Monday, October 29, 2012

Bellomy Should Not Be Judged By Nebraska Game

There is no denying that Team 133 will only go as far as a healthy Denard Robinson will take them. That was made perfectly clear after "Shoelace" was knocked out of the game in the 2nd quarter of Michigan's loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday with a nerve injury to his throwing elbow.

Enter 2nd string QB, and possible 2013 starter, Russell Bellomy...a redshirt freshman...in Lincoln Nebraska...under the lights...in a crucial divisional matchup.

In a situation like this as a fan you take a big gulp and know disaster lies ahead. Bellomy's final numbers were of Armageddon proportions:
  • PASSING ACCURACY - 3/16
  • PASSING YARDS - 38
  • INT - 3
  • TD - 0
  • RUSHING YARDS - 0 (Multiple sacks nullified the yardage he gained on 5 carries)
He didn't have have much help as his receivers dropped a handful of passes, he was under duress by the Nebraska pass rush, and the RBs continued to contribute next to nothing, but the numbers are still ghastly no matter how you slice it. Subsequently U-M suffered a 23-9 defeat and failed to score an offensive TD for the 2nd straight week.

There is always doom and gloom after a Wolverine loss but this week was a little different.

"Russell Bellomy is a terrible QB!"

"We're screwed next year because we have no QB!"

"Shane Morris is going to have to start as a true freshman!"

"Fire Al Borges!"

"FIRE BRADY HOKE! (Yes, I did indeed see this on Twitter)

Look, I was just as angry and frustrated as anyone and entertained some doom and gloom myself...FOR THIS SEASON.

Once I had the opportunity to cheer myself up by watching some Seinfeld and think logically, I was able to put things in the proper perspective. Bellomy is a redshirt freshman with minimal game experience who was thrown into a snake pit and asked to win a crucial game with very little help. I am not sure what everyone was expecting. I would think that nine out of ten QBs would struggle in that scenario. Give the kid a break.

Was I a little shocked that he wasn't a little more game ready?

Yep.

Do I think some of it falls on Al Borges and the offensive coaches to ensure that they have a QB ready to go in and at least be serviceable?

Since they have a running QB who gets pounded every game and has a history of getting banged up you're darn tootin' I do.

But let's get things straight, this was a kid thrown into a situation where the odds were severely against him. His future career at U-M should not be judged or speculated upon based off of one underwhelming performance in which he was asked to do the unthinkable. People who think his career will be defined by what happened on Saturday need to scale back on the caffeine and/or narcotics a smidge.

Once the season is finished his mindset, as well as the mindset of the coaches, will completely change. He will be preparing, mentally and physically, to be the starting QB at the University of Michigan. Not the backup. He will be prepared by the coaching staff, mentally and physically, to be the starting QB at the University of Michigan, or at least compete for the spot. Not to be the backup. The offense will shift from the spread to more of a pro-style, Al Borges' preference, to adhere to his skill set. He will be more equipped to be a serviceable, and who knows, maybe even a pretty good starting signal-caller for the Wolverines.

I don't have a crystal ball but I am pretty certain that given the reps and the opportunity next season, he will prove that he is not nearly as bad as he appeared in Lincoln. He would not have been recruited by the coaching staff if he was and there is a reason he is #2 on the depth chart. They are the same coaches that get praised daily for their recruiting prowess so I think we can safely say Bellomy was not brought in by throwing darts at a dartboard. Chill out people.

Also, those of you who think Shane Morris is going to come in as an 18-year old freshman and take the starting spot are nuts. I can't put it any other way. You saw what happens on Saturday when you put a kid in at QB before he's ready...disaster. As talented as Morris may be he will still be a freshman.

You don't start a frosh at QB unless you absolutely have to. And if that is indeed the case you'd be extremely naive and borderline crazy to think Morris will come in and be lights out and lead Team 134 to a B1G title. This ain't the MAC or Conference USA. It's the B1G and you don't ask a kid to lead a big time program into places like East Lansing and Iowa City. At least at Michigan you don't. Chad Henne was the exception not the rule. He also had Braylon Edwards, Steve Breaston, and Jason Avant to throw to and Mike Hart in the backfield. Enough with the Shane Morris talk people. At least until 2014.

