Denard or Devin?

I really enjoyed today's game. 

It brings up a question and an opportunity for the Wolverines.

Denard or Devin as the starting QB?

While I believe Denard to be the most electrifying college football player in Michigan History,  I think it's time to try something the against Northwestern and Iowa leading up to the Ohio State. 

Let's start Devin as the quarterback and install Denard as a scat back, running the ball and catching passes.  And running back kickoffs and maybe even punts. 

Not Devin and Denard alternating at quarterback.

Committing to Devin at QB and Denard as a Scatback.

Let's face it,  Denard has struggled this year.  Alabama, Notre Dame, and MSU taught the country how to contain the Denard Robinson offense, which isn't really an offense at all.  It's been a eclectic set of plays designed to put DRs talents to use.  It counts on his ability to break the big play. But it's not an offense that can be duplicated.  All you have to is look at Bellomy's effort against Nebraska. 

But today we had an offense.  One that was balanced.  One that couldn't be "keyed" on by the defense.  Granted it was against Minnesota.  But it was a system.  And our receivers were actually led on deep pass routes instead of playing outfield.

Devin isn't a better player or more exciting than Denard, but he proved that he might be a better quarterback. 

It would be a grand experiment that would be what is best for Michigan.  Nebraska is in the driver's seat to with the division.  So there really is nothing to lose.  We'll be a better team for the rest of the season.  It's sets up next year so we don't have to count on a freshman quarterback. It's good for Denard because he's not going to be playing QB in the NFL.  It will showcase his talents for how they will be used at the next level. 


Hoke and Borges, you got the guts to do this? 

It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine.
Go Michigan, beat the Wildcats. 

ND 13 M 6, an ugly game in all respects.

It was and ugly game.  Pretty much all the way around.  Not much excitement.  Boring.

Both defenses played well enough to win.  Our offense gave up 6 turnovers to ND's two.  Can't win a game that way when you stop your own defense. 

This is what is being proven to be true.

If you have a pretty good defense, and you force Michigan to win by throwing, you have a good chance of beating us.

We do not have an offensive system of any type, just a collection of plays that highlight the special skills of Denard Robinson.  Take away his run, as Alabama did, and ND did by having their All American Linebacker shadow him, and you can win the game. 

Notre Dame did exactly that. That's why they won. 

Our Defense played well. 

I'm thinking we need to install on offense. 

Still, It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine.
Go Michigan, Beat the Boilermakers.
Go Blue. 

Michigan 31 AirForce 26--We're a work in progress

A victory is a victory.  So it's better than a loss.  But that doesn't mean I have to like it.

The defense was on it's heals all game.  Maybe still feeling shell shock from the Alabama game, maybe having to play Air Force's flying circus of a offense, but they were on their heals all game long.  Except for maybe the end of the first two AF drives that ended up being FG attempts, and the last AF offensive series where they stepped up and stopped to save the victory.

As a result we saw lots of arm tackles or late tackles all games.

Denard played a Denard type of game.  Lots of spectacular running.  Some good passing.  Some crummy passing also.  Erratic in other words.  I suppose if our defense had played better I wouldn't be complaining about the offense.  We did score 31 points.  But our offense, even when scoring, was on and off the field.  Only one real sustained drive.

I've come to a conclusion about Denard.  He's as exciting of a college football player as I have ever seen.  But I think having him at quarterback is hindering our progress as a football team.  Our offense is a hodge podge of plays to take advantage of Denard's unique talents, but it isn't truly a system.  Some times it's a spread and the blocking that comes from that, some times is a pro style with the blocking that goes with that.  We jump back and forth from styles, and the line and team don't get enough reps at each to be great at either.

This is best demonstrated by the lack of production from our running backs?  Do we have any?  And do we know how to block for them?

Our receivers are strong.  Love this new freshman Tight End Devin Fuchness.  Gardner is turning into good receivier.  But I wonder what a game would be like if they didn't have to wait on the ball so much, or adjust to the throws so much.  Denard is a better passer this year, but he will never be a really good one.  He really only works as a passer on pass run option passes.  Just doesn't have the accuracy.

My son summed it up on the way home from the bar.  "I felt like we were watching the RichRod Wolverines from two years ago.

