Saturday, November 24, 2018

Embarassing

I have been a Michigan fan my entire life.  Over that entire time, I can't ever remember being embarrassed to be a Michigan fan.  Michigan has played poorly and had disappointing losses but never was I embarrassed.  

I have been embarrassed to be a Michigan fan twice in a year.  The first time was walking out of the Outback Bowl, where I watched a Michigan team quit and not want to be there.  Today was the second time for obvious reasons.

There is something wrong with this program.  The optimist will say, Michigan is 10-2 this year.  I will say Michigan didn't beat a good team this year.   MSU just beat Rutgers by 4 points at home and just got beat by Nebraska.  Wisconsin got blown out by Minnesota today.  Maybe Penn State but we know they aren't that good even though they are ranked #12 in the country.

Let me share a few thoughts about todays game after I have been able to think about a few things.

First off watching that game was like getting tortured for 4 hours.  It was incredibly painful.

  • Michigan had the blueprint on how to beat OSU by every game the Buckeyes played this year.  They knew the weakness in the OSU defense and knew that Haskins throws nothing but slants and screens.  Last week it was clear he would also run for first downs.  Michigan was un-prepared and whatever game plan they had was completely wrong.  Maryland took this OSU team to OT last week and just scored 3 points against Penn State this weekend.  

  • There is a difference in playing to win and playing not to lose.  Michigan played not to lose today.  You might think I'm crazy but I knew it was going to be a long day after the second play.  Higdon runs for 8 yards on 1st down and then is taken out of the game.   On 2nd and 2 OSU is expecting a run and brings a run blitz, Shea play fakes and gets sacked.   Run the DAMN BALL WITH HIGDON Again!   Don't give this defense any confidence, which that play did. 

  • OSU offensive line had struggled all year, today they looked like world beaters.   How does that happen?

  • I love Don Brown, but he can't play man to man coverage against every team.  He needs more Zone sets and today was big example of that.  He has one or two head scratchers a year and today was another one of them.  He mentioned he couldn't sleep after Penn State last year, this game will make him a insomniac.   JT Barrett couldn't throw but was a talented runner and Michigan couldn't stop him, Haskins doesn't run much and throws short passes and Michigan couldn't stop him.   Here a few teams that were in the game with OSU late:  Indiana, Maryland,  Minnesota, and Nebraska.  Michigan lost by 3 TD's today with the #1 defense in the country.  WTF?

  • Brandon Watson has had a good year and is a 5th year senior, but he has struggled covering fast guys his entire year.   Not expecting OSU to pick on him was another huge miss by the defensive coaching staff. 

  • What is the deal with Ohio State?  I will never pick Michigan to beat them again, until the Wolverines prove they can do it.  This has gotten out of control and I have no idea what the solution is.  

  • A bowl game?  I know this sounds absurd and its clearly an over reaction after that performance, but the Wolverines should consider turning down a bowl bid.   Here is why,  Winovich, Bush, Gary, and Higdon for sure shouldn't play.  I know they might want to play with their brothers one more time, but the Jake Butt situation is still too fresh in everyone's mind.   As mentioned above, the Outback Bowl last year was awful and I really don't want another performance like that coming off this game.  The bowl game is meaningless and the only value is really two more weeks of practice.   (I retract this statement if Michigan somehow gets to the Rose Bowl)

  • As much of this loss was on the defense, I still think Michigan needs an OC that can bring some innovation to this offense.  Jimmy is way too old school and that is not going to work against good teams.  I don't know if he is holding Pep back or if Pep's play calling is just boring but something needs to change. 
This used to be my favorite day of the year, now I hate this day and have hated it for a long time.  

24 comments:

Tommertoffo said...

Many comments you make are solid, but you're too emotional right now.

Urban Meyer is one of the best coaches in the history of college football, he has an exceptionally talented team, and as a result of the press and pressure early in the season, his team was off (being off for OSU is 10-1).

They were off until today. Ohio State would have beaten Alabama badly today.

