Inside NU - Northwestern vs. Michigan GamedayRoll Damn 'Catshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52532/insidenu_fav.png2014-11-10T10:30:02-06:00http://www.insidenu.com/rss/stream/69423122014-11-10T10:30:02-06:002014-11-10T10:30:02-06:00Northwestern's Two Point Debacle
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<img alt="A different clowning" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rUAhqF4oHiaZbPmon8zHpfSEIV8=/0x40:3202x2175/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/43798436/458641514.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>A different clowning | David Banks</figcaption>
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<p>The late unpleasantness against Michigan</p> <p> <figure class="e-image">
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<p>Panic level: severe</p>
<p><b>Big Picture</b></p>
<p>The defense did pretty well, holding Michigan to 4.3 yards per play (only the 5th worse performance they've posted, amazingly) and 10 points (tied with Utah for the second fewest). The point total is particularly impressive given the favorable field position Michigan had all night, with an average drive starting at their own 42; Michigan's touchdown drive started from the Northwestern 21.</p>
<p>As usual, the offense was a mess. Michigan's run defense is excellent and it showed, with <span>Justin Jackson</span> managing only 38 yards on 17 carries. Northwestern did manage to string together a couple of late scoring drives with the quick passing game, but Trevor Siemian's 5.6 YPA, 2 interceptions, and 5 sacks taken (to go with a sixth from <span>Matt Alviti</span>) represented an awful day overall. Overall, NU scraped together a measly 3.1 yards per play and failed to capitalize when they had favorable field position.</p>
<p>Finally, the special teams: <span>Jack Mitchell</span> missed a 36 yard field goal in the third quarter, <span>Chris Gradone</span> was pulled after two punts to be replaced by <span>Hunter Niswander</span>, who mishandled a snap and gave Michigan fantastic field position off of a left-footed desperation boot. To be fair to Niswander, the snap was terrible, as they were all game, so long snapper can be added to the list of specialists that need improvement. Finally, <span>Tony Jones</span> muffed a punt, leading to a Michigan recovery on the Northwestern 21 and their only touchdown.</p>
<p><b>The Play</b></p>
<p>After doing nothing on offense all game (longest drive before the 4th quarter: 38 yards, turned over on downs; total yardage: 95 yards), Northwestern somehow strung together a 19 play, 95 yard field goal drive and a 14 play, 74 yard touchdown drive in their final two possessions. Down 10-9, Northwestern was faced with a choice: go for two and the win, or kick an extra point and try in overtime.</p>
<p>The decision to go for two has been much agonized over, but it is defensible, at the least: Jack Mitchell is converting 89% of his extra points, so, assuming that you think overtime is a 50/50 proposition, kicking the extra point gives NU about a 45% chance to win. This is the baseline; I would stick with 45% as the bar to clear, but you could convince me to go lower on the OT odds, given NU's struggles with negative plays and in the kicking game.</p>
<p>While the game management decision was reasonable, the implementation was more than a bit dodgy. It did not surprise me to hear that Michigan<a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/8/7180087/michigan-knew-exactly-what-was-coming-on-northwesterns-2-point-attempt" target="_blank"> expected</a> a rollout to the right; while the cosmetics change, variations on that theme have been NU's go-to two point play during Mick McCall's tenure (the most entertaining came in 2009, when the Outback Bowl featured a wide receiver pass variant). In a vacuum, it isn't a terrible goal line option; with Northwestern's recent two-point history, you had better be damn sure it will be perfectly executed, since an opponent would be foolish not to expect it.</p>
<p>This time around, Northwestern starts in an illegal formation, with <span>Dan Vitale</span> as an h-back on the left and no receiver on the line to the right.</p>
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<p>Predictably, Northwestern shifts Vitale to the right as a tight end. Michigan adjusts their defense to have four defenders outside Vitale, with three shallow in apparent man coverage and a safety over the top.</p>
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<p>After Vitale is in position, Northwestern motions <span>Tony Jones</span> from the right slot across the formation and back again; Michigan sends a defender with him, confirming man coverage, but the rest of the defense has no reaction.</p>
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<br>At the snap, Michigan's coverage is flying to the offense's right; they don't plan to let NU beat them outside. On the line, <span>Frank Clark</span> takes an extremely wide rush, and <span>Jack Konopka</span> can't handle it, getting turned sideways instead of widening to make the block.</p>
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<p>Clark is able to make contact with <span>Justin Jackson</span> at full speed; that goes a bit better than I would expect, but Siemian is forced to pull up. He falls over, and the game is over.</p>
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<p>Even had Siemian been able to stop his momentum, this was not a promising play; the frontside receivers were blanketed, leaving <span>Cameron Dickerson</span> coming across from the left and Vitale leaking out to the left flat, while the backside protection was already beat, meaning that Siemian wouldn't have had time to get the ball to either of those players.</p>
<p>Goal line offense is naturally difficult, since the compressed field makes it easier for defenses to deploy their numbers effectively. But while it will always be difficult to find a good look at the goal line, Northwestern's focus on using a shift and motion to try to gain an advantage over the defense allowed Michigan to commit heavily to plan A, the rollout right. Returning to the presnap formation, we find Cameron Dickerson one-on-one with no help available on the left as well as a reasonable run look in that direction (Michigan has 6 in the box plus Dickerson's defender to take on 5 linemen and the receiver, but the linebackers are far enough inside to make outside zone a hopeful option). One of the chief advantages of spreading the field is that it forces the defense to declare their intentions by positioning; this only works if the offense is willing to take advantage of the information revealed.</p>
<p><b>Next Week</b></p>
<p>Let's just agree not to talk about it.</p>
<p>Panic will stay the same if: the Earth keeps spinning</p>
<p>Panic will decrease if: LOL</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/northwestern-wildcats-football/2014/11/10/7181141/film-breakdown-the-two-pointerMountainTiger2014-11-09T09:43:16-06:002014-11-09T09:43:16-06:00Weekend Rewind, Week 11: Should we be laughing?
