Ah! Thank you for this! While I am not sure that “bend” is the word I would have gone with, the idea is the exact reason why I was so frustrated with Gary’s tenure at Michigan. He could never seem to translate his massive tangible and intangible gifts into stats. This idea of bending is what allows defenders who look like they’ve been neutralized become suddenly massive threats that lead to sacks. Kind of like a defensive back who lies low in the zone to bait a QB into throwing a pick, rush specialists have to be able cultivate an air where QBs think they are safe until they suddenly aren’t - and the ability to bend past a block is a huge part of that. After all, it’s pretty easy to react to a threat you see coming.
But they have been really bad this game. Two critical pass interference no calls, an iffy pass interference call on Peppers, and an impossible roughing the punter call - it has been really bad.
But I haven't seen it: If they knew they were going to punt at the end of the fourth quarter, why didn't they take another delay of game to attempt a better pooch/coffin corner? I was wondering that at the time, but I didn't hear anyone else ask this - to my mind - pretty obvious question.
Remember that these are kids, most of them can't even drink. It is inevitable that there will be some growing pains. How about we put together a highlight reel of all the stupid mistakes mgobloggers made in their twenties and then we broadcast it on television.
You can be sad that we lost - it hurts, I know - but think about how you would feel if someone was saying those things about your kid.
Michigan will end up in the "East" division, maintaining the tradition that you can "figure it out by remembering that Michigan is not in the one mentioned by their fight song."
would be fine. My guess is that yes, he is being moved because lost time due to various injuries which have kept him from being in true playing shape for more than a year. He will be a good and serviceable backup at safety, but time has not been kind. Chalk him up as another player victim of the coaching kerfuffle because I can pretty much assure you he would be more than serviceable at this position if he had only stayed a safety, or am I the only one who remembers that?
a 48 yard FGA? I could have sworn the B1G joke announcers were talking about how Gibbons had never made a FG from beyond 40 and I am fairly certain that if it was 28 yards out, it would not have been so easy to block.
I distinctly remember watching the play unfold in the stadium and the main reason for the play's outcome is that Gallon slips a little bit right as Denard releases the ball. If Gallon manages to keep his footing, I still don't think he comes up with it but I don't think that the ND DB does either. I would like to lobby this to be brought down to a BR but this is a results based charting service...
I am trying to submit myself into the drawing for the "Ohio" game tickets, but I cannot seem to get it to work. Everytime I try to submit it says that I am missing information (name, phone, email) but there is no place to fill in this information. Is anyone else experiencing this issue?
***SPOILER ALERT***
Tickets are located under the north scoreboard, right by the entrance to Section 34.
I agree wholeheartedly. This is one of the best posts I have read in a long time. More than anything right now, I feel resigned. Do not misunderstand me, I will vigorously support this team, this coach, and this program for as long as I have the voice to do so, but right now I feel like we have thrown in the towel.
so is it possible that some of our DBs grew. I know it is highly unlikely that all of them did but I would probably only give this about 3 out of 5 FAKEs.
The kid was just eminently likable. I wish him the best in whatever the hell is currently happening to his career. That being said, good luck to this crop of young talent.
but I was watching college football update when Smith said this and he was actually referring to the fact that many people have already made up their minds about needing to fire Greg Robinson, not Rich Rodriguez. In fact, he was arguing that the deficiencies on defense were not all Greg Robinson's fault and that a lot of it had to do with the fact that the kids aren't yet ready to execute, but it looked like too many people had already written off Robinson. That was really the gist of what he was saying.
Wins, it will take wins. Nothing less. People who want Rodriguez gone will want blood for sure, but it will never be enough unless the head coach is part of the bloodletting. The only way he can avoid that is to win and if that happens, people may not like him, but they will accept him.
