snowflakes [ED:BiSB - All ND blatherings go here]
Well, that sucked. While these are fresh in my head, here are my thoughts on the game:
1. Defense - we played a great defensive game. When you turn the ball over 6 times, some of those well into your own territory, and only give up a single TD and 2 FGs, that is some damn good defense. I was especially happy with our safety and LB play against the run. Kovaks was just awesome today.
2. Defensive turnovers. I am somewhat concerned about why we are not creating fumbles on defense. Not a knock agianst our defense, which see above, but are we just not swarming the ball and tacking hard enough or is it something else? We will need to create turnovers to win the game.
3. Defensive pressure - again, see #1, but we really do need to get more pressure on opposing QBs. NDs QB situation is shit, but against teams with better QBs, allowing that much pocket time is going to hurt us.
4. Ok, the offense. I know that we put up a big 6 points, but the offense actually looked OK. Denard ran well, and Gallon continues to be - in my mind, at least - our best receiver. That kid is consistent and catches just about everything thrown his way. No, he is not going to be Megatron, but he is a great possession receiver.
5. Denard - sometimes, you just have a crappy game. This was definitely that. Let's not extrapolate too much from this. Hopefully, he will never see a LB as good as Teo again this year (until the Rose Bowl?). He just had a crappy game, and there is not more to say. Yes, we all know about the problem with INTs, and no he is not going to pick a team apart like Tom Brady, but this is nothing new. Denard will continue to save us in some games and cost us in others.
6. Fitz - he really needs to get his game back together, because he is just not impressive. Not sure, though, if it is on him or his line. Either way, if we want to have a chane to win the B10, we need to develop some non-Denard running game and fast.
OK, that's all I got. What are all of your thoughts?
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:07 PM ^
brunettes
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:09 PM ^
why Denard doesn't throw the ball away when the pass is not open. Will someone explain to me what the fuck is going on? Football 101 is to throw the ball away or take a sack or run if the receivers are not open. Why the fuck does Denard toss the ball and hope for the best?
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:16 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:30 PM ^
Yeah, that's really frustrating. His first and third interceptions simply shouldn't have been thrown. No one was open, and I don't think it was even 3rd down either time. Chuck it away and live for another down.
The two sacks he took in the ND red zone were in the same vein. When you're passing that close to the goal line, unless it's 4th down or a two-point conversion, you heave it out the back of the endzone as soon as you see no one open. You don't have to try to make a great play every down.
I love the guy to pieces, but this was just frustrating. We can only hope this is one final learning experience and that he delivers a great Big Ten season.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:36 PM ^
"We can only hope this is one final learning experience and that he delivers a great Big Ten season."
We've been saying this for 3 F' years!!! Clearly it's not going to happen. I love Denard as much as the next guy, but we were finally the better team and he single-handedly gave ND the game! 5 turnovers!!!
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:52 PM ^
Down-vote me all you want... it doesn't make me wrong.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:18 AM ^
But you're still wrong. I don't think we had the better team. ND's front 7 is miles ahead of us right now. It's hard to say our O-line is any better than theirs. They have better backs overall than we do. Their receiving corps is at least as good. Hard to say with how well their front 7 was doing and not being an expert, but their secondary didn't seem to playing nearly as poorly as expected. I forget the announcer's name, but I like him, and he had praise for the secondary. About the only thing I'd take over them is our quarterback. Yes, even after today. Obviously Denard made some really bone-headed mistakes, but the INT at the end of the 1st half basically seemed like a planned hail mary-type play. Fumbles are essentially random; it happens. It wasn't Denard that took us so far back on the first drive at their 10, and obviously Smith's INT isn't on Denard either. 3 bad INTs, sure, but quarterbacks under pressure throw more of those, and for Denard that's even more pronounced. He obviously cost us a lot, but it's ridiculous to pile it on him. Hard to credit anyone else on offense with anything today.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:54 PM ^
Well, if it's not going to happen, what do you want to do? Play Bellomy instead?
Denard's been mistake-prone throughout his career, but he's not usually this bad. Usually he does enough for us to win.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:39 PM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 12:42 AM ^
You don't have to get outside of the tackle box to avoid grounding. You just need to throw it past the line of scrimmage and have a receiver vaguely in the area (the officials are quite generous about that, as we saw in the Alabama game).
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:11 PM ^
Some of Denard's turnovers were inexplicable to me. Te'o's first pick. Denard stares down Gallon's route. Sees two Notre Dame defenders in the area, and throws it right into Te'o chest. That wasn't a bad game, it was a clusterf***
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:51 PM ^
too much hate for Denard IMO. He is our best offesive weapon so both he and Borges should share blame. That HB throw should stay deep in the play book and Denard needs to throw it away sometimes. Denard will recuperate and show Purdue a hell of a game.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:12 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:13 PM ^
I think we all knew before the game that the way to beat Denard is to contain him on the edges and pressure up the middle. And like clockwork, he chucks things up and all hell breaks lose.
