DRob should know better than to carry the ball with his inside arm. (oh wait, he's young)
DRob's missed tackle on the sideline during the interception return was no worse than Mouton's missed tackle on the sideline against Illinois.
When I say Gallon is slippery, I'm referring to his feet, hands and his brain.
When picking off a pass at the end of the half deep in your own territory, be careful. Likewise, when you are picking up a muffed punt, make sure you have the ball before you are running. We almost lost that one.
Grady got the ball once, on a reverse. For someone who is plays receiver every game, he's not much of a receiver.
I don't really mind the way RR used the QBs. Neither was really doing anything, might as well give them both a few chances. The announcers didn't seem to like it.
Special Teams again ugly. (exaggeration alert) The FG didn't even look like it was heading for the goal posts. If Gallon catches a KO in the end zone, even if it is one inch deep, he needs to STAY THERE!!!
I noticed many more missed blocks by the OLine than I ever have before. Maybe I'm just getting smarter.
Moundros/Demens/Ezeh played a lot. I didn't hear that Mouton was injured, but I saw him standing with Martin when they were talking about his injury.
About 20% of the time the announcers mentioned Purdue's Robinson, I thought they were getting the teams mixed up. Maybe I'm not getting smarter.
BTN doesn't show scores of other games enough. ESPN has spoiled me in that way. Watching at a sports bar allowed me to know what was going on.
M fans are pretty excited M scored 67 points against Illinois in double OT. Wisconsin won BY 63 (in regulation). Wow.
OSU looked vulnerable for 2 1/2 quarters. Pryor can be not good sometimes. Hopefully, that is how he is in a couple weeks. Otherwise, I'll be making Christmas cookies with my mom at 2:30 instead of 3:30.
Showing posts with label comments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comments. Show all posts
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Now, Opinions!!!
-3rd and short, give the ball to Smith. That always works (TIC).
-Everyone is complaining about the Defense (for good reason), but the O had three drives in the first half that took a total of 4:18 and resulted in 3 punts. With a bad to very bad D, that is dangerous. With this D, we need to slow it down, keep the ball longer and give the opponent fewer chances. Of course, RR would never change his offense to fit the game/team situation. He proved that in 3-9, er 2008.
-With two weeks to prepare, why didn't they spend one week of it doing nothing but tackling drills? That's what my JV team would have done.
-The D is young. Of course, the D is also bad. I don't expect many of these young guys to become stars. There have been many freshman DBs who have played for Michigan over the years (I'm not counting Woodson, because he was special). None of the current crew is nearly as good as any of those others.
-I hope RR has been spending more time with the D. I'm sure McGee can handle the O, and RR needs to be doing drastic things.
-I'm not yet ready to call for the firing of RR. There are 4 games yet, and there is no point in even discussing it yet, IMO. But, I do intend to discuss how Jim Harbaugh will use DRob in his offense. (just kidding)
-See, M CAN kick a FG.
-I've said this before, Jeremy Gallon is slippery.
-I don't claim to understand the Xs and Os, but I'm not convinced the 3-3-5 is really any different than any other number combo. There are always 5-7 people in the box, and DBs all over the field. I remember when the NFL would call something a 3-4, and college/high school called it 5-2. And when that always meant the NT was on the center. Scheme numbers don't matter. Football is a game of blocking and tackling. M's D doesn't do their part (tackling).
-Everyone is complaining about the Defense (for good reason), but the O had three drives in the first half that took a total of 4:18 and resulted in 3 punts. With a bad to very bad D, that is dangerous. With this D, we need to slow it down, keep the ball longer and give the opponent fewer chances. Of course, RR would never change his offense to fit the game/team situation. He proved that in 3-9, er 2008.
-With two weeks to prepare, why didn't they spend one week of it doing nothing but tackling drills? That's what my JV team would have done.
-The D is young. Of course, the D is also bad. I don't expect many of these young guys to become stars. There have been many freshman DBs who have played for Michigan over the years (I'm not counting Woodson, because he was special). None of the current crew is nearly as good as any of those others.
-I hope RR has been spending more time with the D. I'm sure McGee can handle the O, and RR needs to be doing drastic things.
-I'm not yet ready to call for the firing of RR. There are 4 games yet, and there is no point in even discussing it yet, IMO. But, I do intend to discuss how Jim Harbaugh will use DRob in his offense. (just kidding)
-See, M CAN kick a FG.
-I've said this before, Jeremy Gallon is slippery.
