A programming note

An issue has arisen on my home laptop, preventing me from doing certain things, such as the Run Chart. Said issue is expected to be resolved either Sunday or Monday, so next week will feature the Run Charts for both Penn State and Illinois. Sorry for the delay.

Attention, Brilliant Football Coaches of the Internet

Penn State 35, Michigan 10; 5-3, 1-3

If you think I'm going to stop, you are as sorely mistaken about me as you are about that which you bitch about so much. I take no pleasure in this, and I cannot say the same for those I am addressing, because these people are indeed taking at least a little bit of satisfaction in believing they have been proven right.

The in vogue phrase tonight on the increasingly insufferable Michigan message boards is "poorly coached." Michigan gets blown out, so it automatically has to mean the coaches are just a bunch of bumbling invalids. What exactly does "poorly coached" mean? Is it the amount of excessive penalties they're committing? Oh, five for 33 yards today.

The following is a post from a prominent Michigan message board, posted by someone who no doubt coached high level football for 20 years and is in a position to accurately judge.

I have totally jumped the fence. I'm telling you, during the coaching search RR was one of those guys in that top, top tier of my personal preferences (but I dismissed the notion because I thought he wouldn't change jobs). When UM landed him I was so happy. To have gone through the stupid crap with Miles and to actually end up with a much better hire! Wow! I was giddy. For weeks I was giddy. But halfway through his second Big Ten campaign - I'm over it. I understand the need to be 'all-in', the natural desire to believe this is just pain on the way to the top. But I do not believe that because: This team is terribly coached. The losses don't bother me as much as the certain knowledge of how badly coached this team is. I chuckle at the 'three things' did this team in notion (followed by an article which categorizes 60+ crappy plays into three things). This team is terrible at the fundamentals, haphazard in terms of scheme, pathologically deficient on special teams, and simply sloppy at every position on the field. They look like just the sort of crap can team that would spike a ball on 3rd down with ten ticks left on the clock. (By the way: Did UM really just blitz their asses off in the red zone against a team that Iowa proved can't succeed against zones in the red zone? And get beat like a drum every time? Yes they did.) Just look at the product on the field. Let all the other stuff go. No 'all-in', no Rosenberg, no in-fighting, just the product on the field. Remove the colors from the jerseys and just watch. UM is, by good measure, the worst coached football team in the conference. Period. A lot of it is basic fundamentals, so a lot of it is on the assistants, but ultimately, it is on Rodriguez. I never thought this would be the case. UM is terribly coached. And today, they reverted so far, that just like game after game last year, they quit. I apologize for this. I will not post regularly because I don't want to become that guy. But as for this coach - I no longer believe he can produce a Big Ten Quality team. (Of course, I'll be hoping like hell he immediately proves me wrong.)

Terrible at fundamentals? Like tackling? Because overall, this team has tackled better than most Michigan teams over the past few years, excluding 2006.

What does "haphazard in scheme" even mean?

Pathologically deficient on special teams? Our field goal kicker has missed one kick all season, our punter is the best in the nation, we blocked a punt today, we have two kickoff returns for touchdowns in basically 15 years, and one of them came this year, and the muffed/fumbled punt fiasco of a year ago has been almost completely eliminated.

Here's another gem:

the team is just not getting better. If we lose and play well then we just lose. PSU could have scored 50 today had they wanted to - the UM offense was so inept that PSU probably knew at half time that they already had enough points to win. This team is currently a train wreck and I believe this coaching staff is dangerously close to losing this team. To see Bruce Tall and RR go at it like they did on the side lines is not good for the moral of this team.

Wait, you mean the youngest team in the Big Ten regressed against the second best team in the conference with the best defense and a fifth year senior quarterback? The best defense in the conference, the one so many of our fans lust over what they want Michigan's defense to look like, confused and crushed our freshman QB, and somehow this reflects poorly on the coaches? Did Rich Rodriguez go out there and stomp on Molk's leg and I missed it?

And the meme circulating that RR and the coaches need to calm down on the sidelines is getting more and more comical everytime I hear it, because it's so painfully obvious the people complaining about this never played football (or any other sport). Or maybe they got so used to Lloyd's ho-hum nature on the sideline that they just assumed that was the way it's done everywhere. Well, here's a little newsflash for you: This is football. It's not chess. It's not ballet. It's not a trip to the grocery store. It's a violent, passionate, emotional game, and things get heated. Players yell at coaches. Coaches yell at players. Coaches yell at other coaches. None of this means jack fucking shit, and you need to shut up about it already.

