MZone Autopsy: Northwestern

After the way Saturday's game ended, it's a wonder that the autopsy isn't on yours truly today as I nearly had a heart attack.   But, alas, like the team, I have survived to blog another day.

MZone Autopsy Report: Northwestern

* Offense to the Rescue

While the Demens stuff on 4th in 2 in OT sealed the deal, in a switcheroo for the 2012 season, it was the offense's turn to ride to the rescue on Saturday.  After so many games in which the defense kept Michigan in games (especially during the 148 minute Great Scoring Dust Bowl of 2012), U-M's offense fought back from 10 down in the 3rd quarter as well as :18 seconds and impossible in the 4th. 

You knew there was going to be a game like this - when Mattison's Monsters didn't have their A game.  And this was it.  Northwestern outgained Michigan 431-419 yards, had a 27-21 advantage in first downs, and converted 8-16 3rd downs.  But the offense never stopped fighting back and U-M's faint B1G title hopes live to fight another day.

* Fitz: 2013!

Like the rest of you, each Saturday, I keep thinking, "This is going to be the day."  I can feel it: This is going to be the day that Fitz Toussaint breaks out and returns to the form (and stats) of 2011.

But, alas, with two games left in the regular season, I finally have to accept the fact that it's not going to happen this year.  Yeah, I know it's not all Fitz's fault.  I realize the O line has, on numerous occasions, in the words of Bill Murray in Stripes been "blowed up, SIR!"

Yet still I hoped.

No more.  Our running game is what it is this year.  Here's to a better 2013!

* Clutch Becoming a Hoke Trademark

The Wolverines under Brady Hoke have quickly become a team that you can never count out.  Like the villain in a horror movie, they just won't die.  From wins over Notre Dame last season to MSU and NW this one; to close losses in which Michigan still had a chance at the end (Iowa last season, ND this year), there is no quit in Hoke's Wolverines.  Of course, some may call Michigan "lucky" in those games.  I prefer to think of such so-called luck as the ol' point at "which opportunity meets preparation," with preparation here being coaching (okay, and at least one really shitty, fortuitous punt by Northwestern).

* Hoke's Cold Sweat

While I love Brady Hoke and think he's doing an outstanding job, nobody's perfect.  And if he isn't waking up screaming in the middle of the night - "Why the &^%$! didn't I put Devin in at QB in the Nebraska game?!  WHY!?!?"  - he should be.

* U-M Student Section Sucks

And I thought the key play nonsense was bad.

Ha!

The empty seats are past the point of ridiculous now.  Michigan has been reduced to having its football players make videos begging fans (read: students) to show up on time for the games.  WTF?!  This isn't Ball State.  Bo's probably rolling over in his grave.

I'm not sure what more can be done since the athletic department already instituted the points system.  But seeing all those empty seats up there after the game starts is a slap in the face to Hoke and the Michigan players.

Thus, since our microphone here at the MZone isn't as big as Brian's over at MGoBlog, I hope he continues to hammer away on that issue.  Maybe shame will work.  Because it's got to change.

* Wallpaper Wednesday...on Monday

Usually we wait until Wednesday to put up our wallpapers here at the MZone.

Not today.

Our pal and MZone Hall of Famer Andy (@SemperBlue88 on Twitter) sent us this outstanding wallpaper of Roy Roundtree's miraculous tip/fall/catch from the Northwestern game that had to go up asap.

GO BLUE!

MZone Autopsy: Minnesota 2012

Haven't done one of these in awhile but had some free time over the weekend to partake in a little AP blogging.  So, before we turn our attention to Northwestern, let's take one last look back at Minnesota.

Repeat After Me: There is NO QB CONTROVERSY

After Devin Gardner's amazing game (minus the 1st quarter), I joked on Twitter that the easiest way to identify a so-called "Walmart Wolverine" on sports talk radio this week will be the guy calling in asking if there's a QB controversy now in A2.

There is not.

Devin was outstanding (minus the 1st quarter).  He was outstanding by any measure, but more so since he hadn't gotten any meaningful game reps at quarter back since... Illinois 2011?  But as soon as he's 100% again, Denard is Michigan's QB this season.  Period.

However, Michigan fans can rejoice in the fact that the Maize and Blue have a more-than-capable back-up should the need arise, and the race for the starting job in 2013 is over just got real interesting.  From a potential weakness post-Denard it could be a strengh.  Go figure.

Most of all, I'm just happy for Gardner.  He was a top-rated QB coming out of high school and came to Michigan to play QB.  He didn't want to move to wide receiver, but he did it because it's what the team needed.  So to see him get his chance and seize it has to make Wolverine fans everywhere happy for him personally.

Back to the Future

Yes, I know he got a ton of reps in practice to prepare to start Saturday, but still...

Anybody else wish we could get in Doc Brown's Delorean and go back to the Nebraska game, Michigan down 7-3 when Denard got hurt with the Wolverines having the ball 1st and goal at the Nebraska 7 yard line?

Coulda, shoulda, woulda.

DE-FENSE!

In the Captain Obvious Comment department, the defense was again outstanding.  While much of the focus has understandably been on Devin's great performance (minus the 1st quarter), it's easy to forget that on Minnesota's first couple of drives, the Gophers' starting field position was right around the 50.  Everything was going wrong and, had the D not held strong early, Michigan could have easily found itself in a much deeper - can't resit - "Gopher hole" than 7-0 before the offense came to life.

