With all due respect, some of the responsibility falls on Warde. Juan has battled some health issues and it has also exacted a mental toll as well. I read S’ comments about the program and they bear a kernal of truth. When JH was struggling, Warde managed to get him to refocus and rebuild our program. We know how that turned out and I’m still running on the high from Houston. The same prescription is needed for the B-ball program and if Juan is not up for the challenge, Warde should find someone else.
The trip of a lifetime, literally and figuratively. Thank you Jim and the staff, but more importantly the players. If you do anything watch the video of Penix heading to the tunnel after the loss. The 40 second video will amaze you and it epitomizes the character of this team. Hail yes, I am so proud to be, a Michigan Wolverine.
Our daughter called us from Chicago on the last play of the game. For some reason, their feed was earlier than ours and she wanted to hear our reaction as we watched it in M, real time. Simply amazing and what a great team. See y’all in Houston! Go Blue beat the Huskies!
Class move in my book and one which highlights the team rather than providing more distractions. Before the contest they had dedicated the game to Zak and had planned that if the team one, Zak would accept the trophy.
“Still, there were a number of things to clean up for Michigan's offense, the most notable of which being drops by the tight ends. Michigan could have scored well into the 30s if Loveland and Barner catch two balls that they normally bring in. Not much else to say there, other than flukey results. The offensive line's effort was concerning, but it seemed to be the regular starters getting abused, not the injury replacements. Ohio State has an excellent defensive front and Michigan fared much better up front in that one. Therefore, I'm not exactly sure what to say.”
Two disparate points. The dropped balls by otherwise sure handed receives were concerning though credit Iowa’s defense on the disruption. The o-line has been concerning all year (first with run blocking and then pass protection) and I think there is a fair amount to say. The loss of Zinter was huge for many reasons not only for his ability but as a captain and leader. Likewise, Nugent being banged up and leaving the game had an impact.
Calling M’s o scheme “vanilla” was an understatement. Iowa has a terrific d which is highly disciplined and mechanical. We needed to adjust our scheme and the few times we did, there was a modicum of success. The way one beats a d like this is using some motion, counters, slants, and quick out routes to dissect it apart. The couple of times we did that, we saw some gains (CJ’s grab, Edward’s longest run come to mind) but we were unable to sustain this for the game.
Whether Jim was toying with everyone or not, injuries were a factor, we were experiencing a bit of post ohio let down, or Iowa’s defense were “all that”, is largely irrelevant to me. Instead, the team hung together, the D played lights out with 3 turnovers, held Iowa to a hair over 100 yards of total O, our FG kicking is strong, and the future is incredibly bright. Yes this win was Coyote Ugly but by any measure this was a great win, we’re 13-0 and headed for the CFB playoffs!
Anyone who has watched this team knows these kids are decent, are truly representative of this school and program, and are incredibly special. I think the world of these players and am so proud for them, the coaches, and the fans. Now it’s time to heal up, get back to work, and move forward. Who’s got it better than us? Noooo-body! Go Blue!
I’d just fire the lug-nut son. Kirk obviously didn’t marry well. He’s a solid coach but the loyalty to his kid has cost him as evidenced by this evening. Go Blue!
Savor the victory and thank goodness for our D stepping up when it was needed most. Heal up, fix the missteps, and move forward. Who has it better than us?
Whoa dude, I think you've been drinking too much celebratory schnapps! The team which played the more complete game won, period. Two picks to zero, controlling the LOS on both sides of the ball, and making plays when it counted. No one has been able to stop Harrison and while he made catches (and an amazing one-handed grab while being interfered with), so did Loveland, Wilson, CJ, etc. Their pro-prospect running back had a total of 68 yards. M won in every category including TOP, rushing yards, 4th down conversions, passing efficiency, you name it with the exception of total yards.
