Toledo 13, Michigan 10
Oh. My. God.
The Wolverines are Notre Dame from last year. They are the worst team in college football and the worst team in Michigan history.
What's worse is that Michigan might have longer to go than Notre Dame before it returns to relevance.
I mean, they lost to Toledo.
The 1-4 Toledo Rockets, who aren't even a decent MAC team for crying out loud.
I can't take this. I really can't. The loss to App. State last year can at least be attributed to one of two things, depending on what type of Michigan fan you talk to.
One, App. State was a really good DI-AA team that has won multiple subdivision championships and would probably beat a lot of D-I teams; or two, Michigan took them too lightly and figured their No. 5 ranking would carry them to victory.
Losing to Toledo can't be attributed to anything other than the fact that Michigan really, really sucks and they really, really suck in all facets of the game.
Let's break it down.
Offense
This is the worst offense I've officially ever seen. The Detroit Lions are more productive than Michigan's offense.
The Wolverines couldn't do anything right against Toledo, whether they lined up four or five wide or they lined up in the I-formation. They were completely inept.
Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan combined to throw 15-for-27, 120 yards, three interceptions, and one touchdown.
Most quarterbacks can put up shoddy numbers like that on their own, but it takes two of them to do so for Michigan.
I was outraged to find out that Sheridan entered the game because Threet had a crap injury like a bruised elbow.
I don't care if the elbow is purple and swollen to the size of Tom Amstutz's belly. I don't ever want to see the "Human White Flag" throwing the ball again.
The "Human White Flag" couldn't move the ball at all the entire second half until he finally put them in position for a game-tying score at the end, in which I personally credit Sam McGuffie for that 29-yard catch.
Missing Martavious Odoms really hurt, as seen by Toney Clemons having silly putty for hands. Seriously, every ball seemed to bounce right off of his hands.
Having Zion Babb out there is equally useless as well.
The running game is mediocre at best. Sam McGuffie is good and all, but I'm curious as to how many one-yard runs he has, because when he gets hit at the line of scrimmage he goes down faster than David Underwood's career.
Kevin Grady is hated by Rich Rodriguez, and rightfully so. Grady couldn't pick up a 2nd-and-2 and then failed on 3rd-and-1.
After six games, this offense has no identity whatsoever, and I have no idea what or if they're good at anything.
Grade: F
Defense
I'm done defending the defense after that performance. I don't care that they were missing Brandon Graham and Donovan Warren. There are no excuses for giving up 327 yards of total offense to Toledo.
And 20 catches, which is a Michigan Stadium record, to Toledo receiver Nick Moore.
The Rockets took the defensive line right out of the game by rolling the pocket out and making short throws. This is something Penn State is going to do to perfection this Saturday, so look forward to more of that, fans.
8 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment
Dave Inman 8 months ago
Here's the next article you should write: THE WORST IS YET TO COME!
Not only did Michigan look like crap this week, but just look at the teams that have beat Michigan this year. Other than Utah, every team has taken a nose dive after the Michigan game. Wisconsin firmly entrenched in the middle of the Big Ten. Illinois loses their homecoming game to Minnesota? So as if Michigan couldn't look any worse, it is being shown that they are not losing to good teams, they are losing to teams that are far inferior than anyone could have thought, including a winless MAC school.
I thought Penn State wasn't legit because they had played a bunch of nobodies (minus Oregon St), but they will bring their A game and more to prove to the world that they deserve the #1 ranking. Michigan should try to make a pre-game truce with Joe Pa. We promise not to knock 3 quarterbacks out of the game (like we always seem to do) and Penn State will promise to down the ball the entire 4th quarter to keep the score from getting outside a 40 point drubbing.
I know we're young and learning a new system and blah blah blah. But what excuses are we gonna hear next year? "The O-line is still young, give them time". "Our QB didn't play last year and he needs time to get his feet wet". I pray to God that Threet and Sheridan aren't even on the roster next year. "Our defense graduated everyone, give them time."
How long is this rebuilding going to take? Outside of McGuffie, nobody is doing anything on offense to deserve a starting nod next year. We will have competitions for starting jobs, yet they will be filled with un-deserving and inexperiend players.
The worst part about Saturday was the post game special on the Big Ten Network. It was a treat to see all the Bo footage and all the stories of Michigan teams of yester-years. Maybe its the stupid new Addidas logo, or the bombed out factory look of the Big House addition, but this team doesn't even look like a Michigan team. Gone is the past and gone is the present. Somebody please re-assure me that the future is not gone also. Hail Hail....
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Dave Inman 8 months ago
Mun,
First off, I'm not a fair-weathered Michigan fan and I do watch all the games. I've been a fan since 1989 when I was 6 years old and haven't wavered yet. Just because I'm questioning our program doesn't mean that I've jumped off the bandwagon. I wear my blue all week, talk trash to every Sparty and Buckeye I see, and NEVER, EVER boo my team at The Big House. These are college kids and I would never boo them!
Now about you ripping me on Michigan's defense. What games have you been watching? I did some research to prove my point about our D giving up the big play. So far this year we've given up pass plays of 55, 42, 60, 77, 57, and 46 yards. That is something that you cannot ignore, nor accept! And thats not counting the Miami game, which I assume you watched, where Miami's QB missed wide open receivers for sure touchdowns on at least two plays. His throws were off by a few feet. And we've given up run plays of 46 and 50 yards.
The icing on the cake for me was the Toledo game. After Sheridan's second INT, Toledo got the ball and was looking to kill clock. EVERYONE knew they were going to run the ball, yet Toledo ripped off a 9 yard run and a 24 yard run to move the ball past the 50 and kill precious time. Sure our defense held firm after that, but it was too late.
