Michigan Football: Tidbits from MaizeMan — Initial Thoughts
Posted at 4:00pm — 12/2/2013
Michigan Football: Tidbits from MaizeMan — Initial Thoughts
This is a small sample of MaizeMan’s post on the message board.
1) First, after this weekend, I think Iowa is a pretty good football team or at least one of the most improved teams this year.
Nov 30, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller (5) is tackled by Michigan Wolverines linebacker Ben Gedeon (42) in the second quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports2) After watching OSU game, it just reinforces how important recruiting is and how important it is to develop players. I just cannot see this team getting much better next year without the emergence of Taco on the defensive line. We have been telling everyone about Gedeon all year and when he plays on a consistent basis he will only get better. And I guess you could throw Thomas into the mix as players that just have to develop and develop quickly. The fact is, UM has a bunch of pretty good football players, but only a few that I would consider to be impact players. And we do not even know if Taco can become that dominant DE we desperately need. But, my point is, he is basically the only player who has the physical ability to be that force needed.
The formula in the future is there to beat OSU, but UM has to get much bigger and physical.
One thing you do not want to do is play Alabama in this years bowl game.
5) When asked why this team played so well against OSU while basically stinking up the joint for the past 4 weeks, Hoke stated he felt this team was not “mentally tough enough” and this lack of mental toughness is the main reason they had so many breakdowns in the past games.
Nov 30, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner (98) walks to the huddle during the third quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY SportsThis one is tough for me to discuss because I think all of us could see this team would consistently have bad stretches in games, but how do you make a team more “mentally tough”. Maybe CoachBT could chime in on this, but to me this one is just too hard to explain, is this on the coaches, on the SR’s? On individual players? Was it basically the same kids? or was this an overall team issue?
In any event to have a great rivalry, one we have with OSU, both teams need to win and right now this one is pretty lopsided. UM needs to win and in order to do this we need to get better players, faster players who can play with much more confidence. And the tough part is winning breeds confidence.
One more comment, bowl game coming up. Hoke has a little Carr in him in that he understands kids need time to get their academics in order, get away from football for a week or so. But I hope we see a much more physical UM team in bowl game. I hope they have some very tough practices. OSU is a year away, UM needs to start now, to beat them in 2014.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — MaizeMan
Go Blue — Wear Maize!