One notion that I hope was laid to rest for good today.
The notion that RR doesn't "get" the rivalry.
I guess it's insignificant, and there's plenty of other things to rip on him about, and frankly I don't feel like defending him much anymore...but hopefully today squashed the nonsense about him not "getting" the rivalry. We matched their intensity, and laid it all out there; just not good enough in terms of talent (and coaching, I guess), as we all expected/knew.
Overall, I was proud of our team today. Proud in the same vein that you're proud of a six-year old who pees without totally missing the toilet, but proud nonetheless.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:39 PM ^
I didn't see us get out-coached today. I saw a great defense get under the skin of a freshman QB, plain and simple. We beat ourselves with errors, and the coaches can't do anything about having to use a freshman at QB who just isn't ready to perform at a Big Ten level yet. We'll get it together.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:35 PM ^
...for what its worth, we really looked like a team today with some freshman that just got rattled.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:58 PM ^
And I think that's what we've been seeing most of the year. Not coaching errors, but execution errors. Hopefully a more experienced team next year will have less of those.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:40 PM ^
"Proud in the same vein that you're proud of a six-year old who pees without totally missing the toilet"
I literally laughed out loud at this!!
November 21st, 2009 at 10:02 PM ^
When I read that too.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:41 PM ^
The team looked focused and intense today. The loss is hard, but not as hard when you see your team is giving it their all.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:46 PM ^
I agree but next year I will be expecting more actual victories then moral ones.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:56 PM ^
I think everyone is. I think most of RR's most ardent supporters will concede that next year we need to be better or else we must can him.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:11 PM ^
As a huge Rich Rod supporter I agree with this. But we really need to look at some of the unlucky things that happened to this team this year. Molk hurt, Minor never healthy, C. Brown not able to go, when you are a team that is predicted to go 7-5 and you lose your best offensive lineman and your best 2 runningbacks you are not going to perform up to expectations.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:32 PM ^
We were overwhelmed with injuries on the offensive side of the ball. I hope the running backs can stay healthy next year. Molk coming back should help the line immensely.
On defense, I have to assume we'll be better when we can work Turner and others who didn't see the field, much if at all, into the rotation next year. I'm not expecting a championship, but I want to see marked improvements.
I'll be counting the days.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:07 PM ^
I am in complete agreement with this statement. Brandon Minor would have made a HUGE difference in this game. I can go back to the first drive and say that, had Minor been in, Tate may not have been in the position to fumble the ball away for a touchdown. Carlos Brown is another crucial option for the offense that was missing. The running game never really got going and UM was still able to make some great plays - Roundtree and Mathews had great games. If UM avoids serious NCAA violations, things are looking very good. UM needs to keep Rodriguez.
On a different, yet similar note, a few OSU fans I work with actually questioned why UM fans would want Rodriguez out if no serious NCAA violations took place. They are intelligent football guys and are worried about the potential Michigan has under Rodriguez. Once he gets his guys and this whole NCAA investigation is put to rest (hopefully it will be) I believe this team will be very dangerous.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:11 PM ^
These "unlucky things"=football. No team is ever 100% healthy all year. The point is being able to make up for it instead of using it as an excuse.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:18 PM ^
It would be different if people were saying that injuries to Odoms or Savoy ruined the season, but Molk and Minor are (well, I guess were in Minor's case, now... sad) the best players on this very young offense. It might be that with a healthy Molk and Minor this team gets another win or two this season. Maybe not, but maybe.
I don't think anyone is saying anything more than this.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:10 PM ^
Many of the mistakes Forcier made today were not inevitable. Hanging on to the ball like a loaf of bread in the endzone was very disappointing. Throwing one INT on a long pass the first time to double coverage was understood - trying to make something happen. Doing it a second time was just beyond freshman like. Then throwing a pick right at the defender was just unexplainable. He had protection for the most part in this game, yet he made some really bad decisions. I am not sure what to attribute it to anymore but i can tell you this - the QB job next year is wide open.
I was extremely proud of this defense. I mean, they played their hearts out. Props to them. They allowed 14 points - that's it, 14 freaking points! The least amount of points they have allowed against any Big Ten opponent this year. Great freaking job guys.