While I'll acknowledge the athleticism of the ohio kids, the program is evil. Ryan Day is a tool and cry baby. Watching him berate the officials for several minutes on the field after the Wilson TD was an indication of how entitled and out of control this child-coach is. Any other coach would have been flagged or ejected. Maybe you ought to watch the video of ohio AD Gene Smith on the sideline and contrast it with the post-game presser of our kids. After that, if you can't make a distinction between the programs, I don't know what to say.
After being in the stands and on the field after the game, I’ve finally had a moment to reflect. The stadium was electric and apart from Zac’s injury it was a joy in every respect . What an amazing team, and I am so proud for them not only in their successes on the field, but for how they epitomize what it means to be Michigan men. Onward to Indy and who knows what after that. Thank you Jim, Sherrone, the entire coaching staff, JJ, Blake, Zac, Colston, Rod, and all the players for making Team 144 so special. Go Blue!
The bitch was arguing with the refs for several minutes after the Roman Wilson TD, and should have had a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. He was arguing every call on the field. What a whiny C.
That’s no joke. There was a lone person sitting in our section directly across the field from the M bench, filming M sidelines every time they had the ball. Everyone is stealing signals (doesn’t make it right) and likely it will drive the push towards helmet gear.
Read Locksley’s comments re the crowd…https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/lists/what-maryland-coach-mike-locksley-said-after-michigan-football-beat-maryland/
1) Almost all of the fans on the visitors side of the field were sporting M and about 30-40% on the home side as well. The M crowd really got into the game especially in the 3rd/4th quarter and it really motivated our team and caused MD a procedure penalty.
2) JJ seemed to be shut down from running (designed) and he was forcing the ball on a difficult, windy day. There is little doubt that he misses Jim on the sideline and that has affected his (and other’s) play.
3) This team is loaded with good kids and they don’t deserve all of the harassment and distractions. At the end of the Game, Blake, ran down the visitor sidelines, high fiving all of the M fans. Class act just like the entire program.
Great commentary and my spouse and I made the road trip to support the team. Will be sitting on the MD side on the 50 yard line cheering on M. It’s a blustery day with winds swirling 10-20 mph and temperatures in the 50’s. Perfect fall football weather to crush a bunch of turtles. Go Blue!
There are so many directions one can go. It was an incredible win against a solid squad in an extremely hostile environment. Our kids played magnificently in every facet of the game under incredible pressure. The smash mouth game plan was a beautiful message to all of the haters. Though I would have seen some more screens and quick slants and was puzzled by some of the play calling, the results speak for themselves.
Watching Coach Moore and Charles Woodson in the post game almost made me forget about the homers Gus and Klatt. We are the best program in the country, period.
It’s crazy that he “only” completed 65% of his passes when we’re accustomed to nearly 80%. JJ is the real deal and I suspect that he’ll be dialed in the next three weeks.
Happy for Bowman’s performance at osu and understand, albeit sorry he left our program.
There aren’t too many B10 coaches I like any more and this tool is up there with the dbag Day, Franklin, etc. At one time I used to have tremendous respect for most of them. After watching Harbaugh’s post game presser, I can’t say enough about his demeanor and poise. A classy guy and that’s why they hate him so much.
Well, we were coming off of a bye week and it showed. JJ and the receivers had some miscommunication, the run blocking was awful, pass protection marginal, and the d-line was struggling. Fortunately, the rest of the defense played well, Roman Wilson was getting some separation and holding on to the ball, and Corum was playing with some ferocity. This was a 2-6 Purdue team with little talent so, there was little question of the outcome. Hopefully, the cobwebs are gone and the kids can focus on the game ahead. Beaver - Tinkertoy - Stadium is an awful place to play where they blast noise on the PA system the entire game. Go Blue!
Couldn't imagine a better game against a bunch of delinquent little brothers. I'm pleased that JH and company put a spike in that dumpster fire school and can't wait to do the same to PsU and that sh-tty skull down south. Stay healthy, stay true, Go Blue.
