(09-09-2017 03:28 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  J. Minor had 11 tackles today and 10 last week. If this guy can stay healthy watch out.

Yeah had a real nice game. He got beat by the slot receiver that was a long TD run, but no help underneath.

Much different outlook after game 2 than game 1.

(Sarcasm)
Can we start a new thread every week to renew our season record predictions as we've done the past two weeks?
(/Sarcasm)

We should be able to make a bowl - that is a big upgrade in my outlook for this team after last week's nightmare.

(09-09-2017 03:33 PM)FenderCat Wrote:  Proud of this team. The effort, the defense, the fight after falling down 14. Once we were firmly in the game in the 3rd I got greedy and wanted the victory (or at least the chance). We had a couple of chances on offense that we couldn't take advantage of. But still, love the direction/attitude this coach instills. We looked in shape too as the game wore on and the tackling was way improved from last year. The crowd was getting nervous- wish we could have grabbed the momentum there. Looked like we had a great travel crowd. We have to bring that every week- no let down next week for the VB. Minor is a BEAST! GO CATS!

Team is much better conditioned than last year. Tackling much better. OL & QB are the weak links.

(09-09-2017 03:33 PM)FenderCat Wrote:  Proud of this team. The effort, the defense, the fight after falling down 14. Once we were firmly in the game in the 3rd I got greedy and wanted the victory (or at least the chance). We had a couple of chances on offense that we couldn't take advantage of. But still, love the direction/attitude this coach instills. We looked in shape too as the game wore on and the tackling was way improved from last year. The crowd was getting nervous- wish we could have grabbed the momentum there. Looked like we had a great travel crowd. We have to bring that every week- no let down next week for the VB. Minor is a BEAST! GO CATS!

Yup.

I know there is no such thing as a "moral victory," but I'm counting this as a "win." They went into one of the most intimidating stadiums against a "Top Ten" ranked team and came out with the loss but unbeaten.

I was really afraid that the Offense would get skunked early forcing the Defense to be out there so much that they'd be "gassed" by halftime and the rout would be on. That didn't happen. As much as I think Moore isn't cut out for life at this level of the game, he scored and kept them offensively "in" this game. The Defense really stepped up and made key stops. On neither O or D did the Cats let the crowd get to them too much.

Granted, by the 4th, the game was pretty much out-of-reach, but the Defense really was tired out. Those "Pick-Sixes" are a kick in the nuts and, as someone else said, you can't hand points out like that and expect to win. And yes, there was that dropped pass that also sucked the wind out of them as well...a real momentum killer.

I trust that Fickell can use this game to Coach off of... The previous coach would not have.

From the radio call:
Kicking competition was opened up this week and Pastner won it.

Trail is still not 100%

Fickel on postgame radio: upset about not being tough enough in the 4th qtr.

My take:
Staff time management is beyond horrible. Fickel huddles up the punt team, they get out to position too late, result; unforgivable safey. On offense you get a delay of game when already in field goal position, unforgivable penalty. Kick wouldn't have been good from 30, typical line drive hook from Pastner.

I'm only upset Fickel didn't take any staff blame for the delays and time management. A head coach can coach special teams during practice, but lordy, give the assignment to somebody else, game day, to get them lined up and ready go on 3rd down. I coached high school football and the only penalties we ever got on the punt team were from holding, never time management!!!!!!

(09-09-2017 02:04 PM)Recluse1 Wrote:  ...This is one of the best, if not the best defense(s) in the league we're going against. It's not all Moore, he's had dropped passes, knockdowns and a myriad of other things that haven't helped.

(09-09-2017 02:05 PM)Marcus Wrote:  He's missed wide open receivers all game even when he's had time.

IDK about all game but I agree he had his share of bad throws. There was one time he short armed the throw to a wide open guy for a 1st down- he looked like he was expecting to get hit. But it's somewhat understandable...largest crowd UC has played in front of ever vs top 10 Michigan who are faster and bigger. I remarked then about the Mauks and Pikes etc. BUT, I thought he regained confidence, engineered that long TD drive and overall should learn a lot from this experience. The couple of runs showed some speed too. Besides, who else we got? Isn't Trail hurt (regardless if he's better or not) anyway?

Encouraged by
Time of possession was about dead even.
Michigan only had 16 first downs, and they punted 7 times.

Need to get the running game in gear. Doaks looks like he going to be really good and he is
a Freshman.

