I didn’t blog this last night because by the time the game ended, it was real late and the last thing I wanted to do was blog. Now that I’m refreshed from a night’s sleep, allow me to just say “HOLY S**T! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE GAME!” Oh, that would be the Notre Dame-Michigan game last night.
Unlike Brent Musberger, I don’t think that Denard Robinson is the “most exciting player in college football”; but, he certainly made things exciting last night. Besides, we all know good ol’ Brent will become star struck by a new piece of football candy during next week’s game. That’s just how he rolls.
Still, I’d say Michigan is in for a fair amount of disappoint this year. For one thing, they don’t seem capable of doing anything without a big play offensively. Every score benefited from a long pass, or a long run. Hell, their first touchdown benefited from their own fumble! But less weirdly, their final touchdown drive was a perfect example: 80 yards to go and 30 seconds to do it for a score, Notre Dame inexplicably botches their deep coverage and Robinson throws a deep ball to a wide open receiver, who then runs 50 yards across the field to get them inside the 20. That’s big play number 1 of the drive. On the next play, rather than spike it or move the ball to the center of the field, Robinson tosses a bad fade route pass that his receiver adjusts to for a winning touchdown. Big play number 2. All the other drives were similar- deep pass to setup score of for the score.
Another observation: Herbstreit kept giving Robinson credit for throwing those deep-ball completions short so his receivers could come back to the ball. I’m not buying it. Yes, that’s how those passes were completed, but from what I saw I don’t think Robinson’s arm is accurate enough to throw a 40-yard pass in the air long versus short to a moving receiver. In fact, based on some other comments Herbstreit made, I wonder if he has the arm strength to make deep ball completions to a receiver in stride. Don’t be surprised if future defenses start covering Michigan receivers underneath, rather than over-the-top like Notre Dame did last night. There were a lot more interceptions to be had there, and any one of them changes the game result.
Defensively, Michigan was OK. I was buying into the bend-but-don’t-break description right up until Notre Dame managed 2 fourth quarter touchdowns. The second came with 30 seconds remaining giving them the lead, however temporarily. You can’t break when the game is on the line.
So in all, Michigan got a fun win last night. But I doubt they’ll be competing for top honors this year.
In other news, Penn St.: not so good; Auburn is using up their magic finishes real quick; Ohio St. is not looking quite so competitive; LSU is good, as will be most of the good teams from the SEC and Oregon rebounded a little.
Still plenty of football to be played.