Final Thoughts On "The Game" ...the regular season?

Submitted by Mr. Yost on

Now that you've had a little time to recover (as much as you'll ever recover), what are your final thoughts on The Game?

I think it'll sting for everyone, it always does when you're "sooo close." I think many will agree with going for 2, everyone will hate the playcall.

That said, what are your lasting impressions and final thoughts?

To take it a step further, what are your thoughts about the entire regular season?

get-on-my-lawn

December 3rd, 2013 at 5:34 PM ^

Hell of a final game. Im 100% satisfied with our performance against OSU. With how shitty we were all year, we had no business being in that game and yet we matched em point for point and looked good in doing so. I wasnt even upset when we lost, because with how this seasons gone, just seeing the team play up to their potential and with heart for once, it's a sign of hope.

Mr. Yost

December 3rd, 2013 at 5:46 PM ^

Thoughts on "The Game":

I was at the game, I didn't get a chance to chime in on some of the other threads because 1. It was an exhausting weekend and 2. I wasn't close to over the loss. That said here are a few tidbits...

---Too much red, but loved that the stands were full and that they students were late, but they did show up.

---The in-game presentations were awesome...perfect mix of "new" and "traditional," they had something for everyone.

---Too much is made on this board about this music. It's a football game in 2013, there's going to be more "RAWK" these days...that said, if the offense is playing well, you hear a lot more of the band. Offense played well for the most part. I'll never listen to the crying/whining about the music at Michigan Stadium ever again. Stay home if you don't like it.

---It was loud in spots, but not ND loud. It was also crazy quiet when we were down 14. I haven't been to a noon kick in 10 years so that may have something to do with it.

---I was proud of our fans postgame. Everyone pretty much had the same reaction, which was "welp." Some Ohio fans were obnoxious, but that's to be expected. However, I did notice that many were just happy to escape with the W and they were more respectful than in years past.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, thoughts on the game. Eh, I'm still not a fan of Borges. In fact, I'm less of a fan. I'm in the stands and everyone around me knew what play was going to be called if we were in the Pistol (it's the option in case you haven't watched this season), they knew when we in a particular formation it was going to be the quick screen to Funchess or the fake screen and Iso to Green. 

I pride myself on knowing a little bit about Michigan football. Many of us on this site know more silly UFR type details than the Average Joe in the stands. It was sickening to listen to everyone around me know the play before it was called. I've determined that we have 8 plays total and then we have 8 wrinkles per game (4 for away games). That's pretty much it as far as playcalling is concerned. It's just a matter of if the wrinkles hit for big plays like they did vs. OSU.

That said, I was proud of the pride the offense played with. They weren't going to be pushed around all game. It got away from them for a little bit between the flight and the 4th quarter, but they rebounded nicely. 

In the end, I loved the decision to go for 2...hated that we didn't call timeout when we had one to burn. Also, hated the playcall. I felt those two coaching blunders loss the game.

Thoughts on the Season:

A failure for sure. I'm just as frustrated about the results as I am that there is nothing to hang my hat on to give me hope about the future. Next year's team will start with no identity just like this years team.

Borges lost us 2 games this year and was the reason we struggled in 3 others, even though we won 2 of those 3. That's 5 games I count that he had a CLEAR negative impact on with his playcalling. IMO, he can stay on in some capacity to design plays, but he's awful at calling plays in the game. We need someone new. I also think we need more youth on the staff.

I'll love DG for how he battled through injury, but because I'll never know HOW injured he was, I'll also shake my head at all of the turnovers. I still leave this season wondering how good he really is.

Green got better, but he still doesn't look like a 5-star player. Funchess doesn't look like he'll improve much as good as he is. I suppose it all starts and ends with the offensive line. How they develop is how the team will develop.

Defensively I thought our guys kept us in a lot of games this year, but we don't have any consistent playmaking ability. Clark got VERY good as the season went on and other guys showed improvement. However, there isn't any consistency at the moment. I'll be interested to see what Peppers brings to the table.

