Mr All Turk: Van Hoose
All Turk Awards: Van Hoose, Godwin, Harris, Henry, Gibson
Head Coach: Grade D
It seems to me that Fitz stopped believing, in the first half with 2 minutes to go. Game was over at that point.
Harbough outcoached him really bad though, but Jim is one of the best coaches in the nation.
Why did Fitz have them walk out on the field like they were going to a funeral, instead of run on the field to start the game? Why pull all of your starters with 8 minutes to go? OTOH, Harbaugh plays football for 60 minutes because IT MATTERS. Pat, how did you like Harbaugh leaving his starters in there with 2 minutes to go to shut you out? How did you like him sticking it to you with 2 minutes to go by passing in the redzone? That's the difference between the best coach in the BIG and a decent coach in you. Never let your players feel beaten, bro. Play 60 minutes. If you are ahead then you kick them while they are down like Harbaugh did to you today even with a couple minutes to go. When you are down by alot and aren't going to win, then KEEP playing even if you look like Rocky. Go to the last bell. I expect Harbaugh, the fans, and the team playing for the shutout, but I didn't expect you to pull starters with 8 minutes to go. That's a mental jab at our players being shutout C'monnnnnnnn Mannnnnn. Play the full 60 minutes whether you are winning or losing. Geez!
In Harbaugh's press conference, they asked if him keeping the starters in for a shutout meant anything. His answer was yes. PLAY 60 MINUTES. Sometimes it isn't about winning or losing Pat.
And playing vanilla defense for the first two drives until you finally realized you had to play wildcat football is uncalled for. That said, Good luck against Iowa and let's smack them for 60 minutes, please. Win or lose.
OC: McCall: Grade D-
Not sure why we consistently tried to test the far outside with options that went nowhere but we did it repeatedly, in the first half, and it really set our offense back.
Not moving the pocket, aka Iowa last year, was just poor coaching. Not sure about the routes but we aren't giving Thorson a chance when only one wide out goes out [Vitale] on a crucial 3rd down, and we flood the flat with 3 wide outs on two other occasions? It didn't appear that nobody ran busted routes, but having 3 guys bump into eachother twice at about 8 yards downfield isn't going to fool anyone. At any rate....
DC: Doc: Grade C+
I was very disappointed that we didn't come out aggressive game plan, but decided to play straight up vanilla defense with the front 4 until you finally figured this out after Michigan's second possession. Also puzzled why Ifeadi was not a part of the game plan???? WTH, Doc???
Your plan got us in a big hole as Michigan just rammed it down our throats on its first two drives. We stood there like statues, and the QB pretty much had it made.
That said, I was glad you adjusted and mixed it up, upfront, bringing heat. Then playing Ifeadi the whole second half. The result, after your adjustment was excellent. 5 punts and one FG. And your first team defense kept Michigan out of the endzone for the last 48 minutes! Bravo! The problem was that, for some unknown reason, for the first time of the year, you decided to open up the game with vanilla.
Remember, pedal to the metal the whole game because the offense isn't going to do it. The players didn't execute that well in the first quarter but our first string D shut down the Michigan offense over the last 48 minutes with 5 punts and one FG. I know the BTN announcers praised the Michigan running game and offense but after the first quarter, what did they do against our first string defense? Nothing. 5 punts and one FG.
Even after some very poor punting, our defense stopped them the last 48 minutes with 5 punts and a FG. I know that doesn't mean a win, but I enjoyed our players playing hard and keeping Michigan out of the endzone after the first 11:40 of the game. I think they will settle down quicker from here on out.
OL: Grade D+
No help from McCall but still exposed as a weak unit once behind.
WR: Grade D-
Again, once we got behind, this unit got exposed as a weakness. McHugh simply doesn't make plays in big games, as he was personally responsible for that pick 6 which was ripped out of his hands after a good throw by THorson. And had a chance at another one across the middle. Gotta fight for those balls, son.
Christian Jones dropped two at a time when he had to make plays in a game. Dickerson had alligator arms on one.
RB: Grade C
No holes, and a very vanilla offense. Yet someone still has to make a play.
QB: Grade C
I thought Thorson played decent. The score didn't reflect but he didn't get any help from his receivers or his OC. I know some will say I'm nuts after this shutout but I'm not really disappointed in his play that much. Yes, he has to learn to make plays but I'm really not down on him. He throws the ball good, just needs to up his game, which he will. And go to Big2go.com and review some of those 3rd down plays where McCall insisted on flooding a zone with 3 wideouts. Doesn't work and the wide outs are so close to eachother that it's like someone blew a route. But it happened on numerous occasions which suggest that was part of the plan.
The limit will be capped on any QB with McCall under such silly routes or offensive schemes.
Thorson does needs serious work on options, I will say that. Doesn't seem like McCall is teaching him on that but once he learns, he may be able to use his feet for good yards. It appears as if he simply doesn't want to be tackled but I know that's not the case. He has wheels so not sure what the problem is???
DL: Grade B-
I thought Gibson, Lancaster and Ifeadi played well.
LB: Grade C+
Smith played well. Disappointed in Walker, bigtime. A few plays that he seemed to take off. One third down and 3, and an OL came on him, and he just sorta loafed and backed off instead of taking the blocker on or doing much of anything. C'mon maaaannnnn. That was 3rd down AWalk!!! I love ya bro but play every play!!!!!
DB: Grade B+
This group played rather well and prevented a lot of big plays.
Special Teams: F
Poor FG attempt with a bad hold, kickoff team had 11 guys on one side of the field and put us in a serious bind after the first play. Punt team was awful. I can throw the ball farther than our punter punted. We can play better. This is one game that I agree with Fitz that we have to flush.
