Some actual reasons why we lost to OSU again
I've never posted anything on the board before, but the amount of ridiculous responses to why we keep losing to OSU is getting old. If you want actual reasons, it really comes down to execution. Here's just a sampling of mental and physical mistakes that either directly or indirectly cost Michigan precious points as well as momentum. I'll go in order for everyone:
First half:
1. Nordin misses extra point - 1 point
2. Patterson fumbles the snap - 3 points, possibly 7
3. Multiple players jump offsides on the punt - 7 points
4. DPJ drops TD at end of first half - 4 points
Second half:
1. McGrone hits Fields 4 yards out of bounds (would have been 3rd and 9 with decent chance to force field goal) - possible 4 points
2. Eubanks drops 20 yard sideline throw on UM's first drive (Patterson sacked on next play) - possible 3 points by getting in FG range
3. Sainristil gets spastic and can't down the ball inside the 5.
4. Down 42-16, here's the next two series: DPJ drop, DPJ drop (first down), Patterson misfire, OSU muffs punt, Sainristil drop (first down), Charbonnet falls down, Collins drop (first down), FG....anybody else feel like the offense had quit at this point?? - not sure how many points it could have cost us, but it was rather embarrassing to watch
5. Haskins doesn't follow lead blocker on 4th and 1 (big play, possible TD depending on how the single high safety would have reacted if Haskins had read the play correctly) - a chance to extend the game ended
6. No other mistakes past this really mattered
Honorable mention: untying Dobbins shoe for yard penalty (why??), Khaleke and Ambry running into each other on 2nd and 18 giving Wilson 40 some yards (and why were we blitzing on 2nd and 18??)
Sorry if this should have been a diary. I get it, OSU is more talented and has better players at most every position. But Michigan is undisciplined in so many ways and lacks fundamental execution to compete in high stakes games. The mistakes I outlined cost Michigan upwards of 20 points. I understand you can't retroactively change anything, but Michigan is ahead 24-21 at the half if they erase the dumb mistakes in the first half.
I'll always be a fan, but for once I'd like to see Michigan play a clean game against a top-tier opponent and lose because the other team just played better. Go Blue!!
December 1st, 2019 at 10:52 AM ^
We lost because I didn’t ask that one girl out at the football game a couple weeks ago.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:17 AM ^
I did and it wrecked my life. You got lucky.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
Shut the fuck up pussy
December 1st, 2019 at 10:53 AM ^
For the life of me I don't know what happened to all our receivers after halftime. Everyone started dropping the ball.
December 1st, 2019 at 10:57 AM ^
I think Magnus summed it up best. The seniors and 4/5 stars collectively shit the bed. Once DPJ dropped the TD and Harbaugh went for the field goal (unreal), the team quit.
Kemp untying people’s shoes like a chump. Imagine being the only player in the history of this rivalry getting flagged for untying someone’s cleats. FFS. Hudson jumping offsides. Metellus getting burned like usual.
Players just never make plays when they need to in crunch time and now are resorting to Sparty bs. It’s the Michigan Way.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
You had a problem with him getting the 3 after watching the rest of that game? Our Oline couldn't move cow manure as proved by us going for it 3 times after that. Kemp untying his shoes was the most enjoyable part of the game. That was the last time I laughed yesterday.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
Actually taking the 3 points proved to be smart football. We were eventually down 15 points with eight to ten minutes and the ball.
Black has to fight for the yard on 3rd down and Haskins has to hit the hole on 4th. We score on that drive and all bets are off.
What about the no call delay of game on osu when they picked up about 40 on 2nd and long?
December 1st, 2019 at 2:25 PM ^
Give me an f-in break. Kemp's juvenile stunt was/is symbolic of the team's lack of mental focus and toughness. He should be thinking about what he and the rest of the team can do better on the next play than how to play a prank on one of OSU's players.
December 1st, 2019 at 2:54 PM ^
That sort of stuff and worse happens on the bottom of piles all the time, college and pro. The problem is he did it in the open with everyone and the ref watching him.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
It's because they quit mentally. It all went to shit once Nordin missed the XP and Shea dropped the snap. Everyone said "here we go again" and stopped focusing. Same old story.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:20 AM ^
Nordin missed right at the beginning of the game. After Shea's fumble we drove again inside their 10.
It was after halftime that it fell apart for the WRs. It was 35-16 when we got the ball again. Maybe they started pressing, feeling like the game was slipping away.
December 1st, 2019 at 12:25 PM ^
It looked like the middle crossing routes where the WRs were getting lit up started the dropsies. When you are busy anticipating taking the oncoming hit, you are not focused on catching the ball.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:37 AM ^
As soon as Nordin missed that kick I knew we were going to lose. That drive was excellent and exciting, so much so that I actually felt hope, but how many times has an early fuckup led to a total collapse by our guys?
You cannot make the mistakes we made yesterday against OSU. The lack of discipline and unforced errors was astonishing.
December 1st, 2019 at 1:59 PM ^
It was less that than this...