The usual round of anti-M loudmouths will continue to trash talk us, though if you listened to Todd Blackledge (who if I wasn't mistaken played on PsU's '82 natty team) he had tremendous and accurate praise. I don't look to the media for validation as they put pond scum to shame.
It's clear the O-line isn't opening the kinds of holes they did last year though defenses are putting 8-9 guys in the box. There is something about Donovoan which isn't right. I can't put my finger on it but he seems like he's not all there and it is a shame. Super kid and great receiving and open field running skills.
First road game in a hostile place and our team played lights out. It was the first complete game of the season and while Nebraska is hardly formidable, they had the number two rush defense in the country. A stellar performance. Onward to Minnesota…
Just finished watching the two teams I hate the most battle it out to the finish. How I hate ohio. Worst part was watching their punk qb taunting the nd fans after they won. Keys tonight. ohio can be run on by controlling the LOS (did that twice in last two years). Henderson and Egbuka are the real deal and Stover has been there for what seems like 20 years. We’re going to need some pass rush and O-line run blocking to beat these d-bags.
Agree. It was late in the game and he had fresh legs. Mullings accelerates and hits the hole faster than Edwards and Corum. He’s also lower to the ground when he gets into traffic. I’m still wondering about Corum’s health. He’s being pushed up when engaged and doesn’t drive through tacklers like last year.
There is a lot of work for this team to do. JJ was not moving through his progressions and making decisions quickly enough. We can’t seem to seal the edge with blocking and our o-line needs to control the LOS more. D secondary can play tighter especially on the perimeter when they have a safety over the top. While the D-line continues to look great against the run our pass rush is feeble. I recall bringing heat on one play with Moore getting to the QB. A win is a win and we have a couple interesting games on the road. Too soon to make any longer term calls but we need to make these improvements and gel more.
It's difficult to place this game in context given that our HC is still on "suspension" and we're playing the third straight garbage non-conference game (don't get me started on that). If there was one game for JJ not to be in rhythm, it was this one, and for anyone who has competed at this level, they know these days happen. It's time for a reboot, the scrimmages are done, snap the chinstraps, and get to business. B10 is starting, and GO BLUE!
Agree on all points. One can’t emphasize enough the importance of having a number 2 qb ready to go in all facets of the game. Our O-line really needs to run block better and open some holes. I know they were loading at least 8-9 in the box on nearly every play but as we move into the regular season, we’ll be facing teams who can play man better as well as top the run. D was solid and the kicking game was ok though our FG are still question marks. Special teams have some tidying up to do. Recognize that these are really warm up games and it is difficult to assess how quickly things are gelling together. It’s really great seeing JJ maturing and making good decisions.
Precisely, think about scheming for the playoffs. The drama of aiming for the perfect season goes away, one strategizes to play well enough to meet the threshold, and ensure that players are healthy for the playoffs. I'm not saying that's bad per se, though that's the direction CFB is heading. Add in the NIL, effects of the portal, constant recruiting challenges, and the allure of being a CFB coach diminishes.
Jim has proven that he can put together winning seasons anywhere he goes, but he's yet to win the big one at any level. He's a competitor and perhaps the changing landscape of CFB is making the NFL a bit more attractive?
Great analysis Alex though as others have mentioned, our o and d-lines struggled. There are plenty of mistakes to go around last evening though M looked largely un-prepared and showed up with the yips. This wasn’t the same team which bullied the suckeyes in columbus in the second half and the lack of focus and execution was stunning. Though the officiating sucked and they definitely influenced the game, they shouldn’t have been the factor had we been playing like we did against sParty or ohio. Moore, Weiss, and Minter rate an F for their efforts and if you can’t scheme and prepare for such a contest with nearly a month’s notice, you have no business coaching for a natty. They picked a special time to lay the biggest egg of the year. My anger and disappointment are off the charts as if someone just robbed me.
