Day After Snowflakes / Early Thoughts on Purdue
September 17th, 2017 at 9:15 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:41 AM ^
who was complaining about our play calling yesterday, right? And the only one complaining about our execution on offense, right? And the only one ragging on Drevno and Harbaugh, right?? There weren't hundreds of other posts saying the same thing, right?
Because that's the only way your post makes any sense.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:45 AM ^
You weren't the only one, just the loudest and whinniest one.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:15 AM ^
But you keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:36 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 8:41 AM ^
that everything about yesterday screamed Iowa. Inspid offense, tight D, a low-scoring and not entirely convincing win over some mediocre opponent. Even the post-game comments a la the opponent was disciplined, tough, well-coached, always a difficult opponent etc.
At this point in time we're Iowa.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:56 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 8:42 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 8:44 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:39 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:07 AM ^
Agreed. Everyone is giving Purdue credit for a close game with a bad football team and beating an even worse one. Our defense is going to have fun next week as long as they can stop the tunnel screens.
September 17th, 2017 at 8:48 AM ^
Great defenses have carried struggling offenses in the BigTen to conference titles and more in the past. Look at 2002 Ohio State who barely beat a lot of mediocre teams en route to a national title - even the bad ones, but with an elite defense. MSU's offense struggled a lot early in 2013 until they improved.
Hopefully, the defense can carry us while the offense improves.
Michigan 24 Purdue 19
September 17th, 2017 at 8:50 AM ^
And MSU went 7-6 in 2012 with a great defense, but a mediocre offense who could not convert drives into touchdowns. I don't know if Michigan is 2013 MSU or 2012 MSU, but right now, I am not too confident in our offensive production, especially with a dynamic offense such as Purdue next week in which we likely are going to need to finish drives in order to win.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:19 AM ^
The good news is we are 3-0 with the youngest team in FBS, this youth will improve as the season progresses. We might lose some games, but you always expect young teams to struggle at times, especially early in the season.
Plus we beat Florida convincingly and they just beat a Tennessee team that many think will finish in the top-25.
We likely will lose games this season, but 7-6 like MSU in 2012 is highly unlikely.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:11 AM ^
Purdue's offense isn't that dynamic. Sorry. Not giving them credit for doing well against the shittiest defenses so far. Look for Hurst and Gary to beat the hell out of them next week, especially if Hudson and Bush as well as the corners can break up the screens early.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:59 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
2002 OSU needed a 4th down conversion (which went for a TD) at the end of the game to beat Purdue. I hope UM wins convincingly before the game is officially over. But your observation about 2002 OSU is a good one. Lots of odd things happened in OSU's favor that year.
September 17th, 2017 at 8:48 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 8:51 AM ^
Please beat up my undergrad, Purdue. A few of the Purdue blogs I follow are starting to get cocky and calling Brohm as the next coming of Vince Lombardi.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:42 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 3:59 PM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 8:57 AM ^
Thoughts are still the same. This is exactly where I expected the team to be at by this point. Lots of mistakes and a few ugly wins. Very happy to be 3-0.
The frustrating thing is I expected it to be our freshmen making the mistakes, not our RS JR QB and million dollar coaches.
I do think it was Speights best game this season so far tho, so I guess a little optimism there?
September 17th, 2017 at 9:49 AM ^
I can see Speights game improved too. I think the problem that occurred yesterday had a lot to do with a few errant throws by Speight and then freshman dropping/not making catches at important times. With the dropped balls it is difficult for Speight to develop consistency and get into a groove. Also, I was concerned with the play calling at times. It was getting a little to predictable at times. Overall, I feel these are all correctable, at least I hope!
September 17th, 2017 at 10:09 AM ^
as I still watched him through two fade routes 5 yards out of the endzone and overthrow several other guys
September 17th, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^
Purdue is a tough place to play when they have a decent team. The perfect place for an upset.
...but this team is NOT losing to Purdue.
We are going ALL THE WAY, Culpepper.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:01 AM ^
every game. Purdue on the road will be a tough game and a big test. Tougher than we thought before the season started, but we have enough talent to win. Any win without injuries will be sweet next week.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:03 AM ^
Try Crawford in the red zone
September 17th, 2017 at 9:49 AM ^
Because the wildcat with Peppers was so successful...
September 17th, 2017 at 9:54 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
Not to be facetious, but I think last year it was actually more successful than whatever the heck we are trying now.
However this year if we can't run block, I'm not sure the wildcat will help.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:05 AM ^
Still 3-0. USC could/should have lost to Texas. LSU got its doors blown off. UF/UT was atrocious. Stanford lost to an unranked SDSU.
Maybe we aren't world beaters yet, but I'll enjoy the ride!
September 17th, 2017 at 9:32 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:21 AM ^
Disagree. I don't think Alabama looks that great or unbeatable and Clemson played a garbage team in Louisville (their defense if horrible). This isn't last year. Both of those teams are not that far ahead of the rest.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:12 AM ^
I am worried about Purdue matching up with Michigan's young secondary but Ohio put up nearly 400 yards against Purdue two weeks ago. Missouri is a bad team - they had just over 200 yards and three turnovers at home.
UM's offense is going through its growing pains on the line and with the receivers. At this point I am more worried about the line since it appeared to take a step back yesterday and running the ball is important in the B1G in October and November, yet they still rushed for 190 yards. Still, I don't think the third and long draw play is fooling anyone for a while.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:39 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:01 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 1:39 PM ^
Leaf? "Make like a tree and get out of here."
September 17th, 2017 at 10:53 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^
More running on the edge please.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^
Their defense is bad and their offense is their strength. I like our chances to shut them down and get out of there with a nice 35-17 win or something like that
September 17th, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
Many times
September 17th, 2017 at 10:11 AM ^
A bad team with one all-star running around making all the plays. If you take Jackson off that team, how bad are they?
September 17th, 2017 at 10:56 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:47 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:49 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:18 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:19 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^
I'll admit I'm starting to get nervous about when the offense comes together, but this is probably a textbook example of what a talented, young team with a bunch of new starters looks like. Some big plays but an inconsistent offense that bogs down in the red zone when more precision is required.
I re-watch the plays that don't work and typically see either a blown block or a blocker run right past someone along with the inaccurate throws here and there. Many of these plays look like big gainers if 1 player doesn't make the mistake.
I think this offense will go once the players get more experience and stop making mistakes and Speight's timing improves with all the new receivers (overthrows will reduce but not go away). The big question is when does this happen. Hopefully within the next 2-3 games.