Bias Against Superb Defensive Teams
I perused the college football shows this morning, expecting to hear some praise of the defenses on display yesterday at Michigan Stadium. I was disappointed; the general assessment of this “defensive slugfest” implied that the offenses “struggled,” and that the struggling produced the good defensive play and not the other way around. Sure, they singled out D highlights, but the tone was softly critical that anything remotely special occurred.
IMO, the summary of the talking heads and various analysts was that this boring game may have lived up to expectations to be close and physical, but the level of play was malodorous and full of inherent offensive incompetence.
I argue that what we saw on display on defense (both sides) was as more glorious and far rarer than the video game offenses in the Big 12, Pac 12 and ACC. Yet little credit for those special defenses; however, I heard how “dominant” Clemson’s defense was and profuse praise for individual defensive performances in various games producing 90+ points.
It appears defense is only desired as part of an occasional highlight play or defensive stand that doesn’t otherwise impede the mad sprint up and down college football fields all over the country.
I am old enough to remember the ’85 Bears. I say Viva la Defense!
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:02 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2016 at 1:24 PM ^
All that needs to be said. The OP has himself to blame for looking to those shows for adulation and coming away "disappointed."
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:03 PM ^
but doesn't matter in the big picture. Just win games and it takes care of itself.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:04 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2016 at 3:14 PM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 4:00 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2016 at 1:04 PM ^
What the pundits may be seeing is that Wisconsin's offense looks terribly inept. They have no real threat on the outside to stretch the field and their running game wasn't going to go against a solid D like M's. Indiana will provide a better litmus for our defense in what will likely be a double digit win due to Indy's defense being pathetic.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2016 at 1:26 PM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^
Sparty was getting around the corner on them all night. We will get at least one score on jet sweeps against them.
October 2nd, 2016 at 7:20 PM ^
And I was somewhat surprised that they weren't more prolific offensively against MSU. It just looked odd to me that it was more defense-oriented than I expected.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:32 PM ^
Here's where I would argue that we made them look inept. I think they are a middle-of-the-road offense made to look like a disaster.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:46 PM ^
on three occasions, a glance suggests our O was lacking, too; in part true. Okay with me if we are a little bit undersung now. I think the schedule sets up in a way that our O will have plenty of chance to develop its many weapons. In other words, it's there for us.
October 2nd, 2016 at 7:30 PM ^
when were in the red zone. The fact we doinked three field goals shouldn't take away from some great D from Wisconsin forcing us to try them. I wonder how much losing Newsome effected the run game...we seemed to have it going a little.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:07 PM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:07 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2016 at 1:12 PM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^
a super athletic and fast defense. Wisconsin has a great defense, but not the kind that's going to try to take your lunch money with speed and athleticism.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:33 PM ^
They seemed hellishly athletic to me.
October 2nd, 2016 at 2:34 PM ^
speed and athleticism? Does not compute. I suppose they are lacking "Southern speed".
October 2nd, 2016 at 2:41 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^
is what's limiting this offense. I think minus a couple minor mistakes yesterday he played a solid, all-around game.
October 2nd, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^
made 4-5 bad passes/decisions. but doesn't every QB? that said, he avoided about 4-5 sacks moving around in the pocket. his OL didn't do him many favors with their pass blocking yesterday. smith even missed a few blitzes. i would give him a B grade yesterday.
hopefully, he will keep improving like rudock did last year.
October 2nd, 2016 at 5:31 PM ^
Exactly.
And on late drives when UM needed first downs, he hit Darboh on a slant (which he dropped), then next possession, hits Darboh on 3rd down on a perfect throw on the slant, then hits Darboh deep for the game winning TD.
Speight's not at the top of list of things to worry about offensively, be it yesterday specifically or generally speaking.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:44 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2016 at 4:01 PM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 2:58 PM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:07 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2016 at 1:28 PM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^
i think the run blocking was solid yesterday. i think the pass blocking was not. speight was under pressure most of the day.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2016 at 1:30 PM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:25 PM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:25 PM ^
I don't think Sparty will be our biggest obstacle for going into Columbus undefeated.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:31 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2016 at 1:35 PM ^
Yes, I agree. Two different but real biases, with the SEC bias trumping the desire to talk about a 57-56 barn burner.
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:52 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2016 at 2:48 PM ^
hopefully it produces a similar number of draft picks
http://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/83193/back-to-the-future-alabama-vs-lsu
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:08 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2016 at 1:37 PM ^
Special teams aside, I would argue that penalties and offensive limitations are a byproduct of staring across the line of scrimmage and the four horsemen of the apocalypse (and others).
October 2nd, 2016 at 2:00 PM ^
October 2nd, 2016 at 1:12 PM ^
Michigan's defensive compence in the 1970's through the1990's allowed me to watch games with a sense that the team always had a chance. While I favored the change to RichRod at the time, Gerg's defenses created in me a kind of anxiety I had never experienced. I welcome the return of dominant defense even if it is accompanied by less offense output.
The national pundits don't feel the same. They celebrate the lack of defense as "fantastic."
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/10/notre-dame-syracuse-football-defense-is-for-nerds