It's not Don Brown's defense. It's not a preparation issue. I agree with the second play call of the day.....but that didn't make the difference. Ohio State played to the peak of their capacity today...and it showed. We never would have beaten this Ohio State team running on all cylinders. Not a chance.

If they play like this, no one can beat them.

If anything, however, this will get the press monsters out against Meyer ever more and he'll likely retire rather than deal with their BS. The press are dogs, IMO.

What BS? The same BS that will be thrown at the Michigan coaches these next few weeks. Wojo's article was an absolute joke. Everyone in the press pretends that they know better. They can't even write well.

Go Blue

GuyTellTruth said...

Plain and simple Michigan got an old head coach that plays 1965 football and the Don Brown old geezer doesn't know shit about defense... Angry Thomas should have been in the game and playing all the crossing route

GuyTellTruth said...

Abu please come back I need your few thoughts you are right about Michigan football these morons couldn't handle your truth about Michigan football.... plain and simple their defense did not put any pressure on Haskins no pressure no Blitz

dude1984 said...

“Michigan had the blueprint on how to beat OSU by every game the Buckeyes played this year. They knew the weakness in the OSU defense and knew that Haskins throws nothing but slants and screens. Last week it was clear he would also run for first downs. Michigan was un-prepared and whatever game plan they had was completely wrong. Maryland took this OSU team to OT last week and just scored 3 points against Penn State this weekend. ’’
No doubt it was frustrating. It seems almost like they took the entire week off to celebrate Thanksgiving.

“There is a difference in playing to win and playing not to lose. Michigan played not to lose today. You might think I’m crazy but I knew it was going to be a long day after the second play. Higdon runs for 8 yards on 1st down and then is taken out of the game. On 2nd and 2 OSU is expecting a run and brings a run blitz, Shea play fakes and gets sacked. Run the DAMN BALL WITH HIGDON Again! Don’t give this defense any confidence, which that play did.’’
I had a very bad feeling after Ohio State’s first drive. Seeing that they stubbornly stuck with man coverage made me think “oh this is going to be a long day”.

“OSU offensive line had struggled all year, today they looked like world beaters. How does that happen?’’
Only thing I can think of is the defensive line was nowhere near 100% across the board because their performance was pathetic.

“I love Don Brown, but he can't play man to man coverage against every team. He needs more Zone sets and today was big example of that. He has one or two head scratchers a year and today was another one of them. He mentioned he couldn't sleep after Penn State last year, this game will make him a insomniac. JT Barrett couldn't throw but was a talented runner and Michigan couldn't stop him, Haskins doesn't run much and throws short passes and Michigan couldn't stop him. Here a few teams that were in the game with OSU late: Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Michigan lost by 3 TD's today with the #1 defense in the country. WTF?’’
Never been a huge fan of Brown largely because I’m a 3-4 zone blitz fan, but not a hater either. This game showed he isn’t adaptable because of arrogance and or stubbornness. His game plan is worthy of being fired. It was incredibly poor.

He put a player in position to epically fail (Watson), they didn’t go to zone until it was too late (should have started in base zone coverage from the start…they had a full week to practice it), and after a few drives it was made painfully clear the DL couldn’t get pressure to save their lives he refused to call consistent blitzes.

How to beat his defense is out there now. Can he adapt?

“Brandon Watson has had a good year and is a 5th year senior, but he has struggled covering fast guys his entire year. Not expecting OSU to pick on him was another huge miss by the defensive coaching staff. ’’
I feel bad for this dude. He was put in a position where he would never succeed. It’s poor coaching hanging him out to dry like they did.

dude1984 said...

“What is the deal with Ohio State? I will never pick Michigan to beat them again, until the Wolverines prove they can do it. This has gotten out of control and I have no idea what the solution is.’’
The better question is what’s the deal with Jim Harbaugh…this is not the Harbaugh from Stanford or the 9ers that we all expected. If he can't get it done next year in Ann Arbor (which would make him 0-5 v. OSU) I'm joining the fire Harbaugh camp, especially if there aren't any major changes to the coaching staff heading into the 2019 season.

