Does a "B" average make you a serious student? Woodbridge is an average public high in Virginia. A "B" average in high school is good, but not great, and certainly isn't predictive of getting into a rigorous program like Engineering or Business school at U of M. But Hand is no Rolle.
If he needs the help to get over the hump, great. No concerns there. But he's not going to be in a position to get hand-holding/help to handle the rigors of our prestigious programs at UM.
That being said, kudos to him for picking a program that he can see himself succeeding in. If Bama's program is less rigorous, he'll be more likely to succeed and actually get that engineering degree. It's tough with all the football related commitments and hours. So I don't blame the kid.
We don't run bubbles or screens very often. And I don't see that changing much in the future with this staff. We also don't know if Norfleet can jump or block very well, but the same can be said for all of the receivers we haven't seen. We also don't know if he has great hands that can consistently grab fast passes. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that blocking is not his primary strength (but admit that's speculative).
This notion that he could be good at this or that is pure specultation, and I'm going with the guys who see him on a daily basis.
And the notion that we will or should start running bubble screens is also wishful thinking with this staff, so I wish folks would give it a rest. It ain't happenin.
we've been waiting for Norfleet to take one back for well over a year now. Not happening. He's made several drops, poor decisions on returns this year as well. For every good run or two, there seems to be a bad one.
This notion that he is this underutilzed, awesome offensive weapon is just ridiculous and pure hype and speculation.
Don't get me wrong. I'm glad he's a wolverine, and like his attitude. And Gallon improved dramatically from his first year or two.
But what you see is what you're getting from him, and nothing's changing.
about 2011. We're talking about whether we were "out physicalled" this year. And we weren't. We were out-executed and out-coached. But there was no lack of physicality. The only player beaten and bruised that we saw was Devin, and he was beat up because guys beat our OL around edges, in gaps, etc.
You and the "out physicaled" guys cherry pick a play here or there, but the vast majority of sacks and busted plays were missed assignments or poor execution, NOT being too weak.
The 6-8 plays that did, at least on offense, were the flurry of sacks. Those sacks happened not because we weren't tough, but because we missed blitzes, assignments, poor play calling, etc.
We lost because of mental mistakes, missed assignments, poor decisions, being put in tough positions.
It's easy to say we weren't being "tough" when Devin is getting drilled every play. But if you watch the tape, the guy getting to Devin often just beat his man to the edge/inside/etc. or was unblocked because we missed the block entirely.
The kids were giving good effort and trying. They just didn't execute.
But to call them a bunch of wimps shows you're not paying very close attention to the details of the game.
Watch the game again. It has more to do with guys missing assignments (OL) and being put in difficult protection positions (Fitz) than guys being outphysicaled.
It *felt* like we weren't tough enough because Devin was getting destroyed on every play. But more often than not, it was because of mental mistakes/poor decisions/and lack of execution.
NOT outphysicaled. I actually agree with Hoke that the kids played hard. They just didn't execute.
Not good or even great ones, but he had veterans who had played. David Molk was in the middle.
Devin Gardner has no time to throw because our OL and RBs can't block. It's always 1 guy missing an assignment or being put in an impossible position on every play.
But the RR comparisons don't work because the OLs are different.
is because we lack elite playmakers at the corner and safety positions. Mattison's philosophy is prevent big plays by keeping the ball in front and in the middle of the field.
The philosophy does not routinely trust corners and safeties 1 on 1. Plus, we lack elite speed at the LB and hybrid LB/DE positions to make many of these blitzes work.
The results have been largely successful in my opinion. This is overall an above average to good, but not great, defense. With a lack of stars (Ryan excepted), I'll take it.
Mattison will adjust the philosophy to a more aggressive style when we have elite corners (Peppers, come on down... Stribling and Lewis have shown promise for part-time frosh) who can blanket 1 on 1.
The NFL has nothing to do with it. It's the personnel.
Recent Comments
these trolls are planted by MSU or OSU. Some grad assistants or students who will swear up and down they are true michigan fans.
Shhh..... Let's put "Leaders and Best 21" in title and no one will know we aren't real fans.
Only a non-fan would think that Harbaugh or Miles are on the table.
