tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post1247252268071206326..comments2024-03-28T20:09:43.455-04:00Comments on Touch the Banner: Notre Dame 13, Michigan 6Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-35805397873769345662012-09-25T21:40:31.319-04:002012-09-25T21:40:31.319-04:00That is true that hail-marys and jump balls are di...That is true that hail-marys and jump balls are different, but they're both about making the ball catchable. If a QB does that, he has done his job -- but I don't see anyone giving Denard credit for all those Hemingway balls last year. Hemingway, of course, has the harder job in that case, but Denard did his part too.<br /><br />'You shouldn't have to" simplify the offense is a debatable point. For most senior QBs that have spent 4 or 5 years in the same system that might be true, but most senior QBs can't run like Denard. If Borges is going stubbornly run an offense that requires a precision passer, he might as well bench Denard (which he might have done if a viable alternative was there). What's easy to defend is uncatchable passes. It's easy for a fan to sit say Denard should be more accurate, but we've seen time and time again that when he is pressured he is frequently not. You can say 'he should be' and just keep doing what you're doing or adjust. Make it easier on him, reduce the long-developing stuff, make things quicker and easier. Don't put Denard in a position where his weaknesses are most exposed.<br /><br />Good defenses stop good offenses - that's why they're good defenses. Even the Oregon Duck machine got grounded to a halt against LSU. Rodriguez's offense bogged down in large part because it was made up of freshman and sophomores on the OL. The defense is another story but the offense's trajectory was extremely strong.Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-60031945046130078762012-09-25T13:19:18.641-04:002012-09-25T13:19:18.641-04:00There's a difference between a Hail Mary and a...There's a difference between a Hail Mary and a jump ball. The jump balls to Hemingway last season weren't Hail Marys. They were designed to get the ball to Hemingway, and he was able to outleap the defenders. But there's nobody on the team this year who can consistently make those catches.<br /><br />The Hail Mary on Saturday was a Hail Mary. And it was a poorly thrown one.<br /><br />You can simply the offense for Denard, but a) you shouldn't have to and b) it's simple to defend. Rodriguez simplified the offense for Denard, and the team bogged down when it played talented defenses. Denard makes bad throws on plays that are simple and complicated alike. The INT thrown past Gardner on Saturday was a simple throw. So was the Hail Mary. There's not much that's easier than hitting a guy on a slant when the throwing lane is unimpeded by a linebacker or tight corner coverage, but that's exactly what happened.<br /><br />Thanks for the compliments. I'm glad that the site is getting some significant traffic/comments. I'll think about changing the comment format, but I don't want to discourage people from commenting...Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-39950611740791245562012-09-25T13:12:31.276-04:002012-09-25T13:12:31.276-04:00I don't think I'm being too harsh on the d...I don't think I'm being too harsh on the defense. I don't think the defense is terrible; I don't think it's great. Those guys are just okay as a unit. The linebackers and safeties are pretty good; the defensive line played fairly well but didn't make many plays; and the cornerbacks are average at best. I hope the defense for the rest of 2012 looks like it did on Saturday, but nobody's making sacks, forcing turnovers, etc.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-6204592386640698502012-09-25T12:32:55.810-04:002012-09-25T12:32:55.810-04:00All the interceptions came in the 1st half - and M...All the interceptions came in the 1st half - and Michigan ran 66 offensive plays to ND's 50 in the game. Blaming Denard's INTs for the defenses 4th quarter letup is some extremely lazy and thoughtless cliche deployment.Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-84882011871304454242012-09-24T20:46:15.843-04:002012-09-24T20:46:15.843-04:00Magnus I think you are being a bit tough on the de...Magnus I think you are being a bit tough on the defense. Sure, they were helped by poor passing by Golson, but they held up well against the run. Beyond that, I think a big reason they folded down the stretch is that they were on the field so much (it happens when your quarterback throws to the wrong team 4 times). It seemed like they were on the field forever in the first half.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-18100941947508653562012-09-24T15:11:09.759-04:002012-09-24T15:11:09.759-04:00Wow - 48 comments. Credit to you Thunder for buil...Wow - 48 comments. Credit to you Thunder for building up the blog with consistently good content. Have you thought about removing the option of "anon" posts - it's hard to have a coherent dialogue when there are 20 comments from various people with that same (non)name. It takes 2 seconds to write in a name/alias.<br /><br />I agree with much/most of the analysis, but criticizing hail mary/jump balls always bugs me. Good or bad you're basically tossing the ball up in the air and hoping. There isn't much skill involved - it's luck. Knocking a guy for hail mary's is pretty silly. If you're going to give Hemingway all the credit for catching jump balls in the past...have it both ways. Either give the passer a, um, pass or don't. But if you're going to criticize poorly thrown hail mary's than you have to also credit well thrown ones and that's something you have clearly NOT done in the past. True or not, it seems like a cheap shot, IMO.<br /><br />Having freshman safeties is bad - totally agree with that. That's why I think, as bad as Greg Robinson was - he wasn't as bad as Michigan fans make him out to be. With the personnel he had, he was damned no matter what. He still sucks though.