All in all, I'm not going to lie...this is one of my least favorite seasons of all-time. Not just because we lost. But because we weren't always put in a position to win. And because I don't get any hope for the future to carry me through the winter/spring/summer. We were super young this year, but how many guys actually showed the potential to get better?

2Blue4You

December 4th, 2013 at 9:03 AM ^

If by perfect mix that means you liked the band being drowned out by the loud speaker, then yes.  I think the production could have been better in terms of when the band plays vs. when piped in music plays.  I wish the piped in music had a bit more consistency in terms of when they played it (Hells bells on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd downs?!).  Take a few songs and play them only at stretegic points.  I thought the stadium was dead coming out of halftime.  That is my only issue.  

berto714

December 3rd, 2013 at 5:40 PM ^

My lasting impressions of The Game will probably always be maddening, confusing disappointment. We came up JUST short of pulling up an amazing upset. This will always be disappointing, and I'll always wonder how it would have felt to get those last two points and take down Ohio.

The Game probably makes the rest of the season even more maddening and frustrating. The offense, when clicking, was able to put up tons of yards and points. Yet somehow, we had multiple games with under 200 yards and games where we couldn't score TDs. I dont' think I'll ever fully understand why a team with the talent and ability to put it together so spectacularly in some games failed so spectacularly in others. 

Hopefully the team grows from this season and my opinion of the season changes over time. I can foresee looking back on this season as either growing pains leading to something greater, or the beginning of the end for Hoke. Crossing my fingers it's the former.

robmorren2

December 3rd, 2013 at 5:53 PM ^

We basically sold out on the entire bigten season to set up one huge attack on Ohio ... and we still lost. Personally, I'd rather be 10-2 with a 3 score loss to Ohio, than 7-5 with a 1 point loss to Ohio. We aren't good enough to sandbag plays/formations until the last week. Hoke has decided to tie his fate to Borges. I like Hoke, so I hope he's right.

UMichMSW07

December 3rd, 2013 at 5:46 PM ^

Must....Win .... Games!!! I'm tired of mediocrity. This season was a disaster in the OSU game has not lessened that feeling for me. Next year schedule, compare to this your schedule seems daunting however, I expect this team to win 10 or 11 games. Get it done Dave Brandon!!

nickb

December 3rd, 2013 at 6:28 PM ^

On Sunday's he is watching film with Hoke. My concern is though DB played football while at Michigan, he was nothing more than  a reserve player. He has been out of football for most of his adult life and for him to interject himself into the coaches area of responsibility is unprecedented. He may be another Jerry Jones.

The season only confirmed what most outside of the State of Michigan have known for the past six years. Michigan football is irrelevant and is trending in the wrong direction. The sad part, is the school administration places more emphasis on the right man instead of the right coach.

I do not look forward to next season. More of the same.

 

blueblueblue

December 3rd, 2013 at 7:30 PM ^

How do you know DB is more than a spectator in these film sessions? Imposing your unfounded interpretations onto reality to justify your biases and help you make some warped sense of the world is immature. We do not know what DB does in the film sessions. And we have to leave it at that. 

MGoStrength

December 3rd, 2013 at 6:36 PM ^

My biggest thoughts on the season are what could have been.  After watching UM in The Game I can't help but wonder why this wasn't our offense all year.  If it was we could have easily won the PSU, Iowa, and Nebraska games and sat with at 10-2 record.  I get the feeling Borges and Hoke just keep trying to force this team to be something they are not.  And, only as a last resort change their philosophy.  My big hope is that we don't waste another year doing this because next year's team is going to be more similar to this year's team than different.  We are not going to magically turn into a power running team until we have an experienced offensive line full of upperclassman and that won't happen until 2015 at the earliest.  So, I ust hope we work on the offense the way we play in The Game and not the way we played in most of the other games.

burtcomma

December 3rd, 2013 at 6:48 PM ^

Both offense and defense were inconsistent all year.  How much due to coaching, injuries, youth, talent, et al is open to debate but I think that our initial projections of 8-4 to 9-3 were all based on youth and talent levels and lack of experienced high talent levels on both O and D lines.  In the end, the young guys on both the lines were up and down, and we saw D performances like OSU and NW and O performance like OSU and Iowa.  Hopefully, next year will be better as the 2012 and 2013 recruiting classes get another year of experience and we bring in another talented class for 2014.

