Rutgers 26, Michigan 24
Adam Glanzman/special to MGoBlog
Human beings, and not just those associated with Michigan, are capable of extraordinary incompetence. The biggest brain fart tonight was when a guy watched Amara Darboh make a catch, take two steps, dive out of bounds, and place the ball on the ground, then “confirmed” it “incomplete.” The call on the field was malpractice; getting it wrong with the benefit of a DVR and HDTV is so staggeringly separated from reality that most fanbases will go for sinister explanations.
A Michigan Man knows better. Watching this program try to manage a clock, manage an offense, or manage a press release is the kind of thorough education in the extent of the human capacity for ineptitude that you’ve come to expect from the nation’s top public university.
“Blame the refs!” explains why Wile had to attempt a 56-yarder—which Rutgers blocked—and why Michigan had just one timeout to throw against a 1st down-and-kneel drive to end the game. It doesn’t explain why Michigan manipulated the clock to leave their opponent a comfortable 120 seconds to drive at the end of the first half. Or why they forgot they had Funchess for two quarters. Or why a heretofore deep and competent secondary gave up 404 yards to Gary Nova, overcoming a record previously held by the John L. Smith Razorbacks.
Michigan stayed in it, partly because Rutgers is Rutgers. Also because Devin Gardner laughed off two tackle attempts en route to a 19-yard 4th quarter touchdown that needs to be put to Autumn Thunder immediately. I feel awful about how this guy’s career has gone. Given the schedule from here, the Wolverines would be lucky to go 6-6 and unlikely to win four. When the team is this bad and the coaches’ meat this dead, we can check out, or just enjoy the occasional exploits of those who won’t.
People are just stupid sometimes; even Unpossible Throw God Gary Nova himself took a false start(!) this game. This will be important to remember whenever it’s time to commence a headhunt as inevitable as the Big Ten’s empty apology. Humans are only tenuously rational creatures, and as soon as a coaching search commences, all contact with reality is lost.
October 5th, 2014 at 12:04 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 12:13 AM ^
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October 5th, 2014 at 2:00 AM ^
I had forgotten about that!
That. Is. Hilarious.
That's Lion football.
October 5th, 2014 at 2:11 AM ^
Totally. First time I've ever seen a touchdown awarded for "nagging."
October 5th, 2014 at 6:37 AM ^
So glad you'll be on the other sideline. Smug prick.
October 5th, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
...but he'd be perfect for the Oakland Raiders. They have NO identity.
He'd be a perfect fit...and hire the Seahawks DC as the head coach.
Tell me that's not a match made in Raiders Heaven?
HC : Dan Quinn (Seahawks DC)
OC: Rick Dennison (Ravens QB Coach)
DC: Jim Schwartz (Bills DC)
...Long passes and the most overly aggressive defense, EVER.
October 5th, 2014 at 12:06 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 11:52 AM ^
I'm looking for a one-armed athletic director
October 5th, 2014 at 12:06 AM ^
At this point, I just feel bad for the kids. The kids out there on the field - and another set of kids, the one that has grown up without ever seeing Michigan football have sustained success....
October 5th, 2014 at 12:13 AM ^
I'm sure that Devin is saying to himself
October 5th, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^
I feel like watching this team, it is still obvious that Devin hero ball is the only way we can move the ball. The running game had some good improvement but it still keeps looking like our offense never has an identity aside from "Come on Devin, do something amazing". I miss offensive scheme advantages and adjustments that exploit the defense. I am just scared for the future when we don't have the dynamic athletes like Devin to bail us out
October 5th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
While no one knows for certain what the future is going to look like, "...when we don't have dynamic athletes like Devin to bail us out" will pretty much look like last week against Minnesota.
October 5th, 2014 at 12:26 PM ^
Is it in our recent history that suggests we'll be "fine"? I got nothing.
October 5th, 2014 at 8:31 AM ^
Michigan will be fine but I'm sad for the current players and coaches taking this elevator all the way to the bottom.
October 5th, 2014 at 12:06 AM ^
Say what y'all want but darrin had 3 feet in on that catch
We get that game winning field goal not 56 yard attempt. Thought we played way better
October 5th, 2014 at 12:36 AM ^
It's like it was just meant to be, no?
Oh Well. At least Superfan Brady Hoke got to live out his Walter Mitty fantasy for four years at his dream job, and then walk away with a cool $2 million. So, good for him. He had the best seat in the house, and he's set for life now.
We all move on now.
October 5th, 2014 at 2:17 AM ^
did u mean $12 million?