Michigan is now 7th nationally in total defense and 1st - yes, 1st! - in pass defense.

Michigan is...I Dunno

Nine weeks into the 2012 season, as crazy as this sounds, I'm still a bit mystified as to how good this team really is.  Michigan's three losses are to teams with a combined 25-2 record, including two of the top four teams in the BCS standings (with Nebraska 16th).  And yet, in two of those losses, Michigan had a fantastic chance to win.  If Denard doesn't have, arguably, his worst game ever against ND and if Denard doesn't get hurt and/or Devin replaces him when he does vs Nebraska, Michigan could realistically be 8-1 and ranked solidly in the top 10.  Then again...

Of U-M's six wins, the only teams they've beaten with a winning record are 5-4 Air Force and 5-4 Minnesota.  While to be elite Michigan must beat elite teams, on the good news front, Michigan is once again beating the teams it's supposed to be.  

There's a Reason He's the Coach at Minnesota

You know how married people can start to look like each other?  Well, it just might be true for coaches and their team mascots.  Because my friends and I noticed a striking resemblance as we watched the Michigan-Minnesota game over the weekend.  You make the call:

Michigan-Minnesota Twitter Recap

First it was just one tweet.  Then two.  Three.  Each from trusted sources.  Then it began to spread like wildfire: Denard was out, Gardner was starting at QB.
I called my friend to tell him.

"How do you know that?" asked my Luddite buddy, who was probably about to listen to the game on his bitchi' dual 8-track-slash-cassette Hi Fi Kenwood stereo.

"The same way everybody learns breaking news these days - Twitter."

From the informative to the funny, having Twitter by your side during a Michigan game makes it feel like you're watching it at bar packed with Wolverine fans - even if you're alone on your coach.  Plus, how else are you going to catch the bitching and whining from MSU players after they gack away another game?

Here are some of our favorite tweets from the weekend's Michigan/Minnesota game (with a little MSU and ND game stuff as well).  Some funny, some informative.  Some ours, some others.

From folks we follow:

@MGoBlog

After Gardner's first Xbox-worthy TD throw to Dileo:

Just like Al drew it up. 

First half offense = despair + Gardner running around w Benny Hill soundtrack, but in a good way. 

Anyone who sits on an aisle in Michigan Stadium should stage a hunger strike if anyone threatens to introduce beer.

Brad @MaizeBlueNation

First Minn offensive TD against Michigan in 6 years. 

After the MSU loss:

Those are Michigan fans booing from Ann Arbor. Not Sparty fans at the game.

@AceAnbender

It took a while, but they’ve gone full gopher. 

When it looked like ND would lose after an endzone INT with 3:59 left and down 8 points:

Damn you, NBC, and your complete lack of sad fan crowd shots.

@MVictors

After Devin Gardner's first Xbox-worthy TD pass to Drew Delio:

That's basically a look at every play back in the neighborhood when the older kid is playing QB 

borrowed Gallon's cloaking device MT @thesportslog: ...can someone..explain how Minnesota utterly lost Dileo?  

@HooverStreet

Mike Hart's "Little Brother" comment turns five today! It's old enough to go to Kindergarten! 

Guys, I love Denard, but don't let him carry the Jug if he's having trouble gripping things, OK?

In this week's spirit of bipartisan outpourings with one's own enlightened self-interest at heart: Good luck to our Spartan friends today.

@SupportBradyHoke

And, today is a VERY special day - as it is Coach Hoke's BIRTHDAY! Happy Birthday, Coach! Best wishes for a great year ahead! #GoBlue

@The BBC

From our Buckeye friends after Michigan started out a little, uh, slow in the first quarter:

Well, Michigan loses Denard for the game, but doesn't miss a beat on offense.

@GerdOzone

After MSU lost and the controversial PI call at the end:

The Refs have won the Legends Division!

@MZoneBlog

And in case you missed our 140 character nuggets yesterday, here are a few faves from yours truly here at The MZone:

Al Borges following UM's first TD in 148 minutes: "NOBODY shuts down an Al Borges offense for 149 minutes!"

Okay, who cut Denard's dreads and had him wear #12 today? How Lane Kiffin of Hoke

How to tell if you're listening to a Walmart Wolverine on sports talk radio next wk: "You think there's a quarterback controversy for U-M?"

Well played #WalmartWolverine RT @cdbarker "I just think Devin's the better choice. Play Denard at RB since Fitz can't get anything going."

And as we settled in to watch the MSU/Nebraska game:

Haven't tweeted since Michigan game. My body's been convulsing too much at realization I have to root for MSU.

And during the painful final "Sparty, NO!" moments (whilst flipping between ND/Pitt):

I'm getting a full dose right now of why it sucks to be an MSU fan

I think I'm gonna vomit. Okay, now to turn on ND game and watch Irish pull 4 leaf clover out of its ass, too 

Pitt, Pitt, Pitt. You could be the MSU of the Big East.

Such a little brother move, Sparty: Had the party all planned and you screwed it up. Mom was right: you were adopted. 

Top chant right now in parking lot outside Spartan Stadium: "At least we didn't help Michigan! YEAH!"

