Let's see more of this guy on offense . . . Drew Dileo. Dileo is/was recovering from an injury, which is why he didn't play much on Saturday, but I think he makes Michigan's offense very difficult to defend. With Jeremy Gallon and Devin Funchess on the outside, a healthy Dileo working the middle is a tough third option. Most teams have a quick and/or fast slot receiver to use, but Michigan's slot option at this point is the lumbering Jeremy Jackson. Hopefully Dileo can come back fully healthy for the remainder of the year.
Let's see less of this guy on offense . . . Jeremy Jackson. I really don't care who enters the game in his place, but Jackson needs to have his feet glued to the sideline. I sincerely have not seen a slower, less athletic wide receiver get significant playing time for Michigan in my entire life. He can't get separation and can't jump, and he's not a good enough blocker to justify putting him on the field. Whether it's Dennis Norfleet, Joe Reynolds, or Da'Mario Jones, somebody should be taking Jackson's snaps.
Let's see more of this guy on defense . . . Blake Countess at left cornerback. I keep seeing teams pick on Jourdan Lewis and Channing Stribling on the outside, and I can't help but think that maybe Countess would be best used on the outside. Stribling is a good sized, fairly physical kid, and Dymonte Thomas has been practicing at nickel corner; one of those two guys might be worth a look instead of putting Stribling/Lewis out there, both of whom have been beaten regularly.
Let's see less of this guy on defense . . . the freshman corners. For the reasons stated above. I think they'll both be good down the road, but they're not right now.
Play of the game . . . Devin Gardner's 58-yard pass to Jehu Chesson. There really aren't many options for play of the game, but this was a solid one, regardless. Gardner launched a deep ball down the left hash, and the youngster Chesson - who has had a hard time adjusting to balls in the air - leaped up to grab it in double coverage. Not only was it Michigan's longest play of the day, but it showed that Michigan might have another developing deep threat for other teams to respect. Michigan currently has three guys who can get vertical - Chesson, Gallon, and Funchess - and even with Gallon graduating after this year, there could be more guys to stretch the field with Da'Mario Jones, Drake Harris, Freddy Canteen, and/or Maurice Ways potentially earning time.
MVP of the game . . . Frank Clark. In what was essentially a blowout loss with very little scoring, it's tough to pick a real MVP. The most productive guy on offense was Jehu Chesson (3 catches, 82 yards), and usual stalwarts Devin Gardner (14/27 passing, 210 yards, 1 pick; 18 carries for -46 yards), Jeremy Gallon (5 catches, 67 yards), and Devin Funchess (6 catches, 65 yards) were mostly held in check. Clark, though, had a career-high 9 tackles, a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1 quarterback hurry. Michigan State had a very difficult time handling him up front.
What a depressing list of awardees... Let's hope the team can get it back together and beat Nebraska at home.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, I've hated Jeremy Jackson being out there as much as anyone -- this is total sham that he was recruited in the first place -- he is worthless even as a senior. He is not tough, he is slow, and he just doesn't have the instincts. This dude wouldn't even be around the program and would be playing for some MAC school (maybe not even that) if he wasn't connected through his father. This type of crap is what we do not need to see again.
ReplyDeleteHis father may have had something to do with it, but Michigan wasn't the only BCS program to offer. IIRC Florida threw an offer his way.
DeleteWell, I'm sure Florida is now glad that he went somewhere else.
DeleteAccording to Rivals, Jeremy Jackson had offers from Michigan, Florida, Iowa, Louisville, Minnesota and Nebraska.
Deletehttp://rivals.yahoo.com/michigan/football/recruiting/player-Jeremy-Jackson-76312;_ylt=Ai6oULMcJvUwP55x5ymDx7pmspB4
Yeah... and Florida, Iowa, Louisville, Minnesota, and Nebraska are glad as hell now that they didn't waste a scholarship for four years. Other schools who looked at his tape and didn't bother were better at evaluating high school talent...