Jim and the team picked an interesting time to shit the bed. Now, I’ve watched TCU play several games this year and they qualified to be there. The loss in the B12 championship was in the last seconds. They came to play today and it was evident that they watched tape and prepared. We showed up with the yips and it was evident. The o-line was pushed around and our lack of ball control looked more like a first game than a championship match. We were burned every time we tried to send pressure and Minter looked like DB. TCU played the 3-3-5 to perfection apart from a couple of big plays. JJ was bottled up and apart from the two picks he blew every RO. When they ran a couple of designed qb runs we scored. The coaching was shit at every level. Come on JH has played and coached at every level and he knows what it takes to win. Outcoached and outexecuted at every turn. I can’t hang this on the players.
Unfortunately, it's that time of year and it's difficult to blame the kids for wanting playing time. All's departure as you observed Seth is complex. Wish him and Hansen well (though not against us).
Maybe we've been watching different clubs in different seasons and listening to different "commentators"? But what I saw this year was a very underwhelming ohio club without a strong running game (injured primary back), weak secondary, average linebackers, who struggled against a lot of B10 teams they normally wipe out, including NW, MD, etc. Yes, they have a solid QB and three NFL caliber WR, though we looked far better against PsU and a couple of other clubs than ohio did - just sayin' and what's their claim to SOS? Beating a lost ND team early in the year?
The "commentators" have been downplaying M's success and making excuses all season for ohio's performances. Fiasco at Ryan Field? Windy conditions of course. Meanwhile, M is playing in blizzard conditions at night against a chippy Nebraska and we dominated the game. The "commentators" gave no credit for M's performance.
I would bet the farm that had the situations been reversed and ohio traveled to A2 and fed us a can of whoop a$$ we would have fallen out of the top 5, period. No excuses, no rationales, nothing. Quite candidly, ohio is being gifted and I hope GA exposes and destroys them as we did. Maybe Day can add another "participation trophy" to his collection?
Our kids and coaches are focused. Make the spoilermakers pay and put the naysayers to bed. The friggin suckeyes are the ultimate "participation trophy" squad and it is inconceivable that they are backing into the playoffs. Go BLUE!
Dunno, there were so many amazing victories in that sheety sity down south? The '96 victory comes to mind when 0hio came in undefeated and ranked #2. M was struggling, Griese came in, we shut them down in the second half and won 13-9. That was something to behold and set the tone for the '97 run. But this 2nd half adjustment and subsequent shellacking of the soft, overrated 0hio team was perhaps the sweetest one ever?
As I start to drift off after working all night, pondering how we managed to bring balance to the universe, I am really starting to wonder what are the magical elements which have finally righted this program? The switch was really flipped a little more than two years ago...
(in no particular order)
1) Jimmy - always the competitor, was he finally fed up or did being on the hot seat spark him into action?
2) Critical coaching changes? Jettisoning DB, bringing back M competitors like Mike Hart, tapping bro's pipeline?
3) Talent accrual - did we finally build up the recruiting classes JH wanted/needed to implement his vision?
4) Players - fundamentals appeared, like toughness, discipline, lack of penalties, they seemed joyful, and mostly started playing as a team - a big departure from years past.
5) ?
On to Indy, beat Purdue, and then look forward to the semis and maybe even a rematch against GA?
Recent Comments
With all due respect, some of the responsibility falls on Warde. Juan has battled some health issues and it has also exacted a mental toll as well. I read S’ comments about the program and they bear a kernal of truth. When JH was struggling, Warde managed to get him to refocus and rebuild our program. We know how that turned out and I’m still running on the high from Houston. The same prescription is needed for the B-ball program and if Juan is not up for the challenge, Warde should find someone else.
Congrats Jim and thank you for reviving M to its rightful glory. Best of luck Sherrone and there is a lot of rebuilding on the horizon. Go Blue!
The trip of a lifetime, literally and figuratively. Thank you Jim and the staff, but more importantly the players. If you do anything watch the video of Penix heading to the tunnel after the loss. The 40 second video will amaze you and it epitomizes the character of this team. Hail yes, I am so proud to be, a Michigan Wolverine.
