September 15th, 2018 at 7:05 PM ^
If we can figure out how to pass protect and keep Patterson a moment to throw, we can be pretty good. Felt like we were trying to win Vanilla while SMU was throwing the kitchen sink at us. When we opened up our playbook a bit, we scored.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:55 PM ^
I agree with this 100%.
September 16th, 2018 at 12:11 AM ^
Truth. Harbaugh was committed to running our base plays early regardless of how the defense was lined up and how they were playing us. A few pass plays that weren’t obvious down/distance decisions and this offense started to hum. Also loved the increased use of jet motion. The offense is ascending.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:05 PM ^
Without Shea (i.e. last year), this would have been a one-possession game. Possibly a loss.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:45 PM ^
This is seriously how I feel. I’d much rather have a 25 point win than a one possession nail biter like last year.
We are a better team offensively. Let’s remember that Higdon didn’t play, Michigan scored often, and the pass protection was better (I didn’t say good or great, I said better). I hate reading posts about how we are going to get killed by Ohio State, predicting records, and overall acting like we lost. Man it’s annoying to not be able to enjoy a win.
Perspective like this matters.
September 16th, 2018 at 12:26 AM ^
Wilson's vision is superior to Higdon's non-existence of it.... and its a shame... Higdon leaves so much on the field, its sick.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:06 PM ^
who are you?
September 15th, 2018 at 7:07 PM ^
Do we have any other receivers besides DPJ or are they just a myth? At least the OL looked to be improving.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:09 PM ^
Gentry?
September 15th, 2018 at 7:21 PM ^
We'll see balance as the season progresses. SMU prepared as if Nico was our #1 wideout. They game planned to take him and McKeon away. DPJ and Gentry took advantage.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:24 PM ^
McKeon benched himself by allowing that int.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:15 PM ^
McKeon seems to make alot of errors. He's in trouble for not coming back for the ball, stopping at the end zone line .Cost us three points. Am still sorry about his MSU fumble.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:52 PM ^
I'm missing Eubanks. I saw him out there today, but IIRC he has yet to catch a pass this year. He looked so good prior to the injury last year.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:14 PM ^
He got a pass against Notre dame and looked slower than fuck compared to last year.
He bulked up and is slow as hell now.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:35 PM ^
Yet he's the #1 TE.
September 16th, 2018 at 9:38 AM ^
Umm what the hell are you talking about? He rarely plays
September 16th, 2018 at 12:45 AM ^
McKeon today, Gentry in the end zone at ND...
September 15th, 2018 at 8:11 PM ^
Patterson had a 78% completion percentage for 13.2 ypa. Did we need any other receivers? Collins and Perry have both made plays this year. I wouldn’t be worried about them.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:46 PM ^
I don’t know... I like the good old days when we could go 364 days without a WR TD.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:55 PM ^
Good times good times.
I'll just take some damn yards these days.
September 16th, 2018 at 1:01 AM ^
Ha. This made me laugh and cry a little. Better days and more WR TDs!!
September 15th, 2018 at 9:14 PM ^
Overreaction. Last week people said DPJ is good not great and will be better in a number two roll behind Collins. (Not saying you were one of those people) I actually think we have a solid receiving core with DPJ showing up big today, Collins having a couple big plays, Martin snagging balls. 230 through the air without McKeon or Collins having a catch, decent all around performance by that unit.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:07 PM ^
We have zero chance at beating OSU this year.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:12 PM ^
Well.. that's just like.. your opinion man
September 15th, 2018 at 7:23 PM ^
It’s a good thing teams never approve in 2 plus months
September 15th, 2018 at 7:47 PM ^
So much can happen in two months. So glad you aren’t a player or coach with your sterling attitude.
September 16th, 2018 at 10:00 AM ^
College football is an 11 week season played by 18-22 year old kids. Like almost any sport, there is a time for peaking. That time is not now. The question is not whether the team will get better over the course of the season it will be by how much and will it be enough to beat MSU and OSU.
September 16th, 2018 at 10:18 AM ^
Eh, go root for some seals, man.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
Spread it out and let a top flight qb throw
September 15th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
no Higdon, big loss to the running game
passing game was solid - Gentry and DPJ looking good
September 15th, 2018 at 7:37 PM ^
And Higdon's absence was a loss to the passing game, as well.
As much grief as he gets about pass blocking, there was a huge drop-off in this department with Evans in the game. The latter had multiple whiffs that almost got Shea murdered.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:59 PM ^
Evans did not appear to play well. He couldn’t get a yard on several occasions. Was Tru Wilson in b/c he could block and gain a yard or was Evans hurt before the cramping?
September 15th, 2018 at 10:05 PM ^
It looked like Evans got benched at least once because he couldn't block for shit today (one real bad whiff that got Shea hit), but then he appeared to go out with a hamstring injury late in the game.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
Any insights on Higdon? Being at the game it's hard to get these updates.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:19 PM ^
Pizzo said Higdon looked slow in warmups. "Lower body injury" confirmed at halftime.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:09 PM ^
DJP, WR, 3 TDs.
We haz nice things.
September 16th, 2018 at 1:16 AM ^
Our top pass catcher last year had three touchdown receptions all YEAR. Good to see.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:11 PM ^
Our offense is like the Nissan Sentra of the college football world. It's rather boring and at first glance doesn't seem to offer a lot, but there are some qualities there that you will notice if you take a closer look. You just wish the overall package was more attractive and less mediocre.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:12 PM ^
I never liked the Nissan Sentra. Still don't.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:11 PM ^
You know what, at this point, I don’t care if we win pretty, just win. Sparty looks like shit half of the time, sprinkles in some luck and good coaching and they find ways to win 10 games.
And in a screwy day in the B1G, I’m pretty pleased with a 4 score win. I’m sure Wisc, Neb, MD would gladly trade today with us.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:13 PM ^
Offense looked pretty damn good. Compared to last year, it was fucking amazing.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:48 PM ^
The 35 yard TD pass to DPJ would have been a TD from 80 yards out. Perfect route and perfect pass. The fade to DPJ was perfect too. And Patterson hits an open receiver making a defense pay for a mistake. That is SO MUCH better than last year. If it really starts to click, this could be a great team by year end
September 15th, 2018 at 9:26 PM ^
Exactly! Last year we would not have capitalized on those mistakes and it would have been a very close game.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:41 PM ^
Agreed, we are so much better with Patterson at UM. I remember when he threw back shoulder to DPJ for the TD, I was in shock because we have been without a good QB for so long, that I had forgotten what it was like to have one that makes plays. Let's hope the O-line improves and that he survives the next 10 games, he is the type of player that can keep us in the kind of games that we lost last year.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:15 PM ^
We saw some flashes, but need more consistency.
It's great being able to outlast teams with our depth and conditioning, but we need to be able to start well, so we don't end up behind on the scoreboard in games.
Not the blowout we wanted but I'm not mad at this performance. Just need to pull it all together.
September 16th, 2018 at 1:36 PM ^
Your pic looks like 2% milk. Do you even drink milk bro?
September 15th, 2018 at 7:15 PM ^
Double post
September 15th, 2018 at 7:15 PM ^
Run blocking was poor to start and so was Patterson. But the offense was humming by the second half.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:15 PM ^
Once we stopped stubbornly running into run blitzes, that was pretty easy.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:27 PM ^
Exactly right. But why does it take JH so long to stop stubbornly running at double A gap LB blitzes?
Can't wait so long against good teams.