Oh, but it gets even better. Here's that same moron from the previous post:

You my friend are in total Denial, You can try and spin this any way you want to try and make yourself feel better, but to say that the coaches getting in to heated arguments on the side line does not effect morale is ridiculus.It looks like RR and Tall almost went to blows over something as minor as 12 men on the field and you obviously did not look at the faces of those kids on the sideline as the two of them were going at it. PSU ran a basic offense at about the midway point of the 3rd qtr-open your freakin eyes.

"Something as minor as 12 men on the field".

By the way, that was on 4th on 4. You know, as in, if there had been a penalty called, Penn State would've had a first down instead of a field goal try. So, yeah...that's pretty fucking major, just like the timeout we had to use that we could've used at the end of the half.

And yeah, I'm sure the players were trembling in fear, shocked and appalled that their coaches might raise their voices.

It must be so comforting for idiots like this to pass judgment from the comfort of their couches, knowing no important decisions involving this team will ever fall on them. They get to preach about how they know all that ails this team without being in any sort of contact with any of the coaches, players, trainers, anybody. These people are no doubt preparing their resumes so they can deploy their brilliant knowledge on the football field when it counts.

I'll try and explain this, one more time.

1. Our quarterbacks are freshmen. Apparently people aren't accepting this excuse anymore, which is rather amusing. Just so you know, there is no light that magically goes on for freshmen quarterbacks. They're still freshmen in October and November, just like August and September. And for some reason, they often play worse late in the season than they do early on. This could have something to do with the fact that they're playing better teams and better defenses, but hey, I'm not the expert here.

2. Our defense is operating under its third different coordinator and system in three years. I guess this isn't being accepted either. Apparently it's supposed to be easy to learn something complicated in three different ways three years in a row.

3. There are walkons in the two deep at all three levels of defense. Jordan Kovacs is a great story. Will Heininger and Kevin Leach are gamers, I'm sure. But when they are backups who are asked to contribute significant time in real games and not clean up duty at the end of blowouts, there is a problem. How many times does this need to be said before people start listening? Er, scratch that. It's starting to become clear that it doesn't matter how many times it's said.

4. The transitive property does not apply in sports, EVER. People were operating under the following assumption. Iowa mauled Penn State up front. Michigan mauled Iowa up front. Therefore, Michigan will maul Penn State. This doesn't work. Each game is independent and stands alone. Previous results and trends can be used as a rough outline of what may transpire in the future, but there are never absolutes.

I mean...I don't know, man. I'm pretty close to my wit's end when it comes to arguing with these people. A year ago Michigan lost to MSU by two touchdowns to fall to 2-6. We're 5-3 now. We're nowhere close to where we want to be, and that seems to be the only thing these morons want to see. They refuse to acknowledge that while we're still far from the sky, we've risen from the sewers.

Even when the man who metaphorically tucks them in at night finally voices his support...

"Rich is a young guy, (and) he's got a great background for such a young guy," Carr said Saturday during his interview with Frank Beckmann and Jim Brandstatter. "What we're seeing here offensively throughout this season is a great thing for the future of Michigan football. "The transition a year ago you could expect it (the struggles) because what they were looking for in a quarterback. Certainly what we have here is exciting. I'm excited for the future."

...Well, I suppose that isn't good enough either?

I thought after the pleasant start to this season, it'd be possible to finally just sit back, watch some football and enjoy the growing process. And now we have one bad day - imagine that, a young football team being overwhelmed - against a really fucking good team, and it's time to run around with scissors, screaming and setting shit on fire because chaos is really fucking cool, man.

It's like pissing into the wind, trying to debate this over and over again with the same dense, close-minded people. You feel relief and you feel like you're getting something done, and then you realize you're just covered in waste now and you smell like urine.

Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.

Run Chart: Iowa

Preface: It has been my goal all along to get the Run Chart out late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning as a prelude to Brian's Offensive UFR. For the second time, real life reared its ugly head and delayed things again. I am not happy about it, but sometimes hobbies have to be pushed to the backburner in order to deal with things that are more important. Sorry.

Again, O-line was once again the same as last week: Ortmann - Schilling - Moosman - Huyge - Dorrestein.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR trips right	Forcier	Zone read keeper	9	Forcier	-
2-1	-	-	Penalty	-10	-	-
2-11	Shotgun 4 WR	Minor	Delayed draw	1	-	Huyge

1st and 10: Easy read...sort of. There's nobody on the line that is unblocked and being read here. There's a linebacker out on Odoms who naturally goes with Odoms at the snap...maybe he's the read man? Either way, there's nobody there, so Forcier makes the right move by keeping the ball.