Our daughter called us from Chicago on the last play of the game. For some reason, their feed was earlier than ours and she wanted to hear our reaction as we watched it in M, real time. Simply amazing and what a great team. See y’all in Houston! Go Blue beat the Huskies!
What an a’mazin prediction. Now if you can figure out a way to materialize tickets for the natty.
What an a’mazin prediction. Now if you can figure out a way to materialize tickets for the natty.
Let’s Go Blue! We’re dominating every phase (including unfortunately screwups) and need to continue. Bet.
Man o Man I wish I could go but it is just so damn expensive, airfare over $1k, hotels astronomical...
Shades of 1973, B10, Dennis Franklin, though I need not elaborate.
Class move in my book and one which highlights the team rather than providing more distractions. Before the contest they had dedicated the game to Zak and had planned that if the team one, Zak would accept the trophy.
Want to see why this team is so special (Post game presser)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rGiQicPza0s
“Still, there were a number of things to clean up for Michigan's offense, the most notable of which being drops by the tight ends. Michigan could have scored well into the 30s if Loveland and Barner catch two balls that they normally bring in. Not much else to say there, other than flukey results. The offensive line's effort was concerning, but it seemed to be the regular starters getting abused, not the injury replacements. Ohio State has an excellent defensive front and Michigan fared much better up front in that one. Therefore, I'm not exactly sure what to say.”
Two disparate points. The dropped balls by otherwise sure handed receives were concerning though credit Iowa’s defense on the disruption. The o-line has been concerning all year (first with run blocking and then pass protection) and I think there is a fair amount to say. The loss of Zinter was huge for many reasons not only for his ability but as a captain and leader. Likewise, Nugent being banged up and leaving the game had an impact.
Calling M’s o scheme “vanilla” was an understatement. Iowa has a terrific d which is highly disciplined and mechanical. We needed to adjust our scheme and the few times we did, there was a modicum of success. The way one beats a d like this is using some motion, counters, slants, and quick out routes to dissect it apart. The couple of times we did that, we saw some gains (CJ’s grab, Edward’s longest run come to mind) but we were unable to sustain this for the game.
Whether Jim was toying with everyone or not, injuries were a factor, we were experiencing a bit of post ohio let down, or Iowa’s defense were “all that”, is largely irrelevant to me. Instead, the team hung together, the D played lights out with 3 turnovers, held Iowa to a hair over 100 yards of total O, our FG kicking is strong, and the future is incredibly bright. Yes this win was Coyote Ugly but by any measure this was a great win, we’re 13-0 and headed for the CFB playoffs!
Anyone who has watched this team knows these kids are decent, are truly representative of this school and program, and are incredibly special. I think the world of these players and am so proud for them, the coaches, and the fans. Now it’s time to heal up, get back to work, and move forward. Who’s got it better than us? Noooo-body! Go Blue!
I’d just fire the lug-nut son. Kirk obviously didn’t marry well. He’s a solid coach but the loyalty to his kid has cost him as evidenced by this evening. Go Blue!
Savor the victory and thank goodness for our D stepping up when it was needed most. Heal up, fix the missteps, and move forward. Who has it better than us?
Whoa dude, I think you've been drinking too much celebratory schnapps! The team which played the more complete game won, period. Two picks to zero, controlling the LOS on both sides of the ball, and making plays when it counted. No one has been able to stop Harrison and while he made catches (and an amazing one-handed grab while being interfered with), so did Loveland, Wilson, CJ, etc. Their pro-prospect running back had a total of 68 yards. M won in every category including TOP, rushing yards, 4th down conversions, passing efficiency, you name it with the exception of total yards.
