Don't Blame Blake Thread

Submitted by jsquigg on

Ultimately, Michigan should have won this game.  I think it's alright to feel physically sick (I do), but when you feel like piling on Blake just remember no one feels worse than he does.  That play was one in a million and we had them beat, however it would have been nice to open things up more offensively when we had them down more.  This will suck forever but the Big Ten isn't settled yet and the future is bright regardless.  God must hate first year UM coaches vs Staee no matter how awesome they are.

Ronnie Kaye

October 17th, 2015 at 10:10 PM ^

The last timeout was called right before the punt as a clock-stopping measure. Still, it was a bad draw-up. Blake should have been instructed to punt it out of bounds anyway so no gunners were necessary.

swalburn

October 17th, 2015 at 9:50 PM ^

Our offense didn't do squat all game.  Special teams were the reason we had the lead.  Peppers deserves a lot of the credit but so does Blake.  If you look at the stats you realize that we were outplayed.  I know it sucks because despite all that we had the game won, but there were a lot of plays that decided that game.

GoBlueBill

October 17th, 2015 at 9:50 PM ^

I just rewatched the play for the first time since it happened . I counted 9 spartans coming after the ball. Not very many Wolverines but i saw a few of them going downfield to cover the punt.

Bottom line is they were coming in force. Michigan should have called a time out seeing this and made an adjustment , or  kept more players back . The snap was on the lower side , which didnt help .

I rarely tweet , but i made sure to send encouraging words to Blake . True U of M fans will do the same. As unhappy as you are , as much as you blame him . Everyone on this board with a twitter acct  should do the same to make up for the assholes  .

Danwillhor

October 18th, 2015 at 12:12 AM ^

I thought so but wasn't 100% sure. Even with people saying to take the delay once you recognize how poorly you're positioned (I agree, btw, play was doomed from start) I'm wondering how Blake or anyone would have called for that. Any sound made by the backfield would likely have initiated a snap, ya know? Just in panic or thinking you're not seeing something. I don't even think a coach could have started calling for it as it would likely trigger the snap. Honest hypothetical: If Harbaugh (or any coach) had seen how poorly we were aligned before the snap, even on second notice apart from the plan, could he have just ran on the field to take a penalty? What would have happened? 15 yards and ejection? Go into max protect and punt? I know it happened but I'm stunned nobody, player or coach, noticed we had 8 to block 10. I'd have literally ran on the field or, if a player, faked a previous injury, etc. Yet, nobody noticed.

unic0rnp0rn

October 18th, 2015 at 1:46 AM ^

Good question. Not too sure on the rule about that. I'd assume 15 yard unsportsmanlike, maybe other repercussions afterwards . I keep thinking what if they just handed the ball to Deveon? He probably takes 3-4 seconds off the clock, and if he doesn't get the 1st, staee is left with 1 play to get it into the endzone.

Ernis

October 17th, 2015 at 9:50 PM ^

Coaching. How do you not have someone (Peppers maybe) lined up behind O'Neill in case of a botched snap? Situation like that, I didn't like the punt to begin with. Putting the ball in the air for a long snap is risky and it's a critical moment. Defense stepped up the whole 4th qtr especially on State's last drive. Would have preferred another run attempt and take our chances if we didn't convert. State would have only had one play opportunity if they got the ball.

Mpfnfu Ford

October 17th, 2015 at 9:51 PM ^

Offense squandered numerous chances to put more points on the board. Defense gave up a 75 yard pass to a fullback.

Blake has been MVP caliber with the way he consistently pins teams deep in their own territory and flips the field. He made one screw up after a season of being the best punter in the sport.

Wolverine Devotee

October 17th, 2015 at 9:51 PM ^

His 80 yard punt today is the second longest in Michigan history. Short of the record by 2 yards.

He's on pace to break the single season inside the 20 record. 

Every fanbase has uneducated fuckheads. Usually they have less than 100 followers on twitter and don't use their real name or photo in their account.

Matt Millens M…

October 17th, 2015 at 9:51 PM ^

The refs were atrocious and gifted some points basically to MSU. They also ripped away our leading tackler and Ruddock, albeit a nice guy, is a horrendous QB who couldn't hit a deep pass if his life depended on it. With that being said we should have won that game. It the end it's O'Neills fault. He needed to make a routine play and win the game and he choked big time. The snap was slightly low but get real, it hit his hands and he plain botched it. He should have just fell on it. He panicked and the moment was to big obviously. I put the blame on him. With that being said anyone who threatens his life is a fucking dick less loser. I love this team and I'm literally heart broken no gut punched but it's not life. It's a game. Leave the guy alone. I'm sure he wants to crawl in a hole and not be seen for weeks. He doesn't need some piece of shit losers threatening him. Grow up the few of you. Go Blue!!! HARBAUGH!!!!!!!!



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Coldwater

October 17th, 2015 at 9:51 PM ^

I blame Rudock's continued inability to hit a pass over 15 yards downfield. And a bomb? Haha, forget about it with him. He is NOT a playmaker. Please tell me we can have a better QB out there next year..

But Blake's gaffe is going to live in infamy in U of M/ MSU lore. They say games can come down to one play. And Blake's stone hands on the most important punt of his short Michigan career cost the team the win. He choked. There's no way around it.

umfan323

October 17th, 2015 at 9:52 PM ^

Was blamed for us not having 11 men on the field for a punt that gave up a TD then we should blame Baxter for basically trying to block 11 guys with 8

The FannMan

October 17th, 2015 at 10:07 PM ^

That may be a fair point.  It may also be a limitation of the spread punting formation and the rugby style. 