Man, I would hate to be Mark Dantonio's face right now

After rooting for Sparty and having that happen, hell, **I** feel like burning a couch #NowIUnderstand

Remember INT returned for a TD that woulda put MSU up 17 in the 4th & iced it...but was called back for personal foul? That IS Sparty

Also #1 in fan lament: "Damn, if only Devin played vs Neb!" RT @MVictors UM now #7 nationally in total defense, &, wow, #1 in pass defense

Finally, a few from our MZone readers:

Delusional Fan

Can Gardner just throw to himself? #Denarded 

Riley Martin

Hoke wearing a headset???? Shits getting serious! 

Renee

Mayans... “@MZoneBlog: Two TDs? In one quarter?! Hold on, looking outside for locusts...” 

MZone Autopsy: Bowl Selection Edition

Michigan got rewarded for its big turnaround in 2011 (and, let's be honest, for being Michigan, fergodssake) with a Sugar Bowl invite.  The Wolverines will take on the Virginia Tech Hokies on January 3rd in the first ever meeting between the two schools.

Let's take a quick look at the Sugar and a couple other bowl matters.

MZone Autopsy: Bowl Selection Edition

* The early line from the Wynn in Las Vegas has Virginia Tech as a 2.5 point favorite.

*  This is Michigan's second appearance in the Sugar Bowl.  The Wolverines lost to Auburn 9-7 in 1984.  Michigan's last BCS game was a 32-18 loss to USC in the 2007 Rose Bowl.  U-M's last BCS victory was 35-34 over 'Bama in the 2000 Orange Bowl. 

*  While I'm obviously thrilled to be in any BCS bowl after wandering in the football wilderness the previous three seasons, I would have much rather played Boise or K-State. 

* V-Tech is 11-2 with both losses being beat downs at the hands of Clemson

*  To those saying that Michigan didn't deserve a BCS bid: if there were a 16-team playoff, Michigan would have made it.  If there were a 4-team playoff, the teams folks are bitching the most about for getting left out -- namely KSU and Boise -- would still have been left out.  So really, the argument that Michigan shouldn't have gotten an at-large berth and a "more deserving" team should have is just an argument about which playoff format one favors, then trying to overlay their "rage" on top of the selections made.  Because outside the top 2, the system is basically about the teams that would have made a 16-team playoff forced to play musical chairs.  That's it. 

*  Best thing about Michigan's BCS bid: it pissed off MSU and Drew Sharp.  Sweeeeet!

*  Michigan is tied for the 17th toughest schedule (the other team tied at 17?  VA Tech).  K-State's schedule was 23rd, Boise's was 40th.  Michigan played 10 -- yes, 10! -- bowl-bound teams this season. 

* Dear Spartan fans: Stop bitching.  Michigan didn't "take" anything from you.  After losing the B1G title game, you dropped to #17 in the BCS rankings.  You weren't even eligible to go to a BCS game.  Yes, you beat Michigan during the season.  Congrats.  You also got smoked by ND and Nebraska, two teams U-M beat.  In both of Michigan's losses, the Wolverines had a chance in the fourth quarter.  If you should be pissed at anybody, it's the two DBs who somehow were right next to the Badger receiver but gakked during Wisco's 4th and 6 conversion that ultimately led to their winning TD.  Be mad at your coach who called for a punt block when you were about to get the ball back with just over 1:30 left in the game.  Get upset with the player who ran into the kicker.  Don't blame Michigan for having the Rose Bowl in your grasp then letting it slip through your fingers.

Then again, life is unfair.  Like when a player punches a dude in the face but doesn't get kicked out of the game.  #Karma

Actually, I'm guessing even you guys can see the irony in a team that bragged about their goal of playing "60 minutes of unnecessary roughness" each game losing the B1G title and Rose Bowl bid on a roughing the kicker call.  Doh!

* Things that are "cute" now but that you are going to get tired over over the next month until the game comes: "Geaux Blue!" and "Hoke vs. the Hokies."

*  Worst bowl match up: 6-6 Illinois (riding a 6 game losing streak and having fired its coach) vs. 6-7 UCLA (having also fired its coach) in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.  Even hunger is embarrassed. 

* Amazing how an LSU/Bama rematch is okay to the SEC now, but they were up in arms about the possibility when Michigan's only loss in 2006 was by also by just three points to the #1 team in the country...but on the road instead of at home...and less than 24 hours after the most iconic coach in school history had passed away.

*  Finally, our pal Andy, who did the "Sparty No!" pic above has put together a Sugar Bowl wallpaper for your download pleasure.  Enjoy!

MZone Autopsy: That School in Ohio

I think I'm only now finally coming down off the high.  That game...that game...

That game.

I don't think I've been as nervous for a Michigan game since the '97 Michigan-Ohio State when the Rose Bowl and National Championship were on the line.  Crazy as this may sound, Saturday's game almost felt like it was more important for Michigan's psyche.  Personally, I don't think I've ever wanted one more -- nay, needed one more -- than the 2011 edition of The Game.

Had Michigan lost it would have been devastating.  Yes, there would have been no denying the strides made this year, but a loss would have gnawed at the soul for a long time.  Instead, Michigan's hard fought victory has turned the 2011 campaign into one that none of us could have realistically hoped for or imagined.  And back on the personal level -- it made blogging and Twitter a hell of a lot of fun over the weekend!

Now let's take one more look back at The Game that ended The Streak in...

