Friday, October 7, 2011
page move
I"ve moved my sports blogging over to www.sportssnark.com. If you've followed and enjoyed my blogging here, check me out over there!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Michigan destroyed Minnesota in its Big Ten opener
It was all Michigan, 58-0. They outgained Minnesota 580 to 177. Denard Robinson was 15-19 for 169 yards with 2 TDs. He rushed for 51 yards but on a season low 6 carries. He did have a TD. Michigan used its backs to take most of the load off of Robinson. Fitz Toussaint rushed 11 times for a career high 108 yards and a TD. Thomas Rawls rushed 10 times for 73 yards. Vincent Smith rushed for 60 yards. He ran for a TD, caught a TD, and threw for a TD. Michigan piled up 363 yards on the ground.
Michigan also kicked 3 field goals today, after having only 4 coming into the game. Effective field goal work after the atrocious field goal kicking during the Rich Rodriguez era.
The win was their largest margin of victory in a shutout since beating Indiana by the same score in 2000. It was their first shutout since beating Notre Dame 38-0 in 2007, and their first shutout in Big Ten play since beating Penn State 20-0 in 2001.
All the offense was nice, but the defense was nicer. They stifled Minnesota overall, got to the quarterback for a sack, and had an 83 yard fumble recovery and return for a TD. The defense is showing the ability to make some plays. That's the biggest thing of all since the offense can't score 58 every week. They have to have the ability to grind out a 17-14 win for example, something that was not possible the last 2 seasons.
Michigan also kicked 3 field goals today, after having only 4 coming into the game. Effective field goal work after the atrocious field goal kicking during the Rich Rodriguez era.
The win was their largest margin of victory in a shutout since beating Indiana by the same score in 2000. It was their first shutout since beating Notre Dame 38-0 in 2007, and their first shutout in Big Ten play since beating Penn State 20-0 in 2001.
All the offense was nice, but the defense was nicer. They stifled Minnesota overall, got to the quarterback for a sack, and had an 83 yard fumble recovery and return for a TD. The defense is showing the ability to make some plays. That's the biggest thing of all since the offense can't score 58 every week. They have to have the ability to grind out a 17-14 win for example, something that was not possible the last 2 seasons.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
In Game Update: Minnesota at Michigan
Vincent Smith is also putting on his own show. He's rushed for a TD, caught a TD pass, and thrown a TD pass in the game. He rushed for a 3 yard TD to open the scoring, caught at 28 yard TD pass from Denard Robinson, and threw a 17 yard TD pass to Drew Dilleo.
In Game Update: Minnesota at Michigan
Michigan is rolling 28-0 in the second quarter. Denard Robinson is 10 of 10 passing for 129 yards and a TD. He has 4 carries for 43 yards and a TD, but it's Fitz Toussaint doing the heavy lifting in the running game. 5 carries for 74 yards.
If someone else has the hot hand in the running game give it to them. It looks like there was an early focus to get Robinson into a passing rhythm since he's completed less than 50% of his passes the last two games. Other than his explosion against Notre Dame he hasn't broken 100 yards in a game passing all season.
Granted, lesser opposition. And he ran for 198 and 200 in two of those games so he was doing plenty. But the competition gets tougher from here. Minnesota is bigger and more physical than all the teams they've played so far except Notre Dame.
But it's always looked to me that if Denard didn't get into an early rhythm with passing because he was emphasizing his running game, it's been hard to turn that back on. He's got some good wide receivers. Vincent Smith is a good receiver out of the backfield, and Brady Hoke has put the fullback and tight end back into the passing game. So they have options for giving him some easy short passes to get him going early.
Most importantly the defense is stepping up and stifling the Golden Gophers. More signs of an improved defense so at least Michigan hopefully doesn't have to score 50 points to win games in the Big Ten.
If someone else has the hot hand in the running game give it to them. It looks like there was an early focus to get Robinson into a passing rhythm since he's completed less than 50% of his passes the last two games. Other than his explosion against Notre Dame he hasn't broken 100 yards in a game passing all season.
Granted, lesser opposition. And he ran for 198 and 200 in two of those games so he was doing plenty. But the competition gets tougher from here. Minnesota is bigger and more physical than all the teams they've played so far except Notre Dame.
But it's always looked to me that if Denard didn't get into an early rhythm with passing because he was emphasizing his running game, it's been hard to turn that back on. He's got some good wide receivers. Vincent Smith is a good receiver out of the backfield, and Brady Hoke has put the fullback and tight end back into the passing game. So they have options for giving him some easy short passes to get him going early.
Most importantly the defense is stepping up and stifling the Golden Gophers. More signs of an improved defense so at least Michigan hopefully doesn't have to score 50 points to win games in the Big Ten.
seen in the Social Mediaverse during the Minnesota-Michigan...
@UMGoBlog minnesota switching up the play at the line of scrimmage -> re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
a big basketball recruiting score for NC State
Rodney Purvis, the #1 high school recruit in North Carolina, and #16 nationally (the 5th rated shooting guard) committed to NC State yesterday. He's a 6'4" 185 pound shooting guard. Scouts say he'll be ready to contribute immediately, both in terms of his skill set and his physical development.
Purvis is going to work on getting a couple other big time recruits to choose State. Still some big time reinforcements coming in 2012, to add to some strength already in place. I expect CJ Leslie will likely be gone after this season, so State needs some front line recruits.
Hopefully a new coaching voice and style will get all this talent to gel and blossom rather than underachieving.
Purvis is going to work on getting a couple other big time recruits to choose State. Still some big time reinforcements coming in 2012, to add to some strength already in place. I expect CJ Leslie will likely be gone after this season, so State needs some front line recruits.
Hopefully a new coaching voice and style will get all this talent to gel and blossom rather than underachieving.
Friday, September 30, 2011
aaaaand we have our first big post season rain delay
The rain started pouring down in the top of the second in New York. Delmon Young hit a solo home run for Detroit off of CC Sabathia. Justin Verlander struck out Derek Jeter on the bottom half but he reached on a wild pitch as Alex Avila couldn't corral the curveball in time. That hurt, as he came home to score on Alex Rodriguez's groundout to third.
The game was 1-1 heading to the bottom of the second when play was halted. The rain's coming down hard with a larger band of heavier rain expected to arrive around midnight or so. It's questionable whether this game will resume. Obviously it hurts both teams but it hurts Detroit worse. Verlander threw 25 pitches. I doubt he comes back tomorrow obviously. Maybe Game 3 in Detroit but then he's out for game 5 if needed. Blah, possibly a terrible turn of events for Detroit. Even if this game resumes I doubt Verlander comes back out after a couple hour delay. Neither does Sabathia. Not good for either team but again maybe worse for Detroit. Fister may end up being the Game 5 starter, which isn't the worst thing, if the decision is made to get another guaranteed start for Verlander in the series.
The game was 1-1 heading to the bottom of the second when play was halted. The rain's coming down hard with a larger band of heavier rain expected to arrive around midnight or so. It's questionable whether this game will resume. Obviously it hurts both teams but it hurts Detroit worse. Verlander threw 25 pitches. I doubt he comes back tomorrow obviously. Maybe Game 3 in Detroit but then he's out for game 5 if needed. Blah, possibly a terrible turn of events for Detroit. Even if this game resumes I doubt Verlander comes back out after a couple hour delay. Neither does Sabathia. Not good for either team but again maybe worse for Detroit. Fister may end up being the Game 5 starter, which isn't the worst thing, if the decision is made to get another guaranteed start for Verlander in the series.
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