- I thought my 8-4 July prediction was pretty optimistic. Turns out I was a glass half empty guy.
- The win does mean Michigan has beaten each conference opponent the first time I've seen them play. Nebraska joins Indiana as the only conference opponents I haven't seen beat Michigan.
- Denard still seems tentative in his runs. I was glad to see him finally take the open field scramble rather than force a pass. He still seems to be making too many cuts rather than just running when he gets to open field.
- Toussaint is good - sometimes he thinks he's Barry Sanders and turns a 1 yard loss into a 4 yard loss, but other than that - he has been stellar.
- I'm happy for Martaveous Odoms. He has made a huge difference as a kick returner and he's becoming part of the passing game again. He was the ONLY offensive weapon on the 2008 team, he deserves to go out successfully.
- Blake Countess is the best corner M has had in years. Not sure what the coaches thought when he was behind Woolfolk, Floyd and Avery at the beginning of the year. And he's only a freshman.
- The defense will greatly miss Martin and Van Bergen next year. They are very good. I would be surprised if they're not playing on Sundays next year.
- The power outage was weird. The underground men's room only had the emergency lights on. The scoreboards were out until just before the half. I assume jiMpossible's fan thingy would have worked - he would have been a star one eyed king amongst the blind.
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Sunday, November 20, 2011
9-2
Huh...
Saturday, September 24, 2011
SDSU Thoughts
Some thoughts after the SDSU game:
Even though I don’t feel any better about most of my specific concerns about this team, I somehow feel better about the team overall. I don’t know if I feel like M will be able to go 5-3 in the conference or anything like that, but I definitely think it is possible to be in every game until the 4th quarter.
If you are looking for a way to reduce the number of carries for your 20+ carry QB, I don’t think the best idea is to put in the option play. Of course, he was able to make some good gains when that play was called. I don’t know if he is doing enough to stay healthy (running out of bounds, getting down before tackles, etc.). In the first half I thought he wasn’t taking hits too badly. In the second half I said “oof” a number of times when he carried the ball. That will be a concern all year, I think.
I don’t want to worry about FG kicking, so I’ll just remember that M has only missed one FG this year. Only missing one FG in 4 games is rather impressive.
The defensive line really showed up. The rest of the defense was good, too. Two games in a row under double digits is pretty groovy. The last season that happened was Lloyd's last season. It also happened the season before that. (Rodrig never did that).
That pass to Dileo was about the same as the play he got his TD on last week. They need to do it more often. Of course, one of those was dropped today (was that Koger?).
Speaking of drops. There were too many. Of course, Denard’s passing is just plain bad. He has no touch on short passes, no touch on long passes (a little altitude will let the receiver get to it) and makes horrible decisions on medium passes. I don’t see him improving on this as the season goes on. I hope I'm wrong.
If there is a RB battle going on, I’m pretty sure Hopkins is closer being out of it.
I still think Smith is running the best. He is tough and has some speed. I don’t know if he is running well enough to solidify himself in the starting position yet, but I think he should be the starter for another week.
Again, Smith made a screen play work that wasn’t working. Against ND, Lewan (I think) missed his guy completely and Smith scooted around him. This time, it looked like he was in front of two of the Offensive Linemen when he caught the ball. For a team that can’t throw the ball downfield and has some problems with RBs running the ball, you’d think they would work harder on screens, bubble screens, and other very short passes.
SDSU’s passing game was bad. I don’t know how much was forced by the M defense, but the number of passes that were in the wrong time zone and inexcusable drops was scary.
Overall, though, I liked what the D did. I didn’t seen anyone make multiple painful mistakes.
Most of the first half it looked like M just had more talent and was going to win for that reason. Not unlike many of the wins M had during the Bo/Mo/Lloyd era. I’m hoping this is the first of many wins like this.
Even though I don’t feel any better about most of my specific concerns about this team, I somehow feel better about the team overall. I don’t know if I feel like M will be able to go 5-3 in the conference or anything like that, but I definitely think it is possible to be in every game until the 4th quarter.
