GUNS DON’T KILL PEOPLE. MICHIGAN’S DEFENSE DOES
The numbers are ghastly enough. Michigan’s sitting at number one in total rushing defense, giving up a paltry 32.6 yards a game and bludgeoning opposing running backs and lines in the process. Stats aside, the anecdotal and visual evidence of their confirmed nastiness is accumulating.
First, the anecdotal:
Doctors haven’t cleared starter Anthony Morelli or backup Daryll Clark for full contact in practice after both quarterbacks sustained concussions when Penn State (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) lost last week to No. 2 Michigan.
And second, the visual. If Michigan wins the national title, this will be its enduring brand on the psyche of college footballdom:
The best college football photograph taken in recent history: flattened.
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51
kingtut says:
The stats jonsi points out (from ESPN’s recap of the PSU game), work out like this, in terms of percentages for Michigan’s opponents top rusher:
VAND:3%
CMU:70%
ND:28%
WISC:38%
MINN:99%
MSU:50%
PSU:29%
So only Pinnix managed to approach his season average against UM.
October 18th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
52
Allaha says:
Thanks Jonsi and Kingtut. I think these stats are even more impressive than the absolute yardage stats because they show how completely UM has shut down 6 of the 7 rushers they have faced. (And as Jonsi observes, the numbers would be even more impressive if the rushing averages did not factor in performance against UM.)
As Russ says: math bitches, math!
October 18th, 2006 at 3:19 pm
53
Flatout says:
You know what must have made a great YouTube video also?-
Alan Branch break-dancing. I kid you not. As a freshman he entertained the team with some routines. That should give you an idea of his athleticism and why NFL scouts will get a woody watching him at the combines. Although he insists he cant do it anymore because of his increased weight, he can still pop a few moves:
http://www.mgoblue.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=21699
Look for the photo of Branch being sprayed with a hose. I was there with my car and he actually had some pretty darn good moves.
BTW_ This defense is downright bloodthirsty checkout some quotes from today’s Michigan Daily
Branch:
I hit him,” Branch said, cackling. “I mean, he threw the ball. I didn’t know if he threw it or not, so I gave him a little shot.”
Then Branch summed up Morelli’s unpleasant situation.
“And he was down,” Branch said matter-of-factly.
Taylor:
“We keep coming, we keep hitting you,” Taylor said. “If you stand back there, we’ll keep hitting you, we’ll keep coming, we’re not going to let up. It’ll be 60 minutes, four quarters and we’re gonna keep coming. We’re gonna hit you.”
The Summary:
These guys aren’t playing dirty, and they’re not aiming to injure their opponents. But if that’s the natural consequence of their bone-crushing hits, don’t expect any apologies from Michigan’s fierce defensive linemen.
October 18th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
54
Run Up The Score says:
And they shouldn’t apologize or hold back. It’s football.
October 18th, 2006 at 3:47 pm
55
jonsi says:
Ok, those car wash photos remind me more of the Zoolander gasoline fight than breakdancing.
October 18th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
56
UGA Undergrad says:
1st off, I didn’t watch the PSU Michigan game, so this isn’t specific to that. It’s more general.
I think that for a hit to be a good hit, it first has to be a clean hit. Helmets do get contacted and contact each other in football games. I think sometimes the illegal hands to the face or helmet to helmet rules are taken too far. Especially in cases where the contact is slight or incidental and no injury occurs b/c of the helmet to helmet. Currently, I think the rules can be too cautious, especially in the NFL.
However, whenever a player makes an obvious effort to lead with the crown of his helmet to contact an opponents head and neck area, you have to draw the line. Then the hit is “dirty” or illegal or whatever. At that point the nastiness of a good hit is lost. There is a little sportsmanship lost when a player makes an attempt to intentionally hurt another player, whether it is through helmet to helmet, face mask, or a nut punch at the bottom of a pile.
Respect must be maintained for the game. The intention should never be the direct and intentional cause of injury to another player. Injuries and hard hits should only happen indirectly as part of a play or as part of the game. Players should play hard to help their team win, and what happens happens.
That being said, Junior rosegreen is an asshole. he should’ve been kicked out of the game. I think the only reason the refs didn’t throw a flag is b/c they actually though Brown was dead too. I know that is what I thought. Auburn fans celebrated at first, but became sullenly quiet when they realized a serious injury might have occured. They displayed class when chanting Reggie’s name as he was helped off the field. No one needs to get hurt like that and no one needs to get hit like that. I think that the crowds initial reaction folowed by their sudden change in demeanor show that most of them agree with me.
