JT Floyd may have saved the game
I've had a chance to review the game again. Every Michigan fan should watch JT Floyd's tackle of Braxton Miller inside the 5 after the fumbled punt snap. The result of the drive was a FG, but Floyd prevented a touchdown with some of the best hustle I have ever seen in this game.
JT blitzed from the right side on the play, wound up well in the backfield. Miller broke contain and headed down the sideline for a sure TD but Floyd raced all the way from 10 yards deep in the backfied and tackled him at the 5.
Michigan then turned the Buckeyes back and forced a FG. A TD there would have given ohio a 31-30 lead and a heck of a lot of momentum. JT Floyd's hustle was just massive and helped Michigan to maintain a lead.
I can't find the video, would really appreciate it if someone could link it if possible. You really need to see it.
November 27th, 2011 at 11:40 PM ^
That Floyd damn near cost us The Game several times, right?
November 27th, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
It's not all Floyd's fault that he was covering an NFL talent with no safety help.
Had a few of those long-balls connected, Mattison would have taken a lot of heat on here for some very bizarrely-timed cover zero calls.
November 27th, 2011 at 11:58 PM ^
I'm not sure why this thread was started. Yeah, Floyd showed good hustle and made a good play. It's just excessive to say he "saved" us.
It would have been worse if the long balls connected, but Floyd straight-up whiffed on the Herron touchdown as well.
November 28th, 2011 at 8:19 AM ^
Uh, I think the thread was started to praise a terrific and arguably game-saving play by a player who has massively improved this year and who showed true passion in the Big Game. It's the kind of thing happy fans do after an epic and program-altering win.
November 28th, 2011 at 9:33 AM ^
you do know that we won right?
November 28th, 2011 at 1:02 AM ^
Mattison kept gambling that Braxton would miss the deep throws. His gambles worked majority of the time.
November 28th, 2011 at 7:42 AM ^
Yes. I can't really see giving Mattison heat for his choices. Braxton taking off and running was good for about 7 yards per attempt (if not defended). Braxton passing deep only connected about 33% of the time.
Better to pressure Braxton so you compound his accuracy problems and reduce is ability to set up a long run. With a dual threat guy you have to gamble and Mattison made the right one. I'm just glad he doesn't "spy" but instead blitzes or delay blitzes. I hate that whole "we'll have a guy stand there and not pass rush or cover". It's basically 10 man defense, urgh.
November 27th, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
It's fair to expect a guy to go one on one with an NFL first rounder and never get beat deep?
November 27th, 2011 at 11:55 PM ^
But getting beat deep SEVERAL TIMES (as I stated) by double moves gets a little ridiculous.
Greg Mattison certainly expected him not to get beat deep. If he didn't, Floyd would not have been put on an island in the first place.
November 27th, 2011 at 11:57 PM ^
And why Mattison didn't change that expectation after Floyd showed he couldn't handle Posey's double move is a mystery. Not complaining, just perplexed. Safe to say this was our DC's worst-called game of the season.
November 28th, 2011 at 12:10 AM ^
I don't remember Mike Martin dropping into coverage while OSU ran the ball right up the middle.
ND was worse.
November 28th, 2011 at 1:15 AM ^
When we played ND, our D was still learning the system and, quite honestly, still learning to believe in themselves. It wasn't a surprise to give up 30 points to them. But OSU's offense was terrible. We made their passing game much better than what it really was.
November 28th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
you underestimate Devier Posey. It was noted before the game that he would probably be the best receiver Michigan faced this year. He's big and fast, has great hands, great moves. ND's Floyd is good, tall, good jumper, but not as agile as Poset. I would say JT showed that he's not as agile and fast as Posey either.
This was not a surprise.
How much better would our offense have been had we added a senior Braylon for the last two games of the year?
November 28th, 2011 at 1:11 PM ^
but Martin lined up several times on the end of the line and drop into coverage. I noticed it on OSU's last two drives in the 4th.
November 28th, 2011 at 1:17 AM ^
Little else we can do, Countess seems to have the speed to counter top B10 WR's but I don't know if we have anyone else.
It's known Floyd doesn't have top level speed but his play has been drastically improved this year just like everyone else on the D. But the fact our 2ndary might not have the speed to match elite WR's is likely to be the case for next year as well. Need to fix this with recruiting,obviously, which I'm sure Hoke is doing.
November 28th, 2011 at 1:41 AM ^
Mattison didn't change up the playcalls because we had more important things to worry about than recievers getting open deep. If you'll recall, Braxton was having a pretty tough time actually hitting them. If he ever learns to throw an accurate deep ball, he'll be scary. Until then, meh.