If you want to worry about what might happen this season if Denard Robinson can't stay healthy then fine. Believe me, I'm right there with you. But when it comes to next season let's all just relax and trust the coaches to have the starting QB, presumably Russell Bellomy, ready to run the offense smoothly. Give a very good staff the benefit of the doubt and step away from the ledge.

Team 133 is in the middle of a battle for a division title. They are undoubtedly focused on just that and not next season. I suggest the fans follow suit.


**This blog can also be found at www.thebighousereport.com. If you are a fan of the Wolverines, The Big House Report is a MUST-READ. GO BLUE!! **

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Tigers MUST Win It This Time

The stage is set.  The opponent is determined.  The champagne is dry and the hangovers (hopefully) are a thing of the past.  The celebration is now over (hopefully only temporarily) and it's time to, in the words of Slim Shady, snap back to reality.  Back-patting time is over for the Tigers and tomorrow they return to playing ball...for all of the marbles.  This time they must win the whole thing.  No excuses.

I can hear all the Tigers homers now:

"Here comes that big meanie Deebo raining on our parade!"

"He's not a true fan because he talks bad about our Tigers!"

"He's a fair-weather fan!"

WRONG!

I am a fan that expects victories from my teams and does not settle for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or whatever.  Therefore, I have made it my personal duty to aid those who are unable to take off the rose-colored glasses and see the reality of our beloved sports teams. 

The reality now with the Detroit Tigers is that they are in the World Series, heavy favorites might I add, and anything other than beating the Giants four times in the Fall Classic is unacceptable.  If you can't face this reality or think I am being unfair to our lovable AL Champs then cry me a river.  Go read "Bless You Boys" cover-to-cover to feel warm and fuzzy.

Look, this isn't 2006 anymore.  The Tigers didn't come from the abyss to surprise the baseball world and make a magical run to baseball relevance.  Quite the contrary. 

They are a team with a payroll north of $100 million with the game's best pitcher (Verlander) and hitter (Cabrera).  Oh, and they have possibly the best starting rotation in the bigs and broke the bank to bring in some guy named Prince in the offseason.  You think they spent all that money to be the bridesmaids again?  Nope.  You think they shipped out two of their best prospects in July for a 2B and a pitcher to raise an AL Central banner and call it a day?  Um no.  They expect to be champions and us fans should too.  Settling for 2nd place is not an option.  Not this time.

In 2006 the Tigers threw away, literally and figuratively, their chance to be champions for the first time since 1984 by losing to the Cardinals in a heartbreaking choke job.  Subsequently it has taken them six years to get another crack at it.  World Series appearances do not happen every year.  Just because you get there once does not guarantee you will get back anytime soon. 

Don't believe me just look at the uber-talented Rangers who, after losing in the dance two years in a row, were favored by many if not by most to finally win it all only to fall flat on their faces and miss the playoffs all together.  Their team may be broken up in the offseason.  I'm sorry but I can't fathom being content with that feeling.  If you can then really what is the point of being a fan?  I'll tell you what the point is.  It's to see your team win...not to finish second.

I am very happy the Tigers have clawed (no pun intended I swear) their way back to the World Series.  I was choked up watching Illitch, Dombrowski, and Leyland hoist that trophy last week.  But I am far from satisfied.  I was just a little tot in 1984 when they sat on top of the baseball world so naturally I don't really have a recollection of that euphoria and pride.  In my lifetime I have actually seen a lot of horrible baseball from our Tigers, and now that six years after they gagged away their chance at supremacy they get another shot at it, I will be disappointed in the 2012 season if it doesn't end in a championship.  I won't be doing the "just happy they got there" song and dance.  This is the major leagues not the Babe Ruth League.  Winning equals success.  Losing does not no matter what point of the season it occurs.