2nd and 1: Normally penalties on running plays get negged...but this is fucking ridiculous. Schilling pancakes his man, and Predictably Incompetent Big Ten Official interprets this as holding and throws his flag like an asshole. I believe Molk (or Moosman?) got called for a similarly awful call in the opener against Western.

2nd and 11: Huyge gets blasted back by Ballard, to the point where he nearly buries Minor as he receives the handoff. This forces a cutback, which pretty much ruins the whole play.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Minor	Zone read stretch	9	Schilling, Moosman, Huyge	-
2-1	I-form 3 WR	Minor	Iso	9	Moosman/Schilling, Ortmann, Kev. Grady	-
1-10	Ace 4 WR trips right	Minor	Zone	-1	-	-
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Shaw	Pitch	5	-	Odoms
2-5	Shotgun 4 WR	Forcier	Zone read keeper	1	-	Forcier
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Smith	Zone read stretch	2	-	Schilling
1-G	Shotgun split 2 WR	Minor	Zone read stretch	3-TD	Koger, Ortmann, Kev. Grady	-

1st and 10: Good stuff by the interior OL here. Moosman occupies the DT long enough for Schilling to neutralize him, and he (Moosman) then gets to the linebacker, while Huyge escorts Ballard away, creating a crease for Minor to zip through, flip the safety (literally), and pick up nine.

2nd and 1: Moosman and Schilling double the DT, Ortmann walls off the DE, and Grady the fullback pops the linebacker, easily springing Minor past the LOS, where he rages for several yards after contact.

1st and 10: There's really no minus here, Clayborn just crashes in unblocked (by design). Hard to minus any of the OL when the unblocked man on the DL is on top of your running back in less than two seconds. Michigan's rock against Iowa's paper here; if it's a playaction fake, Forcier has all day.

1st and 10: Conversely, this is Michigan's paper against Iowa's defensive rock, in the sense that this play doesn't really work like it should, but still picks up five because of the defensive alignment. This is the debut of the new pitch play, which I am a big fan of. Odoms completely whiffs on his cut block though, which holds it down. In the future, perhaps this year but probably not, I envision a play where this pitch is faked, and the safeties (and corners...and linebackers) bite up, turning a wide receiver loose for a wide open walkin touchdown. Or maybe even some shenanigans where Denard Robinson is the pitch man and has the option to throw off it. Lots of fun possibilities with this.

2nd and 5: Argh. The end is blocked here, but the linebacker stays home, and this is a crappy freshman decision to keep the ball. Meanwhile, a perfect seam was created by Ortmann and Schilling, which Minor would've zipped through with ease if he had the ball.

1st and 10: Random Vincent Smith appearence. Schilling gets owned by the tackle here; Klug completely sheds him and hauls Smith down near the LOS.

1st and goal: Ortmann and Koger double the defensive end and plow him into the endzone, which also washes out the safety Greenwood. Grady the fullback erases Tyler Sash, and Minor falls forward into the endzone.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Minor	Zone read stretch	8	Moosman, Huyge	-
2-2	Shotgun 4 WR trips left	Minor	Pitch	2	-	Kel. Grady

1st and 10: I should probably come up with a new name for this, as it isn't really a stretch play to the outside. Regardless, Huyge and Moosman double the DT and drive him backwards with ease, giving Minor an easy cutback, which he hits and zooms through for eight.

2nd and 2: Whaaa? Kelvin Grady runs right past the safety who's going balls to the wall toward the line of scrimmage to shut this play down. Inexperience? Well, it gets him a tongue lashing from Rodriguez on the sideline.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Minor	Zone read stretch	7	Huyge/Moosman, Dorrestein, Kev. Grady	-
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Forcier	Zone read keeper	6	-	Forcier

1st and 10: Huyge and Moosman double the playside DT again (but not as devastatingly as last time, so only +0.5 for each), Dorrestein drives the playside DE off the ball, and Grady the fullback leads the way for Minor.

1st and 10: This is all on Forcier - the good and the bad. The good: he dekes out the defensive end and is able to turn a negative play into six yards. The bad: that defensive end stayed home, and Forcier made the wrong read. Minor should've gotten the ball here.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot right	Minor	Zone...something	-3	-	Minor

1st and 10: Beats the hell out of me. Minor cutbacks as he gets the handoff, which makes it look like this is some sort of counter play, despite what appears to be a hole forming up the middle. Maybe I shouldn't subtract from Minor for this? I dunno.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Minor	Zone read stretch	12	Kev. Grady, Huyge, Moosman/Schilling	-
1-10	???	Minor	???	2	-	-
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR trips right	Minor	Zone read stretch	-1	-	Schilling, Minor (-3)

1st and 10: The playside DT here stunts himself out of the play, which allows Huyge to easily reach the linebacker while Moosman and Schilling double the other tackle. Grady the fullback pops the strongside linebacker too. The safeties are back, and this is an easy dozen yards.

