I'm going to take a stab at a new feature here, something I'm calling "A Girl Scouts". I thought about calling it THE Girl Scouts, but worried about the little green gnomes suing me for infringement or some such nonsense. Plus, while I am no shrinking violet, I thought utilizing a determiner in reference to myself would be beyond the pale and just plain narcissistic. However, I am not so humble as to believe that I don't have something useful and prescient to say about upcoming games. SO. When I consider Saturday's game I believe that Michigan's success will hinge on 3 factors. 1) QB Play, 2) The Run Game, 3) The Fourth Quarter.QB PLAY:
Exhibit A---Brian Hoyer. Ok, no kidding, check out the guy's myspace page
He spells the name of his school's mascot with an "E". No, really. A 6'3", 215 lb. senior from Ohio, Hoyer has a 49% completion rate this season with a QB rating of 117.09. He has 6 aerial TDs and 4 air mails to the other team. And, he's been sacked 6 times. Here's my point: sack him, rush him, pressure him, bother molest and otherwise annoy him to no end and he will fold. He averages 2 rushes a game and basically rushes the other way: -14 against Florida Atlantic, -7 against Iowa, -15 for Northwestern and Ohio State each. The guy isn't going anywhere. Blitz him. Defend the screen pass. You heard it here first Shafer.Exhibit B ---Steven Threet. Couldn't find a myspace or facebook page for this 6'6" 230 lb. youngin' from Adrian, MI. Stevie has a 52% completion rate with 6 TDs, 3 INTs and 8 sacks. He put up 89 yards on the ground against Wisconsin and racked up 50 in Happy Valley. I call for more off tackle-misdirection rushing plays for him. They will result in big gains. Mark my words. Overall he has a QB rating of 107.81. Ugly, I know, but while he was
in the game against PSU he completed 69.2% of his passes. Throw quick up and outs and bubble screens to get a flow going, then stretch the field up top to Matthews. And throw the crossing route in the soft spot of the zone. I'm telling you, that's gonna be the honey hole. BUT: I've said it, Andy's said it and I'm gonna say it again without a solid game from Threet we are done. cooked. hapless. sans rudder. adios. Pray for healing of Threet's olecranon and/or ulnar nerve. Nay---have his mommy kiss his oww-y elbow all week long.THE RUN GAME:
Ok, stop the eye-rolling because of course Javon Ringer is the key here. The guy is a beast and a true double threat....14 rushing TDs this year so far, and an average of 6.3 yards per reception...but those big numbers came against the likes of Eastern Michigan,
Florida Atlantic, Notre Dame, Indiana, and Northwestern. The Buckeyes held him to 67 yards rushing and no TDs. Iowa kept him under a C-note, and Cal allowed only 81 yards for Javon on the ground. But, not so fast Sparty: Our defense has held opponents to an average of 3.3 yards/rush and 120.9 rushing yards per game. Javon, meet the linebackers. We've got to stop him on the line and defend the screen. And the best fun fact about Javon Ringer???? He's NEVER fumbled. Never, ever while a Sparty. Javon, meet the law of averages! Cough it up buddy!!!! Noo-NAN!!! uuuhhhDROPIT! I'm calling for one crucial fumble by Javon. How beautiful for him to drop the rock and cost his team the game. Yes, when Sparty is concerned I am a spiteful sadist. So sue me.THE FOURTH QUARTER:
First, we gotta play the whole damn game. It's deja-freakin'-Lloydball-vu-all-over-again. We've given up 57 points in the 4th quarter and have only scored 45 on our side. Not sure why the secret weapon hasn't really kicked in this season....but Sparty needs to fear the chocolate cow. I don't think that it's conditioning like it has been in the past. You don't see kids looking gassed or holding their knees. No-I think it's a concentration issue. And, honestly, a coaching issue. After the half, the coaches aren't making (any?) the right adjustments and then the wheels come right on off the bus. We've scored a measly 7 points in the third Q and given up a lop-sided 28 to the enemy. Ok, that sucks. So maybe my key to the game should really be about coming out strong in the 3rd which will then carry over mentally to the 4th???? Either way---play the whole damned game!! The only problem beyond anyone's control is mid-terms. All students had Monday and Tuesday off from school for "fall study days". Either, school will get in the way of game prep or being done with mid-terms will allow complete concentration on the game.... Coin-toss there. Either way....stay in the game dudes, K?
