What was the one area you were disappointed with...

[Reality Man]

1. ST's? No. Other than the flub it was really positive. Probably the reason UM shoulda coulda won. O'Neil was good. Allen was good. Peppers good until the one issue.

2. Defense was solid other than the one missed assignment. They played well against a very good MSU team.

3. Offense was about as expected. I wasn't surprised other than Peppers helping out.

All that being said, and this isn't a surprise, but the long ball is a problem. I think UM may not hit one long ball the entire season. That one catch was sorely underthrown. Rudock missing the long ball by so much is just tough to take because Chesson looks like he has been coached up and teams don't even play for that play.

Teams basically take their safeties up to play the run or intermediate passes. They basically give UM that play and they don't even come close to hitting some of them. Not blaming Rudock because he played well enough along with the other aspects to win the game. I am glad he is here but just frustrated that the guy for whatever reason just can't throw a 40 yard pass.

What is so hard. Every other qb in America throws the long ball better. Right when Rudock threw that long ball I knew he overthrew Chesson. He has the arm but I would suggest the staff basically practice a long ball throw 10 times a day.

The throws aren't even close. Is it a timing issue? What am I missing?


RM

 

[detroitjohn]

1. ST's? No. Other than the flub it was really positive. Probably the reason UM shoulda coulda won. O'Neil was good. Allen was good. Peppers good until the one issue.

2. Defense was solid other than the one missed assignment. They played well against a very good MSU team.

3. Offense was about as expected. I wasn't surprised other than Peppers helping out.

All that being said, and this isn't a surprise, but the long ball is a problem. I think UM may not hit one long ball the entire season. That one catch was sorely underthrown. Rudock missing the long ball by so much is just tough to take because Chesson looks like he has been coached up and teams don't even play for that play.

Teams basically take their safeties up to play the run or intermediate passes. They basically give UM that play and they don't even come close to hitting some of them. Not blaming Rudock because he played well enough along with the other aspects to win the game. I am glad he is here but just frustrated that the guy for whatever reason just can't throw a 40 yard pass.

What is so hard. Every other qb in America throws the long ball better. Right when Rudock threw that long ball I knew he overthrew Chesson. He has the arm but I would suggest the staff basically practice a long ball throw 10 times a day.

The throws aren't even close. Is it a timing issue? What am I missing?


RM

Spot on, between 1990-2007 when UM had a classic drop back QB Rudock would have been buried in the depth chart. There isn't another option ready on this team, that's coming but not this year. So we're stuck w a QB that cannot do an essential feature of a passing game.

However let me add one more and that is an overall team mental toughness. I am pretty sure with a little work I could point to every unit on this team in this game and come up with a glaring error they made that hurt the team badly. Why does that happen across the board if there are not remnants of the Devin Funchess, "winning is just one stat" syndrome hanging around like a virus. Mental weakness has to stop, it's a losers mentality that has been around for eight years, if you get punched you back down.

 

[Reality Man]

I would say Allen was mentally tough. Peppers is tough. I think OL has to still get better. I thought UM played their best game of the year today against a quality (formerly #2 ranked team and undefeated).

I am shocked at the last play, as we all are, but I did see UM cracking in that 4th quarter and that to me is a reflection of a lack of skill player talent. Peppers wasn't cracking on offense but Chesson and Rudock both 'cracked'. Higdon cracked although it's understandable.

This loss hurts (rival and BT competiveness) but it goes to show everyone that UM needs playmakers.

Think about this way...who were the playmakers on the field today. Primarily....Allen, O'Neil, Henry, Lewis and Peppers who had to play offense.

Ding ding ding. UM is trying to win with one hand tied behind their back.

 

[michigangoblue999]

It's pretty damn ridiculous that Michigan couldn't recruit a decent quarterback. I know they are coming, but that's 2-3 years away. How depressing.

 

[detroitjohn]

It's pretty damn ridiculous that Michigan couldn't recruit a decent quarterback. I know they are coming, but that's 2-3 years away. How depressing.

Harbaugh has brilliantly answered this problem by essentially taking us from two viable QBs when he arrived, Morris and Malzone, to having five viable QBs plus the two incoming recruits. Every confidence the QB situation gets better, when he trains a Henne or Brady-like prospect, this team will be very difficult to handle

 

[michigangoblue999]

Harbaugh has brilliantly answered this problem by essentially taking us from two viable QBs when he arrived, Morris and Malzone, to having five viable QBs plus the two incoming recruits. Every confidence the QB situation gets better, when he trains a Henne or Brady-like prospect, this team will be very difficult to handle

I don't want to wait any longer.