Post Game Observations Michigan '14

[#1rish]

Did anyone figure out why in the hell A-Rod was at the game??

 

[Cali_domer]

Did anyone figure out why in the hell A-Rod was at the game??

Alex Rodriguez?

 

[Irish Insanity]

Am I the only one disappointed we didn't go for a TD on the extra play they gave us at the end. I mean if you're gonna take away the INT TD, we shoulda went for another.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Let's read some ND/Michigan thoughts from the other side <a href="http://t.co/EwogAPeOMz">http://t.co/EwogAPeOMz</a></p>— Ryan Ritter (@HLS_NDtex) <a href="https://twitter.com/HLS_NDtex/status/508991324503031809">September 8, 2014</a></blockquote>
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We mostly learned that pain eventually goes away when you've reached a state of complete numbness, but football was played and I'm required to write about it.

 

[NDohio]

Did anyone figure out why in the hell A-Rod was at the game??

He's a big ND fan. Plans on going to more games post retirement.

 

[Emcee77]

Two guys who deserve helmet stickers for eye-opening performances on Saturday (sorry if already covered in this thread):

**Jarron Jones.

Who would have thought, back in 2012 when he was redshirting and we were hearing about his lack of physicality, that he could be the rock-solid, relentless DT we saw on Saturday night? He did everything you want a DT to do and more. I loved his ability to collapse the pocket by walking his man right back into the QB; but then he also showed me that he can really move. He was even turning around and pursuing ball carriers downfield. I LOVE that in a DL.

**Amir Carlisle

He looked like a WR, not a RB playing WR. We knew he could probably make catches in traffic in the middle of the field and make people miss. I did not know he could tiptoe down the sideline like he did on Saturday night. Now I feel like I am seeing the playmaker we thought we were getting when he transferred in.

 

[RDU Irish]

My observations:

My biggest concern coming into the season was defense. I now think we have at least a top 25 defense with potential for a top 10 finish. Very pleasantly surprised to see the youth movement rise to the occasion! BVG is boss.

Athletes without hands belong on defense. I don't see any nice way around it, Prosise has bad hands and I am not sure his ability to get open overrides his inability to catch the damn ball. I can at least see Fuller and Brown having potential to have above average hands with some work. Great hands are born though, not developed (I'm looking at you Corey Robinson).

Golson can sling it and only has one real wtf throw in two games (should have been INT vs Rice). His ability to extend plays and keep his feet is invaluable.

Cam hits his assignments and gets tough yards. Folsten may get the start but Cam will be the goal line back with the game on the line at this point. Bryant has work to do between the ears yet. Blocking and reliable safety valve receiving are at least half the job here.

Joe Schmidt laid some lumber. He is plenty big and fast to get the job done well. I don't understand the argument that he needs 10 more pounds to be a player.

Michigan scored 52 one week and 0 the next. Any time you shut someone out it is an accomplishment. Regardless of if Michigan implodes from here and their offensive line proves to be too green and bad, this is a statement game for our defense.

I now expect us to win 10 games this season. A top 25 offense paired with a top 25 defense is a recipe for a top 10 team. Feeling REALLY good about taking $100 on the over 8.5 wins bet preseason. Even better since I realized last week I got 7.5 on the bet instead of the 8.5 that was listed on the prop sheet.


Finally, WTF NBC. Leap Frogs in the background, ENTIRE stadium is enthralled including cheerleaders immediately behind taking videos looking up. Do they realize Hines Ward and Doug Flutie can still talk while you cut to something cool and interesting? F-ing commentators spouting bs instead of helping those of us at home see and feel the awesome atmosphere at the game.

 

[Riddickulous]

The one play I can't get out of my head is the second sideline pass to Carlisle (the one where Michigan was flagged for roughing the passer). Best throw of Golson's career.

 

[woolybug25]

The one play I can't get out of my head is the second sideline pass to Carlisle (the one where Michigan was flagged for roughing the passer). Best throw of Golson's career.