Can't bring back downvotes fast enuff!!!
He ain't going to win no Heisman trophy with no picks!
Something to be said for D-line being too good!
Does a "B" average make you a serious student? Woodbridge is an average public high in Virginia. A "B" average in high school is good, but not great, and certainly isn't predictive of getting into a rigorous program like Engineering or Business school at U of M. But Hand is no Rolle.
If he needs the help to get over the hump, great. No concerns there. But he's not going to be in a position to get hand-holding/help to handle the rigors of our prestigious programs at UM.
That being said, kudos to him for picking a program that he can see himself succeeding in. If Bama's program is less rigorous, he'll be more likely to succeed and actually get that engineering degree. It's tough with all the football related commitments and hours. So I don't blame the kid.
We don't run bubbles or screens very often. And I don't see that changing much in the future with this staff. We also don't know if Norfleet can jump or block very well, but the same can be said for all of the receivers we haven't seen. We also don't know if he has great hands that can consistently grab fast passes. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that blocking is not his primary strength (but admit that's speculative).
This notion that he could be good at this or that is pure specultation, and I'm going with the guys who see him on a daily basis.
And the notion that we will or should start running bubble screens is also wishful thinking with this staff, so I wish folks would give it a rest. It ain't happenin.
we've been waiting for Norfleet to take one back for well over a year now. Not happening. He's made several drops, poor decisions on returns this year as well. For every good run or two, there seems to be a bad one.
This notion that he is this underutilzed, awesome offensive weapon is just ridiculous and pure hype and speculation.
Don't get me wrong. I'm glad he's a wolverine, and like his attitude. And Gallon improved dramatically from his first year or two.
But what you see is what you're getting from him, and nothing's changing.
about 2011. We're talking about whether we were "out physicalled" this year. And we weren't. We were out-executed and out-coached. But there was no lack of physicality. The only player beaten and bruised that we saw was Devin, and he was beat up because guys beat our OL around edges, in gaps, etc.
You and the "out physicaled" guys cherry pick a play here or there, but the vast majority of sacks and busted plays were missed assignments or poor execution, NOT being too weak.
this toughness talk is silly. it's an experience and execution issue.
Those 2 plays didn't determine the game.
The 6-8 plays that did, at least on offense, were the flurry of sacks. Those sacks happened not because we weren't tough, but because we missed blitzes, assignments, poor play calling, etc.
It's an execution issue, not a toughness issue.
We lost because of mental mistakes, missed assignments, poor decisions, being put in tough positions.
It's easy to say we weren't being "tough" when Devin is getting drilled every play. But if you watch the tape, the guy getting to Devin often just beat his man to the edge/inside/etc. or was unblocked because we missed the block entirely.
The kids were giving good effort and trying. They just didn't execute.
But to call them a bunch of wimps shows you're not paying very close attention to the details of the game.
Watch the game again. It has more to do with guys missing assignments (OL) and being put in difficult protection positions (Fitz) than guys being outphysicaled.
It *felt* like we weren't tough enough because Devin was getting destroyed on every play. But more often than not, it was because of mental mistakes/poor decisions/and lack of execution.
NOT outphysicaled. I actually agree with Hoke that the kids played hard. They just didn't execute.
Not good or even great ones, but he had veterans who had played. David Molk was in the middle.
Devin Gardner has no time to throw because our OL and RBs can't block. It's always 1 guy missing an assignment or being put in an impossible position on every play.
But the RR comparisons don't work because the OLs are different.
is because we lack elite playmakers at the corner and safety positions. Mattison's philosophy is prevent big plays by keeping the ball in front and in the middle of the field.
The philosophy does not routinely trust corners and safeties 1 on 1. Plus, we lack elite speed at the LB and hybrid LB/DE positions to make many of these blitzes work.
The results have been largely successful in my opinion. This is overall an above average to good, but not great, defense. With a lack of stars (Ryan excepted), I'll take it.
Mattison will adjust the philosophy to a more aggressive style when we have elite corners (Peppers, come on down... Stribling and Lewis have shown promise for part-time frosh) who can blanket 1 on 1.
The NFL has nothing to do with it. It's the personnel.