Michigan State Snowflakes: The Defense
October 30th, 2021 at 4:04 PM ^
If this team gashed us up, what will OSU do? It's 2018–2019 all over again.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:28 PM ^
They’ll pass all up and down the field and win by 30.
Since we’re not winning the big ten anytime soon I’d trade being 9-4 10-3 type program to being 8-5 and occasionally having an upset.
Chaos Michigan would be more interesting than typical Michigan.
October 30th, 2021 at 7:28 PM ^
We’ve lost 5 games in 1/3 or Harbaugh’s seasons. How is that chaos?
October 30th, 2021 at 5:27 PM ^
The slow substitutions are 100% coaching.
The guys not being set for the snap is 100% coaching.
OSU will go fast tempo the entire game and win by 50.
October 30th, 2021 at 6:53 PM ^
But... our DC has NFL EXPERIENCE!!! That will always win against "college crap"!
October 30th, 2021 at 8:25 PM ^
MacDonald has a ton to learn on subbing as a coordinator. Also felt he needed to get the box loaded and put Dax on their top rec and go when their 2nd rec went down. Had to adjust to Walker in the 2nd half.
Also, get some dt’s rolling! Hasn’t been a strength controlling the line against top teams in a long time.
Get the play call in immediately. I’m not a fan of this, getting the play called in quickly is essential and coordinators need to have several defenses ready on a quick call when offenses speed up.
Osu, efff them, hope they lose tonight and then their program implodes into nothing.
October 30th, 2021 at 8:34 PM ^
Totally agree. Also, Walker is easily their best player. What if Josh Ross went everywhere that Walker went the entire game? If you can have a Dax Hill travel to cover the number 1 receiver, why can't we have Josh Ross shadow Walker? I know they could create some blocking schemes to counter that to a point, but it's hard to imagine it would be worse than what we just gave up.
October 30th, 2021 at 9:37 PM ^
JMO much harder to shadow Ross on Walker as well and not have some exposure but I do think loading the box takes care of some issues.
MSU’s passing game was effective but was not killing at all. Their run game was the difference. So, load the box, put Dax on Reed and go with your defense. Have certain base calls because you had to know when they sped it up what was coming. Idk, kind of tired of losing these games and different butt similar ways every time.
October 30th, 2021 at 11:32 PM ^
4-2-5 nickel against a team that doesn’t throw well. No adjustments.
3 man stack makes a bigger front and one harder to run against. Never even tried it.
October 30th, 2021 at 9:39 PM ^
What most of us predicted they would do.
If anyone thought we would go undefeated, you are delusional.
October 30th, 2021 at 11:27 PM ^
Most predictions were 7-5, so we're ahead of the curve. Still disappointed though.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:06 PM ^
Well I think I'll go Amish and pretend like the internet doesn't exist but before I do, I just want to say that I'm glad Harbaugh stuck around and is our coach, and many of our fans suck sometimes and you people make being a fan a miserable fucking experience. I hope you neg me for saying this. I'll take it as affirmation of this.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:06 PM ^
Michigan's best defender was the goal line. It's too bad the replay official didn't have the guts to say so.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:31 PM ^
Well said, EYB, on the fan experience. Even though it's due to a very small but extremely negative and LOUD minority, I'm with you 100%.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:53 PM ^
Here I thought the multi-millionaire who consistently has the team losing rivalry games where it's favored was to blame, but I guess it's actually the fans' fault that being a fan is a "miserable fucking experience." It's our fault. I hope you can find in your humble heart to forgive us.
October 31st, 2021 at 1:16 PM ^
Or maybe it was a great running back who just plain gashed us. He may win the Heisman. Or maybe it was dropped balls or some bad calls.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:56 PM ^
You're glad Harbaugh came back to make himself 0-2 against Mel Tucker and probably 0-2 against Ryan Day? Some people are just gluttons for punishment.
October 30th, 2021 at 6:56 PM ^
And some are trolls.
October 30th, 2021 at 5:53 PM ^
(Replying to Evenyoubrutus)
Well said, and the wisest choice this week likely is simply to avoid the message boards (or internet coverage of Michigan altogether).
I will also note here that for all of the fans who "can't take it anymore," etc., this is a unique period (which might not last) in which they could literally improve the team without breaking any laws or NCAA rules. The Michigan fanbase has prided itself on largely not doing the things that certain other programs/boosters have done to attract top talent -- because they were illegal, or unethical, or simply against NCAA rules. Now, there are legitimate, above-board ways for top athletes at Michigan to be financially compensated. As far as I can tell, the "Michigan money cannon" is not being directed that way. If you are an angry fan, find a way to support recruiting. The reality is that OSU had six (five-star) players in last year's class ranked higher than JJ McCarthy (our highest recruit). Even out the talent disparity. And for those who do not have the financial means to make a difference, remember that recruits and their families read the message boards. A toxic, miserable fan base does not help recruiting. Seeing support from the fans in adverse times would seem to be a positive differentiator for recruits comparing schools.