MZone Autopsy: That School in Ohio

*  Don't let the close score in any way shape or form detract from the sweet taste of victory.   Some Buckeye fans are trying to taint the victory by saying this was the worst OSU team in forever.  And yes, many Michigan fans didn't just want a "W," they wanted retribution.  But this Ohio State squad was a team playing with nothing to lose, finally fielding a team with all its weapons, the most potent of all being desperation.

So this was exactly the kind of titanic struggle that the great mythology of this series demanded and deserved.  To understand why it absolutely had to play out the way it did, check out our post from yesterday, The Hero's Journey. 

*  The overturn of Fitz Toussaint's touchdown was one of the most egregiously bad replay calls I can remember.  What part of "can only result from indisputable video evidence" did those clowns not understand?!  It would have been criminal had Michigan lost after that.  When that TD was taken off the board, I started to think that Benny Oosterbaan must've been busted having an affair with the wife of somebody pretty high up in the afterlife because it looked like the fickle finger of football fate was about to f*ck us.  Hard.  I hope somebody questions the B1G about it (the replay call, not Benny Oosterbaan's sexually active ghost).  Seriously.  I really want to know what was indisputable.  There were two angles, one in which the ball was over, one in which it might -- might -- have been, what?, an inch shy?  Maybe.  But indisputable?  Hell no!

But don't just take it from some biased blogger.  Watch this video of Fox Sports refereeing guru Mike Pereira as he goes over the play and discusses why it was wrong.

*  Let the most recent chapter of The Game serve as reminder number 6,482 that Michigan-Ohio State must always be played on the last Saturday of the regular season.  Saturday's showdown left no doubt that the B1G's marquee match up must never be moved.  And if Dave Branding Brandon and Gene "See No Evil" Smith ever float the idea again of putting the game anywhere else -- as they did in 2010 which is why the MZone returned from cyber hibernation -- they should be immediately canned.

Ed. Note:  I still believe it was a colossal mistake to put U-M and OSU in separate divisions, but that's a debate for another time if the B1G ever expands again. 

*  By beating that school in Ohio, Brady Hoke just became the first Michigan coach to claim at least 10 wins in his debut season since -- wait for it -- some guy named Fielding H. Yost in 1901 (who won 11).

*  Brady's six B1G wins in his first season equaled the total conference games won during the three years of The Dark Period. 

*  Team 132 became the first Michigan team to ever go 8-0 at home in a single season.  And anybody who said they predicted that (beating ND, Nebraska and Ohio along the way) or that Michigan would win 10 regular season games this year, is a liar or a meth head.  Or a lying meth head.  

*  The 40 points Michigan hung on OSU is tied for the 4th most points Michigan ever scored against the Buckeyes and the most since putting up 58 in '46 (thought still a ways off from the record of 86 in 1902).  And that wasn't some hack-ass defense since, even after the U-M game, OSU is tied with Oklahoma for the 27th best scoring D in the land and is #23 in total defense.

*  Couldn't believe all the bitter tweets by Buckeye players immediately after the game.  From one guy saying he's "never going to lose to those scrubs again" to Boren (not Justin but Zach) claiming Michigan showed a lack of "respect" for The Game, to several other disparaging comments by others, it actually made them look bad.  I pictured them all sitting there on the team bus on their long ride home, heads buried in their smartphones, typing their tacky tweets while poor Luke Fickell sat up in the front, watching the rest of the CARS 2 DVD playing over bus' entertainment system.

*  In looking up some of the stats for this post, I noticed Michigan's captain in 1908 was Adolf "Germany" Shultz.  I guess in 1908 you could get away with that.  Nowadays he'd claim his first name was Eddie and go by "Shultzy."

*  Luke Fickell did a great job in a virtually impossible situation.  And I'm not just talking about the Michigan game.  All season.  But I was particularly impressed with how he handled himself in the post-game presser, when he was getting hammered with questions about his future.  He made it all about The Game.  Best of luck to him in the future.

*  As you know, Buckeye fans are waiting on pins and needles for Santa to deliver an early present for their team in the form of new head coach Urban Liar Meyer this week.  And some Michigan fans are worried such a hire will tip the scales back in the Bucks' favor after only one Michigan victory.  Well, if I may say something to those folks that someone may have tweeted in kinder terms over the weekend:  Sack. The. Fuck. Up.  This is Michigan, for God's sake!

First of all, those name hires rarely work out as well as hoped for.  For every Saban at 'Bama, there's a Dennis Erickson at ASU.  And I even seem to recall a "can't miss coach" being hired in A2 a couple years ago, a guy who'd won "everywhere he's been."  But that didn't turn out so well if you recall.

More importantly, let them have their Urban Myth.  It's great for the rivalry and we have Brady, for God's sake.  If this season has proven anything, that ain't too damn shabby!

*  Remember when Urban's daughter tweeted “HE IS NOT repeat NOT, GOING TO OHIO STATE" a couple months ago? Bad news: Daddy lied.

(Thanks to Andy for the picture!)

MZone Autopsy: Nebraska

I'm still speechless.  Michigan's victory -- nay, bitch slap -- of Nebraska was a thing of football beauty.  A resounding win over a quality opponent.  No flukes.  No miracles.  No question.

It looked like...Michigan, for god's sake!

So before we turn our attention full-time this week to that school in Ohio, we take one final look back to savor the "W" over "N."