-I don't claim to understand the Xs and Os, but I'm not convinced the 3-3-5 is really any different than any other number combo. There are always 5-7 people in the box, and DBs all over the field. I remember when the NFL would call something a 3-4, and college/high school called it 5-2. And when that always meant the NT was on the center. Scheme numbers don't matter. Football is a game of blocking and tackling. M's D doesn't do their part (tackling).
Saturday, October 30, 2010
What I Learned Tonight
I ended up watching the game at Buffalo Wild Wings, which was not a bad choice. When needed, I will do that again.
What I learned:
-M seemed to make its share of mistakes (not surprisingly), but what was more disappointing is not being able to take advantage of PSU's mistakes.
-When playing Buzztime Trivia, if the guy who comes almost every night to play ends up losing (three times) to someone who isn't there very often, he will direct an obscene gesture at the screen when the winner is announced.
-I thought that if M lost, I would pretty much think M will easily lose the rest of the games. But, I don't really feel that way. If M's offense is able to be average (for M), M could win the next two games, and maybe even keep the other two relatively close. I hear the defense is pretty bad, though
-If you have a sticker of Lightning McQueen on your shirt because your 6-year-old son puts it there right before you go to a bar, the waitress will notice, but will not make any comments.
-MSU losing will never feel good enough to overcome the feeling when M loses (proof I am not like many MSU fans)
-When watching a game at a bar, I am at a distinct disadvantage without my roster and my glasses.
What I learned:
-M seemed to make its share of mistakes (not surprisingly), but what was more disappointing is not being able to take advantage of PSU's mistakes.
-When playing Buzztime Trivia, if the guy who comes almost every night to play ends up losing (three times) to someone who isn't there very often, he will direct an obscene gesture at the screen when the winner is announced.
-I thought that if M lost, I would pretty much think M will easily lose the rest of the games. But, I don't really feel that way. If M's offense is able to be average (for M), M could win the next two games, and maybe even keep the other two relatively close. I hear the defense is pretty bad, though
-If you have a sticker of Lightning McQueen on your shirt because your 6-year-old son puts it there right before you go to a bar, the waitress will notice, but will not make any comments.
-MSU losing will never feel good enough to overcome the feeling when M loses (proof I am not like many MSU fans)
-When watching a game at a bar, I am at a distinct disadvantage without my roster and my glasses.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
jiM's Full Comments To Mike's Analysis/Prediction Post
Though I think this year's D is worse than last year's I think very similarly about them. They make more good plays than bad plays, but the bad plays are REALLY REALLY bad.
The O is better this year, I agree.
Special teams are worse, but I think we agree that they are not as horrible as most people think. Yes, FGs are horrendous. And I agree with you that it doesn't seem to just be a kicker problem, but I've never heard the coaches say that, so I wonder. The coverage team is OK enough. The punting is good. The returners are good, but they never seem to have anywhere to run. That is a huge disappointment. We know Stonum can be a good returner, and Gallon has shown some slippery-ness. (the kicks out of bounds were bad mistakes, but i doubt there will be another kick out of bounds all season).
Though my prediction had a number of games wrong, the overall record was what I was really going for. And at this point, I was confident of my 4-3. Being one game better should mean M goes 7-5, not 6-6 as I predicted (and I'm confident about that...kindof).
My response to your predictions after the bye week:
-I agree Forcier plays more. If RR doesn't use him in a similarly (reverse) fashion that DRob was used last year, then RR is an idiot. Both QBs have skills that should be used. As far as Gardner getting a RS, I've heard he played in a game too far in the season. I'm not sure if that is true. In any case, if he gets hurt in practice now and gets a RS, I will probably amongst those who think RR is a cheater.
-A RB should have a 100 yard game sometime. I'm not sure who, but I would guess it will be Shaw, as he is fast enough to break a big run. I don't expect any running back to have a 20 carry game.
-In my pre-season predictions (which were overall horrible) that Stonum will break one. With Gallon returning KOs now, I will agree with you on that.
-M will be positive on TOs the rest of the way. That's a toughy. Iowa and MSU were certainly of the conservative don't make mistakes of offense, so taking the ball from them is difficult. But M's mistakes were not necessarily forced. Are they learning from their mistakes? I'm not sure and will keep my money in my pocket on this one.
-I also agree that M will get some more penalties from the NCAA. And you're right, it will really give anti-RR crowd some ammo. It will be annoying.
-M WILL make another FG. I say many more (many = 4). One may even be important..
-Denard may have some good games, but Heisman talk should be done for him (until next year?)