If you are looking for a way to reduce the number of carries for your 20+ carry QB, I don’t think the best idea is to put in the option play. Of course, he was able to make some good gains when that play was called. I don’t know if he is doing enough to stay healthy (running out of bounds, getting down before tackles, etc.). In the first half I thought he wasn’t taking hits too badly. In the second half I said “oof” a number of times when he carried the ball. That will be a concern all year, I think.
I don’t want to worry about FG kicking, so I’ll just remember that M has only missed one FG this year. Only missing one FG in 4 games is rather impressive.
The defensive line really showed up. The rest of the defense was good, too. Two games in a row under double digits is pretty groovy. The last season that happened was Lloyd's last season. It also happened the season before that. (Rodrig never did that).
That pass to Dileo was about the same as the play he got his TD on last week. They need to do it more often. Of course, one of those was dropped today (was that Koger?).
Speaking of drops. There were too many. Of course, Denard’s passing is just plain bad. He has no touch on short passes, no touch on long passes (a little altitude will let the receiver get to it) and makes horrible decisions on medium passes. I don’t see him improving on this as the season goes on. I hope I'm wrong.
If there is a RB battle going on, I’m pretty sure Hopkins is closer being out of it.
I still think Smith is running the best. He is tough and has some speed. I don’t know if he is running well enough to solidify himself in the starting position yet, but I think he should be the starter for another week.
Again, Smith made a screen play work that wasn’t working. Against ND, Lewan (I think) missed his guy completely and Smith scooted around him. This time, it looked like he was in front of two of the Offensive Linemen when he caught the ball. For a team that can’t throw the ball downfield and has some problems with RBs running the ball, you’d think they would work harder on screens, bubble screens, and other very short passes.
SDSU’s passing game was bad. I don’t know how much was forced by the M defense, but the number of passes that were in the wrong time zone and inexcusable drops was scary.
Overall, though, I liked what the D did. I didn’t seen anyone make multiple painful mistakes.
Most of the first half it looked like M just had more talent and was going to win for that reason. Not unlike many of the wins M had during the Bo/Mo/Lloyd era. I’m hoping this is the first of many wins like this.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Thoughts that somewhat reply to jiMpossibles thoughts
I don't think Kovacs is at his beast against a passing team. They may have been better off using BrianGoBlog's theory of using him as middle linebacker and putting in 2 of Johnson/T Gordon/Avery/Talbott. He should be better this week - when he can run downhill to stop the Spartans running game. Of course he'll look bad when they run play-action.
Live it was difficult to pick out one defender to blame. I know in long yardage, they would move Floyd to safety when they brought in Avery and Tallbott. Maybe they should just keep him at corner - but if he's screwing up there too, I don't know what to tell you.
It seemed like after Robinson came back - they were protecting him more. More hand offs and passes, less QB runs. Then they decided there was no more time to fool around, and they turned him loose. At this point, I'm not sure anything but injuries and coaching decisions can stop him.
Did Gallon fully muff that punt? I thought he just bobbled it and then it he gathered it in before it hit the ground. Maybe it did go all the way to the ground, but just for argument sake - if it didn't go to the ground is the coverage team allowed to hit the returner? He had called a fair catch, it would seem if the ball never hits the ground, they still shouldn't be able to touch him. They did have both he and Dileo back on at least one of the punts. I like that.
If the M defense can't stop the other team by dropping 8 back into coverage, why not not blitz like mad. Worst case scenario, they score more quickly - which means more possessions for the offense...
I refuse to comment on the Palestine/Israel situation. As I recall from "Time in a Bottle" the problem was not theirs in the beginning...
Live it was difficult to pick out one defender to blame. I know in long yardage, they would move Floyd to safety when they brought in Avery and Tallbott. Maybe they should just keep him at corner - but if he's screwing up there too, I don't know what to tell you.
It seemed like after Robinson came back - they were protecting him more. More hand offs and passes, less QB runs. Then they decided there was no more time to fool around, and they turned him loose. At this point, I'm not sure anything but injuries and coaching decisions can stop him.
