Official Post-game Opinion Thread

1. JT Floyd looked competent out there, and a huge improvement over last year.  Other side is going to be interesting, but hopefully Floyd can competently cover guys.
2. Run defense was very stout, and Martin and Roh really took a step forward from last year.  Would have liked to see the Big Otter this game, though.  Not necessarily a good sign.
3. DR is a beast, and Smith looks like the top back.  
4. Offensive line gets the game ball - every runner had 2-3 yards of running room before the first UConn defender was even close.
5. ND is going to be tough, but their offense has regressed  and UM's offense has improved.  Defenses being about even, expect another 30-10-style score. 

Mouton was everywhere, laying people out. AWESOME

This is just the type of win the team (and the fans) needed. Our offense proved effective, and Denard proved he could pass. Our defense played better than they did much of last season, and though there are gaping wounds in the backfield, they played hard and never gave up. We're going to be really challenged by passing teams, but if our offense can dominate possession time and score often, that should take at least some pressure off our D. In short, I feel elated and I hope the team does too.

 

Go Blue!

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1. We could score immediately - whether from the 40 or our own ten, Denard can house it if given enough of a seam. 2. The above made our receivers mad open, so that precision wasn't really necessary (but DRob was usually on the mone anyway). 3. TEAM defense was one key - nobody dominant, and plenty of errors, but on the whole, the effot was examplary. Giving only ten to an offense that Herbie said returned 8 starters is sweet. By the way - I hope Herbie spends this week repenting for his confidence in UConn or maintaining it while swinging on Michigan's nuts.

1. We could score immediately - whether from the 40 or our own ten, Denard can house it if given enough of a seam. 2. The above made our receivers mad open, so that precision wasn't really necessary (but DRob was usually on the mone anyway). 3. TEAM defense was one key - nobody dominant, and plenty of errors, but on the whole, the effot was examplary. Giving only ten to an offense that Herbie said returned 8 starters is sweet. By the way - I hope Herbie spends this week repenting for his confidence in UConn or maintaining it while swinging on Michigan's nuts.

1. We could score immediately - whether from the 40 or our own ten, Denard can house it if given enough of a seam. 2. The above made our receivers mad open, so that precision wasn't really necessary (but DRob was usually on the mone anyway). 3. TEAM defense was one key - nobody dominant, and plenty of errors, but on the whole, the effot was examplary. Giving only ten to an offense that Herbie said returned 8 starters is sweet. By the way - I hope Herbie spends this week repenting for his confidence in UConn or maintaining it while swinging on Michigan's nuts.

1) RR and crew did an outstanding job keeping the game straightforward and simple and playing into Robinson's strengths. M didnt have to reveal anything and I'm assuming the offense should be a bit more dynamic next week. Just outstanding coaching all around. 2) I don't think I've ever seen such good 3rd down performance. EVER. Wow Robinson so impressive and can really make a standard 3-4 yd gain into a 9 yd gain. Don't expect 14-19 in every game, but expect around 50%. 3) The defense has a long way to go mentally, but the scheme looked great. The players were fast and know how to hit and they didnt have a ton of missed tackles. Linebackers showed up to play today, however it's clear that they are going to be average at best this season. 4) That said, M funneled everything down the middle of the defense and over the long run it was a winning strategy. There are going to be major issues and we ARE going to lose games due to huge defensive mistakes, but I also believe that the defense will make more big plays that are underrated on the stat sheet eg. JT Floyd putting his helmet on Shoemate causing a fumble that would prove critical to UConns chances. Overall great start to the season and glad to see we are going to be a dangerous underdog this year.

Oops

Oops

In my opinion, Denard Robinson just earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.

We're the only Big Ten team that didn't play a cupcake and DR ran circles around them.

Also, Randy Edsall is now 0-5 against Rich Rodriguez. That part is a fact, not my opinion.

On a side note, how the f*ck are we still unable to field a punt after 3 years? This is a routine play that most programs have no trouble with.

Do they not do enough reps in practice or something? Given how long this problem has persisted and how many different players have had issues, I think this is squarely on the coaches and not something you can blame on the personnel.

 - I wanted to see more downfield passing, but in all fairness, some of the above posters probably have it right.  It was windy out.  The offense was rolling on the ground, so why tip our hand?

 - I'd still like to see the defense wrap up better on tackles, but I think everybody says that every year.

