The day after. Any new feelings or thoughts?

Submitted by Nosce Te Ipsum on

Looking back at the game I see a lot of positives but none of those can be seen on defense. The offense played well once again and Denard did what he does. I would've liked to have seen more Hopkins, especially on that 3rd and 1 on the first drive, but that was not to be. Another huge plus was that we made our only FG attempt and Hagerup began his stranglehold on kickoff duties with a tremendous effort (love ya coach Carr).

              The defense obviously sucks not only for an FBS school but FCS as well (see UMASS). If they could have stopped PSU more often ( I think we only stopped them once??) then we would've scored three more times. The offense rocks and the defense sucks. That is as simplistic as one can make it. In other news today is Halloween and parties are plentiful with girls wearing naughty costumes. As an added bonus enjoy this awesome youtube:p>

yossarians tree

October 31st, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^

I woke up sorta numb like I've been getting painfully used to. Then I considered that I won't watch any more games this season, like I did last year about this time.

Then I was pissed realizing I blew through a great 92 point Napa Cabernet Sauvignon on that game and turned off the TV in the 3rd quarter.

DGDestroys

October 31st, 2010 at 12:56 PM ^

Watching Dallas Crawford/Delonte Hollowell/Avery Walls highlights, desperately searching for some hope. They're all pretty talented. I'm not sure any are instant-impact guys, however. I've concluded that I want TX CB Charles Jackson a lot. 

QuarterbackU

October 31st, 2010 at 1:41 PM ^

I agree that we need talent, and we might get some in the incoming classes, but we're missing the point here...we don't want true freshmen to have to come in, and be counted on to make an instant impact, that's exactly what our problem is now...we have no depth, so unprepared underclassmen are being rushed into service and it's not working.

We need Crawford, Hollowell, Walls, but we need them to be ready to start for us in two years, not next year.

Moe Greene

October 31st, 2010 at 12:56 PM ^

Still sucks. I'm really bummed. Not even the idea of smackin' Fredo around is doing it for me today.

But there's this thought:

 

"On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing."

 

Sticking by this team / holding the rope is really damn hard to do right now. But today Bo's words ring true. It sucks eggs that we're not toasting to something different, but it is what it is.

I'll be there in front of the TV on Saturday. Will you?

BlueFish

October 31st, 2010 at 5:43 PM ^

Shutting out our offense is unlikely, as you correctly predict.

It's when our offense scores 30+ points and we STILL lose (after a bye week, to a team with a third-string first-start walk-on QB, to a team with a M*A*S*H unit for an OL, etc.) that it's a problem.

Until our defense can get off the field more than a couple times per game and/or our offense can score on EVERY drive, I'm afraid we're in for a long season.  Against Illinois, maybe even Purdue, and definitely against the last two teams on our schedule.

mGrowOld

October 31st, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^

It's the morning after and its 3rd and 8 in my mind.  Penn State has the ball.  They run the EXACT SAME PLAY over and over and over and it's always successful.  Roll the pocket, drag the tight end across the field and have a wide out run a 15 yard curl behind him.

Or its 3rd and short and they run Royster into the line.  We make an initial stop behind the line but dont wrap him up and he drags three or four guys across the marker for the first down.

So I guess nothing new for me.  Coaches are suppose to make adjustments to stop what other teams are doing.  We either can't or don't so I wanted Gerg gone last night and I still want him gone this morning.  I still have a toe hanging on the "keep Rich" bus but it won't take much to push me off at this point.

BrayBray1

October 31st, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^

Man that hurt, especially considering PSU is down this year and we came off of a bye. We should have executed much better, on both sides of the ball, and been far more prepared. Although I'd say the most disappointing part of losing yesterday is the reaction of the "fans." I can't believe people are already writing the season (and RR) off. Our D is so depleted of talent that it's hard to gauge who's really at fault.

jmblue

October 31st, 2010 at 3:18 PM ^

Although I'd say the most disappointing part of losing yesterday is the reaction of the "fans."

Just stop it already.  We're 4-16 in Big Ten play under RR.  It is completely reasonable to be upset.  Our fans have been very, very patient with this regime.  We've continued to fill up the largest stadium in the country every week.  We've done what we can.  If we are frustrated, it's because we care, and it hurts terribly to see our program continue to go nowhere. 

willywill9

October 31st, 2010 at 5:29 PM ^

That's totally fair, but what's with the knee-jerk eruption of posts like "Bye bye Rich Rod".  Totally uncalled for.  What did we really learn about Michigan that we didn't already know?  The team is struggling on the defensive side of the ball. 

I know it's frustrating to not see improvement from the last game, but geez, why so temperamental?  We just come off as whiny.  We all here have (probably) an unhealthy love for Michigan football, but let's be somewhat respectful to the players, coaches, team... and each other.

Ernis

October 31st, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^

We had two weeks to prepare and came out with all cylinders firing. We threw everything we had into that game. And this was the result. The result speaks for itself.

