BlueinTC

September 14th, 2013 at 3:41 PM ^

but boy, I don't think we can snicker at other B10 schools (sparty) who don't perform well against lower level teams.  Congrats, though, to Akron...they played their hearts out.  I give them a hell of a lot of credit.

 

 

JohnnyV123

September 14th, 2013 at 3:44 PM ^

I said it in a thread that got deleted but never ever again should anyone on here talk down about an opponent. We are the team that experienced The Horror and we almost witnessed version 2.0 today.

Too much content this week was here's a YouTube video of Akron trying to play defense! Ha! Or....well this would concern me but it's Akron so nope we're good. Never again.

Mr. Yost

September 14th, 2013 at 3:47 PM ^

Offense: Devin has to take better care of the ball. He simply does not value the football. I thought the wide receivers would be a weakness on this team, and they seem to be the most consistent unit that we have. on the offense of line, Lewan is the only player who is playing Michigan football or Big Ten caliber football. Even Schofield makes far too many mistakes.

Defense: We don't have the talent to rush 4...Black is the only pass rush we have. Clark was wildly overrated. That said, our play calling is horrible! Every play we either run a base defense, or we send the house. We don't disguise anything and it allows the offense to make checks at the line and adjust to what they see us doing. I don't understand why we can't show blitz but only rush 4 or vice versa. Put 7 on the line and drop a few guys. Or show a base, let them check then move 3 guys up to the line late in the play clock so they can't adjust. It's so f-ing simple. Confuse someone and give your team an advantage Mattison!

maize-blue

September 14th, 2013 at 3:51 PM ^

Yeah, it's becoming apparent that the running game just may not get it going this year. Again our offense has too much reliance on the QB who at this point is prone to mistakes.

The defense may not be very good and I'm struggling to figure out why. And yes I can't see why they are doing simple things on that side of the ball.

Mmmm Hmmm

September 14th, 2013 at 3:48 PM ^

My snowflake is more yellow snow...

I have no idea what was going on with the O-Line, but it sure seemed on tv like there were holes at times and nothing on other runs.

This was probably good for Devin, so he doesn't try to play hero-ball against the better defenses left on the schedule.  I was shuddering to think about him running with his back to the line of scrimmage against Michigan State or Ohio (or even PSU).  Still, it sucked for this game.

I have a feeling that the starters all assumed they were going to work for a quarter or two and sit...and played like they were just trying to get to their break.

I guess except for the O-Line and D-Line (I don't know what was wrong), most of the attitude/approach issues are correctable, and I think the staff can do it.  But man, that was closer and more nail-biting than Notre Dame.

TheGhostofChappuis

September 14th, 2013 at 3:51 PM ^

I'll tell you what's going on with the OLine.  Funk is a crappy position coach.  The guy has had bad lines almost his entire career.  Look up the stats.  They're putrid.  Other than loyalty, I honestly have no idea why Hoke brought him to Michigan given his track record.

mobablue

September 14th, 2013 at 3:49 PM ^

An ugly game to be sure, but the turnovers are the reason it was so close. 4 (to 2 from Akron), one of which was housed. Another when we were in the red zone. That could be a 14-21 point swing right there. Losing all that seals the game against all but the worst of teams.

The offense had to bring us from behind in the 4th, and the defense had to make a stand as time ran out. The pressure not to lose to Akron - Akron of all teams, Akron, the lowest of the low - must have been insane. I'm grateful they were able to step up. It feels like some of us would've rather seen our team commit hara-kiri and take the loss.

It was horrible, it was nerve-wracking, it was unexpected, it shouldn't have been so close. We saw quite a few weaknesses exposed, and we can't expect to win many games playing like this. We shouldn't just sweep the game under the rug as an aberration, the coaches should tear into it.

But I'm not ready to hang myself over a game we won, and I haven't forgotten the team we saw last week. I hope our team and our coaches haven't forgotten either.

