Unverified Voracity Brainwashes Child
Bo with children. Bo passed away nine years ago today. Spurred by a classic old-timey photo posted by Steve Lorenz, a couple of readers passed along adorable pictures of Bo not yelling at them about their pad level despite his constant desire to do so:
@TremendousUM @mgoblog Here's a pic of Bo telepathically ingraining lifelong Michigan loyalty into my 6-Yr-O soul. pic.twitter.com/8lONTfNLZj
— LTA2891 (@LTA2891) November 17, 2015
@TremendousUM @mgoblog One of my favorite pics as a kid...when it was still fun to go to media day. pic.twitter.com/v5pQXZBQj4
— Ryan Schreiber (@Ryan_Schreiber) November 17, 2015
Meanwhile, the legend lives on.
Wow. Feel like we've seen this live... https://t.co/qJJBRKVMFZ
— Wilton Speight (@WiltonSpeight) November 17, 2015
RIP.
If any school can do it, it's Michigan. PFF lists Jourdan Lewis as one of their alternate-universe-where-everyone-pays-close-attention-to-tape Heisman candidates:
Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan: +21.7
Key stat: Only three cornerbacks have been targeted more, and he has still only allowed 274 yards in his coverage.
Like Bosa, Lewis is hurt by playing on defense, particularly when he doesn’t have any game breaking returns to catch your attention. That being said, you won’t find a better cover corner in all of college football, and he is right up there with the other four players listed as one of the best players in the country. Lewis has been targeted 72 times in coverage, which seems foolish for opposing quarterbacks, especially when you consider he has given up just 26 receptions for 274 yards and one touchdown over the course of the year. He’s allowed more than 40 receiving yards in a single game just once all year, and has come away with two interceptions and 14 pass breakups. There was a three-game span against UNLV, BYU and Maryland where he allowed just three receptions for six yards while picking off one pass and breaking up five more.
Those numbers are bonkers. Michigan's inability to generate turnovers has got to be mostly luck when they're getting so many hands on opposition passes. Those translate to INTs at a fairly consistent rate and Michigan is way below par there; meanwhile they've recovered one opposition fumble all year. I can't imagine what their numbers would be like if they had the same level of fortune that Hoke's first team did.
In other grading things. PFF did the Indiana game, giving Jake Rudock a monster +9.2. Certain defenders didn't do so hot:
Michigan’s run defense was exposed for the first time this season, but it wasn’t because they were overpowered on the line. No, the Wolverine’s defense looked completely lost trying to maintain gap control against the Hoosier’s stretch plays. Michigan’s defensive line likes to fire off straight upfield at the snap. This works great against downhill runs like inside zone where they had great success Saturday. But versus outside zone firing upfield creates very wide running lanes when one defensive tackle flows down the line of scrimmage and another one doesn’t. The poor discipline made the job extremely difficult on Michigan’s linebackers. Matthew Godin (-5.3) and Joe Bolden (-3.6) were the two that struggled the most.
I'm through the first half-zillion Indiana plays and that is very much on point. Michigan is slanting with a backside blitz a ton and still not getting their guys to the correct gaps way way too often. Michigan quickly adapted to all the stretch plays tactically but the backup DTs were unable to execute, and Hurst suffered quite a bit as well.
Bolden… Bolden is not getting a good UFR number. I do not understand why Ben Gedeon isn't getting way more time.
New basketball rules impact. Kenpom with the 1000 foot view:
Scoring is up 7% over the first weekend last season. Pace is up 5% and efficiency is up 2%. It’s not 1975-style basketball, but for at least one weekend we turned the clock back to 1995 when it wasn’t unusual to see a team crack 100 on the daily scoreboard.
Fouls are up slightly, as are threes (with no decrease in shooting percentage). Twos are more accurate. The main caveat I would suggest is that years with rules changes that include "call the game like the rulebook says" often start out with a bunch more fouls and then refs swallow their whistles as the stakes rise. The last attempt to crack down on obstruction of movement petered out by midseason. Hopefully this one sticks, but I'm not getting out my victory epaulettes just yet.
FWIW, the NCAA put out a video about what the rules entail:
It's nice that the official voice of the NCAA is decrying MSU's brand of footsketball, at least. John Gasaway on the new regime:
One paradox or spiritual kinship shared by basketball and baseball alike is that invariably many of the sports’ most consequential “reforms” consist of nothing more than a renewed commitment to enforcing the rules as already written. Screens really do have to be stationary, and bumping a cutter or displacing a player off the block really is a violation. So it is that in the coming days it will be said that it’s precisely this newfound strict constructionist attitude that’s resulted in all these darn fouls that are suddenly being called. Indeed the NCAA itself is already sounding this alarm. In its video the organization channels its inner Clubber Lang and says its prediction is pain: “At times the fans and media will not like the number of fouls being called, but we must stay the course and call the rules as written in the rule book.”
