31-7 Is Better Than 31-0
At first, I was bummed that Michigan lost its shutout on Saturday. Upon reflection, I can't think of a better thing to happen than for a play-action post pattern to turn into a 70+ yard touchdown. I know GERG would have addressed ND's extensive use of play-action, but we're all human. If we had just pitched a shutout with no such mistake, the emphasis this week may have not been where it needs to be. With ND's money play on display burning our young safeties and backup corner, the cold clutch of fear must have gripped the intestines of GERG and RR.
I think the only way ND wins is to convert a couple big play-action plays (VERY possible). The safeties need to realize that ND's run offense is not so fearsome that they need to sell out in run support.
Now, I hope, Woolfolk and Williams are tied to chairs, bright light in their face, toothpicks holding open their eyes, watching film and being told to "Stay home, stay home, stay home..."
September 9th, 2009 at 10:18 AM ^
I see what you are saying, but I'm sure the coaches are preparing for ND strengths. Still would have been nice to score a couple more TD's and shut out WMU.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:18 AM ^
1) I think the shutout would have been nice but the game was in hand and at that moment, that was all that mattered.
2) Don't think Robinson seriously needed that touchdown to know that ND was going to be testing his defensive backfield extensively. Hell, even if we had the best defensive backfield we've ever had, ND is going to throw and throw often because right now, that's their strength and their running game does not appear that threatening.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:38 AM ^
maybe op is trying to say that western's touchdown will be helpful for our safeties, rather than for gerg. gerg can prepare them for pa passes, whether western scored that td or not. but since they did, then maybe it will motivate our defense not to let something similar happen in the next game.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:24 AM ^
... but I respectfully disagree. I would've felt a lot better if they prevented that touchdown.
I don't think the safeties would have been complacent either way: they (and the coaching staff) should know that ND will bomb away because it can't win the game any other way. Preventing that touchdown would have showed how much the secondary has learned under their new coaches over the past eight months.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:30 AM ^
I know these guys are professionals and well aware of what ND was going to attempt, but I just can't believe that seeing your team fail at stopping the exact thing you expect to see isn't going to result in different emphasis. Film becomes more relevant, those who were burned (not the coaches, but the young guys who may have thought they were impervious) are paying closer attention.
I think the lesson was worth losing the shutout.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:32 PM ^
be addressed, the play-action pass, since the D got burned. Good point.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:03 PM ^
Visual evidence is the most effective way to learn. 1. Having experienced is key, and 2. Seeing it on film reinforces the need to watch for the cues.
I believe it has been well documented that the human brain understands simple visual cues much more readily and more permanently than auditory cues. All movational speakers for example, tell their pupils to PRINT clearly defined simple goals. The mind will understand them and absorb them quicker.
"They" say writing them in cursive or whathaveyou or just hearing them doesn't have the same effect.
What sticks in your mind more, hearing about a horrible car crash or seeing the video? The mind can process many things at one time, but a vsual display seems to have a much greater impact.
Besides, whether we go 6-6. 7-5, 9-3 or 12-0 no one is really gonna care that we gave up one TD to WMU. I'll gladly trade the shutout for a controlled victory over the dammed Irish.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:23 AM ^
We have a lot of new players that could go in overconfident. Given our problems the last two years with long passes of different sorts, and the new safeties this year, the
WM touchdown provides a teachable moment.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:31 AM ^
That's the key. On the heels of a shutout, perhaps Troy and Mike and J.T. might have been cocky. Now, GERG will not only have more attentive students, but he might go over the lesson an extra time or two.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:26 AM ^
provided too many teachable moments to count. If you dont think GERG could have found 100 things to work on without giving up the shutout your kidding yourself.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:44 AM ^
Yes, but the teachable moment in question is ND's strength and burned safeties are more attentive.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:20 PM ^
exactly...i don't get the impression that any coaches or players are "over confident" about our back line of defense (whether they gave up the 70+ yarder or not). Believe me, GERG and the gang are up late at night losing sleep over lack of experience and depth.
(as for me, I'm up late at night losing sleep over GoBlue1065's profile pic...how do i get me a copy of that?!)
