Road tripping from Denver tomorrow. Fishing along the way. Got a cabin at the KOA campground 5 miles from the stadium for $60 a night. No tickets but will be happy to add some entertainment to any and all tailgating................not that kind of entertainment. This is going to be great!
I was diagnosed with bladder cancer last year at the age of 51. Still undergoing treatment. It sucks. Faith, family and friends help a ton. Reach out and hang tough.
Juwan Howard is my hands down choice. He not only was an excellent player, he was the glue that held that team together. Had a chance to speak with him briefly after the dreaded "time out" play in New Orleans - gracious man.
Drain plug has been pulled. Pool is empty.
I need to pretend that football does not exist for a month. Can't be disappointed by Wolverines or Lions.
Basketball and Hockey are my life - at least until I hear news of a hire.
Enjoy!
I would love to have G-Mat go from a "bend but don't break" philosophy to an "impose our will - attacking" philosophy! Don't hover in a gap to react to what the offense is doing. Push through the gaps and make the offense adjust on every play. Move the line of scrimmage!
I have to keep calling BS on this. His players don't suck at football, they suck at doing what he is asking them to do. His number one job is to take the talent he has, identify their strengths and put them in position to succeed. I think they have some serious (undeveloped) talent on the offensive side of the ball. He asks the wrong things of them.
Al seems like a nice guy but, he sucks at his job.
"set up" or constraint plays do not have to be EPIC FAILS! You can set up successful plays with other successful plays. Al is way over thinking the process and refusing to focus on the strengths of the talent he has. We need a change at OC.
I am right there with Mgrow. The fact is this staff has been very consistent and there is no reason to expect them to change - take care of things at HOME and try not to lose on the road. For this reason alone I have a hard time being optomistic for the future of this team. I desparately want them to turn the corner but, I see no evidence of improvement. This staff has been handcuffing what talent it has and seems to be blind to their strengths - particularly on offense. When Saban went 6/6 his team was tightening things up each week (one week late in the year looked like regression) against serious competition. I am hoping that when they "have all their guys in place" they will be so talent rich that they can get away with this strategy.
"why does this coaching staff continually put these players and this team in a position to lose by having them try to execute plays they cannot execute?"
That is the question I have been asking all year. I have no faith in this staff's ability to identify strengths...........and play to those strengths. I cannot stomach watching another Michigan football game this year and that saddens me. UM basketball and hockey will be my vise.
"There will be scenarios where we’ll be locked into certain plays."
There should always be an option out - especially when things are so glaringly obvious as in the PSU game. I also beleive we have plenty of strength and talent on the young offensive line to blow the MSU defense off the line of scrimage. Unfortunately the blocking schemes used so far this year don't play into the "road grader" skills of our young linemen. There are far too many combos and chips that have our line taking two or three steps before they cross the line of scrimage...it's no wonder why there are so many tackles for loss.
I'm disappointed in our offensive line but, I'm looking for some insight from you all. I'm unsure how much responsibility lands with Al and how they are being used. It seems to me that the coaches brought in a bunch of downhill road graders but have designed run plays with so much lateral movement, finess and combo blocks that the kids' strengths are lost in the shuffle. I could see a senior laden offensive line succeding within the intricate framework Al has designed but I think these youngsters are better suited to just hammer away at the oposing defensive line. All the lateral movement of the line is getting blown up behind the line of scrimage. Thoughts?
Love how Lewan jumped up to congratulate Glasgow and the rest of the O-line joined in. They WILL gell on the field and we will run the ball..........come on Saturday!!
There's no reason to get our hopes up that a player disissal from ohio will hurt their team. history says Urb won't get rid of a player unless he thinks he has a better one to take his place.
Great read. Al isn't able to effectively "set the table" because there are some things that his personnel just can't do very well - like run anything up the middle. A "failed" play works to set up another if the defense has to sell out a bit to make that stop. Then you can you can run a play to take advantage of said sell out. If defenses routinely beat you man to man, there really is no set up to take advantage of. I like his thinking and when we have the personnel to force defenses to "cheat" to stop Al's set-up plays, we will see big pay offs.
Recent Comments
I'm guessing there's a "heart condition" coming on......
Exactly.