Michigan scores and Dobbins fumbles on their 2nd play. The ball bounces right to him and he runs for 40 yards. Michigan is driving to keep it tied or close and Patterson’s fumble doesn’t bounce to him. Then, Hudson jumps offsides.
You make your own luck to some extent, but yeah those three plays stand out.
Hudson and Metellus also got abused over and over.
December 1st, 2019 at 7:05 PM ^
That ridiculous fumble bouncing back up into Dobbins' hands at full speed, like a flippin' basketball on a fastbreak, was stupid lucky. All I could do is throw my hands up in the air and laugh to myself. I'm glad UofM wins most of their other games, because watching them play against OSU has gotten as comically one-sided as watching any Detroit Lions game.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:05 AM ^
On the DPJ drops I think he should have gotten a PI on at least one of them. Once the OSU secondary realized that they could get away with a little extra pushing and grabbing our passing game died. The refs were consistent with the way they were calling the game, but they chose to call it in a way that favored a running game rather than a passing game.
I'm sure if we were undefeated and the B1G's only shot at making the playoffs, they would have reffed it the opposite way.
However, as the OP points out, we still had chances to win and our many blunders ruined it. The play where Dobbins fumbled and it bounced right back into his hands and he ran for another 20 yards really epitomizes OSU's fortunes for the past two decades: their errors never really cost them much.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:11 AM ^
I do wonder why football officials aren't employed by the NCAA itself (as in basketball) instead of the conferences. Basketball officiating can also be bad but there is no argument for a conflict of interest.
December 1st, 2019 at 12:31 PM ^
I've agreed with this idea for a long time. I believe some football referees are concerned about losing their conference millions of dollars because of making calls that ruined the top team's playoff chances, especially in the final couple of games of the season.
Clemson gets a close ACC game every now and then, but the refs often help them in those situations because they know Clemson is the real money maker for their conference.
Some people stated the Big 12 officials recently helped Oklahoma win a close game against TCU for these same reasons.
Hopefully Michigan will one day be in a position to benefit from these apparent perks, but it still seems to be a conflict of interest.
December 1st, 2019 at 1:14 PM ^
It's something that's been persistent in college football for a long time, especially toward the end of the season. If a team has a chance to make it to the playoffs (and before that, the championship game), the refs will find a way to favor that team. I don't think it's because the conference tells them to—they don't have to, because the refs tend to want what's best for the conference.
To me, the refs are a prime example of why the NCAA ought to have its nonprofit status revoked. They go cheap on the refs and allow home teams to often have refs from that region (coughOSU2016cough), which clearly violates their mission statement to maintain a fair playing field. Many actions by the NCAA are done for profit rather than to benefit the sport or the players, which means they should not be allowed to file as a nonprofit organization. Meanwhile, Mark Emmert makes over $2 million…
December 1st, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
The backs/receivers group meeting at halftime must have had quite the inspirational speech.
"Alright men, I want you to get out there and start sucking."
December 1st, 2019 at 12:22 PM ^
The WRs aren’t as good as everyone thinks they are.
December 1st, 2019 at 10:53 AM ^
The 1 and only reason. They are wayyyyyy better than us, and probably better than any other team in the country, and will win it all this year.
December 1st, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
While you may be exactly right about how much better they are and about them being the favorite going into the CFP, I hope Ohio State learned from our mistakes yesterday and repeat them in the playoffs themselves.
December 1st, 2019 at 1:13 PM ^
LSU has an amazing offense. They can keep up with Ohio Sts scoring. And if they play each other, and Ohio St starts slow like they've done a couple times this year, LSU could get a lead on them that they can't catch up with.
December 1st, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^
wow, a reasonable set of takes. Imagine that.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
As well as spot on.
For a first post that was work well done.
December 1st, 2019 at 12:11 PM ^
Each take may be reasonable, but what isn't reasonable is this whole idea of "gee if we cleaned up these 18 plays them we'd only be down two scores." Sorry, not trying to hurt anyone's feelings, but right now we aren't close to OSU and no "but, ifs" can change that
December 1st, 2019 at 2:00 PM ^
Without those routine screw-ups--we're not talking about plays needing 5* talent--we should have been looking to take the lead in the 4th had Haskins followed his block.
- It should have been a competitive shootout in the 4th, that doesn't let the defense off the hook
- Are the players too tight? (Shea's fumble, Hudson offsides, DPJ TD drop, Sainristil knocking a ball about to settle on the 2 into the endzone)?
- Are the players too unprepared? (Haskins doesn't follow his block, Hudson out of position on a ~40 yd Dobbins run, defensive backs set their own pick for an OSU ~40yd checkdown crossing route)
December 1st, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
I agree, but you'll get negged and told "it's all just the differential of talent".
The number of mental mistakes Harbaugh teams make is incredibly staggering, and it is a common theme whether you like it or not.
Lloyd's teams never made mistakes like this.
December 1st, 2019 at 10:56 AM ^
How many walk-ons start or get significant playing time for OSU?
