September 15th, 2018 at 7:05 PM ^
SMU was able to drive the ball at will in the second half. Don Brown is overrated. They are also extremely undisciplined. So many penalties. That's already killed them once this year. It'll do it again if they don't change.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:07 PM ^
Overrated? C’mon man don’t be stupid...
September 15th, 2018 at 9:30 PM ^
Just total garbage takes all around. Really starting to dislike this board as it is full of little b*tches. You all are goldfish and seem to not appreciate how much better the QB and WR are this year. On D, some young guys made mistakes but the interior DL played better. You all deserve herpes
September 16th, 2018 at 12:08 AM ^
You were doing fine until the last sentence.
The defense was attacked by a great gameplan and some very good athletes. Porche would start for just about any team in the country. The officiating was lousy.
Did our defense show some cracks? Absolutely. But that was not the same version of SMU that played the first two games and I’d expect their offense to come alive from here on out.
September 16th, 2018 at 11:14 AM ^
We stopped most of their drives until the refs moved them along with ridiculous penalties. The targeting was BS (their targeting of West, on the other hand, was egregious), the PI on Hutchinson was absurd as the QB's still had the ball in his hand when the tackle began, a couple of the PIs were just bad calls (one involved a ball thrown so far over the receiver's head it landed a good ten yards OOB) and their refusal to call holding on SMU was the cherry on top.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:10 PM ^
He's a good coach. It was inevitable that opposing teams started to figure out his defense. It's gimmicky.
September 15th, 2018 at 10:35 PM ^
There's nothing gimmicky at all about it. Every defense and scheme has weaknesses. Brown's have always been QBs able to break the pocket and in press-man, get some yards, and also be vulernable to reverses/screens becasue of aggressiveness. Brown needs to just adjust as other adjust to him. The biggest thing to me is lack of pass rush TFLs. I'm not sure if that is because of DTs or blitzes not getting home. But containing the QB and getting pressure is number one concern right now especially given the modern game. I think there needs to be more disguising of different coverages as well.
September 16th, 2018 at 12:44 AM ^
Perhaps reading too much into this, but 2nd game in last 5 where opposing team's backup QB came in for extended time, with a different skillset than the starter, and the defense really seemed to struggle with it at times.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:17 PM ^
Not a great game by the defense but damn this is a shitty take. Shitty refs, some legitimate penalties, time of possession, and some beautiful play calling and well thrown balls took it to em today. I dont expect this to become a trend.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:25 PM ^
I love Don Brown, but he really has to fix that problem with QB's running free while his secondary is in man coverage with their backs to the line of scrimmage.
Happened against O$U last year and happened again today.
Their backup qb did a hell of a job.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:00 PM ^
Agreed. Love Don Brown as well, but for the love of god can throw in an occassional zone coverage on 3rd and long so I dont have to see another QB run for 20 yards while our DBs are all running in coverage with their backs to the play again! This lost the game against OSU last year and I dont see it being any different this year.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:08 PM ^
Absolutely correct regarding use of zone coverage when it is 3rd & long. QB's run wild. Also we're vulnerable to pick plays - ND's 1st possession is my recurring nightmare. Lastly, vulnerable to PI fouls.
September 15th, 2018 at 11:36 PM ^
Their backup qb did a hell of a job.
He had 82 yards on 17 attempts. SMU's offense after the half was "throw pass to blanketed receiver, pray for flag." And the officials obliged.
September 16th, 2018 at 12:09 AM ^
He had 2 touchdown passes and averaged 6 yards per carry.
Our defense is supposed to be one of the best in the nation.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:57 PM ^
This defense usually pads their numbers against weak teams causing them to statistically be rated high but if the game is on the line they fold like a cheap suit. The only game I can remember the defense winning is the Indiana game when they made a stop at the goal line. Against good teams, they are an average defense. Not many are willing to say this but it is fact. I could point to several games last year when the defense caved despite us having good leads
Teams are exploiting this mano mano defensive philosophy. Either DB changes or it will be a long season. What we saw today was pathetic. A freshman QB looking like Ton Brady against our vaunted defense.