Rosegreen’s hit wasn’t great, it was cheap and illegal, regardless of whether a flag was thrown or not.
October 18th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
57
Herringbone says:
Well….
Take a look at the teams that UM has faced…and tell me which one was a threat with a real O-Line (Dont say ND..cause that would be sad..really sad) then we can talk about how dominating that D-Line really is…11/18 will tell us a lot of things…primarily, it will tell all of us if the UM defense is a paper-tiger feeding on teams that couldnt run the ball through a wet paper bag (with the exception of Minnehaha and Wisky) or if it is legit. I think that there are a lot questions that still exist before annointing UM as the next OSU or something when it comes to rushing defense. They are aggressive “as all get out”, but they havent faced a balanced offense yet….especially one with a QB that has the patience of Troy Smith in the pocket. One failed blitz that turns into a quick slant for seven by Ginn or Gonzalez (See UM’s aweful secondary with exception of L. Hall) and we will see the standard UM pucker on defense that was very evident from last year. Coaching can only take you so far…so here’s to hoping that UM dials up that blitz…
October 18th, 2006 at 7:57 pm
58
Desmond Brady says:
Herringballs,
I think everyone agrees that Michigan-OSU is going to be a pretty incredible game. But there’s no reason to dimish Michigan’s accomplishments prior to that. Everyone on the Michigan side has nothing but respect for the Buckeyes. If you want to compare schedules, other than Texas, what has OSU done?
Both teams have been very impressive up to this point. And both teams are getting their deserved props. Ohio State AND Michigan. Deal with it.
October 18th, 2006 at 8:34 pm
59
Herringbone says:
Hey Desmond….
Can you answer my question?
I didnt think so….
October 18th, 2006 at 9:20 pm
60
jonsi says:
Herringbone, I’d venture that Michigan has played as many good rushing teams with legit O-lines as any team thus far. I’d add Penn State to the Minny and Wisky list you started considering Hunt rushed for 135, or 102 more, against tOSU than against UM.
I have a question for you. When did tOSU have a dominant run defense? I’m not implying they have had a bad run defense the past several years, but their linebackers and secondary have been more impressive than their D-line.
If Michigan is to be exposed, what would that exposure be? A top 10 rush defense instead of number 1?
11/18 won’t prove anything. It is one game. Even if Pittman approaches 100, that wouldn’t demonstrate Michigan’s d-line was a paper-tiger. Holding Hill and now Hunt 100 yards below their averages against other teams is damn impressive!
Perhaps a run it outside approach (closer to Minny’s) will have more success as it neutralizes the d-line against a balanced offense. I actually expect Pittman to reach a buck-o-five against UM for this reason. But it doesn’t expose anyone or anything.
I have some question for you. Can Northern Illinois be considered a legit rushing team when Western Michigan shut down Garrett Wolfe? Does this mean that Western Michigan has a better defense than tOSU?
I’d say no, but if you are talking “legit” o-lines or paper tigers, we can spin it many ways.
Hope to see a great game 11/18.
October 18th, 2006 at 10:01 pm
61
jonsi says:
One other note,
the way to beat Michigan’s secondary is to not be patient. See Cupito during the Minny game. Even with Troy Smith’s mobility quick releases are the better way to beat UM’s secondary. Morgan Trent is better than average and is faster than Ted Ginn (he’s beat him head to head in track in 100 and 200 m); he shut down ND receivers well because he has insane recovery speed. An opposing QB should be impatient with designed quick release plays to prevent the d-line from getting pressure and to allow the WR’s to make plays on the ball over lessor DB’s.
October 18th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
62
Desmond Brady says:
Herringbone,
Your question was idiotic. Michigan and Ohio State play in the same conference and have played a number of the same opponents. If Michigan’s defense has been unimpressive because of the weakness of its opponents, what does that say for OSU?
October 18th, 2006 at 10:10 pm
63
Herringbone says:
Jonsi
I have a question for you. When did not tOSU have a dominant run defense? I’m not implying they have had a bad run defense the past several years, but their linebackers and secondary have been more impressive than their D-line.
You lost me here….how many times since 2001 has OSU been in the top 10 in rush defense?
2005 (#1), 2003 (#2), 2002 (#3), 2001 (#9)…you do the math brother…2004 and 2000 were mediocre, but they have been pretty conistent.
Run defense is run defense…especially when your defensive scheme is setup to funnel to your LBer’s…
It is nice for UM to come and join the party since they havent had a defense since 97…
October 18th, 2006 at 11:32 pm
64
Herringbone says:
“Your question was idiotic.”