Did Gallon fully muff that punt? I thought he just bobbled it and then it he gathered it in before it hit the ground. Maybe it did go all the way to the ground, but just for argument sake - if it didn't go to the ground is the coverage team allowed to hit the returner? He had called a fair catch, it would seem if the ball never hits the ground, they still shouldn't be able to touch him. They did have both he and Dileo back on at least one of the punts. I like that.
If the M defense can't stop the other team by dropping 8 back into coverage, why not not blitz like mad. Worst case scenario, they score more quickly - which means more possessions for the offense...
I refuse to comment on the Palestine/Israel situation. As I recall from "Time in a Bottle" the problem was not theirs in the beginning...
Some Thoughts
Kovacs has 3.5 tackles for loss yet 0 pass break-ups. What position does he play?
Floyd is bad. He does so many things wrong and the opponents know it. He is going to be picked on all year.
I categorize long passes into two categories. a) Those that the QB tosses up for grabs and lets the receiver out maneuver/out jump/out whatever the defender to get the ball. And b) Those where the receiver gets a step on the defender and the QB throws a pass that the receiver can get and the defender can not. Sometimes a not-so-good pass turns a b) into an a) (like yesterday's last long bomb). For any a), unless the receiver is significantly better than the defender (see Braylon Edwards vs MSU), then there is an element of luck involved. For M, I'm confident DRob has a strong enough arm to throw these long passes, and we've seen the receivers have made some plays, but I'm concerned with two things here. 1) DRob misses too many of the b) passes. Yesterday they were overthrows, but underthrows happen, too. and 2) Even though we've had some success these past two games, I'm still not confident in the abilities of the receivers to beat good defenders to create b) passes or when they end up being a) passes. In the Lindy's sports pre-season mag, Indiana's secondary was projected as the 11th worst in the league. MSUs was 4th. We'll see how this goes.
Gallon just needs to catch the ball. He isn't successful at that one thing. Please replace him.
Stonum seemed to like to run into his blockers on KO returns yesterday. Were they getting pushed back more than usual? I still expect him to break one for a TD this year.
M is last in passing D (yards) in college football. The best pass D yesterday was when Chappell (incorrectly pronounced Chapel) looked like he thought he was being pressured and made bad throws. I remember from last year, too, that he got rid of the ball a lot sooner than other QBs would because he thought the rushers were right there. He still had a pretty good game (yikes!).
Indiana appeared to have something figured out on how to stop DRob and the offense. It worked for about a quarter. Then, it looked like DRob said to himself and his teammates "Let's win!" And he did. I'm not sure if it is bad that teams are able to figure out ways to stop the O, or if it is good that when a score is needed Drob and the O can put it into high and WILL score.
Drob got hurt again. Again, I wasn't concerned and I don't know why. Maybe it was because the way he got up looked like he had just had the wind knocked out of him.
I was annoyed with some of the play calling on O. I know that RR's success was not made on being conservative, but when you are up by 7, have 3rd and 8, need about 2 first downs to pretty much seal the win, and have a suspect defense, throwing 20 yards downfield doesn't make sense.
I didn't really watch the MSU game (though it was on at the bar/restaurant where I watched the second half of the M game), but what I did see was MSU was gutsy on 4th and 1, up by 3 late in the game. They went for it and got the TD. Also, I saw that the first half stats showed MSU dominated by yards, but had three TOs, resulting in 10 Wisconsin points. I'm not sure what this means other than I think M has a better chance at beating Wisconsin this year, and I'm not quite as confident against MSU.
If Israel was serious about these peace talks, they would extend the moratorium on building new settlements.
Floyd is bad. He does so many things wrong and the opponents know it. He is going to be picked on all year.
I categorize long passes into two categories. a) Those that the QB tosses up for grabs and lets the receiver out maneuver/out jump/out whatever the defender to get the ball. And b) Those where the receiver gets a step on the defender and the QB throws a pass that the receiver can get and the defender can not. Sometimes a not-so-good pass turns a b) into an a) (like yesterday's last long bomb). For any a), unless the receiver is significantly better than the defender (see Braylon Edwards vs MSU), then there is an element of luck involved. For M, I'm confident DRob has a strong enough arm to throw these long passes, and we've seen the receivers have made some plays, but I'm concerned with two things here. 1) DRob misses too many of the b) passes. Yesterday they were overthrows, but underthrows happen, too. and 2) Even though we've had some success these past two games, I'm still not confident in the abilities of the receivers to beat good defenders to create b) passes or when they end up being a) passes. In the Lindy's sports pre-season mag, Indiana's secondary was projected as the 11th worst in the league. MSUs was 4th. We'll see how this goes.