September 9th, 2009 at 10:30 AM ^
I slightly disagree, respectfully of course. First of all, I would rather have the shutout. Second, I think that there are probably so many nuances in the players' performances that the coaches can point out and improve on. Not that I know what goes on in the locker room, but the coach can always tell a player something like "you did this well, but you're going to have to step it up against an opponent like ND." I mean, Nebraska demolished FAU 49-3 on Sat but Bo Pelini still said that the team played soft defense. He knows what they have to improve upon. One good thing that might have come out of that WMU TD is that the coaches learned one thing that doesn't work (which is probably playing JT Floyd). But yes, I'm sure they also can use it to show the defense areas for improvement.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:33 AM ^
So you don't think the players who got burned Saturday will approach practice and the gameplan involving play-action defense with a different focus?
September 9th, 2009 at 10:36 AM ^
I was actually updating my comment after thinking a little more about what you said, but you responded so I couldn't update it. Here's what it said:
I would rather have the shutout, but that's just me as a fan. I think that there are probably so many nuances in the players' performances that the coaches can point out for improvement, regardless of whether their play results in a TD or not. Not that I know what goes on in the locker room, but the coach can always tell a player something like "you did this well, but you're going to have to step it up against an opponent like ND." Nebraska demolished FAU 49-3 on Sat but Bo Pelini still said that the team played soft defense.
On the other hand, the WMU TD showed the players and coaches some things that don't work (one of which is probably playing JT Floyd). So yeah, I'm sure they can use the TD to show the defense areas for improvement.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^
I agree that the coaches don't need a play like that to find something the players did wrong and coach them on it. What I disagree with is that the players have a similar mindset.
I have been an athlete all my life (and not to be an ass, but a pretty damn good one). When I played and we won a game handily but had the coaches come in and go over how we could have done something better we didn't give it much credence. We thought that we got the desired outcome so why change anything. However if we knew we got beat (on a specific play) and the coaches stressed that to us it was far easier to admit we did something wrong and try to learn from it.
In my experience, it is results that matter to kids. If you tell them their footwork wasn't good but they managed to get an interception on the play they will lkely not listen very closely to your reasons for why they should change. If they got beat with a 60 yard bomb the audience suddenly becomes much more attentive.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:45 PM ^
"Counselor?"
"Judge, as my first witness, I call Blue in Yarmouth to the stand."
September 9th, 2009 at 1:48 PM ^
out of the electric chair Dan!
September 9th, 2009 at 2:23 PM ^
Two things:
1) Sorry to use a lawyer/court vignette with a cardiologist, and
2) I look like I have already had a trip to the electric chair, no? Maybe something a la the dry sponge compliments of Percy in The Green Mile.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:50 AM ^
see, i think it's damn near inevitable that ND will hit a couple of big ones on us on saturday. we can live with those as long as: a) we are able to force an equal number of turnovers (i.e. if Jimmy throws a deep ball td to floyd and tate each, we also force one bad throw for a pick and blind-side him for a sack and fumble) & b) our offense is able to get online early and consistently move the ball and put points on the board, giving the D some confidence and time to remain fresh.
my predictions:
(1)Michigan 27, Notre Dame 20
(2)T-Forcier struggles somewhat to move the offense (14-25,125 yds,0TD/0INT) but still commits only a single turnover, fumbling on a 2nd quarter drive in ND territory on a third down scramble.
(3)Tate leads an impressive drive to end the first half, culminating on a 15 yard end round TD by DRob to put UM up 17-10 at the break.
(4)Steve Brown overcomes all odds and takes a Clausen pick to the house
(5)B.Minor earns a tough 125 yards on 25 or so carries with a short TD run; Carlos has another 50yd/10 carry day
(6)DRob is largely ineffective, but converts 2 clutch 4rd down plays with his athleticism, including the end of half touchdown.
(7)Jimmah finishes 25-45,275yds, 2TD/2INT, sacked 4 times.
(8)ND's run game is totally ineffective, making the offense one dimentional.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:45 AM ^
Sold.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:24 PM ^
I hate those "4rd down" plays...so tough to convert
September 9th, 2009 at 1:50 PM ^
I have no idea how accurate your prediction will turn out but I, for one, love it. I hope you're right my friend!
September 9th, 2009 at 10:53 AM ^
I agree. A shutout would have been nice, and I'm sure GERG is all over ND preparations, but the best way for our safeties to learn is to make a mistake.
They were (and probably will) gonna give up a long PA pass this year. It's just part of the learning curve. They will be better prepared mentally the next time.
