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Date Title Body
Clock management

Both coaches made mistakes toward the end. First, MSU should have punted on 4th and 19. Pinning Michigan back, with at that time 2 timeouts left, gets them the ball back in good field position with a minute left. It shocked me they went for a low chance 4th and 19.

U of M should never have been in position to have to punt on 4th down. Each play Michigan ran only took 5 seconds. If each play could be 7 seconds (like run a stretch play instead of power), take delays instead of calling TOs burns another 2 sec, that's 8 more seconds off the clock. Now on 4th down there's only 2, maybe 2 seconds left. Easy to kill just running a normal play, instead of trying to punt.

I realize how fluky that last play was, but when you're dealing with 20 year old kids and an odd shaped ball, fluky things can happen

Time

Surprised nobody has brought up clock mismanagement. Each play Michigan ran only took 5 seconds. Run a stretch play, toss, qb boot that's going to draw things out. Take delays instead of calling TO with one second left. Add up those few extra seconds and that last play is run with 3-4 seconds left. That opens up a lot of possibilities to kill those last few seconds.

Potential

Loads of potential, yes. Don't return any all conference performers or for sure NFL draft picks. Just a reminder to give the new staff time to develop the potential of these kids

Agree

Need to look at advanced metrics that take into account pace of game and opponents. Norte Dame, Utah, and Minnesota played conservatively in the 2nd half.

While some people blame the offense for putting the defense in bad spots, the defense rarely put the offense into a good spot

Agree

If Michigan was 5-0 Hoke would be questioned about Morris but not vilified. People typing behind a keyboard shouldn't act like they care more about these kids than the coaches that recruited them, see them everyday, and know their families

Try this

A nicer way to say this might be: I'm looking forward to reading Brian's thoughts on the practice. Your post sounds like an impatient whine about a no cost to you blog

Dilution of talent

Players leaving early is hurting the college game, but unfortunately not its brand. The tournament still draws the same crowd and creates the same excitement, even if the quality of play isn't what it used to be.

Florida was considered the best team because of their seniors. Which of those seniors will ever play in the nba? It's doubtful there will ever be an experienced team with nba talent in college again.

Agree

Very weak field, hence why we have a 7 seed vs an 8 seed. I think this will be the new norm. Kids aren't going to stay in school long enough to become great teams or for us as fans to connect to them

Doubtful

I'm curious where you got that picture. Is it from Lebron's freshman year? Dude was already a man child as a senior in high school

Double check that

Jansen and Long didn't start as true freshmen. They red-shirted, and even then they both started off at right tackle.

Or

Might put GRIII on stokes and send a double team. Morgan cancels out Maymon. Is it better to have 2 small mismatches or one big one?

Thanks for the post. Lots of

Thanks for the post. Lots of games potentially impacting Michigan ' s seed.

Definitely want Nebraska to win. Tim Miles does a great job. A win would push them to the good side of the bubble. Plus it would knock Wisconsin off the 2-line for the ncaa tournament.

Great topic

I agree with your choices. It would be nice to get a linemen up there but which of your 4 could you drop? Some might argue against Webber. Maybe Rudy T instead?

I didn't like it

I didn't care for the chicken dance vs Norte Dame. I thought it was kind of classless. And we were certainly not in a position to be taunting or calling out any programs given our situation over the last 7 years. I said it at the time and throughout the season, don't do things that create bad karma

Any other switches you'd like to see?

Switching Ross is a good move. I saw him play a lot in high school and he's more of a natural at RB than corner.

Any other switches people would like to see? (Please, enough with the Devin stuff) How about Keith Heitzman to TE? He was a sometimes TE on a run heavy team in high school. He could fill the Jordan Paskorz role. I know Heitzman started a few games at DE, but his role was reduced during the season. If younger guys with more upside pass him by, he could find a spot to contribute on offense.

One out of left field that will never happen but would be interesting is moving Jehu Chesson to safety. He was very impressive on special teams. Great nose for the ball and more than willing hitter/tackler. He'd obviously have to add weight and learn the position. His speed and tackling would be intriguing in the secondary.

What spotlight are you

What spotlight are you referring to? Has he done a bunch of interviews? Many athletes, and non athletes, don't decide where they're going to college until spring. Just because you as a fan and read about recruiting a lot doesn't mean he should rush his decision. I think it's ridiculous to say you don't care where a 5-star defensive lineman in our own backyard goes.

Looks good at football but

Looks good at football but must be terrible at paintball. #uniformz

Employees

Classifying student athletes as employees is going to cause a seemingly endless amount of questions. If they are employees, do they pay taxes? Can they be fired (or cut)? Would scholarship limits be discarded? Will there be a cheap plaque in Schembechler Hall for employee of the month? A lot of tough questions this would raise.

