November 13th, 2021 at 3:36 PM ^
Still too conservative. But I’ll take it.
November 13th, 2021 at 4:29 PM ^
We got a dang good football team, that is why the coaching works. Barely.
November 13th, 2021 at 11:06 PM ^
We got a dang good football team
Moreso than I don't really see a team winning in spite of coaching, I see a team winning because of coaching and talent. I don't think the coaching is perfect, but I don't think it's necessarily talent hiding bad schemes (outside of Haskins)
November 14th, 2021 at 8:58 AM ^
Specifically, what I meant is that the way we USE the schemes, they would not work if we didn't have above average talent. We run the same running plays over and over, at times right at the strength of the defense. That's not good, we need to switch it up. We're too predictable and it is only because we have well above average talent that we are having the success we are having. I agree that even with the best talent, a team is going to have a hard time winning without adequate coaching.
November 14th, 2021 at 10:27 AM ^
I am not a FB savant, but there has to be a reason why the running game worked in the 4th quarter. It looked like they were trying various things in the 1st quarter. Once they started throwing the ball, it opened up. Nice passes to HH also. PSU's interior was supposed to be their weakness but it did not work in 1st quarter. But they kept at it and eventually broke it open. I am curious to see what UFR says about our running game. Was it setup in the 1st? May be. It sure was frustrating to see too many 2&9 but it all worked out in the 4th. So, I tend to give the coaches their due respect.
November 13th, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^
Think Harbaugh could learn a little from Franklin's gambles today. Penn State had no right being in this game that long but a little aggression went a long way. We seem to have kinda figured out some new redzone scoring ideas, now we just need to be a bit more aggressive on 3rd/4th and short
November 13th, 2021 at 4:34 PM ^
You mean going for it on 4th and goal instead of kicking the field goal? I think there is precious little to be learned about tactics from James Franklin.
November 13th, 2021 at 4:37 PM ^
That was obviously stupid but before that, he parlayed a fake punt into points. And Penn State was like 3/3 on 4th down until that last drive. Those 4th down gambles gave them a lead (until we took it back lol)
November 13th, 2021 at 4:43 PM ^
The fake punt was a fine enough call but I wouldn’t have used it on the first drive of the game. I’d save it for later.
Then to run a fake FG on the next possession was dumb.
November 13th, 2021 at 5:23 PM ^
The fake punt was from too far for a FG but not too risky to give us great field position.
November 13th, 2021 at 9:39 PM ^
Dumb on the fake FG is an understatement
November 14th, 2021 at 7:25 AM ^
Penn State went 4 for 6 on 4th down, with 3 for 3 on their lone TD drive. However, Harbaugh has been going for it on 4th down a lot this year including around our own 30 in the first half of Wisconsin.
November 14th, 2021 at 8:53 AM ^
Well, we did go for it 4th down a few times, too.
November 14th, 2021 at 5:11 PM ^
We have gone for it on 4th down FAR more than in past Michigan history but i think this is much more common in CFB now. We are just keeping pace
November 13th, 2021 at 10:07 PM ^
the fake FG was dumb, going for it there would not have been....
November 13th, 2021 at 11:46 PM ^
yes, why can’t our guy be more like (checks notes) james franklin?
November 13th, 2021 at 11:52 PM ^
Harbaugh has been way aggressive this year than any I can remember.
November 14th, 2021 at 6:01 AM ^
Harbaugh seems to have a pretty reasonable approach to 4th down and FB/4th-and-red-zone decisions. When he thinks we have the horses or the reward is out of proportion to the risk, he's aggressive; otherwise he's not. This year, with our run game generally paving people, he's aggressive on 4th down (and throws on 3rd and short because he's willing to go for it on 4th down too!). When we aren't doing that (MSU, and sporadically against Wisconsin/Nebraska), he pulls in his horns - and that makes sense to me.
Context is everything about those decisions.
November 14th, 2021 at 9:02 AM ^
That fourth down run off right guard was unfortunate. If gonna run out three wrs out wide and open up box. I don't understand why one wouldn't want to open up space.