I think a good amount of blame for the defense can rest squarely on Rich Rod's shoulders. The reason I say this is because Rich Rod doesn't seem to trust his D coordinators. Looking across the tenures of both Shafer and Robinson, it seems like Rich Rod is a backseat driver when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. It is apparently not his forte, but when things aren't going right it is almost like he forces his coordinators to put in packages that he likes (i.e. nickel with Shafer and 3-3-5 variant with Robinson). In that way he is the ultimate Sunday Morning Quarterback who goes and second guesses the gameplan at every opportunity.
I realize that a large part of this is just him trying to secure his own job, but the fact of the matter is that for a guy who is trying to sell the winningest program on a radically different way of viewing the game; he seems to have very little patience for buying into his D-coordinators' ability to do their own job. It seems kind of funny to think, but if RR is forced to leave the program, the thing that may have sealed his fate was the fact that he wasn't able to get Casteel (a coordinator he trusts) to follow him out of WVU.
but it does not hold much water. There was virtually no chance that Iowa gets the ball back with a real scoring opportunity. Even with the timeouts, they didn't get the ball back. Calling those timeouts is the football equivalent of teabagging someone, not that MSU doesn't deserve it.
Are they dickish or are they awesome? I really don't know. If ever there was a team deserving of that kind of treatment, it is definitely MSU, but nevertheless calling those timeouts is pretty bush league. I am conflicted.
Other than the second half against MSU, the Illini have looked pretty good. Right now, they are up 31-0 on Purdue and they are seriously looking like the biggest obstacle over the next 3 weeks. Are Purdue and Penn State really that bad, or is Illinois getting good?
is it possible that his bad choices are something that he has had drilled into him to try to cover up for Obi's mistakes? I don't know a terrible amount about the X's and O's, but it stands to reason that a lot of mistakes can occur when your players don't trust each other.
That Florida team was much more about the players that they had at their skill positions, than either of those two guys. In fact, that team was really carried, by its defense. Nevertheless, the main reason that Tebow and Leak could even stand to be on the same team together was because one was a freshman and the other was a senior. The only reason Tebow saw the field was because Meyer had to crumble against heavy pressure when Leak wasn't doing so hot.
Having two guys in the same class splitting reps at QB is a recipe for disaster. QB is unlike any other position, you cannot just swap guys in and out. It is virtually inevitable that there is a dropoff in quality from the entire offense when switching guys at QB. It can throw off an opposing defense or two, but the lack of consistency on offense will catch up with you more times than not.
we could sit here and nitpick all day pointing out things that would have changed the complexion of the game if they had gone our way. More than anything I was happy to see us fighting after we got way down. It really sucks to lose, but after we crumpled last week, it was nice to see that we still had some fight in us. Go Blue!
but I think those four turnovers pretty much necessitated the 500+ yards. It was an impressive offensive performance to be sure, but it would have been better if we could have capped those long drives with more touchdowns and less turnovers. Still you can see the potential, tantalizingly displayed in front of you as if to say, "you have not yet suffered enough to deserve me."
Saying that you outgained other teams, but still couldn't come up with the win makes you seem like a special kind of impotent. Oh well, once we put it all together, we will be better.
Recent Comments
Ah! Thank you for this! While I am not sure that “bend” is the word I would have gone with, the idea is the exact reason why I was so frustrated with Gary’s tenure at Michigan. He could never seem to translate his massive tangible and intangible gifts into stats. This idea of bending is what allows defenders who look like they’ve been neutralized become suddenly massive threats that lead to sacks. Kind of like a defensive back who lies low in the zone to bait a QB into throwing a pick, rush specialists have to be able cultivate an air where QBs think they are safe until they suddenly aren’t - and the ability to bend past a block is a huge part of that. After all, it’s pretty easy to react to a threat you see coming.
But they have been really bad this game. Two critical pass interference no calls, an iffy pass interference call on Peppers, and an impossible roughing the punter call - it has been really bad.
...oof. If thinking about that isn't a punch in the soul dong, I don't know what is.
