Babcock Bashers Need to Chill

There's no denying the fact that the 2013 edition of the Detroit Red Wings are not what we've grown accustomed to in the last 20-plus years.  Actually, I find myself often asking who the heck these guys are who are posing as the Red Wings. 

They're not particularly explosive on offense, they turn the puck over in their own zone way too often, they are average (at least I keep telling myself they are) defensively, their powerplay is more of an advantage for the opposition (lead the league in SH goals allowed), are not mentally tough, cannot protect leads, go in spells where they make fans yawn with their play and due to the never ending rash of injuries: they look more like the Grand Rapids Griffins. 

Mike Babcock's bunch has been about as pleasurable to watch as a colonoscopy most of the season and it has prompted many fans to think he's worn out his welcome in Detroit and should be fired....I am not one of those fans.

Before we even look at this season, the injuries, etc.; let's just remember he is not the man whom provided the groceries.  I would argue he wasn't given all the ingredients to truly bake a good cake (At least not one that many would ask for a second slice of).

The best defenseman of all time (not arguably, he is) retired and that void was not adequately replaced.  It's that simple.  The damage wasn't even adequately mitigated.  If you were jumping for joy when Carlo Colaiacovo was signed you might just be an extreme homer.  I puked in my mouth a little.  Sorry for that visual but I felt saying I was underwhelmed by that signing just doesn't do my disdain for it the proper justice. 

Couple that with the departure and subsequent lack of replacement of Brad Stuart and you have a black hole for a blue line.  Huskins has been decent when called upon but he is a definite downgrade from Stuart. 

We won't even talk about the human tree stump known as Kyle Quincey.  That can be a separate blog in itself.

Also, as I have stated before, the team has lacked a true goal scorer since 2009.  That hole has not been plugged either and Samuelsson isn't the answer.  No matter how much you or the team wants to believe he is, he just isn't.  Thus, we will continue to see the inconsistent (that would be actually welcomed this season) powerplay and offensive production we have seen the past few seasons.  Franzen has proven he can't shoulder the load and needs help (and also some milk so he can actually stay in the lineup).

I'm not bagging on Holland (I have done that enough) I am just stating the ugly truth.  The roster that was constructed has major weaknesses.

The roster that was put together was going to be spotty and inconsistent as is with not much depth to overcome many injuries.  Well, they have been the antithesis of healthy.  Helm, Franzen, Bertuzzi, Mursak, Gustavsson, Smith, Samuelsson, Colaiacovo and Datsyuk have all missed time already.  Many have and will miss significant time.  This has prompted constant roster and line shuffling, zero continuity, lack of chemistry and insertion of young players in key roles.  Basically, an already middle-of-the-pack squad has been reduced to a team that has to scratch and claw to beat even the weakest teams in the league.

The eroding roster and injuries aside, the schedule has been grueling.  They've been playing games to the tune of four in six nights, multiple back-to-back games and the like.  For a veteran team that is no easy task.

All of the above is a recipe for a disaster.  Many teams would be touting a losing record and floundering.  Although Mike Babcock doesn't have them setting the world on fire right now, he still has maneuvered them to a 7-6-2 record and tied for the last playoff spot.  Prior to this recent three game skid they were in the middle of the conference (7-3-2) at the fifth spot. 

He has them battling each and every night.  They simply do not have the firepower to compete with the better teams or handle the bottom feeders comfortably right now.  If Datsyuk, Zetterberg, or Brunner don't carry the team on a given night the odds that they will lose are pretty high.  It is going to be this way until some of the troops return to the lineup.  Until then, the best Mike Babcock can do is have them scrap for ugly wins and hope to stay in the thick of a playoff race.  In that regard, he has been just fine.

The bottom line is I am not sure even the great Scotty Bowman could do much more with the current Red Wings than Mike Babcock already is.  Babs is regarded as one of the best in the biz and is maybe doing some of his best coaching of his career.  Those who can't see that either have never really been a Babcock fan to begin with or are just looking for a scapegoat.  I think with the underwhelming offseason(s), the injuries, the condensed schedule, lack of training camp and the rest of the craziness that is the 2013 NHL season; Babcock has done his job admirably.  And he still has the best hair in all of hockey.