I don’t doubt for a moment that officials will signal their seriousness in November by minting free throws left and right, but it bears repeating that justice can be furthered by a no-call just as it can be by a whistle. Enlarging the charge circle could, one hopes, increase the prevalence of swallowed whistles, while the NCAA’s professed wish to stop rewarding “offense-initiated contact” will be nothing less than a no-call godsend if it comes to pass. I don’t want to see a foul called on Melo Trimble (just to pick a name purely at random), but a no-call the next time he flings himself like a horizontal missile into the chest of the nearest vertical-cylinder-inhabiting defender would most definitely be a just result.
One note from the Elon game: the refs appeared to blow one egregious example of offense-initiated contact when a Fightin' Christian jumped unnaturally into Walton to draw a foul.Otherwise I thought that game was well officiated aside from the usual slate of block/charge calls that nobody can ever figure out.
Is this how you do it? "Not quite." How about now? "Still not really there." Surely now? "For chrissakes can you stop looking like a serial killer experiencing afterglow for like 30 seconds?"
You're the one who wanted me to smile, Lynn.
Henson. Via WH:
Etc.: Holdin' The Rope on Indiana and the Elon game. Elon highlights. Maize and Blue Nation.
Willie Taggart has had a nice turnaround year at USF. If he were to be let go at any point, Taggart would be very much on Harbaugh's radar to fill hypothetical holes on his staff, but better to see him succeed.
Charlie Strong to Miami rumors get their first credible support as Bruce Feldman says he's heard it is a possibility. Michigan is competing with Texas for a number of recruits including Jordan Elliott and Jean Delance.
The remarkable laziness of the Baylor offense. Steve Smith storytime from Sap. IU fans are sick of being #CHAOSTEAM, but what choice do they have? Five Factors from Punt John Punt. Grandson of Gerald Ford coming to play lacrosse. CFB is slightly slower than it was last year. Vincent Smith gardening in Flint. "I think it’s the bear, and I think Houma comes in second with tattoos.”
November 17th, 2015 at 4:48 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
Any recollection of what either ordered?
Also, unrelated, but that is a fabulous username/avatar combo you have there.
November 17th, 2015 at 5:31 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 8:42 PM ^
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November 18th, 2015 at 9:23 AM ^
You didn't recognize them when you saw them?
Did anyone recognize them?
November 17th, 2015 at 4:54 PM ^
For chrissakes can you stop looking like a serial killer experiencing afterglow for like 30 seconds?Good luck getting that out of my head each time I see Dantonio try to imitate a smile. (I'm convinced he's never had a real smile, but his life coach has told him he needs to keep trying.)
November 17th, 2015 at 4:58 PM ^
You should change your avatar and use "Smiling Dantonio". Just kidding...
November 18th, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^
I represented two serial killers in my former career, one of whom is now on death row in Indiana federal prison. While we know Dantoni is nothing like that, it is amazing how similar some of the facial expressions are.
I realize that is unfair to Dantoni, but I too will now never be able to get the association out of my head.
It looks like social awkwardness, and after the last spiritual allusion to the final 10 seconds in the Big House, my friend and I have now taken to calling him "Scowling Jesus".
November 17th, 2015 at 4:56 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 9:12 PM ^
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November 18th, 2015 at 7:12 PM ^
And they don't sub, and they spread the field so much that their work is done the second a defender lines up across from them.
November 17th, 2015 at 4:57 PM ^
"SNAP DETECTIVE" is classic and that Speight comment is awesome. I think it was discussed on this board. If not, I am not sure where I heard it before. May be I am in a twilight zone.
Anyway, Bo lives on through Harbaugh.
November 17th, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
FYI - I think you goofed on the Steve Smith link. It points to the Glasgow one-on-one.
November 17th, 2015 at 5:09 PM ^
Seconded.
November 17th, 2015 at 5:02 PM ^
Just because I find this interesting, the photo on BHGP in the article about "best Iowa sports weekend ever" has three kids from our little town in it.
The woman in the air and the guy in the hat are brother and sister, while the blonde woman below is another local from our town.
November 17th, 2015 at 5:20 PM ^
Michigan's inability to generate turnovers has got to be mostly luck when they're getting so many hands on opposition passes.
Nope. As I said in HHH, part of Lewis' bargain with the gypsy is that instead of going for the INT with both hands, causing him to phase out of existence, he now focuses on getting a few fingertips from one hand on the ball. You can't rack up picks that way, but that's all you need to tip the ball off-target, and INT attempts tend to get deflected upwards. Long story short, he's embraced a soccer goalie style of coverage -- catch what you can, but bat it away when it doubt, which for a 5'10" corner is damn near everything. The one-handed reach compensates for his lack of height with a little extra extension to break up the pass. The gypsy approves.
