October 24th, 2012 at 9:36 AM ^
It's crazy to think that these are largely the same guys who finished the season ranked 100-and-whatever less than 2 years ago.
"I want the ball boys to be defensive-minded." -Dave Brandon, in the weeks before the Hoke hire.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:36 AM ^
We're a pretty different team at this point. The only guys that are the same are Kovacs, Demens, Roh, and Floyd (who started until he got hurt before the 2010 Illinois game). And they were all much younger (obviously). Avery has been passed (for his every down spot) by Countess AND Taylor, two sophomores who weren't on the roster at that point. C. Gordon has been passed by Ryan who was redshirting. T. Gordon was a RS Freshman who was only seeing limited time. Black was still a depth player.
Granted there's talent here that we no longer have (Martin, RVB), but I'm just saying the personel is different now. No Ryan, Morgan, Clark, Beyer, Taylor, Pipkins; Campbell was lost in the wilderness (due to both youth and coaching), Q. Wash as a RS FR was just switching from OL to DL.
Just saying its different now, but trust me, I'm not defending an RPS (+7,-21). Glad I can laugh about it now, wow times have changed.
Substitution notes, Illinois 2010 (67-65 game): The secondary was Vinopal, Rogers, Avery, and Kovacs the whole way. Fitz and Ezeh seemed to get equal time at the OLB/DE spot, with Cam Gordon getting maybe 80% of the time at spur. Thomas got some snaps. Demens and Mouton went the whole way at MLB. On the line Martin, RVB, and Roh started; Patterson, Black, and Banks spotted them periodically.
http://mgoblog.com/content/upon-further-review-2010-defense-vs-illinois
October 24th, 2012 at 10:00 AM ^
is a marauding Visigoth. Lord.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:25 AM ^
Big surprise...I enjoyed this more than the Offense Every Snap.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:32 AM ^
Jake for any LB in the B1G. Watch the replay at the 11:11 mark, and just focus on Ryan. Dude is powerful and WAY too quick for his size.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
I don't disagree, but I think Bullough is VERY impressive. Hopefully his two little brothers don't share his talent.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:39 AM ^
Note to B1G Network announcers: Find some new ways to announce that the quarterback is dropping back to pass other than simply stating his last name. Ditto for when he actually throws it.
"Maxwell... Maxwell! Incomplete!"
"Maxwell... rolls out. Maxwell! Throws it away."
"Maxwell... Maxwell! Burbridge!"
every. damn. play.
"Maxwell. Bell!"
whups, that one was a handoff.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:49 AM ^
I'm not sure if it's as noticeable if you're just watching normally instead of editing frame by frame but Gibbonssssssssssss. Spartanssssssssssssssssss. Wolverninessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:56 AM ^
Thomas Gordon made the play of the game at 11:50.
October 24th, 2012 at 12:04 PM ^
Was thinking the same thing myself. I watched the game in a bar, and remember thinking that was the stop they needed to hold them to a FG, given the penalty prior to that and MSU's momentum. Watched the replay for the first time now and it is even better than I'd remembered it. Thomas Gordon had a number of other good plays in the game. Even on the long completion, he still had pretty solid coverage. It just turned out to be one of those slightly underthrown balls that guys like Junior Hemingway made a living on.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:57 AM ^
Shouldn't UM have been called for offsides (Roh) on MSU's first drive on 3 and 4? Roh jumped into the neutral zone causing the MSU O-lineman to move but it looks like they called a false start on MSU. Looks like UM caught a big break there.
October 24th, 2012 at 12:02 PM ^
I believe the rule is unless the D-lineman makes contact he can jump back and forth across the neutral zone prior to the ball being snapped. If the ball is snapped while the defensive player is in the neutral zone, that's offsides, but in this case, Roh was in the neutral zone, but the O-lineman jumped just an instant before the ball was snalled and hence the false start. Was close though.
October 24th, 2012 at 8:16 PM ^
I think, though, that if you jump offside and cause a lineman to move without making contact, it is still encroachment. Not 100% on that, though.
EDIT: Neutral zone infraction.
October 24th, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^
I watched almost none of MSU's offensive drives so this was my first viewing of UM f*cking up that play where they had Lippett dead to rights in the backfield for a 13-14 yard loss down in the UM redzone. Three different UM defenders (including the almost machine-like Kovacs) decided to go all "Keystone Kops" and botch that up epically. If any one of the three defenders makes that tackle MSU would almost certainly have had to settle for a FG. I'm glad I didn't see that live because I would have gone absolutely bat-sh*t crazy and probably broken something.
October 24th, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^
On that fake derpity derp both Kovacs and Jake Ryan were pushed from behind past the play (by the same guy!!)
Could have been a flag.
October 24th, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^
Kovacs initially was right there (with no block in the back) and just whiffed horribly. My jaw literally fell open when I saw Jordan do that. He just lunged at the guy instead of forming up and running through the player like he does 99% of the time.
October 24th, 2012 at 11:58 AM ^
He pushes both Kovacs and Roh (not Ryan, my mistake)
October 24th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^
UFR: I still disagree that Kovacs was blocked in the back as it looks like the MSU player got Kovacs in the side not the back (to my eyes) but it does appear that Kovacs got thrown off balance by the (IMO) legal block and that explains why he missed Lippett. He appears to have lost his balance, was actually falling down and that caused him to lunge at the WR.
Apologies to Kovacs.
October 24th, 2012 at 12:05 PM ^
...since Roh doesn't blow contain. If Kovacs simply forms up and gets the WR to stop his feet, Roh's gonna be right there.