Be careful what you wish for Red Wings fans.  We saw what a poor coaching hire can do with a STACKED team (Dave Lewis).  We have a good one in place with Mike Babcock and it would be a shame to see him leave due to circumstances that are beyond his control and run the risk of bringing in a mediocre coach.  To be blunt, THOSE WHO WANT HIM FIRED NEED TO CHILL!

GO WINGS!!

Wings Powerless Powerplay No Shock

I have held back drawing any real conclusions and/or blogging about the Red Wings until after a few games.  Well, it's been five games, the Wings sit 2-2-1, and I have seen enough to come to the conclusion that they have a God-awful powerplay.  However, unlike some, I am far from surprised let alone shocked.

The Red Wings are an abysmal 2-26 (7.7%) on the powerplay which is good enough (or bad enough) for the 28th spot in the NHL.  It feels so long ago when their play with a man advantage was considered the ultimate enforcer to those teams that tried to goon it up with the Wings and take liberties with their star players.  Now it appears every player is afraid to shoot, they do nothing but pass and wait for the perfect shot, give up a bevy of shorthanded chances, and they more times than not are one-and-done in the offensive zone.  They look downright spooked.  They look as scared as a teenage boy who is about to make out with a girl for the first time.

Many think this is a direct result of the retirements of Nick Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom.  Well, yes and no.  While it's true they miss Lidstrom's laser-like accuracy from the point and the unmatched goalie screening ability of Holmstrom, the powerplay ills were on display last season and at times in previous seasons post-2009. 

While it's true the Red Wings still have an abundance of offensively skilled forwards, they do not possess the true goal-scorer with the shooter's mentality AND the accurate shot (meaning Samuelsson does not fit the bill) needed to be a consistent scoring source.  Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Filppula, Bertuzzi are gifted players but they are creative passers (playmakers) first and goal-scorers second.  They always have been .  They had the likes of Hull, Shanahan, and Hossa in the past to dish the puck to and bury it in the net...CONSISTENTLY.  They miss that sniper dearly and have been since after Game 7 of the 2009 Finals when they essentially let Hossa walk in favor of Johan Franzen.

Speaking of the "Mule," he was supposed to be that next elite power forward.  That constant scoring threat.  He was supposed to be THE GUY.  With his size, skill, and wicked shot he is dominant when he uses all three elements...especially his size.  It seems that since he got his contract he has used his size less and less and has become a little bit of a floater.  His willingness to go to the net and get the dirty goals has become spotty.  To be nice, he's been very inconsistent.  It seems more and more evident that the decision to keep Franzen over Hossa was a mistake.  The Wings sorely miss Hossa's size, speed, shot, and compete level night in and night out.  This move was the beginning of the steady erosion of the Red Wings' roster.

You add the lack of sniper aspect with the fact that they have lost Lidstrom, Rafalski, and Stuart at the back end without adequately filling those voids and you get what you are seeing through five games which is a slow, stale and ineffective roster that struggles to score and looks inept on the powerplay.  None of the big departures have been significantly replaced.  Forgive me if I don't see Samuelsson, Tootoo, Colaiacovo, and Huskins (Hudler, Bertuzzi, and White in previous years) as adequate replacements for the aforementioned players.  Damien Brunner may end up being a consistent scorer but that still remains to be seen.  However, in the here and now, whether it is due to the inability or the refusal to spend the money and pay elite players market value, the fact is that putting band aids on bullet wounds finally has caught up to Ken Holland and the Wings.

Barring a significant move or moves to bring in a top six goal-scorer and/or a top four defenseman capable of quarterbacking a powerplay, do not expect the returns of Samuelsson, Colaiacovo, or Helm to suddenly turn the Wings' powerplay around.  They need some new blood and not an aging star who used to be good.  Not reclamation projects.  They need a difference-maker or maybe two.  The time is now for Ken Holland to be aggressive.  If not, this is going to be a long and agonizing season.

