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.

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uminks

October 17th, 2015 at 10:03 PM ^

It is pathetic even sending messages to our players on social media criticizing them for a play! If the death threat post was actually true then hopefully the FBI can get involved to arrest this asshole!

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32095

Nickel

October 17th, 2015 at 10:06 PM ^

No blame or anger at all towards the players.  Shit happens.

That said, I have some 'friends' who really like to show their asshole side when MSU wins and they were certainly sending me messages en masse tonight. When UM wins I don't send them anything because I didn't have anything to do with the win. I'm more pissed at some of them than anything that happened in the game.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 2768

kb

October 17th, 2015 at 10:05 PM ^

Harbaugh has this team on the up, and if Sparty wants to hang on a fluke win so be it. In the future we will have more of a lead and it won't be an issue.

Joined: 10/31/2009

MGoPoints: 7151

michiganman001

October 17th, 2015 at 10:06 PM ^

havent watched the play again and don't want to, but for anyone who did, does it look like it would have been blocked anyways. I was nervous before the snap when I saw basically 11 spartans on the LOS and like only 8 guys blocking. 

Joined: 01/03/2015

MGoPoints: 1351

sierragold

October 17th, 2015 at 10:14 PM ^

After watching the play in slow motion I thought it was a penalty to run into the punter when he was kicking the ball. He was hit by a slew of Sparty's while kicking the ball in the botched punt attempt. I know I am being technical maybe it is just the leg I thought it was the punter himself that couldn't be hit while his leg was kicking the ball.

Digging Deep on this one.

I thought the Team played a great game. It was a fluke in the end and rare as hell. Doesn't help the hurt today. We will all recover. We have a really good Michigan football team.

GO BLUE!!!

Joined: 10/03/2009

MGoPoints: 722

CorkyCole

October 17th, 2015 at 10:18 PM ^

Sadly, I think we learned at the botched punt call against Delano Hill that this isn't actually the rule. Believe once he mishandles the snap and fumbles he becomes the runner and can be plowed into. Besides, it was technically blocked and therefore ok to blast him.

Joined: 06/13/2011

MGoPoints: 4498

sierragold

October 17th, 2015 at 10:33 PM ^

That punter earllier actually started to run with the ball and try kicking after a few steps. The punt that botched with the low snap wasn't fumbled. He picked it up and while he was kicking it was hit. At least thats what I saw. It was so fast that I don't think anyone realized the ball was being kicked as he was hit by a few Sparty's and the kick is what sent the ball directly into sparty hands.

I thought it was a roughing the punter penalty that should have been called in the end.

 

 

Joined: 10/03/2009

MGoPoints: 722

StraightDave

October 17th, 2015 at 10:27 PM ^

 

VI Kicker A1, in a scrimmage kick formation, moves laterally two or three steps to recover a faulty snap, or recovers a snap that went over his head and then kicks the ball He is contacted by B2 in an unsuccessful attempt to block the kick RULING: A1 does not automatically lose his protection in either case unless he carries the ball outside the tackle box While in the tackle box A1 is entitled to protection as in any other kicking situation When it becomes obvious that A1 intends to kick in a normal punting position, defensive players must avoid him after he kicks the ball

Joined: 12/27/2009

MGoPoints: 4232

CorkyCole

October 17th, 2015 at 10:15 PM ^

If people are seriously tweeting him death threats, which is actually not real surprising if I'm being honest with myself, well... They're a lot of things... Awful things.. But you have to be an idiot if you think Blake is anything but awesome. I wouldn't trade our punter for any other in existence. I hope to heck that he doesn't let this crap get to him, and I know Harbaugh will teach him how to learn in this situation and make himself a better punter because of it. Blake O'Neill is going to win Michigan a big game this year, and something tells me he is going to be HUGE in the Ohio St game. Forget you guys who are hating on him. He doesn't owe you anything, so get a freaking life and grow a pair.

Joined: 06/13/2011

MGoPoints: 4498

Brewers Yost

October 17th, 2015 at 10:16 PM ^

There were a lot of plays left on the field. Blake had a great game until the end, made a poor decision to say the least. The team just needs to move on and get better. The first part of that process is coming together as a team. 

 

Joined: 07/14/2008

MGoPoints: 2365

bluestaffah

October 17th, 2015 at 10:17 PM ^

to swallow. I am somewhat embarrassed that we need to tell people to lay off Blake. This is one of those moments that we need to step back and remember it is just a game. I feel for you Blake, this will only make you stronger and you will find out who in your life really cares about YOU!