And this is why i am more disappointed than i thought i would be after this outcome. This team showed up to play today, but the efforts of one person were subpar. Oh well, nothing else to say.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:10 PM ^
I think most of the mistakes were due to Tate being a freshman who still doesn't have a lot of experience. I expect that he will improve greatly heading in to next season, with all of the extra practice.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:22 PM ^
we have seen time and time again him holding on to the ball like that. When does it stop? I can understand if it would be the first time, but this is like his 5th time where he has put the ball on the ground, just because. The kid doesn't have the Brady or Henne arm, which i can understand and accept, but why try to go for a bomb when you don't have the arm and are forcing it into double coverage? I don't know, i have lost my confidence in this kid. Doesn't make for a good post, but reality is what i am channeling right now. Just don't see this kid as the leader of this team. I could be wrong, but that's where i am right now.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:28 PM ^
He's a freshman. If you expect freshmen to be fundamentally sound players, you'll be consistently disappointed. It takes time.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:34 PM ^
To support your point, look at the career of Carson Palmer. He struggled his first three years and didn't really start to live up to his potential until his senior year (when he won the Heisman).
November 21st, 2009 at 5:44 PM ^
Understood, but i don't think RR will get 3 years of this kind of struggle. If he doesn't get a winning record and a bowl game next year i suspect things will get very, very uncomfortable for him. We cant afford this kind of play next year and expect RR to be around. I am an RR supporter and that's why i am so bummed. They had a freaking great game plan today.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:35 PM ^
That last pick was just him pressing too much. He couldn't even see what was plain in front of his face. That's okay. I fully expect him to make a big leap in abilities next year.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:37 PM ^
but when the O-line protects you better than they did for the Purdue, Illinois, or Wisconsin games, i didn't expect 5 turnovers, that's all. I'd like to see improvement after 11 games, and i don't see it. I see ups and downs but no definite trajectory that gives me hope of improvement at this position.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:04 PM ^
I have to agree with your post. I think Tate is poised and advanced for a freshman QB but I'm not so sure anymore that I believe he is a fast learner. The way that he has held onto the ball all year, especially in his own endzone, worries me. I believe he starts next season but if DG proves to be a fast learner it would not surprise me one bit that Devin finishes the year as our QB.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:22 PM ^
Instead of pinning it all on Tate, maybe it's better to just tip your cap to OSU's defense. They disguised their coverages very well and our freshman QB, predictably enough, was confused at times. It happens.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:09 PM ^
...I will agree that the sacks were incredibly frustrating. O-line played well.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:24 PM ^
I'm born and raised in WV... I've been a Michigan fan since 3rd grade. I've taken soooo much crap the past two years, I'm on my 4th outdoor flag thanks to the queers who have slashed them. I'm hoping and praying RR can turn it around.... The defense looked decent today, but man those turnovers.....
November 21st, 2009 at 5:29 PM ^
And my hat's off to you
November 21st, 2009 at 5:34 PM ^
You should rig your flag to have an electrical current and pop some popcorn.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:43 PM ^
I ended up buying a wireless camera and pointed it right at the flag. So far so good. I've always taken some flack just because I never pulled for WVU, but ya now.... I proudly wear my shirts and hats and I've had more than one guy smart off since "Rich sold his soul". I've always said come back and we'll talk when you win a title in something besides couch burning. It has been hard, but I've always kept up with WVU too, the mess that Don Nealon let that team with stagnation, if RR could turn it around, which he did. He should be playing for a BCS championship in a few years at UM.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:52 PM ^
The idea that some other coach would be doing a way better job with this team.
Cal 34, Stanford 28. I guess Jimmy Harbaugh just doesn't "get" the rivalry.
We should all be praising the effort, commitment, sacrifice, and heart displayed by every member of the Michigan football team today. Anybody who wants to bitch and moan and badmouth the coaches while recommending successors is a dickhead.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:59 PM ^
He had a fantastic gameplan and fought them until the end - we were in the game the whole way through. anOSU didn't even cover the spread - if this is what he can do with our current level of talent, he's going to start owning Tressel in the future.
No one can put major blame RR or GERG today - I really think Tate was the only person who I could find major fault with, but he'll improve. His sack/fumble for the TD and pick at the goal line were what cost us the game today. But he'll learn and grow as a player, and with another year and improved talent, he'll be better.