While I'll acknowledge the athleticism of the ohio kids, the program is evil. Ryan Day is a tool and cry baby. Watching him berate the officials for several minutes on the field after the Wilson TD was an indication of how entitled and out of control this child-coach is. Any other coach would have been flagged or ejected. Maybe you ought to watch the video of ohio AD Gene Smith on the sideline and contrast it with the post-game presser of our kids. After that, if you can't make a distinction between the programs, I don't know what to say.
After being in the stands and on the field after the game, I’ve finally had a moment to reflect. The stadium was electric and apart from Zac’s injury it was a joy in every respect . What an amazing team, and I am so proud for them not only in their successes on the field, but for how they epitomize what it means to be Michigan men. Onward to Indy and who knows what after that. Thank you Jim, Sherrone, the entire coaching staff, JJ, Blake, Zac, Colston, Rod, and all the players for making Team 144 so special. Go Blue!
After scoring, Blake held up 6-5, Zac’s number. This epitomizes the character and class of this team. I am such a proud mfer Wolverine!
The bitch was arguing with the refs for several minutes after the Roman Wilson TD, and should have had a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. He was arguing every call on the field. What a whiny C.
That’s no joke. There was a lone person sitting in our section directly across the field from the M bench, filming M sidelines every time they had the ball. Everyone is stealing signals (doesn’t make it right) and likely it will drive the push towards helmet gear.
Read Locksley’s comments re the crowd…https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/lists/what-maryland-coach-mike-locksley-said-after-michigan-football-beat-maryland/
A couple observations from the game…
1) Almost all of the fans on the visitors side of the field were sporting M and about 30-40% on the home side as well. The M crowd really got into the game especially in the 3rd/4th quarter and it really motivated our team and caused MD a procedure penalty.
2) JJ seemed to be shut down from running (designed) and he was forcing the ball on a difficult, windy day. There is little doubt that he misses Jim on the sideline and that has affected his (and other’s) play.
3) This team is loaded with good kids and they don’t deserve all of the harassment and distractions. At the end of the Game, Blake, ran down the visitor sidelines, high fiving all of the M fans. Class act just like the entire program.
F ohio and all of the haters. Go Blue, beat ohio.
Great commentary and my spouse and I made the road trip to support the team. Will be sitting on the MD side on the 50 yard line cheering on M. It’s a blustery day with winds swirling 10-20 mph and temperatures in the 50’s. Perfect fall football weather to crush a bunch of turtles. Go Blue!
There are so many directions one can go. It was an incredible win against a solid squad in an extremely hostile environment. Our kids played magnificently in every facet of the game under incredible pressure. The smash mouth game plan was a beautiful message to all of the haters. Though I would have seen some more screens and quick slants and was puzzled by some of the play calling, the results speak for themselves.
Watching Coach Moore and Charles Woodson in the post game almost made me forget about the homers Gus and Klatt. We are the best program in the country, period.
Portnoy is a tool but he’s 100% right that we should pull up stakes from the corrupt B10. Go Blue and beat these pu$$ies.
It’s crazy that he “only” completed 65% of his passes when we’re accustomed to nearly 80%. JJ is the real deal and I suspect that he’ll be dialed in the next three weeks.
Happy for Bowman’s performance at osu and understand, albeit sorry he left our program.
There aren’t too many B10 coaches I like any more and this tool is up there with the dbag Day, Franklin, etc. At one time I used to have tremendous respect for most of them. After watching Harbaugh’s post game presser, I can’t say enough about his demeanor and poise. A classy guy and that’s why they hate him so much.
Well, we were coming off of a bye week and it showed. JJ and the receivers had some miscommunication, the run blocking was awful, pass protection marginal, and the d-line was struggling. Fortunately, the rest of the defense played well, Roman Wilson was getting some separation and holding on to the ball, and Corum was playing with some ferocity. This was a 2-6 Purdue team with little talent so, there was little question of the outcome. Hopefully, the cobwebs are gone and the kids can focus on the game ahead. Beaver - Tinkertoy - Stadium is an awful place to play where they blast noise on the PA system the entire game. Go Blue!