10 Post NHL Lockout Thoughts

 
Well, after 113 days of easily the silliest display of childish bickering, posturing, and finger-pointing, the NHL Lockout Part III is indeed over.  Hockey is back, we will see a season (presumably 48 games), and the ultimate idiocy (canceling yet another season) has been avoided.  With that said, here are ten random thoughts of mine now that the smoke has cleared:

1. It's about damn time!  It took you 113 days to come up with the parameters just about everyone knew you would ultimately settle on?  Really?  And next time, please start negotiations six months to a year in advance to avoid this lunacy.  Please and thank you.
2. The powers that be on both sides (Bettman and Fehr) are simply the stupidest smart people in the history of professional sports.  The damage that has been done to the league and its fans and its sponsors by this lockout is irreparable.  They either didn't realize it or they didn't care.  Either way it's bad business.  Which leads me to my next thought...
3. By the time this new CBA expires, both Bettman and Fehr need to be replaced.  Gary is responsible for three lockouts in his tenure and that is unacceptable.  Period.  Donald has a history of being as hard-headed as they come and already almost killed baseball.  Enough.  Both are egomaniacs who are clueless about hockey's fan base.  They need to be served their walking papers in the relatively near future.
4. In the beginning of the season the hockey is going to be, in the words of the lunch lady in Billy Madison: "exxxxtraa schhlllaaaawwwpppy!"  Those who played overseas will have to get used to the smaller ice again as well as better competition and those who didn't play...well...without preseason games and with a shortened camp it's going to take some time for players and teams to get into form.
5. With the sloppiness we will see a lot of injuries.  My guess is that a month into the season the injury list on TSN.ca will be filled with groin injuries.  Good times.
6. The 48-game season, once teams round into form, will produce some thrilling hockey.  Every game will be important.  Teams will not be able to afford extended losing streaks.  Last year's Red Wings team that was ravaged by injuries and thrown into a tailspin would maybe miss the playoffs this year.  This will be interesting.
7. With the new CBA reportedly having buyout clauses and a lower cap, we are about to see some player movement.  And soon.  It could be an interesting few weeks leading up until opening night.
8. The Leafs will still stink and miss the playoffs.
9. Sidney Crosby will still whine constantly when another player breathes on him, Patrick Kane still won't play a lick of defense, and Pavel Datsyuk will still be the best player in the world and under appreciated.  I have accepted all three as staples of the modern NHL.
10. The Red Wings will have a tough year barring a true impact trade.  They may still get into the playoffs since they still have the likes of Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and on some nights, Johan Franzen.  That talent alone in what looks to be a mediocre Central Division should get them in.  However, us as fans have to face the reality that the team lost arguably the best defenseman in history in Nick Lidstrom and another good one in Brad Stuart without replacing them.  Mike Babcock is going to have his work cut out for him.

These are my thoughts so take them how you will.  Call me an idiot, a Crosby hater, whatever.   If you're a fellow hockey fan then we can agree on one thing:  DROP THE PUCK ALREADY!!!

NHL & NHLPA: What the Puck?!

As you may have guessed, this picture to the left is the face of the NHL's fearless leader, Gary Bettman, superimposed on the body of the Grinch since myself and fellow hockey fans view him as the NHL's Grinch.  I would go as far as to call him hockey's Grim Reaper but whatever.  You get the point. 

My opinion has not wavered in that he is the biggest reason for this lockout mess.  Three lockouts in 18 years (two in eight years) and the possibility of canceling yet another entire season tells me that he is more than the owner's errand boy.  But he and Bill Daly (his version of the Simpsons Smithers, Mr. Burns' lemming) are not completely to blame.  No sir.  Don Fehr and the NHLPA are just as stubborn, greedy, and disconnected from what is really important...the fans.  I'm not going to get into all the dollars and cents, big issues, how far apart they are, and certainly I am not going to touch the latest legal proceedings from each side or the "disinterest" fiasco.  Why?  Because it's all rhetoric and nonsense.  A urination contest if you will.  All at the expense of the fans.

For a league that was so "savvy" to walk away from ESPN to be on the Home Shopping Network, they sure don't have the ability to look beyond their pointless labor war to see the erosion of the level of give-a-crapness the league is suffering in the eyes of the media, the fans, or their sponsors.  Or, they simply don't care.  Either way, for a league struggling for recognition and growth of any significance in the U.S. markets, they sure are going about it in a rather unorthodox way.  Dare I say in a stupid way?  I'm sure cities like Raleigh, Columbus, Nashville, and Miami really miss their hockey right about now (insert fart noise).

I have always been one to defend the NHL to those who bash it.  Heck, my father is the man who introduced me to the sport and made me the fan I am today and even he has lost interest in recent years.  Now, he could care less.  This is the same man that would allow me to stay up late with him to watch the late West Coast Red Wings playoff games and endure OT thrillers into the wee hours of the morning.  I used to give him reasons to care and try to convince him why he should remain a fan.  I no longer will do such a thing nor will I defend this Mickey Mouse league to anyone who either is no longer a fan or never was.  What has transpired in the last 20 years, and more so in the last decade, is indefensible.  Will I stay a fan?  Yep.  That's just the way I am wired.  Will I question anyone who bags on the NHL or no longer supports it?  Can't do it.  They have every reason to spend their free time and especially their entertainment dollars elsewhere.