(09-09-2017 03:18 PM)Racinejake Wrote:  Getting Kyle Bolin would've been huge.

I would be interested to know, would he have stayed w/o the OSU transfer.

Overall the team played hard all game
Defense seems much improved over the last few years
Oline held up against one of the best D in collage football
QB play needs to improve and receivers cant drop so many passes
Should make a bowl game this year and I was glad to see the team keep fighting

Back from the game.

Defense was very good. Some deep pass coverage and outside run defense problems, but I figure part of that was because of the necessity of stopped the run up the middle.

Moore was bad (if he like a practice All-American or what?). But he probably looked worse because the offensive line is VERY BAD. That said, we all know what we are going to get with Moore, and it is not likely to get better. I'd rather gamble with other quarterbacks who might improve with playing time.

(09-09-2017 03:47 PM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  Encouraged by
Time of possession was about dead even.
Michigan only had 16 first downs, and they punted 7 times.

Need to get the running game in gear. Doaks looks like he going to be really good and he is
a Freshman.

Doaks could be the real deal with maturity and more playing time/experience for sure.

Is mike Boone ok?

If we play like that (or better on offense, gawd) the rest of the year, I think we're guaranteed a bowl season and win over Miami.

(09-09-2017 05:44 PM)BeerCat Wrote:  Is mike Boone ok?

Damn! Forgot about Booner. Haven't heard.

Coach Fick admits...

Quote:Matters continued to deteriorate. UC freshman James Smith, back to punt from his own 33-yard line, appeared not ready for the snap. The ball sailed past Smith, who chased it down and intentionally batted it out of the end zone. Safety, and Michigan's lead grew to 29-14 with 6:53 left.

I'll take it on me," Fickell said. "I got them out there a few seconds too late. They were worried, and rushed it a bit. That was the thing last week, I kind of caused us two delay-of-games. I can't do that."

Also, Boone can't be seriously injured based on this quote in the article...

Quote:UC running back Boone said earlier in the week that UC planned to "shock the world." Boone rushed 12 times for 44 yards and a touchdown Saturday.

"It wasn't really a shock. ... I wish I would have said that the people that doubted us, you know, shock those people," Boone said. "If we would have executed at the end, it would have been a completely different game."

Big House Shock of the World - For A Time

(09-09-2017 05:48 PM)TubaCat Wrote:  If we play like that (or better on offense, gawd) the rest of the year, I think we're guaranteed a bowl season and win over Miami.

I wouldn't say a win at Miami is guaranteed even with today's better performance at UM.

Miami took care of the Austin Peay Governors today a bit more convincingly than UC did last week. Based on the scores the Battle for the Bell should be competitive and Miami is at home.

Final score
Redhawks 31 Austin Peay 10.

Last Week
UC 26 Austin Peay 14.

(09-09-2017 06:15 PM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  

(09-09-2017 05:48 PM)TubaCat Wrote:  If we play like that (or better on offense, gawd) the rest of the year, I think we're guaranteed a bowl season and win over Miami.

I wouldn't say a win at Miami is guaranteed even with today's better performance at UM.

Miami took care of the Austin Peay Governors today a bit more convincingly than UC did last week. Based on the scores the Battle for the Bell should be competitive and Miami is at home.

Final score
Redhawks 31 Austin Peay 10.

Last Week
UC 26 Austin Peay 14.

Ill take that score with a grain of salt as the transitive property does not apply to football, and they were able to scout and gameplan for those 13 transfers much better than we were.

(09-09-2017 03:24 PM)bearcats23 Wrote:  Didn't read all 40 pages so I apologize if this has been addressed but where was Gantz today? I know he struggled last week but that would be a pretty quick hook on a good kicker.

the pregame report said that the kicking comp was reopened and Gantz lost

i'm not in favor of musical QBs but i think option B (which is likely Trail but may be Sopko for all i know) should get a long second look, if for no other reason then to see what happens in live situations. The reality is that the pressure will start to mount exponentially if Moore continues to be the focal point for why the offense, and by extension, the team continues to falter. i concede that the OL is poor but let's be real, the QB by virtue of his responsibilities is going to face a disproportionate amount of scrutiny as a general rule. That scrutiny is intensified with each poor throw/poor clock management/pick six/etc even if they are not solely his fault.

if Moore's play does not pick up quickly, he will be the target of significant amount of ire, which i imagine will become more vocal.