DeleteSome insider-types confirmed during Jackson's recruitment that the 3-star rating was fair and that his reported offers from the southern powers were more exploratory and not commitable. That's not unlike MRob and Ricardo Miller, who had early interest from the big boys but fizzled as their HS careers progressed. The whole concept of an offer has become so wishy washy.
DeleteJackson made a pretty bad effort on a high ball from Devin that should have been caught. He jumped early and got like 6" of air. I noticed on several replays that MSU was barely covering Jackson. Agreed that Dileo is a much nicer option out there.
suduri xusai -- my post above with the offers was really an "FYI" thing ... I wasn't disputing your core point about his holding a spot at Michigan being unwarranted.
DeleteI see also that you've changed your tone considerably from the before-game preview thread to this one. Back in the preview thread you were predicting more spit-and-vinegar from Michigan. Did you see the performance as that disheartening?
I'm clinging fast to the fact MSU's defense is pretty good, and that the score of 29-6 is a bit misleading. But I'm cautiously eying the Nebraska, NW and Iowa games. If we look inconsistent and powerless in those games, then we have some real problems.
Like Painter Smurf said, Jeremy Jackson's other "big time offers" were somewhat questionable even at the time. His Florida and Texas "offers" were supposedly not committable.
DeleteDonAZ, yes I saw the performance as something very disheartening. By the later part of that game, Devin Gardner was hit so many times that his jersey was gray with mud. It was painful to go through RichRod hell hole and now this -- really unacceptable. The pathetic loss to MSU and the feeling that we are going to be crushed by Ohio State -- trust me Meyer will run up the score to enhance his BCS bid -- really is painful.
DeleteI'm not sure how much getting Dileo back is going to help, frankly. He really wasn't that productive before he got hurt. Not that much his fault, I don't think...Borges just doesn't seem to know how to use him..but I'd be surprised if he starts getting 3 or 4 catches a game.
ReplyDeleteHe think he could have played the slot and taken some pressure off Gardner with kick hitters. If he is healed up, he will help the team, no doubt about that. Would it mean we would have beat Sparty....no.
DeleteDileo wasn't super productive, but I think that was partly a function of Gardner being in love with Gallon. Also, I think he's a guy who could get quick on short routes, crossing routes, etc. and could have helped when Gardner was facing such a good blitzing team.
DeleteMaybe it's a depressing list of candidates, but the article is much more upbeat than I thought it would be.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your insight. Thanks for the site.
PRL
Lost in the final score is the fact that MSUs developing run game looked as inept or more so than UMs designed run plays for a good portion of this game. Langford was consistently slammed at the LOS and only found room well into the second half-- you can only hold a slow and steady offense down for so long.
ReplyDeleteI know some people point to the botched snap or the post-Taylor INT series as the turning point in this game but I think it was much earlier. 3rd and 2 on MSUs 20 and Borges calls a run from the shotgun with twin backs (and I think the jumbo package). No one in the stadium was surprised and MSU bottled it up accordingly. In that game you have to figure red zone trips are few and far between. Funchess, Gallon and Chesson had all made plays by that point. Spread it out, look for a quick hitter, maybe Gardner bolts if nothing is there. That was the one series where MSU may have been on their heels a bit and a TD there makes it 10-6 and totally changes the complexion of that game.
I agree that MSU didn't do much on the ground. Langford didn't do anything until the fourth quarter. I don't think the Michigan defense quit, but they were probably feeling a little bit hopeless near the end of the game.
DeleteAgreed.. That was a slow developing play that had no chance of fooling anybody. You can do that if you have an Oline capable of holding blocks, but Borges had to know that wasn't going to happen. And just maybe if our defense hadn't played so soft at the end of the first half, we might have still had a prayer. Once they scored to make it 13-6, though, it was essentially over.
ReplyDeleteThere are several people in our football program whose seats are warming up. Funk's seat is on fire.
DeleteIs those seats being hot an educated guess or insider knowledge? Personally if improvement of some kind is not seen by the end of the season I believe funk should be let go, but the rest of the coaching staff should maybe get at least another year. Also why do we not have a qb coach? Wouldn't this take some of the pressure off Borges so he could focus more on his schemes and offensive gameplan.?