I read an alarming stat the other day.  In a poll taken in Canada, 58% of the fans don't even care if the lockout is settled.  Apathy and disgust has now found its way to the country that claims hockey as their game.  It's one thing to see that in the U.S. but CANADA?  Wow.  That's the equivalent of the majority of sports fans in America losing interest in the NFL.  Nice job fellas.  Nice job indeed. 

Maybe Mike Babcock was spot on when he said the NHL and hockey is in danger of becoming as popular as pro bowling.  Some would argue it's already there.  If growth is what you seek, Mr. Bettman, you're going in the wrong direction. 

ESPN, which is the largest sports network in the universe, doesn't even give more than a line on the bottom ticker towards covering this childish lockout.  Bettman's lovechild, NBC Sports Network, is showing MAC college basketball and rodeos in the time slots that were supposed to be hockey.  I'm sure they're real thrilled.  Unfortunately, they may be the only people that actually care.

So, NHL and NHLPA, when you have the Canadian Prime Minister and the President of the United States of America publicly calling you out for this meaningless cat fight and telling you to do the right thing for the fans (remember us?) while you continue to do nothing but spew rhetoric and show no urgency to return to the bargaining table, I have to ask you a simple question:  What the PUCK are you thinking?!  If the growth of the league, fan support, media coverage, sponsorships, and MONEY (something that may actually make sense to you) are what matters to you then I would ask you to make your case that you are thinking rationally at all.  I'm waiting...

Personally, I get the suspicion that it is no longer about any of those things mentioned.  Not even money.  It's simply about who "wins."  Who can stick their chest out when this is all over.  If that is the case then shame on you.  If that is the case, I do hope that if and when you return, half-empty arenas are the norm, sponsors pull out, and fans do to you what you have done to us.  Give you the ever-famous one-fingered salute.  I ain't talking about the pinkie.

Yes, myself and a majority of the die-hard fans will return.  But, I will be very surprised if any of the new casual fans that were gained since the last lockout do the same.  I think it will be very eye-opening.  If this is indeed the case, Mr. Bettman and Mr. Fehr, you have nobody to blame but yourselves and your petty egos.  I hope this is all worth it.

The Most Annoying/Overplayed Current Sports Stories

Well, the "BIG NEWS" dropped yesterday.  No, the economy has not been saved.  No, World War III has not began.  And of course, Al Qaeda has not turned into a fun-loving philanthropic organization.  Nope, something much more earth-shattering and extraordinary broke on Monday, December 4, 2012.  That's right, Kate Middleton and Prince William are expecting a child.  According to every media outlet on the planet, this is of utmost importance.  I am thrilled for the happy couple but the constant media coverage (that will certainly continue for the next 9-12 months) is unnecessary.  Especially for something that is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things regarding true world news.

In honor of this latest display of media drivel, I have decided to put together a list (in no particular order) of the most current annoying and largely pointless sports stories that, in most cases, are replayed ad nauseam.  Enjoy.

1.) NEW YORK JETS/REX RYAN/TIM TEBOW/MARK SANCHEZ

Ah yes, the for-letter-network's (ESPN) favorite team.  The New York Jets.  It all started when they traded, for reasons that really made zero football sense, for Tim Tebow.  It was on from there.  We got the works: Rex Ryan guaranteeing Super Bowls while charting his weight loss, constant coverage of training camp in which ESPN felt it was necessary to show a Fabio-like montage of Tebow running shirtless, and now the inevitable QB controversy in which the highly overrated Sanchez has crumbled (shocker) and Tebow has been passed over for the 3rd stringer.  It's a circus.

Here's a newsflash: Sanchez is a bad QB, Tebow is not an NFL QB in any capacity, and the New York Jets are a bad football team.  Bad football teams should not headline SportCenter every single day.  Enough.  Cover good football teams please.