<br /><br />In one of the other comments you asked "How exactly does a good offensive coordinator adapt to having a quarterback who can't throw the ball accurately, take sacks when necessary, or throw away the football?" The answer is by a) throwing less and b) throwing more simply. It's pretty obvious right? He's not a guy who should be working through intricate route schemes or shuffling through reads/and progressions. Short throws, easy throws, quick throws. Denard has a good arm, but is susceptible to pressure. Give him easy stuff and don't make him run plays that take a long time to develop.<br /><br />The half-back pass wasn't a terrible play call. It wasn't good, but it should/could have worked if Smith wasn't pressured so badly. Can't expect a RB to make great passing decisions though. (insert joke about Denard being a RB.) If it works everyone is happy though and the guy was open - Smith just didn't throw it deep enough and made a terrible decision that proved very costly.<br /><br />Taylor was beat on his INT play - it was just an awful throw. One of those things where the guy just got lucky to be at the right place when the opposition messes up.Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-72188808208159777652012-09-24T14:55:16.259-04:002012-09-24T14:55:16.259-04:00The other problem with that play was that we had n...The other problem with that play was that we had no safety help because it was only 3rd and 4 and we had to be prepared for a possible run. We really needed to be more stout on 1st and 2nd down against the run and get them in a more obvious passing situation.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14347560939691337675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-53401944590951921552012-09-24T14:49:45.863-04:002012-09-24T14:49:45.863-04:00I love Denard and all but man, why can't he le...I love Denard and all but man, why can't he learn to just throw it away (or better yet, scramble) when his receivers aren't open? I just don't understand why that part of the game is so hard for him. Either the guy's open or he isn't. If he's not, run or throw it out of bounds. The coaches have to be stressing this to him, right?Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14347560939691337675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-20817811753865230132012-09-24T12:21:19.977-04:002012-09-24T12:21:19.977-04:00I can't say that I noticed him a lot, outside ...I can't say that I noticed him a lot, outside of the interception (which was good) and the pass interference (which was bad). Notre Dame took more advantage of Floyd in the passing game, I think, but I'm not sure if that's because Taylor had good coverage or if the plays were just designed to go Floyd's way.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-2052949032774567792012-09-24T12:14:02.041-04:002012-09-24T12:14:02.041-04:00What did you think of Raymon Taylor's play?What did you think of Raymon Taylor's play? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-980920656763346682012-09-24T08:00:30.720-04:002012-09-24T08:00:30.720-04:00Nobody. I'm realistic enough to know that the...Nobody. I'm realistic enough to know that there's nobody better on the roster right now, but his play is still frustrating. I don't want Denard Robinson benched, either, but that doesn't mean his play has been up to par.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-58537286548232883162012-09-24T07:25:34.354-04:002012-09-24T07:25:34.354-04:00Just curious Thunder. I know you are not JT Floyd ...Just curious Thunder. I know you are not JT Floyd fan. Who would you rather see start in his place?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-81511861627583298912012-09-23T23:07:26.080-04:002012-09-23T23:07:26.080-04:00People need to calm down. We will be just fine. Ev...People need to calm down. We will be just fine. Everyone knows we were the better team. Mistakes did kill us, otherwise we blow them out. The defense was amazing and I am very encouraged of the effort they put out. The big ten is terrible and we have a very good chance to win the big ten. Msu was overpowered by notre dame and struggled with eastern Michigan. OSU is ineligible this year in case some have forgotten. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-62561339797075005142012-09-23T22:47:13.535-04:002012-09-23T22:47:13.535-04:00Floyd had other issues in the game, too, with supp...Floyd had other issues in the game, too, with supporting the run and in coverage on other plays. He's the best Michigan has right now at the CB position (with Countess out), but that's not saying a whole lot.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-62767239540636042232012-09-23T22:31:39.839-04:002012-09-23T22:31:39.839-04:00The problem on that play was simple. Floyd missed ...The problem on that play was simple. Floyd missed his jam. Once he guessed wrong (he thought Eifert was running a quick inside route) and lost his balance, it was game over. I didn't think he played too bad outside of that, he isn't a great cover corner but he is good enough in my opinion. Space Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11525412240793969593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-45533624332240884712012-09-23T20:40:09.898-04:002012-09-23T20:40:09.898-04:00I think the winner of the U-M vs. MSU game will li...I think the winner of the U-M vs. MSU game will likely win the Big Ten. Wisconsin will probably pull things together, and I suppose a Purdue or Northwestern could conceivably win this year. At least we get the game at home.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-82081838634117808782012-09-23T19:20:44.364-04:002012-09-23T19:20:44.364-04:00I don't believe Ohio State is eligible.I don't believe Ohio State is eligible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-25418573353181143972012-09-23T18:15:27.010-04:002012-09-23T18:15:27.010-04:00While I like his site Ok and go there about every ...While I like his site Ok and go there about every third time I come here, I really don't give a rat's patootie what Brian thinks one way or the other.<br /><br />I'm sick to death of I formation football.<br /><br />I've seen enough to know, I've seen too much.Roanmanhttp://justthinking.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-14746169256335734532012-09-23T18:11:26.151-04:002012-09-23T18:11:26.151-04:00Agreed.