What I find interesting is that as he is getting older, the decision to tuck it and run is coming later and later and it is actually hurting him more and more. After 3 or 4 sec, he needs to just tuck it and run, not face the pressure in the face and chuck a duck.
But what is really strange is that I feel better about our B1G chances after that debacle than before going into the game. I think the defense looks solid again and the offensive line played pretty well (at least better than what they have shown so far). There is definitely a good chance that we can get to the Rose Bowl.
September 23rd, 2012 at 12:11 AM ^
I totally agree with your thoughts on Denard. I was screaming RUUUNNNN PLEASE GOD RUUUNNNN!!! more times than I want to remember tonight.
On the other hand, I don't really feel that confident about the rest of the season but I really hope your feelings are right and mine are wrong.
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:39 AM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 10:13 AM ^
Yes, because without the 6 turnovers we win easily, and we are not going to do that every game.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:20 PM ^
We moved the ball -I don't think Fitz looked that bad - Hoke has always said it comes down to a few plays a game and they did not go our way tonight . I am pissed, but I think we were better tonight (aside from TOs) and we will keep getting better. Time to get ready for B1G
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:14 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:22 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:16 PM ^
That team lost two games in the non-conference season and still made it to and won the Rose Bowl. I don't think this Michigan team will win the Rose Bowl, but I do think they can get there after tonight (and after seeing just how mediocre the Big Ten is in the past few weeks). The OL and DL were significantly better than what I expected. We had not seen a comparable performance from either all year (when you take strength of opponent into account). ND did some nice things, and I think they're a good team, but Michigan gave that game away.
I am more optimistic about this Big Ten season than I was before tonight. Denard will not repeat that performance, but the DL and OL probably will.
Finally, I love Denard.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:16 PM ^
Borges is a stupid fat f*ck who has no idea how to use Denard. Every once in a while he tosses his thinking cap aside and resigns himself to letting Denard do what he does best - RUN. Then he thinks he needs to do something else to earn his paycheck and everything comes undone.
Hoke was outcoached. The first 2nd Half TO he burned on Michigan's final possession was completely unnecessary, as was the second one at the 2:35 mark. Terrible game management. Be a leader. Instruct Borges to RUN DENARD MORE. Especially inside the 10-yard line when you're first and goal and there are no points on the board.
Denard is the single greatest offensive player at Michigan that any of us have seen / will see in our lifetimes. To continue to put him in a position to win games with his arm is asinine.
Yeah, he had a costly fumble. He also had 4 interceptions. I'd take my chances with Denard's arm. Too bad Borges and Hoke are FUCKING RETARDED and can't see that.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:31 PM ^
He totally shouldn't have called those passes to Notre Dame receivers. Fire him. Kill his pension. Make him pay his replacement's salary.
EDIT: This post was in response to a poster who has since been banned, not Erik_in_Dayton
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:22 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:22 PM ^
And I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:25 PM ^
There's not much Borges can do when Denard decides to pass and make decisions with the skill level of a 5th grade quarterback. Denard was horrendous tonight. Simple as that.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:17 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:17 PM ^
Borges is a stupid fat f*ck who has no idea how to use Denard. Every once in a while he tosses his thinking cap aside and resigns himself to letting Denard do what he does best - RUN. Then he thinks he needs to do something else to earn his paycheck and everything comes undone.
Hoke was outcoached. The first 2nd Half TO he burned on Michigan's final possession was completely unnecessary, as was the second one at the 2:35 mark. Terrible game management. Be a leader. Instruct Borges to RUN DENARD MORE. Especially inside the 10-yard line when you're first and goal and there are no points on the board.
Denard is the single greatest offensive player at Michigan that any of us have seen / will see in our lifetimes. To continue to put him in a position to win games with his arm is asinine.
Yeah, he had a costly fumble. He also had 4 interceptions. I'd take my chances with Denard's arm. Too bad Borges and Hoke are FUCKING RETARDED and can't see that.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:41 PM ^
Sober up. Denard is the single greatest offensive player any of us will ever see? You make me hate the internet.
(ED: also was in response to someone who now lives in Bolivia)
September 23rd, 2012 at 12:28 AM ^
you had to say it twice.
