Loading ...Before My Reaction, Reactions
I’m still gathering my thoughts after Michigan’s heartbreaking loss to Iowa. However, several other Michigan bloggers have offered theirs:
Not because of what happened on the field. There have been worse losses than this, and there will be worse losses than this in the future. So why does this stand out? Because just like Michigan State fans being unable to handle prosperity, Michigan fans cannot handle adversity. One coaching decision, of which the average fan has almost zero real knowledge about, and the Michigan internet burns like it’s 2008 all over again. I suppose in some way allowances should be made. Michigan has never been “bad” before. Essentially every fan, irregardless of age, is used to Michigan being a good team. So after 3-9, everyone’s a little fucked up in the head, and every misstep from here on out is cause for alarm and cliff jumping and general insanity on the internet. Nobody wants to hear about the youth that still dominates this team, or about the patchwork defense that is still shuffling people around, trying to find a combination that works. Everyone who watches the game from the comfort of their couch with a beer in their hand is an elite head coach who has a 1.000 winning percentage, and to see something transpire on the television in front of them that they don’t agree with is abominable and unacceptable.
The really big question from all quarters of the many-headed Michosphere is going to revolve around the decision to keep glorified single-winger Denard Robinson at quarterback to guide the Wolverines’ last-ditch drive with a little over a minute to go, which, yes, was fairly weird: Robinson had just led a nice touchdown drive to bring Michigan within two, and even completed a pass on that drive, after Tate Forcier was pulled in the wake of the worst game of his young career. But given that Forcier has already conjured up three dramatic fourth-quarter drives in his first five games, and Robinson is a noted nonentity in the passing game, you’d think the reins on the must-have drive in the dying seconds would be passed to the proven magic-maker in that situation, not the hot hand with no accuracy beyond 10 yards — and in hindsight, having witnessed Robinson’s wobbly duck of an interception to end the threat and the game, you’d be right.
I guarantee some Iowa fan will wax poetic about how their defense caused the benching of Tate Forcier… which is patently wrong. Forcier’s unforced errors last night that lead to him getting the hook. An unrushed throw into double coverage for the pick, a fumble in which he wasn’t touched, tripping over a yardline on 2nd and 4 to kill a drive, happy feet in the pocket with good protection, and throws into areas that just simply did not make sense were the story of Tate’s night. What ultimately lead to the benching was the series where we came out after a kickoff, promptly got a delay of game (AFTER A KICKOFF… BREAKING THINGS HERE), and he just started chucking the ball for no real apparent reason: he wasn’t running the offense, and that earned him a spot on the bench. Iowa’s D had nothing to do with the majority of these mistakes.
Looking at the tape, I’m not sure exactly sure what Forcier was trying to do beyond demonstrating to Rodriguez who he thought should be taking the snaps. It was clear that Robinson was going to stay in (several guys on defense were pumping up Denard, Sheridan was giving him a few words and the offense huddled with Tate just listening along from the outside). He finally looked like a freshman on the field and with this, acted like one on the sideline.
I am convinced, if Michigan recovers the onside kick, they win that football game. If there’s anything out there that puts two more minutes on the clock for Denard Robinson, Michigan wins. The offensive line was capably handling the Iowa DL, as they (mostly) had been all game. And the defense was doing a solid job of it’s own. I mean, look at how Iowa scored.
Assuming Rodriguez benched starter Tate Forcier because of Forcier’s performance (8/19 for 94 yards and an INT, 8 carries for 26 yards), it was an indefensible decision. Two of Michigan’s victories this season (Notre Dame and Indiana) are the direct result of Forcier’s late-game heroics. Last week’s near-victory against Michigan State came after Michigan was down 20-6 halfway through the fourth quarter and Forcier directed two touchdown drives. Meanwhile, backup Denard Robinson has had a couple electrifying TD runs while failing to pass the ball efficiently in spot duty this season. Prior to last night, Robinson was 4/11 for 57 yards, zero touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.
Markus, When Carcajous Attack!
Has it occurred to anyone that maybe Forcier was given the chance(s) already to play out the game “his way” tonight against Iowa? Denard Robinson can run and throw well too, not mention make electrifying plays in his own right. Or have we all somehow forgotten how he left defenders eating tire fragments as he scampered into the end zone against Western Michigan and again versus Eastern Michigan in a matter of seconds? Michigan rushed for 195 yards tonight against Iowa’s top 15 defense. Is it then so hard for Michigan fans to imagine Denard Robinson breaking out and scampering 83 yards for a touchdown on the final drive? What if he had just scampered out of bounds well in field goal range and with plenty of time left on the clock? What if he had connected to Odoms at or around the Iowa 31 with those 45 seconds yet to play?
There seems to be a refrain stating something to the effect that Denard “can’t do it” and only Tate “can do it”.
The question on everybody’s mind is the coaching decision to allow Denard Robinson to lead a drive with a minute and a half remaining and zero timeouts. It’s simply indefensible. Even letting Robinson quarterback the previous drive was a questionable choice. The Robinson-led offense, which mostly consists of quarterback runs without misdirection, has had limited success all year. It worked unusually well for one drive, vindicating Rodriguez.
Similar Posts:
- Wild Recruiting Weekend Recap
- The Denard Conundrum
- Chill on the Tate Forcier “Rumors”
- A (Very) Early Look at the 2010 Offense
- Wolverines on the Web Liked the Flyover, At Least
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This season is still a rebuilding year. This game was a great chance for the Wolverines to bounce back into the top twenty-five. Furthermore, it was a chance for the University of Michigan football program to gain national notoriety for defeating the number twelve team in the nation. Unfortunately it didn’t happen. Why? Because Michigan is rebuilding. Coach Rodriguez’s choice to bench Forcier was to teach him a lesson. A lesson which may serve purpose down the road during another game, or another season. Besides, they have two freshmen quarterbacks. These guys will either split time at QB, or one (probably Robinson) will transfer. Michigan does need to test out that arm of Robinson to see what skills he has besides his running ability.
This program has already bounced back to my expectations, if not beyond them. I live in Southern California, so I can’t see every Michigan football game, but I was deeply saddened by the 2008-2009 season. As one of the other bloggers noted, I haven’t really seen Michigan fail like they did. I really figured this team was going to be in the cellar of National Title contention for years to come. But with the emergence of players like Forcier, and Robinson, I can see a bright future with a prolific offense that will be featured on many national television broadcasts.
I just think many have forgotten that this is still a rebuilding year. Maybe by the time Forcier is a Junior or Senior I would expect better results. The young men on this squad still has to learn tough lessons. It wasn’t like this squad was going to go to the national title anyway. Michigan State had already ruined any sort of chance that Michigan had.
I do not understand all the fuss, look at the BIG picture.
GO BLUE!!!