Hoke Chimes In and Would Not Have Punted

Submitted by winterblue75 on

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/2015/10/21/ex-michigan-coach-br…

 

Okay, you guys are sick of seeing MSU threads, chew on this one.

Personally, if we have the No. 1 defense in the nation I'm going to test those guys," Hoke said. "You've got to play to the strength of your football team and the strength of the Michigan football team all year long has been their defense." He said he was sure "Jimmy" went over what he wanted to do and how he wanted to do it but Hoke said there are too many potential breakdowns on a punt. "No. 1, I think the one gunner to the field should have been in a little bit more and if you're going to punt it there's ways to protect it a little better," Hoke said. Hoke first credited the MSU defense for forcing fourth down and said he would have gone for it at that point, handing the ball to De'Veon Smith and "challenge your offensive line" or play-action pass to take four to five seconds off the clock.
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jeff_91121

October 21st, 2015 at 3:12 PM ^

I've really tried to give Hoke the benefit of the doubt and not hammer him for his tenure at Michigan. I'm done going easy on him. This armchair coach, 20/20 hindsight is bullshite. Remind me, what is Hoke doing for a living these days...is he coaching football?  The chances of a Hoke coached team being in a position to win the game with 10 seconds remaining are slim and none and slim committed suicide because he couldn't watch anymore of Hoke looking clueless on the sidelines sans headset. If Hoke had any decency he would just refuse to comment when contacted to comment on the current team.

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ThirdVanGundy

October 21st, 2015 at 3:17 PM ^

He probably isn't lying. Anyways, that would be a horrid idea. The coaching staff made the right decision going for the punt. The one thing the coaching staff(Baxter in particular) got wrong was not putting a max protect punt out there. The only reason MSU had one guy on the outside was to make sure we wouldn't just let the ball slowly roll around and let time expire. And if he tried returning it we'd have guys right in his face when he turned around. If you were going to do a PA pass it should have been on third down with Rudock only passing if his man was wide open and otherwise running.

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Sten Carlson

October 21st, 2015 at 3:19 PM ^

Meh, Hoke is entitled to his opinion, and is being paid to give it. I don't really care what he says. Personally, my hindsight thought is that Michigan should have called two plays in their 2nd timeout, with the second one being a "hyper speed" line up if the Smith run doesn't get the first down. Give Sparty a hard count, and Jake option to snap it should see Sparty out of position. If not, maybe another hard count, and if they don't jump, then call the final timeout and punt. To me it givea you a chance at a jump offsides and chance that the up tempo catches them out of position. My $.02

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Perkis-Size Me

October 21st, 2015 at 3:18 PM ^

Well if he was still the coach, we never would've been in that position, because the game would've been over midway through the second quarter. MSU would've been beating us by 30. And that's if Dantonio was being merciful.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but that doesn't mean their opinion is a smart one.



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Greg McMurtry

October 21st, 2015 at 3:19 PM ^

Hoke aside, leaving the gunner wide was questionable at that time, not hindsight. Also, I wondered why the 3-seconds-worth of runs up the middle were the plays chosen. When, if you add 3.4 seconds per play, with a sweep or longer lasting play, you never need to punt in the first place.



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westwardwolverine

October 21st, 2015 at 3:46 PM ^

Because you're thinking of things in the context of what happened after. 

People are acting like Blake O'Neill isn't a top-5 punter, if not the best in the country. 499/500 times he gets the ball off and Michigan wins. This was just that 1/500. 

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DavidP814

October 21st, 2015 at 4:04 PM ^

Admittedly I didn't think of this at the time, but the best course of action would have been for the entire offensive line to tackle the d-line and linebackers.  Then, either Smith gets the first down because every MSU defender save the FS is on the ground, or a holding penalty is called and UM runs out the clock.  

Remember from the Auburn-Louisville game that the clock runs for 25 seconds if the offense commits a penalty after a play where the clock would run.

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ehatch

October 21st, 2015 at 3:19 PM ^

Easy to say in hindsight, but can't say he is completely wrong here.  Punting brings the ball back 15 yards and opens up to a punt block or return.  There was no guarantee that Blake was going to get that punt off even if he doesn't fumble the snap.  

 

Going for it you have the chance to end the game.  You are on the plus side of the field so even if you don't make it they still have to go 60 yards in one play.  

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Jhow

October 21st, 2015 at 3:19 PM ^

Well... truth be told, our special teams were outstanding to that point. Some would argue that special teams were the biggest strength of that game, until that play. I think most coaches would punt in that situation without any regrets. I'm not a fan of Hoke's criticism here.

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WolverineInCbus

October 21st, 2015 at 3:20 PM ^

It was 4th and 3!!!!!! I might have an issue with punting if it was 4th and 1 and we actually had a shot of the first down. But Their defense had stuffed the run for the majority of that game and yet u want to run it on 4th and 3 at midfield and give them a chance for a Hail Mary? Get real. This is why he sucks strategically as a coach.



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Blue in Yarmouth

October 21st, 2015 at 3:21 PM ^

Well that settles it for me...if Brady Hoke would have gone for it that I'm even more convinced now than ever that Jim made the right call. Also, the fact that he is trying to give advise about special teams is both ironic and hilarious. I don't have any hard feelings Brady and I wish you all the luck in the world, but you were a crap coach.



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Hemlock Philosopher

October 21st, 2015 at 3:24 PM ^

Hoke would have been down 30 at that point and the team would have been demoralized since being hammered by Utah 45-6 in the opener. The stands would be half empty with the other half being Sparties and we'd be 2-5 with narrow wins over Oregon State and Maryland and an abysmal 19-16 loss to UNLV.
 
Sure he wouldn't have punted.

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Wolverine 73

October 21st, 2015 at 3:27 PM ^

Hoke was the genius tactician who opted to go for 2 against OSU (smart idea), but then came out in the very SAME FORMATION and ran the SAME PLAY after OSU called a time out to talk about what Michigan was going to do.  Now he takes a shot at Harbaugh because of a fluke play on what was probably the right call.  Come on, Brady, STFU so we can all continue to think you were a nice guy who got promoted over his head and not a jealous dick.

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