Man, the worst

Man, the worst cliche...,whoever wants it more. I'm pretty sure both teams want this game.

Thank you, oh representer of

Thank you, oh representer of typical Michigan fan, to find the one cloud in a clear blue posbang thread

Thank you, oh representer of

Thank you, oh representer of typical Michigan fan, to find the one cloud in a clear blue posbang thread

Thank you, oh representer of

Thank you, oh representer of typical Michigan fan, to find the one cloud in a clear blue posbang thread

Speaking on behalf of high

Speaking on behalf of high school coaches, I'm sure 99% of them understand and teach advanced rotations. The difference on the college level is the speed of the game and that the player left open is going to make that shot a lot more than at the high school level. Similar things get taught at the high school level, but the margin of error in college is so much smaller.

Too much old opinion

I've been an avid reader since the Carr days. There used to be a high rate of content and a moderate rate of opinion and OT posts. That's flipped. Too much regurgitated opinion. Also, the board has gotten very clique. A lot of inside jokes. When the "blank night" drinking threads get started? Why the posbangs? Let's keep this a place to talk Michigan sports. And if you have a complaint, propose a solution instead of being 100% negative.

It helps that osu has 4

It helps that osu has 4 senior olinemen and a future pro at tb. And they were all recruited to play old style man ball.

They also have one of the most dynamic players in college football at qb to keep defenses honest.

Looks like uncle fester ate

Looks like uncle fester ate cousin it

Whole game

Heiko,

Did Coach say when he watches film whether or not he'll watch an entire game? Personally, it's tough to get a "feel" for a team just by watching specific parts. I'd be curious to ask Borges that, along with if the coaches have the same role each week in the film breakdown and what his role is.

Great interview!

Prop bet

Which wins? Round denard is drafted in + 2.5 or trey Burke overall pick. Example denard drafted 3 rd round plus 2.5=5.5 Burke would have to be drafted 5th or higher.

2 great players with different pro prospects

why press?

Why doesn't Michigan press like VCU, drop into a zone like Syracuse, rebound like Michigan St.? And hey, why not post guys up more and at the same time shoot more 3's? Teach Mitch the sky hook and he can be the lefty Lew Alcindor!

Post up

Yes, they don't normally post up. But when the game was tight vs Wichita St, they let Behanan go to work down low. That's the one mismatch they could really exploit. We might go with Morgan at the 4 again if Robinson can't handle him down low.

Have plenty of time to prep

Each assistant coach took one of the 3 teams and created a scouting report. The players don't need to hear the scouting report for a team until a day or 2 ahead. Most of basketball practice is habiutal skill development, situation type stuff (3-on-2s, transition D), and mastering your team stuff. One day prep and a walk through in the morning is all they need to prepare for a team.

1-3-1?

During the season, I got so tired of people suggesting play a 2-3 zone or use the 1-3-1 more. I am now that guy. Carter-Williams has really taken his point guard play to an elite level in the tournament. We'll definitely start in man, but if he gets their offense into a groove the 1-3-1 should work against them. Southerland can't handle it and makes terrible decisions. Triche takes some bad shot and Carter-Williams isn't quick enough to split guys. My concerns would be Carter Williams height to pass over top and Fair attacking the basket. 

Michigan ran the 1-3-1 once vs Kansas, giving up a corner 3 to McClemore on a play Hardaway messed up the rotation. Even if we screw up a rotation vs Syracuse, I'm not sure they have the personnel to take advantage of it. Georegetwon played them zone and held them in the 40's. 

Check bracketologies

They were borderline 1/2 and we were on the 2/3 border. Same record, but they have a higher RPI and are 11-1 in their last 12.

How?

How is this good news? Georegetown is already going to be a higher seed and now this opens the door for Syracuse to be too.

I hope Michigan will be a 3

Right now, Indiana, Gonzaga, Duke, Miami (FL), Georegetown, Louisville, and Kansas will be seeded higher. It's looking like Florida, Sparty, New Mexico, and OSU will be too. That leaves 1 more 3-seed open. We used to root against these teams so Michigan could get a higher seed, now we need to root for them so teams like Syracuse, Kansas St, and yes, even Wisconsin don't jump us.

It must be coaching

Novak and Stu didn't hustle or rebound either. And Hardaway hasn't gotten any better at defense since his Freshman year. Blame coaching, right? 

Edit: Meant for Zok's post above

Wisconsin / PSU games

Near the end of of the season, every team looks back at games they could have won/lost. Michigan is no different than any other team in the country. Pundits predicted before the season the IU - Mich game would have title implications. It wasn't the predicted path, but we got our wish.