1st and 10: We miss this play while ABC talks about slippery balls. *middle school high five*

1st and 10: Schilling is turned inside out by Klug, who then strips Minor and recovers the ball. Absolutely devastating turnover.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Minor	Zone read stretch	2	-	Huyge, Forcier

1st and 10: The DT sort of outmaneuvers Huyge here to hold this down, but this seems like another misread by Forcier. Michigan is blocking the backside DE, and there's no linebacker staying at home. Maybe this was a handoff all the way, but if not, Forcier made the wrong read and should've kept it.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
2-9	Shotgun 4 WR	Shaw	Pitch	4	Odoms	-

2nd and 9: Odoms keeps the linebacker from making the play, but the safety sniffs this out from the start. Still picks up four yards.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Minor	Zone read stretch	6	Moosman/Schilling	-
2-4	Ace 4 WR trips left	Minor	Zone	5	Schilling/Ortmann	-
1-10	I-form 3 WR slot left	Minor	Iso	9	Ortmann, Schilling, Moosman, Kev. Grady	-
2-6	I-form 3 WR slot left	Minor	Zone right	7	Dorrestein	-
1-10	I-form twins left	Minor	Zone left	4	Ortmann, Schilling	-
2-6	Shotgun 4 WR trips right	Minor	Pitch	12	Koger, Mathews, Odoms	-
1-G	Shotgun split slot left	Shaw	Zone read stretch	7	Moosman, Schilling, Ortmann	-
2-G	I-form tight 1 WR	Minor	Iso Rage	1-TD	-	-

1st and 10: Moosman and Schilling sort of double the weakside DT. It's enough to create space for Minor to just drive forward in a mass of humanity for six.

2nd and 4: Quicker tempo makes this harder to read. The weakside DT appears to be slanting, which can disrupt the blocking. Schilling sort of gets enough of him to prevent him from tackling, and then gets out to the second level, while Ortmann doesn't really block the linebacker, but obstructs his path to the ballcarrier. The backside DE is unblocked, but arm tackles don't bring down Brandon Minor.

1st and 10: Bo would be proud. Grady the fullback cuts the linebacker to the ground, freeing up Minor to hit the seam created by Ortmann and Moosman, while Schilling scoots to the second level to block the other outside linebacker.

2nd and 6: ...Debord would be proud here (?!). The playside DT stunts out of the play here, which is beneficial to Michigan. Dorrestein does a good job on the end, giving Minor a lane to cut into and rage from there. This isn't the OL's best play, more on Iowa for getting caught.

1st and 10: At this point Debord is laughing and saying "How do you like me now" before finishing a cigarette and going to bed, as we zone left. Again, not much in the way of execution here, but Ortmann and Schilling get enough push to pick up four for Minor. Iowa is keen to what Michigan's doing at this point.

2nd and 6: Continuing the theme of old coaches who would be proud, if for some reason he watched film of his team's defense, Soup Campbell would enjoy this play, as the wideouts each get blocks that produce a dozen yards from Minor.

1st and goal: Moosman buries the playside defensive tackle with a pancake block (what, no holding). Schilling and Ortmann obstruct the backside, and Shaw flies through, landing at the one.

2nd and goal: Rage.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Ace twins left	Minor	Zone right	0	-	Schilling, Minor

1st and 10: Schilling lets a defender inside of him...but WTF is Minor doing? It's a zone play, and he runs straight ahead as if it's an iso.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
2-15	Shotgun 4 WR	Minor	Delayed draw	1	-	Huyge

2nd and 15: Huyge gets dominated here. 0-for-2 on this play on this night.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun 3 WR slot right	Robinson	QB draw	8	Minor, Huyge	-
2-2	Shotgun 3 WR slot right	Robinson	QB keeper	2	Dorrestein	Huyge
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR trips left	Robinson	QB draw	5	Minor, Ortmann	-
1-10	Shotgun 3 WR slot left	Robinson	QB keeper	3	-	Koger, Ortmann
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Robinson	QB keeper	7	Moosman, Schilling	-
1-G	Shotgun 4 WR	Shaw	Zone read stretch	1	-	Ortmann
2-G	Shotgun 3 WR slot left	Robinson	QB keeper	5	Ortmann, Moosman	Schilling
3-G	Shotgun 3 WR slot right	Robinson	QB keeper	3-TD	Minor	-

1st and 10: Minor as the lead blocker pops the linebacker, who grabs Robinson anyway, but it's upfield instead of at the LOS. Huyge seals the DT inside.