Joined: 09/24/2013

MGoPoints: 3445

chatster

October 17th, 2015 at 10:20 PM ^

Tonight I feel like I felt when a ground ball went through Bill Buckner’s legs in the sixth game of the 1986 World Series. And yet, two days later when I was sitting in New York’s Shea Stadium, watching the Red Sox take the lead in the seventh game, I thought that I finally might witness a Red Sox World Series Championship. But then that lead slipped away. . . I waited 18 agonizing years before I finally saw what I never thought I’d see in my lifetime; and then I witnessed 2007 and 2013 -- Red Sox World Series Championships.
 
As a long-time baseball Giants fan who was too young in 1954 to have appreciated the New York Giants’ World Series Championship that year, I also thought I’d never see the Giants win the World Series again during my lifetime; but then I witnessed 2010 and 2012 and 2014. In the span of eleven Major League Baseball seasons, I saw the teams I’d rooted for most of my life win six World Series championships.
 
As a Michigan parent who came to Michigan fandom late in life, I feel the pain of all those who are suffering tonight and who’ve been suffering during the past decade while Michigan State has become the dominant football power in the state. (Maybe it’s the “Curse of Bennie Oosterbaan” – the last Michigan head football coach to beat Michigan State during his first year as head coach.)
 
But if you’re going to treat Blake O’Neill as if he should be a pariah, while you’re rightfully upset and suffering from this devastating loss, take a deep breath, show some restraint, think about all the other reasons why the loss to Michigan State happened, listen to this song about Bill Buckner and think long and hard about why Blake O’Neill deserves some compassion and respect.

Joined: 09/14/2010

MGoPoints: 26990

killerseafood3

October 17th, 2015 at 10:23 PM ^

heartbreaking game. My observations:

1. Our offense needs major work. Cook delivered some great balls to his receivers, Rudock simply isn't able to come close to that level of precision. Would love to see a stud QB on our side. A game of third and longs is not something our offense needs to deal with consistenly. Hardly anything to our TE's when Spielman was talking all game of needing to attack the middle of the field. 

2. I think our defense was exposed a bit today. When there was no rush on Cook, he had all day and it's just not feasible to spend 5 hours covering routes in man. Lewis is a good cornerback, but he needs to come back next year. 

3. We made way too many mental mistakes. Henry's was awful, no doubt. Letting chubby Mcgee catch a pass and run for 75 yards was awful. That just can't happen and still expect to beat a top 10 team. 

4. Baxter. He's been called a genius of special teams coaching. You have to drill it into your team what to do when a snap goes wrong. You dont pick it up and throw it (especially to the other team). You fall on it. Seems obvious, but that game was ours at the end, and that unit failed. Failed in lining up to defend what MSU was sending, failed in choking with pressure. 

5 I'm a computer nerd that knows nothing about the details with coaching, play calling, etc. Just a die hard fan. This game was by far the most painful I've encountered. Neg away, call me an idiot. whatever. 

Joined: 12/06/2014

MGoPoints: 32977

Danwillhor

October 18th, 2015 at 12:28 AM ^

Gone. Absolutely gone. That is what stings about this as msu isn't that good but will likely only lose to osu. Still, that would send them to a major bowl. In the best hopes:likely hood scenario, I think we're playing osu for a solid NYD Bowl. I mean, msu has to drop 2 for us to play osu for the B1G Title game and I don't see it. osu will likely hammer msu again but I don't see anyone else getting them. Still, I'd take a 2nd tier bowl over nothing in one year. I was a 7-5 guy preseason so we're still on pace to beat my notions but the sting is that osu won't be for a playoff spot. That stings itself but when you consider that we're kinda built to stop spread offenses (insane coming from a UM defense but yeah...lol) it really stings because it looks like the playoff will be crammed with them. I stopped watching football today after our game but I'll assume Utah won, osu won. etc. Gotta assume Baylor or TCU get in. I thought if we won out we would actually match up with those teams defensively. Enough to win? Dunno but enough to not get clowned. Now? The season is a battle for a New Years Bowl, 2nd tier or not. Better than nothing!

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

StraightDave

October 17th, 2015 at 10:29 PM ^

Blake lost the game.  Rudock didn't miss the snap.  Defense didn't give up a last second TD.   Blake simply fucked up, chocked, and lost the game. 

Joined: 12/27/2009

MGoPoints: 4232

ckersh74

October 17th, 2015 at 10:32 PM ^

Anyone wishing physical harm upon Mr. Oneill needs to have their dick placed in a running woodchipper. While it's still attached to the person in question. This is horseshit and has no business in college football. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 41637

ckersh74

October 17th, 2015 at 10:42 PM ^

It's a whole lot better than the visual of some slack-jawed sack of shit threatening him and telling him to kill himself online. 