Couldn't imagine a better game against a bunch of delinquent little brothers. I'm pleased that JH and company put a spike in that dumpster fire school and can't wait to do the same to PsU and that sh-tty skull down south. Stay healthy, stay true, Go Blue.
The usual round of anti-M loudmouths will continue to trash talk us, though if you listened to Todd Blackledge (who if I wasn't mistaken played on PsU's '82 natty team) he had tremendous and accurate praise. I don't look to the media for validation as they put pond scum to shame.
It's clear the O-line isn't opening the kinds of holes they did last year though defenses are putting 8-9 guys in the box. There is something about Donovoan which isn't right. I can't put my finger on it but he seems like he's not all there and it is a shame. Super kid and great receiving and open field running skills.
First road game in a hostile place and our team played lights out. It was the first complete game of the season and while Nebraska is hardly formidable, they had the number two rush defense in the country. A stellar performance. Onward to Minnesota…
Just finished watching the two teams I hate the most battle it out to the finish. How I hate ohio. Worst part was watching their punk qb taunting the nd fans after they won. Keys tonight. ohio can be run on by controlling the LOS (did that twice in last two years). Henderson and Egbuka are the real deal and Stover has been there for what seems like 20 years. We’re going to need some pass rush and O-line run blocking to beat these d-bags.
Agree. It was late in the game and he had fresh legs. Mullings accelerates and hits the hole faster than Edwards and Corum. He’s also lower to the ground when he gets into traffic. I’m still wondering about Corum’s health. He’s being pushed up when engaged and doesn’t drive through tacklers like last year.
There is a lot of work for this team to do. JJ was not moving through his progressions and making decisions quickly enough. We can’t seem to seal the edge with blocking and our o-line needs to control the LOS more. D secondary can play tighter especially on the perimeter when they have a safety over the top. While the D-line continues to look great against the run our pass rush is feeble. I recall bringing heat on one play with Moore getting to the QB. A win is a win and we have a couple interesting games on the road. Too soon to make any longer term calls but we need to make these improvements and gel more.
It's difficult to place this game in context given that our HC is still on "suspension" and we're playing the third straight garbage non-conference game (don't get me started on that). If there was one game for JJ not to be in rhythm, it was this one, and for anyone who has competed at this level, they know these days happen. It's time for a reboot, the scrimmages are done, snap the chinstraps, and get to business. B10 is starting, and GO BLUE!
Agree on all points. One can’t emphasize enough the importance of having a number 2 qb ready to go in all facets of the game. Our O-line really needs to run block better and open some holes. I know they were loading at least 8-9 in the box on nearly every play but as we move into the regular season, we’ll be facing teams who can play man better as well as top the run. D was solid and the kicking game was ok though our FG are still question marks. Special teams have some tidying up to do. Recognize that these are really warm up games and it is difficult to assess how quickly things are gelling together. It’s really great seeing JJ maturing and making good decisions.
Precisely, think about scheming for the playoffs. The drama of aiming for the perfect season goes away, one strategizes to play well enough to meet the threshold, and ensure that players are healthy for the playoffs. I'm not saying that's bad per se, though that's the direction CFB is heading. Add in the NIL, effects of the portal, constant recruiting challenges, and the allure of being a CFB coach diminishes.
Jim has proven that he can put together winning seasons anywhere he goes, but he's yet to win the big one at any level. He's a competitor and perhaps the changing landscape of CFB is making the NFL a bit more attractive?
Great analysis Alex though as others have mentioned, our o and d-lines struggled. There are plenty of mistakes to go around last evening though M looked largely un-prepared and showed up with the yips. This wasn’t the same team which bullied the suckeyes in columbus in the second half and the lack of focus and execution was stunning. Though the officiating sucked and they definitely influenced the game, they shouldn’t have been the factor had we been playing like we did against sParty or ohio. Moore, Weiss, and Minter rate an F for their efforts and if you can’t scheme and prepare for such a contest with nearly a month’s notice, you have no business coaching for a natty. They picked a special time to lay the biggest egg of the year. My anger and disappointment are off the charts as if someone just robbed me.