But the goal line TD to Wilson, that was new, and welcome.
November 14th, 2021 at 11:45 AM ^
The fourth down run you reference was the worst call of the game.
PSU had every defender in the box, tightest defensive formation in the game. A run had no chance of success, but a fake dive play action likely would have had someone wide open for the first down and maybe a lot more. Or three wide to spread the field.
Our maulers can maul, but not into a box stacked that tight, not consistently.
November 13th, 2021 at 4:40 PM ^
Running the ball can be an investment. It doesn’t always pay off in the 1st quarter, but you keep at it and you can wear a defense down in the second half. PSU was gassed at the end when we were able to kill the clock.
The one call I didn’t care for was the 4th and 2 though. That situation called for a play-fake.
November 13th, 2021 at 4:46 PM ^
That call was atrocious, no one lined up over center, just go straight forward. Haskins had the cutback though, didn't see it.
November 13th, 2021 at 10:21 PM ^
Vastardis got crushed into the cutback lane.
November 14th, 2021 at 12:11 AM ^
Stopped in Space!
November 13th, 2021 at 4:54 PM ^
That is exactly Jim Harbaugh's theory of offense.
But that approach really cannot deal with teams like OSU, which uses play design, play sequences, etc. to put defenders in impossible conflicts and, therefore, can run up huge point margins.
To beat OSU you have to be ready for a shoot-out and realize that you may need 50 points to win. Body blows offense cannot do that.
November 13th, 2021 at 5:40 PM ^
Fifty? Nebraska or Penn State would have beat OSU if they got to thirty.
November 13th, 2021 at 5:50 PM ^
OSU preps for Michigan every week of the year. They bring their best game and best plays for the Michigan game. Look at how many OSU scored in '18 and '19.
OSU has scored 50+ several times this year. And in several games they could have scored a lot more, but the game was fully decided by halftime so they chilled out for most of the 2nd half.
November 13th, 2021 at 8:17 PM ^
But we weren’t playing OSU, we were playing PSU. Against OSU I imagine we’ll have a different gameplan. (We’ve generally had solid offensive gameplans against them. It’s the defense that’s gotten wrecked.)
November 13th, 2021 at 8:47 PM ^
That is true. But OSU has one of the best offense in the nation. They can score a lot. And Michigan must have a game plan and play book to keep pace.
For sure 'body blows' in the first quarter hoping it will have OSU tired in the 4th quarter...is a wauy to be behind 17-6 at the end of the 1st.
November 14th, 2021 at 12:01 PM ^
Partially true. The defense got wrecked but if you look at first downs and dropped passes and missed extra points it will be more apparent that the offense failed to catch passes (save Collins), get a first down, and/or score when it mattered. Too many 3 and outs with the game on the line. Lots of OSU's offense has come from great field position (although they do seem to come up with a 90+ yard score just when there is a glimmer of hope.)
November 13th, 2021 at 9:09 PM ^
OSU hasn't faced an opponent with pair of edge rushers like Hutch and Ojabo. If anyone thinks that C. J. Spiller is going to be able to stand in the pocket all day and wait for the coverage to breakdown has got another thing coming.
I'm liking how some of the guys on the defensive back end are coming into their own.
Junior Colton and D.J. Turner are really playing well down the strech.
November 13th, 2021 at 9:40 PM ^
Considering C.J. Spiller has exhausted his NCAA eligibility and is coaching RBs at Clemson after retiring from the NFL, I'm not worried about him standing in the pocket all day either.
November 14th, 2021 at 9:50 AM ^
Sorry for the typo, it was late. And I was feeling pretty good but the time I typed that.
November 13th, 2021 at 3:37 PM ^
On the coaches shaking hands, Gotta believe Franklin said: "I'm going to USC" and then ran off. Not even a "Nice Game" comment.
November 13th, 2021 at 4:14 PM ^
He also said "What's your deal?"
November 13th, 2021 at 4:16 PM ^
BWAHAHAHAHA!!!! GOOD ONE!!!!!!!!!!!