Just because you question your team's coaching staff does not mean that you are a traitor. I'm a varsity basketball coach and I get heat all the time. It comes with the job. And I know you have to work with the kids you have, but I'm just saying that we do not have spread players on offense yet. So why run the spread with futile results? Shouldn't you do the best you can with the talent you have? Our talent, though minimal, is not suited to run the spread. So do you throw away seasons in a stubborn attempt to run YOUR style, or do you adapt your style to suit your players? Good coaches adapt their style and I don't see RR doing that much. And that is why I'm angered. GO BLUE, no matter what!
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Dean Walker 8 months ago
You have no idea what it was like to be there. Most of the game was unbearably boring. I sat on the opposite corner of the student section and I could see empty seats. Even the students didn't bother to show up at the game. The rest of the crowd was garbage. Nobody participated in Hail to the victors after the touchdown pass from Threet. Only the student section chanted "You Suck" during 4th downs and I was pretty sure it had a '?' after it, like they weren't quite sure. The only time the crowd got into it was late in the game on 2nd and 3rd down when we got so loud they were forced to burn their last timeout to get the play right. I'm telling you, the new additions make a difference in holding the sound in there and if the 12th man gave it everything every play nobody would be able to hear, end of story.
I wasn't able to get commentating at the game so I thought Threet was taken out for his int and the fact that he overthrew everything that left his hand. In my opinion Sheridan did more for the momentum of the game than Threet did. Threet threw a pick-6 in the end zone and if that doesn't kill momentum I'm not sure what does. Sheridan moved the ball decently in the fourth quarter but was unable to finish on a few downs and we had to punt it off. I don't like him any more than you do but I think Threet, not Sheridan killed the game for us. That and time of possession. 33 mins to 26 mins. Even though we're conditioned, our defense was on the field longer than I would have liked and I don't remember seeing the wolverines hold them to a single 3 and out, but I may have missed one.
I almost got into a fight with a Toledo fan after the game was over. He was standing outside the gate and waved his Toledo student ID right in my face and said something to the effect of "that was like beating a division 2 school." My buddy literally had to drag me away. I wasn't really pissed at him, he can brag and talk crap if he wants, but I really wanted a Voodoo doll for KC Lopata. I don't think I have ever been so mad at one person in my entire life. It was all I could to do not storm the field and hunt him down after he missed that kick. The worst part was that I was in that corner of the endzone so I couldn't see that he missed it. I just heard the toledo fans explode (thought they were UofM fans) and assumed that he made essentially a "gimme" so I started celebrating. It took me about 3 seconds to notice the reactions of the people around me. Then I looked at the score board and saw the replay of the botched kick. I almost physically started crying...
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Pinnocchio's Nose 8 months ago
Jason, Martavious Odoms did'nt catch so well his first time on the field either. But with repetition, continued play and catchable passes (that he did'nt have to high jump) for he has gotten stats. Let's see him do his thang when the D-line's are huge and the QB can't see him over them. Oh, that's when the drop pass play is called 20 times a game to him and he tallies up is yardage that way. Have not seen Odoms have to jump out of the stadium yet to catch a pass have you? Clemons has had to three times already. How many passes have he been thrown this season? 7, 8 or so. How much time has he seen on the field this season. The Toledo game. A few seconds this game, a series that game. Get real.
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Andy Raab 8 months ago
I agree w/ your overall grades and had some funny commentary, but you as a true fan of your team, must support through thick and thin. We have been spoiled for years, and maybe a taste of what every major program in the country has been through will put some things in perspective for the pampered UofM fan. It is all cyclical and we were crazy to think it would never happen. Maybe we should all appreciate what we had w/ Lloyd and will appreciate in the future w/ Rich. UofM football is special, but have you been to a game lately? People "expect" to win before earning it and as a result the gameday atmosphere is like a walk in the park for the players and fans. Rich will change this culture and he doesn't care if he loses friends doing it. When he gets his players to fit the sytem they will be winners and this season will be viewed as rock bottom, so you need to step off of the ledge. DONT JUMP.
Other Disaggreements:
Saying a 19 year old kid can "rot in hell" is pathetic and you should be ashamed of yourself for saying so. Placing individual blame is ridiculous. A game against a MAC opponent that was allowing 37 pts / game should never boil down to a kicker.
Obi Ezeh is one of the best talents at Linebacker in the country and as a Sophomore he is a stud. He will play on Sunday's.
More players will leave - they already have. Fans will leave - they arleady have. Good riddance. Those Who Stay..... You know the rest - or maybe you dont?
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Jason Barczy 8 months ago
Of course I know the rest. I have the freakin banner hanging in my living room. I agree with you though. Fans are "expecting" to win before they enter the stadium and some of them don't even make it in from tailgate because they just "expect" to win. It's pathetic. I hope a lot of these fans end up leaving and never coming back.
As for your disagreements:
I don't care. Lopata is a nothing kicker and can rot in hell. Sure, it shouldn't of come down to that but it did and he should've made that kick no matter what. It was a 26 yard chip shot and you and I might of made.
Come on. If Obi does make an NFL roster he will be a regular on special teams. He wouldn't even be a starter for the Lions.
Some players have already left. And I'm not talking about the Justin Boren's of the world. I'm talking aobut recruits. Bryce McNeal, a highly regarded WR out of Minnesota, just decommited the week after the Toledo loss. Coincidence? I think not.
But you're right. Those who stay, will be champions and those who leave in my mind can become Spartys for all I care.
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Pinnocchio's Nose 8 months ago
Champions of what in 3 years for these sophomores of Carr's if they stay?
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Pinnocchio's Nose 8 months ago
Last year's Capital One Bowl
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