Still,

It's Good, To Be, a Michigan Wolverine
Go Michigan ,  Beat the Minutemen
Hail to the Victors Valiant. 

Michigan 14, Alabama 41: That was a beat down.

There is no other way to see it.  Bama kicked our a__.

Here's how they did it.

• Their offensive line dominated and shredded our defensive line and linebackers.  
• On defense, they dared Michigan to beat them throwing.  And we couldn't. 

I'm very surprised at how bad our defense played.  Not surprised at Alabama's offense.  They are a machine.  Good skill players supported by possibly the best offensive line in the country.   It doesn't seem like we were ready for the game.

Bama's defense took away our run.  Both our running backs and Denard Robinson, although he didn't attempt many runs.  They gave Denard the pass.  Our offensive line gave him time to make the throws.  He couldn't make them.  Bama covered our receivers pretty well, but not perfectly.  

Robinson is only effective as a passer, when he is also a threat as a runner.  So why didn't we run him more.  Not sure if this is a strategy problem, trying to make him run an offense that he can't run, or that Bama really took the run away from him.  I suspect it's a bit of both.  Either way Robinson needs to be running the ball to be effective as a passer.  And we miss Toussaint Fitz.

How good are we: not as good as our 11-2 record from last  year indicated.  We aren't fully recovered from the RR years yet.  Getting better. But not ready for prime time yet.

BTW:  The referees were abysmal last night.  Lot's of no-calls that were obvious calls.  Not an excuse for our loss.  But will we be facing poor officiating all year, because a number of college refs are filling the void during the NFL strike?  I hope not.

We have a tough schedule in front of us, and Alabama just demonstrated to the country our weaknesses as a team and how to beat us.  Lots of work ahead of us.  Time for the real coaching to begin.  Let's hope the old adage is true,  that a team improves the most between their first game and their second.

Still

It's great, to be, a Michigan Wolverine.
Go Michigan, beat the Falcons
Go Blue

Michigan vs. Alabama: It's going to be a good one.

I can hardly wait for Saturday's game.  It's going to be a good one.  Bloody, ugly football played by two tough teams.  Lots to consider in predicting the winner of this one.

• Michigan owns Saban:  But this is old news, from when Saban was the coach at Michigan State and got his hat handed to him repeated by the Wolverines.  Had to escape to LSU and SEC.  But he is a better coach than he was back then.  He's the best coach in College Football right now.
• Teams often have a letdown after a national championship.  Alabama is no different.  Might be looking past this game, on not have everything in sync, just yet.
• Michigan is a up and coming team.  Proud of last season, building on it, want to prove they can really play with the big boys and are a top power again.  Here's their chance.
• Saban coaches a football machine.  No matter how many players he's lost, he has more on the bench to replace them.  Defense first and a manageable offense second.
• The Denard  factor.  Just how much has he improved.  Will he be a more sound quarterback and still maintain the elusive genius he has as a runner.  
• Last time these two teams played, M won.  A couple of Bama fans owe me steak and a golf game on that game still.

Here's what will happen.  Tough back and forth game.  Alabama will probably win, but Michigan might just pull the game out ala Notre Dame last year.  We know how to do it.  But either way Alabama will walk away from game saying, "That was tough, that was painful, We've never been hit so hard before."

Don't have it in me to predict anything but a Michigan Victory.  So here goes.

Michigan 24, Alabam 21.

It's Great, To Be, A Michigan Wolverine!
Go Michigan, Beat the Tide!
Go Blue and Hail to the Victors

Ugly Victory in the Sugar Bowl ends a pretty sweet season.

If there is a will, there is a way. You need will to win ugly. Michigan had the will and not much else last night and won ugly. Sometimes ugly can be very sweet.

They doubled our offensive totals, yet we won.

They dominated the line on both sides of the ball.  Yet we won.

Their receivers outplayed our defensive backs.  Yet we won.

Denard played very unspectularly.  Yet we won.

The defense was on the field way too long.  But came up with just enough turnovers and stops to give our woeful offense chances to win the game.

What a sweet victory.  The Will to Win is back in Ann Arbor.  Can't wait until next season.  

Will write a season recap next week, when I come down from this euphoria.  In the meantime,  

It's good, to be, a Michigan Wolverine.

Go Michigan, Beat Alabama