-Gator Bowl would be a good game to go to, but it would almost certainly be a loss. If Mallett is healthy, it would be ugly.
The O is better this year, I agree.
Special teams are worse, but I think we agree that they are not as horrible as most people think. Yes, FGs are horrendous. And I agree with you that it doesn't seem to just be a kicker problem, but I've never heard the coaches say that, so I wonder. The coverage team is OK enough. The punting is good. The returners are good, but they never seem to have anywhere to run. That is a huge disappointment. We know Stonum can be a good returner, and Gallon has shown some slippery-ness. (the kicks out of bounds were bad mistakes, but i doubt there will be another kick out of bounds all season).
Though my prediction had a number of games wrong, the overall record was what I was really going for. And at this point, I was confident of my 4-3. Being one game better should mean M goes 7-5, not 6-6 as I predicted (and I'm confident about that...kindof).
My response to your predictions after the bye week:
-I agree Forcier plays more. If RR doesn't use him in a similarly (reverse) fashion that DRob was used last year, then RR is an idiot. Both QBs have skills that should be used. As far as Gardner getting a RS, I've heard he played in a game too far in the season. I'm not sure if that is true. In any case, if he gets hurt in practice now and gets a RS, I will probably amongst those who think RR is a cheater.
-A RB should have a 100 yard game sometime. I'm not sure who, but I would guess it will be Shaw, as he is fast enough to break a big run. I don't expect any running back to have a 20 carry game.
-In my pre-season predictions (which were overall horrible) that Stonum will break one. With Gallon returning KOs now, I will agree with you on that.
-M will be positive on TOs the rest of the way. That's a toughy. Iowa and MSU were certainly of the conservative don't make mistakes of offense, so taking the ball from them is difficult. But M's mistakes were not necessarily forced. Are they learning from their mistakes? I'm not sure and will keep my money in my pocket on this one.
-I also agree that M will get some more penalties from the NCAA. And you're right, it will really give anti-RR crowd some ammo. It will be annoying.
-M WILL make another FG. I say many more (many = 4). One may even be important..
-Denard may have some good games, but Heisman talk should be done for him (until next year?)
-Gator Bowl would be a good game to go to, but it would almost certainly be a loss. If Mallett is healthy, it would be ugly.
I'm Not As Smart As Most, But I Do Know Some Things
The past week was interesting as I listened to all of the people calling for the firing of RR and then all fot he others who are RR supporters . Both sides are all so knowledgeable, it is amazing.
For instance, the anti-RR people know that RR will never win at M, that the spread doesn't work in the Big 10 and that RR is a bad person (for many reasons). Meanwhile, the pro-RR crowd knows that RR will be successful if we have patience, that Mallett was leaving before RR even arrived (though nobody in the know actually has said this) and that changing coaches now would set the program back another 3 years.
How are they so smart?
With all of that said, I know two things: 3-9. 5-7.
Early in the year, when we were watching Illinois play Missouri (and playing them well early), I commented that it is good for the big 10. SarcasMike commented something about it meaning that Illinois (who wasn't too good last year and lost some key players) could be better than we think and it could be a tough game vor M. I had to admit that was true.
I have never thought like that before. I root for the big10 to win all non-conference games because being in strong conference means higher national ranking. I have never looked at is as a good good big10 non-conference win means a tougher M schedule and possibly more losses. I haven't thought, until RR, that is, that we have no hope of a conference championship and we just need to find wins.
RR has made me look at some games as NOT possible wins.
From the time I started dating my Spartan now-wife, I always felt good that I could root for her team when they weren't playing M. There was usually no reason not to. M was usually ranked higher, was higher in the conference standings and beat MSU. Sometimes all 3 of these wouldn't happen, but 1 or 2 were common, and we knew it was just temporary. Until this year, that is. I can't describe how much I want MSU to lose. M has lost 3 times in a row, 2 of them were blowouts. After 3 conference games this year, M is 2 1/2 games behind MSU. Dantonio has as many conference wins in Michigan Stadium as RR. I really hate this.
RR has made me hate my wife's football team.
Now, I'm not going to be the typical anti-RR guy who finds something wrong with RR no matter what news comes out (the Lombardi comment or Demens getting sued, for instance), but there are concerns I have with him and some things he has said.
I read the interview he gave to Wojo and a couple things stuck out. First, he said that the pressure at M is not as much as he had at WVU. Obviously, I don't know what he is feeling, but I'd be very surprised that the spotlight and responsibility at WVU would be as great and widespread as at M. But, what really makes me think he either doesn't understand what he got himself into by coming here, or that he is lying, is when he keeps mentioning that winning is going to take time. I don't know what he went into at WVU, but at M he came into a program that hadn't had a losing season in 4 decades. AND HE'S HAD 2 OF THEM!!!! How can he not think there is more pressure here?