MZone Autopsy Report: NEBRASKA

*  Are you getting tired of praising this defense yet?  Me neither.  Nebraska didn't convert a third down until the third quarter.  Sit back for a moment and try to wrap your head around that.  Last year, U-M had the 110th ranked defense in the country (out of 120, in case you're wondering).  Last year, this defense gave up 35.2 points per game, 107th in the country.  This year, Michigan has the #14 ranked defense in all the land and is giving up 15.6 per game, 6th best in the country!

Want a little more perspective?  In its 13 games last year, Michigan gave up 458 points.  Through 11 this season, they've surrendered 172.  In other words, to equal the punchline that was 2010, Michigan would have to give up 144 points -- in EACH of its remaining two games (OSU and the bowl).

Folks, that's not improvement, it's mind boggling.   Because this wasn't some talent-laden group coming back.  It was, well, the 110th ranked unit in the nation.

No more.

*  Contrary to what you may have heard (a lot) by some, this genie-wish-like turnaround on defense has not come at the expense of the offense.  This year, Michigan's scoring offense is ranked 25th, averaging 33.6 points per game.  And last year?  Michigan had -- pause for effect...keep pausing...wait for it...okay, keep reading -- the 25th ranked offense, averaging -- one more pause -- 32.8 points per game.  Yep.  The current coaching staff that some continually keep claiming are shackling or hurting or not properly utilizing Denard have actually, factually done no such thing. 

Oh, and best of all -- Denard is still able to play at full strength and speed here at the end of the season because he's not getting the living snot kicked out of him each and every game. 

Want more here, too?  Okay.  Last year through 13 games, Michigan scored 426 points (which includes the OT Xbox game vs. Illinois).  This year through 11 they're at 370, meaning they have to average a very possible 28 points in each of their final two games to equal the offensive genius we gave up when Brady Hoke and Al Borges came to town.

Now, cut and paste the above and send it to all your friends who, for some reason, are still bitching about the current coaching staff and what they're "doing to Denard."

*  In 2010, Michigan was dead last in kicking, making just 4 of 14 FGs.  This year, they're 9 for 13 with two games to go.

* The most disappointing thing about the previous three seasons besides just about everything was the utter lack of improvement as the season wore on.  Michigan got worse as the weather got colder.  Again, no more.  The team on the field Saturday is not only now, across the board, a good football team but, best of all, they're getting better.  No, they're not a great team.  And they don't belong in the same breath as the top teams.  But this team would have a fighting chance against all but a handful of teams in the country right now.  Even against them, would you really count this team out?

*  If Michigan wins on Saturday, Brady Hoke will have won just as many B1G games in his first season -- 6 -- as Rich Rod won in his three years at the helm.

*  I think the fans -- myself included -- are having a harder time believing in the quick turnaround than the team as evidenced by my reaction to watching the Nebraska game.  Even when U-M was up 21, I -- and the Wolverine fans I watch with -- were still nervous.  Waiting for the other shoe to fall.  It's like fan PTSD after The Dark Years.  Although...

*  That roughing the kicker call against NU was weak.  Very weak.  We were up 14 at the time, had been stopped on our previous two drives, and big mo' was wearing Big Red.  But after the penalty, Michigan drove down and scored to go up 21.  Game over.  Still, it was a horrible call.  I guess somebody felt they owed us for Iowa.  Speaking of which...

*  Denard's roll out TD down near Nebraska's 2 yard line is a play I'd like to have seen on that 4th down against Iowa.  &%$#ing IOWA!

* Loved the fake FG call but would not have been in favor if we'd lined up to simply "go for it" on 4th down, if that makes sense.  When we lined up to kick, I thought it was a smart call.  When we faked, I thought it was genius.

*  THERE IS NO FUCKING WAY THIS TEAM SHOULD LOSE TO OHIO!

GO BLUE!

(HT: SG, although he was unsure original creator)

MZone Autopsy: Better Late Than Never

Sorry for the delay with our autopsy but, well, lifetus interruptis.

MZone Autopsy Report: Illinois

1.  DE-FENSE!  It's impossible to overstate the job that Hoke, Mattison and the other coaches have done with Michigan's defense this year.  They took - literally - the worst defense in the history of Michigan football (110 in total defense, 108th in scoring, 112th in passing last season) and turned them into - wait for it - the 5th best scoring and 22nd best overall defense in the country.

Think about that.  As we tweeted yesterday, in order to give up as many points as it did last season, Michigan would need to average 101 points against them in their remaining two regular season contests and bowl game.  It's mind boggling.  Okay, now stop weeping with joy and keep reading.

Illinois didn't even make its first foray into Michigan territory until the third quarter!  Yes, I'm so emotionally scarred from The Dark Period that I kept waiting for the proverbial other shoe to fall.  But not only didn't it, it was the defense and JT Floyd - JT Floyd! - stepping up when things got a little tight and the Zookers cut the lead to 10 points in the 2nd half.

2.  I think going for it on 4th and goal from the one was a mistake.  In general, good idea and I love this attitude and mindset from Hoke.  But not this time.   And my reasoning is simple: math and momentum.  On the road, up 14 with about five minutes left in first half, I believe it's more important to be up three scores than the margin being either 17-0 or 21-0.  Because when it doesn't work, we're one play away from it being a one-score game.

