Some Reactions
Sherrone Moore again proves he's not worth effort for Michigan
Michigan-Oklahoma wasn’t supposed to be about Sherrone Moore. But that’s how it ended up
One Comparison That Explains Our Outdated Philosophy
Position and PFF Grades - Few Stars
The Game
Oklahoma has a fast-talker. OMG, it's Venables. Against weaker teams Michigan does not just wear the opponent down, they knock the quarterback out of the game. Everyone agrees the Oklahoma defense is elite. Can Michigan wear the rest of the team down?
The bigger question is: How long can Michigan take this beating by Oklahoma? Semaj Morgan could not stand.
We have seen Michigan games. Usually they make a game of it. Klein is not just questionable, he is out.
The offensive line is not moving forward.
Sherrone Moore and Michigan are getting smashed.
Boy was I wrong thinking that Michigan would do the hitting.
Now we have the defensive second team. Michigan player Brandon Hillman on the turf too.
Michigan had a stop with an overthrow interception. Earlier it was close and now a roughing the punter. Also the facemask first down. McCulley? No receivers. Very heavy second and 2. Then, barely a couple on 3rd down. Another Michigan player, El Hadi, down. That's three. How many Michigan players are barely standing?
Zvada missed. (See pre-game musings after the page break below). Underwood and Haynes fighting on the sideline.
I am going to miss Gary Danielson and Brad Nessler are maybe the best thing about the new Big Ten.
C.J. Charlston is still around. Is Goodwin the other guy from last year? Kendrick Bell has never been much of a threat. Klein was a bright spot. Don't they have another tight end?
The TV coverage is bad. What about the sideline fight? News on the injuries? ESPN still has that damn news/promotion garbage. At least the stats are on espn.com only because they have the game.
14-0 is dominant.
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21-7 now midway through the third quarter. Zeke Berry is down too. It is a rout.
I'm thinking about my predictions. Sherrone Moore doesn't deserve it; or rather, he hasn't earned it. Michigan is not a deep team. With a few exceptions, they are not an experienced team. They have had some breaks to keep them in this game. They are getting beaten. Oklahoma has a better defense and a decidedly better quarterback. Oklahoma does not have a smash running game; either does Michigan.
McCulley made a really nice catch on a long ball. There is still a whole quarter to go but I think this one is over. TJ Guy dirty hit. Mateer strong legs and good at avoiding Michigan slashers. He has been an excellent compliment--leading rusher--to the Oklahoma ground game. He is durable and Michigan has not stopped him. He has 55 rushing yards; Underwood has -5.
Now the clock is running down quickly. The depleted, worn down Michigan defense (Tre' Williams #0) cannot stop them.
Sherrone Moore hasn't earned it. It feels like I have written this a hundred times. He was fortunate the end of last year. Then he got lucky they bought Underwood.
Oklahoma 24 Michigan 13.
After the jump, the preamble (writings before the game). Many people were thinking Michigan was a playoff team.
Thursday 9/4
I knew this would happen. As wise people often say, it is how you deal with it that counts. Old habits.
But I feel a bit of anticipation in what looks to be a dull season and a boring topic altogether.
It has only been one game, and it wasn't exemplary either. There could have been a couple of interceptions. What if Bryce Underwood is injured?
No, Oklahoma hasn't exactly been burning it up in terms of wins and losses but their schedule in the SEC is a whole lot different than Michigan's.
Brent Venables. Not exactly a household name outside of, well, Oklahoma. Maybe their money comes from, per AI, the biggest crop is cows and calves, there are people who will throw it around in Oklahoma too. Like Michigan, they went out and bought the best quarterback and offensive coordinator they could. And, they are a certain breed who fit right in with fans and students who have nothing better to do than root for the Sooners. Remember Nebraska? There is this notion that they deserve previous glory in a long-ago world of dust bowl conferences. Factor in Texas and football and it is a force.
But the story it seems is Venables. He had been a coach at Oklahoma previously--good for all involved because he knows what is like and it is his choice. Clemson and the Upcountry of South Carolina is a hugely different place. People in that part of the country (I used to live in the Low Country) are rooted in personal relationships rather than isolation. You wouldn't survive at Clemson if you couldn't get along with people. For Venables to succeed in both places is impressive; but of course he hasn't succeeded at Oklahoma yet and locals want more.
Will he succeed? This is a much bigger game for Oklahoma than for Michigan. Sherrone Moore's education notwithstanding, Michigan has no rivalry with Oklahoma and probably, unless it involved football (e.g., Moore), most Michigan players, coaches, and fans have never been to the state before and that is just fine.
