Medicine, Taken

MSU won the game by routinely getting the edge in the running game.  Running outside the tackles has been a problem for Michigan's defense all season, I was hopeful they would address it and shore that up, they didn't.

The 4th down play was the play that turned the game.  Michigan converts there and it's a different ballgame. (obviously the pick 6 was huge as well, but momentum had already swung on the 4th down play)  Hats off to the Sparties for a good call blitzing the corner on the short side of the field.  In those instances, as the offensive team, Michigan just threw scissors against rock, it happens.

Speaking of that pick 6, for as poor of a game as Denard had, I think Vincent Smith didn't run the proper route (it was a hot read situation) on the play and that was one of the few passes where Denard didn't make a mistake.

MSU played the entire game with 8 (usually 9) in the box.  Denard couldn't make them pay, that's worrisome for Michigan as the season goes on.  You have to believe all the future opponents will follow the same game plan, putting a ton of players in the box and bring pressure on the blitz as well.

The home field played a big part in the game.  State was able to time the snap count regularly and that really helped with all the pressure.  In fact, Jerel Worthy was largely ineffective and jumped offsides twice when Michigan was varying the snap counts early, but as the game wore on it seems MSU (and Worthy in particular) was able to time the counts more and more and put the Michigan offensive line in a tough spot.  The Wolverines actually gained 150 yards on running plays, but gave back close to 70 yards on sacks, ugly.

Also ugly, both sets of uniforms.  I thought the striped uniforms looked alright for Michigan against Notre Dame, as it was simply maize and blue, but adding the maize and blue onto the all whites was just too much IMO.  As for the Spartans, I kept thinking I was watching Missouri versus Baylor or something.  Either that, or Nike gave MSU some hand-me-downs from Oregon.  What was the chant at the game?  "Go Green! Go Bronze!"? (Also, what was with all the trash in Spartan Stadium?  I know it was windy, but there was trash literally flying all over the place)

Hats off to Sparty, they were the better team and deserved the victory.  In fact, while Michigan certainly had a chance to win, (down 7 with the ball at the MSU 9 yard line) I think that was mostly due to MSU being so undisciplined and committing so many stupid penalties.  Against Wisconsin, those penalties will get you beat, Michigan just isn't good enough to take advantage.


Michigan fans all over the internet are freaking out that this is just like the last few years...I don't think so.  MSU was maybe the best team Michigan will face all season, playing in their first true road environment.  The offense played poorly, but the defense seems to be vastly improved.  They missed some tackles and need to learn to keep contain as well as how to take on cut blocks, but the improved defense and Denards on again, off again ability to torture defenses is going to make every game winnable or losable from here on out.  Taking nothing away from MSU, Michigan played their worst game of the season Saturday.  Against Notre Dame, they played that way for 3 quarters but then turned it on in the 4th.  In other games, they played poorly for a half, but this game they never got into a rhythm offensively and Denard never found his accuracy.  It was mostly all oh no Denard.  I think it cannot be understated how different the current offense is under Borges in comparison to last year's offense under Rodriguez.  A lot of the formations and plays may appear similar, but Denard is now tasked with making pre-snap reads (whereas last year that would come from the sidelines) and then also go through an honest to god progression instead of hitting his first read on quick hitting plays. He'll get better as time goes on and I think his accuracy will improve as he becomes more comfortable with his decision making.

Some other things I found interesting:

Denard finished with 18 carries, but probably only 10 of those were designed runs.  Why run him so much against lesser competition, in better passing conditions and then hold him back in this game?  Hopefully he doesn't have some sort of injury they aren't telling the media about.

Cunningham was not a huge factor.  I think the wind affected both QB's a lot, as Cousins did almost all of his damage in the two quarters when he was heading with the wind.

Which begs the question, why did Borges keep throwing on 2nd and 8 in the 3rd quarter (heading into the wind)?  Or on first and ten?  Clearly the wind was affecting the play, take your chances running it 3 times and then punting.  Denard may just break a tackle or make someone miss and go the distance.

And lastly,

I wasn't going to mention this, but since Tbone brought it up....Defending William Gholston's actions is ridiculous.  He played classless, dirty football and plays like that have no place in the game.  Remember, that's what this is, a game.  Trying to intentionally injure an opposing player or throwing punches goes well over the line of playing hard, intense football.  Gholston got blocked onto the ground in a routine play and then got up and punched his blocker in the throat. The play on Denard should have gotten him ejected in the first place, as he piled on late and then twisted Robinson's head by the facemask.  Denard was trapped under bodies and couldn't move, making it an even more dangerous play.  Even on the first play of the game, if you watch the replay, Gholston puts Lewans injured elbow into an armbar, which isn't a routine football play and appears directly intended to injure.  He should be suspended by the B1G.  Or by Dantonio if he wanted to run a respectable program.  Don't forget, these plays cost MSU 30 yards in the ballgame.