But I haven't seen it: If they knew they were going to punt at the end of the fourth quarter, why didn't they take another delay of game to attempt a better pooch/coffin corner? I was wondering that at the time, but I didn't hear anyone else ask this - to my mind - pretty obvious question.
Remember that these are kids, most of them can't even drink. It is inevitable that there will be some growing pains. How about we put together a highlight reel of all the stupid mistakes mgobloggers made in their twenties and then we broadcast it on television.
You can be sad that we lost - it hurts, I know - but think about how you would feel if someone was saying those things about your kid.
This was prescient!
The cake is a lie
Michigan will end up in the "East" division, maintaining the tradition that you can "figure it out by remembering that Michigan is not in the one mentioned by their fight song."
... but they are 24-0. And that is so depressing I think I am going to make myself a late night drink.
With 232 Rushing yards!
But wasn't the Big House's capacity 107,501 back in 2006?
the emphasis here is on "big," not so much on "east"
If anything, I think the avatar proves that it is a 16 year-old fan.
I am actually picking up the tickets on behalf of someone else so that would be why I did not receive the notice. Thanks for the heads-up.
would be fine. My guess is that yes, he is being moved because lost time due to various injuries which have kept him from being in true playing shape for more than a year. He will be a good and serviceable backup at safety, but time has not been kind. Chalk him up as another player victim of the coaching kerfuffle because I can pretty much assure you he would be more than serviceable at this position if he had only stayed a safety, or am I the only one who remembers that?
www.michigandaily.com/content/woolfolk-may-be-cornerback-good
But I do not think that they will appreciate "that stupid thug from down the street" anymore than "little brother."
a 48 yard FGA? I could have sworn the B1G joke announcers were talking about how Gibbons had never made a FG from beyond 40 and I am fairly certain that if it was 28 yards out, it would not have been so easy to block.
I distinctly remember watching the play unfold in the stadium and the main reason for the play's outcome is that Gallon slips a little bit right as Denard releases the ball. If Gallon manages to keep his footing, I still don't think he comes up with it but I don't think that the ND DB does either. I would like to lobby this to be brought down to a BR but this is a results based charting service...
I am trying to submit myself into the drawing for the "Ohio" game tickets, but I cannot seem to get it to work. Everytime I try to submit it says that I am missing information (name, phone, email) but there is no place to fill in this information. Is anyone else experiencing this issue?
***SPOILER ALERT***
Tickets are located under the north scoreboard, right by the entrance to Section 34.
and look for the open man, dammit! There is such a thing as trying to create too much.
but does it look like the refs are depressed each time Duke misses a free throw?
Here is to hoping that this team will play well this year, but not to be too forward looking, I am really looking forward to next year's bracket.
I agree wholeheartedly. This is one of the best posts I have read in a long time. More than anything right now, I feel resigned. Do not misunderstand me, I will vigorously support this team, this coach, and this program for as long as I have the voice to do so, but right now I feel like we have thrown in the towel.
Right after the Big Ten renames itself to become "Queso."
so is it possible that some of our DBs grew. I know it is highly unlikely that all of them did but I would probably only give this about 3 out of 5 FAKEs.
because you do so much for your devoted fans, but is there a "Key Matchup" for our the running game?
The kid was just eminently likable. I wish him the best in whatever the hell is currently happening to his career. That being said, good luck to this crop of young talent.
but Lewan could be matched up against a sack of potatoes and still be good for at least one ugly hold.
Unfortunately, it is pretty much statistical fact that this is the worst Michigan defense ever assembled.
But I will still love them forever if they beat OSU!
but I was watching college football update when Smith said this and he was actually referring to the fact that many people have already made up their minds about needing to fire Greg Robinson, not Rich Rodriguez. In fact, he was arguing that the deficiencies on defense were not all Greg Robinson's fault and that a lot of it had to do with the fact that the kids aren't yet ready to execute, but it looked like too many people had already written off Robinson. That was really the gist of what he was saying.
Ewww. Defending him made me feel dirty.
I cannot believe that I agree with them. Preparing for head asplosion.