2.) MANTI TE'O

Manti Te'o is a great football player who not only led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a #1 ranking and a chance to play for a national title, but he overcame the personal tragedies of losing both his grandmother and girlfriend.  I commend him, it's a great story, and it's touching.  I get it.  But I think by now it has been well documented and a little overplayed.  As good of a player as he is, the Irish have 10 other players on that vaunted defense and some offensive players that had a big hand in the success.  However, it has been all Te'o, all day.  It was getting stale back in October.  Time for some new material.

3.) THE NBA

I could, and have, written an entire piece as to why I think the NBA is a terrible league.  I am not going to do that here.  I am also not suggesting that there should be no coverage because that would be silly.  However, besides the highlights, ESPN has to have constant discussion, "analysis," TMZ-like coverage of the off-the-court shenanigans (Dwight Howard, Kobe firing coaches, etc.) so on and so forth. 

All of that is for not.  Why?  Because, I hate to ruin the surprise, but the Miami Heat will beat whichever of the three possible teams make it out of the Western Conference in the finals.  That's how David Stern has constructed this league.  Therefore,  the regular season (especially for our lovable junior varsity Pistons) and majority of the playoffs is meaningless.  No analysis, dissecting of the other filler teams, or heated discussions are needed.  Sorry, it's a farce.  But hey, they wear really cool glasses without lenses!! 

A little less of the NBA spoon-feeding would do a lot of good.

4.) LEBRON "KING" JAMES

This feeds off of #3 on the list.

I understand the NBA is built around its stars.  One could argue that it is built to ensure their biggest star (LeBron James) wins.  I digress.  However, the media (ESPN the main culprit once again) has made it a point to cover every single thing "King" James does.  We get the luxury of knowing whether he he had Cocoa Puffs or Fruit Loops for breakfast, how many bowel movements he had in a day, what his stance is on world hunger, etc. before we even see once of his highlights of the previous night.  Add in the infamous (and completely unnecessary) "Decision" and the little dance party he and his Miami Heat teammates had before they even had their first practice and you get OVERKILL.

Here's the truth his fans refuse to acknowledge: He flipped the bird to his hometown team to conspire with other stars to sign as free agents with the same team (Heat) to finally get a title because he was afraid to build a team of his own.  He's no Jordan.  Sorry.  Maybe when he wins "not one...not two...not three..not four..." he can earn the "King" moniker and all the air time.  Until then, can we scale back on the LeBron media gluttony?  Please and thank you.

5.) THE NHL LOCKOUT

Now, this may not be getting as much mainstream coverage as everything else (or none on ESPN since they don't acknowledge the NHL) but Twitter peeps, fellow bloggers, and, though it is their job, the hockey writers can stop writing the same exact thing day in and day out about the NHL lockout.  No progress, the season is doomed, now there's optimism, the NHL is dying, the quotes of the rhetoric and finger-pointing from the owners and NHLPA, Bettman sucks, Fehr is the problem blah blah blah.  Enough.

I am saying this as a big fan of hockey: I don't care.  Until there is something substantial to report such as the season is cancelled or a new CBA has been agreed upon go away.  We've heard all the opinions.  We know all of the pressing issues.  We know the two sides are idiots.  No need to recycle everyone else's stories.  Besides, the NHL is killing itself and doesn't deserve the attention or the satisfaction.

6.) CALLING FOR JIM SCHWARTZ AND/OR MARTIN MAYHEW TO BE FIRED

As we know, things are back to normal in Detroit and the Lions are a terrible football team again.  Yippee.  This has incited discussions on the local radio and talks amongst the media and fans that coach Jim Schwartz and/or GM Martin Mayhew should be fired.  Whether or not they should be is inconsequential because it ain't happenin' folks.  Save your breath and your ink.  As long as William Clay Ford, the same man who kept Wayne Fontes and Matt Millen around for so many years, owns the team we won't see the quick hook for either of these men.  There is a good chance we're stuck with the both of them for at least another 3-5 years so might as well get used to it as well as the "Same Ol' Lions."

I am sure there are other stories that annoy many of you that I have forgotten.  Those were just the ones that were top of mind.

With that I say enjoy the sports equivalents to the Royal Family nonsense the likes of ESPN will continue to subject us all to.  Maybe it's time we all start reading more books and watching less TV.

Time to Hold Al Borges Accountable

Another ugly display of offensive ineptitude resulting in another road loss for the Wolverines against a quality opponent... 

Yes, Saturday in Columbus might as well have been Groundhog Day.  We've seen this movie a few times in the last two seasons where the Michigan offense falls flat on its face away from Ann Arbor in a big game. 

