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This could go in the Minnesota post game thread or here. I chose here because one of my favorite mgo writers, bronxblue, does a Best and Worst recap every post game and what he is observing in his post Minnesota game Best and Worst has a significant impact on M's first road game v. Huskies. Link below if you want to read the whole thing.
Bronxblue observes that what happens to M in the second halves of the USC and Gopher games demonstrates a trend or pattern. It's poor down to down efficiency or, M can't sustain drives when it isn't getting a short field. M's starting field position was their own 43 yard line in the first half v. Minnesota owing to turnovers generated by the D. It was the 23 yard line in the 2nd half. It's pretty clear that both M's play-calling and execution - mostly execution by Orji - led to punts with a quick return of defense to the field. That in turn wore down the D allowing Mini to score 21 points in the 4th.......and yes, I already mentioned this, injuries to key players on both sides of the ball exacted a price. Bronxblue:
A week after Stewart earned player-of-the-week honors by the conference after demolishing USC's various tackles, he wasn't available to harass a Minnesota team that threw the ball 40 times. Yes, Michigan did well enough harassing Brosmer but the line looking a step slow as the game carried on definitely wasn't helped by missing Stewart and the snaps he occupied. The offensive line has been, charitably, "uneven" all year but they played the Gophers with Crippen out and Guidice hobbled by a lower leg injury, then saw Myles Hinton, their best lineman, also head to the locker room with a back injury. None of these are knockout blows but take enough body shots and a team that already has less margin for error than the past couple of squads is going to stumble and falter.
Bronxblue also took shots at Orji - deserved in my mind as well - asking why is Orji still #1 QB? He can't see the field and connect with wide open receivers. He has not changed the dynamic of M's offense at all - he's just not a great runner and regularly misses read option and RPO plays when Campbell calls them. Bronxblue thinks Davis Warren should return as Orgi is adding nothing to M's offense. Harsh but I tend to agree.
Bronxblue observes that what happens to M in the second halves of the USC and Gopher games demonstrates a trend or pattern. It's poor down to down efficiency or, M can't sustain drives when it isn't getting a short field. M's starting field position was their own 43 yard line in the first half v. Minnesota owing to turnovers generated by the D. It was the 23 yard line in the 2nd half. It's pretty clear that both M's play-calling and execution - mostly execution by Orji - led to punts with a quick return of defense to the field. That in turn wore down the D allowing Mini to score 21 points in the 4th.......and yes, I already mentioned this, injuries to key players on both sides of the ball exacted a price. Bronxblue:
A week after Stewart earned player-of-the-week honors by the conference after demolishing USC's various tackles, he wasn't available to harass a Minnesota team that threw the ball 40 times. Yes, Michigan did well enough harassing Brosmer but the line looking a step slow as the game carried on definitely wasn't helped by missing Stewart and the snaps he occupied. The offensive line has been, charitably, "uneven" all year but they played the Gophers with Crippen out and Guidice hobbled by a lower leg injury, then saw Myles Hinton, their best lineman, also head to the locker room with a back injury. None of these are knockout blows but take enough body shots and a team that already has less margin for error than the past couple of squads is going to stumble and falter.
Bronxblue also took shots at Orji - deserved in my mind as well - asking why is Orji still #1 QB? He can't see the field and connect with wide open receivers. He has not changed the dynamic of M's offense at all - he's just not a great runner and regularly misses read option and RPO plays when Campbell calls them. Bronxblue thinks Davis Warren should return as Orgi is adding nothing to M's offense. Harsh but I tend to agree.
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