 - I'm not so confident in our run defense, at least right up the gut.  I think we'll potentially have trouble with teams that are a lot bigger up front.  On the plus, I think we did an alright job of snuffing out plays where the ball carrier rolled to the outside.

 - Gibbons' performance was worrying.

 - Were the two-to-three squib kicks intentional?  What was the deal with that?

 - I like that the guy a few posts above me double-posted, and then instead of editting the double-post to put "oops," he just made a third post with "oops" in it.

...as expected and more!  The defense looked much improved.  Anxiously awaiting the Monday's presser to hear what the coaches thought after having had a chance to look at the film.  Hope everyone gets the treatment they need and recovers fully by Saturday so we can hand ND their 1st loss of the 2010 season.  Here's to hoping <cheers>

1. The offense finally looked like one of Rodriguez' WV teams, staffed by veterans. 473 yards, 29 first downs, 3 incomplete passes, 1 penalty. D Robinson in particular looked like a 5th year senior.

2. Defense played well for the most part. UConn is a good running team, and they were not able to run on us consistently. Secondary wasn't airtight of course, but they tackled well and kept plays in front of them. It was good to see Mouton, Ezeh, Floyd, and Rogers doing some good things.

3. Kick and punt returns need some work.

4. Overall this was the team's best game since the Florida game at the end of the 07 season.  

DRob was better than anyone could have predicted. Unbelievable is all you can say. I thought that the D played an ultrasoft zone most of the game which limited big plays, but could really be a big concern going forward, especially against a big target like Rudolph next week. I loved the way Mouton looked. He has really improved. Floyd looked better, and Rogers is going to be servicable. Kovacs, while I love his heart and hustle, still looks overmatched at times in the passing game. We need to get MRob up to speed in that position. The DLine is outstanding, and the D could really impress this year. Smith should definately get the majority of carries, as he seems quicker and shiftier. Would also like to see Cox/Hopkins going forward to help ease the burden of DRob and to pound out the short yards. I think we will surprise a lot of teams this year, and that we could compete for a New Years Day bowl when all is said and done.

1) The defense still scares me, especially the pass rush. We didn't get home very often at all.

2) If Denard is going to carry the ball that much, he's going to miss a couple games due to getting rocked by a LB or DE.

3) I noticed a few times that right after Denard threw the ball and likely before it would have been roughing the passer, the UConn defensive players laid up and didn't hit him. That's not likely to continue.

4) Denard's passing has improved about 5000%

1. The offensive play calling and execution.

2. How we played fast and aggressive on both sides of the ball.

3. Denard.  I said here a few days ago that he would be in the conversation for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.  He is off to a good start.

4. David Brandon's post game remarks - "I have been to a lot of practices and this team plays hard, has a great attitude and a little bit of a chip on it's shoulder."

With the team unity, great attitude and desire that they seem to have, this team should continue to improve throughout the year.

For a DB thrust into the lineup like he was, that is about as big a compliment as you can pay a guy.  Other than the fluky bobbled ball, the secondary did a solid job tackling and preventing big plays.  If they can keep that up (just avoid making me want to stab my eyes out on a regular basis and force opposing offenses to drive down the field) the d-line and the offense will win a lot of games.

Craig Roh looks like he could have a really big year. 

Denard is the truth.  For those wanting more deep balls, I think ball control played a part in that strategy as well (with great success).  The offense was just ruthless on the two second half scoring drives and ate up a ton of time, giving UConn zero chance to get back in the game and keeping our D fresh.

If not for a dropped pass on the drive where we blocked the field goal and the fumble on the fourth down play, this could have been a tight game. Nonetheless, it was encouraging to see the defense play reasonably well against a team that had been in a bowl last year.

My biggest fear, though, is that UConn is not as good as they appeared to be going into the season. I'll shut up now, though, and enjoy the win.

With Shaw's running today. He may have been overshadowed by the mass amounts of Dilithium flying across the field, but I was amazed a few times at this kid's ability to find the seams today, and some of the cuts he made to keep a play alive left me checking my own ankles to make sure they weren't broken. I know it was only the first game against an opponent that may not have been as competitive as we thought (or maybe we were just that good!), but color me impressed by #20.

 

Go Blue!

all i will say is I have never been confident about picking up a 3rd and 11 until Drob. By the time i took a sip of beer denard was 6 yards past the LOS.

I want tate to stay but damn that was the most impressive first time start in UM history, Harmon included.