Gallon just needs to catch the ball. He isn't successful at that one thing. Please replace him.
Stonum seemed to like to run into his blockers on KO returns yesterday. Were they getting pushed back more than usual? I still expect him to break one for a TD this year.
M is last in passing D (yards) in college football. The best pass D yesterday was when Chappell (incorrectly pronounced Chapel) looked like he thought he was being pressured and made bad throws. I remember from last year, too, that he got rid of the ball a lot sooner than other QBs would because he thought the rushers were right there. He still had a pretty good game (yikes!).
Indiana appeared to have something figured out on how to stop DRob and the offense. It worked for about a quarter. Then, it looked like DRob said to himself and his teammates "Let's win!" And he did. I'm not sure if it is bad that teams are able to figure out ways to stop the O, or if it is good that when a score is needed Drob and the O can put it into high and WILL score.
Drob got hurt again. Again, I wasn't concerned and I don't know why. Maybe it was because the way he got up looked like he had just had the wind knocked out of him.
I was annoyed with some of the play calling on O. I know that RR's success was not made on being conservative, but when you are up by 7, have 3rd and 8, need about 2 first downs to pretty much seal the win, and have a suspect defense, throwing 20 yards downfield doesn't make sense.
I didn't really watch the MSU game (though it was on at the bar/restaurant where I watched the second half of the M game), but what I did see was MSU was gutsy on 4th and 1, up by 3 late in the game. They went for it and got the TD. Also, I saw that the first half stats showed MSU dominated by yards, but had three TOs, resulting in 10 Wisconsin points. I'm not sure what this means other than I think M has a better chance at beating Wisconsin this year, and I'm not quite as confident against MSU.
If Israel was serious about these peace talks, they would extend the moratorium on building new settlements.
Monday, September 27, 2010
more comments
Officiating
Was that a new crew? What were the announcers saying about the officiating at the game? There seemed to be a lot of interesting calls.
Never saw a replay of the Molk hitting a defenseless player penalty
So much wrong with the two #9s penalty. This was on BGSUs second punt. I had noticed them both out there on the first one - and they were both on the hands team against UMass kickoffs (what's not wrong - 3 GUYS BACK ON A PUNT HALLELUJAH!!!!) So the officials didn't know what the actual penalty was, timeout vs. penalty and re-kick.
On the surface - big deal, but the re-kick lead to much worse field position and that was just before Denard's injury. There is an indirect connection between the re-kick and the injury.
Did the Michigan coaching staff not know this was a penalty? Did they "try to get away with something?" They quickly got a new uni for Avery - and I see today he officially changed his number to jimPossible's favorite (5). I'm not sure which scenario is better - are they too lazy/stupid to know their rule book or are they so smart/slick they think they can get away with violating the rule?
I thought the defense was decent, it was good to get so many players into the game. They really only gave up 2 drives and one play. And they had BGSU stopped twice on 4th and goal. Once the officials messed up and once the tackling. Now, obviously that was against BGSU, without their # 1 QB. But if EMU can get 20 on the Buckeyes, should M complain about giving up 21 to the Falcons? I don't think so.
Toussaint must still be banged up or he is really slow.
I think Michigan only missed two 3rd down conversions. On the first one, the game was still close-ish and it would have been a LONG field goal so I can see not kicking. The second was with a big lead, it it is generally accepted when way ahead that a field goal is douchier than going for it.
Was that a new crew? What were the announcers saying about the officiating at the game? There seemed to be a lot of interesting calls.
Never saw a replay of the Molk hitting a defenseless player penalty
So much wrong with the two #9s penalty. This was on BGSUs second punt. I had noticed them both out there on the first one - and they were both on the hands team against UMass kickoffs (what's not wrong - 3 GUYS BACK ON A PUNT HALLELUJAH!!!!) So the officials didn't know what the actual penalty was, timeout vs. penalty and re-kick.
