James Franklin on the game

Submitted by MMBbones on November 11th, 2023 at 5:50 PM

An interesting take, I think:

Q: You mentioned calling a game to get the quarterback into rhythm. What was Michigan's defense doing to make it kind of difficult to get Drew (Allar) into rhythm?
A: The same thing they've done against everybody all year long. That's one of the best defenses in college football. We've got one of the best defenses in college football. They make it challenging up front, their front seven is able to get pressure and to get sacks but not a whole lot against us today. But about their coverage, we made a couple of throws that if the ball's not delivered right, one ended up being a pass interference on them and one we were fortunate that it wasn't an interception. Your ball location is critical in these types of games. We had a couple of shots called but we were waiting for a specific look at a specific defense and weren't able to do that, so we weren't able to loosen them up from a coverage standpoint to help with the more consistent higher percentage throws.

Here's the whole interview:

https://gopsusports.com/news/2023/11/11/football-postgame-press-conference-head-coach-james-franklin-michigan.aspx

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WayOfTheRoad

November 11th, 2023 at 10:28 PM ^

The people debating going for 2 there make me feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Went back and forth for an hour with a guy about it earlier.

You just made it a 9pt game with something like 2 minutes left. You have two timeouts and about 2 minutes down by 9 points. Fans were leaving before the overturned INT and now filing back in. Those that didn't leave are back in it. Your team as a whole is back in it. The defense is on the sideline amped up. "Awesome, we're about to make this a one score game with time to get the ball back against a team that literally hasn't thrown the ball in the second half". It's almost a fucking gimme.

Then Franklin decides to go for two then and there, effectively adding another opportunity to lose. The risk:reward ratio is so uneven there. Worse, his team has struggled with two point conversions and he runs one of the dumbest plays I've ever seen. 

Fuck analytics. They help at times but the sport is still one of emotion and momentum. Call it desire or whatever else you want. Humans play it, not robots. 

In that moment you absolutely kick the XP, stay alive and play on. You don't add another loss-possibility when it's not necessary. You kick it, make it a 7 point game and don't even onside. You kickoff normally for the best field position possible on your *hopeful* 3 and out. You now have about a minute to go about 60 yards. Very doable in CFB.

By going for two there you end the game of you don't convert. The argument that you need to know what else you need is moot when there are only 2 minutes left. What, are you afraid UM scores again and you need 2 more touchdowns?! No, you make it a one score game. You don't even risk keeping it a two score game. 

They go, the crowd rightfully freaks out, they fail, people rightfully boo and walk right back out of the stadium even more pissed. The defense almost fell to their knees in unison because it was dumb as fuck in that scenario.

You kick the XP. 

Joined: 06/26/2017

MGoPoints: 7609

OuldSod

November 11th, 2023 at 9:38 PM ^

I agree. While I don't think not getting it then deflates the onside kick team, and recovering it would rekindle a spark, I think missing it early will result in an overall feeling of failure or impossibility. 

I also think they are more likely to convert it the 2nd time, and Michigan less likely to stop it, due to PSU feeling a comeback is destiny and UM feeling shame to allow the possibility, respectively. 

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 4206

The Blue Collar

November 11th, 2023 at 6:03 PM ^

"not a whole lot of [sacks] against us today..."

Zero holding penalties called will do that.

"One ended up being a pass interference on them..." 

Complete nonsense call.

So the only thing Franklin can point to going well for them is the officiating.

Joined: 05/30/2019

MGoPoints: 17078

Durham Blue

November 11th, 2023 at 6:11 PM ^

I thought for sure the refs would F us in this game on many occasions.  Turns out that it really was only two plays -- the no-call on the running into the kicker which would've been a first down and the no-call on the blatant hold of Mason Graham on Allar's rushing TD.  This may have been the most surprising thing that happened in the game.

Joined: 10/09/2008

MGoPoints: 30109

Hensons Mobile…

November 11th, 2023 at 6:15 PM ^

Also the PI against Will Johnson was nonsense.

I'm sure that we got some calls, too. It didn't feel like the refs were out to get us.

If you're into the conspiracies that the Big Ten gives directives to refs to swing things a certain way, as I've said before, it's better for the B1G for us to win this game. The one versus OSU is the one to worry about.

Now that said, just because it's better for the conference for us to have won today doesn't really matter. It obviously doesn't do things in its own best interest.

Joined: 09/12/2019

MGoPoints: 49815

growler4

November 11th, 2023 at 6:25 PM ^

I realize that this is the Internet and an Internet message board ... But please. Enough of this paranoid nonsense.

Why attack the integrity of the officials? Sure, they make mistakes on occasion. They're human. Just like the players and coaches.

Did the coaches from each school call a perfect game? Did the players not make any errors?

This was a great win between 2 really good football teams. That's it and that's enough.

Joined: 11/24/2014

MGoPoints: 1703

NJblue2

November 12th, 2023 at 3:17 AM ^

Probably because they work for a conference with no integrity and who has agendas. 

Now, I think that normally officials have no biases, they're either good or bad and your lenses can effect that. But OSU in 2016 changed that for me, I felt they were clearly trying to help OSU win. I also feel that in basketball they can be bias, mainly because they allow Izzo and Fran and to go absolutely nuts constantly, but they tech up everyone else.

Joined: 08/08/2010

MGoPoints: 30988

Killer Khakis

November 11th, 2023 at 6:16 PM ^

For the most part, PSU had a well schemed plan and were well coached (beyond my usual expectations for that team). The defense was lights out, and offense could move the ball in the ground through draws and their backs. They couldn’t throw and it cost them once they got down or stupidly abandoned the run (Frames showed himself too often). 
 

Officials were alright: the PI was called due to maize glove on a white jersey, and the lack of holds was alarming considering the amount of runs from both sides, but overall a decent officiated day. 

Joined: 12/03/2015

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