Northern Illinois 10, Michigan 63 - Post Game Thread

[WM Wolverine]

The cleaning house of the coaching staff was telling. Almost half the coaching staff is new.

[klondike]

I wouldn’t be shocked if we beat Rutgers. We still have a big recruiting/talent advantage, albeit with the vastly inferior coach.

Well, it's still September. Right. Please don't take our September's away. It's all we got.

[lineygoblue]

Enjoy the victories as they come, but don't throw the whole team under the bus if/when they lose. There's bound to be disappointments this season, but there's also going to be more good stuff.

Don't place unreasonable expectations on these guys.

[Cody_Russell]

Damn, excellent win.
I saw 1 or 2 highlights on Saturday. Finally able to catch up by watching the extended highlights video.

That Donovan Edwards big run late in the game. The patience to stop and go. Wow. Incredible.
Kareem Walker or Derrick Green (recent highly rated RB recruits) definitely couldn’t do that.

It’s a good sign to look like this early on. Reminiscent of when Harbaugh’s better M teams were blowing out lower competition.

A little cautiously optimistic, but let’s see what M does vs a supposedly tough Schiano Rutger team.

[Jeff Buchanan]

I'm all caught up with the current stories at mgo. There is some quality writing emerging there - not on the board. Pay no attention to that. The guy that did the last two UFRs didn't do the Offense v. NIU one. Seth did. It's detailed and my eyes hurt. Some important tid-bits I gained from a thorough read and watching video to illustrate points was worth it. First, Seth has retooled how he labels plays and is using this format: It's the first time I've been able to follow the blocking schemes on video.

First, this is complex run anchored offense that defies characterizations that suggest otherwise doing fly by hot takes. Armatures, and I am one of those, cannot understand how things work or don't without a road map like this. It's enlightening if you have the time and interest to go through it. A guide:

• Buck: Pin & Pull is now “Buck” because they’re really the same thing. That is when the frontside guard is one of the pullers.
• Power: If the backside guard pulls to the frontside it’s “Power.”
• Counter: If they pull to the backside it’s “Counter” regardless of backfield action (because Michigan often substitutes a false read for its counter step).
• Down _ is when they pull a frontside blocker as the kickout, e.g. Down G.
• Fold is a two-man combo where the player named folded around the guy inside him. If it’s not a G going around a T I’ll note the downblock then the pull-around.
• Trap is when the puller kicks an unblocked interior defender instead of the edge.

When two guys pull I’ll list the kickout blocker first.


Plays.PNG

• The pass game is integral to the overall success of the offense and in the few passing plays that we've seen these work when (1) McNamarra makes the right read, (2) there are no free rushers creating havoc and (3) the receivers run the right route with the right timing. This isn't a passing offense where the McNamarra runs around in the back-filed and he just puts the ball out there to whoever is open. That's kinda obvious but this part of the offense is way more complex and precise than I thought it was when the play is broken down.
• NIU is terrible on defense - probably will end up in the 130 range. It explains why there were big runs of of 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 16, 24, 24, 26, 51, and 58. That's a fuck-ton of explosiveness.
• Still, as Seth points out, those plays happened because the execution of blocking assignments were about as good as he's seen during the Harbaugh era.
• This win was a curb stomping of a really bad team. Take what you will from it. I took advancing my ability to understand how the run plays unfold. It's really too bad that CFB isn't broadcast and directed by anyone who has a clue of how to produce a telecast where where we don't see post play close-ups of players faces or the cheerleaders or some morons in the stands. The NFL has terrific game broadcast with analysis following plays when time allows - camera behind the QB with diagrams on a telestrater showing key elements of why the play worked.

Oh well.

[lineygoblue]

It's really too bad that CFB isn't broadcast and directed by anyone who has a clue of how to produce a telecast where where we don't see post play close-ups of players faces or the cheerleaders or some morons in the stands.

I laugh at how they do this in SEC night games. The camera people focus on the 30-40 rows of pom pom girls sitting in front of the marching bands after every play. They don't give a crap that a really good RB just gave an impression of being the next Earl Campbell. What's important to them is to show the cheering painted faces and bouncing boobs in the stands.

That's college football.

[THE_WIZARD_]

I like bouncing boobs.

And tractors.

[Mike]

Scoff at that SEC eye candy at your own peril.

One of the best lines I’ve ever heard was from a Bama fan at a tailgate a few years ago: “Alabama and Ole Miss are the only schools in the country that will redshirt Miss America.”

[Tom W]

Those 'Bama fans were hysterical. Who knew that "Auburn" is an acronym for "Alabama usually beats us 'round November"?

This is one of the (albeit minor) reasons why we need home and homes with SEC teams.

[Mike]

Ha! I forgot about that one.

[lineygoblue]

Hopefully, the new super conferences will require intersectional play where teams will have to play tough road opponents in order to qualify for the playoffs.

Anyone that would schedule The Citadel or Duquesne (or the like) should receive a deduction of playoff points.

[THE_WIZARD_]

...or Mercer...

[Tom W]

But make sure that Delaware State still gets to bring it's halftime show some place.

[Mike]

If you do play Mercer and fail to lay half a hundred on them it should result in a two-year disqualification from playoff consideration. Just a thought...

OMG, that Delaware State halftime show. One of the great moments in Michigan Stadium history. I was way down in the south end zone for that one. Like two rows off the field. Simply amazing.

[lineygoblue]

I was impressed with the Delaware State band as well. Especially when it was their turn to take the field in the pre-game, and their band major went out and stood on the Block M ON ONE FOOT for about 5 minutes, .. like he was frozen in time. They put on a great show. At times, they were louder than M's band.