On the surface - big deal, but the re-kick lead to much worse field position and that was just before Denard's injury. There is an indirect connection between the re-kick and the injury.
Did the Michigan coaching staff not know this was a penalty? Did they "try to get away with something?" They quickly got a new uni for Avery - and I see today he officially changed his number to jimPossible's favorite (5). I'm not sure which scenario is better - are they too lazy/stupid to know their rule book or are they so smart/slick they think they can get away with violating the rule?
I thought the defense was decent, it was good to get so many players into the game. They really only gave up 2 drives and one play. And they had BGSU stopped twice on 4th and goal. Once the officials messed up and once the tackling. Now, obviously that was against BGSU, without their # 1 QB. But if EMU can get 20 on the Buckeyes, should M complain about giving up 21 to the Falcons? I don't think so.
Toussaint must still be banged up or he is really slow.
I think Michigan only missed two 3rd down conversions. On the first one, the game was still close-ish and it would have been a LONG field goal so I can see not kicking. The second was with a big lead, it it is generally accepted when way ahead that a field goal is douchier than going for it.
Comments
1) The Indiana spread (13 1/2) is awfully high. I'm still not sure if I am going to predice a win.
2) Why was I not worried when DRob went down with injury? I have a lot of theories, such as "he gets hurt every game". But, I finally decided that it is because I don't believe he is M's saviour for the season and the future. I don't know if I expect injury or if I expect D's to figure him out or what is making me think this way. Maybe I'm just expecting the D and Special Teams to play so poorly that it won't matter who is playing QB. Or am I just not ready to give my heart to this team and believing in DRob would mean I'm buying in to thinking this team can win a lot of games.
3) With that said, with M's offense, M really can win any remaining game except OSU. With that D, M can lose any remaining game, though PU looks easier and easier every game. I think M is better than IL, IN and PU and about even with every other team than OSU. Some really good things could happen this season. Or maybe not. You'd think I'd be able to say this is a huge game, as a loss would make people think M will have a similar year to last year. But, I wouldn't be surprised if M loses this week and still wins 8-9 games.
4) With the weakness in the kicking game, why was RR going for it on 4th down rather than attempting FGs?
5) Watching Jim Harbaugh on Gameday saying his team was tough made me excited to have him as M's coach next year. Of course, I really don't think that is going to happen. And is M's team not tough now? I don't see that. So, why did I like his comments so much?
6) Tate appears to be the second string QB. (He referred to Devin as the 3rd QB during his post-game interview) That is where he should be.
I have many more things on my mind, but I don't have time right now.
2) Why was I not worried when DRob went down with injury? I have a lot of theories, such as "he gets hurt every game". But, I finally decided that it is because I don't believe he is M's saviour for the season and the future. I don't know if I expect injury or if I expect D's to figure him out or what is making me think this way. Maybe I'm just expecting the D and Special Teams to play so poorly that it won't matter who is playing QB. Or am I just not ready to give my heart to this team and believing in DRob would mean I'm buying in to thinking this team can win a lot of games.
3) With that said, with M's offense, M really can win any remaining game except OSU. With that D, M can lose any remaining game, though PU looks easier and easier every game. I think M is better than IL, IN and PU and about even with every other team than OSU. Some really good things could happen this season. Or maybe not. You'd think I'd be able to say this is a huge game, as a loss would make people think M will have a similar year to last year. But, I wouldn't be surprised if M loses this week and still wins 8-9 games.
4) With the weakness in the kicking game, why was RR going for it on 4th down rather than attempting FGs?
5) Watching Jim Harbaugh on Gameday saying his team was tough made me excited to have him as M's coach next year. Of course, I really don't think that is going to happen. And is M's team not tough now? I don't see that. So, why did I like his comments so much?
6) Tate appears to be the second string QB. (He referred to Devin as the 3rd QB during his post-game interview) That is where he should be.
I have many more things on my mind, but I don't have time right now.
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