EDIT - Removing the troll comments made this entire thread confusing...don't remember what I was replying to. I think it was the "Borges is a fat F### and needs to be fired immediately" guy
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:17 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:17 PM ^
We moved the ball -I don't think Fitz looked that bad - Hoke has always said it comes down to a few plays a game and they did not go our way tonight . I am pissed, but I think we were better tonight (aside from TOs) and we will keep getting better. Time to get ready for B1G
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:18 PM ^
Borges is a stupid fat f*ck who has no idea how to use Denard. Every once in a while he tosses his thinking cap aside and resigns himself to letting Denard do what he does best - RUN. Then he thinks he needs to do something else to earn his paycheck and everything comes undone.
Hoke was outcoached. The first 2nd Half TO he burned on Michigan's final possession was completely unnecessary, as was the second one at the 2:35 mark. Terrible game management. Be a leader. Instruct Borges to RUN DENARD MORE. Especially inside the 10-yard line when you're first and goal and there are no points on the board.
Denard is the single greatest offensive player at Michigan that any of us have seen / will see in our lifetimes. To continue to put him in a position to win games with his arm is asinine.
Yeah, he had a costly fumble. He also had 4 interceptions. I'd take my chances with Denard's arm. Too bad Borges and Hoke are F*CKING RETARDED and can't see that.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:18 PM ^
i honestly think borges needed to adjust his playcalling to be more conservative, especially in the first half. when we got conservative in the second half and ran the ball with a few play actions we had a long sustained drive. then we got to the redzone and borges started having denard chuck the ball around again and we stalled.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:18 PM ^
Borges is a stupid fat f*ck who has no idea how to use Denard. Every once in a while he tosses his thinking cap aside and resigns himself to letting Denard do what he does best - RUN. Then he thinks he needs to do something else to earn his paycheck and everything comes undone.
Hoke was outcoached. The first 2nd Half TO he burned on Michigan's final possession was completely unnecessary, as was the second one at the 2:35 mark. Terrible game management. Be a leader. Instruct Borges to RUN DENARD MORE. Especially inside the 10-yard line when you're first and goal and there are no points on the board.
Denard is the single greatest offensive player at Michigan that any of us have seen / will see in our lifetimes. To continue to put him in a position to win games with his arm is asinine.
Yeah, he had a costly fumble. He also had 4 interceptions. I'd take my chances with Denard's arm. Too bad Borges and Hoke are F*CKING RETARDED and can't see that.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:21 PM ^
Wow..quadruple post, and in between other's posts too
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:23 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:27 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:19 PM ^
i honestly think borges needed to adjust his playcalling to be more conservative, especially in the first half. when we got conservative in the second half and ran the ball with a few play actions we had a long sustained drive. then we got to the redzone and borges started having denard chuck the ball around again and we stalled.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:19 PM ^
Dude, you nailed it. I agree with every one of your points. We are clearly better than ND, and just made too many errors. The defense played pretty lights out, but the lack of QB pressure is alarming. When you don't have any sacks on TOMMY FUCKING REES, that a problem.
I'd like to see Fitz hit the hole once in awhile. Too many times, he is dancing in the backfield and gets stacked up for no gain.
We are in a really good position to win the B1G. We should have already realized that we weren't national championship caliber this year, but a Rose Bowl is definitely attainable as long as we don't have another game like this.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:20 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:20 PM ^
careful, Notre dame's offense may just be bad. The defense held its end of the bargain, I think. but nd wasn't all that.
also, you don't need to extrapolate on Denard. he has alwaus been an interception machine. H is what he is; take it or leave it.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:22 PM ^
2.) Creating fumbles is mostly luck. You really think Notre Dame did anything fantastic when Denard fumbled? No, he just fumbled. We haven't caught those breaks yet this year.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:22 PM ^
Either Denard needs to find some consistency or Al needs to call a lot more quick hitters that he clearly doesn't like.
Denard with quick reads is at his best and when asking him to read D's and go through passing progressions, just not going to happen.
It is what it is...however my bigger concern is Fitz getting going. We are getting no push on the inside and it's killing the run game. Barnum especially along with Mealer and Pat O need to find that push inside.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:24 PM ^
We won. But then, we really didn't. That's sad.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:24 PM ^
I'm afraid opposing defenses have figured us out: turn Denard Robinson into a quarterback.
(Now, commence: It's not all on Denard.... "Well, he's just not that type of quarterback; you know, the kind that can throw".... "Well, he was under pressure, and so its better to throw it to the opposing team than out of bounds".... "Well, sometimes quarterbacks just have bad games, you know, like those games where you have to throw".... etc., etc. etc. This just in- FOOTSKETBALL IS DEAD)
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:31 PM ^
maybe your right,but i hvent seen a defense in the big ten that is as good up front as nd was.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:36 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:24 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:24 PM ^
What kind of shape is Borges in and does he know how to use Denard? I wish someone could let me know......