I would argue that it's second to the 63 yard bomb (in the air), on the run, as he is getting hit, on a dime for a TD against Rice was his best. You tell me.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Re: Fuller's hands. I'm apparently in the minority here but I don't believe that there's any cause for concern. The famous sideline screen play was a drop true, but Everett REALLY hosed that thing out there. Early in the game [and wanting to turn and go quickly] is an easy time to bobble one --- note however that he did catch it.

The second thing that Mayock called a catchable ball was probably the only time during the game that I thought Mayock mildly lost his mind. That pass was a mile high howitzer that even Floyd or Eifert would have been hard pressed to nab. After that there was only one ball where somebody claimed a bobble, which I couldn't see much, and Fuller caught it.

Fuller's a full-out stud. He 's a #1. He won't quite get stats like it, but that's just because the Kelly offense doesn't narrowly focus like that.

Now KOYACK's bobbles are starting to worry me a little. I trust that he will have a talk with himself and toughen up his just-before-the-hit courage mental state, and that will go away.

 

[RDU Irish]

I think the receiver has a lot of room to run under that Rice throw. The sideline throw or Fuller's TD have a lot less room for error.

 

[RDU Irish]

Re: Fuller's hands. I'm apparently in the minority here but I don't believe that there's any cause for concern. The famous sideline screen play was a drop true, but Everett REALLY hosed that thing out there. Early in the game [and wanting to turn and go quickly] is an easy time to bobble one --- note however that he did catch it.

The second thing that Mayock called a catchable ball was probably the only time during the game that I thought Mayock mildly lost his mind. That pass was a mile high howitzer that even Floyd or Eifert would have been hard pressed to nab. After that there was only one ball where somebody claimed a bobble, which I couldn't see much, and Fuller caught it.

Fuller's a full-out stud. He 's a #1. He won't quite get stats like it, but that's just because the Kelly offense doesn't narrowly focus like that.

Now KOYACK's bobbles are starting to worry me a little. I trust that he will have a talk with himself and toughen up his just-before-the-hit courage mental state, and that will go away.

And Prosise? I agree, no real worries about Fuller but I don't see him being Golden Tate or Corey Robinson good with his hands.

Maybe the whole WR group can try putting the Jugs machine on high and stand 10 feet away with no helmet or cup catching them straight on. CRob is the only one I think walks away from that experience without singing soprano.

 

[Classic Irish]

One of the things I enjoyed most about Saturday night's ass-kicking is hanging 31 on Mattison's defense. I hate that prick.

 

[koonja]

I've been fullers biggest fan and have been saying fuller >> brown, but I don't think he's close to being a #1. To be a #1, you have to be bigger, faster, stronger, and have great hands, or if you're small, have great hands, be able to run by guys, and be able to make them miss in open field. IMO all he's shown is being able to run by guys.

 

[Irishman77]

The way you define a #1 is easy...does the defense roll there safeties to him or must they double the guy.

 

[Emcee77]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Let's read some ND/Michigan thoughts from the other side <a href="http://t.co/EwogAPeOMz">http://t.co/EwogAPeOMz</a></p>— Ryan Ritter (@HLS_NDtex) <a href="https://twitter.com/HLS_NDtex/status/508991324503031809">September 8, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Man this made me smile ear-to-ear. I love their despair.

 

[Black Irish]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but what was with UM still pounding runs up the gut going into the 2nd half when they are down by 3 TDS? You don't need to be an offensive genius to see that you need to get some big chunk plays going to right the ship, but Michigan is going for 3 and a cloud of dust over and over.

 

[Blaise]

I think this game had a lot to do with Mich being not very good....
Nd defense will be tested against Stanford... If they dominate that game, I will believe we have a top 15 defense....

 

[koonja]

I actually think UM's defense is pretty solid. Like I said, great test to be able to win so lopsided.

