M @ Minny - In Game, Post Game Discussion

[Rocky Bleier]

Seth says it well:

So much about Michigan has changed since then that it’s hard to remember this is still a team put together by Brady Hoke and held together by Harbaugh’s ingenuity. You can’t blame the old coach for everything, but Michigan’s recent history was all over this game.

[hack]

Talent descending into the Just-here-for-the-information version of himself, in which he ignores facts and makes assertions.

[stevemacie]

It is pretty clear on the last play that the center moves the ball forward at least one length of the football. Not sure the rule on that?

M would have not been offsides without that movement. Resident refs?

[iam416]

Hack:

Feel free to be specific what facts I'm ignoring. Or just remain a total douche. Since the former is impossible, your course is already charted.

[lineygoblue]

It is pretty clear on the last play that the center moves the ball forward at least one length of the football. Not sure the rule on that?

M would have not been offsides without that movement. Resident refs?

Its about the perceptible separation, Steve.

The Center is allowed to adjust the ball as he makes contact with it. Most centers tip the ball, or even move it forward an inch or two, when they tilt it. Its very common.

As a wing official in that situation, you've got to decide if you're going to flag the center for moving the ball, (illegal snap) the defense for being in the neutral zone, (offsides) or let the play go.

They chose to let the play go. IMO, rightly so.

Minnesota wasted too much time, called the wrong play, and Michigan stuffed it. That's football.

[iam416]

Minnesota wasted too much time, called the wrong play, and Michigan stuffed it. That's football.

Correct. M could have lined up in the Goofer backfield and it's still no excuse for how horribly they managed the final 19 seconds.

I mean, the clock management was so bad we're not even talking about their first play -- a play in which they motion to a fucking empty set shotgun thereby completely taking away the run option and telling M they were going to pass. From the half yardline. And that took 10 seconds to set up!

[The Oracle]

There was nothing to let go. The C moved the ball a foot forward.

[lineygoblue]

There was nothing to let go. The C moved the ball a foot forward.

So, if his actions caused Michigan to be in the neutral zone, do you flag him in that situation for an illegal snap?

Everyone was all keyed up for that play including the zebras. They let the play go. I think it would have been nit-picky to flag either team in that situation.

Sometimes the zebras actually make a decent call when they leave the flag in their pocket.

[The Oracle]

You tell me ref. I've seen it called maybe a time or 2 in my life. People(not just you) saying it evens it out or they let M be offside is implying we got away with something.

[Rocky Bleier]

Correct. M could have lined up in the Goofer backfield and it's still no excuse for how horribly they managed the final 19 seconds.

I mean, the clock management was so bad we're not even talking about their first play -- a play in which they motion to a fucking empty set shotgun thereby completely taking away the run option and telling M they were going to pass. From the half yardline. And that took 10 seconds to set up!

I thought Leidner was going to spread out the defense and run.

[Jeff Buchanan]

I was so uninspired by M's victory last night that I thought there is nothing much to write about but, reading the comments this morning, two things warrant a comment: The officiating and an observation on how team 136 is playing and will play the remainder of the season.

BT Officiating: my bitch isn't about its impact on M. You get into that and your homerism is going to get in the way. For me, it's about the lack of competent officiating in the conference and the widely disparate application of the rules by officials. What pisses me off the most about all this is the Big Ten Front Office is not likely to undertake the kind of things that will correct this both in the short and long term. So, we deal with it having a major impact, more so in this season than any I've seen in the past, on game outcomes.

Team 136: the reality is that this team lacks play makers on both sides of the ball with Peppers being the notable exception to that. Harbaugh brought in an average QB and an Australian punter to try to shore things up. The rest of M's decent performances have been a result of great position and unit coaching.

That has taken what was likely a 6 or 7 win team to an 8 win team with 4 games left and a chance to win everyone of them. But I see two series in the last two games that identify exactly what team 136's deficiencies are and what will likely be the cause of one, maybe two more losses (@IU and osu). Against MSU, the offense couldn't seal the win by getting one first down on their last series. Against Minnesota, 3rd and 17 and the defense lets Liedner make the first down then lead the offense to drive the field for what should have been the winning score.

I'll let the rest of the post game discussion alone.

[Pasadena Blue]

this game is a great reminder of why things are never as good or bad as they seem,

I think I have predicted regression to the mean for some time, this was probably it.

Having just re-watched the game, it's clear Minny exposed some weaknesses in M's D and took full advantage of knowing Ruddock is unable to get the ball deep (which is the real killer for a running game).

Minny also had several very fortunate things go their way ... M generally had good coverage and Leidner repeatedly under threw the ball that ended up working in Minny's favor. I also have never seen us miss so many good opportunities for INTs --- you would think they would eventually come --- hopefully when O-state rolls into town.

The biggest surprise and downer of the game was how poor our D-Line played. After being pretty dominant all year, they were really pedestrian, and in my view that was the main reason for the way the game went as it did.

I realize M's poor play delights Talent and the other Ohio cronies, and I am sure they are expecting a pretty easy win.

Lot of things for Harbaugh and staff to correct, and some (QB play) are probably not fixable.

I still enjoy watching this team play, which is something I haven't been able to say for years.

[paul daugherity]

This team isn't a championship team. There are a number of roster spots that need a big talent upgrade. This is not the year.

However, there are a number of positives, the biggest in my opinion is the mindset of the team. Under Hoke, there is no way UM wins last night. His teams always seemed to fold if things started going wrong. Harbaugh's team does not give up. That is a huge thing moving forward.

[WM Wolverine]

Leidner made a handful of really good passes that he normally doesn't complete.

[*JD*]

I enjoyed the last few seconds of last night a lot more than the last 10 seconds two week earlier.

Survive and move on...with the Jug coming back home!