ReplyDeleteOf course it is not insider's knowledge. AD and his staff will keep their mouths shut until the moment somebody's fired. Look, since Brandon started to say things like "Brady is still my coach" and Hoke started to say things like "I have a good O-line coach," you know those are bad signs. Those are signs that their seats are warming up. When the superiors in athletic department (Brandon, Hoke) are forced to defend the coaches, you know that the seats are warming up.
DeleteI am not the only alum who's pissed off. There are people who are older with a whole lot more money and clout who must've been pissed the $#@% off by that game. They must be giving an earful to Dave Brandon by now.
DeleteFunk is the only one whose job might be in jeopardy this year. The higher ups, including Hoke, will start to get some public heat, especially if we look equally bad against OSU (a win over OSU and/or a bowl win would take some of that off), but there will be no pressure on them from within the athletic department until next year. This is the last year Hoke and his staff will be cut any slack, though...anything less than a 10 win season and a division championship in 2014, and he may be gone. We're not going to waste 5 or 6 years on a perennial 9-3 coach, or on a guy who can't turn top recruits into a top 10 team.
DeleteI see this comment about Borges being the OC/QB coach all the time. Of the top ten teams in the country, eight of them have Offensive Coordinators who double as the QB coach. That's really not an issue at all.
DeleteI don't have a problem with a coordinator doubling as a position coach; I just question whether Borges is actually a good QB coach or not.
DeleteBorges as a QB coach: Player Development
DeleteWe can look at what he did with Cade McNown at UCLA. He took him from the worst in the PAC 10 in passer efficiency, and then the next year he lead the NCAA.
We can look at what he was doing with Denard Robinson, who got progressively worse from sophomore (150 RAT) to junior (140 RAT) to senior year (127 RAT). Is this on Borges? Was Borges having Denard try to make too many NFL type throws because that's what Borges likes in his gameplan, which will never be a part of Denard's repertoire? I'm not entirely sure.
He's developed a few QBs into 1st round draft picks. Hopefully he still has it somewhere.
As a Michigan fan looking at his time here I'm not terribly happy with him, but I can't put all the blame on Borges because our roster was not incredibly talented or deep when Hoke and Co. arrived. Can't really design a gameplan when your OL is as porous as ours is this season. He's had some pretty successful QBs and offenses in the past, but during his tenure here he has yet to show he has what it takes to have us competing for a national championship.
I do believe 2014 will be better than 2013, and 2015 will be better than 2014. Until we get to that point though, it's going to be a little rocky with fans calling for the heads of Funk, Borges, and Hoke after every loss. We will see what happens, I'm trying to stay positive.
-JC
If I've said it once .....
ReplyDeleteThe Michigan State game is only about the hitting.
As it has always been, so it was Saturday and thus it will always be.
Despite all the talk, Hoke has yet to field a tough Michigan team. I don't think this is necessarily all Hoke's fault although ..... maybe. The thing to keep in mind always with this program this year is ..... young. We are hurt badly by the almost complete failure that was the classes of 2010 and 2011. 18 months or two years in a college strength program is huge. Even one year.
I look at my 22 year old son who was a soccer kid and compare him to to what he was at 18, 19 or even 20, ..... there is no comparison. He's added 25 to 30 lbs of gristle to a 5'10'' soccer kid frame and that's mostly on his own without much in the way of college level trainers as nobody give's much in the way of a a rat's patootie about college soccer anywhere around these parts. He wrecks a freshman thinking about taking him on shoulder to shoulder.
Fire Funk if you want as it is convenient. I might take a hard look at my strength staff as well, particularly since you have Barwiss just up the road.
Yeah, yeah, I know that ain't happening. But I frankly don't see how anyone could have expected much in the way of a different outcome this year on the road in the must win game of the decade so far for Sparty.