This is not a parade monsoon.  This is not a Negative Nancy routine.  I am just saying that it has been 28 long and agonizing years since our baseball team has been champs.  We saw in 2006 how easily opportunities can be wasted.  We don't know when the next opportunity will come or if there ever will be another one.  It's time to stop settling for second best and go be champions.  It's time to show the Giants and everyone else that the city of Detroit is the home of the world's best baseball team.  That is the EXACT reason Illitch opened the pocket book for Dombrowski to bring Cabrera and ultimately Fielder to The D.  He didn't spend that cash to fail.  If the Tigers do not beat the Giants that is exactly what it will be...failure.  Don't kid yourself.

With all of that said my gut says they will get it done.  The pitching is too strong and the bats are too big not to.

GO TIGERS!!!



Monday, October 15, 2012

Pay No Attention to the Spread

Revenge.  Redemption.  Payback.  Paul Bunyan.  Those are the words that are on the minds of the Wolverines and their fans as THE RIVALRY WEEK is upon us.  Those words seem like a very possible reality for Team 133 as the two teams that will square off on Saturday appear to be heading in different directions. 

The Spartans (4-3, 1-2 B1G) appear to be crumbling as they suffered a heart-breaking loss to a putrid Iowa team at home on Saturday.  Add the fact that the week before they barely squeaked out a victory against Indiana and struggled against EMU a few weeks prior and you have a floundering football team.

Meanwhile, the Wolverines (4-2, 2-0 B1G) put a gigantic maize and blue boot in the behinds of a not-so-great Illinois squad to the tune of a 45-0 massacre after "shocking the world" (or at least Kirk Herbstreit) by embarrassing Purdue on the road the week before.  They are hitting their stride and booming with confidence at the right time.

As a result, Michigan opened up the week as a huge 11.5 point favorite for Saturday's game.  The spread has now dropped to 10 which, in my opinion, is still way too high.  Wolverine Nation should not buy into this absurd line...mentally or monetarily.  Let me explain.

First and foremost, let's all remember who coaches the Michigan State Spartans.  Yes, the man with the biggest maize and blue chip on his shoulder...Mark "The Red A**" Dantonio.  He has a complete and utter disdain for Michigan.  Hate is definitely not a strong enough word to describe his anti-love for the Wolverines.  As a result, he puts quite an emphasis on this game every year and thus has them uber prepared and fired up for this contest...every...single...year.  I expect nothing less this year nor should anyone else.  Especially after they were embarrassed on Saturday by Iowa at home.  He will have the Spartans, angry, determined, and desperate knowing a win against their arch rival is key to salvaging their disappointing season.  They will be coming out swinging...count on it.

Second, Michigan State still has a very formidable defense.  The group is number one in all major defensive categories in the B1G.  It is also a defense that for the past three years has completely shut down Denard Robinson and the Michigan offense. 

I am not going to waste my time throwing out the blatant statistics.  Anyone who has watched the last few games in the rivalry knows that defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi's "Spartan Dawgs" have lined up and punched the Wolverines' offense in the mouth.  It has looked like full grown Pitt Bulls against Shih Tzu puppies.  It is THE team that has mapped out the blueprint on how to stop "Shoelace."  Many of the players who effectively stymied his play previously will be taking the field on Saturday.  It will be up to Denard and Al Borges to prove they can figure out how to bite back.  I truly believe Robinson will be incredibly focused on beating the Spartans in his final try and will play his heart out.  We'll see if he can keep calm and play within himself and not try to do too much.

The Spartans are the inverse of the Wolverines of the Rich Rod Era.  While they tout an incredibly stingy defense, their offense is pretty pedestrian (I am being P.C.).  They're pretty bad.  No, I am not being a Michigan slappy or a "Walmart Wolverine," that moniker still holds no water to any intelligent sports fan but I digress, I am calling it like it is. 