MGoStrength

September 14th, 2013 at 3:50 PM ^

When we are on defense and they spread us out...I can understand why we play a soft coverage against ND because they have a few burners at WR, but Akron?  When we blitzed we couldn't get to the QB.  When we didn't blitz we gave up a ton of yards and couldn't stop completions.  So here's my qeustion....if they line up like that all we have to do is win one-on-one battles.  Why can't we win one-one-one battles against MAC teams?  Our defensive lineman should be able to beat one-on-one blocks and get to the QB, right?  And, our DBs should be able to run with MAC recievers, right?  Why aren't we winning those individual battles?  If Akron does this to us what's gonna happen when NW, Neb, & OSU run this against us?

Coldwater

September 14th, 2013 at 3:57 PM ^

Here's a theory: just because you play for Michigan doesn't mean you are a stud. I'm not being a jerk about that. What I mean is other schools have players too that practice hard, lift weights, watch film, and develop into good players.



2 examples. Matt Godin and Keith Heitzman. Both are at Michigan but you can't say they are dominant, game changing players. They are just "guys". I've never seen either of them beat and offensive lineman for a sack or tackle for a loss

MGoStrength

September 14th, 2013 at 4:47 PM ^

From 2008 until the current class our recruiting classes were #13, #10, #14, not sure for 2011, #7, and #6.  That should encompass anyone on the team today.  With classes of that rank there is no excuse for a lack of talented pass rushers.  So, Heitzman & Godin can't be dominant because they aren't elite.  Well, what about Charlton , Ojemudia, & Pipkins?  They may be young but they are talented...why aren't they playing and/or producing?  I mean if you go across the defense Washington, Pipkins, Charlton, Countess, Wilson, Bolden, Ross, Ojemidua...these are talented kids that should be producing.  I get that Clark, Morgan, Gordon, and Taylor are not elite, but they are still better than MAC talent and they are on the field over younger more highly rated gusy like Charlton, RJS, Thomas, and Lewis.  I get that it takes time to develop guys, but I just don't see other highly rated recruits taking this long. IDK maybe guys like Peppers, Mone, Marshall, Ferns, and Hand & McDowell if they come will be able to make impacts faster than the last two classes of guys.

vablue

September 14th, 2013 at 3:59 PM ^

When we blitzed the QB just threw the ball away, almost immediately. So yeah we didn't sack him but they never took advantage of it either. I am shocked we did not blitz more. Very few teams can get the job done only rushing four.

chewieblue

September 14th, 2013 at 3:50 PM ^

1. So far in his career, Devin has NEVER taken care of the football. There are good and bad things that come with having him pulling the trigger.



2. We couldn't get to the QB with a four man rush if we were playing Pioneer. Our D-line has a LOOOOOOOOOONG way to go. I think they'll get there, but today illustrates why we need guys like Dashawn Hand so badly.

KBLOW

September 14th, 2013 at 4:00 PM ^

Yes. Yes, I do.  

Go ahead a beat yourself up and feel horrible and blame the team, Hoke and anyone else. Let me know how that goes for you.

The fact is, the team found a way to win when it had no right to win.  The past two coaching regimes screwed the pooch in similar circumstances.

Zok

September 14th, 2013 at 3:54 PM ^

For a coaching staff that talks about the trenches SOO much the level of play has been a disaster on the Lines for a while now.

Now its bad even with 4-5* talent...

That is the most concerning thing.

EnoughAlready

September 14th, 2013 at 3:55 PM ^

Please, more arrogance about how badly Michigan will trounce Akron. More arrogance about how the third-string will be in by half-time.  More arrogance about how Michigan barely needs to show up.

Gardner is not going pro, not till he's exhausted eligibility.  Neither is Ryan.  Mattison's crew can't rush the QB.  Michigan's pass D just got run in circles.  

marlon

September 14th, 2013 at 4:42 PM ^

Two great games?  What are these games you speak of?  Michigan failed to run block against a directional school and Notre Dame and has consistently produced no pressure against opposing teams' quarterbacks.  This game wasn't a fluke, it was more of the same crappy line play.

ReggieNoble04

September 14th, 2013 at 3:58 PM ^

I'm wasted drinking jäger bombs and smoking blunts ! I'm still pissed with the performance but were still undefeated ! Go blue!

RedGreene

September 14th, 2013 at 3:59 PM ^

Funk should be on the hot seat. He's in his third year as oline coach and he still hasn't figured out how to get them to run block. I understand they're young but they were playing against the Akron Zips. Holy shit.