Great response!

Defense isn't just TRY HARDER!!!! with a maniac coach running around in practice getting in players' faces. And they can't just switch to being a zone team...nothing like confusing young players more then introducing a new concept. Yes, they can sprinkle in some zone to keep teams off-balance, but if they play it to much they'd eventually get exposed.

There are 2 things to focus on: 1) cut down dribble penetration. A lot of players are young aka weak physically and don't anticipate. The imrpvoement needs to come from other players being "up the line", meaing, closer to the ball and ready to give help. A lot of times the threat of help will keep people form penetrating. 2) Knowing when to switch and when not to. More teams are running pick the picker type sets and a lot of our younger players are getitng lost. This leads to open 3's and bad closeouts. A lot of teams (like PSU) are faking a screen and slipping it, leaving indecsion on the defense whether or not to switch. Young players need to learn to communicate.

There is no quick fix...hopefully we'll see some improvement with more practice time.

Ace

I haven't broken down film like you, but here's what I saw belein do to adjust for the hedge. UM screened Morgan's defender before the pick and roll. That slows down the hedge just enough. to alleviate pressure

Baker turning pro

Not sure if anybody saw this, but Edwin Baker is turning pro. Kind of surpriisng because he had a down year. Perhaps he saw that Bell was going to be the workhorse next year. Not sure if it hurts sparty too much, but Baker gave us problems the last 2 years.

Martin

Loved watching Mattison during the Spring game. He always has that scowl on his face like he's not pleased. He appears to demand perfection. After one of Johnson's interception, he called him over to point out something to Carvin. Ends don't justify the means with GM.

Looks like the plan is to have Martin be the wildcard. He could play any of the postions along the d-line. Hopefully the other guys can be versatile enough (esp. Van Bergen) so Martin can find the mismatch. It's a similar concept to RRod's scheme. Keep the scheme simple and find the mismatch for your playmakers.

 Jalen didn't get in trouble

 Jalen didn't get in trouble he didn't take large sums of money.

Mouton

Not sure what his responsibility is here. It's never good when linebackers play parallel to the line of scrimmage. He needs to play 'down hill'. He has zero chance against a FB/H-back. He's running laterally and has to stop and turn to take a blocker on. Notice he starts the play at a depth of 4 yards, and that's exactly where he takes the block on. The PSU blocker has 7 yards of momentum behind him by the time he reaches Mouton. It seems we're playing a 3-3 with a linebackers resonsible for contain. Perhaps Gerg is going with the philosophy this will confuse the blocking scheme because this is so dumb of a concept they will have never seen it before.

Pick with the brain

never with the heart...

Tate Forcier/Devin Gardner, total combined yards: O/U 250.5 Under

Ray Vinopal, total combined tackles, INTs, PBUs: O/U 5.5 Under

Fiztgerald Toussiant, total rushing yards: O/U 80.5 Under

Will A Michigan Freshman Intercept A Pass: Yes/No No

Jeremy Gallon, total yards, including returns: O/U 120.5 Under

Question

Not sure how our AD wanting to maximize profits and you peeing against a wall have anything to do with each other. I'll gladly take your tickets and watch outstanding athletes, attracted by the best facilities in the country, play in a renovated stadium. Feel free to pee on your walls at home.

2006 OSU

The other key play in that game occurred in the 4th quarter. Michigan had just taken over after an OSU fumble (bad snap). They were down 5 and at the 40. On 1st down, Manningham dropped a shallow crossing route he was wide open on. Hart  picked up 5 yards on a draw on the next play. Henne threw an incompletion on 3rd down with nobody open and UM had to punt. The 'Crable drive' was next for OSU. If Manningham catches that first down pass, maybe UM keeps the momentum, scores and takes the lead.

Penn St game

Game turned out great for Michigan, but had the worst play I've seen live. Michigan controlled the whole game until PSU scored to cut the gap. On Michigan's next position, Henne scrambled and the PSU defender just took the ball from him and walked in for a TD. Never again did I yell for Henne to scramble.

Chocolate

Going on a cruise the day after Easter. God told me in a dream he doesn't want me to be fat (or maybe that was my wife whispering in my ear)

Too much time

I spend too much time filling out brackets as it is (yes, I'm one of those guys with 10 different brackets). Having 96 teams would kill me.

Thanks

Thanks for the warning about the link and the shirtless pic of Cody. Too bad I was stupid and had to look and almost lost my lunch. What's his nicname, Mount Cody? How about Mud-slide or Flabalanche.