Overall, I think that we can win this game, but it's going to take concentration, commitment, and execution. And, as I told Andy--if even ONE of my points comes to fruition over the course of the game, I will be IMPOSSIBLE to blog with!!!! :-)
GO BLUE
BEAT SPARTY
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13 comments:
T9,
I know we don't "know" each other, but I gotta say you are DEAD SEXY when you talk like this! Maybe I'm getting old, but listening to you break down football (I've imputed a husky/Bonnie Rait throaty voice thing for you) makes me go all Joe Namath to your Suzie Kolber!
Excellent post & analysis. The one point I wonder about is the "chocolate cow" in the 4th quarter. We looked great in the 2nd half against Utah, Miami, Wisconsin in 4th quarter. I think our recent 4th quarter break downs are more of a result of stagnet 2nd/3rd quarter performances. I don't think any conditioning program can prep a D to play most of the 2nd & 3rd quarters and THEN have a big 4th. We need to the O to at least play 50% of the 2nd & 3rd quarters if we want the D to show up big in the 4th.
T9,
I agree with SiC, except put in a throaty Demi Moore voice
Hmmmm. I was hearing Sgt. Schultz. Anyway, I'm wondering if your Godiva Conditioning Program has only brought your team up to the status quo. Maybe it's a non-factor.
Your scouting breakdown is so thorough I broke out in poison ivy. Even so, at the collegiate level doesn't it boil down to horses? You either got 'em or you don't. Granted, passion is the variable that makes college ball so much fun to watch, but over twelve games the stables with the most studs are going to the big boy bowls.
This game is all about the passion factor. Should be interesting to see if your new wranglers get it.
I do "know" you.
And in my best Joe Namath voice... "move over Suzy Kolber".
How much for a bite of your cookie?
Couldn't resist that one. This year has been a week to week adventure. I never know what to expect and pretty much always expect the worse. Thankfully last week we had plans to go to Boo at the Zoo but was fortunate enough to watch the first quarter or so before we left so I was able to be excited and yell and scream. As far as my night went they won that game. Then we were at dinner and my wife saw the score on a tv and she cringed and I asked what 45-17? and she was like "how did you know." I jst smiled and said that's the way it goes this year.
As for this week once again starting at 430 (wtf 430?) We have trick or treat from 6-8 in our neighborhood. Therefore I will be outside with a fire going smoking a victory cigar and drinking beer. I'll have the tv on and either put a speaker by the window or just keep getting up to check since we don't get it on radio here. Otherwise once again not expecting much.
On a side note and I think only SIC can agree with me on this one. Being a MI fan stuck in OH is a truly truly brutal existence this year. I told my family the otehr day that I may go to church everyday for the next month and pray for a MI win over O$U. I don't care if they get throttled every other game but if by some miracle they would be able to win that game it would make it all worth it. I would be the biggest asshole I could at work and anywhere else I go with all the shit I have to deal with on a daily basis. Does that make my fanhood falter? Hell no. Go Blue.
thanks you guys.
you totally crack me up.
no matter how much football I know or how smart I sound it's always going to be about sex or being sexy.
seriously--I'm flattered.
Glad I can cash in on the coin of the realm!
is anyone else loving WVU's game against Auburn right now???
I am. First, someone forgot to forward Gary Danielson's "Spread is Dead" memo to Pat White.
Second, watching wvu's offense, I realize that the speed of the QB is NOT that important compared to his decision making. White is fast, but when he doesn't make the "right" call (pick the lane, keep-not keep ball, etc), his speed seldom saves him. When he makes the "right" call, there's a big gain, he's got a hole Steven Threet could run thru. White's speed turns a 5 yd gain into 15 yds, but the hole's there for anyone.
I guess my thought is that the problem for a QB in the spread isn't physical as much as mental- make the right call & you move the ball.
agreed. it's interesting to see it work the way it's supposed to...
the other thing that is so interesting to me is to see all the holes in space when White makes the right choice.
and, I'm betting that White beats Threet on the ground even with only one leg....
oh, and I can't STAND Lou Holtz
Holtz, in the studio, has a certain goofy charm. But a little of it goes a long way & him in the booth all nite is waaay too much.
And yes, Threet's much slower (Holtz might be faster) than White. But when he does keep & run, it's thru a hole Threet (or at least Holtz) could run thru. And when he let's the ball go to the), there's usually a big hole there.
As good as they look, they still have a lot of negative/zero/short gain plays. It's very up & back, even when it's clicking.
Sorry- ")," should have been "RB".
Goofy crackberry!
complete agree SiC.
it's an offense that survives on the unexpected 'break out' after plays that seem to go no where
rollercoaster...
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