I would much rather it happen in the 4th quarter of a blow out than in a tight rivalry game.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:15 PM ^
... I would prefer the mistakes happening in practice than in a blowout.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:54 AM ^
On a similar note, I was disappointed that we essentially torpedoed two of our drives in the second half by putting Sheridan in for one and Cone for the other. However, if getting Sheridan enough playing time to display he still has the habit of making boneheaded plays is enough to keep him at third string on the roster, then I guess it's all for the best.
And yet coach said he's still going to play all three QBs against ND. Really?
September 9th, 2009 at 11:16 AM ^
and if Tate were to get injured (God, I hope and pray not), then Sheridan likely sees a decent amount of playing time (DRob has only been in the system for ~5 weeks).
September 9th, 2009 at 12:02 PM ^
i wasn't dissapointed to see them play. sheridan needs some PT in case of injury to tate and cone...well, throw the dog a bone once in a while. also, i didn't mind the second half slow down offensively, yeah woulda been nice to score more points, but i liked the simplified playbook not giving any plays/secrets away before the ND game. they can only prepare for what we show them, so game in hand...turn it down and let the clock roll out. we're not the SEC and we don't hafta score 55+ points to keep the public on our bandwagon.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:59 AM ^
Dan, I agree with you in its entirety. In health care, the best way in the world to get a 25 year old to start to think about his heart health is to have his 45 year old father drop dead with a massive MI. You could preach to that person to no end and have no impact of even mustering a passing thought. That being said, that 25 year old is still likely to not exercise as he should and will likely continue to eat a lousy diet. But at least he may now have the common sense to call the squad when he has crushing chest pain. Or in the present case, react a split second sooner to the play action and at least have a chance at being in position to make a play.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:24 AM ^
I see you went the absurdly morbid route - I think saying his dad had a heart attack would have gotten the point across.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:47 AM ^
Human nature. Kids will believe they are invincible and the last thing I want is Mike Williams thinking he is invincible.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:45 PM ^
and there are far better ways to convince someone that they need to excercise and lead a balanced life style in order to minimize the risk of heart disease than have their loved one drop dead from a massive MI. Primairly because when it happens to someone else (even if it is a loved one) you convince yourself why that couldn't happen to you. If the 25 year old has a little chest pain then you would see a shift in priorities to be sure. Still, in terms of heart health....I think education is the key. Most people have no idea that what they are doing could have negative reprecussions down the road.
September 9th, 2009 at 3:10 PM ^
I agree that there are many other ways to get the point across, some over the course of years of teaching may even ultimately prove more effective, but this coaching staff has 7 days between week one and week two to get these kids to react appropriately to the play action. Rolling that game film of that play 10x and rolling the game film of Notre Dame doing it 20x will do more in these 7 days than if the coaches were simply showing the ND clips. Experience, particularly for young adults, is worth far more, particularly short term, than any amount of teaching alone.
September 9th, 2009 at 3:21 PM ^
I do apologize for being a glass is half empty kind of guy when it comes to heart health, but I work in OHS and get tired of patient after patient rolling through with a cardiac hx that reads like a text book and yet they are 80lbs overweight, smoke 2 ppd, and will freely admit they never thought it would happen to them. I find it particularly disturbing when having this conversation with younger patients that are now VAD recipients for destination therapy only. A little more shock and awe may have changed behavior, maybe not. But it certainly could open their eyes even for a second and allow them to change course when less dramatic methods have failed. I am certainly not suggesting we should start killing off parents prematurely to convince the children of their mortality.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:06 PM ^
I feel like there's a ND message board out there in Blogfirca that is probably linking to this post just because of the title. None of the ND fans read what's written here, but just deduce that we think winning 31-7 is better than a shut out, which really isn't the whole point of this thread.
Silly non-existant ND fans from the fake scenario in my head.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:09 PM ^
Yes, they take special logic classes in South Bend.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:30 PM ^
Where is Tommy Kilborn when you need him?
September 9th, 2009 at 12:39 PM ^
I think these guys will be focused no matter what. The fact is ND has had a powerful offense their last two games, and that's hard to ignore.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:17 PM ^
GERG can address all the "nuances" he wants all week long, but I'd wager that in the "getting-the-attention-of-19-yr-olds" dept., those nuances pale in comparison to showing film over and over of an opposing receiver crossing the goal line with the ball in his hand while the aforementioned 19-yr-old is 10 yards behind the play.
When we get to the point where we're serious contenders for the B10 title again (next year?), then I'll be more bummed out about just-missed shutouts.