September 4th, 2015 at 12:05 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:06 AM ^
This wasn't a team that looked desperate in the end like they did last year...take away the pick 6 and there's a good chance that they might still be playing, or have won.
Utah looked really good. Really good. They have that reputation of being tough in one-score games, plus they have an added reputation of being really tough to beat at home. So...given all that, Michigan fought hard. It was a mess at times, but they fought hard and never gave up. There were big plays to be made that just missed. I can't say the same about last year's effort against Utah.
It's weird. The game became very very frustrating to watch. And yet in the end I'm actually more optimistic than anything else. Harbaugh, I guess?
September 4th, 2015 at 12:24 AM ^
I was encouraged by Tom Brady's near comeback against MSU in '99, too. Futile but promising. There's stuff to build on here; you're not crazy.
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:06 AM ^
Pretty much what we knew/feared.
Rudock at his best is serviceable. At his worst, he's what we saw when we played Iowa a couple of years ago: FUCKING HORRIBLE. That's just what we have to deal with this year. Just ride it out until Brandon Peters gets on campus.
I was actually more concerned with the running game. That was supposed to further along by now. Ty Issac looked like the RB with the most pop. Seemed like Derrick Green is 4th on the depth chart right now, which is probably best.
Positives: Jake Butt is a star, Our WR's were open throughout the game, Pass protection was really good (for the most part).
September 4th, 2015 at 12:10 AM ^
I think he will be a very good two year starter for Michigan.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:07 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:07 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:07 AM ^
So, future opponents watching tonight's game--who's afraid of us? NOOOOOOBODY!
Once again, the offense was harmless. There are teams all over college football these days regularly scoring 40 to 50 and Michigan has to scratch and claw to reach 17. I know there were missed opportunities for more. The optimist decides that bodes well for the future; the pessimist decides there is little reason to think those opportunities will ever be capitalized on consistently because it's who these guys have been for a couple of years now. The optimist is hoping Harbaugh and company can change this. I don't know. I'm just tired of watching so many "explosive" offenses out there while over and over, Michigan is harmless to another team.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:07 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:08 AM ^
There was a semi-consistent run game against a solid defense. OK.
The QB situation is dire.
The one thing I had been thinking was that "as long as the offense isn't the turnover machine it was last year, we should be fine." Well, that clearly isn't going to happen. Turnover machine is still in play, gonna be another looooong season.
Harbaugh has his work cut out for him.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:09 AM ^
Is to blame tonight. And he knows that. Hopefully he will be able to turn these negatives into postives. Utah is one of the best teams we are gonna face all year.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:09 AM ^
Overall, I think it could have been worse.
The passing game, other than about a half dozen plays, was much better than I was expecting. Butt was amazing. Darboh had a great game, but also had a crucial drop and a derp on his final WR screen running the wrong way. Chesson is getting open only for Tacopants to steal his glory. And Perry made some mistakes, but also had some big blocks and nice catches on the final drive. He is going to be good. This doesn't even mention Harris or Cole. And pass protection was pretty darn good against a team that gets after the QB. No sacks I believe, although there were a couple blown assignments. One from Isaac sticks out to me.
The running game. Welp. Still can't run block to save our lives. Missed assignments, getting beat, just bad. Of course, when they did actually give a hole the RB was not guarunteed to see it anyway. Or get to it before it closed. I think this was by far the worst area on the team and at this point we just may need an entire new recruiting class of O-linemen before it gets better. I guess Smith looked better than Isaac, but neither were exactly good.
Rudock was...not good. The first pick was definitely not on him, but I think the last two mostly were. He didn't look overly comfortable back there to me, and it's not like he was getting hit on every drop back. I think the worst part of his night, though, was missing open receivers downfield three times. Especially the first two to Chesson. The two TD throws were thrown about as well as they could have been, though. He also scrambled a few times with varying results.
Bottom line is the three interceptions and two missed deep balls could have swung the game for us. Not to mention little things like Smith cutting outside on that one run or Darboh just getting a first down. That said, those are all plays that need to be made.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:11 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:17 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:10 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:10 AM ^
Give credit to Utah, but once again, Michigan beat itself tonight. You can't throw three fucking picks and expect to win the game.