Many have tried to spin it multiple ways and insist that the struggles are due to the fact that offensive coordinator Al Borges does not have "his guys" to run his offense.  Well, Greg Mattison does not have "his guys" either and he is making it work.  He's making it work quite well.  Enough with that nonsense.  Truly good coaches take what they have and make it work.

The bottom line is that an offensive coordinator's job is to come up with schemes/game plans that work with the team's strengths and work around its deficiencies and also, maybe most important, to make in-game adjustments to to help win games.  I'm sorry guys but I can't tow the company line here and say that Borges is doing a good job here.  If you think I am being a fair weather fan and want to make excuses for him you are living in a fantasy land and need to take off the Maize and Blue homer glasses.  He's racked up points on teams with inferior talent and has fizzeld against those who don't.

If you are being honest with yourself you will admit that many times in his tenure he has been stubborn (Alabama and ND), incredibly predictable and unimaginative (MSU), and unable to make quality in-game adjustments to attack defenses' weak points (many games but OSU the most glaring example).  These blunders were key contributors to at least two losses this season and, as a TRUE FAN (not a homer/slappy) that can think objectively, I think it's time to take a serious look as to what exactly Al Borges brings to the table.  If you can't think objectively or will blindly support anything that this coaching staff does then stop reading because this is not for you.

Forget last year, let's just look at a few games this year where this Al Borges-led offense cost Team 133.  And yes, I'll throw out the Alabama game because we weren't beating Alabama this year.  Sorry it wasn't happening.

I think one of the biggest blunders was the Notre Dame game in which UM lost 13-6 to the supposed #1 team in America.  A game in which the defense played their a***s off and gave the team a chance to win on the road.  Why didn't they win?  Because the offense had a gazillion turnovers including four Denard Robinson INTs primarily because Al Borges asked him to play the role of Tom Brady and sit in the pocket and throw the ball down field 30 times.  Also, at a time when the offense was steadily moving on the stout ND defense and knocking on the door inside the 10 yard line in a scoreless game early, Borges dials up a halfback pass with a 5'7" Vincent Smith only to see it get intercepted and destroy momentum.  Not going to go into any further detail but if you watched that game you saw the offense cost that team a W.  No two ways about it.

Nebraska was a different avenue for ineptitude.  Yes, Denard got hurt.  Tough blow.  But how in the world is Russell Bellomy not at least adequately prepared to resemble a functional QB?  I don't want to hear it was a tough spot blah blah blah.  Yeah, it was a tough spot.  But it's on the coaches to make sure he is at least serviceable.  No excuses.  The staff was ill prepared to deal with the possibility of Robinson going down.  And who is ultimately responsible for the offense?  Al Borges.

I won't even touch on the fact that it's hard to believe that Borges truly felt that Bellomy was going to be the better option to back up Robinson in the event of an injury.  Forget the fact that Gardner is an athlete and was a decent WR.  His ability at QB is a heck of a lot higher than Bellomy's and I find it hard to believe the coaches didn't see that in the spring or the summer.  Gardner may have even been the team's BEST option at QB and it's also hard for me to not at least entertain that idea.  Not after what we have watched since the Minnesota game.

Even though the Wolverines beat MSU, they failed to score an offensive TD in that game.  A combination of a completely horrendous Spartan offense and a pretty darn good defensive effort by Mattison's boys enabled Michigan to escape with a 2-point win after only mustering four FGs.  Why did Michigan only score 12 points?  Partly because MSU has a very good defense, but a big part also had to do with the fact the offense was beyond predictable.  Denard run left.  Denard run right.  Denard run center.  Maybe a tailback carry in the same fashion.  Failure to convert red zone trips to TDs.  They didn't even attempt to outscheme that tough Spartan defense.  A win is a win but that is a game that very well could've or should've been won 24-10 or something along those lines.  Thank God for Greg Mattison.

Now the most recent example of terrible offensive coaching leading to a loss was the disaster in Columbus on Saturday against the Buckeyes.  The offense looked pretty good in the first half scoring 21 points and heading into the halftime with a 1-point lead.  It had appeared we would see more of the Devin/Denard backfield that worked wonders the previous week.  So what happened in the second half?  Well, Gardener would throw a 1st down pass for six to eight yards only to be taken out to line Robinson at QB for designed runs.  OSU knew he couldn't throw so it was as easy as stacking the box to stop the run.  It worked.  Shocker. 

