MSU Snowflakes - The Coaching
October 20th, 2018 at 5:02 PM ^
Complete domination. Some missed chances and a costly turnover made it a game. Otherwise, steamrolled them. Ability of this team to grind out 1st downs in the 4th quarter has been a difference.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:03 PM ^
That 79 yard bomb was a potentially tenure-defining/saving play.
Coaches put the guys in the position to do a lot more in the first half and they didn’t make plays.
Second half, plays were made.
Better team won, but the talent disparity was infinitely higher than it was last week and this should have been a blow out. End of the day it doesn’t matter.
Only question is one of predicting the future. This kind of execution on offense isn’t going to beat good teams.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:04 PM ^
Saving? No. Defining? Probably not. Best play of the Harbaugh era?
I'm going to say yes.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:12 PM ^
Defining play will be Mason running over a Buckeye to win the game in Columbus.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:14 PM ^
I was thinking that last TD drive where Mason scored was the best/pivotal/defining/whatever drive of the Harbaugh era.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:16 PM ^
That play jumped our win probability from mid 50s to 80s. We obviously still could have won the game without it, but it would have been a coin toss. A loss in that game with that offensive execution easily could have spelled the beginning of the end.
Instead, he’s got another huge monkey off his back and the biggest goals are right in sight. I’d call that a defining play.
October 20th, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^
I take the view that the monkey doesn't get off ones back easily. That little bastard is going to scratch and claw and do whatever he can to stay on board. That's how I view the offensive execution in the first quarter, that little bastard wasn't going to give up that easily and so that's how he made sure that Michigan earned him getting off.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:10 PM ^
This was a road, rivalry game...they seldom = blowout win even with a talent disparity. UM flat out dominated Sparty today without being perfect.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:30 PM ^
Agreed. Flat out domination in every facet of the game today. We gifted them their 7 points. Should hVe been at least 28-0
October 21st, 2018 at 1:08 AM ^
Agree. Starting in 1987, this is only the 3rd time Michigan has won by double digits in East Lansing. The other two times were in '91 and '97.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:19 PM ^
There is no way the talent disparity between MSU and Wisconsin was that great. MSU's defense is considerably better. Wisconsin has a much better rushing attack. Their passing attacks look as similar as could be.
It's hard to blow out teams with a strong defense, even when you're clearly the better team. Harder yet on the road.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:20 PM ^
What good teams? You mean great teams? The goal post keeps moving each week. Wisconsin was great until we beat them. MSU will play absolutely their best and they beat PSU. Now they are not a good team. That too on the road? Until we win the fucking championship, we are going to be saying this about every team we play
October 20th, 2018 at 6:27 PM ^
Yeah I meant elite teams. MSU has an elite rush defense but nothing else is even average. This kind of performance won’t beat OSU or any playoff team is what I am getting at
October 21st, 2018 at 12:58 AM ^
Pur-fucking-due. A team that lost to goddamn Eastern goddamn Michigan just balled all over Ohio State. Stop with the glass is half full, chicken little shit. It's beyond annoying.
October 21st, 2018 at 1:42 AM ^
A whole lot of this.
October 21st, 2018 at 2:12 PM ^
“Won’t beat OSU”? Have you even watched them? Their defense is average at best, and that’s being generous. Their o-line play is, again, average at best. They’ve mysteriously lost the ability to move the ball on the ground, and their QB is a statue back there.
October 21st, 2018 at 2:10 AM ^
Weren't you calling out the offensive coaches earlier in the thread?
Now your saying that the coaches put them in position to make plays.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:04 PM ^
We need a special teams thread to talk about Will Hart.
Would have liked a little more aggression from the coaches and also some short routes. There was a third and seven where everybody was 25 yards down field and Shea had no chance.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:27 PM ^
But then
we would have to talk about that knuckleball field goal “attempt”
October 20th, 2018 at 5:04 PM ^
If we ever find a competent passing game coordinator, look out!
October 20th, 2018 at 5:05 PM ^
I’m out of the BPONE.
Harbaugh has whatever time he wants.
Suck it, Sparty
October 20th, 2018 at 5:05 PM ^
Gritty win on the road in a game where Sparty won the turnover battle. Coaches deserve credit for a team that plays with the resolve Michigan played with today. Too many penalties, but Sparty took some dirty shots, one on Shea's knee early, and they twice slammed him on the side of his shoulder. Outstanding defensive performance and outstanding defensive scheme. Our OL protected the quarterback better than MSU's OL in a game of fierce pass rush.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:05 PM ^
Offense - meh. Gets it done I guess.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:10 PM ^
This is EXACTLY what they wanted to build since day one here, a physical running game with a highly efficient passing game that when it does throw deep it connects. It kind of offense that fits well with their defense.
400 yards of offense in crap weather conditions against an above average defense on the road is solid. Sure they left some points on the field but still very good.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:47 PM ^
Even the points we did leave on the field were there to be had. Just didn't make the play.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:06 PM ^
Think this team/program is playing the kind of football that Harbaugh envisioned when he was hired. Never looked like this in 2016.
