Post Game Thoughts [Snowflake Landing Spot]

I've never seen someone call more fair catches back there than he has so far this year.  I'm all for self preservation and all, but I'm really perplexed by this, and this wasn't just today that it's been bugging me.  I started noticing it during the UMass game.  He'll have plenty of room to actually attempt a return (in many situations, the nearest defender is still 7-10 away yds at the time), and he'll just fair catch it. Does he have absolutely no sense of where anyone is at during a punt, is he scared of taking a hit, or is it possible Ferrigno has coached an extremely passive PR game?  I'd be quite curious so see some stats on how many fair catches we've called this year (as well as returns vs. FC's) and see how it compares with the rest of the country.  I'd have to imagine our percentage of returns attempted out of how many times we've been punted to is pretty close to the bottom of the FBS.

Edit: Not sure if anyone cares, but after taking a quick look, as of last week, we're ranked 2nd to last in the nation with only 3 punt returns attempted...

Great performance. Seems like a lot of things were cleaned up over the last two weeks. Play calling was conservative but effective. Our tackling was solid. Still don't know how good we are interms of the big picture but in the Big10 we are the best squad.

Next to the Neb game last year, this was the most complete game they've played under Hoke. The defense was excellent, they mostly controlled the line of scrimmage and didn't have any disastrous plays. I like the way Ryan keeps the QB in front of him instead of launching himself and taking himself out of the play. Offensively Robinson ran like Robinson and didn't make any knucklehead throws. The one real negative was his decision to hand off the ball when Smith had no chance. Special teams were good, but Gibbons probably should not attempt any FGs beyond 42 yards. Wile should kick those.

I find nothing not to like about this game.

but we need to get more production from our running game outside of Denard. In my opinion, Rawls needs to start getting some more Carries. It's worth a shot seems how fitz struggles to gain a yard every time he touches the ball. One other thing, is gallon really our best option at returning punts? Gallon always fair catches (sometimes drops it when he calls a fair catch), or lets it bounce and roll 20 yards down field. I don't see what he's doing that somebody else can't.

Denard now shares the record for most (5) 200-yard rushing games with Mike Hart

Clark still knows how to deflect passes. This time it led to an INT. Also, the line drive punt to Gallon was the only fair catch that really bothered me.

IMO, Purdue ~= ND, and we manhandled both teams with the obvious turnover issue against ND. I actually felt good about quite a few things after ND, except the TO problem and the final score.

I like our chances of getting to the conference title game. Nebraska and ohio will be tough road games.

The Shaw Shuffle is back and being performed by Fitz.

How soon people seem to forget about the 1000-yard season Fitz had last year. As far as Rawls is concerned, he was running against either a tired defense or a 2nd-team defense. (Not sure which ...) At this point he still looks like a rich man's Kevin Grady (not necessarily a bad thing) to me. I still think Fitz has a better chance of running effectively against top-notch teams. (I realize he didn't do so against a mediocre one today, but he lots of good moments last year.)

Much needed work to be done in the redzone. The FGs were nice as Gibbons needs the experience but the O has been lacking in scoring.

Much needed work to be done in the redzone. The FGs were nice as Gibbons needs the experience but the O has been lacking in scoring.

That comment is insane.  The offense scored 37 points, on the road, against a team being played up as the B1G "flavor ot the month" team destined to represent the Leaders division in the championship game.  Everybody on the B1G network picked Purdue to win.  Everybody on ESPN (save Desmond and he took some shit) picked Purdue to win.  But instead we smashed them and hung 44 on the board.

"Yet much work needs to be done in the redzone."  Michigan fans are NEVER happy.

Happy with the defense today. Happy with 300+ rushing yards. Happy with dominant win on the road. Not sure why we still seem to miss recognition of rushers off the edge. That's happened in every game this year and it doesn't seem to be getting better. A little surprised Denard finished 50% on passing attempts. Thought it would have been better given the domination.

So what was up with Wile no longer kicking out of the endzone?  Were they trying some different, or did his leg just die?

Easily dispatching a bad big ten team is not something that has really happened too often in the last 5 years. It feels so comforting to feel like we're back to same ole grind

We won!

I know we are not even half way through this year, but what can is say...I am always looking ahead.  Anyone concerned about our team next year?  Our defensive lineman won't have developed enough yet to contribute, we lose Campbell and Roh, Ross/Bolden will replace Demens just fine, and Countess/Taylor/Avery will be a step up since Coutess will swap with Floyd, we lose Kovacs.  But losing Denard, makes me wonder if we go with Gardner at QB or at WR.  Either way, wherever he's not will be a poor position...QB or WR.  I am concerend about D-line, O-line, RB (now that there's no D-Rob to help running), and WR.  Next years seems like more of a transition than ever.

So Denard was only 8-16, but his recievers definitely dropped a couple balls. I think that the run set up the pass nicely and that Denard had a better game in the air than the stats might indicate.

Anyone else concerned about his hand? He was holding his right hand awkwardly at the end of the game.  Anyone hear anything more?

We should be able to handle Illinois relatively easily next week, setting up a nice showdown vs MSU... given MSU's struggles this season I don't see how we don't beat them.