Day After Snowflakes / Early Thoughts on Purdue

Submitted by Mr. Yost on

Now that you've had a night to think about it, any changes? Sky still falling? What are your thoughts on the state of the team?

Moving forward, thoughts on Purdue?

 

#7Michigan
4:00 PM FOX Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN

 

uncleFred

September 17th, 2017 at 12:12 PM ^

of Saturday's game there was no "garbage time" against Air Force. Further it's hard to argue that Cincinnati wasn't trying to score when Michigan picked up their second pick six. Garbage time is when you're up three scores and you and your opponent have your second and third strings in for experience. You may have noticed that didn't happen in either of the last two games. 

Last time I checked touchdowns scored by the defense or special team counted just the same as those scored by the offense. While I'd have liked a more consistent offensive performance, as a team Michigan is scoring an average of 32.6 points through their first three games.

swan flu

September 17th, 2017 at 8:03 AM ^

Our d line should be able to generate bad throws, but I think Purdue schemes their way into some points, no clue about the offense. We need to start punishing teams with aggressive linebackers or we are fucked

SiKa7x

September 17th, 2017 at 8:04 AM ^

If Borges O shows up and the play calling is as predictable as the sun rising in the east then it will be a little tight around the collar...just imo. D is up to the task but theres only so long they can carry the O

bcnihao

September 17th, 2017 at 10:43 AM ^

Because a bad offense puts a good defense into bad positions, and when that happens often enough, even a very good defense is likely to give up some points.  Case in point:  the Evans fumble yesterday, putting pressure on the D.  Another case in point:  the OSU game last year--after Speight threw the pick-six, he threw another interception that set up OSU with very good field position that led to a TD.

Navy Wolverine

September 17th, 2017 at 8:06 AM ^

According to ESPN Michigan has a 77.9% Probability of Win. Since it seems like we get everybody's best effort, I expect that Ross Ade stadium will be the most rocking that is has been in years and this game will be close for a while but Michigan will pull it out in the 2nd half by about 9 points.

SpikeFan2016

September 17th, 2017 at 10:56 AM ^

False. All main stream poll aggregators had her at 70-75% to win. And the national polls were pretty much exactly correct, with her winning the popular vote between 2.5-3%. 

 

The problem was the state polls. Hillary's strength in the upper Midwest was significantly overestimated. Additionally, Trump did significantly worse than expected in California (i.e. Orange County not only flipping blue for the first time since the 1930s, but doing so by a large margin of nearly 10 points; overall, Hillary won the most populous state by more than Obama did either time, which was something nobody was expecting with regard to his 2008 landslide). All of this led to the popular vote staying with the national polls. 

 

Even though this balanced out in the national vote, with our electoral system it doesn't matter. 

Salinger

September 17th, 2017 at 8:07 AM ^

This remains a topping team that is going to make some head scratching mistakes, especially on offense. D still looks very good, though slightly more prone to been assignments... again, age. Play calling has been underwhelming for me so far this year. Hoping to see some Harbaugh tactical advantage deployed now that we are moving into B1G play. Nordin had been great. Sky is definitely not falling. We will continue to improve.

vablue

September 17th, 2017 at 8:13 AM ^

We knew AF was going to be a tough matchup because of how they play and they were. This is an extremely young team still learning and I think they will do great things. The play calling against Florida was fine and I have no reason to believe it will not be fine again when we are in games we can lose. These are far better in reality than the extreme pessimism of many on this blog.

MfanItalia

September 17th, 2017 at 8:16 AM ^

Go into a hostile road environment next Saturday against a good(?) team and leave with a victory. Something that has been far too uncommon in recent years. Build callouses for key upcoming road games.

Goggles Paisano

September 17th, 2017 at 8:19 AM ^

If you are a little down on this team I would implore you to go watch that Fla/Tenn game.  Two very poorly coached teams with terrible QB play.  Franks and Dormady will give you a real appreciation for Speight.  We are young and it is showing on offense right now.  We have tremendous coaching and this team will thus continue to improve each week.  We are not going to beat Clemson or Alabama next week, but I like where we are as a program on the rise versus the many blue bloods that are floundering right now.   

EGD

September 17th, 2017 at 9:12 AM ^

I thought Don Brown's ability to adjust against the triple option was very impressive. AFA had several possessions where they moved the ball and appeared likely to score, only for Bown to dial something up to cause a negative play or two and force a kick. The punt return unit was much improved from the Cincinnati game. Credit the ST coaching there. The offense was actually okay between the 20s, just couldn't keep it going in the red zone. They at least moved the ball well enough for M to stay ahead (albeit with FGs), and only had the one turnover. That was obviously the disappointing part of the game but it wasn't the total clusterfuck some people are making it out to be.