All Turk Awards: Van Hoose, Godwin, Harris, Henry, Gibson
Head Coach: Grade D
It seems to me that Fitz stopped believing, in the first half with 2 minutes to go. Game was over at that point.
Harbough outcoached him really bad though, but Jim is one of the best coaches in the nation.
Why did Fitz have them walk out on the field like they were going to a funeral, instead of run on the field to start the game? Why pull all of your starters with 8 minutes to go? OTOH, Harbaugh plays football for 60 minutes because IT MATTERS. Pat, how did you like Harbaugh leaving his starters in there with 2 minutes to go to shut you out? How did you like him sticking it to you with 2 minutes to go by passing in the redzone? That's the difference between the best coach in the BIG and a decent coach in you. Never let your players feel beaten, bro. Play 60 minutes. If you are ahead then you kick them while they are down like Harbaugh did to you today even with a couple minutes to go. When you are down by alot and aren't going to win, then KEEP playing even if you look like Rocky. Go to the last bell. I expect Harbaugh, the fans, and the team playing for the shutout, but I didn't expect you to pull starters with 8 minutes to go. That's a mental jab at our players being shutout C'monnnnnnnn Mannnnnn. Play the full 60 minutes whether you are winning or losing. Geez!
In Harbaugh's press conference, they asked if him keeping the starters in for a shutout meant anything. His answer was yes. PLAY 60 MINUTES. Sometimes it isn't about winning or losing Pat.
And playing vanilla defense for the first two drives until you finally realized you had to play wildcat football is uncalled for. That said, Good luck against Iowa and let's smack them for 60 minutes, please. Win or lose.
OC: McCall: Grade D-
Not sure why we consistently tried to test the far outside with options that went nowhere but we did it repeatedly, in the first half, and it really set our offense back.
Not moving the pocket, aka Iowa last year, was just poor coaching. Not sure about the routes but we aren't giving Thorson a chance when only one wide out goes out [Vitale] on a crucial 3rd down, and we flood the flat with 3 wide outs on two other occasions? It didn't appear that nobody ran busted routes, but having 3 guys bump into eachother twice at about 8 yards downfield isn't going to fool anyone. At any rate....
DC: Doc: Grade C+
I was very disappointed that we didn't come out aggressive game plan, but decided to play straight up vanilla defense with the front 4 until you finally figured this out after Michigan's second possession. Also puzzled why Ifeadi was not a part of the game plan???? WTH, Doc???
Your plan got us in a big hole as Michigan just rammed it down our throats on its first two drives. We stood there like statues, and the QB pretty much had it made.
That said, I was glad you adjusted and mixed it up, upfront, bringing heat. Then playing Ifeadi the whole second half. The result, after your adjustment was excellent. 5 punts and one FG. And your first team defense kept Michigan out of the endzone for the last 48 minutes! Bravo! The problem was that, for some unknown reason, for the first time of the year, you decided to open up the game with vanilla.
Remember, pedal to the metal the whole game because the offense isn't going to do it. The players didn't execute that well in the first quarter but our first string D shut down the Michigan offense over the last 48 minutes with 5 punts and one FG. I know the BTN announcers praised the Michigan running game and offense but after the first quarter, what did they do against our first string defense? Nothing. 5 punts and one FG.
Even after some very poor punting, our defense stopped them the last 48 minutes with 5 punts and a FG. I know that doesn't mean a win, but I enjoyed our players playing hard and keeping Michigan out of the endzone after the first 11:40 of the game. I think they will settle down quicker from here on out.
OL: Grade D+
No help from McCall but still exposed as a weak unit once behind.
WR: Grade D-
Again, once we got behind, this unit got exposed as a weakness. McHugh simply doesn't make plays in big games, as he was personally responsible for that pick 6 which was ripped out of his hands after a good throw by THorson. And had a chance at another one across the middle. Gotta fight for those balls, son.
Christian Jones dropped two at a time when he had to make plays in a game. Dickerson had alligator arms on one.
RB: Grade C
No holes, and a very vanilla offense. Yet someone still has to make a play.
QB: Grade C
I thought Thorson played decent. The score didn't reflect but he didn't get any help from his receivers or his OC. I know some will say I'm nuts after this shutout but I'm not really disappointed in his play that much. Yes, he has to learn to make plays but I'm really not down on him. He throws the ball good, just needs to up his game, which he will. And go to Big2go.com and review some of those 3rd down plays where McCall insisted on flooding a zone with 3 wideouts. Doesn't work and the wide outs are so close to eachother that it's like someone blew a route. But it happened on numerous occasions which suggest that was part of the plan.
The limit will be capped on any QB with McCall under such silly routes or offensive schemes.
Thorson does needs serious work on options, I will say that. Doesn't seem like McCall is teaching him on that but once he learns, he may be able to use his feet for good yards. It appears as if he simply doesn't want to be tackled but I know that's not the case. He has wheels so not sure what the problem is???
DL: Grade B-
I thought Gibson, Lancaster and Ifeadi played well.
LB: Grade C+
Smith played well. Disappointed in Walker, bigtime. A few plays that he seemed to take off. One third down and 3, and an OL came on him, and he just sorta loafed and backed off instead of taking the blocker on or doing much of anything. C'mon maaaannnnn. That was 3rd down AWalk!!! I love ya bro but play every play!!!!!
DB: Grade B+
This group played rather well and prevented a lot of big plays.
Special Teams: F
Poor FG attempt with a bad hold, kickoff team had 11 guys on one side of the field and put us in a serious bind after the first play. Punt team was awful. I can throw the ball farther than our punter punted. We can play better. This is one game that I agree with Fitz that we have to flush.