November 13th, 2021 at 4:31 PM ^
Who says USC wants a 6-4 mediocrity?
November 13th, 2021 at 5:16 PM ^
He'd do well at USC. The guy can recruit and USC sits atop a huge talent base. He wouldn't be stuck in the maelstrom that is the Big Ten East.
November 14th, 2021 at 12:03 AM ^
This is the truth. The big ten east is by far the worst landing spot for any team in CFB. It’s a meat grinding division. If Michigan were in any other division (exception of SEC West), they’d have probably won some division titles in Harbaugh’s time
November 14th, 2021 at 12:48 PM ^
I do find it a bit perplexing the number of people who love to shit on Franklin. Not the greatest coach by any means, but also better than folks give him credit for on this board. In fact, his accomplishments are pretty much on par, slightly better perhaps, than what Harbaugh has done since the start of 2015:
- Good but not great overall record in that span of 59-26 vs 58-23
- Similar good top 10-15 but not great recruiting
- One division and conference championship vs none
- Fiesta and Cotton bowl wins vs a Citrus bowl win
- 7-13 vs OSU/M/MSU which is the same as Harbaugh's 7-13 against OSU/PSU/MSU
- 2-11 vs top 10 teams while Harbaugh is 2-13
- 3x Top 10 finishes vs 1x for Harbaugh
I mean, Franklin has probably had a little bit of that span with meh teams and a few more bad losses, whereas he also has at least the one win over OSU, B1G title, and a couple good bowl wins on the positive side. On the whole, their outcomes are pretty much the same. Sure, Franklin's in game decision making is terrible at times. But Harbaugh has a similar pattern of poor clock management and a failure to adapt to tempo throughout his time here.
November 14th, 2021 at 1:51 PM ^
You did a great job of summing up why a large number of people love to criticize James Franklin.
November 14th, 2021 at 2:22 PM ^
Would you say that Harbaugh has gotten any breaks in that time span? PSU beat OSU on one offensive play and one miracle special teams play for their win leading to a conference championship after getting TROUNCED by Michigan and then Michigan getting screwed in the OSU game. Then Wisconsin was kicking PSU's tail all game in the Big 10 championship game until they lost 6 regulars on defense which allowed PSU to come back in 4th quarter against 3rd string defensive backs. Sorry, 2016 counts be the idea that Franklin earned those achievements more than they were gifted is ludicrous. Two years ago PSU was gifted about 4 pass interference calls for the win. PSU couldn't stop Michigan's wide receivers without help. So I find it hard to credit Franklin when he never credits the other side for beating him. In his post game comments it is always his mistakes or conditions beyond his control but you won't hear him mention that they other team is composed of real talented people too.
November 13th, 2021 at 4:40 PM ^
I bet Frames said, "Fair enough, your wife is hot."
November 13th, 2021 at 3:37 PM ^
You guys don't mess around making sure you get credit for putting these threads up...lol.
Nice Win!!
Go Blue!!!!
November 13th, 2021 at 6:26 PM ^
I mean, if I really cared about the credit, I'd make them look nicer.
This is more about managing what would be thread chaos otherwise, a chaos I am not inclined to sift through. This makes it much easier. Work smart, not hard, especially when you are a volunteer.
November 13th, 2021 at 8:59 PM ^
You see that star next to LSA's name? That star is a warning. It means he's the sheriff here and he don't mess around. You might wanna watch your back.
Jk he's a nice guy. But he does have the banhammer
November 13th, 2021 at 3:37 PM ^
Same thing , different week .
November 13th, 2021 at 3:40 PM ^
If you mean another win, then yes I agree.
November 13th, 2021 at 4:00 PM ^
Yup, a win!
November 13th, 2021 at 4:37 PM ^
You mean we came back to win under pressure. Made enough plays to kill the clock? And made a defensive stand? Hell Yeah! If you meant, we didn't win by a lot and let them come back, it is a road game against a good D and an experienced QB. It was a fun and thrilling game. Enjoy the win