It's Monday and where do we go from here?
We have two full weeks to consider that. September has been a bad month for the Wolverines, losing two high profile national TV games. With that said, the goal remains the same, a Big Ten Championship. That goal is shared by 12 teams and everyone is 0-0 in Big Ten play.
The Big Ten has become the ACC this year. The league has 5 non-conference BCS wins and 3 of those have come from Northwestern. Michigan, Wisconsin and MSU have all failed when the spotlight hit them this year. MSU even struggled with EMU for 3 quarters on Saturday. Anyone can win the Big Ten this year even the likes of Northwestern and Purdue (of course OSU and PSU can win their division but not a Big 10 title).
Where can the Wolverines improve?
They have to figure out who they are offensively. Are they a spread team or are they a pro style team this year? They can't be both and this hybrid style isn't working. (I thought we figured this out last year after the MSU game?). Throw out the UMass game and you have to go back to OSU and Nebraska last year to find games where the offense looked good.
Michigan has to have a better game plan against solid defenses. I don't think Rich Rod ever beat a team (while at Michigan) that played solid defense and I don't believe Brady Hoke/Big AL has either. Drop back passes with Denard is not the answer. You could say Virgina Tech had a pretty good defense but before the Sugar Bowl they got beat by Clemson 38-10.
Play better on the road. Last year: 2 losses both on the road at Iowa and MSU. 2012 calendar year: sloppy Sugar Bowl, blow out in Dallas and what ever that was on Saturday at ND.
Michigan starts the Big Ten season at Purdue, has to go to Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio State. They have to find away to win all those games.
I am confident the defense will continue to improve. Greg Mattison is one of the best DC's out there.
Special Teams also seems to be in good shape (minus the missed field goal on Saturday).
Most of the question marks if not all are on Al Borges and the offense. If they are going to win a Big Ten Title the offense needs to improve in the next two weeks and start playing Michigan Football.
Denard's decision making might improve but he is never going to be Tom Brady. Find what works for him and the Michigan offense and stick with it. (here is a hint : he is a really good runner)
Monday, September 24, 2012
Michigan Monday: Two Weeks to Improve
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2 comments:
Totally agree! Mattison is doing his job. Borges is not. Hoke talks about accountability, so let's seem some aimed at his OC. DR is a spread quarterback. Damn the West Coast offense or hybrid offense, and make the most of what you have for the last year you have him.
Michigan's offense has not looked good against decent teams. DR's passing aside, why hasn't running back play improved? Borges has some explaining to do. So does Hoke -- just because you don't wear headphones on the sidelines doesn't mean he isn't accountable as well.
This isn't cutting it. I don't mind losing. I mind not improving.
Agreed with all said, but to add we need a new o-line coach. if we are gonna get those great commits we need the coach who can develop them into NFL OL and the the big recruits will sign.
Borges is stubborn, he says he would have not changed anything about the game plan when things were not going well. How do you say that when nothing is working?
Question for borges: if denard was 5/6 for 59 yards on a drive and was at the 10 yard line, why in the freak do you take the ball out of his hands and put it in the backup rb hands. And when he threw his first int you kept calling pass plays were more int's were thrown. It feels like you are getting a kick out of this. are you here for the demise of Denard Robinson?
if borges doesn't do anything else, At least go back to the play calls from last year.
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