Gob Wilson

December 3rd, 2013 at 6:53 PM ^

2. Sad. 3. Frustrated.

We have 10-2 or 11-1 athletes but  ended the season 7-5 (disappointed).  Our rivals beat us again and now we expect it (sad.) We now have 2 wins against OSU in the last 13 and have only beaten MSU once in 6 years (frustrated.)

Tater

December 3rd, 2013 at 7:25 PM ^

If David Brandon stops insisting on influencing playcalling, Al Borges will call more games like this one and Michigan will be a lot better next year.  Michigan does not have the personnel that Ohio does this year and still came within a point.  While I am tired of the mediocre results, I am willing to wait until year 5 to see what this team can truly do.

blueblueblue

December 3rd, 2013 at 7:33 PM ^

Dave Brandon is influencing playcalling now? Wow, you have really gone off the deep end into shit creek without a paddle, drifting out to sea into a perfect storm of insane assumptions. Have fun in that journey for the next year; but, do you really have to try to take the rest of us along?

Sllepy81

December 3rd, 2013 at 7:46 PM ^

I said congrats good game....

They said jealous? Want to join us now?



My final response, rather lose with dignity then have players tossed flipping fans off and win making a good example of why nobody wants to join you guys as fans. Good Luck though.



I'm not mad, I didn't think we would win but I thought it would be close, we are young. We put a scare in Urban especially considering he is still coaching Tressels QB and HB. Can't wait till he has his players playing us.

K H

December 3rd, 2013 at 8:35 PM ^

Watching it frame-by-frame, Scholfield gets his block but Kalis is overwhelmed by the OSU rusher. That rusher is in Devin's face and he has to unload to dileo because he doesn't have time to review other options.

Mike420GoBlue

December 4th, 2013 at 12:50 AM ^

Also the throw was off target, inside instead of outside. Not that i blame Devin at all, Gardner gives us the best chance to win, and he is one tough s.o.b. after seeing all the hits he took this season.

BlueHills

December 3rd, 2013 at 8:45 PM ^

The Game brought me down off the ledge. I had railed against Hoke and Borges in several threads. But what we saw in The Game was a well-coached team going toe-to-toe against a talented team coached by one of the best in the college game. Maybe it all came together for the offense on Saturday like a lightning bolt, I can't say. Maybe it was just a matter of everything they'd been taught gelling.

But what we all saw was significant potential. When firing on all cylinders, this team has a great deal of potential and grit. Moreover, the team played a disciplined football game, except for the fight that erupted. This was the offense we were waiting all season to see.

I was wrong about this coaching staff. Maybe it really was just a case of needing the time and the experience of this season to put everything together.

As a result, I'm looking forward to next year. I think we're going to see a much improved team next season, with BIG championship potential. I can't wait for the bowl game.

readyourguard

December 3rd, 2013 at 9:06 PM ^

Disappointing. Should have never lost to Penn State, Iowa, or Nebraska. State whipped our ass and that shit has to stop. And finally, losing to OSU is getting ridiculous. We have to turn the corner and win these close games against good teams.

ford_428cj

December 3rd, 2013 at 9:10 PM ^

"My biggest thoughts on the season are what could have been.  After watching UM in The Game I can't help but wonder why this wasn't our offense all year.  If it was we could have easily won the PSU, Iowa, and Nebraska games and sat with at 10-2 record.  I get the feeling Borges and Hoke just keep trying to force this team to be something they are not.  And, only as a last resort change their philosophy.  My big hope is that we don't waste another year doing this because next year's team is going to be more similar to this year's team than different."