I agree to a certain extent. 2010 and 2011 classes were terrible, and I also have the perspective to know that the relative success of 2011 season rested on many seniors (many who were recruited by Carr) such as RVB, Mike Martin, Stephen Schilling, Dave Molk, Junior Hemingway, etc. Hoke shouldn't be fired at least until 2015. Michigan State game stung, but I will be content if we put on a hard fight the rest of the season, beating Neb, Iowa, and Northwestern. With that said, the coaching staff does appear to need some shake down. Funk's performance is unacceptable even with many freshmen on the roster. It just isn't. Negative yardage rushing? GTFO. People don't understand that even terrible teams usually don't end up with negative yardage. Borges should get another year if the team plays well rest of the season. Youth is a big issue, but it isn't everything.
DeleteThunder, Jim Brandstatter said that that Darrell Funk and Al Borges should each be given another year. What are your thoughts on that?
ReplyDeleteWhere did Brandstatter say that?
DeleteOn 1130 AM radio station I think is where he said it. He was asked the question, didn't come up with it on his own.
DeleteI bet Brandy will change his tune if they finish 7 - 5
DeleteI'm still undecided on Funk, but I do believe Borges should be given another year. I know Michigan didn't show it against Michigan State, but the offense is actually pretty damn productive. We scored 40 in our only other loss, set school records against Indiana, etc. I'm not sure that many other coordinators could have beaten that MSU defense with the guys Michigan has. Michigan's can't run the ball or pick up blitzes. Play calls, game plans, etc. don't matter if you can't block on the interior.
DeleteAgree that Borges doesn't need to be fired yet. He's had real good games and real bad games. Hasn't been consistent, but considering the personnel he got and where the program wants to be, some hiccups are expected. That said, I don't think he can really hang his hat on too much if making a case for keeping his job. It could go either way, but Hokes not going to fire him right now, so it's a bit silly to discuss.
DeleteMy guess has been that he is fired after 2014 under intense public pressure. This team is very likely to struggle even more on offense in 2014, IMO.
Then, in 2015, you'll get a new pro-style coordinator who will be pretty set for success with everyone returning. Lineups always look two years ahead, but Michigan will return everyone besides Gardner between 2014 and 2015 (seriously, the next best offensive player headed out is Paskorz.) Everyone always frets about QB, but in '15 Bellomy will be a SR, Morris a JR, and Speights a RS FR. We should be fine.
To me, this sets up to be a similar situation to what Mattison inherited. A crater from a production standpoint and a bunch of returning/maturing talent, plus some nice young pieces to mix in. I think having all those veteran TEs and OLmen in '15 will be very beneficial for a pro-style/powerman attack.
ReplyDeleteWe will beat the Huskers, I have yet to pick a game wrong all year.
Thunder, do you think this team will be much better next year? They return 15/22 starters on O and D.
ReplyDeleteMUCH better? No, not really. Will they be somewhat better? Probably. I think the overall offensive line will probably be a little better. Toussaint isn't a world beater, Washington isn't a great player, Thomas Gordon isn't a great player. I think Michigan will miss Jeremy Gallon, but Chesson is coming on, Amara Darboh should be back, and there are some freshmen coming in who could make an impact. The defense doesn't lose much at all.
DeleteI've yet to hear why the OL would possibly be better next year than this year. I heard the same thing last year and it made zero sense. If we aren't getting a lesson in how much experience matters this year...
DeleteI'll grant that Bosch-Glasgow-Kalis should be dramatically improved by next fall, but then you're trying to replace Lewan/Schofield with guys like Magnuson and Braden. It's going to be ugly. Even if you generously assume that 3 of the 4 freshman (Magnuson, Kalis, Bosch, Braden) make a leap to competency, you're still either throwing another noob out there or one of the recruits.
It's a very similar situation to this year where everyone went into the season saying Miller should be OK and boy oh boy the talent we have with big ol Kalis/Bryant/Glasgow bashing people.
I imagine we'll even hear the same old criticisms of outgoing seniors too. "Lewan was good, but didn't really improve much.", "Schofield was OK but probably played better at guard." etc.
This OL is going to be worse. Just as it was this year.