 

[Irishman77]

This shut out will be a massive injection of confidence to this youthful defense! Kids will be VERY coachable and developed years ahead of schedule.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but what was with UM still pounding runs up the gut going into the 2nd half when they are down by 3 TDS? You don't need to be an offensive genius to see that you need to get some big chunk plays going to right the ship, but Michigan is going for 3 and a cloud of dust over and over.

I actually think that was the right move given their personnel. If they had Hackenberg, they could've quit the run game and hoped to march down the field on their QBs arm but Gardner isn't that good of a QB.

They had enough success prior to crossing the 50, that it was a wise move to keep the defense honest. It just never worked out for them because our defense either got pressure on the QB making him erratic or we jumped their routes.

We did the exact same thing before going up big and if we would've been down, I think Kelly would've called the same game plan with possibly a few more down the field shots. But Michigan kept 2 deep safeties and their LBs plugging the gaps so Kelly lived with the intermediate game all day long.

 

[GoldenDomer]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but what was with UM still pounding runs up the gut going into the 2nd half when they are down by 3 TDS? You don't need to be an offensive genius to see that you need to get some big chunk plays going to right the ship, but Michigan is going for 3 and a cloud of dust over and over.

Or Brady Hoke's "lets get em boys" clap while down 28-0.

 

[Black Irish]

I actually think that was the right move given their personnel. If they had Hackenberg, they could've quit the run game and hoped to march down the field on their QBs arm but Gardner isn't that good of a QB.

They had enough success prior to crossing the 50, that it was a wise move to keep the defense honest. It just never worked out for them because our defense either got pressure on the QB making him erratic or we jumped their routes.

We did the exact same thing before going up big and if we would've been down, I think Kelly would've called the same game plan with possibly a few more down the field shots. But Michigan kept 2 deep safeties and their LBs plugging the gaps so Kelly lived with the intermediate game all day long.

I see what you are saying, but at some point, you'd think a coach would say "Holy Shite! We have ZERO points and are down 3-4 scores about to go into the 4th quarter. We need to go big and try to salvage this thing." When you are in that big of a hole, it's time to take some risks and pull out the stops.

 

[stlnd01]

I think this game had a lot to do with Mich being not very good....
Nd defense will be tested against Stanford... If they dominate that game, I will believe we have a top 15 defense....

It was really hard to say what their offense is. Their O Line was pretty abysmal, and so we forced Gardner into all sorts of mistakes. I was amazed they outgained us, especially on the ground, until something I read pointed out that a lot of those yards came via 10-yard draw plays on 3rd and 15s. And beyond Funchess, I don't recall a receiver making a play of note all night. Their defense, though, was decent. Which makes our offense look all the better.
I agree we'll have a better sense of what kind of team we really have here after the Stanford game. But so far, I like what I've seen quite a bit.

 

[Cackalacky]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but what was with UM still pounding runs up the gut going into the 2nd half when they are down by 3 TDS? You don't need to be an offensive genius to see that you need to get some big chunk plays going to right the ship, but Michigan is going for 3 and a cloud of dust over and over.

I will just throw this out there and I am not sure but it crossed my mind anyway:
I think it was Nussmier. That was his Mo at Alabama using the run to set up play action. Problem with this is it did not work all game and why they stuck to it I have no explanation.

Plus history has shown us that Michigan can score against ND fairly quickly
.

 

[phork]

I will just throw this out there and I am not sure but it crossed my mind anyway:
I think it was Nussmier. That was his Mo at Alabama using the run to set up play action. Problem with this is it did not work all game and why they stuck to it I have no explanation.

Plus history has shown us that Michigan can score against ND fairly quickly
.

Michigan does not have the talent that Alabama does though.

 

[Cackalacky]

I agree. Its going to be a long year if they stick with this plan.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Michigan does not have the talent that Alabama does though.

I'm sure Nussmeier would agree.

 

[Irish#1]

I'm sure Nussmeier would agree.

He's probably wondering why he left Bama.

 

[phork]

He's probably wondering why he left Bama.

No he isn't. Saban showed him the door.