October 30th, 2021 at 6:02 PM ^
We don’t have a talent disparity with Michigan State, yet Mel Tucker is 2 and 0 against us.
October 31st, 2021 at 1:24 PM ^
I love our running backs. That said, its Walker. That is a talent disparity that showed up hugh. Or did you not watch the game?
November 1st, 2021 at 6:00 AM ^
Why do you love our running backs?
We need a difference maker and neither of them are that.
I can't believe Edwards didn't get 1 touch Saturday, especially with Corum not showing up...
October 30th, 2021 at 6:10 PM ^
What does our talent disparity against OSU have to to with losing to MSU again? People literally have the same fucking excuses lined up every time we lose even if it doesnt make any sense for the situation!
October 30th, 2021 at 6:30 PM ^
You have riddled the boards today/the past month/I don't know how far back with your toxic posts. Try to pause for 30 seconds and realize you are not helping the program. Calling our coach a "loser" or the "majority" of our fanbase "f---ing losers" is not helping. So, you say things like "I'll see you next week when we inevitably lose at Wisconsin," but instead of celebrating the unexpected positives, you are here to crap on a team you think you support. Just walk away. You are actively harming the team (toxic posters only hurt recruiting) and are making yourself miserable (and likely others as well). There are things in life to enjoy. Log off the message boards and find them.
October 30th, 2021 at 8:06 PM ^
I can promise you neither what you say nor I say on here has any effect on the Michigan football team. The coaching does that all for them.
October 30th, 2021 at 6:23 PM ^
Generally agree with a lot of what you said. However, I'm not sure it is "many of our fans". More likely it is a relatively few who are disproportionately heard because they whine so loudly.
October 30th, 2021 at 6:55 PM ^
To be fair, more than half of the people who post in the game threads and snowflakes (especially after losses) are just trolls. Just look through the posting histories and they are easy to spot.
October 30th, 2021 at 8:41 PM ^
Frankly, he just doesn’t recruit well enough to win big with the conservative approach. We don’t have a big enough edge in talent to buckle down and win games with 4 FGs.
It’s really unfortunate that JH cannot fully turn the corner and find the extra gear to win some of these close games, because he prepares a team very well and really controls a game right until the playcalling needs some edge.
Good kids, clean program and many positives, but not enough edge to win championships.
October 31st, 2021 at 6:18 AM ^
Really?
I find its play calling, effort, and results against our biggest rivals that makes being a fan a miserable experience.
You have known about that special segment of our fanbase forever.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:18 PM ^
Poor Aidan, he was fantastic, Walker was running thru big holes. He was good, but come on 200 some yards? It's not like Thorn is going to gash you back there.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:24 PM ^
I can’t believe they didn’t have a spy on Walker.
October 30th, 2021 at 10:19 PM ^
If only football was this easy
October 30th, 2021 at 10:48 PM ^
Linebackers were horrendously out of position or took horrible angles to tackle Walker on a bunch of his runs. Josh Ross and NHG had bad games. The UFR will not be kind to them. I mean, how many times did Walker get stuffed at the line for a couple seconds, to then run the other way and find daylight? Just bad, bad defense. The fourth down conversions were back breaking and breathed life into MSU when we had opportunities to extend the lead. I am out of words. Totally frustrated with the D. The effort was there but the smarts were not.
October 31st, 2021 at 2:13 AM ^
I think UFR will show it was Aidan that didn’t set the edge on the first touchdown (while their WR was doing the same thing Anthony got flagged).
He was still a beast fighting through constant holds (from the guy that threw a punch and should have been out) and scored a touchdown.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:27 PM ^
Macdonald and the defense were so ill prepared for this game. No idea how to handle MSU going tempo. It was embarrassing. Had 2nd and 18 at the end of the game and let State turn that into 3rd and 3. Then they let them get the first. The defense collapsed every time Michigan started to pull away a little. Awful tackling throughout. I will be glad when Harbaugh is fired just so that Harbaugh's brother's recommendation gets canned, too.
October 31st, 2021 at 11:43 AM ^
I think the lack of success against tempo from the defense is an artifact of the fact that our offense doesn’t do it. If you never can really practice against it run well you can’t really be prepared. It’s also effective, and that is why teams do it.