Another thing about RR that I don't like is that he NEVER admits fault. He never says "I'm responsible" for only 8 wins in 2 years, for the many bad TOs and penalties (yes, I do think that is coaching) or for the horrible defense. In fact, his first year, I can remember he and Calvin McGee blaming specific players (QBs, mostly). I just don't like that.
One other comment I've heard RR say a lot is "We aren't good enough to make mistakes and win." I would think that almost all teams would be in that situation, unless you are significantly better than the teams you play. Were his teams at WVU that much better than other Big East teams? Is that a sign that he CAN'T win in the Big 10? Or is it a sign that his teams are mistake-prone teams? Again, I don't know, but it is a concerning comment.
So, what does RR have to do to keep his job? I don't know. But, one more thing I DO know is that as long as he is here, regardless of whether he makes M a winner again, there will be a split in Wolverine Nation. I'm not calling for him to get fired at this point, but I hope that this split is a factor when Brandon is making his decisions.
For instance, the anti-RR people know that RR will never win at M, that the spread doesn't work in the Big 10 and that RR is a bad person (for many reasons). Meanwhile, the pro-RR crowd knows that RR will be successful if we have patience, that Mallett was leaving before RR even arrived (though nobody in the know actually has said this) and that changing coaches now would set the program back another 3 years.
How are they so smart?
With all of that said, I know two things: 3-9. 5-7.
Early in the year, when we were watching Illinois play Missouri (and playing them well early), I commented that it is good for the big 10. SarcasMike commented something about it meaning that Illinois (who wasn't too good last year and lost some key players) could be better than we think and it could be a tough game vor M. I had to admit that was true.
I have never thought like that before. I root for the big10 to win all non-conference games because being in strong conference means higher national ranking. I have never looked at is as a good good big10 non-conference win means a tougher M schedule and possibly more losses. I haven't thought, until RR, that is, that we have no hope of a conference championship and we just need to find wins.
RR has made me look at some games as NOT possible wins.
From the time I started dating my Spartan now-wife, I always felt good that I could root for her team when they weren't playing M. There was usually no reason not to. M was usually ranked higher, was higher in the conference standings and beat MSU. Sometimes all 3 of these wouldn't happen, but 1 or 2 were common, and we knew it was just temporary. Until this year, that is. I can't describe how much I want MSU to lose. M has lost 3 times in a row, 2 of them were blowouts. After 3 conference games this year, M is 2 1/2 games behind MSU. Dantonio has as many conference wins in Michigan Stadium as RR. I really hate this.
RR has made me hate my wife's football team.
Now, I'm not going to be the typical anti-RR guy who finds something wrong with RR no matter what news comes out (the Lombardi comment or Demens getting sued, for instance), but there are concerns I have with him and some things he has said.
I read the interview he gave to Wojo and a couple things stuck out. First, he said that the pressure at M is not as much as he had at WVU. Obviously, I don't know what he is feeling, but I'd be very surprised that the spotlight and responsibility at WVU would be as great and widespread as at M. But, what really makes me think he either doesn't understand what he got himself into by coming here, or that he is lying, is when he keeps mentioning that winning is going to take time. I don't know what he went into at WVU, but at M he came into a program that hadn't had a losing season in 4 decades. AND HE'S HAD 2 OF THEM!!!! How can he not think there is more pressure here?
Another thing about RR that I don't like is that he NEVER admits fault. He never says "I'm responsible" for only 8 wins in 2 years, for the many bad TOs and penalties (yes, I do think that is coaching) or for the horrible defense. In fact, his first year, I can remember he and Calvin McGee blaming specific players (QBs, mostly). I just don't like that.
One other comment I've heard RR say a lot is "We aren't good enough to make mistakes and win." I would think that almost all teams would be in that situation, unless you are significantly better than the teams you play. Were his teams at WVU that much better than other Big East teams? Is that a sign that he CAN'T win in the Big 10? Or is it a sign that his teams are mistake-prone teams? Again, I don't know, but it is a concerning comment.
So, what does RR have to do to keep his job? I don't know. But, one more thing I DO know is that as long as he is here, regardless of whether he makes M a winner again, there will be a split in Wolverine Nation. I'm not calling for him to get fired at this point, but I hope that this split is a factor when Brandon is making his decisions.
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