[NU Sports] Michigan's d-line and some perspective

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> I agree with Paul and disagree with Steve on this
> one
> -- Michigan's defensive line made a huge difference.
> They got a rush with just four linemen rushing, a
> huge
> plus in that they could drop linebackers into
> coverage
> and not blitz d-backs. This accounted for the tight
> coverage on our shorter routes that act as "runs". 

Good point. I was thinking in pressure only and
thought the line did OK, but you're right in that they
got adequate pressure with just the line and I thought
coming in that UM would throw every blitz in the book
at us, so it did make a big difference. You guys are
right.

> We can all agree the holding penalties were
> devastating, and they all looked like good calls.

I only saw a couple and they were good calls -- but it
was just a sudden lack of consistency that irked me.
The first half was survival of the fittest. Nothing
was called and Michigan was jumping on offense and
committing a few other flag-worthy penalties you could
see from the stands. But they didn't call it and were
fair both ways - that's fine. It's fair and the
players adjust.

But then out of the locker room, it seemed like any
time we'd get a play or start the O in rhythm, a
yellow flag would come out for something that may have
been let go in the first half.

It didn't make or break the game - it's just
frustrating for players and coaches when the rules
seem to change at half and you're the one getting
called on it. A couple late flags on UM were too
little, too late in the fourth.

As for the running game, the self-inflicted penalty
wounds and UM D-line played a role ... but you still
gotta TRY! We were pretty much down around 10 points
most of the game. That's no time to abandon the
running game. We just gave up on the run and the
woefully low number of attempts shows it.

> While I was disappointed by the loss, I was not
> disheartened; this wasn't a catastrophic disaster
> like, say, Indiana in 2001. Neither should anybody

True - it's a tough loss and hurts, but wasn't a
collapse or even the ASU debacle. We just had an off
game offensively. Hopefully they got all the drops,
penalties, etc. out of their system.:) We may have
leaped too far after the wins of the last three weeks
and this was a setback but hopefully just a one-week
setback.

> Beat Iowa!

Definitely. It's been FAR too long since we've tasted
victory over those darned bumblebees!!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!


	
		
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