“A bowl game? I know this sounds absurd and its clearly an over reaction after that performance, but the Wolverines should consider turning down a bowl bid. Here is why, Winovich, Bush, Gary, and Higdon for sure shouldn't play. I know they might want to play with their brothers one more time, but the Jake Butt situation is still too fresh in everyone's mind. As mentioned above, the Outback Bowl last year was awful and I really don't want another performance like that coming off this game. The bowl game is meaningless and the only value is really two more weeks of practice. (I retract this statement if Michigan somehow gets to the Rose Bowl)’’
This is the only you wrote in this that I disagree with. It’s a chance for “free” money and a platform to give time to future starters and back-ups moving up the depth chart in a competitive environment.

As of this evening it’s looking like the Rose Bowl against the Pac 12 Champ (Washington or Utah) or the Peach Bowl against LSU…can’t pass either one up. Even if it isn't one of these they can't pass it up because it's a great chance to give guys that will play a big role in the near future on the field in front of a crowd and the cameras some experience outside of playing against their teammates.

“As much of this loss was on the defense, I still think Michigan needs an OC that can bring some innovation to this offense. Jimmy is way too old school and that is not going to work against good teams. I don’t know if he is holding Pep back or if Pep’s play calling is just boring but something needs to change.’’
When Harbaugh was with the 9ers they ran the Pistol. I was expecting this to be their offense. I think it should be their offense. It’s a nice blend of old school and the spread. Every snap it makes the opponents have to focus on a pass, a hand off, and the QB keeping it and taking off. Which one do they prep for?

3 of the 4 QBs have the athleticism for it (Peters is the odd man out and should honestly transfer) and it’s the perfect time to switch with Wilson and Evans as the primary backs next season (especially with Evans’ inability run in the current system).

szanreno said...

The second play at 2nd and 2 resulting in a sack set the tone for the day. I said it then and still feel that way now.

chipper said...

The Indiana game tape is all that OSU needed, both on defense and offense. Same formula, with elite talent. Michigan DT's provided zero pressure and OSU o line pick up all stunts. OSU isolated speed WR on LB and B Wat. Run another drag or slant... Ohio State did their homework. Even Rich Rod's defense didnt give up 60 to Ohio State.

GuyTellTruth said...

Look you imbeciles..... either in this post or last post somebody said Shea Patterson should be benched you stupid moron this is the best quarterback we ever had it's Jim Harbaugh and his dinosaur mind that needs to go he's the one he made us lose this game for following the same blueprint for an offense for four straight years without doing any type of trick plays Arena run up the middle twice and pass them third down that is textbook kindergarten shit

GuyTellTruth said...

Yeah my grandma might be off I don't text I speak into my mic whatever it writes that's what I send

GuyTellTruth said...

Lol

szanreno said...

Fyi. You can say period at the end of your sentences and it will put one there.

Tommertoffo said...

Alex LaCruz: I'm pro-"dinosaur". Running is the way to go. Look at all the teams in the B1G with spread offenses that got torched by Hargaugh.

We didn't lose this game to OSU because our offense failed.
We lost because we couldn't stop their offense.

In fact, unless you have Oklahoma's or Alabama's offense, a running offense to keep the ball away from Haskins and eat up clock is the best game plan against OSU.

The "dinosaur" metaphor is just an anti-Harbaugh claim in disguise.

SecondChance said...

Bob, agree with your comment on the OC. Did not see anything innovative yesterday, no new wrinkles for the game. Definitely outcoached in all phases on offense, defense and special teams. I don't want to hear about Harbaugh trips and gimmicks during the offseason, he needs to get better schemes, or 0-4 against OSU will turn into 0-8 soon enough.

rklans71class said...