What we have as the game approaches is T.J. Guy proving to be classless and virtually illiterate. Moore is preaching the benefits of targeting and brain damage and it is that same inane us against the rules and everyone else mindset. You don't even have to know how to spell it anymore, just type "barsham suspension" and it comes up. But of course the rule needs to be changed because you wouldn't want, sorry, I don't think Barham is such a great player, a star to miss part of a big game. Next up: Moore on sabbatical for two weeks. The teams--they were similar last year in terms of terrible offenses and bad records.
My thinking is Venables has rebuilt better than Moore has.
I'll get back to Venables in a minute. Haynes seems to be an upgrade for Michigan. Underwood has a future. The receivers except for Klein haven't... Hausmann and Barham are better. What else can you say?
Oklahoma probably got the bigger haul. Underwood is still an unknown and even with the money no one can predict how long and how often he will play. Oklahoma got the now guy who is a runner to boot. It seems, and it is hard to show it without all kinds of research and stats and who can predict college players anyway, Oklahoma has the deeper team. This is Venables' forth year and he dwarfs Moore in terms of experience. He is a defensive-minded coach and precisely the guy to put the kibosh on Underwood.
Michigan always has a few players who will make plays. They're buying players who put them in the top-20 sphere or higher if some players pan out. Many of them will transfer or not live up to expectations. Right now Michigan doesn't have the horses, there is no Aidan Joseph Bernardi Hutchinson and they cannot put it all on Underwood. Michigan's roster is fragile--no, I don't mean they are not tough. Why else would they sign Jake Garcia?
It'll be an interesting game. It always is. Ordinarily, Michigan gets a lot of mileage out of playing at home with impress and intimidation tactics. They are, as the Harbaugh era taught, a get as close to the line, then go a little past it, team. When they're exposed it can get ugly and I think this game could go that way.
Everyone's doing it these days, just type. "When does Sherrone Moore's suspension start?" As far as I can tell, when the Oklahoma game ends. Maybe there's a grace period. Anyway, Central Michigan and Nebraska are weeks 3 and 4. It is just weird: he has not said a word. The 'we're being picked-on' and 'we haven't done anything wrong' mantra will be more than evident the next few weeks. Sherrone Moore appears to have control over the team but he doesn't have control of the news or the image of the program.
I'm getting ready with the Michigan Football Enthusiasm Meter. Will it be a miracle finish like last year? I don't think so. Remember, last year was horrible. Like a bear market, it may go down further, or again. I don't see how the meter can go up. We just haven't seen enough signs of, I'll call it character. Maybe a different word is "greatness."
BTW, Brent Venables was born in Salina, KS. That explains some of the how's and why's.
UPDATE. Two wise prognosticators among the many I've read say the same thing. Underwood probably cannot and will not against Venables in an away game. And, the "jury is still out" regarding Moore.
UPDATE #2. Brian Cook wrote his usual preview. He is usually very good, except when he slips into what seem like psychedelic ramblings or long personal history stories. His other vice is promoting writings by the staff; this he resorts to, but otherwise he sticks to the facts. Aside from his personal, dry humor writing style this, access to and understandable dissection of the stats, is his strongest asset as a sports writer. And he does it with an eye on the elite, NFL-capable athletes, in other words, the ones Michigan recruits and those around which you win championships.
Writers on the internet are often wrong. John Mateer was not such a huge catch and not tops in rankings. I looked -- Oklahoma vs. Illinois State highlights. Experience shows that often when players are said to be 6'1" they are often barely 6'. Mateer does not look big, fast, or elusive. He was not a big recruit out of high school and Washington State was his best of about six offers. He is now experienced if not seasoned. He throws a decent ball fairly quickly, tending to wind up near his right ear. It is of a low trajectory.
Illinois State did not look good and Oklahoma didn't look great
I'm no fan based of why he is at Michigan, but Bryce Underwood appears to be just as good. Now. I think it is just as likely that Michigan rattles Mateer as it is the other way around. Underwood will have comfort if not protection in his two top running backs. Michigan will be prepared, focused, nasty, and unrelenting. They have similar or better talent than Oklahoma. Underwood will be cool-headed.
An example of Michigan's style is Semaj Morgan. He plays the proverbial Michigan slot and end-around receiver. He isn't very good at either. But he is tough to the level of annoying. He'll get some carries and he will wiggle around on the ground too.
While I don't like it, Michigan will be nasty and Sherrone Moore will slink away. Michigan will win or (and cover the 5.5 point spread). Dominc Zvada will be the difference.
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