SMU Snowflakes - The Defense
September 15th, 2018 at 7:21 PM ^
Agreed, but we do seem to have really bad luck. QB's play us and suddenly they are 'throw god' Gary Nova. Then the next week, they revert back to the mean. On the opposite tack, it was amazing to have a Michigan QB actually make tough throws.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:21 PM ^
So Wisconsin last year were prayers? Or OSU?
This is becoming a trend. Browns defense needs better playmakers if you’re going to gamble that hard.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:28 PM ^
Stop with the fucking "ifs"! If this, if that..... bull shit. If i was handsome, smart, driven, and had a good personality, I'd be different person. It doesn't work that way. What happened, happened.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:17 PM ^
I am so sick of this excuse. The QB just made amazing throws....Just like all those lucky McSorely jump balls, Hornibrook tight passes...bullshit. Their WRs were getting open all game, they found success running on us, they beat us to the edge all day long, our D Line never established the front. Yes lots of the penalties were BS, but our secondary was beat, and grabbing to catch up all day. If this doesnt turn around we will lose multiple Big Ten games.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
Not a good game by or defense. Seemed like the guys thought they would win because were Michigan and most of the time they played like it. That said, I can’t imagine we game planned much for that QB (after this week I bet he starts! We made him look good) but to the people saying this defense sucks get a grip. The game has changed and every rule favors the offense, beinf a good defense in 2018 is different than being a good defense in 1998. Our defense is a top 10-15 D but that’s just not enough in modern college Football.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:38 PM ^
The thing that stood out to me the most is that the front seven hasn't really been able to get much pressure at all through 3 games. They had barely any at all in this game. SMU's QBs frequently had ample time back there to do whatever they wanted.
Its really hard to argue that this defense isn't a clear step back from last seasons' defense. Which given all of the talent that came back is really alarming.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:07 PM ^
Yep... like I said above, it’s either youth or the refs every single time. The players and coaches haven’t messed up once.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:07 PM ^
Very undisciplined game from the defense today. Secondary seems to have regressed, especially Hill.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:38 PM ^
I contend that they haven't regressed, but that they were never that great to begin with last year. The DL made them look great with their pressure. But it's not the same DL. Hurst was the biggest force on that Defense last year and caused all kinds of havic up the middle. When they ran up against a good OL, the secondary didn't look nearly as good because the DL was kept in check. I think they're good, but neither corner is a lockdown and the safeties are suspect. Haskins is going to destroy this defense.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:42 PM ^
I think this is the correct take. The DL and LBs haven't been getting as much pressure, which allows the QB more time to scan the field and the WRs more time to get open. Which is a combo that'll make your secondary look a whole lot worse.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
SMU is a good offensive team. They run a creative and multi-faceted spread. I like it. I don't make too much out of us giving up some points against them. Sure, in an ideal world I'd like Brown to have the answer for *everything* but you're deluding yourself if you think there's a DC out there who does.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:12 PM ^
Sonny Dykes is a good offensive mind.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:17 PM ^
SMU played a freshman QB
September 15th, 2018 at 7:23 PM ^
Not the entire game. In fact, the freshmen came in in the second half. Probably no tape on him.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:47 PM ^
Are you Don Brown’s drinking buddy? This is the lamest excuse I’ve read in this thread
September 15th, 2018 at 9:04 PM ^
Sure. And how would that freshman QB have looked with JH calling the plays instead of Sonny Dykes?
Dykes' teams don't have very good D though.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
SMU score about 17 more points than I thought they would.
The D let them convert a lot of 3rd downs and keep drives going. I thought they we're good on 1st and 2nd. Just couldn't get off the field.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:53 PM ^
Two of those conversions were due to perfect, and I mean perfect, passes. One hit the receiver in the hands over while he was blanketed by 3 defenders who were in position. We have a lot to work on, yes, but some plays were just darn near perfect. Brown to Broche(?) was deadly and would have been difficult for many teams out there
September 15th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
Not an elite defense...they look slow. DBs not playing the ball well.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:52 PM ^
I agree this defense isn't elite. But "they look slow" is the dumbest take I have ever read in a snowflake thread. SMU had several RPS +2 plays that were held down to 10-15 yards simply because our guy tracked it down from being out of position. The long touchdown was a simple miscommunication, not a speed issue. If this defense was slow, that 4th and 1 conversion would have been a long touchdown.
September 15th, 2018 at 10:23 PM ^
They certainly looked slow chasing the QB all day.
September 15th, 2018 at 10:49 PM ^
The QB broke contain like, twice? Thrice? That's what mobile QBs do. He didnt run away from anyone. He took advantage of gaps when the D left him one. It's an issue. It's not a speed issue.
September 16th, 2018 at 9:06 AM ^
I saw him run away from the DL and linebackers multiple times. The DL hardly gets any pressure either.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
Gotta solve the pass interference. We gave up a TON of yards and kept drives alive because of it... Also have to realize that people are going to try to use slants and rubs when converting.... How many weeks will it take to figure this out?
Also, felt like we were trying to win Vanilla without putting stuff on film, while SMU was throwing the kitchen sink at us (Onside kicks, squibs, going for it on 4th, deep ball prayers, trick plays....)
September 15th, 2018 at 7:21 PM ^
That's what happens when you're a blue blood ranked program. Everyone throws the kitchen sink at you.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:09 PM ^
Penalties made it feel like a monkey rodeo all game.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:09 PM ^
I give them a C- today. They let up big time in the second half.
