Day After Snowflakes / Early Thoughts on Purdue
September 17th, 2017 at 9:38 AM ^
In the passing game Perry and Gentry are our best weapons right now, especially after the catch. I like The WR screens, but not to Black because he is unlikely to make anyone miss in space. I think those type of plays should go to Perry, DPJ, or McDoom. I would also like to see more RB screens to Hidgon and Evans, they both can make things happen in the open field.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:38 AM ^
But I am not worried about this team - I believe they will get it going in the Big ten - clean up some offense- I have yet to see screens and even their TE plays they ran for the past two years I wonder if they are saving it?
Defense is awesome - Air Force is tough
Special teams is good great kicker and people Jones can break a game open - get him more touches
Go Blue this 3-0 is better than rich rod 3-0 and home 3-0
September 17th, 2017 at 9:39 AM ^
Does it matter? I think we have a good enough team to win the Big Ten East.
Beat OSU. Beat MSU. Beat PSU. This is all I care about. These teams are as flawed as we are.
At, this point, watching a lot of games, nobody in the Big Ten can hang with Clemson, Alabama and OK St. The Big Ten champion is going to get embarrassed again this year if they go to playoffs.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:52 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:55 AM ^
We beat them 49-10 last year???
Maybe we took a step back and they a step forward but are they now 39 points better than last year?
September 17th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 12:09 PM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:22 AM ^
Agree, PSU gets overrated every year like OSU.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:53 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:40 AM ^
Michigan 24, Purdue 13. It's an easy prediction.
September 17th, 2017 at 9:42 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:45 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^
We win 18-3. Nordin breaks school FG record and we go to 4-0.
GO BLUE!!
September 17th, 2017 at 9:51 AM ^
Boiler up your ass Purdue.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:03 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 11:01 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:57 AM ^
I don't see any problems in beating the crap out of Purdue next week. The offense is showing small improvements each week, despite still making some mistakes. I think the playbook is intentionally basic until the basics are drilled in. I think this is just Harbaugh bringing along a young team slowly, building its confidence, fixing issues that pop up. The red zone needs some serious work, but otherwise, things are okay - just not perfect...
September 17th, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^
Just curious. What were the small improvements on offense you saw this week?
September 17th, 2017 at 10:43 AM ^
This whole idea of improving every week is bullshit to start with. By that logic, almost every team would not be capable of that bad of a game near the end of the season and we know that to be ridiculous. Some are bad games, some are good. And for different reasons.
September 17th, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^
Your point is quite valid. Which is where coaching and recruiting come into play. If every team is improving from week to week, then who they started out with on their roster, and who they started out with on their coaching staff, becomes crucial. Injuries also become quite relevant.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:46 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 11:49 AM ^
True on the OL and decision making. The quality of the throws, however, was perhaps only slightly improved gvien that there were no interceptoins.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:57 AM ^
No turnovers from Speight. DPJ getting involved in the offense and making a couple plays plus the punt return.
Also, Grant Perry continues to be always open. They also broke a handful of long runs and without a bungled who to block decision on a few other plays would have broken more.
September 17th, 2017 at 11:47 AM ^
Good point on the turnovers, thanks for pointing that out. I dont consider punt return to be offense, but its still an improvement. Perry does seem like one of the key playmakers. But I'm not sure that is really an improvement from one week to the other, instead more of a steady state. As for the runs, there seem to be a lack of improvement there, or at least a draw.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:07 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:08 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 6:38 PM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:09 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:11 AM ^
Missouri is not a good football team. Purdue has an above average offense and above average QB. Michigan has a GREAT defense. Advantage: Michigan.
Purdue has an average Defense. Michigan has an average offense. Michigan has more playmakers on offense than Purdue does on D. Michigan hasn't figured out how to use them yet. Advantage: Even
Purdue has momentum and home playing the evil empire that is Michigan. Advantage: Purdue
This is a game that most of us circled as a victory before season started. Now, Purdue, Wisconsin, OSU, MSU and PSU all look even or in favor of the other team. If the Michigan offensive play calling and mental mistakes contine, this will not end well with the good guys.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:26 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:38 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 1:26 PM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:44 AM ^
34-20 Michigan.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:51 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:32 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 11:43 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 10:33 AM ^
I'm betting on a less ugly looking win than the last two weeks. D will be dialed in and let's face it -- there is nowhere to go but up on red-zone offense. Feels like around 31-10, 31-13 or so. Unless they outkick the coverage to DPJ, in which case tack on 7 to tht.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:35 AM ^
I believe this gets corrected. Young players the coaching staff are still figuring out how they will respond in game time. Speight.....he is what he is. I don't think there is confidence in O'Korn. They shut the offense down when he is in. Speight's trying to not screw up and also trying to make the big play. The check downs were there yesterday if AF didn't bring pressure. Problem is with a not so great line they brought a lot of pressure and this forced the RBs and TEs to stay in. I'd look for more screens, maybe a draw.
I'm ok with yesterday. Tough team who milks the clock. Trust in Harbaugh.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:42 AM ^
That's pretty good. BUT, Quin Nordin has 33 of those points -- just over a third. And, we have returned two interceptions for a TD, covered a fumble in the end zone for a TD, and scored a safety. Add a punt return for a TD and that 63 points total. While those are all good things, I doubt that Nordin has 130 points this year, and I doubt we end the year with 16 defensive/ST touchdowns. Good news is that we are getting to the red zone and moving the ball. But as they say, coffee is for closers, and the O needs to close.
September 17th, 2017 at 11:06 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 12:13 PM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 2:36 PM ^
Nordin has 42 points actually (11 FG + 9 PAT).
September 17th, 2017 at 10:50 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 11:22 AM ^
Because there was tape of us after Florida but not before...our weknesses were exposed in that game?
September 17th, 2017 at 10:54 AM ^
The reality is the offense has been fine the last two games, its the red zone thats killed us. turn half those fg trips in td and each of the last two games are comfortable wins. I don't know if they will do that this week but if we do not worried about the game.
September 17th, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^
I am wondering on the fades that are being thrown long, if he was told "whatever you do, don't miss short and get picked. With this defense, most important thing is to make sure we get points"
Or he needs to spend the next two weeks practicing fades to the WRs.
September 17th, 2017 at 11:52 AM ^
but Purdue should not be a daunting challenge for UM. Purdue has the 45th rank offense and the 69th ranked defense in the FBS. Obviously we still have work to do on the O, but we knew that coming into the season with our youth. I'm still hopeful for the season.
September 17th, 2017 at 11:47 AM ^