Thanks for the voice of reason
Can we PLEASE have nice things. Painful decade.
Has Coach Hoke visited Damien and his parents yet? He'll be back in the fold as soon as the family man visits.
I would love to have G-Mat go from a "bend but don't break" philosophy to an "impose our will - attacking" philosophy! Don't hover in a gap to react to what the offense is doing. Push through the gaps and make the offense adjust on every play. Move the line of scrimmage!
Goodbye 2013 and please take "bend but don't break" and Al with you.
Exactly.
" His players suck at football"
I have to keep calling BS on this. His players don't suck at football, they suck at doing what he is asking them to do. His number one job is to take the talent he has, identify their strengths and put them in position to succeed. I think they have some serious (undeveloped) talent on the offensive side of the ball. He asks the wrong things of them.
Al seems like a nice guy but, he sucks at his job.
"set up" or constraint plays do not have to be EPIC FAILS! You can set up successful plays with other successful plays. Al is way over thinking the process and refusing to focus on the strengths of the talent he has. We need a change at OC.
"It’s not hard to game plan. You just need to put the pieces together and hope like heck that under pressure your young players can perform."
Hey Al,
Just a heads up..........................hope is not a strategy!
I am right there with Mgrow. The fact is this staff has been very consistent and there is no reason to expect them to change - take care of things at HOME and try not to lose on the road. For this reason alone I have a hard time being optomistic for the future of this team. I desparately want them to turn the corner but, I see no evidence of improvement. This staff has been handcuffing what talent it has and seems to be blind to their strengths - particularly on offense. When Saban went 6/6 his team was tightening things up each week (one week late in the year looked like regression) against serious competition. I am hoping that when they "have all their guys in place" they will be so talent rich that they can get away with this strategy.
"why does this coaching staff continually put these players and this team in a position to lose by having them try to execute plays they cannot execute?"
That is the question I have been asking all year. I have no faith in this staff's ability to identify strengths...........and play to those strengths. I cannot stomach watching another Michigan football game this year and that saddens me. UM basketball and hockey will be my vise.
27 for 270 next year baby!
"There will be scenarios where we’ll be locked into certain plays."
There should always be an option out - especially when things are so glaringly obvious as in the PSU game. I also beleive we have plenty of strength and talent on the young offensive line to blow the MSU defense off the line of scrimage. Unfortunately the blocking schemes used so far this year don't play into the "road grader" skills of our young linemen. There are far too many combos and chips that have our line taking two or three steps before they cross the line of scrimage...it's no wonder why there are so many tackles for loss.
You are dead on bronxblue! That is what is so frustrating.
I'm disappointed in our offensive line but, I'm looking for some insight from you all. I'm unsure how much responsibility lands with Al and how they are being used. It seems to me that the coaches brought in a bunch of downhill road graders but have designed run plays with so much lateral movement, finess and combo blocks that the kids' strengths are lost in the shuffle. I could see a senior laden offensive line succeding within the intricate framework Al has designed but I think these youngsters are better suited to just hammer away at the oposing defensive line. All the lateral movement of the line is getting blown up behind the line of scrimage. Thoughts?
There's no reason to get our hopes up that a player disissal from ohio will hurt their team. history says Urb won't get rid of a player unless he thinks he has a better one to take his place.
Liked the Olympia, Loved the Joe, Hope to see cup finals in the new joint.
LGRW!
Mule yanks his mouthpeice and tosses it to the ice. Beautiful. That guy is great.
Been there and will pray for you and your friend's family.
Also happy to be able to post a prayer on a Michigan blog sans ridicule.
Great read. Al isn't able to effectively "set the table" because there are some things that his personnel just can't do very well - like run anything up the middle. A "failed" play works to set up another if the defense has to sell out a bit to make that stop. Then you can you can run a play to take advantage of said sell out. If defenses routinely beat you man to man, there really is no set up to take advantage of. I like his thinking and when we have the personnel to force defenses to "cheat" to stop Al's set-up plays, we will see big pay offs.
I was sure I recognized you and your wife. I think your doppelganger is a WELS pastor. Oh well, great looking family! Go Blue!
I swear I recognize you.....Lutheran Pastor or teacher????