Michigan State has physically dominated this series the last decade. It's came back to even the last two years but today was an ass kicking beat down
October 20th, 2018 at 5:06 PM ^
Defensive Coaching = Amazing
Special Teams Coaching = Solid, kickers clearly need massive help
Offensive Coaching = Uhmm, mind boggling?
Offense looks like world beaters on two drives, gets a miracle bomb TD pass on the third, and looks pathetic the rest of the day? I just don’t understand how we managed to piss away all those drives that started in MSU territory in the first half. ZERO points on ever single opportunity.
Overall, team looks good but offense still isn’t quite there.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:10 PM ^
"Miracle"
It's not a miracle. It's a perfectly thrown ball to our fastest receiver in single coverage. It was a good call and perfect execution. Something we have, literally, been waiting years to see.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:13 PM ^
Considering it was in the pouring rain, it’s pretty much a miracle the snap wasn’t muffed, the pass didn’t slip out of Patterson’s hands, and the ball was actually caught. Let alone Jones running all the way down the field and not losing his footing. I stand by my statement.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:36 PM ^
Damn. When he made a great play you call it a miracle and you double down. Ok to get out of BPONE. It is over.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:40 PM ^
It’s not BPONE to acknowledge a miracle catch in terrible weather.
Good grief people.
October 20th, 2018 at 8:04 PM ^
A perfectly thrown ball by a very accurate QB to a receiver running in full stride is not a "miracle catch"
October 20th, 2018 at 8:34 PM ^
t wasn't raining at the time.
Also Shea has been making accurate deep throws all year (when he's thrown it). So it wasn't exactly a miracle.
I never understand why people keep shifting the goalposts and playing down our team's performances.
October 21st, 2018 at 12:39 PM ^
Since you’re too fucking dense to comprehend what was written, I’ll clear it up for you.
The comment was in context of that play in bad weather and wet ball conditions, not Shea’s ability to throw the deep ball and not shifting any goal posts. Damn people, learn to understand what you’re reading.
If it wasn’t raining (hard to tell on tv) then it’s just a great pass.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:38 PM ^
If that was a miracle and you hated the play calling...how would the offense ever have made you happy?
October 20th, 2018 at 5:43 PM ^
A) That pass thrown in that weather IS a miracle.
B) The offense would have made me just as happy as the defense if we didn’t piss away chance after chance after chance after chance in the first half to put points on the board. I mean hell, you couldn’t ask for better starting field position than what we had. Absolutely nothing to show for it every single time.
October 20th, 2018 at 6:05 PM ^
Did you ever watch an NFL game mitchewr? Good QB's execute in inclement weather, and throw accurate passes downfield.
Shea is a good QB.
There's nothing miraculous about it; it's just the first time in awhile we've had a high-level QB.
I know this isn't the NFL, but Shea is an NFL-level talent. He can make those throws.
October 20th, 2018 at 6:26 PM ^
I try not to.
But considering how many times that ball was slipping out of hands just immediately prior, it’s still amazing that nothing went wrong. You people get so bent out of shape, holy hell.
October 20th, 2018 at 9:58 PM ^
They called the play because it works in practice. It is not a miracle when you call your shot.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:53 PM ^
The rain stopped right before that play which is why they took the shot
October 20th, 2018 at 6:37 PM ^
It's days like today that make me understand Dave Brandon's emails. Michigan absolutely destroys Sparty and it's still somehow not good enough for some fans.
Perfect is the enemy of good.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:06 PM ^
No coaching staff is perfect and as far as the offense goes, there is room for improvement. It is still far superior to the whiny bitches that patrol the board on game day.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:07 PM ^
Don't know where to put this, so here it is.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:14 PM ^
Beautiful..absolutely beautiful.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:07 PM ^
Slow starts were supposed to cost us against the last two teams (Wisconsin and Michigan State), we never trailed against either. We are a second half team, have been all season. The first half bitchfests need to simmer.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:13 PM ^
Eh, if the defender on DPJ didn’t slip and makes the tackle, this game would have been a nail biter till the end despite Michigan dominating on defense. I think it’s fair to gripe about the O not being prepared to capitalize on opportunities.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:24 PM ^
If Michigan hadn't fumbled on their own 7, maybe not.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:26 PM ^
UGH
The defender didn't slip. He tried to make a diving tackle chasing a faster player from behind.
October 20th, 2018 at 5:28 PM ^
Shut up! What is your problem? IF IF IF
IF Evans doesn't fumble. IF David Long holds on that INT. IF Shea pulls the ball on the first series....
October 20th, 2018 at 5:45 PM ^
My problem is that the offense did a very poor job maximizing their opportunities. DPJ and Shea connected on a great play, but that’s a relatively low percentage shot at the best of times. You don’t want to count on getting an 80 yard passing TD. Do you have a ton of confidence that Michigan would have gotten points there if DPJ had been tackled? I certainly didn’t at the time. Great to have players that can execute that big play in crunch time, but still need to do a better job of capitalizing on the higher percentage scenarios so you don’t put yourself in positions where a few “ifs” matter.
This was not a game that should have been within the margin of “if” - Michigan’s D absolutely shut down Sparty. That it was close for as long as it was is all on poor offensive execution in the first half and most of the third quarter.
Love the win obviously, but this offense still leaves the team too vulnerable to bad luck for comfort.