Having said that, not calling a timeout on the second touchdown is inexcusable, it was blindingly obvious they weren’t ready
October 31st, 2021 at 7:34 PM ^
It shouldn’t matter what our offense does or doesn’t do. That’s why you have scouts and scout teams. Harbaugh, as head coach, has to hold those responsible accountable. I’m not saying fire anyone, just make damn sure it doesn’t happen again.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:28 PM ^
Macdonald and the defense were so ill prepared for this game. No idea how to handle MSU going tempo. It was embarrassing. Had 2nd and 18 at the end of the game and let State turn that into 3rd and 3. Then they let them get the first. The defense collapsed every time Michigan started to pull away a little. Awful tackling throughout. I will be glad when Harbaugh is fired just so that Harbaugh's brother's recommendation gets canned, too.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:28 PM ^
The issues on defense were always a possibility. MSU hits big plays, and we've given some up.
Giving up TDs on literally every scoring chance is a bit much, though. Extremely disappointing. Macdonald getting tempo'd is inexcusable (especially after they knew it was a problem in the second half) but beyond that Michigan just could not string stops together, and then Walker would get a crease and that was it.
The defense is, honestly, the real disappointment today. We knew they weren't as good as the numbers suggested; giving up this kind of performance is tough, though.
October 30th, 2021 at 5:08 PM ^
The fact that they give massive cushions and play so much soft zone is what drives me crazy because they still give up big plays. I just wish if Mac was going to be a not great coach, he'd be a great recruiter, but he's not. He's just a guy pretty much.
October 30th, 2021 at 5:50 PM ^
We have no idea how good of a DC he is yet, the results just aren't in.
And you need to be a bit patient. The soft coverage is to not get burned deep by the receivers. And there were a couple of big plays through the air (the really frustrating one was that first one on 4th down when Michigan played cover zero, which I think was a mistake but they were playing 100% run), but it wasn't a problem the way it was last year. The big plays were mostly Walker cutbacks, and some of that is Walker being good.
The soft screen stuff was more frustrating because it kept a lot of MSU drives alive.
October 30th, 2021 at 6:14 PM ^
As of right now, he's a below average one. I understand why the pay soft coverage, but it's dumb to play that soft, keep their drives alive and on schedule, and then still get beat anyway. I get that they're not getting burned as often as last year, but they've played 2 good offense. Those offense put up over 30 points and around 400 yards of offense and consistently out-smarted MacDonald.
Walker had almost 200 yards and scored 5 TDs, 5! That's an insane amount, how can any good DC not be able to adjust to at least stop one guy from going off. Somehow he didn't do that against other teams.
It's hard to ask for patience, when they have a losing record against MSU. They're going to get completely obliterated by OSU, which sucks.
October 31st, 2021 at 5:24 AM ^
The problem with that position is that a program like Michigan (or any blue blood college program) shouldn't be hiring coordinators that are learning on the job. With the amount of money at disposal, we should be poaching more experienced staff members (who are currently coordinators or HCs) from the other schools (usually from schools below on the pecking order) - which is exactly what Bama does, btw.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:29 PM ^
Macdonald and the defense were so ill prepared for this game. No idea how to handle MSU going tempo. It was embarrassing. Had 2nd and 18 at the end of the game and let State turn that into 3rd and 3. Then they let them get the first. The defense collapsed every time Michigan started to pull away a little. Awful tackling throughout. I will be glad when Harbaugh is fired just so that Harbaugh's brother's recommendation gets canned, too.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:33 PM ^
Hutch's TD recovery could have been the difference if play stood. I thought Michigan would win after Hutch's second half sack. Hard to believe with more than 550 yds of offense M lost. Walker is a very good rb. The MSU qb threw a dime on 4th down and made some plays. Michigan missed a few tackles today. Also a few times we were not ready for MSU up tempo. That and our second half fumbles ended up being the difference imo.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:35 PM ^
After Rutgers, then Nebraska, then today, how hasn’t Macdonald faced more scrutiny? What he did today was absolute coaching malpractice.
Too many 2nd half performances where teams adjust and he has nothing.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:37 PM ^
Mike Macdonald’s defense with its 3rd crap 2nd half performance. (Rutgers, Nebraska, today)
Keep trying to sub against tempo though.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:37 PM ^
We needed to assign someone on running downs to shadow Walker. Can't do it every down, but at least do it until Tucker and his OC adjust.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:40 PM ^
Wow our LB really suck this season. The DL played well but our LB wiffed on so many of those long runs.
October 30th, 2021 at 4:41 PM ^
Remember early in the season when ESPN would gas the defense up by saying they had a top player at each level? Yeah that’s called myth making. There’s two players on this defense that are even close to elite and that’s DO and AH, and those guys get single blocked too often to be considered elite. Idk what they’re doing with Dax but it’s not working. He’s not a corner, he lacks the size to be a SS but they’re overloaded with FS so to get him on the field he has to play somewhere but they’re doing nothing special with him. Just letting him get burnt on an island by 3* WRs.
The interior DL has been bad all year long but I actually thought they were reasonable today; it’s the truly horrendous play from the LBs that made them look bad. These linebackers wouldn’t start for Pioneer let alone a “top 6” team.