We need to stop with the "[Insert School Name Here] Weeks." That title should be reserved for big games and major rivals, and sometimes for State.
Wins, it will take wins. Nothing less. People who want Rodriguez gone will want blood for sure, but it will never be enough unless the head coach is part of the bloodletting. The only way he can avoid that is to win and if that happens, people may not like him, but they will accept him.
Double post
I thought that he meant he would figure out which of his kickers would be "the one." Maybe I misinterpreted.
ad nauseam
I think a good amount of blame for the defense can rest squarely on Rich Rod's shoulders. The reason I say this is because Rich Rod doesn't seem to trust his D coordinators. Looking across the tenures of both Shafer and Robinson, it seems like Rich Rod is a backseat driver when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. It is apparently not his forte, but when things aren't going right it is almost like he forces his coordinators to put in packages that he likes (i.e. nickel with Shafer and 3-3-5 variant with Robinson). In that way he is the ultimate Sunday Morning Quarterback who goes and second guesses the gameplan at every opportunity.
I realize that a large part of this is just him trying to secure his own job, but the fact of the matter is that for a guy who is trying to sell the winningest program on a radically different way of viewing the game; he seems to have very little patience for buying into his D-coordinators' ability to do their own job. It seems kind of funny to think, but if RR is forced to leave the program, the thing that may have sealed his fate was the fact that he wasn't able to get Casteel (a coordinator he trusts) to follow him out of WVU.
I didn't hear his name at all and I do not know if that woiuld be more concerning if he was playing or if he was not playing.
Sean McDonough called Dantonio one of the classiest guys in college football, what a joke!
Judging from the way the second half has started, I would say running up the score looks possible, if not likely.
but it does not hold much water. There was virtually no chance that Iowa gets the ball back with a real scoring opportunity. Even with the timeouts, they didn't get the ball back. Calling those timeouts is the football equivalent of teabagging someone, not that MSU doesn't deserve it.
Are they dickish or are they awesome? I really don't know. If ever there was a team deserving of that kind of treatment, it is definitely MSU, but nevertheless calling those timeouts is pretty bush league. I am conflicted.
Other than the second half against MSU, the Illini have looked pretty good. Right now, they are up 31-0 on Purdue and they are seriously looking like the biggest obstacle over the next 3 weeks. Are Purdue and Penn State really that bad, or is Illinois getting good?
Some things you just can't escape. Good man.
is it possible that his bad choices are something that he has had drilled into him to try to cover up for Obi's mistakes? I don't know a terrible amount about the X's and O's, but it stands to reason that a lot of mistakes can occur when your players don't trust each other.
That Florida team was much more about the players that they had at their skill positions, than either of those two guys. In fact, that team was really carried, by its defense. Nevertheless, the main reason that Tebow and Leak could even stand to be on the same team together was because one was a freshman and the other was a senior. The only reason Tebow saw the field was because Meyer had to crumble against heavy pressure when Leak wasn't doing so hot.
Having two guys in the same class splitting reps at QB is a recipe for disaster. QB is unlike any other position, you cannot just swap guys in and out. It is virtually inevitable that there is a dropoff in quality from the entire offense when switching guys at QB. It can throw off an opposing defense or two, but the lack of consistency on offense will catch up with you more times than not.
we could sit here and nitpick all day pointing out things that would have changed the complexion of the game if they had gone our way. More than anything I was happy to see us fighting after we got way down. It really sucks to lose, but after we crumpled last week, it was nice to see that we still had some fight in us. Go Blue!
but I think those four turnovers pretty much necessitated the 500+ yards. It was an impressive offensive performance to be sure, but it would have been better if we could have capped those long drives with more touchdowns and less turnovers. Still you can see the potential, tantalizingly displayed in front of you as if to say, "you have not yet suffered enough to deserve me."
Saying that you outgained other teams, but still couldn't come up with the win makes you seem like a special kind of impotent. Oh well, once we put it all together, we will be better.