Maynard

September 17th, 2017 at 10:00 AM ^

Oh my god. The sky is falling. The sky is falling. We're 3-0. It was a 3 score spread yesterday and we won by 16. And next week we will win by more than 10. Auburn played a close game with Clemson and then beat Mercer by only 14 last night. Shit, whatever will they do now? The season is lost.

Relax.

AA Forever

September 17th, 2017 at 10:10 AM ^

You can see the future, then?  And what was your prediction for the margin against Cincinnati? 

If you're saying that yesterday's performance met or exceeded your expectations, and that it left you feeling more confident than ever about how we're going to do the rest of the season, I wouldn't believe you.    

The fact is, win or not, we struggled in what should have been two of our easiest games of the year.  

Maynard

September 17th, 2017 at 10:17 AM ^

Well let me know when you're ready to make a wager on it there Chicken Little. My expectations were pretty close to met actually because I thought the score would be 32-13. So yeah, you don't know what the hell you're talking about. I don't expect to ever blow out a service academy that runs the clock down by keeping it on the ground. Next week there will be many more possessions as it will be a short passing team. So expect us to score somewhere in the neighborhood of 35-40. There's your prediction any time you're ready to put or shut up.

bcnihao

September 17th, 2017 at 10:59 AM ^

Remember the previous regimes, when our offense would have multiple consecutive 3-and-outs, which would wear out our defense.  Of course we prefer TDs over FGs.  That doesn't mean that moving the ball between the 20s and then settling for a FG is worthless.  Beyond the 3 points, it also gives the defense time to rest and adjust.

xtramelanin

September 17th, 2017 at 8:20 AM ^

and admittedly its easier to be a pessimist, but a pessimist i am about that purdue game. 

purdue is legit.  we have obviously floundered somewhat at home against weaker teams, and a loss to purdue probably means 7-5/8-4 season.  

a win?  well lets see how we do but that would certainly brighten the outlook. 

GVSUGoBlue

September 17th, 2017 at 8:30 AM ^

I watched some of purdues game against Missouri. Basically, if we can get them into third and longs we should have no problem shutting their offense down. QB isn't the most accurate thrower. Our offense needs more diversity. Nothing more to say there.

GhostofJermain…

September 17th, 2017 at 8:33 AM ^

Has me more worried than if we were healthy.  What would be nice is if we could get Karon going early behind Panda, and Get Evans in space with some quick hitters and screens.  Everyone is talking about JH holding back, and I'm not sure that is the case, however the 2 practices I attended in August they must of ran 15 screen plays to Evans.  In fact, at one point Evans went for back to back TD's and the first team offense won both of those days.  (no sprints)

Grant Perry and DPJ will be very important, and when they are used on the same side of the field we have an advantage IMO.  Grant usually stays underneath, down the seam, or to the sticks.  This creates a lot of attention from defenses because on film it's obvious he is Speight top target and clearly our most seasoned playmaker.  Nonetheless, this should open up DPJ for some crosses and deep balls (As long as Wilton keeps the ball in bounds smh).  I also expect way more out of TWJr, Gentry, and Mckeon.  

Lastly, not sure if anyone noticed but Drevno and JH were very excited to see Runyan spring Higdon late in that game and I would not be surprised if you saw a lot more of him and Ruiz  earlier against Purdue, even if it's only to give a quick breather to the starters. 

CorbUM724

September 17th, 2017 at 8:52 AM ^

Glad you mentioned the screens because I don't think we have thrown one to a RB all year. I would love to see a few of those run next week. Also, I still feel like we could use the TEs more. McKeon has been reliable when thrown to on the quick outs and Bunting, TWJ, and Gentry are all mismatches with their size. I think integrating both of those types of plays more would do wonders for our running game and red zone efficiency.

maize-blue

September 17th, 2017 at 9:01 AM ^

I watched a lot of football yesterday and almost every team threw to the RB's. I also saw jump ball throws to tall WR's in the end zone. Not sure why our offense does not do these things. I would think Evans would be a weapon in space. I feel like our playcalling is ultra conservative.

bacon

September 17th, 2017 at 8:32 AM ^

The team faced adversity the last two weeks and stepped up. They still won and that's what matters in the end. I expect the team will win next week. It will probably be close in the first 3 quarters and there won't be much in terms of style points, but that's what you get with a young team.