Mich1993

October 10th, 2021 at 3:44 PM ^

I'm a big believer in Cade and think his run/pass decisions on each play is what makes the offense go.  This being said, I'm fine with bringing in McCarthy for a run here and there is fine.  I'm waiting for us to burn someone overplaying the clear tendency with a pass down the field.

Joined: 12/08/2010

MGoPoints: 3459

stephenrjking

October 9th, 2021 at 11:22 PM ^

Slow to start. Some questionable playcalls, the occasional missed pass:

None of it matters. Must-score drive after must-score drive in the second half, on the road, and they executed, and they won. 

Cade's saying it right now on tv. Michigan teams in the past lose this game. Michigan won this game. The offense HAD to come through, and they did. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143860

Mgoczar

October 9th, 2021 at 11:38 PM ^

Completely agree with this. Previous Michigan teams would have 3 and outs ans would just die. This team responded. 

Who thought they'd be 6-0? I didn't. 

It does seem like a running QB is a MUST in today's college game, unless you are Bama may be. With that view, JJ needs to marinate and be ready. Also recruiting needs to keep going hard after game breaking QBs and RBs

Also if Michigan had Ronnie Bell, I bet M wins comfortably. That loss alone will bite Michigan because none of the receivers are THAT consistent. I really hope Wilson comes back soon and Mcnamara / JJ build more chemistry with receivers. Timing routes and some misdirection plays needed to rev offense into next gear. 

 

Joined: 09/29/2017

MGoPoints: 4198

BlueFish

October 10th, 2021 at 2:21 PM ^

I didn’t even watch all of the game (at a concert), but I’d probably top MY list with bringing JJ in (twice?) ONLY to pull the ball on the read option. The second time, the announcers, Nebraska, everyone in the stadium, the guys on Gameday, and even people in Borneo knew he was going to pull it.

Ok fine, they wanted the ball on the left hash for the FG. They didn’t need to lose 7ish yards to do that, and make the kick that much harder.

Joined: 08/21/2009

MGoPoints: 4653

UM_Ftown

October 9th, 2021 at 11:24 PM ^

Cade just said other Michigan teams of the past would have lost this game. 
 

Thanks goodness our RBs are good and make up for crappy play calling. 

Joined: 10/20/2018

MGoPoints: 7872

LGenius

October 10th, 2021 at 12:15 PM ^

Cade’s biggest issue in this game was his deep ball, where he’s usually sharp. If he hits one or two of his misses this game feels very different.
 

For example, Mikey walks into the EZ if there’s more air under his pass, but that turned into 3 points. 

I was never a huge Cade believer but I thought he did what he needed to to win the game (minus the one big mistake). He made a lot of key 3rd down conversions on TE seams and out routes. Credit him for not turtling up after he threw the interception. 

Joined: 02/28/2010

MGoPoints: 1029

yossarians tree

October 10th, 2021 at 2:38 PM ^

I said it last week about Johnson, and will say it this week about Baldwin: our bigger receivers have got to learn how to pull up, body up, leap, and high point those 50-50 balls. Not every deep ball is going to hit them in stride. A big receiver has big advantages against a smaller corner who is turning around and trying to find the ball. This is a failure of our WR coaching. Show them highlights of Junior Hemingway and Nico Collins doing this.

Joined: 08/19/2010

MGoPoints: 22292

legalblue

October 10th, 2021 at 1:05 AM ^

I didn't see playcalling as an issue in this game.  We pulled out some good play calls on 3rd down and our goal line offense was better than in previous games.  

Also that 4th quarter featured two key injuries to the interior line.  Yet our run game was still productive to outright good.  That's progress in my book.

Joined: 09/04/2010

MGoPoints: 809

Moleskyn

October 10th, 2021 at 7:55 AM ^

I thought this was the best game Gattis has called at UM. Michigan had openings and opportunities - they were there. To me, this game highlighted Cade's limitations. Left a lot of yards and points on the table due to execution.

That said, this offense still put up over 450 yards, executed a functional 2-minute drill (when's the last time a Michigan offense did that), and stepped up to make plays when they needed to. And comparing this to how the offense looked against Washington - the growth and improvement are obvious, and that's the most encouraging thing to me.

Joined: 06/28/2010

MGoPoints: 10287

gobluem

October 10th, 2021 at 9:37 AM ^

Exactly, DESPITE missing some really open throws we still piled up good yards and 32 points on a respectable defense during a road night game

 

If McNamara hits Sainristil in stride, or the 2 or 3 other open deep shots to Baldwin that he missed, this is a blowout. 

 

I thought playcalling was by and large excellent. Execution was the bugaboo. Yeah, there were a couple headscratching calls but there were far more great ones

 

 

 

Joined: 09/15/2017

MGoPoints: 6824

Jeff09

October 10th, 2021 at 11:11 AM ^

Totally agree

gattis and the offensive coaches seem to be seeing things really well. Lots of wide open options deep all night, was a well-called game. Also got good production on the ground when we needed it (and when Cade wasn’t kneeling out the running plays lol)

Joined: 06/25/2011

MGoPoints: 8460

clarkiefromcanada

October 9th, 2021 at 11:26 PM ^

So I guess the narrative will change to how the Nebraska defense wasn't that great (since Michigan ran well on them in the second half?) 