September 15th, 2018 at 10:41 PM ^
You do realize that all the advanced stats that have Brown's defenses as some of the best in the nation no matter where he goes are adjusted for opponent strength and exclude garbage time, correct?
September 16th, 2018 at 3:38 AM ^
but Freddie, this guys says "but it is fact". He said it's a fact! How can you argue with him, once he established it wasn't just his opinion, but a fact????
ugh.
September 16th, 2018 at 10:41 AM ^
I think I can answer your question:
No, no he does not realize that.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:08 PM ^
Don Brown isn’t overrated come on now.
One TD was on a coverage blown by Hawkins. A guy who’s in his third career game at safety.
Miami gave up 20 to Toledo.
Wisconsin just lost to BYU.
The entire B1G sans UM, Penn State, and Indiana has looked like hot garbage today.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:45 PM ^
Enough excuses man. Any time someone messes up it’s, “but he’s young!”, “but that quarterback is really good!, “but that’s not a Harbaugh recruit!”, “but the refs messed up!” - just make a fucking play for God’s sake. I’m not saying the shit’s easy, but if you repeatedly show that you can’t make the play then why are you still on the field after multiple games and/or seasons in Kinnell’s case. Throughout his career I can maybe think of 2-3 good plays he’s made on the ball off the top of my mind. You might as well have another LB on the field when Kinnell’s in - Metellus played great though. Of course he shows out the second he gets less reps.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
Who cares about what other teams are doing? Doesn't mean a damn thing to me because I'm not looking to make excuses for our team.
Weak sauce.
September 15th, 2018 at 10:49 PM ^
OSU is now down in the 3rd quarter and the a holes here whine about winning by 25. I hope you all get
gonorrhea.
September 16th, 2018 at 2:19 AM ^
Which is it? Herpes or Gonorrhea?
September 16th, 2018 at 6:59 AM ^
Genital warts
September 16th, 2018 at 8:56 AM ^
TCU is twice as good as SMU
September 15th, 2018 at 8:19 PM ^
To everyone downvoting this, how has Don Brown proved to you that he can field an elite, great, or even good defense against a good offense during his stay at Michigan? I know the blitzes look cool and fun to you guys but how effective has the D really been against a decent team?
The best case scenario is the other team scores something like 21 by halftime and we shut them out the rest of the game. But at that point it’s too late - especially with our inept offense. The man to man shit doesn’t cut it unless your DBs are very talented and disciplined, and simply put they’re not. The DBs are underperforming BIG. I thought Lavert was an All-American type corner but even Zordich said, “... it looked like he never played man to man” (referring to the ND game). And what’s up Kinnell being named “the most improved player” by the team? If he’s the most improved then I’m seriously concerned about this teams future/development.
I already know the first thing people will say to refute this is “BUT HE GAVE US A TOP 3 DEFENSE 4 YEARS IN A ROW!!!” or some shit, but I don’t give a fuck if we dominate shitty offenses (which we can’t even really do anymore) then go and give up 42 against PSU.
Until he proves otherwise I believe he can only field a decent defense if we greatly outmatch the talent of the offense.
This disappoints me the most too. I knew the O would be average at best but I really thought we could have an elite defense this year. I’d say we’re above average at best right now.
September 15th, 2018 at 11:40 PM ^
You do realize that stats like S&P and FEI are opponent-adjusted, right?
September 16th, 2018 at 12:30 AM ^
He can’t spell FEI.
September 16th, 2018 at 7:58 AM ^
2017 S&P+ Defense: #10 (behind Wisconsin, MSU, OSU)
2016 was #2.
2016 was an elite defense. 2017 was just a good defense. 2018 looks to be worse than 2017.
September 16th, 2018 at 4:21 AM ^
Don Brown switched off the OSU offense in 2016, and in 2017 as well until Haskins came in for Barrett. I'm not saying everything is perfect, but you're coming in way too hot.
September 16th, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^
My thoughts exactly.