Again, in general, I like going for it on these types of plays.  But not here.  And it's not weakness, it's math.

3.  JT Floyd.  Until Saturday, I always viewed Floyd with suspicion.  But he had a monster game.  Yes, he may have gotten away with a PI early, however the stop on that play seemed to give him confidence that carried throughout the game.

4.  All the consternation about Devin Gardner coming in early on "those packages" and "playing so much" was nullified by his play when called upon last Saturday.  Many folks were up in arms about "all" the times Devin entered previous games early on, both with Denard also on the field but sometimes not.  But such snaps when the game was still in doubt and not simply hand-offs during 4th quarter mop up duty paid off when Denard was injured in the second half and Devin had to fill in with Illinois making its charge.  I think it's fair to say his poise last weekend was a direct result of those previous reps and packages when the games were still undecided.

5.  Fitz!  This is exactly the running attack Hoke has always alluded to that would take pressure off Denard.  Tony Gerdeman at the OZone tweeted that "Denard Robinson has been held to 63 yards rushing or less in 5 of 6 B1G games. That only happened once last year (62, against Illinois.)"

All I say to that is, isn't it nice to have an actual TEAM?  When Michigan's chance didn't entirely rest with one player?  Yes, his numbers aren't as flashy, but there's no denying that U-M is an infinitely bettter TEAM. 

So while Robinson's passing numbers (and accuracy) might be cause for alarm, his rushing stats shouldn't be.

MZone Autopsy: Dissecting the Iowa Game

That was just plain ugly.  Sadly, we have to take a look again in this week's edition of the MZone Autopsy.

MZONE AUTOPSY REPORT: Iowa

1.  Michigan didn't deserve to win.  Sad but true.  Iowa played their best game of the year while Michigan played its worst.  I'll even go so far as to say worse than MSU because this wasn't shouldn't have been a good enough team to cause U-M such problems, while the Spartans are.  As mentioned in our anti-healing healing pictures, this was a complete team loss: Denard's bad fumble, the INT into a sea of black at the end of the first half, a missed XP, dropped passes, questionable coaching, and on and on and on.  Yes, it was indeed a team effort of suck.  Having said that...

2.  There were some pretty bad you gotta be kidding me ass-awful calls in the game, two of the worst on Michigan's final possession.  Sadly, while I do think Junior Hemingway caught the TD pass on second and goal, once it was initially called incomplete on the field, I think it was hard to say it was "indisputable" and thus overturn it.  Had it initially been ruled a TD, it probably would've stood.

And the last play of the game...WTF?!  How was that NOT flagged for PI?  As HSR said, "there have been efforts on Dancing with the Stars with less contact."



Yes, that's probably the worst end-of-game-in-the-endzone-non-PI call against Michigan since MSU in 1990 (go to the 7 minute mark, watch, get pissed again like it still matters).



And I'm not even bringing up things like, oh, the long PI flag that was thrown against Iowa...then picked up. 

I know, Don't put the game in the refs' hands and you don't have to worry about this stuff.  True.  And even if we'd scored there at the end, Michigan still had to get a 2-point conversion just to get to OT.  True.  But still... &^%@!

3.  Immediately after the game, Michigan fans took to the Interwebs, blogs, boards and Twitter to trash (or snark) the U-M coaches, mostly Al Borges and the offensive play calling.  Even I was "that guy."  In talking to my former MZone co-hort, Benny, in the aftermath, I was bitching about how easily U-M marched down the field its final two drives out of the shotgun.  I gave Benny the most cliched, uninformed fan lament; one you've probably heard or will hear a lot this week: "Why didn't we do that the entire game?"

Benny's reply: "Because they weren't in the same defense they'd been in all game."  His point was that the reason Michigan had an easier time on its last two drives was because Iowa was in a looser D.  Up two scores with under 10 minutes left, they just didn't want to give up the big play.

Yeah, maybe.

But can I at least bitch that -- especially on the last play --  Denard should've been rolling out for a play that gave the most electrifying runner on the field a run/pass option rather than calling something in which he had to thread the needle?

In defense of the coaches, I will say that you can't blame the play calling for the missed XP, Denard laying the football on the turf, or throwing into double coverage at the end of the first half, or receivers dropping balls right in the numbers, etc. etc.  You take away those glaring mistakes and, with the same game plan, we probably don't need an end-of-the-game miracle or have to worry about shitty calls. 

SIDE NOTE:  In looking for the clips above, I stumbled upon some dude bitching in the comments of an M/Iowa video about how Borges and his crew have ruined one of the best offenses in cfb.  He then went on to state that if RR were still around, we wouldn't have this problem. 

Yeah, life would be all lollipops and gummy bears. 

Remember: he's a Buckeye!

4.  Chris Spielman must love how many anxious U-M fans he's created with his incessant complaining each time Devin Gardner enters the game.  But when DR is on the field with DG, I don't think it's "taking Denard out of the game" but rather (hopefully?) giving opposing defense new headaches and more worries.  Each time Denard goes in motion, he's probably being accounted for in a way that's disproportionate to somebody else.  In theory, it's not a bad plan.  Especially since, as you may have noticed, Denard has kind of struggled as a passer this season (even when his receivers aren't dropping balls like they greased up with cooking oil).  Unfortunately, I'm not sure Devin is progressing like anybody would have hoped. 