The kid screwed up. Fine. I get that. But good grief, some people need to get a grip. The kid's done nothing but bust his ass for this team since the day he walked in the door. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 41637

Rhino77

October 17th, 2015 at 10:34 PM ^

Listen, Blake fucked up and cost this team a game. That's life. Some of us fuck up and cost ourself relationships. Some of us fuck up and cost ourself jobs. It happens. This kid lost a game. We can all try and make him feel better or just let him know that that is life. 

That being said DO NOT harras him via social media. He fucked up, we all do at some point, leave him alone. 

Joined: 05/27/2011

MGoPoints: 14169

Parkinen

October 17th, 2015 at 10:35 PM ^

Let's get over this. This team has already delivered more than we expected. The optimists among us thought this would be a 8-4 year, which ain't bad. Actually, it's probably going to be better than that. Onwards!



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Joined: 09/09/2013

MGoPoints: 2047

Ghost of Fritz…

October 18th, 2015 at 12:20 AM ^

Not reasonable to expect or ask people to get over it within a few hours.  Look. Michigan just gifted a win to it 2nd biggest rival on the last play of the game.  Nobody will (nor should) 'get over it' 4 hours later. 

And also no, we should not just say 'no big dal because 8-4 is pretty good anyway.'  That is NOT the culture Harbaugh is instilling. 

That is the attitude of a program that aims for mediocrity and minor bowls. 

That's not what Harbaugh is aiming to build.  Harbaugh wants championships, and Michigan's chance for a championship ended with that botched punt play.  So 'just get over it' only works for prgrams aiming low. 

Joined: 10/04/2014

MGoPoints: 23880

Njia

October 18th, 2015 at 12:24 AM ^

But you're not the one playing the game. You don't have squat to do with any part of any culture, attitude, etc. If the COACHES had done their job, there would have been 10 guys protecting Blake on that punt, not 8. So, dude, get over it.

Joined: 09/15/2009

MGoPoints: 35773

Danwillhor

October 18th, 2015 at 12:54 AM ^

ffs, belive it or not THE COACHING STAFF had 3 TOs to get ready for a punt they all but planned for. If they average 3.34 ypp good isn't an issue but we couldn't. We ran so obviously and poorly that msu damn near stole the hand-off on 2nd down (iirc, 1st or 2nd). They sent everyone and we didn't attempt to try to just ice the game. YET, FORGET THAT. The punt plan still wins if you simply kick it in bounds literally anywhere. Heck, shank a 20 yarder OOB and it's over or the odds of winning are still about 99%. So, we can't get 3.34 ypp and punt only to have TWO gunners when they had nobody back to field. That's 8 to block 10. They would have likely blocked it even if he didn't drop it. They damn near raced the ball back on the snap and no player or COACH even noticed. They just hoped he'd get it anywhere in the air within 2 seconds of snap. This was as much on the coaches as anyone. TONS share the blame here and just on that one play. Believe it or not Harbaugh made a mistake by not seeing how lopsided it was pre-snap. No timeout? Run on the field, fake injury...anything lol. No, they demanded a perfect snap and lightspeed punt to overcome a two man deficiency on an all out punt block. Oh, also the OL utterly failed in every way. Bad snap (catchable but not ideal on 8v10) and complete whiffs on the cut blocks. All on their ass having blocked nobody or standing around confused. ALL are to blame here unless the play was to pass it up top to the gunner that had nobody across from him. It was clownshoes from the pre-snap. Finally, I know he didn't say it but many keep saying Blake threw it up in the air. No, an msu player punched it up, out and directly to the arms of a running teammate. That entire play was .00001% cosmic shit but the staff and entire punt unit is to blame for it. Hoke would have to try to allow that and that is what makes it so crazy: all of that had to fail. Every facet. Every player involved. Every coach. Every.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

weasel3216

October 17th, 2015 at 10:38 PM ^

I don't understand the hate to any of the players over their actions in the game. They are still kids. Kids will make mistakes. Doesn't change the fact I am fucking pissed over the outcome of the game. I just don't understand reaching out to this kids to let them know they screwed up. They know they made a mistake and I am sure they feel terrible about it and will be harder on themselves than anyone could ever be. If you are one of them tweeting them or posting something seriously go fuck yourself and try to find a true purpose in life. I understand being pissed and upset but to go to the extent (as some have suggested) to issuing death threats you have to find a purpose to be on this planet.

Go Blue!

Joined: 08/09/2009

MGoPoints: 3502