2nd and 2: Dorrestein contains the DE inside, but Huyge is discarded by the linebacker, who tackles.

1st and 10: Minor as the lead blocker again, and he pops the linebacker again, this time with better results, giving Robinson an alley as Ortmann turns the DE outside.

1st and 10: Both Ortmann and Koger lose the men they are supposed to block, almost simultaneously. Jeez.

1st and 10: Moosman seals the DT inside, and Schilling releases onto Angerer. He blocks him, but Angerer still manages to tackle; he's pretty good. Brian noted this in his UFR (link above) - Kevin Grady is the lead blocker here, and if he doubles Angerer with Schilling, Robinson is one on one (two) with the safeties. Instead Grady runs past toward the safeties while Angerer manages to make the tackle. No minus for Grady, as I don't think he blew an assignment or anything, and you generally trust your left guard one on one against the MLB.

1st and goal: Not much push from the right side, or Moosman, and Shaw cuts back. Schilling is stalemating (sort of) Angerer, and Shaw tries to spin away, and gets blown up by the backside defensive end, who schooled Ortmann. Otherwise Shaw goes to the endzone.

2nd and goal: Ortmann turns the DE outside while Moosman seals the DT. If Schilling gets Angerer, Robinson probably zips in for six. He doesn't.

3rd and goal: Iowa knows it's coming, but Minor gets a piece of two separate defenders, which is enough to allow Robinson to dive for the goalline and the TD.

Game Chart:

	Yay	Nay	Total
Ortmann	7.5	1	6.5
Schilling	7	4	3
Moosman	8	0	8
Huyge	4.5	4	0.5
Dorrestein	3	0	3
Koger	2	1	1
Minor	3	5	-2
Kev. Grady	5	0	5
Mathews	1	0	1
Kel. Grady	0	1	-1
Odoms	2	1	1
Forcier	1	3	-2
TOTAL	44	20	24

Some thoughts:

• Great performance, and pretty inexplicable considering the MSU suckfest. I don't know if that can be attributed to Moosman still settling in at center or MSU being much more amped up for that game. If it's the latter, that better be fixed, because that can't happen again.
• Should be interesting if Molk is back for Penn State. We will learn nothing about the OL this weekend, and Molk obviously gets his job back when he's ruled healthy enough to play...but will there be more adjusting needed when he returns and Moosman and Huyge shift back to their normal positions? Going up against Jared Odrick and Ollie Ogbu is not a good time to be adjusting.
  

Comprehensive chart:

	WMU	ND	EMU	IND	MSU	Iowa	TOTAL
Ortmann	5.5	1	6	7.5	1	6.5	+27.5
Schilling	0.5	-1	8	7	-1	3	+16.5
Molk	1	6	2	N/A	N/A	N/A	+9
Moosman	5	6.5	N/A	3	0	8	+22.5
Ferrara	N/A	N/A	4	N/A	-1	N/A	+3
Huyge	2.5	4	6.5	2	-2	0.5	+13.5
Dorrestein	N/A	N/A	N/A	2	-2	3	+3
Koger	0.5	2.5	1.5	3	-1	1	+7.5
Webb	-2.5	0	7	-0.5	N/A	N/A	+4
Kev. Grady	3	-1	5	N/A	N/A	5	+12
Kel. Grady	-1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-1	-2
Moundros	N/A	1	N/A	3	N/A	N/A	+4
Mathews	N/A	1	2	1	N/A	1	+6
Odoms	1	-1	N/A	1	N/A	1	+2
Stonum	2	-0.5	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	+1.5
Hemingway	1	N/A	N/A	2	1	N/A	+4
Savoy	1	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	+2
Shaw	N/A	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	+1
Minor	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	-2	-2	-3
Smith	N/A	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	+1
Brown	-2	N/A	-1	N/A	-1	N/A	-4
Forcier	0	-1	2	-2	2	-2	-1
Robinson	N/A	N/A	0	-4	N/A	N/A	-4
Sheridan	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	+1
TOTALS	18.5	17.5	46	28	-6	24	+128

I Hate Being a Michigan Fan

Iowa 30, Michigan 28; 4-2 (1-2)

Okay, not really. I don't really hate being a Michigan fan 90-95% of the time.

