win). But okay.
I'll take the bulletin board material. State's always good for that, because they simply don't know how to handle success.
October 10th, 2009 at 7:31 AM ^
This Anderson kid is just bitter and clear thought, or even pre-game jabber, has now given way to a bunch of hyerbole.
They are obviously a reflection of their coach. I wouldn't be surprised to see them lose today.
October 10th, 2009 at 8:04 AM ^
....About lack of respect by opponents when he was at Cincinnati.
Then again, who the hell is Cinci's big rival? Cleveland State?
I'm sure he'll have an illustrious career in the UFL next to Jonal Saint Deeek.
October 10th, 2009 at 8:48 AM ^
I'm glad to see that after spending 5 weeks+offseason+the end of last season (resulting in a 2-5 records against non-FCS opponents), MSU was "ready" for a two inexperienced freshmen and a banged-up offensive line. They are really coaching them up in EL. Oh yeah, and they nearly lost anyway. Can't wait to see how well they respond this week against Illinois - I would not be surprised to see them struggle and maybe even lose to the Illini on the road.