Our only hope is that the scheme/stragey is more coherent and the guys have at least some more clarity.
I think offensive tackle is easier for a young guy to play than guard/center. The loss of the tackles doesn't really concern me that much, and that's why. We should expect to see improvement from the guards and the center, and the step back from the tackles shouldn't be that huge. That's why I think the offensive line will be slightly improved.
DeleteWell, OK, that's a logical argument about tackle being easier...but hard for me to believe.
DeleteI imagine a massive dropoff from Schofield/Lewan to Braden/Magnuson. Have to consider that we have no idea if Braden can play at all (and the degree to which he is buried while we throw other tackles, true freshman, and walk-ons in at guard indicates it's unlikely.) Maybe Kalis can play tackle if Braden isn't ready but then you've got two position-change guys at tackle who are also still pretty young. Bad news.
It's one thing for Gardner right now, as he can spin away from the pressure he sees coming sometimes, but when it's an end screaming in off the blindside it's another story.
And, while I agree we SHOULD see improvement from the guards and center, we also should have seen improvement from our TEs this year, but Williams and Funchess look about the same and Butt has passed both as a 2-way TE.
Finally, we've repeatedly seen young players start at guard before being allowed to move to the outside. I don't know why you'd play Huyge at tackle and a freshman Schofield at guard if it's easier to break-in at tackle.
Not saying you're wrong, but I'm skeptical based on the circumstantial evidence that we're not going to badly miss two veteran tackles that are this good.
Also, if that was true, you'd think they'd put Schofield back at guard and let Braden/Magnuson/Kalis try RT.
DeleteI think you've suggested that idea, but obviously the coaches aren't thinking the same thing.
I think Schofield's ability to pull was probably a large determining factor in deciding whether to move Huyge or Schofield to guard.
DeleteRemember that Jordan Paskorz could return as a fifth year senior in 2014, and his broken hand has caused him to miss quite a bit of time so far this year. He was rumored to have been Michigan's best blocking TE before the injury, and he seems to have done a decent job when he's been in there.
You're seriously bringing up Paskorz? The guy you said in the preseason "I think it's fairly safe to say that he's just not a Michigan-caliber athlete.... probably not a long-term solution at the position, and I would not be surprised if he departs after the 2013 season."
DeleteI mean, OK, preseason predictions aren't easy, but he's also behind 3 other guys, none of which have shown they can block real well. He's a senior and they're all soph or freshman.
He might be useful depth, but he's not going to be an impact player.
I know what I said, but he never sniffed the field (except against UMass) before this year. All I'm relaying is rumors I've heard and what I've seen from him in limited action this year. I'm not saying he's All-Big Ten-caliber or even a surefire starter, but he's got a couple things going in his favor. If Borges is going to insist on running two tight ends out there, Paskorz might not be a bad option as the blocking guy.
DeleteI do agree with that, but Williams is clearly ahead of Paskorz. He was last year, was in the preseason, and injury or not, is now. - It's not because of pass catching. It will probably stay so.
DeleteI think, more likely, you'll see someone like Hill or Shallman break into the rotation at H-back and see less of the 2-TE stuff and more from the FB/H-back.
I think with Butt/Williams/Funchess, you'll have the majority of our TE snaps spoken for next year. Especially if you hope (again) that they get bigger and better at blocking. Even though Funchess still sucks at it, he does look a little better than last year from what I can tell, and he is clearly a bit bigger. So that may help for next year.
Is there any way in the world this offensive line gets better before Ohio State?
ReplyDeleteSlight modification: will it get better enough to matter?
DeleteThe thing I don't like about these types of in-season questions is that it's completely relative. Yes, I absolutely think the offensive linemen will get better before the Ohio State game...but so will Ohio State's defensive linemen. What you're asking, really, is whether Michigan's offensive line will grow faster than Ohio State's defensive line, and that's really difficult to say. That depends upon if people stay healthy, if OSU stays healthy, etc. I think Michigan is going to struggle up front against most teams down the stretch, with the possible exception of Northwestern.
Delete