I thought they did a pretty nice job of k...Agreed.<br /><br />I thought they did a pretty nice job of keeping it in front of them mostly, creating piles and keeping linemen off our linebackers. I can live with that against Notre Dame who is running decent D1 lineman out onto the field.Roanmanhttp://justthinking.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-29341925500428989422012-09-23T16:09:13.152-04:002012-09-23T16:09:13.152-04:00Me stating that it was laughable to claim denard w...Me stating that it was laughable to claim denard was the best passer in the big ten and correlating it with the rest of the fan base explaining away all of his mistakes by blaming other people does not say anywhere that I hope denard has a bad game. I just call a spade a spade while everyone else calls it a rainbow and blames someone else for the issues. Nice try thoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-17105849634839013232012-09-23T15:40:56.252-04:002012-09-23T15:40:56.252-04:00Jesus folks, calm down. Because I laid some blame ...Jesus folks, calm down. Because I laid some blame at Borges' feet does not mean I lay all the blame at his feet. I think he could have called a better game for Denard in this game and in many games in the past. Its pretty commonly accepted, and by Borges himself, that he has not used Denard to the best of Denard's abilities in the past. And I question what that means going forward. I think that is legitimate. <br /><br />But make no mistake, Denard lost us this game. Make no mistake - Denard is playing out of position. Make no mistake - its been a mistake to play Denard at QB. Period. And it's a shame for the kid's future - he will be known as a mediocre to bad college QB while also a dynamic yardage machine, and a non-existant NFL QB. And I do lay some of the blame for that at the feet of both Borges and Hoke. They should have moved him to a different position, but its too late now. <br /><br />Here - I'll re-post what I posted over at annarbornews.com (under 'edjasbord'), that expresses my thoughts on Denard:<br /><br />Denard's is a sad tale to tell: A happy-go-lucky kid feverishly wanting something he will never get, the adults around him all doing their best to give urge him on just so they can selfishly feel good for making the kid smile, for getting some of his attention, for the kid liking them in return. But what the kid wants, and what he can get, are very different. It takes the unselfish, unwavering, and truly caring adults to make the tough decision for the kid - to point him to where he can achieve greatness. Sometimes limitations really are limitations, despite what the outliers and Hollywood lead us to believe. <br /><br />Denard will never be a good QB in college or, and especially, in the NFL. He can produce yards like crazy, but he has been in the wrong position doing so. And so he has suffered, as has his teammates and fans. He should have been moved to another position long ago where he could produce yards without all the negatives. And now its too late for him. And that's a very sad thing for such a good kid. And its the adults' fault.<br /><br />And guess who one of those adults was that told the kid he should not play QB? That's right, that coach down in Columbus, who recruited Denard for Florida. Hoke has failed him. But Denard sure does like Hoke.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-25512998703395752062012-09-23T15:20:42.605-04:002012-09-23T15:20:42.605-04:00That's just flat out wrong when they would sti...That's just flat out wrong when they would still have to drive the field for a winning touchdown, and then win in overtime as well. Not to mention that Eifert is 6 inches(!) taller than Floyd so even if he was blanketing him he has a distinct advantage. He would need safety help to even have a chance, which is why Notre Dame ran that play in the first place. You're using pre-existing bias against Floyd to shape your view. C'mon Magnus, you're better than that.Virginia Blueshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906908498473536705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-20396172568284439432012-09-23T14:43:14.226-04:002012-09-23T14:43:14.226-04:00I think Countess, Richardson, and Jourdan Lewis ar...I think Countess, Richardson, and Jourdan Lewis are going to be pretty good. Conley and Stribling have potential. Michigan should be pretty solid at corner in another year or two.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-10539871037594437572012-09-23T14:41:03.415-04:002012-09-23T14:41:03.415-04:00Other options would be Josh Furman and Delonte Hol...Other options would be Josh Furman and Delonte Hollowell. I'm not sure they would be any better, but at least they're not true freshmen.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-73299756778893507382012-09-23T14:39:46.982-04:002012-09-23T14:39:46.982-04:00The play didn't work. It got picked. Nobody ...The play didn't work. It got picked. Nobody picked up Manti Te'o, who forced the hurried pass. Nobody beat it into Smith's head that he shouldn't throw the pass if the guy is well covered and/or if he's hurried. And while Dileo was open for an accurate pass, he wasn't THAT wide open that it's a gimme for a running back.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.com