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

 

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Duval Wolverine

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.  

Joined: 08/23/2010

MGoPoints: 2982

auger

September 17th, 2017 at 9:38 AM ^

Yesterday had to be off the grid watched the game yesterday on tape delay - took a visit to WMU for josh

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

Joined: 10/03/2009

MGoPoints: 46

BornInAA

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.

Joined: 11/21/2009

MGoPoints: 14507

WorldwideTJRob

September 17th, 2017 at 9:52 AM ^

People keep saying that, but show me a flaw you've saw in PSU this year? Not the greatest collection of squads they've played, yet they have obliterated there competition. OSU has looked as shaky as us at times in games but that squad is rolling in happy valley. After 3 weeks they look to be the best squad in the conference.

Joined: 07/05/2010

MGoPoints: 31149

WorldwideTJRob

September 17th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^

Guys like Darboh, Chesson, Deveon, Butt, Lewis, Taco, Glasgow, Wormley, Peppers, and Delano had a lot to do with that ass whooping last year. They will not be in the stadium come Oct. 21, While their best players came back. If they played us now they would be favored! Last year has very little to do with this season. Louisville played Clemson close last year. Got beat down last night. The thing I hate most about CFB is that people often think and assume years in the past have any outcome on the present. We were one of the most talented teams in the country last year, with experience to boot. We are one of the youngest this year, and have played like it often in the first 3 games.

Joined: 07/05/2010

MGoPoints: 31149

Heisman212

September 17th, 2017 at 9:42 AM ^

You would think that we are 0-3 or 1-2. It's frustrating but slot of these guys are still learning how to play big time college football. We have a great coach and tons of talent. The kinks will work itself out. If we were 5-10!in the red zone and not 1-10 there would be NO concern from anyone. Purdue could be tough or it could be BYU or Northwestern in 2015. We're expected to have a tough game and than we proceed to kick their ass. No one knows,

Joined: 08/24/2009

MGoPoints: 364

1VaBlue1

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...

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127156

Mich1993

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.

Joined: 12/08/2010

MGoPoints: 3459

blueblueblue

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. 

Joined: 12/28/2008

MGoPoints: 6630

kb

September 17th, 2017 at 10:08 AM ^

getting punt return TDs and defensive scores. Speight has been here for a long damn time and is not showing improvement. The offense needs to sack up and get it together.

Joined: 10/31/2009

MGoPoints: 7151

bluepalooza

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.

Joined: 09/02/2017

MGoPoints: 2776

SalvatoreQuattro

September 17th, 2017 at 10:51 AM ^

It is very average. They just happened to play three bad defenses in a row. Give them credit for executing in those games, but they have not faced a team that will really challenge them from a defensive perspective. How about they going to respond under extreme duress? How will their QBs respond to a wide variety of blitzes and coverages from a team with athletes better than they have seen thus far? Purdue's coaches have no clue. They'll scheme up responses, but will players inexperienced in this system and not recruited for it be able to execute when faced with a top ten defense? We'll find out Saturday.

Joined: 11/30/2010

MGoPoints: 79070

SF Wolverine

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.

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 24906

goblueva

September 17th, 2017 at 10:35 AM ^

The stats were not that bad yesterday other than 3rd down conversion and red zone (I know big ones). Isaac stays 4 inches to his left and they convert inside the red zone two times it's a blow out.

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.

Joined: 04/06/2011

MGoPoints: 489

SF Wolverine

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. 

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 24906

30swk18

September 17th, 2017 at 10:50 AM ^

I don't understand how Michigan ran the ball so well against a solid SEC front seven, yet we have struggled against Cincy and Air Force. Matter of focus maybe? At least the potential seems to be there this year.

Joined: 09/06/2017

MGoPoints: 502

ak47

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.

Joined: 05/05/2011

MGoPoints: 33614

GoBlueInIowa

September 17th, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^

Agree, it really is about the red zone offense.

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.

Joined: 03/05/2011

MGoPoints: 5084

RainbowSprings

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.

Joined: 11/09/2010

MGoPoints: 13438

ZekeBulldog

September 17th, 2017 at 11:47 AM ^

- offensively, we need to get the tight ends involved more often. They've been reliable when targeted and have the ability to create mismatches. - the passing game seems to have a Jedd Fisch hangover. I think short, quick routes will help Speight early on in the game. We finally saw the flare screen to DPJ that was made famous by Rudock and Darboh. Speight is making the right reads he just needs some help early on to get comfortable. Easier pitches / catches will get the entire offense click. Screens and quick throws to athletes in space can be effective ways to get the ball to people. - for the first time in three years I've questioned play calling. Offensively it seems like we don't have a rhythm. I like when we go up tempo, I like spreading the field and the ball, and I like our power run game; unfortunately, while there have been glimpses of all those factors being effective, we haven't really strung it enough efficiently drive after drive. Aside from the 3rd down runs against Florida we haven't seen much creativity play calling. - hammer panda at goal line / red zone. Please. - in two separate interviews Harbaugh has said (while praising Nordin) that all it takes is a "good QB, great D, and a kicker that makes kicks OR a great QB, good D, and a kicker that makes kicks". Statistical evidence proves we have those three things (in the first combination). I have faith this team will start to fill out their britches as they continue to get more experience. Go blue.

Joined: 08/03/2016

MGoPoints: 34