It's still rather dumb for opposing QBs to target him since it's such an unproductive exercise (unless you have no other options and a QB that throws on target like MSU), but I don't see any luck in Lewis' technique. If anything, he's removed luck from the equation by sacrificing the chance at a pick for more reliable coverage.
November 17th, 2015 at 5:47 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 8:40 PM ^
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November 17th, 2015 at 8:58 PM ^
If you're looking for official data on "passes defended with one hand or both", I don't think that's tracked anywhere. Just watch his technique. Most of the PBU's I've seen him make were with one hand. Back when he regularly phased out of reality it's because he'd raise both hands and the ball would fly through.
That said, that might be a good diary for later. While I can post here and there during work while waiting for scripts to complete, unfortunately I won't have any time in the near future to burn any midnight oil on reviewing every Jourdan Lewis PBU, as much fun as that would be.
November 18th, 2015 at 8:10 AM ^
Doesn't Lewis also play a non-look-for-the-ball screening tech that has him taking balls to the back of his helmet? Not joking.
November 17th, 2015 at 9:45 PM ^
To be fair, Lewis had two interceptions overturned Saturday (one was an offsides call, I don't remember what the other was), so luck is playing some part in his numbers.
November 17th, 2015 at 10:09 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 5:26 PM ^
Does http://puntjohnpunt.com/ always feature the number of days since they've beaten michigan in the banner?
November 17th, 2015 at 5:35 PM ^
It's so awesome to see Smith and Team Gardens are working in Flint. I grew up there and Flint is in really bad shape.
November 17th, 2015 at 5:38 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 5:40 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 5:54 PM ^
Willie Taggart is having a great year with a hilarious OC: Danny Hope. Hope seems to be a much better OC than HC.
November 17th, 2015 at 5:55 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 9:20 PM ^
this is his second year, so...
November 17th, 2015 at 9:47 PM ^
They're young because Strong spent all of last year weeding out all of the entitiled upperclassmen that were poisoning the program. Give him another year or two before judging him too harshly.
November 17th, 2015 at 6:23 PM ^
should be good for Beilein if they actually call them. They all should play to Michigan's ball-movement offense strength.
I'm dubious that it will actually happen though.
November 17th, 2015 at 7:35 PM ^
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November 17th, 2015 at 8:48 PM ^
November 18th, 2015 at 9:52 AM ^
I remembered he had a big time arm but I forgot how good he was at getting up field with his feet. Henson to Terrell was a devastating combo.
November 17th, 2015 at 8:49 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 11:44 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 7:53 PM ^
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November 17th, 2015 at 10:12 PM ^
November 18th, 2015 at 6:41 AM ^
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November 17th, 2015 at 9:19 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 9:25 PM ^
It's still so fresh in my mind, it could have been today. dropping my son off at his elementary school, and we always listened to WTKA on the way. I remember Bo sounding so weak when he was asked if he would be all right for the game next day, and he said, "I'll be OK."
instantly I went cold all over, and in the next couple of minutes we were pulling up to the school's circular drive, and the bell rang. Son got out of the car. A brisk November wind was scattering leaves and kids were running inside. Over the airwaves I had heard something that scared the hell out of me but all around me, life was happening. I had turned the radio off, and proceeded to the highway, to work.
Remembered to turn the radio back on, and heard breaking news that Bo had just died.
I think he knew.
November 17th, 2015 at 11:34 PM ^
November 18th, 2015 at 4:17 AM ^
From that Baylor piece:
“You ever see a porch dog stretch before he chases a car?” Briles said. “If he sees a car, poof! He’s gone. We want to be like porch dogs. When we walk out on the field, we’re ready.”
That is a helluva quote from Briles. Sounds like something Harbaugh might say.
November 18th, 2015 at 10:44 AM ^
#CHAOSTEAM.
If you are Indiana football, you are going to lose half your games. It's your destiny.
So which would you rather have? Lose half your games 34-7 at noon on BTN which nobody notices, or lose half your games 48-41 in double OT in prime time and have the entire country talking about the chaos you create?
Everybody knows about Indiana and the car-chase scene and wreck-strewn aftermath that follows it around. Nobody knows Purdue even exists.
If you are killing time until Basketball season, you might as well do it hanging upside down from an airborne '69 SS Camaro hurling down Lombard street.
November 18th, 2015 at 10:56 AM ^
That photo of Dantonio smirking makes me want some "French Fried Taters". I could totally see Dantonio murdering people with a slingblade.
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