Turn the Page

Ann Arbor's own Bob Seger had a song in 1973 called Turn the Page.   Here are the starting lyrics:

On a long and lonesome highway
East of Omaha
You can listen to the engine
Moanin' out his one note song
You can think about the woman
Or the girl you knew the night before
But your thoughts will soon be wandering
The way they always do
When you're ridin' sixteen hours
And there's nothin' much to do
And you don't feel much like ridin',
You just wish the trip was through

Here I am
On the road again
There I am
Up on the stage
Here I go
Playin' star again
There I go
Turn the page

Yesterday afternoon the Denard Robinson chapter of Michigan Football ended.  He started his 4 years as a backup QB that fumbled his first snap and ran for a touchdown, he ended his career in the Outback Bowl as a specialty RB only used in specific scenarios.

The conclusion is his elbow is worse then we thought and Big Al struggled on using his talents that would benefit the Wolverines.   He finished with exactly 100 yards rushing yards. Personally, this is a sad ending for a guy that has had a very nice career has a Michigan Wolverine.   I wish him the best of luck in the NFL and with a new position.  He is and will always be a Michigan Man.  He always had time for an autograph or picture with any fan.  He is pure class and pure speed. 

Now to the game:

I was lucky enough to be in the stands to watch a very competitive game that was fun to watch.   The last minute or so wasn't so much fun but Michigan played hard and was one down away from winning.   If you think about it, the Outback Bowl was the perfect microcosm to Michigan's entire season.   The offense played well and poorly at times, the defense played decent but missed JT Floyd and the special teams were special but gave up a huge return for a touchdown.   But the biggest mistake made during the game was the uniforms.  Maybe it didn't show up on TV, but sitting in the stands you couldn't see the numbers.   You couldn't tell between Raymond Taylor or Courtney Avery.  It was a terrible way to watch the Wolverines in person.   I know the players like the jerseys but from a fan's standpoint at the game, it was a 100% complete failure.   The only thing worse then the jerseys were the officials.   They were way over their head in trying to officiate a game between a Big Ten and SEC team.

Defense:

JT Floyd was really missed.  Greg Mattison decided not to blitz as much and played a ton of zone coverage that the Old Ball Coach (OBC) took advantage of.   It seemed the TE was running wide open down the middle of the field anytime they wanted it.   If you think about it Michigan was down to their number 3 & 4 CB's from the beginning of the season.  This loss goes on the defense, they had a chance to get a stop and win the game and they didn't.  The offense scored enough points to win the game and the defense didn't play well enough to win. Even our walk-on safety senior captain Kovacs gives up the last long pass of the day. 

Offense:

I give the play calling a B-, it seemed the Wolverines could move the ball through the air when they wanted but they continued to try to run Vincent Smith and others into the line.  This team is in a need of an elite tailback.  Derrick Green as a huge opportunity here if he takes it.   Denard ran the ball 23 times and was clearly the Wolverines best back but I thought he could of done much more.  He wasn't under center enough and he didn't even try to throw.   I know his elbow is not good, but I find it hard to believe he can't throw a screen or a short slant that would have surprised the USC defense.
I was happy on how the Michigan WR's played overall.

A Big Al moment:  It's sad that Big Al's mistake will be on Clowney's highlight reel for a couple of years.  After, Michigan fakes a punt and gets a generous spot, Big Al calls a play where Vincent Smith runs the ball right at the best player in college football.  You all have seen it and you could say that was a huge momentum shift after it was clearly in the Wolverines corner. 

Special Teams:

Was special for sure.  They give up return for a TD in the first quarter and then become really good.  Wile kicking 52 yard field goals and they fake two punts and get a first down on both attempts.   Raise your hand if you could remember a Michigan game where they ran two fake punts.  What about 2 in a season?  Lloyd would maybe pull one out in the Rose Bowl or something. 

In a lot of ways, the Rich Rod hat trick at Michigan was finished on Tuesday afternoon.  Denard is now gone and Big Al can play with mostly of the players he has helped developed or recruited to Ann Arbor.   I can tell you one thing, I expected more from this offense - a lot more.   If Denard's talents were holding him back, this offense better be more effective next year or he needs to find a new place to work. 

Michigan got out coached yesterday and that is tough to take for us Wolverines fans.  The OBC took it to the OBSC (Old Ball State Coach).   Brady Hoke took Michigan by storm last year by fixing the defense and winning a BCS game.   Let's hope he learned a lot this year on how to be the head football coach at Michigan.  A 5 loss season is terrible and they didn't even sniff a Big Ten Championship in a year where OSU and PSU were not eligible.  I sure hope he knows what he is doing, but this year does raise question if Ball State and SDSU were the proper primers for the Michigan job.    For example, what if a 5 loss year happened last year?

6 new freshman will be enrolled in about a week and the seniors will finish classes and try out for the NFL, the high ranking recruiting class from 2012 is now a year older.   It's now time to turn the page on the 2012 season.   I'm sure Brady and Al are ready to.