Not only did the constant QB shuffle kill Gardner's rhythm, it essentially telegraphed what play they would run.  If Gardner was in it would likey be a pass.  If Denard was in it was certainly a run.  Basically, Borges took all of the possible creative ways he could have them both on the field and keep the defense off balance and disregarded all of it.  At least when Robinson had his QB runs in the first half they attacked the edge of the defense where they were struggling without one of their best players.  In the second half they decided to attack the Buckeyes' strength (and the UM weakness all season) the interior.  It's one thing to try that with Robinson who can make plays on his own, but to constantly run a 5'7" 180 lbs. Smith on a power iso play on 3rd and short yardage was inexcusable.  How did this make any sense?  Someone please explain this to me?

Where were the Gardner rollouts (maybe even with a misdirection play action to Robinson) with a run/pass option that worked so well?  Where were the bubble screens to Denard?  Heck, try an option with Gardner and Robinson.  Where was the creativity we had seen in previous weeks?  I'll tell you why we didn't see it.  The plays were called to not lose.  They were not called to win. And, once it was painfully obvious OSU was not going to allow Denard to burn them again on QB runs, Borges kept dialing them up.  By the time they stuck with Devin at QB and didn't even put Denard in the game for what seemed to be most of the fourth quarter, the offense was so out of sync it was hopeless.  They didn't even cross the 50 yard line in the half.  There is no defending Borges for what transpired on Saturday. 

No imagination.  No threat of a pass with Gardner out.  No moving Denard around even as a decoy.  This amounted to no win.  The end.

Those are just a few examples of the ineptitude we have seen this season from Al Borges.  And if you can't see how they greatly contributed to losses then I want some of what you're on.

You can point to the fact that the running game was putrid or rehash that Borges didn't have "his guys."  I'll give you a response of a fart noise.  Michigan has one of the most dynamic players in Denard Robinson at their disposal and also what appears to be a darn good dual-threat QB in Devin Gardner.  A coach that has been touted an offensive genius and is "well-respected" in the college football ranks should be able to do wonders with that.  Many coordinators are able to do a lot more with a lot less.  I have a very difficult time defending Al Borges after this year and would not argue with anyone who would think that he held the team back in the win column this year.  The numbers and the facts are right there in black and white.  The argument can be made.

I am not one of those saying Hoke should be fired.  That's goofy talk.  I think he is the right guy for the job.  Am I a little concerned about some of his game management at times along with his 3-13 road record in his last four seasons against winning teams?  A little.  But I think the good he has done as whole has far outweighed those things and I can look passed those for the time being.

However, I am seriously wondering if we have the right guy in Al Borges to run this offense in the future.  I am concerned that it is entirely possible that his stubbornness, questionable play calling, propensity to get cute at the wrong times, his inability to make sound in-game adjustments, and his inability up to this point to outscheme any truly good defense could hold Michigan back from winning anything significant.  It think it may have done just that this year.  I am not saying this will 100% be the case moving forward but if you can't say the thought hasn't even crossed your mind you're crazy and probably delusional.  I have seen enough in the last two seasons to at least be concerned.

I hope I am wrong about Borges.  I hope he makes those of us who question his abilities look like imbeciles by directing juggernaut offenses.  We'll see.  But starting next season he won't have to "figure out" how to adequately use Robinson, he will have a QB capable of making the throws needed for his offense, and will have two years of recruiting "his guys."  All of those crutches he has used to stand on will be gone and, at least for me, he is now on the clock.  No more excuses. 

Sorry for the rant.  Losing to OSU in a game that was very winnable will do that. 

GO BLUE!!

**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!! **

QB Controversy at U-M? NO, STOP IT!

ATTENTION ARMCHAIR QBS, COACHES, ATHLETIC DIRECTORS, ETC:  There is no quarterback controversy at the University of Michigan!

Please take the time to read that once more, and maybe a few more times to let it sink in.  I'm serious.  Read it as many times as it takes for you to fully grasp those words that are written clearly and concisely in the English Language.  It is the only language I am capable of speaking and writing in (even though I know very basic Spanish and some cuss words in Italian) so there should be no confusion here.

Okay, if you're still puzzled let me spell it out further.  Ready?