Anybody who has watched the Spartans in the last few weeks will tell you they are anemic offensively.  Once again I am not going to throw out the glaringly supportive statistics, I am simply going with the eyeball test.  Their receivers are young and drop a ton of balls, Maxwell is still fairly inexperienced and makes some questionable decisions, their offensive line is banged up, and they live and die with LeVeon Bell.  With that said, Maxwell, statistics aside, has shown he has the potential and physical tools to get the job done and Bell is an absolute horse.  With a struggling air attack, they will feed Bell the rock constantly and force the Michigan defense to match their physicality and stop it.  While the UM defense has dramatically improved in recent weeks, they have yet to step up to the Spartans' challenge in recent years.  It will be up to them to keep that struggling Spartan offense from breaking out and give their own offense as many possessions as possible.

Don't think I am being a Negative Nancy and thinking the Wolverines will lose the game.  Quite the opposite.  I fully believe the Wolverines will play inspired football in front of their home crowd and break "The Streak."  They look like the more complete team and are motivated to get the MSU monkey off of their backs.  However, I am not buying the huge spread that Vegas is selling, nor am I jumping on the Train of Overconfidence that many fans are currently riding.  This is a rivalry game, and in the past, no matter how good or bad the teams have been, it is typically a close, hard-fought game.  I expect nothing different here. 

The Paul Bunyan Trophy has made a home in East Lansing for four years now.  It basically has changed its area code to 517.  Its keepers, the Michigan State Spartans, a.k.a. "Spartan Dawgs," will be rabid, desperate, angry, and foaming at the mouth to ruin Michigan's chances at a division championship.  Dantonio, Narduzzi, and Co. will see to it that MSU gives Team 133 all it can handle on Saturday.  Buckle up for another exciting chapter of this civil war because bringing Mr. Bunyan back to the 734 area code will not be easy.


**This blog can also be found at www.thebighousereport.com. If you are a fan of the Wolverines, The Big House Report is a MUST-READ. GO BLUE!! **

Monday, October 8, 2012

Now THAT is a Road Win!

The Wolverines exorcised a demon on Saturday in West Lafayette.  You know, the one that normally has Denard Robinson's head spinning like Linda Blair's in the 1973 horror classic (minus the pea soup puke of course).  That's right.  We're talking road games against a decent opponent.

It has been no secret that away from Ann Arbor in the Brady Hoke Era Michigan has struggled against quality competition.  They may have hushed some of the critics with their 44-13 suplexing of the Purdue Boilermakers.  The offense was kept simple and was efficient, the defense was aggressive and opportunistic, and the team didn't kill themselves with bad penalties or ill-timed turnovers.  It was maybe the perfect road game.

First and foremost, it appears Al Borges FINALLY swallowed his pride and had a game plan that put Denard and the offense in the best position to succeed.  Robinson was not asked to sling it all over the yard (only 16 attempts), the routes were those of the high-percentage, short to intermediate variety, his legs were utilized (24 carries for 235 yards), and drives were not stalled with goofy gadget plays or formations.  The result was 37 points (the defense added a score), 409 total yards, roughly 13 minutes time of possession advantage, and only one turnover when the game was, for all intents and purposes, over.  And this was done against one of the better defensive lines in the B1G. 

It is clear that when the offense is kept simple and Denard is allowed to be himself, especially on the road, Team 133 will score points.  This was a masterful day in the booth for Borges.  I would imagine he now sees the blueprint for this team to succeed offensively and I would expect to see a similar attack moving forward.

How about that defense eh?

If Greg Mattison has shown one thing so far in his tenure at Michigan it is that his defense will improve as the season progresses.  This year they have gone from a perceived weakness to a strength.  They are one of the best pass defenses in the league and nation, they are starting to create turnovers, the young players are becoming difference-makers (see the monster also known as Jake Ryan), they are aggressive, and they seem to be developing a swagger.

On Saturday they faced a Purdue team that was averaging around 500 yards per game and could score in bunches.  Michigan held them to 213 yards (157 passing and 56 rushing) and 13 points.  The Wolverines also forced the Boilermakers' offense to cough up the ball three times, held them to one 3rd down conversion, and recorded two sacks.  They completely shut down the high-powered Purdue offense.  If this is a sign of the things to come, Mattison's boys will give Michigan a chance to win every game they play from here on out.