October 5th, 2014 at 12:07 AM ^
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October 5th, 2014 at 12:09 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 12:29 AM ^
I'm not Ace. Ace took the day off because he wanted to enjoy football, and by doing this I was allowed to leave my in-laws' early tonight.
October 5th, 2014 at 12:45 AM ^
Is there a staff member you've either filled in for or written a similar story to once that you haven't been confused with? I can't remember one from Heiko or Brandon Brown but can think of several times someone thought you were other authors.
(Shalom to your family, not just with the holiday but everything.)
October 5th, 2014 at 9:18 PM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 1:46 AM ^
do you want to write about a boxscore tomorrow? Or possibly Best/Worst? (Best: Nothing. Worst: Everything.)
October 5th, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
maybe you want to write about watching Michigan's opponents?
October 6th, 2014 at 11:44 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
Outlaws are wanted.
October 5th, 2014 at 7:14 PM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 12:07 AM ^
That's darboh Damon auto correct
October 5th, 2014 at 12:08 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 1:17 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 1:39 AM ^
PSU could be winnable. They have a better QB than Rutgers, obviously, but much worse OL so that may even out.
October 5th, 2014 at 9:59 AM ^
but not necessarily a better college QB
October 5th, 2014 at 6:58 PM ^
agreed. since BOB left he makes horrible decisions.
October 5th, 2014 at 12:09 AM ^
Was it the right choice to attempt a 56 yard field goal versus the alternative of going for it on 4th and 9? Neither option has a high probability of success but it seems to me that going for it has a better chance of working (especially since they had just completed a pass that should have been a 1st down) than having Wile (who's been "iffy" at best) attempt a kick from that distance. Just curious.
October 5th, 2014 at 12:17 AM ^
coupled with the fact that Rutgers has displayed excellent abilities in blocking all sorts of kicks in the past couple of years (Brandy and Dierdorf rattled off some pretty impressive stats to this extent as foreshadowing shortly before the ill-fated kick, none of which I remember--doesnt really matter anyway)
October 5th, 2014 at 12:24 AM ^
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October 5th, 2014 at 12:38 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 1:45 AM ^
...has a career long of 52 and success rate of 59% irrespective of range. Even against a team with a less effective PK defense this is a very low percentage play call.
October 5th, 2014 at 7:26 AM ^
I would have punted before trying that FG. And I wouldn't have punted.
October 6th, 2014 at 8:40 AM ^
would have been the perfect call. Rutgers was on full out block - had no one ready for a pass over the middle. sigh ....
Go Blue!
October 6th, 2014 at 9:59 AM ^
I was actually convinced it was going to be a fake. Rutgers being so aggressive on field goals would have set them up for that. Plus, the distance was so low probability that I didn't think they seriously considered kicking.
October 5th, 2014 at 12:25 AM ^
it has a high probability of being blocked. Maybe they were banking on them not trying. . .
October 5th, 2014 at 12:30 AM ^
I wonder how much of that goes into the scouting report. Most of the time FG blocks seem like a stroke of luck (low kick, bad snap/hold, missed assignment, etc.). What percentage of the scouting report is "Oh yeah, these guys have blocked 2 FGs already this season and have the most blocks in 5 years of any FBS school." In hindsight it seems kind of important but I would be curious to know how many teams track stuff like that in their scouting reports.
October 5th, 2014 at 12:40 AM ^
Brian knew it in his write-up. You mean our professional coaching staff would not know it?
October 5th, 2014 at 12:29 PM ^
Professional being used pretty loosely nowadays.
October 5th, 2014 at 8:12 PM ^
This again goes to show how profoundly mindnumbingly asinine our coaching staff is... From wasting time outs on making it seem like we're going no huddle only to line up early and sit there for 30 seconds to attempting a 50+ yarder with a kicker who barely makes 30 yarders?!?!?!?
ARE YOU JOKING!!!?!?
I was nearly pulling my hair out at the stadium. 4th and 9 was a much better option. I couldn't believe the kick/punt blocking statistic they put up on the scoreboard earlier in the game... then figures it would bite us in the ass...
Can we hire Rutgers' special teams coach? Please?
How does this coaching staff not know this?!?!?
October 5th, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^
Is that a Brandon thing?
And as I live up North now, I've lost track of the local radio scene. who lost WJR??? I had to go hunting on the dial.
October 5th, 2014 at 12:28 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 1:05 AM ^
...we're not good at those. Even if the attempt wasn't blocked, making one from that far isn't automatic when we have a GOOD kicker. If he had a chance to kick it closer I'm not sure what his percentages are.
Who was the last kicker Michigan had that as soon as you saw him going onto the field you knew the three points were in the bag? Gotta be since 20th Century Carr that we've had someone that consistently good at it.
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