Tonight just happens to fall into the other 5-10% when I do.

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 truth is this: Nobody - not you, not I - was on the sideline tonight in Iowa City. Not a single person passing judgment right now knows what went on when Rich Rodriguez talked to Tate Forcier on the sideline, what he saw in his body language, or what he saw when he looked him in the eye. I don't want to hear any of this crap about how Forcier led three game winning/tying drives to date. Coaches, in every sport, cannot base decisions on anything other than what is happening right in front of them. And what happened in front of them is this:

Passing         Cmp-Att-Int Yds TD Long Sack
--------------------------------------------
Forcier, Tate     8-19-1     94  0   35    0

He played terribly. He looked rattled, turned the ball over twice, did his usual thing of throwing into coverage, and above all, he looked like he was sulking on the sideline. Denard Robinson, on the other hand, went into the game for the first time and led a 59-yard touchdown drive. What's that cliche about "the meaning of the word 'insanity'"? Something like, insane is when you try to do something over and over and expect different results. Tate Forcier had shown nothing in this game to make the coaches believe he would suddenly snap out of it and lead a game winning drive. Using his performances against Notre Dame, Indiana and Michigan State as justification doesn't work. None of the above are Iowa. This was the best defense we've faced this year, and Forcier played like it. If Rodriguez had put Forcier back in and he threw an interception in double coverage, or yakety sax'd the snap, then everyone's getting their torches and pitchforks out about RR going away from the QB that just scored a touchdown for us and instead putting in the one who played badly all night long. It's a no-win situation.

Look, I understand. The basis of all this goes above and beyond Michigan Football. It's a sample of where we're at in society as a whole, really. We all demand immediate results immediately, and anyone who fails to deliver flawlessly must be ridiculed and berated to the point of humilation. I'm not saying coaches should be above reproach. Not at all. Hell, I criticized some of the playcalls last week. But there are people literally making complete fools of themselves tonight. Was no one versed on the 24 hour rule? In the wake of a disappointing loss, do yourself a favor and unplug your computer. Go for a walk. Go binge eat chocolate. Go sleep it off and then come back tomorrow. Posting stupid shit like "If Tate is not injured, I'm not sure how much longer I want RR", "RR lost this game for us" and "RR IS TRYING TO RUN TATE OFF" makes you look foolish. RR lost the game for us? Really? The team was poorly coached? Really? I saw a Michigan team control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball for the majority of the game, stuff the run and score three rushing touchdowns on a team that hadn't allowed one in almost a year. I saw a secondary composed of a corner-turned-safety-turned-corner, two strong safeties - one of which being a walkon - and one superstar play about as well as it can.

This is a flawed team. People have been saying this for a long time now, and the masses still feel the urge to PANIC when the flaws are exposed. I saw Michigan finish -4 in turnover margin, suffer a couple total breakdowns on defense on the road at night against the #12 team in the country...and lose by two points. A year ago, Michigan loses this game by four touchdowns. I'm not big on moral victories at all, but if you're blinded by anger to the point where you can't see the progress this team has made because of one close loss, then I question your fortitude. I question your foresight and your ability to see the big picture, because every fan screaming about "that hillbilly Rodriguez" was screaming about John Beilein benching Manny Harris seven months ago at Iowa, leading to an overtime loss with Michigan's NCAA chances teetering on the brink of destruction.

One of the cornerstones of Rich Rodriguez's program is that your job is never safe. We've celebrated that philosophy for 22 months now. We embraced the thought that you better work your ass off and you better do your job correctly, because the guy behind you will never stop gunning for you. And then we see that very philosophy being practiced right in front of our eyes tonight, and everyone keels over and wretches. Tate Forcier didn't do his job, so he was replaced, and his replacement executed brilliantly.....and nobody's happy. I guess everyone subscribed to the thought of results-based employment in theory only? Me personally, I'd rather see the guy doing a better job in there. It didn't work tonight. Shit happens. Everyone involved is going to be better for it. If the price of teaching our freshman quarterbacks a lesson they need to learn is one isolated loss in their second road game ever, then I'm buying.

Of course, I don't expect this to ease anybody's pain. I just hope that when the alcohol wears off and the anger fades away, some people possess the capability to stand back and look at the bigger picture.

Run Chart: Michigan State

The advantage of the run game being a complete non-factor: charting it is quick and easy.