Don Brown Gets a F.
That 3rd and 18 Run by their Qb is the reason. Why not go zone and let them catch it then run up tackle.
The Td on the drive was terrible D call. Why did he keep blitzing from the left when the Qb constantly rolled right?
September 15th, 2018 at 8:13 PM ^
I though harbaug asked brown to include some zone in his scheme. I guess Brown said F it, i am going to do what i want to do. This is probably why we will lose to MSU in a heartbreaking fashion, blown out by OSU and PSU. Maybe NW will beat us too. I just dont understand how can no DBs have the ability to look back and locate the ball. How do we constantly play linebackers and safety on the opposing best player. Defense is all about deception. If the offense can read your defense, and practice an entire week to beat that defense. Then you get qbs playing perfect games. Another thing that amazes me is how bad is Gary. the guy never gets of blocks, never sacks the qb or hit the qb on his own. He is always second or third to the ball. Even today he got there once and couldn't make the tackle.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:10 PM ^
Lot of the flags were somewhere between iffy and bullshit but still an undisciplined game between penalties and busts.
They look damn good when they have their shit together.
Kwity killed a guy.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:38 PM ^
I saw that. He may want to lay low for a while
September 15th, 2018 at 7:10 PM ^
Michigan has been getting called for the same over-aggressive PI calls for two years now. It's past time for Brown to adjust or all-pass offenses like MSU will burn them over and over.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:19 PM ^
Wouldn't over-aggressive CBs fall under Zordich, rather than Brown?
September 15th, 2018 at 7:10 PM ^
Is it so hard to have a fucking QB spy or not blitz the QB every play? Also, our secondary is going to get worked by better teams if they don't get their act together.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:10 PM ^
D-line not disruptive on passing plays. Makes the whole D malfunction
September 15th, 2018 at 7:11 PM ^
I loved watching us pummel their QB while they tried to make the score look closer than it was
September 15th, 2018 at 7:15 PM ^
Yeah, that felt good for sure.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:11 PM ^
Wow. This place has gone to the complete drizzling shits. You who think Wisconsin is so fucking good, go root for them. Guessing their message board will be more to your liking right now.
Ill take a 25 point win, every time. Too many penalties for sure, they were the lifeline SMU needed. Shore some things up, hopefully avoid the whistle happy refs, and we are fine.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:16 PM ^
What are you talking about? Right now Michigan is clearly not close to OSU and Penn State. That is the measuring stick.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:25 PM ^
i agree with osu - they’re on another level. but psu isn’t that good. needed ot to beat app state, and pitt should’ve been up by 2 scores at the half. take away the weird shit (punter/fg holder not being able to catch the ball) and that’s an entirely different game
September 15th, 2018 at 8:04 PM ^
App State is a better team than SMU. At any rate, I don't think Penn State is a playoff team. But they are ahead of Michigan right now.
Penn State offense is going to be a real problem again.
And if JH thinks he can use the offense he used in the first half today during the first half against Penn State...then Michigan will be chasing from 14 or more down for most of the game.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:57 PM ^
app state is better than smu, but psy/app st went to ot while we won by 25 (and if the refs weren’t terrible it would’ve been a lot worse). psu isn’t that good, but then again neither are we
September 15th, 2018 at 11:02 PM ^
Why would you think Harbaugh would call the same game against PSU that he did against SMU? Give the man a little credit...
September 16th, 2018 at 7:44 AM ^
Did you even watch the game? No team, not even OSU was going to steam roll when the refs were out to prove a point. The db's are taught to play aggressive because that is usually allowed, the refs changed the accepted rules and turned it into a slog. We should have adjusted earlier on defense but the offense did score on 6 straight drives and for a big portion we were missing both our starting running backs. I don't know what you expect, even though SMU is bad they still ran with TCU for a half. They are still a D1 football team, they are going to make a couple plays regardless.
September 16th, 2018 at 8:22 AM ^
>And if JH thinks he can use the offense he used in the first half today during the first half against Penn State..
They were forcing the run to build some confidence on the O line in the first half for sure, but I watched App State's offensive line blowing Penn State off the line over and over again in that game. They're not good defensively.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:20 PM ^
The secondary got absolutely worked by Proche. He had as big of a receiving day as anybody anywhere is going to have this week. That doesn't bode well.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:21 PM ^
It's not that we won by 25 (which a TD with a minute left made it seem better than it was), it's that we looked like shit for most of the game against statistically one of the worst teams in the nation with a freshman qb.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:20 PM ^
I honestly think the defense was gassed. Note all of the cramps. When the offense got on the field they either scored quick or went 3 and out. Without Higdon to pound the ball it seemed that sustained, time consuming drives just weren’t on the menu.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:59 PM ^
Lol the defense was gassed because they couldn't make a stop!
September 16th, 2018 at 1:03 AM ^
Guess I watched a different game. You must be right, the defense sucks and Don Brown is not good at coaching. Gtfo here with that shit.
September 16th, 2018 at 9:00 AM ^
You are wrong about the 3 and out part, I think M scored on every possession from the 2nd quarter on. D may have been getting gassed but that was more due to untimely and often undeserved penalties. (At least penalties called much tighter than the norm.)
Also I am NOT a expert but it looked to me that several of those big completions in the 2nd half were against zone coverage. I.e. the one Proche pulled down with 3-4 defenders surrounding him.