The story in Brown is out. The great teams/coaches could always beat him but now even the worst teams on our schedule have figured him out.
PSU and OSU are going to curb stomp this defense.
Don Brown is cool and uses cool nicknames and talks a big game but the eye test is there - he doesn’t adapt and he needs to figure it out or go back to BC.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:20 PM ^
I prefer Durkins M defense which seemed to have kept play in front of it. Browns doesn't... And too often you see two players turning into one when blitzing...I hate that. And I hardly see the types of stunts ND pulled on us well... Rather we see odd angle blitzes that force QBs hand but to a forward field short two players. MSU I gonna really screw us with our overpursuit unless they smarten up.
I wish Brown on 3rd and long would send three to rush, and the rest to contain.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:22 PM ^
Exactly. We don’t have the DBs to be that aggressive.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:19 PM ^
2 potential first rounders = not having the DBs???
September 15th, 2018 at 8:42 PM ^
Yes. This is a head-scratcher that keeps on getting itchier.
He will have to address mobile quarterbacks and 3rd downs at some point.
September 15th, 2018 at 10:06 PM ^
You mean the Durkin defense that got it's doors blown off against OSU in 2016 and didn't give the team a chance in that game? I will say Brown does need to figure out a fix to getting burned on qb scrambles on 3rd and long and it wouldn't hurt to throw in some zone here and there, but his defense did give UM a chance to beat OSU the last two years. Your comment is absurd. Besides the PSU game the defense gave the team a chance in every game last year
September 16th, 2018 at 7:32 AM ^
I agree Brown is overrated, he's still a good coach, but he's not some superpower Greek god that this blog and many others make him out to be. Most of the defensive stats are padded against weak teams, then they choke against good teams and in crunch time they can't get a stop when they need to at the end of games.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:05 PM ^
Defense got exposed today and the penalties killed us...
September 15th, 2018 at 7:06 PM ^
Too many penalties.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:30 PM ^
I was going to reply that they got kinda carved up, but decided to look at the box score again an eh... passing wise they went 19/34 for 209 and had 31 rushes for 109 yards. So maybe not.
But it did feel an awful lot like the Notre Dame game where they can't seem to get off the field when they need to, allow untimely 3rd and 4th down conversions (SMU was 3/4 on 4th down) and have a penchant for shooting themselves in the foot often.
If this was a young defense, you'd think time would iron some of those things out, but its an extremely vet heavy and experienced defense. My guess is these are all season long issues.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:06 PM ^
Don Brown needs to diversify or PSU MSU OSU and even Wisconsin will blow this defense up.
Hell, Nebraska with their starting QB will give this defense a run for its money.
Anyone mobile shreds this D
3rd and long? FIRST DOWN!!
And what the hell is up with the penalties? So undisciplined.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:39 PM ^
I’m much more confident in a stop when it’s 3rd and 1 than when it’s 3rd and 18.
September 16th, 2018 at 12:03 AM ^
Definitely. I’ve not posted on any of these comments til I saw this one.
Winovich was an animal tonight. So was Bush but on 3rd and long.... seriously. Not good.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:07 PM ^
Really need to start mixing some zone coverage into our defense
September 15th, 2018 at 7:29 PM ^
Especially on 3rd and long.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:07 PM ^
Ppl need to take a pill of chill. Defense was solid the QB made amazing throws. When you play basketball and someone makes a jumper with a hand in their face, what do you do? Its great offense sometimes. Refs were awful as well.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
Funny how Wimbush did the same thing and proceeded to look super mediocre against Vandy and Ball st.
This defense is susceptible af
September 15th, 2018 at 7:12 PM ^
Exactly. Just wait until a real offense goes to work on our defense.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:41 PM ^
That's happened once in 3 years.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:13 PM ^
We bring the best out in other peoples QBs... Made some truly great throws in small windows with pressure... only so much you can do when they are on fire.
Also, Wimbush was made to look good because some "prayers" went ND's way. Three different plays hit UM players in the hands but did not end up as picks. If we picked those, we would have won the game. Once we got into the second half, Wimbush did nothing.