O-line same as last week: Ortmann - Schilling - Moosman - Huyge - Dorrestein.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun slot right	Brown	Zone read dive	-1		Huyge

1st and 10: Oren Wilson shoots inside from the defensive tackle spot, getting inside of Huyge and blowing this play up. From my entirely amateur perspective, I'm a big fan of throwing right to the endzone off a turnover, especially when that turnover puts you in the redzone. Oh, and MSU was in their base 4-3 here, leaving the slot receiver at the top of the screen uncovered except for the safety. But that's just me.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Brown	Zone read dive	2	-	Ortmann

1st and 10: Ortmann is a step slow getting to the second level and can't get to Greg Jones in time, but really this play develops too slowly and Colin Neely crashes down unblocked (by design) from his defensive end spot.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun ace slot left	Robinson	QB keeper	1	-	Schilling
1-10	Ace 2 TE twin WR left	Minor	HB dive	2	-	Minor
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Minor	Yakety Sax	-4	-	Minor, Brown
2-9	Shotgun 4 WR	Brown	HB draw	6	-	Huyge

1st and 10: Jones is again too quick as this time it's Schilling that doesn't get to him in time. Doesn't help that this play was obvious. This is a double edged sword. More later.

1st and 10: I honestly have no clue what Minor is doing here. The OL zone blocks to the left and does it well...and for some reason Minor cuts back (or stumbles, perhaps?) right into unblocked Michigan State defenders. There was a hole created by the zone blocking, and I can't figure out why Minor cut back. Baffling.

1st and 10: This is just terrible. Minor and Brown, both flanking Forcier, both think they're getting the ball and run into each other. Plays like this (and the botched snap two plays later on 3rd down) stand out like an ugly sore when looking back at this game and seeing how many opportunities Michigan left on the field due to stupid mistakes.

2nd and 9: I'm probably being a nitpicky douche here, but this is a run chart, and four of the five offensive linemen are selling the pass by pass blocking here. The six yards here are a result of a great playcall. Huyge pulls around and is shed mercilessly by Greg Jones. Fun fact: Did you know Greg Jones grew up a Michigan fan and UM whiffed on him? Awesome.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
2-17	Shotgun slot right	Brown	Zone read stretch	-1	Ortmann	Koger

2nd and 17: Ortmann does a good job kicking out the DE, but Koger inexplicably runs right past Eric Gordon. Linebackers usually excel at stuffing plays when they are unblocked.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot right	Brown	Zone read stretch	7	Ortmann	Minor (-2)
2-3	Shotgun split slot right	Brown	Zone read stretch	2	Minor	Dorrestein
3-1	Shotgun slot right	Forcier	QB keeper	0	-	-

1st and 10: Ortmann kicks out the end again, and this honestly might go for a 93 yard touchdown - if Minor doesn't totally blow a block on Rod Jenrette. Go watch this again. Hemingway has the corner occupied. If Minor blocks Jenrette, there's no one between one of Michigan's fastest players and the endzone. Disastrous.

2nd and 3: Minor actually sticks Gordon pretty good here, but Dorrestein's cut block on Jerel Worthy fails, allowing Worthy to continue down the line untouched to tackle.

3rd and 1: I have hatred in my heart for this playcall. There are no missed blocks or assignments by the OL...it's just a shitty call, in my opinion. It's fundamentally flawed. If you need a yard, give it to your 216-pound running back. If Brandon Minor is healthy enough to be in the game and serve as a lead blocker, he's healthy enough to carry the ball on 3rd and 1 (and if he isn't, he shouldn't have dressed). Give it to him. Or go into the I and run a FB dive with Kevin Grady. I don't like calling a designed run with your 180-pound quarterback, not just because there were better options, but because it exposes him to unnecessary contact. I'm not saying you take plays out of the playbook to protect Tate from injury - you can't do that. But pick your spots. A designed run on 3rd and short when they're already expecting run and have been stuffing it all day - I hate it. I'm one of the biggest "trust the coaches" people around...but I hate this.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Minor	Zone read stretch	3	-	Dorrestein, Ferrara

1st and 10: Ferrara in at RG for Huyge, and he can't get to Gordon. Dorrestein gets blown back by Trevor Anderson, who then spins off and chases Minor. The right side of the line is not good.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun slot left	Odoms	Reverse	-4	-	-

1st and 10: There's really nobody at fault here on offense. Reverses depend on the defense losing contain. MSU did a good job staying at home on this play.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
3-1	Shotgun 4 WR trips left	Forcier	Zone read keeper	11	Forcier	-
2-1	Shotgun slot left	Forcier	Zone read keeper	14	Forcier, Hemingway	-

3rd and 1: THIS is the kind of QB run that is a great call on 3rd down. MSU sells out 100% on the running back, giving Forcier ample running room after he keeps it.