Is it "ruining" Denard's rhythm by inserting Devin each game?  Honestly, I don't think DG is playing that much for it to be a problem.  Plus, with Denard's propensity to get injured, U-M needs a back-up who can step in and play.  Who hasn't just taken a couple knees during mop up duty.  I think it's more of an execution problem.

5.  Michigan is making progress and is a better team than last year.  Before the season, I said to Benny that I thought Michigan would finish the regular season around 7-5, but be much closer to 9-3.  This was in contrast to last year in which Michigan was 7-5 but, in my opinion, closer to 3-9.  Put it this way, in both of Michigan's losses, the Wolverines had a chance well into the 4th quarter (and right until the last play against Iowa).  Last year, when Michigan lost, they lost. You didn't have to worry about the refs or the calls at game's end because it was long over by then.

So I still believe we're headed in the right direction.  However, 7-5 would now leave a bad taste in my mouth.  I need a) a road win next week against Illinois and b) a victory over either Nebraska or OSU.  Yes, I'd like wins against both, but I don't see that happening.  Which isn't a slam because...

6.  What did you expect?  While it's good to be disappointed after every loss -- expectations in A2 should always make that the case -- did anybody really think U-M was ready to contend for the B1G title this season?   While I always hoped for that, I certainly didn't realistically expect it.  But we are making progress.  Keep the faith, as hard as last Saturday was (and it certainly sucked balls).

MZone Autopsy: Dissecting the Purdue Game

Folks, this is going to be a lot more enjoyable than our first "autopsy" feature when we were forced to cut open the corpse found buried in plastic bags outside Spartan Stadium.  

MZONE AUTOPSY REPORT: Purdue

1.  During the previous three seasons, last weekend's Purdue game is one U-M would have probably lost.  One of those dreaded "second half of the season" games that revealed Michigan to be imploding rather than improving.

But not this time.  Not this year.

Michigan stomped on an inferior opponent the way it should have, both defensively and offensively.  It was -  dare I say - like old times.  In talking to my former MZone cohort Benny yesterday, he mentioned that we still don't know how good Michigan is because we haven't beaten any good teams (ND falls into a "maybe" depending on which weekend we're talking about).  And while I agreed with him, I said the biggest difference is that, while we may indeed not be great team, Michigan is playing football at a level now that has the Wolverines beating the teams they're supposed to.  The teams Michigan used to routinely pound, with every game not being a coin flip.

Yes, I'm so damn scarred by the previous three seasons that, after Purdue's initial drive, I felt a flash of deja vu all over again.  But Michigan stayed the course and eventually put Purdue away, pretty much by halftime and certainly before the 3rd quarter was over.

How refreshing.

While we probably won't go 4-0 to end the season, I can honestly say I wouldn't be surprised if we did.  And, unlike years past (okay, three of them), I would be very surprised if we went 0-4.

2.  So that's what a running game looks like.  Boy, was it beautiful to see a Michigan player not named Denard tear up the opposition's defense on the ground.  RB Fitz Toussaint's 170 yard day (59 of it coming on a beautiful TD run in the third quarter) is the sort of output that U-M fans used to be used to.  If the Wolverines can make this a regular thing - and do it against high quality teams - look out.  It will take a hell of a load off of Denard.  Put it this way, if the Maize and Blue can establish this sort of ground game on a weekly basis, it's going to be fun to watch folks notice other good things which will happen as a result.  Like, "Wow, I didn't know Denard was such a good passer!"  Funny how that works.

3.  For the first time this season, injuries are a concern for the Wolverines.  Up until this point, Michigan has been beyond blessed in the health department.  Not anymore.  Safety Jordon Kovacs missed the game and is probably out for Iowa with a knee injury.  Left guard Ricky Barnum re-injured his ankle and had to leave the game.  And left tackle Taylor Lewan had to miss part of the game with what could be a knee injury.  With Michigan's lack of depth and four tough closing games, it's not good.  But as Coach Hoke said about the injuries, "That's football."

4.  The "Rocket Man" entrance of the game ball was cool as hell.



About the only negative was that this was the loudest thing inside The Big House on Saturday.  I'm actually mildly surprised nobody yelled "down in front" at the guy as he flew past.

5.  Shame on the students.  Where the hell were you?!  You can see it in the "Rocket Man" video above as well as many of the YouTube vids posted: the students simply didn't show up.  No, I'm not talking "late arriving," I mean the student section NEVER FILLED UP (the pink cancer "M" students were trying to form had holes in it the entire game).  Not gonna put up much about this now because I think this deserves its own post.  But there is no excuse and it's just sad. 

6. I think Michigan won twice yesterday: By beating Purdue and hearing about Sparty losing to Nebraska.

7. A safety?! You remember what those are, don't you?  Can you believe it had been EIGHT YEARS since U-M's defense last recorded one (vs. Houston in 2003).  I don't want to say U-M fans are shocked to see such things after Gerg and the last three years, but check out the fan video of the safety below.  There was less pandemonium by the dude working the camera in CLOVERFIELD when he was being chased by the giant monster.



8. Man, I really enjoy beating Danny Hope. Especially since we probably don't have that many more years to do it.

MZone Autopy: Dissecting the Michigan State game

We present a potential new feature: The MZone Autopsy, in which we reveal what we learned after dissecting Michigan's previous game.  Unfortunately, the corpse on the table today is U-M's following the beating (both literally and figuratively) the Wolverines received from MSU.