OSU was an underdog to Michigan entering the game. Urban Meyer and OSU acted accordingly. In all my years when my team was not expected to win, the underdog role motivated the team to pull-out all stops to present a best effort for an upset. You might say that we played the entire game with a 2-minuted drill mindset, and never looked-back until the game ended. The whole team focused on speed, speed and more speed from start to finish. I believe that OSU's game plan last Saturday exhibited what I have just described. There was nothing magic or surprising about OSU's game plan. What is surprising is Michigan being unprepared to match speed with speed. Man-on-man coverage in the secondary? Forget it!! You need zone coverage, more like dynamic zone coverage with the zones shifting based on how the offensive play is unfolding. I don't believe Don Brown planned on providing dynamic zone coverage. I don't know his reasoning, since it is quite apparent that Dwayne Haskins and the OSU offense used fact-action swing passes, screen passes, crossing-routes and short (around 10 yard) slot receiver passes all season long. By the way, Ronnie Bell has exhibited for Michigan this season (as well as last Saturday) how dangerous and lethal crossing patterns with a speedy and athletic receiver can be. The Michigan defense could have practiced against him, if they wanted to sharpen a dynamic zone coverage scheme to deploy against OSU.

GuyTellTruth said...

Shut up you idiots go back to clean video games you guys don't know shitt

GuyTellTruth said...

Dude you are an idiot they run up the middle twice and pass on third down that's what they've been doing all year long they need to learn how to mix it up and be aggressive throw the ball down the field no Crossing pattern no Slants none of that stuff just up the Middle Run and pass on 3rd down you're an idiot

GuyTellTruth said...

That old gizzard Don brown stew dump like a dinosaur he should have taken Watson out of the game and replacing with Ambry Thomas who a little faster you could have kept up with all those plays down the middle fire that old geezer it's not worth having him around if you can't stop good offense you ain't nobody when you play the big boys this is what happens to you

GuyTellTruth said...

I'm not mad they lost still happy that they went 10 and 2 and have a chance to win 11 games go Blue

GuyTellTruth said...

I thought this room is a football blog not a English class it only shows what kind of morons are in this room please leave if you don't have no knowledge about football if you don't have no interest just leave

GuyTellTruth said...

Look guys Michigan only lost because our defense did not put any pressure on Haskin bottom line

Goose said...

Alex, you are a true wordsmith. I don't disagree with your thoughts. Michigan was not out "athleted" after all Perdue MSU & others don't have Michigan athletes but they competed. No the problem is not a simple one to solve. It's not a scheme or a coaching philosophy problem. Lets be honest oSU couldn't stop the run all year if I'm game planning I'm gonna plan to run a lot that's what has worked for other opponents against osu.It's not that Harbaugh is trash and must be replaced. After all improvement is undeniable and who would you replace him with that would succeed where he failed. Saturday's game was not sign that osu will always win nor does it mean Michigan is complete trash. I have no solutions to offer & no blame to assign. I can only say that when anyone plays as well as the Buckeyes did Saturday they will win & they haven't played that well all year. Maybe next year will have a better outcome. Honestly is this game even a rivalry anymore? Thanks for your comments. I'll look forward to your continued bloviating about how wrong everyone is. Period.

Anonymous said...

Tommertoffo, yes Urban Meyer is a great coach but to give up 62 - they are not that much better so yes, Wojo was not off like you say. Enough with Ohio State was "off all season". You don't lose like this even if OSU has a much better team with better athletes. Again, not 62 points better - NO WAY. You make $9 Million a year, sorry but the heat comes with it. Go ahead and play man, but how about get in their face off the line and if they burn you they burn you because they did anyway.

Tommertoffo said...
Many comments you make are solid, but you're too emotional right now.

Urban Meyer is one of the best coaches in the history of college football, he has an exceptionally talented team, and as a result of the press and pressure early in the season, his team was off (being off for OSU is 10-1).

They were off until today. Ohio State would have beaten Alabama badly today.

It's not Don Brown's defense. It's not a preparation issue. I agree with the second play call of the day.....but that didn't make the difference. Ohio State played to the peak of their capacity today...and it showed. We never would have beaten this Ohio State team running on all cylinders. Not a chance.

What BS? The same BS that will be thrown at the Michigan coaches these next few weeks. Wojo's article was an absolute joke. Everyone in the press pretends that they know better. They can't even write well.

szanreno said...

bloviating. I like that. Alex?

MichiganMan said...

Alex, does speak the truth even though, his words are kind of pompous.