2nd and 1: Exact same thing, with Hemingway giving a nice block on the perimeter.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR trips right	Forcier	Zone read keeper	5	Forcier	-
1-10	Shotgun slot left	Forcier	Zone read keep/dive	4	Minor	-
2-6	Shotgun slot left	Minor	Zone read dive	1	-	Forcier

1st and 10: Simple again, an easy decision to keep as the end sells out on Minor.

1st and 10: This is a bizarre play. Forcier keeps it on the zone play, but it's instantaneous and he follows Minor right up the middle. Minor delivers a good pop as the lead blocker. This looks designed, similar to a play Robinson ran against Indiana, but I dunno.

2nd and 6: Misread. If Forcier pulls this out, it's a pass to the flat and a walk in touchdown for Koger (or a TD run for Tate if Koger blocks the safety). I suppose it's possible there was no read here and it was a run to Minor all the way, but then Koger would've blocked the read-end when he countered back from the H-back position instead of scooting past him into the flat.

Game Chart:

	Yay	Nay	Total
Ortmann	2	1	1
Schilling	0	1	-1
Moosman	0	0	0
Huyge	0	2	-2
Ferrara	0	1	-1
Dorrestein	0	2	-2
Koger	0	1	-1
Minor	2	4	-2
Brown	0	1	-1
Hemingway	1	0	1
Forcier	3	1	2
TOTAL	8	14	-6

Some thoughts:

• This is one of the most frustrating Michigan games I've ever seen, because we were so badly outplayed, and yet it was right there at the end. So many little mistakes: failing to score after the INT, Minor and Brown running into each other, Moosman's low snap, the crappy playcall before The Worst Decision by a Punter Ever, The Worst Decision by a Punter Ever, the ill-fated Denard series in the 4th, Stonum's fumble, the whole two-point debate, the questionable runs in OT, and finally the INT and defensive meltdown. So many mistakes. I guess it balances out, since at the end of the day the team that played better for the vast majority of the game was the team that won.
• On Denard: It is truly a double-edged sword. You have to keep giving him touches and working him in the offense so he gets comfortable...but at the same time, he just isn't enough of a passing threat to keep teams honest, and more often than not right now, we're wasting plays with him in there. It doesn't matter how electric he is, when the opposing defense knows what's coming, it's not going to work.
• It's really gutwrenching watching the final drive, because it was borderline legendary, and ended up just delaying some agony.
• Molk's absence cannot be understated. He is one of the most important players on the entire team, and that was shown in brutal fashion last Saturday.
• While I agree with the thought that the defense did well overall.....the first quarter drive was a killer in every way possible. A 10-minute drive that ends with a touchdown is exactly what Mark Dantonio wants every time. By not making any kind of stop (despite MSU doing its best to help with some personal fouls), we allowed MSU to set the tone for the entire game. Getting dominated in time of possession is not a bad thing - if you're scoring 70 yard touchdowns. If you're getting dominated in TOP because you can't run the ball and can't get first downs and your defense can't get off the field, you're in big trouble.
  

Comprehensive chart:

	WMU	ND	EMU	IND	MSU	TOTAL
Ortmann	5.5	1	6	7.5	1	+21
Schilling	0.5	-1	8	7	-1	+13.5
Molk	1	6	2	N/A	N/A	+9
Moosman	5	6.5	N/A	3	0	+14.5
Ferrara	N/A	N/A	4	N/A	-1	+3
Huyge	2.5	4	6.5	2	-2	+13
Dorrestein	N/A	N/A	N/A	2	-2	0
Koger	0.5	2.5	1.5	3	-1	+6.5
Webb	-2.5	0	7	-0.5	N/A	+4
Kev. Grady	3	-1	5	N/A	N/A	+7
Kel. Grady	-1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-1
Moundros	N/A	1	N/A	3	N/A	+4
Mathews	N/A	1	2	1	N/A	+5
Odoms	1	-1	N/A	1	N/A	1
Stonum	2	-0.5	N/A	N/A	N/A	+1.5
Hemingway	1	N/A	N/A	2	1	+4
Savoy	1	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	+2
Shaw	N/A	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	+1
Minor	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	-2	-1
Smith	N/A	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	+1
Brown	-2	N/A	-1	N/A	-1	-4
Forcier	0	-1	2	-2	2	1
Robinson	N/A	N/A	0	-4	N/A	-4
Sheridan	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	+1
TOTALS	18.5	17.5	46	28	-6	+104