December 1st, 2019 at 11:11 AM ^
That walk-on has two walk-on brothers who are in the NFL. I don't think Glasgow cost us the game. He beat out some pretty highly rated recruits to secure that spot (a couple of whom transferred out because they couldn't compete with him). The reasons the OP highlight make a lot more sense.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:28 AM ^
I don't get why this bugs people. They have 6 - 8 1st round picks on this team, we have zero. People we have zero 1st round picks on this team right now.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:46 AM ^
Exactly. Their roster is loaded with draft picks, largely fueled by top 100 recruits. UM needs the top recruits (e.g. Solomon) to pan out every year.
The other factor with their talent depth is the # of redshirts for very talented athletes because other guys are NFL ready. Jonathan Cooper was the #33 player in 2016 and eventually a day 2 draft pick who sits behind Young. Arnette is possibly day 2 pick as a 5th yr CB because Sheffield and Ward were NFL talent ahead of him. OL has the same dynamic.
As Switzer said, “It ain’t the Xs and Os, it’s the Jimmies and Joes.” The latter were plural.
December 1st, 2019 at 1:30 PM ^
If it’s just a talent disparity, how do you explain the success against John Cooper? Over a 13 year period UM was 10-2-1, with OSU bringing in several top 5 teams to the game during that time period and 1-2 of them were ranked #1? Cooper was otherwise a good coach, he is in the college football hall of fame. UM didn’t have as good of a team many of those years yet they got the W 85% of the time, almost every year. In his first year, with Coopers recruits who went 8-4 the prior year, Tressel went to AA and started the string. I don’t believe talent alone is the issue.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^
M had a few 1st rounders last year and the results weren't much different.
December 1st, 2019 at 12:23 PM ^
2 bud. 2 1st round picks, and they had 2. Our NFL depth is nothing compared to there's. The team is loaded, and then they go get a Heisman contender at QB. They have had the best DE's in college football 4 years in a row.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
How does this not bother people more? We're Michigan and have zero first round picks since 2016. We used to churn out first round picks on the regular.
Proving once again that Hoke's recruiting was better than Harbaugh's.
December 1st, 2019 at 12:00 PM ^
Did you have a stroke while Gary and Bush went in the first round last draft?
December 1st, 2019 at 12:15 PM ^
Apparently so, that game was harder on me than I thought.
December 1st, 2019 at 1:45 PM ^
Doesn't matter if we have our own 1st round picks. They still steamrolled us. This not a sole talent issue like many want it to be. Coaching matters. Don Brown needs to go
December 1st, 2019 at 10:58 AM ^
Lloyd's teams made a ton of mistakes like these in one of the worst losses I've ever witnessed: 2000 at Northwestern.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:09 AM ^
I meant against OSU. The only major one I can think of is the Shawn Crable hit. Otherwise OSU just game-planned better most years.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:48 AM ^
That's some revisionist history right there.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:50 AM ^
2001? We committed 4-5 turnovers in the first half and snapped the ball while Jermaine Gonzales was looking to the sideline, for a safety, to fall behind 23-0 at halftime.
Then in the second half we make a roaring comeback, only for Marquise Walker to drop a wide-open TD, followed by a missed FG by Hayden Epstein. Brutal.
I don't think I've seen a Michigan team give away a game that badly. Tressel slunk out of there with a gift-wrapped win in his debut.
December 1st, 2019 at 12:50 PM ^
That's fair, I forgot about that 2001 game. But what about after that?
2002 OSU was a defensive struggle, we just couldnt break through
2003 we beat OSU which had like 11 NFL draft picks
2004 We were unprepared for Troy Smith but we didnt really make mistakes
2005 Again couldnt stop Troy Smith
2006 Shawn Crable hit kills us
2007 Could do nothing on offense and OSU pretty much just ran out the clock
So far with Harbaugh:
2015: Team wilted after roughing the punter penalty in the endzone keeping OSU alive
2016: Fumble on the goalline, pick six from own endzone
2017: Interception dropped that hits Metellus right in the hands
2018: Completely unprepared
2019: Multiple screw ups starting with missed PAT
December 1st, 2019 at 2:30 PM ^
I’d say that makes my point it a way, coaching is a significant contributor, it’s not just talent. Down 23-0 Tressel’s team stayed in the fight and didn’t crumble when faced with adversity the way Coopers teams did. UM didn’t quit but I’d argue the rash of dropped passes and other mistakes were due in part to expecting to lose after they took a few shots and gave up scores.
December 2nd, 2019 at 12:42 AM ^
Probably the most important U-M loss in last 20 years as it allowed Tressell to make good on his proclamation which started us down the road we are still on to this day. Michigan shitting the bed at home against what I believed ended up being an 8-5 OSU team completely turned this rivalry upside down in a instant. Pound the shit out of Tressell and the heat would have been on him right out of the gate. He would have been a laughingstock for “guaranteeing” victory. Instead, dude became an instant god. Yeah, that’s a pretty big fuck up by Lloyd.
December 1st, 2019 at 10:59 AM ^
Yes they did.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:02 AM ^
You don't remember the 2006 game do you.
December 1st, 2019 at 11:04 AM ^
Lloyd's teams had some brutal outings. In the Big House I watched Syracuse destroy us in 1998, Iowa a few years later, and Oregon in his last year.