As for the D, who's to blame? I find it hard to simply attribute youth and inexperience to being that bad. Results matter and the result is, our well-rested defense got obliterated by a freshman, walkon QB. We're talking Nick Sheridan minus two years. Maybe it's a mismatch between GERG and his assistants -- but who hired the guy and who hired the assistants? The execution, indeed, is the problem, but where does that execution originate? (answer: quality of preparation)

Make no mistake: PSU is a BAD team. Almost as bad as ours. Honestly, folks, it's almost  impossible to defend RR anymore. The only reason I see to keep him around is the looming threat of more attrition and more suck if he goes, which isn't much of a reason. Without wins over Illinois and Purdue and one of Wisco/OSU, then I don't see much purpose continuing this experiment. Mind you, I don't think we'll win any of those games, save Purdue -- but even that seems 50/50 at this point.

I hated writing this. But hey, them's my thoughts/feelings.

nazooq

October 31st, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^

It's a simple matter of expectations differing from reality.  When 4 of the 6 bloggers on Black Shoe Diaries pick Michigan to win and instead Michigan is blown out in the first half, the fan reaction is completely understandable. 

This was the second or third worst Big Ten team Michigan will face this year.  Everyone from Rodriguez himself to the most callous Rodriguez hater expected progress.  Most estimated 3-5 or 4-4 in Big Ten play this year.  To fall short of that and end the season at 2-6 or possibly 1-7 is a cold slap in the face.

BlueFish

October 31st, 2010 at 6:08 PM ^

I'm sure a large portion of the fan base is more disappointed with the reaction of the "faux-fans" on the internets than with the performance of our team on the field, after a bye week to prepare for an opponent that featured a third-string walk-on QB making his first start, using about six plays.

Feat of Clay

November 1st, 2010 at 8:51 AM ^

A lot of people talk about McGloin like he's some kid they yanked out the stands and threw a uniform on.  He's a redshirt sophomore who earned a scholarship.  Maybe he was a late bloomer, maybe PSU and others didn't recognize his abilities right off--he earned his spot later than other guys.  But he did earn it, and maybe he's not quite as craptastic as everyone thought before the game. 

Granted, we didn't put anywhere near as much pressure on him as I'd like to see, but with that caveat I thought the kid played pretty well.  So it galls me to see people dismiss him--inaccurately I might also add--as a current and easily-beatable walk-on.  Wasn't he, at one time, in serious competition for the starter spot?  The media is so taken with the "underdog makes it big" story that we're falling for it too.

Realus

October 31st, 2010 at 11:20 PM ^

I think I, and a lot of others, really in our minds and hearts expected to win this game.  We were told that PSU sucks.  We had two weeks to prepare and heal injuries.  So, I was as disappointed in the results as any game in years.

However, today I don't feel so bad.  A little numb, but not so bad.  I really don't expect to win against Illinois and only a 50 / 50 against Purdue.

What is really depressing today is that I now think we will have the lowest ranked recruiting class in decades this year.  I know it's early, but if we go 5 -7 (a real possibility in my mind) our recruiting class is going to suck.  If we do go 7 - 6 (6 - 6 with a bowl win), maybe it will only be a little worse than last years.

ken725

October 31st, 2010 at 1:05 PM ^

The lost hurt like every other loss, especially since it could have made us bowl eligible.  The thing is I still love Michigan football.  Losing or winning I still support our team and some people may call me a homer, but I don't care.  It is okay to be frustrated and disappointed at a loss, but the team needs our support more than ever.  

chunkums

October 31st, 2010 at 1:08 PM ^

It may seem like we'll go winless in the last stretch again, but we do have the offense to compete with anyone this year.  This is a high variance team.  Just a couple of breaks (please!?) for the d can go a long way.

teldar

October 31st, 2010 at 3:58 PM ^

I kinda disagree. I don't think our offense cam make a game of it against anybody. We don't have a rb who can be counted upon to get a yard in just about any situation (one who is not currently injured) and we have a very erratic starting qb. I'm sure denard will get better with experience and no shoulder injury, but right now, the the offense is feast or famine with poor consistency. We between someone like this rawls kid, but only if h e can make it through the clearing house. We also NEED Denard to be more consistent. THEN we will have an offense that should keep us in any game.

chunkums

October 31st, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^

Well actually, Denard played a little more than a half of football while passing for 100 and rushing for 100.  On top of that, the running backs picked up 80 yards between them, most of it in the first half.  The difference is that the yards turned into points when Tate started chucking it.

nazooq

October 31st, 2010 at 4:59 PM ^

Against Iowa, the default offense (with Denard at the helm) scored 7 points on 6 possessions.  They cannot "move the ball on anyone"; they move the ball in fits and starts and can't score when the game is in contention against Big Ten foes with a pulse (MSU, Iowa, and the newly resuscitated PSU).

CRex

October 31st, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^

I miss Lloyd Carr and the days when I bitched because we "only" won 8.  