 

This ... ^^^ 

ford_428cj

December 3rd, 2013 at 9:24 PM ^

"In the end, I loved the decision to go for 2...hated that we didn't call timeout when we had one to burn. Also, hated the playcall. I felt those two coaching blunders loss the game."

 

This too ^^^^

antidaily

December 3rd, 2013 at 9:28 PM ^

I went. Driving in, I was positive. I knew it was a loss but was exciting to see The Game anyway.



Then, it was actually a great game. The offense was looking good and we looked pretty even from where I was sitting. I wanted OT thinking maybe they'd magically fumble or miss an PAT. But I was ok with going for the win; and really, the audible gasp of the crowd when Hoke sent the offense back on the field was pretty fucking cool. Didn't get 2pt or the on sides and that was the ball game. And since then I've been replaying the entire last couple minutes in my head quite a bit. So close. So. Close.



This was a miserable season to follow. The fans on radio and internet made it worse. The fact that MSU is somehow good again (11 wins again? With WHO playing QB? RB?) made it worse yet. Nebraska game was hell and indifference. But I don't care what anyone says --- if OSU had beaten us 37-7, the malaise would be mixed with the worst kind of helplessness. Instead, you think maybe Hoke can do this. We'll see.

tybert

December 4th, 2013 at 12:12 AM ^

After Saturday, I'm fine if the ENTIRE STAFF JOBS are on the line for next year's performance. 

Anyone old enough to remember the disappointment and consternation of the 1979 season (two critical home losses, including one to OSU), en route to a Bo-worst (at the time) FOUR loss season...will remember that the same players turned it around to win in Columbus (as big underdogs) at Ohio to end the 1980 season and then win Bo his 1st ever Bowl Win (vs. Washington at the RB).

Hoke and staff need the same "motivation" to end a downward slide and finally win at Columbus for the 1st time in 14 years.

Don't forget Ohio finally won for the 1st time in 14 years at Michigan when Tressel beat a Henson-less UM team in 2001. 

If we suck next year and loss 4-5 games, then time for a change. I'll tolerate ONE more season to see if Hoke can do what Bo did in 1980.

 

 

lmgoblue1

December 4th, 2013 at 8:04 AM ^

no matter what dude you can't have them playing full boar when
our team is in the offenseive huddle.
The opposing teams band will never ever be as loud as that stupid f****** music.
Oh and regarding 12 p.m. Games we used to win a hell of a lot of those. The Buckeyes sitting behind me told me they played many 12 p.m. Games not many 3:30 games.
apparently 3:30 is for losers

WestSider

December 4th, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^

this is so very true, and for the OP to say that if I don't like it I don't have to go to the game is missing the point, and kind of rude. HE has decided the "rawk" is good, so if I don't like it, blah, blah blah. White Stripes is getting old and worn out as well; the repetitiveness is annoying and easily replaced with something else. Whatever the case, music is supposed to inspire and entertain, not interfere with the game, or the game experience.

llandson

December 4th, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^

Immediately after the game, I was a bit relieved, in that Michigan showed some heart against a good team. That has given way to anger. I am usually one to agree with the idea that coaches know much more than I can possibly know about the team, football in general, etc. That said, I cannot get over that 2-point attempt. How can any human being believe that the best chance to score from the 3-yard line is to run a pass play in which exactly three receivers go out, all starting their routes within a 5-yard radius of each other? How? On top of that, how can any coach not make a change to the play and/or formation after the defense called a TO to review the offensive formation?

The Game left me even more upset about Borges than I was before it. The Game demonstrated to me that our offensive players were not a bunch of talentless losers, as had been my fear from the previous month of games. I am more convinced than ever that the coaching was most responsible for the poor performance in between ND and OSU.  

FrankMurphy

December 4th, 2013 at 2:24 PM ^

I'm in major emo mode today, so I think the lesson is that mediocrity is the new normal at Michigan. We have an athletic department that hasn't put out a quality product in a while and has effectively conceded superiority in the B1G to its two biggest rivals, but acts as if being a fan of that product is a privilege.