I was honestly surprised at how well they played and that defense is clearly improved since their Sparty game. 

Big win in a hostile environment. Just like last week.

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 49257

Sparty Doesn't Know

October 9th, 2021 at 11:27 PM ^

Change the QB over the bye week.  I agree with Cade, other Harbaugh teams would have lost this game.  I appreciate the candor, but he is not an elite QB.  Struggling with teams coached by a guy who hasn't beaten a ranked team is not going to cut it.  JJ has an elite ceiling.

Joined: 01/11/2018

MGoPoints: 2234

Sopwith

October 10th, 2021 at 12:01 PM ^

All (I think it was him) wasn't on the same page with Cade on the route. That pass wasn't going to be completed even if the safety hadn't jumped it-- look at it again, All stopped and Cade thought he was going to turn it into something like a dig route, so he led him and was just standing watching the ball sail past on the right. 

Joined: 06/29/2010

MGoPoints: 61105

DenardGoHard16

October 10th, 2021 at 12:32 AM ^

I actually agree with this. #12 is a great 'game manager,' but that doesn't beat MSU/PSU/OSU. Simply put, far too many misthrows, especially on the deep balls! It seems like WRs are getting behind the defense often, only to look up to a underthrown/overthrown ball. The clean pocket pass to a wide open #5 comes to mind. Receiver made the diving catch, but that needs to be a walk in TD. A couple plays later, QB falls down on the handoff from the 1 yard line, and we settle for a field goal instead of TD, costing us 4points... 

Sure #9 will make mistakes and have a learning curve, but he has also shown that he can hit the deep ball in stride. More positive game-changing plays than negative ones.

Joined: 10/07/2012

MGoPoints: 389

UgLi Eric

October 10th, 2021 at 2:42 AM ^

I haven't seen a PSU game yet. I've seen OSU and MSU.

I still do not believe MSU fits in with those other two. They might beat us. Nebraska and Rutgers came close enough to show we should remain grounded and enjoy the ride. The MSU v. Rutgers game left me feeling, while they have a QB that can test you deep, a running back who won't quit, a WR who has a really high motor and a sound enough defense, they are not that well rounded and have a number of exploitable holes (especially game management/coaching). 

I think Nebraska is a better coached team than MSU, although I hate giving Frost an undeserved complement that he will equate with a win in his petty little mind.  If Nebraska didn't take as many risks and lean on the same player so much (IE. Overly aggressive/confident throws, extra yard pushes after a first down by their QB, trickery) they might actually have won as many as 3 more games including last night (Illinois and MSU - although that special teams win for MSU was vintage Frost duly negating my aforementioned complement). Then again, that type of high risk, high reward gameplay is what made last night's game so incredibly exciting. I saw the same thing out of other Big 12 teams (TX v. OU). That is probably where Nebraska learned their style of play (I doubt it was from UCF). Although Frost himself might be a product of coaching like he is an underdog, IE. UCF more than a former power of the Big 12. 

Rutgers is infinitely more interesting to play (and watch...good screwing on the final second FG, Schiano) now. Nebraska is fun too. MSU should be interesting and if we did lose ~30-40% of games against Mel I wouldn't be nearly as upset as losing a single game to that ass hat overtaker before him. Maryland looks like they could belong, but are too two-faced to fit with the rest of the league. If you take away OSU, the Big Ten East would be close to an annual toss up with Michigan/PSU as frequent preseason favorites.  The Big Ten as a whole would only have Illinois and down year NWU/Indiana and some Maryland strange to hold them back. 

Joined: 10/09/2016

MGoPoints: 13948

nperna12

October 10th, 2021 at 9:26 AM ^

If Michigan scores 30+ like they have on the road in super hostile environments vs a elite defense and a good one. I don’t see how Michigan doesn’t beat both msu and PSU. Osu is the only question. 30 plus with our d vs a normal to semi normal type of offense. I love our odds. The defense looked bad cuz of the offensive scheme. Give me a regular offense and this defense all day. 
 

 

Joined: 10/02/2010

MGoPoints: 391

WolvinMaine

October 10th, 2021 at 8:47 AM ^

I don't know.  They are a flawed team, yes, but still 6-0, and it is hard to bench the guy that got you there, particularly after a couple of wins on the road in conference play. 

JJ has a much higher ceiling, but also a lower floor right now because he is still learning and getting experience. 

Also, this game looks very different if we had a bit better play from our receivers and avoided some of those false starts.  

Joined: 12/16/2009

MGoPoints: 187

burtcomma

October 10th, 2021 at 12:26 PM ^

Fortunately, you are not our head coach nor our QB coach.  I have much greater confidence in our coaches knowing when and if it is time to start JJ than some random fan/alumnus claiming JJ has a “higher” ceiling.  JJ will continue to get snaps, and those instances will increase as he gets better & more adept at our O.  Be very happy we have them both.  Remember 2016 & 2017???  I sure do…..

Joined: 11/01/2009

MGoPoints: 5851