For the remainder of the 2012 season, when Michigan's senior quarterback, Denard Robinson, is healthy enough to play he will be, and SHOULD BE, the starting quarterback for the Wolverines, and Devin Gardner will remain the backup.  There is no controversy, discussion, second-guessing, wiggle room, ambiguity, or two ways about it.  Enough.  Stop with the nonsense.

Yes, Devin Gardner was a 5-star recruit and the #1 dual-threat QB coming out of high school and he sure looked the part on Saturday.  Not to diminish Gardner's accomplishments on Saturday but they did play the Minnesota Golden Gophers who don't exactly tout a defense that draws comparisons to the '85 Bears.

And yes, Hoke said in his Monday presser that the offense we saw on Saturday was more of the pro-style Al Borges will run starting next year and Gardner ran it well.  He appears to be more of the "traditional QB" mold and a better passer than Robinson.

All that is great, but Denard will still be the starter for the rest of the season as he should be.  This supposed "QB controversy" is simply another case of the backup QB, goalie, etc. being the most popular guy in town and fans overreacting to the point of ridiculousness.

Robinson may not be the ideal QB that everyone, including the coaching staff, wants to see under center for U-M.  However, the fact remains that he is still one of the, if not the, most dangerous player in all of college football.  He has not put up the gaudy statistics, broken records, led dramatic comebacks, etc. by luck.  He is a very good football player who makes plays and knows how to win football games.  Oh yeah, he has also started every game the last three years up until Saturday.  One good performance by Gardner is not enough to wipe that away nor should it blind us all as to how special of a player Denard Robinson truly is.

Let's not overlook the fact that Robinson IS the Michigan rushing attack which is why he accounts for over 75% of the team's offense.  He's accomplished that by playing QB, not RB, WR, or anything else. 

We shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the RBs and the OL are struggling and Robinson is the only ball carrier who has proven that he can overcome those shortcomings.  With that said, stop and think before you speak when you suggest he should be moved to RB or WR for the rest of his college career.  If that move was to be made it would've been done either before last season or before this season at the latest.  You don't make drastic position changes like that nine games into the season unless your team is desperate and does not have anything left to play for.  Michigan is not one of those teams.  Enough with the charade.

Look, what Devin Gardner did on Saturday was very encouraging and comforting for the future.  If Denard is held out of games at any point during the rest of the season we now know that Team 133 has a very capable backup.  That is a complete 180-degree turnaround from the sentiment we all felt after the Nebraska debacle.  But that is as far as it goes, at least for the 2012 season.

As for next year, the optimism is completely different.  Denard Robinson, for better or for worse depending on which fan(s) you speak to, will have graduated.  Now you can talk all day about Devin Gardner being your starting quarterback.  After Saturday's performance you would have to believe it may very well be his job to lose.  He has the size, the arm strength, and overall ability to be very effective in a pro-style offense and he certainly can make things happen with his feet if things break down in the pocket.  Saturday may have been a bit of a glimpse of what 2013 will look like and that is very exciting.

Notice I did not mention incoming 5-star recruit Shane Morris as being thought about as next year's starter.  That is because if you think that is a good idea you really don't know much about football.  Not trying to be a (insert expletive-filled insult here) but it's the truth.  You do not start a true freshman at QB at a program that has championship aspirations unless you either have no other feasible option or said freshman completely blows away the other candidates. 

For every Chad Henne there are about a gazillion Jimmy Clausens.  Keep in mind Henne had Edwards, Avant, and Breaston to throw to, Hart in the backfield, and a very talented and experienced OL.  Morris will not have those luxuries.  Let the senior Gardner lead the team for a year, Bellomy play the role of backup, and let the talented 18-year old redshirt and learn for a year. 

Don't agree with me, go back and watch some Jimmy Clausen highlights (if there even is any) from his freshman year at Notre Dame.  He was the top QB recruit and looked like a deer in headlights all season long.  Not pretty.  Basically, chill out with the Morris for Heisman 2013 campaign.  This is not Xbox. 

To get back on track, the moral of the story is that if you are one of those fans that have been screaming from the mountain tops since around 3:00 PM on Saturday that Devin Gardner should start over Denard Robinson save your breath.  It ain't happening.  The coaches have said as much and they are right.  Michigan will be just fine with "Shoelace" under center and will more than likely be fine next year with Gardner, not Morris, as the man.  Enjoy the rest of the season and the rest of Denard Robinson's last year at Michigan...as the starting quarterback.

**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!! **