Also, Michigan played a clean game.  They only had one turnover (AND IT WAS NOT AN INTERCEPTION...YAY!!) and they only had one penalty all afternoon (false start).  They kept their cool in an important road game, remained poised, and played physical within the rules.  That same cleanliness will be needed when they take the field in Lincoln and Columbus, but for now, bravo boys.  Bravo.

All in all, Team 133 played the closest thing to a perfect road game as possible.  They imposed their will on offense, kept it simple, managed the clock, played shut-down defense, and didn't shoot themselves in the foot.  They walked into Purdue's house and punched them square in the teeth.  This also may have been the best game they have played this season regardless of venue.  If "Big Blue" can stick with this basic formula for the remainder of the season they can very well win every game whether it be at the "Big House," "The Shoe," or the moon.  Maybe, just maybe, they can make a stop in Indianapolis before they conquer space travel.

 
 
**This blog can also be found at www.thebighousereport.com. If you are a fan of the Wolverines, The Big House Report is a MUST-READ. GO BLUE!! **

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

R.I.P. NHL

Fair warning:  This will not be be an eloquent, thought-provoking, literary masterpiece.  This is a full blown (OK maybe a little scaled-back) rant from a die-hard Detroit Red Wings fan and one angry, irritated, annoyed, jaded, nauseous, infuriated, and ticked off fan of the NHL.  Cigarettes have their warning labels...this is mine.  Whether you heed to it is up to you.

After the NHL and the NHLPA (the two most inept groups of people not only in professional sports, but in all of business in the free world) met today and AGAIN reported "no progress," I think it is safe to say the 2012 season is on life support.  I'm just going to assume that Gary Bettman and his band of minions will continue to play hard ball in this lockout until they drop the hammer and cancel the entire season...AGAIN.  With that said, let me be the first to declare the NHL dead...that's right...D-E-A-D dead.  May you forever rest in piece.  Think I am being too presumptuous?  Well, then take a look at today's comments from Bettman's Tweedledum to his Tweedledee (NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly):

"Unless they (NHLPA) show some willingness to compromise, I don't know how we get this done."

Ahem, I believe it is your group, dear sir, that seems unwilling to compromise which is hilarious since your league brought in around $3 billion in revenue last year.

Add the fact that Daly said no other meetings are scheduled but they would "stay in touch," and I have now completely given up on the fallacy that the NHL gives a damn about the fans.  I am now convinced they are truly stubborn, arrogant, and short-sighted enough to put a bullet in the upcoming season. 

"Stay in touch?!"  This isn't a breakup of a junior high spin-the-bottle-spawned fling!  We're talking about the future of what we are led to believe is a major professional sports league worth billions of dollars!  We're talking about the real possibility of the cancellation of an entire season for the second time in less than a decade!! 

But have no fear, the Commissioner Bettman says the fans will come back because hockey has the "greatest fans in the world."  Give me a break.  If we're so great then why do you treat us like Naomi Campbell treats her assistants?  Answer that ol' wise one.

Mr. Bettman, if you cancel this entire season, or a big chunk of it, you can kiss any casual fan you worked to get goodbye.  You can probably also count on some of the biggest fans flipping you and your Mickey Mouse league the bird.  In words that you and your owners can understand, that means less money.  Isn't that all you really care about anyway?  You are running this league into the ground and you deserve all of the consequences that come from this recent muscle-flexing contest you have provoked.  Rest assured if this continues there will be plenty.

As a life-long fan, I will say that if the entire season is lost I almost hope that NONE of the fans come back when the league resumes and it goes the way of the Dodo bird.  Subsequently, I hope that King Bettman, in search of a job, goes crawling back to his pal David Stern (NBA Commish) in search of employment and Stern either kicks him to the curb or laughs and gives him a job as a towel boy for the Charlotte Bobcats.  Then this man can feel what it's like to be shunned by those you trust.  Maybe then he will have some sympathy for us fans that have been forced to swallow down the crap and the rhetoric he has continued to feed us in his 20-year tenure of "excellence."