Far from it….
It was suggesting that the D-line is probably in for a surprise when it plays against a team with a good amount of offensive firepower in both aspects of the game…I mean…I know that ND is a “wunderkind”, but that game was over as soon as the first INT was returned for TD….
October 18th, 2006 at 11:34 pm
65
Andrew says:
Is there some kind of email alert that goes to OSU fans that a thread involving Michigan or Ohio State has been posted somewhere on the internets so they can go there, proclaim that they’re great, that Troy Smith is a robot qb, that Jesus would worship Tressel, and that anyone questioning the result on 11/18 is delusional?
Or are there just no good OSU blogs?
October 19th, 2006 at 2:45 am
66
Miller says:
Theri,
If Michigan wants to shut tOSU down, here’s the real key: contain Troy and cover Gonzo. Ginn, as good as he is, has not since 2004 shown anything like the potential seen in his first year, but he’s all you hear about (in terms of our wide-outs). Gonzo is the one you really need to watch.
I fear that as solid as they are, neither Pittman nor Beanie Wells will be able to run much against the UM d-line, but we’ll have to see–it’ll be fun watching them go at it.
Andrew — there are plenty of good OSU blogs (check the blogroll at right for two of the best), but, yeah fans of tOSU and UM all get a little IM whenever the programs are being talked about, anywhere, at any time. Gotta have priorities.
October 19th, 2006 at 7:25 am
67
jonsi says:
I attribute the great rushing D of tOSU those years to their linebackers and secondary. Michigan’s run defense of this year is attributed to their defensive line. NCAA/ESPN/CNNSI doesn’t have historical sack records, but I recall tOSU getting many sacks from those guys.
Nonetheless, we get it. OSU was better than UM recently. And OSU is very good if not great this year. But all those years that OSU was supposedly great…it would be just as easy to point at their schedule and say “who have they played with a legit o-line and running game” as it is for you to say that about Michigan this year. 11/18 should be a great game between two great teams. It’s odd, however, that at the mere suggestiong that Michigan is pretty good this year and the matchup should be epic evokes the response “good?!?, look at us the past few years. Do that and then you can be good” when the past couple seasons have no relevancy to this season.
Then again, if you study really hard, someday you might get into tOSU.
But if you study really hard and go to Michigan, you might get into space, bitches, space.
October 19th, 2006 at 12:55 pm
68
Harry Hasselhoff says:
Man Herringbone, you just have to fit into the stereotype of the nasty, vitirol filled OSU slappie. I thought you were pretty classy up until then.
See you on Nov. 18. I can tell you’re scared already.
October 19th, 2006 at 5:37 pm
69
Rob says:
same view different angles. A&M vs. TCU circa ‘91. Quentin Coryatt lays the wood on some poor fool
http://www.aggies9496.com/Images/AggieGifs/TheHit2.gif
http://www.aggies9496.com/Images/AggieGifs/TheHit.gif
October 20th, 2006 at 1:00 am
70
Herringbone says:
“Man Herringbone, you just have to fit into the stereotype of the nasty, vitirol filled OSU slappie. I thought you were pretty classy up until then.
See you on Nov. 18. I can tell you’re scared already.”
Harry…get over yourself. My homerism is only rivaled by that of Brian on Mgoblog…I can be a dreamer though right?
While I agree that UM is a fine learning institution, dont act like it is the same as getting admitted to MIT, Stanford, or Princeton.
Vitriol is what I am all about. I have been saving up for you guys. Fortunately, I have been pointing it at Tommy Tuberville and his merry bunch speedy SEC brethren.
Sorry that I am not all over that bandwagon just yet. A little too much history of UM defensive teams that are about solid as OSU goaltending in the CCHA.
I also didnt realize that defensive rushing statistics only count when your D-line makes the plays. Geesh…and you guys are questioning my intelligence. Fantastic….
You guys will get over it. I am already over it. Good luck on the 18th. I am so scared that I think that I may go home cry myself to sleep. LOL…
October 20th, 2006 at 2:05 am
71
Zinian says:
Firstly, I’ll admit that i’m a shameless PSU fan, and that this is a totally bias comment.
I find it amusing that one of the main factors in UM’s loss to OSU this year was the late hit call when TS was drilled out of bounds.
Looks like Cheat-A-Gin will have to stop trying to knock QB’s out of the game and actually learn to play without being dirty next seaon.
Haha, no National Championship for you.
December 18th, 2006 at 1:26 pm