But, if that was Hoke's only mistake Harbaugh would be in Oakland or something.

victoriaed90

October 17th, 2015 at 9:53 PM ^

Yes, he screwed up the last play (snap looked low tho) but he kept us in the game with his punting. 

IMO he should have never been in that position to begin with. If the refs had half a brain, we wouldn't have had 70 yards in penalties and an ejected senior player and if we had gotten a first down at the end, there would have been no issue either. Defense can only get you so close, espcially against a QB as good as Connor Cook.

MSU straight out played us. They had 20 first downs to our 10 and 386 yards to our 230.  

 

Michigan248

October 17th, 2015 at 9:53 PM ^

It wasn't all his fault
A. Low snap
B. We should have called time out the had 11 on the line and we had 2 gunners for no reason they should have been in blocking.
C. The only thing I blame him for was still trying to punt it but he was just trying to make a play

Njia

October 17th, 2015 at 11:35 PM ^

But the punt was doomed from the start. When we saw they had 11 on the line, we couldn't call a timeout, but a delay of game is only 5 yards. With no one back to receive, it wouldn't have mattered. The gunners were there to down the ball, but again, Blake has shown he could have put it out of bounds deep. It would have effectively ended the game even if time we're still left on the clock. In the end, this goes more as a coaching failure than an execution failure on the part of the players. OF COURSE MSU was going to line up to block the punt - it was literally their last option with only 10 seconds left. Coaches are paid to think that through, college players are not. I think everyone on Michigan's sideline thought the game was in the bag, and by losing focus for just a fraction of a second, cost us the game.

MichiganMAN47

October 17th, 2015 at 9:54 PM ^

Let's support him like the classy fans we are. Blake had an 80 yard punt inside the five! Let me repeat that: Blake had an 80 yard punt inside the five! He had a play that will live with him forever. Let's not be like Alabama, let's support Blake for his outstanding game. Sad way to lose, but things will work themselves out. I trust Harbaugh and our progress.

jblaze

October 17th, 2015 at 10:09 PM ^

Have you spoken to Blake? Do you know how he feels? Just curious since he's only been at Michigan for a few months. 

Unfortunately for him, he'll always be remembered for this regardless of whatever happens during his UM career. 

Saint_in_Blue

October 17th, 2015 at 9:58 PM ^

There was 59 minutes and 50 seconds of sub par play from the whole damn team(coaching staff included) before that particular moment. And Blake was one of the main reasons we were ahead at that point. State is just a good team and they made a fantastic play at the end. Move on.

SalvatoreQuattro

October 17th, 2015 at 10:05 PM ^

More importantly what the hell were you expect? Rudock is a mediocre QB, the OL is okay, and the RB's and  receivers are also only okay.

Cook is a very good QB and MSU has very good receivers. They showed that today.

 

I think you had unrealistic expectations and your post reflects that. It isn't Michigan's fault you overrated them. Michigan was a 7-5, 8-4 team before the year and is trending that way now. It's your fault for thinking that they were anything else.

The FannMan

October 17th, 2015 at 10:02 PM ^

I think it is fair to say he is responsible for his actions on the last play.  He dropped the ball, then made a bad decision and that lead to the loss.  That is his responsibiility and I feel horribly that he has to live with it.  Still, I have no problem with pointing out the obvious fact.

However, many people are going with the word "blame" to cover the word that are too cowardly to use - "hate."  If you are saying you want him to lose his scholy and be kicked off the team, you are expressing hatred.  If you are twitter tough guy swearing at him and calling him vile names, you are expressing hatred.  If you made a death threat, well, you have probably committed a crime and I hope that they find you and prosecute you.  Either way, if you are hating this guy you need to step back from the key board, quit drinking and go to bed. 

We also need to balance the respobsibiity with the credit - and he can take credit for a lot of good stuff.  In fact, he has been an absolute WEAPON this year.  I am actually surprised when he doesn't pin someone inside the 10.  In fact,, he had a 90 fucking yard punt downed inside the damn one yard line today,  (I know a lot if it was roll, but he still damn well did it.)  He is also a Michigan Wolverine football - a Michigan Man.  Enough said?

 

Ernis

October 18th, 2015 at 8:01 AM ^

Why did he drop the ball? Why did he not have more time to recover from the error? Why wasn't his first reaction to fall on it? Why didn't he have any support in the backfield to minimize the effect of a catastrophic play during the last seconds? All of these factors have solutions that go beyond a single person making a single decision.

samdrussBLUE

October 17th, 2015 at 10:00 PM ^

We have a mediocre offense and an above average defense. No one can dispute that. Have fun. Try to live through the weekend.



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Lie-Cheat-Steal

October 17th, 2015 at 10:00 PM ^

But nobody feels worse or more embarrassed than him right now.  If Rudock could hit the side of a barn on a downfield touch pass we would be undefeated right now.  Our punter has been really good for most of the year including the 80 yarder today.  

Just like Harbaugh said, it was a really unfortunate play.  It's a 1 in a million thing and unfortunately it happened to our team at the worst possible time against the worst opponent.  We had em beat and let them off the hook, sucks, but at least we are playing solid football in year 1 of HARBAUGH.

Just wait until Harbaugh has 3-4 years to develop these kids.