Also, big props to Mattison for NOT switching to a gaddamned prevent defense on that final drive. This year, more than any other that I can remember, has seen team after team take a lead/tie the game late, only to give up the go-ahead/tying score while trying to sit back in a prevent defense. Think UM vs ND, Wiscy vs MSU, Wiscy vs OSU, Baylor vs Oklahoma, and coutless others. Hell, we did it to Iowa if not for a few bad calls.
Sitting deep late in the game doesn't work anymore, if it ever did.
November 27th, 2011 at 11:56 PM ^
Because Charles Woodson didn't give up a single catch to Boston ever despite how their respective careers played out
/s
November 28th, 2011 at 1:01 AM ^
Outside of the deep ball late in the game, when did Floyd almost cost us the game?
November 27th, 2011 at 11:40 PM ^
I remember that play as well. How Miller never fumbled the ball that day is just shy of a miracle. Thought Floyd was going to knock it out from behind on that play.
November 27th, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^
November 28th, 2011 at 1:06 AM ^
Being that we were one of the best teams at forcing and recovering fumbles, I agree. The D showed some growing pains today playing one of the best WRs on the schedule other than MF. Next year Floyd will have a great coverage season, and Blake will surpass that, and Trent and Hollowell will hopefully keep pace.
November 27th, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
Black blew up his block and forced Miller to loop around to the outside which gave the rest of the D time to swarm near the sideline. Black was also able to recover from Miller getting around him and taking him down by his ankles.
November 27th, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^
"Third and one, third and two, short yardage, you’re gonna try to run the ball on us? We’ve been good at it. And Jibreel Black -- give him credit, because he made a tremendous play on that boot. That’s probably one of the best plays I’ve ever seen him make. Being very disciplined against a really good athlete.”
November 27th, 2011 at 11:53 PM ^
I think no one questioned the commitment of these guys ever and that play demonstrated how committed all of us are.
I also liked the JT Floyd tackle where he stopped Braxton Miller in his tracks and threw him behind the 1st down marker (Miller did get the 1st down though) but man handling Miller like that was a joy to behold.
November 27th, 2011 at 11:57 PM ^
I was much more impressed by this tackle than by the play in the OP despite the hustle. Floyd has never been a good tackler and this was just a balls-out hulk-up moment.
November 28th, 2011 at 12:13 AM ^
This needs to be in GIF format now.
November 28th, 2011 at 12:19 AM ^
Amen. +1 Normal and a karma increase to anyone who pulls it off. God was posbang so much better. Why oh why don't you bring them back Brian?
November 28th, 2011 at 1:19 AM ^
Because everyone bitched about points, that's why.
November 28th, 2011 at 5:55 AM ^
It was the first time that I was ever able to say, "FLOYD SMASH!", I think.
How the ball didn't get blown out of Miller's hands is amazing to me.
November 28th, 2011 at 12:17 AM ^
If that tackle had prevented the first down, it would have instantly gone down in Michigan lore til the end of time.
November 28th, 2011 at 12:19 AM ^
I agree I loved that tackle even though Miller got the 1st down. You could just see the hustle, the commitment, the determination in JT's play right there. Miller is a big kid and Floyd really worked his ass off to try and win the game right there on that play.
And of course, Spielman said that if he wrapped up he could've prevented that. I don't think that's true at all when Miller is in the air like that.
November 28th, 2011 at 12:23 AM ^
spielman said that, had JT Floyd wrapped up, he might have been able to drop Miller in bounds to keep the clock running after the sticks were set. Instead, Miller landed out of bounds and the clock stopped until the snap. Ultimately didn't matter (thanks, Courtney Avery), of course...
November 28th, 2011 at 12:38 AM ^
Oh ok, my fault then. I guess it's just automatic hatred of Spielman commentating, even though I think he's generally fair when he calls M games.
November 28th, 2011 at 1:50 AM ^
if they gave him forward momentum on the play, (the correct ruling) shouldnt he have been ruled down in bounds where his forward momentum was stopped, rather than out of bounds? if he wasnt ruled down until he went out of bounds, the spot should have been ruled where the ball was when he hit out of bounds, no?
I may just have this rule wrong in my head, however, I think I am right. Please let me know.
