I didn't watch the game today, as I headed down to the Grove for the Ole Miss/Georgia game. Had a great time. Enjoyed seeing the score of our game flash on the scoreboard, especially the halftime score of 21-0.
Since I didn't see the game, I'm posting Mitch Albom's analysis from Freep.com. I agree almost wholeheartedly (my biggest concerns highlighted in red):
'Brady Hoke crossed the field, hugged the man who took over his old job, greeted a few players who used to play for him, then headed down the tunnel.
Good-bye to the past.
Those warm moments with his former San Diego State crew symbolized the end of whoever Brady Hoke used to be and the clarion call for who he is now. His Wolverines are undefeated, but their nonconference schedule is done, the lightweight teams have been vanquished, and from this point on, everything counts a bit more.
Or a lot more.
Even his players know it.
“We want to be Big Ten champions,” said senior defensive tackle Ryan Van Bergen after the 28-7 win. “We haven’t had a good record in the Big Ten — anybody on this team — since we’ve been on it. It’s a big thing for us.”
It’s a big thing for the fans. And if Hoke is true to his Bo Schembechler/Gary Moeller/Lloyd Carr roots, it’s the biggest thing for him.
So where — at 4-0 and ranked in the top 25 — does this Michigan team really stand?
Which brings us to the defense in general. How good is it? It gave up one touchdown to SDSU, yet the Aztecs were in Michigan territory 11 times. It gave up a lone field goal to Eastern Michigan, yet let the Eagles hang around longer than they should have. It beat Notre Dame with five turnovers, but allowed the Irish over 500 yards of offense.
You tell me. Is it bend-but-don’t-break, or has it not been bent by a tough enough opponent? Have the Wolverines just been lucky with fumbles and interceptions, or is it a big play mindset?
“I think we would all like to be that kind of defense … punching it out, ripping it out … I don’t think that’s a bad thing,” Hoke said. “I don’t know if it’s such a good thing that, field possession battle, for a good point of this game, we were getting our tails kicked.”
In other words, the defense needs to exit faster. The Wolverines are undefeated, but the time of possession is virtually equal to their four beaten opponents.
We know Robinson is the best running back on the team. And we know every time he has a passing play, you flip a coin and pray. He is capable of accurate delivery — if he slows down, plants and is mechanically sound. He is also capable of throwing behind, over or into traffic for his receivers — which he did several times Saturday.
Let’s be honest. The defenses he has faced in the first four games are not in a league with the Big Ten elite, yet Robinson has six interceptions and a less than 50% completion rate. Neither is a confidence builder. "There were some throws that I just forced,” Robinson admitted after the game. “I should have taken my time and done what Coach taught me.”
On the other hand, the Wolverines win. They have a way. Their timing is good, their big-play mentality (on both sides) is good, and Hoke observed that “they really like each other.” Don’t downplay that. Chemistry is a big deal, especially at a college level — even though it’s true that most teams like each other more when they haven’t lost a game.
So where is this U-M squad? It is as good as it could hope to be with October looming. It has avoided upsets, it beat one severe opponent, it has shown flashes of brilliance and a taste for the big play.
It also hasn’t played a road game or a team currently in the top 25.
Next week will be different. Next week is conference play. And Hoke, who was greeted by a San Diego writer with the joking comment, “Nice place you got here” is now fully and completely maize and blue, his past on an airplane home, his present about to be measured on a big — and Big Ten — scale.'
Mike again: We won't really know how good we are until we play Michigan State. We should beat the Golphers and the Wildcats. After that, every game is up in the air.
Still...
Good-bye to the past.
Those warm moments with his former San Diego State crew symbolized the end of whoever Brady Hoke used to be and the clarion call for who he is now. His Wolverines are undefeated, but their nonconference schedule is done, the lightweight teams have been vanquished, and from this point on, everything counts a bit more.
Or a lot more.
Even his players know it.
“We want to be Big Ten champions,” said senior defensive tackle Ryan Van Bergen after the 28-7 win. “We haven’t had a good record in the Big Ten — anybody on this team — since we’ve been on it. It’s a big thing for us.”
It’s a big thing for the fans. And if Hoke is true to his Bo Schembechler/Gary Moeller/Lloyd Carr roots, it’s the biggest thing for him.
So where — at 4-0 and ranked in the top 25 — does this Michigan team really stand?
Give and take
“Well, we can’t turn the ball over four times, I can tell you that,” Hoke said after Saturday’s lopsided yet sloppy victory. “…You can’t win your Pop Warner league if you turn it over four times.” On the other hand, Michigan forced three turnovers of its own — giving it 13 in four games.Which brings us to the defense in general. How good is it? It gave up one touchdown to SDSU, yet the Aztecs were in Michigan territory 11 times. It gave up a lone field goal to Eastern Michigan, yet let the Eagles hang around longer than they should have. It beat Notre Dame with five turnovers, but allowed the Irish over 500 yards of offense.
You tell me. Is it bend-but-don’t-break, or has it not been bent by a tough enough opponent? Have the Wolverines just been lucky with fumbles and interceptions, or is it a big play mindset?
“I think we would all like to be that kind of defense … punching it out, ripping it out … I don’t think that’s a bad thing,” Hoke said. “I don’t know if it’s such a good thing that, field possession battle, for a good point of this game, we were getting our tails kicked.”
In other words, the defense needs to exit faster. The Wolverines are undefeated, but the time of possession is virtually equal to their four beaten opponents.
Passing grades
And then there’s the offense, which in Ann Arbor is another word for “Denard Robinson.” The nation’s most explosive player once again hypnotized with his feet (200 yards rushing, three TDs) and mystified with his arm (8-17, two interceptions.)We know Robinson is the best running back on the team. And we know every time he has a passing play, you flip a coin and pray. He is capable of accurate delivery — if he slows down, plants and is mechanically sound. He is also capable of throwing behind, over or into traffic for his receivers — which he did several times Saturday.
Let’s be honest. The defenses he has faced in the first four games are not in a league with the Big Ten elite, yet Robinson has six interceptions and a less than 50% completion rate. Neither is a confidence builder. "There were some throws that I just forced,” Robinson admitted after the game. “I should have taken my time and done what Coach taught me.”
On the other hand, the Wolverines win. They have a way. Their timing is good, their big-play mentality (on both sides) is good, and Hoke observed that “they really like each other.” Don’t downplay that. Chemistry is a big deal, especially at a college level — even though it’s true that most teams like each other more when they haven’t lost a game.
So where is this U-M squad? It is as good as it could hope to be with October looming. It has avoided upsets, it beat one severe opponent, it has shown flashes of brilliance and a taste for the big play.
It also hasn’t played a road game or a team currently in the top 25.
Next week will be different. Next week is conference play. And Hoke, who was greeted by a San Diego writer with the joking comment, “Nice place you got here” is now fully and completely maize and blue, his past on an airplane home, his present about to be measured on a big — and Big Ten — scale.'
Mike again: We won't really know how good we are until we play Michigan State. We should beat the Golphers and the Wildcats. After that, every game is up in the air.
Still...
It's Good, To Be, a Michigan Wolverine.
Go Michigan, beat the Golphers.
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