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:10 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:10 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:11 AM ^
Jim Harbaugh post-game: "Deveon Smith played a heck of a game"
September 4th, 2015 at 12:11 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:11 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:12 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:12 AM ^
Imaginable for a first game of a new coaching regime. Michigan's receivers aren't very good aside from Butt, their QB play is nothing special, and their line is adjusting to power and wasn't very good.
So that offense went up against one of the best defensive front 7's in the country, a team whose only real weakness was against the pass, which ain't going to be Michigan's strength. Utah's really good on defense, and I wish Michigan could have opened against a patsy instead but hey that's the way it goes.
I'm not going to freak out, it's about what I expected. They'll get it fixed.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:13 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:27 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^
I think Michigan has the makings of a nice passing game if the QB position can stop throwing the ball to the other team. UM's OL did an excellent job of passpro for the most part.
My concern is the run blocking. That has to improve.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:48 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 10:09 AM ^
don't say ain't :)
September 4th, 2015 at 12:12 AM ^
A couple of overthrown touchdowns and a pick-6. Take those away and we win.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:12 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:12 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:13 AM ^
Rudock is just OK. He sucks really. Will not will many games with him. We will have plenty of missed paasses and INTs. I'M DONE WITH HIM REALLY. I can't believe MORRIS didn't play at all.
I would rather see Shane Morris MAKE those TD passes; rather than some guy from IOWA miss them. IOWA sucks. We know that right? Rudock was supposed to be the safe option and he threw 3 INTS. Bring on MORRIS and his arm. BORING SHIT PEOPLE.
On every third down I was hoping Ty Isaac was RB. He's good. Put him in more.
Where was Drake Harris?
SHANE MORRIS would have had 2 more TDs and maybe only 1 INT.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:19 AM ^
What the fuck are you talking about? RUdock MISSED passes and had 3 INTs.
We didn't put Morris in with 2:30 left.
Season will be blah with a game manager. We need a guy that can throw TD passes. Not over throw by 10 yards. PLEASE.
And I do hate to say it. But I'd rather yell at a MICHIGAN MAN than see an IOWA guy fart it up. I could have farted it up like that. Big whooop.
GO FOR THE FUCKING WIN WITH SHANE. He's got the arm and two years left.
FUCK YOU!
September 4th, 2015 at 12:23 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:28 AM ^
I don't give a fuck about building. I care about winning the games.
You had a QB with 3 INTs. Get fucking real Jack Hammer.
Game is lost because of that.
Shane Morris could have connected on those deep passes. WHy do you hate on SHane MOrris. Guy is a stud. We need a winner, not a game manager Bro.
EXCUSES ARE FOR LOSERS.
Call me names, but I would have fucking won the effing game;
Make excuses for your IOWA QB. I hate fucking IOWA. Take shits on them
YOU SUCK
Michigan needs to play the future from now on. Not 5th year has beens.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:40 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:13 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:14 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:14 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^
We were 6-15 on third downs, which you know, 40% on conversions is a bit better than we had been managing in many games last year. I'll take that out of it anyway.
The entire rushing game - 76 yards on 29 attempts, or 2.6 YPC. I'll try not to take much from one game under Harbaugh and this system. Run blocking may be something we see improving markedly in the coming weeks, at least as much as it can at the moment. Encouraging items within this performance all the same though.
Numbers on Rudock - 27-43 for 270 yards. That's where 3 INTs seem to hurt me the moment, given that they were the blemishes on an othewise good statistical performance.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:20 AM ^
I know Utah missed two FGs, but UM missed one as well and had an INT in the redzone. Meanwhile, UM left 14 pts on the field with the overthrows and gave Utah 7 with the pick six.
I still feel pretty good about this team. The team has gotten better.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:46 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:42 AM ^
Wilson's zero meaningful INTs vs Rudock's 3 costly ones was a game-deciding difference.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^
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