November 28th, 2011 at 8:15 AM ^
While Spielman appears fair, he always seems to go a bit far with his criticism. He latches onto a theme early, and right or wrong, runs it into the ground throughout the game. I enjoy games called by Chris, but I'm ready for someone else to call Michigan games. It was better earlier in the year when Urban Meyer was there to "correct" him when he made silly-ass comments (e.g., when Lewan latched onto a Northwestern player and donkey punched him 10 yards downfield. Spielman went off about illegal downfield blocking (even though it was a screen pass and is totally allowed). Meyer tried twice to correct him and then gave up.
I do wish Meyer would have stuck to broadcasting. He could have left the Ohio job to Ron Zook - now that would have been a treat!
November 28th, 2011 at 12:15 AM ^
Yes he was beat a couple times, but so was everyone else in our freakin secondary. After watching the game again, I realized that sometimes JT was chasing down mistakes made by other people.
The play referred to in this thread was a GAME SAVER! Why?? Because we know for sure Braxton would have scored on that play. The other plays, who knows...the WR may have dropped the ball or anything could have happened.
The fact remains, JT does not have the speed for Mattison to continue to place him on the opposing team's best WR, but he steps up to the challenge every game. This allows the other 10 guys to be aggressive. Mattison knows what he's doing and I trust him.
Keep doing your thing JT.. The Sugar Bowl (and possibly Houston) may be your biggest challenge yet, but I know you will step up and perform as you have all year long.
November 28th, 2011 at 12:16 AM ^
Hey guys! Guess what!? We won!
Let's enjoy it, and let the players enjoy it. Hell of a season by everyone on the defense.
November 28th, 2011 at 12:21 AM ^
Dude was just trying to compliment one hustle play that was representative of the team of the whole and his and the team's desire to win. Relax.
November 28th, 2011 at 12:24 AM ^
As great of a play as it was by JT, and may I had I am very impressed with him this season and think he could have improved more than anyone else on our team, we did win the game by 6 points so it could be a moot point since the touchdown would have only added for more. Granted I know the playcalling could have been different and what not but just wanted to throw it out there.
November 28th, 2011 at 12:40 AM ^
It also helps that Miller was slowing up and thought he had scored. Floyd was full speed and Miller clearly didn't expect it and you can see Miller start to slow up when the thought he had the touchdown easy. Im glad he didnt he 100% and I am glad Floyd did go 100%
November 28th, 2011 at 1:01 AM ^
I attended the Game yesterday, and got back to Chicago a few hours ago. I'm rewatching on DVR now (Koger just scored his TD), and when Floyd caught Miller before the goal line stand that forced the FG, I thought, "holy shit, I didn't realize how far Floyd came to make that play."
Yes, I agree with everyone else that Floyd's dodgy coverage almost cost UM - but as others have pointed out, he was left on an island with an NFL caliber player - no doubt Posey got the better of him, but that tackle on Miller at the 5 was enormous. Great hustle.
November 28th, 2011 at 11:16 AM ^
I was at the game and thought Floyd played pretty badly overall, but after watching the game on replay and seeing how he hustled back after blitzing on that play and caught Miller to save a TD, I give him huge credit for contributing to the win in crunch time. Enormous play by him.
November 28th, 2011 at 1:10 AM ^
Floyd got torched all game, but that play was huge.
Hey everybody!
We beat Ohio state!
GO BLUE :)
November 28th, 2011 at 4:22 AM ^
Go the and watch JT come up big.
November 28th, 2011 at 10:10 AM ^
this is what I was looking for
November 28th, 2011 at 1:31 AM ^
"JT Floyd may have saved the game"
And he almost gift-wrapped and handed the game over to the Suckeyes when he blew his coverage on Posey in TSIO's final drive.
November 28th, 2011 at 5:51 AM ^
That pass didn't connect - it was overthrown by about four yards or so.
In my opinion, the whole defense was geared to defend against the pass, and most of the time, it was working save for several notable instances. Braxton Miller still is not a good passer overall. His ability to haul off and run was what scared me at several points - Mattison didn't seem to leave enough coverage to account for that part of his game.
We won all the same, of course, so I will simply say that I have confidence that things like perimeter defense and defending other dual-threat QBs will be worked on.
November 28th, 2011 at 6:02 AM ^
For that final drive or in general? We were selling out to stop the run, not pass during this one, Or was I that inebriated?
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<br>That first touchdown pass was the most obvious case of it.
November 28th, 2011 at 6:26 AM ^
...but the last few Ohio drives most of all, although I had thought there was trend towards trying to defend against the pass as we went deeper into the game. In the beginning, I would agree we were trying to stop the run flat out.
NOTE: There were post-game festivities as well, so in reality, god knows how this game is encoded in my brain now.