Coach Carr, although those times I sat in the stands and complained about the "DeBoring Offense."  I'm sorry.  I really am.  

I'm trying to about the UNACCEPTABLE style post, but I have to say what happened last night is inexcusable.  We have a bye week, PSU is at the bottom of their QB depth chart and they rip us to shreds.  Offensively we kind of looked flat for periods.  Defensively it was just a disaster.  I mean how hard can it be to rattle a young QB off the depth chart...?  I'd think we could do that at least and shut him down.  

blueheron

October 31st, 2010 at 2:47 PM ^

Lloyd's run and, in the bigger picture, the BoMoCarr years, were (as he might put it) *tremendous*.  Michigan was a very good (if not commonly great) team for 30+ years.

With Lloyd, though, I don't remember complaining about the win totals.  Rather, it was the way that he lost.  There was often an early season game where they looked unprepared.  And, as the 'blog notably researched one time, his record going into the 4th quarter with a lead or trailing was ... definitely not tremendous.  IIRC he was better off trailing than leading.  It was weird, anyway.

Please don't interpret this as an endorsement of the last three years.  I'm talking only about Lloyd.

htownwolverine

October 31st, 2010 at 1:16 PM ^

My 4 yr old son just picked up an old Madden 07 PSP game I found while cleaning out the garage and said the following:

"Oh Daddy, look football. Remember yesterday when we were watching football and you said, 'OH BULLSHIT!'".

I had to laugh. Thanks for the memory GERG. May you and your soft zone go into oblivion.

ajscipione

October 31st, 2010 at 1:16 PM ^

is that Dave Brandon will have a job to do at the end of the season which will entail reviews for the total staff of the football team. I trust he will do thorough job and I am curious to aee what he does.  

teldar

October 31st, 2010 at 4:10 PM ^

Tony Gibson goes to purgatory to contemplate what he should have done better. I also hope some rule is laid down that RR cannot override the dc in the middle of the year amd make significant changes on D. This is tied in with the idea that we get some great dc who can coach. Is this debacle all Gerg? No, but I have to feel it is mostly him. It's probably 60-40 Gerg-RR.
Recruiting and retention are issues.
We knew Gerg was not a recruiter. Retention? Is this personnel recognition
issues? If yes, this is primarily Gerg. HOWEVER, if these are db skill recognition issues as well, WTF IS GIBSON DOING?????????? In short, funking Gibson needs to go and either so does Gerg our he needs to be left to do what he wants instead of being forced to run a 3-3-5.

Ty Butterfield

October 31st, 2010 at 5:40 PM ^

I don't understand why the 3-3-5 was put into place this year. Of course, it might not matter what defense Michigan runs at this point. There is simply too much youth and inexperience to execute correctly.

dennisblundon

October 31st, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^

Really bummed out but I blame myself. It's hard to really expect much out of our defense this year. I keep waiting for the moment when it all just clicks as I am sure we all are. Finally I realize that moment isn't coming until next year. Just want the team to win the next two and become bowl eligible. We are on the brink of something special at Michigan, just have to keep reminding myself from time to time.

Tater

October 31st, 2010 at 1:22 PM ^

Basically, the offense is fine.  If the defense hadn't decided to go to Happy Valley as matadors for Halloween, the offense would have had three or four more possessions, and probably could have scored fifty.  An offense as young as this one will get even better.

Consequently, RR will be able to spend more time rebuilding the defense.  I am guessing the offseason will be quite interesting at Schembechler Hall.  If RR can somehow figure out how to field even an average defense, this team will be scary next year.  I can see great things happening if the defense gives the offense even a little bit of help.

readyourguard

October 31st, 2010 at 1:27 PM ^

Here's something new (for me, anyway):  I'm not nearly as pissed off as I was after the MSU and Iowa games.  It's as if, after years of arguing with a spouse and threatening to get a divorce, the paperwork has finally been filed and the retainer paid to the attorney.  It's at a point of no return and in some regards, it's a relief.

I don't want RR to go, but if he can't put a better product on the field (in all 3 phases) then he can't be our coach.  Plain and simple. 

Hard Gay

October 31st, 2010 at 1:27 PM ^

One thing I noticed is that Denard cannot seem to get a good ball to Stonum.  Any of the other receivers, he can hit them between the numbers and occasionally gives them a bad pass.  It seems like Stonum always has to get horizontal in order to even touch the ball, with no chance to catch.

jmblue

October 31st, 2010 at 1:27 PM ^

Just that while I'm still an RR supporter, I'm not sure if I'm an RR believer.  I want to believe in the guy, but I need to see us actually win.  We've now lost eight straight games when we've had a chance to clinch bowl eligibility.  (And really, you could make it ten straight, because after we started out 4-0 last year, with Delaware State still to come, a win over MSU or Iowa then would have basically clinched it.)  This was a golden opportunity to show that his program was turning the corner, and we blew it, massively.