Saturday, October 21, 2017

The Orange Bowl Curse

I know you have heard of the Madden curse but are you aware of the Orange Bowl curse?


No?


It's actually a new thing, the year after playing in the Orange Bowl your team will lose it's starting QB early in the year and then your season goes down the drain very fast.  Michigan and Florida State are this years examples of that very curse.


How about that game tonight?  Penn State left no doubt which was the better team, didn't they? 


I'm not even mad because Michigan got their backside whipped tonight and our best unit was the one getting their butts kicked.   Didn't see Penn State running over one of the best defenses in the country, but they sure did tonight. 


The Barkley problem is real.  You either have to leave in a LB to stop the run but as soon as the offense sees 3 LB's in the game, they roll out an RPO and put Barkley at WR.  That right there equals game over.   You can throw to him or have your QB scramble, because the defense will roll with Barkley every time.  It is also clear that a LB can't cover Barkley as a WR. 


Michigan got hit early, wobbled and then put a few good rounds together before getting knocked out in the late rounds.


Penn State was by far the better team, just like Michigan was last year. 


Michigan doesn't have any reasons to lose to the likes of Michigan State and Iowa.   Right now Penn State and Ohio State are playing football at another level and one the Wolverines haven't seen for years.   Those two teams will play for the Big Ten Championship next week in my mind.


I give JOK and Jimmy a tip of the hat tonight as well.   They did all they could to win this game.  JOK held the ball too long a few times and had a fumble, but I thought all in all, he showed a positive step forward which hopefully will pay off against Wisconsin and Ohio State.  


The fire you smelled wasn't the season going up it smoke, it was all the red shirts Jimmy burned tonight, which is a unique decision.  Mostly after Penn State jumped out to a 14 -0 lead early in the 1st quarter. 


There really isn't much more to say on what happen tonight.  Michigan will have to play very well not to have a 4 loss season. 













4 comments:

In Harbaugh we trust said...

Like you...there is no reason to get mad or upset...when u lose to a better team, you tip your hat and regroup..I remember a few years ago we played Alabama..and figured we were back...by the end of that game it was clear it was men vs boys..This wasn’t the same..But how is it our trenches can never win a big game..mayby I’ve been spoiled..I’m 41 years old and have always seen unbelievable OL...and angry running backs do bad things to lead to victory’s and BIG 10 TITLES...remember those...I just think Jimmy thought this would be easier...bring in his friends and family to coach, go on summer vacations and win..I just hope he can step back and make the moves necessary to win in 2018..I will end this by saying JIMMY HAS TO WIN...He is our dream coach.. there is no plan B...thanks for listening GEORGE

dude1984 said...

I'm not bothered that they lost. I was expecting a loss. I'm bothered by the deficit and how unprepared they looked right out of the gate.They seemed intimidated or at least overwhelmed from the beginning.

Voice of Reason said...

When you think about this team at the beginning of the season the pundits were mostly correct. When we approached the fall camp they were saying that this team would not be as good because they lost too many starters having been replaced by so many very young and inexperienced or limited experienced players. Most of us with Blue colored glasses didn't want to see it and so we expected to see a B1G title or a playoff birth but when we take off our glasses this is what we see:

1) Offensively a rebuilt offensive line that is the backbone of any offense. As much as we've blasted last years group as being mediocre they were experienced and was producing at least averagely. This year, with first year starters from the center, RG and RT that have never played together it effects our timing, Running and Passing game. Moreover, my concern is when Cole, Kruger and JBB graduate they will still have to put new faces in the line and so what does that mean for next year?

2) The Starting QB/WS was struggling (IMO) partly because of his issues and partly because of the OL's unstable performance. As much as we complained about Wilton's performance, we knew that he was our best option for winning. Now that he is out for the season we had the second string QB come in and that automatically should tell you that the offense is in trouble. Second string QB's are second string for a reason, because they aren't as good as the starter. Now we see what the coaches see.

JOK (a great guy) had only started one game from last year and was thrown into the fire during the Purdue game. His second start was against an historically tough MSU defense which caused him to struggle and shouldn't have surprised anyone that he did. His "third" career Michigan start against IU was understandably shaky and only provided more film for PSU which had an extra week to prepare. JOK has been playing like the limited experience QB that he is. When we couple that with a 3/5th newly re-built OL that has been struggling, then are we still surprised? This offense has struggled against EVERYONE this year.

3) Last years starters at WR are now playing in the NFL. Now our best Wide Receivers (let's face it) are Freshman. They are still learning how to run routes, block and so forth on this level. Add this issue to our offensive woes and we shouldn't be surprised.

4) Special Teams seems to be a rebuild with key Freshman. They are exceptionally talented but remember, they are still primarily Freshman...and still learning.

5) Defense: the pundits knew that with so many new faces on that side of the ball that the Defense would struggle. We told ourselves that they were "experienced" because of the rotation. True, but many were part-timers with limited playing time but now they are full timers and we have to also allow for a learning curve this year even for them.

Last year Coach Harbaugh had a veteran team that kicked PSU's tail, and this year PSU is the veteran team. Remember last year OSU had a number of young players coming in and they played well but when they played Clemson they were crushed by a veteran team with outstanding talent.

This year, Michigan is the "young" team with a lot of talent. They are taking their lumps which is in essence a right of passage so to speak for this Harbaugh based team, but then next year and the year after that we should see these kids grow up and Michigan will be reloading like Alabama does. Just be patient. IMHO!!!

ScottyDoggs said...

Have to abide by VOR's "Just be patient"

Our problem over the last decade has been quarterback play (mostly)... Sheridan vs. Ohio State" Harbaugh needs to solve that riddle!!!!