I used to love this week, it was an exciting week where you knew the game on Saturday would be a great match-up that could go either way. Both teams would be nervous and both teams would be playing their hearts out.
I hate this week now. Mostly after what happened on Saturday. That hit on Peters probably cost the Wolverines the game in Madison and made the climb on Saturday way to steep.
Folks that live in Ohio have a huge blind spot for this game. They treat it with an intensity that could be borderline insanity or even religious fervor. A Buckeye loss in this game is not acceptable on any level. The last 10 years of Michigan football has made that goal much easier then it should be.
When Urban Meyer laid down on the sideline after winning in OT last year, that was a pure relief reaction. He knows what losing to Michigan in Ohio means. He didn't react that way for winning a Big Ten Championship or even a National Championship.
I hate this week.
I'm a huge fan of Jimmy as he is a 100% better then the two guys that were hired after Carr retired. He has a great pedigree of playing QB at Michigan, QB in the NFL, rebuilding NFL/college programs, and even coached in a Super Bowl. I love how he lives to coach football and gives a 100% every day to Michigan's program. I loved how the first two years that he showed passion on the sideline, was yelling at the officials, throwing his hat, etc.
Something has changed this year and he even said, he was dead inside and was nothing but burnt wood. He doesn't get nervous has he has been through a 1000 games and seen pretty much everything. There is something good and bad about that. I feel a team is a reflection of it's coach. It's good to be up for Maryland but bad when you have a similar excitement level for playing MSU or Wisconsin. I believe this comes from Jimmy's NFL experience where there is a big game every weekend and not really any rivalry games. Loses happen in the NFL and you just move on. It's a little different in the college and mostly with strong rivalry games.
I know Jimmy understands Michigan's rivalries and I'm not trying to make a case he doesn't. I'm just wondering if there is something missing? I know one thing that is missing, which is a healthy Michigan QB. (from mgoblog user)
2007 - Mallet for a injured Henne
2008- Sheridan
2009 - Forcier
2010 - Forcier for a injured Denard
2011 - Denard
2012 - WR Gardner for injured Denard
2013 - Gardner breaks foot in game
2014 - Gardner
2015 - Rudock knocked out of game with existing shoulder injury
2016 - Injured Speight played
2017 - Speight and Peters injured
In 10 years, Michigan has had 4 non-injured QB's play and one was Nick Sheridan (sorry Nick!). I'm pretty sure this is JT Barrett's 10th start against Michigan in this series. The year he gets hurt in the Michigan game, OSU wins the National Championship.
I hate this week.
I wish I had the answers: Is it bad luck? Is it bad coaching? Is it a lack of talent? Is it a trend that just can't be broken? Does Michigan players care too much - too little?
This week is setting up just like the majority of the OSU weeks in the last 10 years. That same feeling is in my stomach, probably like the same feeling you have.
I hate this week.
- In some terrible news, 24/7 is reporting that former OSU WR/ NFL WR Terry Glenn has been killed in a car accident.
5 comments:
Can not add anything to post... it's like a sequel to a movie that never should have been made.
Kudo's for your kind words for Terry Glenn
Need to bring Jed Fish back asap. Next year Jimmy will need to perform better or the rumbling to replace will start. Also Jimmy will get fed up and may start to think about jumping back into the NFL. Honestly on the big stage jimmy hasn't preformed all that well considering his resume. Starting next year we need to hold Jim's feet to the fire.
Go blue!!
I like Jedd a ton, but there isn't room for him right now and he really wants to be a head coach somewhere. I think its a long shot for him coming back.
Folks who know football and how to build a team understand that even thinking about replacing Harbaugh now is ridiculous. When you look down at this young starting rotation roster you'll see all sorts of talent. Harbaugh's talented recruits. He has fixed or enhanced pretty much everything that needed to be fixed "but" the OL and that is a work in progress which is not his fault.
That would have been in "better" shape if Logan Tulley-Tillman (legal), Devery Hamilton (decommit), Grant Newsome (injury), etc. had all worked out; plus Hoke signed a number of OL players that were not Power 5 D-1 caliber players; and had they been at least a solid group of OL players Harbaugh wouldn't have to rebuild the line he inherited. Hoke was great at assessing defensive players but lacking for the most part on the offensive side of recruiting and development. It showed during his tenure.
What we do know is that this line will be solid soon because it has to be and we know that this is a priority with this coaching staff. We know that the line will be solid up the middle next season, but what they will have to do is work on and identify two tackles which isn't an easy task. I'm sure they're doing that now as we speak.
If they can't get a fifth year transfer, they will likely use JBB at one spot and GN if healthy or one of the other guys we've seen that steps up at the other. I wouldn't be surprised if they kicked BB from guard to tackle.
I would imagine we will hear something from the bowl and spring practices that will reflect how they're thinking about the tackle positions.
Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if WS played against OSU or the bowl game especially if BP is not cleared. Harbaugh wouldn't necessarily tip his hand to anyone about this.
In any case I am convinced that Michigan's future is bright. I'm not worried and recommend that you don't worry. IMHO!!!
I think that when you wrote about Jim's sideline escapades from last year and then compare to this year where he has been pretty calm, there is an explanation. I don't remember when it happened but Harbaugh was all but told by the Big Ten head office to calm it down on the sidelines or else.
It was either game day or the day after, but Steve Lorenz tweeted;
51%: The amount of total snaps played by first or second year Wolverines in Saturday's game.
74%: The amount of total snaps played by first-year starters in Saturday's game
There is one explanation for the quaiity or lack there of play.
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