Right and we looked like it was the first game of the year? How could we show up so unprepared and lacking in execution?
Jim and the team picked an interesting time to shit the bed. Now, I’ve watched TCU play several games this year and they qualified to be there. The loss in the B12 championship was in the last seconds. They came to play today and it was evident that they watched tape and prepared. We showed up with the yips and it was evident. The o-line was pushed around and our lack of ball control looked more like a first game than a championship match. We were burned every time we tried to send pressure and Minter looked like DB. TCU played the 3-3-5 to perfection apart from a couple of big plays. JJ was bottled up and apart from the two picks he blew every RO. When they ran a couple of designed qb runs we scored. The coaching was shit at every level. Come on JH has played and coached at every level and he knows what it takes to win. Outcoached and outexecuted at every turn. I can’t hang this on the players.
Let’s go Blue and beat cancer.
Unfortunately, it's that time of year and it's difficult to blame the kids for wanting playing time. All's departure as you observed Seth is complex. Wish him and Hansen well (though not against us).
I thought it was CJ's cold, or the wind at Ryan Field. They suck.
Maybe we've been watching different clubs in different seasons and listening to different "commentators"? But what I saw this year was a very underwhelming ohio club without a strong running game (injured primary back), weak secondary, average linebackers, who struggled against a lot of B10 teams they normally wipe out, including NW, MD, etc. Yes, they have a solid QB and three NFL caliber WR, though we looked far better against PsU and a couple of other clubs than ohio did - just sayin' and what's their claim to SOS? Beating a lost ND team early in the year?
The "commentators" have been downplaying M's success and making excuses all season for ohio's performances. Fiasco at Ryan Field? Windy conditions of course. Meanwhile, M is playing in blizzard conditions at night against a chippy Nebraska and we dominated the game. The "commentators" gave no credit for M's performance.
I would bet the farm that had the situations been reversed and ohio traveled to A2 and fed us a can of whoop a$$ we would have fallen out of the top 5, period. No excuses, no rationales, nothing. Quite candidly, ohio is being gifted and I hope GA exposes and destroys them as we did. Maybe Day can add another "participation trophy" to his collection?
It was a street fight but our kids held fast and stepped up when it mattered. Big 10 Champs and onto the playoffs!
Our kids and coaches are focused. Make the spoilermakers pay and put the naysayers to bed. The friggin suckeyes are the ultimate "participation trophy" squad and it is inconceivable that they are backing into the playoffs. Go BLUE!
Dunno, there were so many amazing victories in that sheety sity down south? The '96 victory comes to mind when 0hio came in undefeated and ranked #2. M was struggling, Griese came in, we shut them down in the second half and won 13-9. That was something to behold and set the tone for the '97 run. But this 2nd half adjustment and subsequent shellacking of the soft, overrated 0hio team was perhaps the sweetest one ever?
As I start to drift off after working all night, pondering how we managed to bring balance to the universe, I am really starting to wonder what are the magical elements which have finally righted this program? The switch was really flipped a little more than two years ago...
(in no particular order)
1) Jimmy - always the competitor, was he finally fed up or did being on the hot seat spark him into action?
2) Critical coaching changes? Jettisoning DB, bringing back M competitors like Mike Hart, tapping bro's pipeline?
3) Talent accrual - did we finally build up the recruiting classes JH wanted/needed to implement his vision?
4) Players - fundamentals appeared, like toughness, discipline, lack of penalties, they seemed joyful, and mostly started playing as a team - a big departure from years past.
5) ?
On to Indy, beat Purdue, and then look forward to the semis and maybe even a rematch against GA?
Don't say that. We want Ryan to stay there everyDAY.
It's no coincidence that they are soft like the wood of their namesake.