So put on your surgical masks and some rubber gloves then gather around the table. This isn't going to be pretty.

NOTE:  If you forgot to bring your rubber gloves, simply use two of the 864,000 plastic bags that were blowing around Spartan Stadium on Saturday.

MZONE AUTOPSY REPORT: Michigan State

1.  Michigan got beat.  Period.  State was the better team on Saturday.  Period.  Yes, we were still in it in the 4th quarter and had a chance, but that doesn't change the fact that the better team won the game.   Period. 

2.  Were these Big 10 ref trainees working the game?  Again, that's not to blame them for the loss (see #1), but WTF?!  Some of the worst calls/non-calls:
-- The dropped lateral that would have resulted in a Michigan recovery, but instead ended up leading to an MSU TD
-- Taunting Denard during the INT return for a TD
-- The new "prison yard rules" we were playing by.  Because it seemed like only a shanking was going to get somebody booted from the game.  Hell, William Gholston twisted Denard's facemask AND punched Lewan yet was still in the game.  There was less dirty play in The Longest Yard (the original one, not the crappy remake).  

3.  I actually think I dislike Mark Dantonio more than Tressel when he was a around.  Because the mentality that it's okay to play like thugs starts at the top as evidenced by Dantonio saying this in our latest MZone video...



A "cleanly played" game.  Really?  Holy shit, I'd hate to see what he considered dirty.

MSU had five 15 yard personal foul penalties for their BS.  But, according to MSU DC Pat Narduzzi:

"That's what we try to do," Narduzzi said after Michigan State's 28-14 win against Michigan. "Sixty minutes of unnecessary roughness. I'm just happy it didn't get called on every snap."

Yeah, I know Hoke didn't call them out about it.  That's just class.  Don't confuse it with fact.

I wonder if Dantonio is going to call Gholston a "tragic hero" if when he gets suspended by the B1G for his douchebaggery?  

4.  O-line?  We don't need no stinkin' O-line!  The weakest link on the field -- even more so than Denard's passing -- was Michigan's offensive line.  Simply put, they got destroyed.  Blown up, sir!  Yes, I know Denard had a horrible passing season day, but when you have .0003 seconds to throw, you'd be hard pressed to hit a moving target, too.

5.  Despite Chris Spielman being a complete tool during the broadcast trying to stir up trouble, a) there is no QB controversy and b) I didn't have a problem with bringing Devin in on a number of plays.  It's just something different teams have to prepare for.  Did he make some bad plays, like going over the LOS on the "TD" pass?  Sure.  But so did the entire team.  I don't think Hoke/Borges were creating problems using him, I think they were trying to find solutions to an offense that simply wasn't working.  A weak passing game was even worse with the wind.  I think it was reasonable to attempt to find something -- anything -- that would work. 

6.  Some Michigan fans need to channel The Dude and relax (or I need to set my Twitter feed to Asshat Blocker).  Frankly, I'm stunned by how quickly some fans jumped ship (if they were even on board to begin with).  Trashing Hoke after his first loss?  Comparing Borges to Gerg after one bad game?  Seriously?  In case those folks missed it, "Offensively inclined" Michigan scored 17 points vs. MSU last year -- a staggering 3 points more than Saturday. 

7.   As somebody said in (I think) the comments section and continuing the above (in what could really be labeled as 6B), is anybody really surprised?  By that I mean, did anybody think we were going to go 12-0 and contend for the B1G/National Title?  This was the 108 ranked defense in the country last year.  I think by all measures they've radically improved, and not simply because "they have a year more experience."  And the offense, as potent as it is/can be, struggled mightily against the better teams.  So while we can and should expect improvement, just because Hoke seemed to have, as Brian said, a horseshoe up his ass, we can't and shouldn't expect miracles.

If someone would have told you that we'd be 8-4 this year, but show improvement across the board while building a solid foundation for the future, I think most sane fans would have taken it.  I still think that's where we're headed.

8.  I have no problem with the 4th and 1 bootleg call...now kinda.  I was pissed at the time like, probably, many/most of you.  "Why didn't he just sneak it?!?!?"  But while performing this autopsy, I've changed my tune a bit.  We're all pissed because it didn't work.  Because MSU lucked out and had exactly the correct call at precisely the right time to counter it.  That's football.  Put it this way, you know "The Catch"?  The 4th and short Grbac-to-Desmond TD vs. Notre Dame that we all have probably seen 700 times (and still get chills watching)?  Well, if that pass is about 6 inches further out, we're still bitching about why Moeller didn't run a safe play and just pick up the first down.

When one of these gutsy calls work, it's a highlight for generations to come.  When it doesn't work, you're an idiot.  That's football.

But if only he he'd snuck it!...

9.  Please stop with the "special" jerseys/uniforms/whatever.  Michigan has now played two of its three biggest rivals -- ND and MSU -- and in both games, neither they nor Michigan looked like themselves or Michigan.  These Pro Combat/Legacy/Throwback/My Shoe Company Needs to Sell Shit looks are getting out of hand. 

10.  Seriously, what the f*ck was up with the plastic bags in Spartan Stadium?  It was like the landscape from MAD MAX blew across the field for the entire game.  Pick up your trash, East Lansing.