Maybe I am just a little too heated at the moment.  Maybe it is still early and the season will be salvaged.  I probably am jumping to conclusions a little too early.  Fine.  But I will not waiver in my opinion that if the entire 2012 season is lost than the NHL is dead.  They barely survived the last time and were just starting to recover.  This would be a death blow.  We'll see what happens, but right now I am not confident that the greed and the incompetence of the men who's hands hold the fate of the season will allow them to do what is right. 

Congratulations, NHL, you are now on the brink of becoming soccer in the United States.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Lions Look Flat, Lack Attitude

After a 2011 season that provided 10 wins, a playoff birth, optimism, fun, and excitement, the 2012 campaign for the Detroit Lions thus far has produced a 1-3 record and a team that looks like it lacks energy, a sense of urgency, and most importantly, attitude from the opening kick until the final tick.  Apparently it has been so uninspiring that I am bustin' rhymes in my blog posts...good grief.  Could it be that they are working too hard to clean up their image as the "Bad Boys" of the NFL and thus losing their edge?  I think it is a question worth asking at this point.

Last year, the Lions were being labeled as a dirty team.  They were the "Bad Boys" of the NFL.  They ranked among the worst in the league, 30th, in penalties against and were a personal foul waiting to happen.  At times it appeared that the refs were making calls against them due to their reputation.  It was well documented in the media that the Lions appeared to be an undisciplined football team.

The penalty parade continued into the offseason, not on the field, but in the legal system.  It wasn't flags being thrown, it was handcuffs being clicked and players being thrown in the slammer.  Alcohol, drugs (some being mistaken for a tasty salad), reckless driving, and guns were among the problems that ailed a handful of Lions players leading up to this season.  The holier than thou members of the media pointed their fingers and told the world that "those Lions sure are bad fellers."

Of course the penalties were frustrating.  The "Stomp Heard 'Round the World" was embarrassing.  Nobody likes when players get arrested.  But on the field, these hooligans had an attitude.  A mean streak.  A giant chip on their shoulders that made them play hard and maybe bend the rules here and there.  They had tenacity, a fire, a swagger.  Penalties be damned, they were winning games and turning heads.  The Lions were becoming the team that nobody wanted to face.

This year, they have cleaned up their act a little.  They are middle of the pack in terms of penalties.  I believe they rank 17th.  The legal troubles have ceased and they have kept their emotions in check.  In turn, they look lifeless.  There is now zero emotion in their game.  There is no fire, no sense of urgency, no attitude...and you can forget swagger...Bubbles (the cuddly Lions mascot) has shown more swag than the Lions have on Sundays.  As a result, the Leos have a 1-3 record and a season that is almost on the brink.

My opinion is that maybe they have been worrying about their image a little too much and, in turn, they have lost that attitude that made them the surprise team in the NFL a year ago.  They have gone from being a team that gets a little too emotional to a team that doesn't show signs of having a pulse until they are losing in the 4th quarter.  The defense gets punched in the mouth repeatedly, the offense has become extremely predictable and, dare I say, boring, the tackling is poor, the defensive line continues to be paper champions, and the special teams...let's not even go there.  The Lions are now dull, vanilla, listless, lifeless, and just another team that is tossed in with the pile of misfit toys.  They look dead...like walking corpses draped in Honolulu Blue and silver (with black trim) death shrouds.

I am not saying they need to go out in their remaining games and turn them into WWE fiascoes.  I am not suggesting that they start committing ill-advised personal fouls that cripple the team.  No way should they make it a point to go out and get drunk and act a fool.  I am simply saying that they need to get back to being mean and nasty between the lines.  They need to show some emotion and some fire at the BEGINNING of games until they are over.  The Lions need to get that chip squarely back on their shoulders and play with a swagger again. They need to get back to being the "Bad Boys," because as we know, nice guys finish last.