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<figcaption>Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Week 11 edition of the Weekend Rewind looks back at the comedy of Saturday, Matt Alviti's brief appearance, and goes Around the Big Ten to assess Ohio State's Playoff hopes and next week's battle for the Big Ten West. Plus, Big Ten Power Rankings, with a new No. 1.</p> <p><i>Every week, InsideNU writers Josh Rosenblat and Henry Bushnell will wrap up Northwestern game coverage with some final thoughts (we'll try to stay away from topics addressed in game columns), along with our big takeaways from the rest of the Big Ten. Following Northwestern's 10-9 loss to Michigan, here's the 2014 Week 11 edition of the Weekend Rewind:</i></p>
<h3>Prevailing thoughts on Northwestern</h3>
<p><b>Should we really be laughing?</b></p>
<p>I'm not really sure what else needs to be said. After another pathetic performance from Northwestern, technical analysis has been exhausted. There were two ways to react to Saturday's loss. One was to angrily question the coaching staff, <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/8/7179807/the-pitchforks-are-out-at-northwestern" target="_blank">a view which our Kevin Trahan discussed excellently</a>. The other was to giddily recount the humor of two haphazard football teams <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/8/7178853/embracing-the-suck-of-northwestern-michigan" target="_blank">"embracing the suck."</a></p>
<p>During the game, most of the coverage, including ours, wasn't even taking the game seriously - a game that both teams desperately needed to win, and one that was close for 60 minutes. Instead, "M00N" had become a laughing stock nationally, and we couldn't help but play along.</p>
<p>At times, I felt bad about the comedic element, sometimes even guilty. It's not as if Fitzgerald and the players aren't doing what they believe to be their best to put a winning product out on the field. They put in extensive work behind the scenes to try to please you the fan on Saturday, and in times like these, all that work is unforgiving. It seems unfair to ridicule them.</p>
<p>But then I look around, and I talk to fans that don't see any side of it <i>but</i> the comedic side. I even had multiple fans enthusiastically tell me that that was one of the most fun games they'd ever watched or been to just because of how amusingly awful it was. So maybe at this point, there's nothing to do but laugh.</p>
<p>In the past, in a piece of writing, I tried to pinpoint the main reasons that we as a society love sport. The list was, of course, extensive, and still not even close to complete. We love sports because of the excitement, competition, passion and intensity; because of the sense of community they bring us; because of the sheer athleticism and stunning skill; and most of all because of the thrill of victory.</p>
<p>Also included on the list, however, was comedy. Sports help us relax, make us laugh, and bring us moments of levity. They entertain us. They are fun.</p>
<p>With this Northwestern team, that aspect is all we have left.</p>
<p>So yes, we should be laughing. Many fans - alumni, students, others - have made an emotional investment in Northwestern football. Every Saturday, they need a return on that investment, and right now, laughing is the only way to attain that.</p>
<p><b></b></p>
<p><i>- Henry Bushnell</i></p>
<p style="font-weight: bold;"><b>Matt Alviti makes debut</b></p>
<p>It was a long awaited moment for Wildcats fans as the former-four-star recruit stepped onto the field at quarterback for the first time at Northwestern. The redshirt freshman got into the game for a few plays and picked up a total of five yards on the ground before taking a sack.</p>
<p>With such a small sample size, it's hard to tell whether playing Alviti was just a ploy to throw Michigan off guard or if Pat Fitzgerald actually felt as if Alviti did give Northwestern a substantial advantage running certain plays. Without knowing for sure, it seemed as though Fitzgerald wasn't ready to unleash more responsibility to the young quarterback, yet it did seem that Trevor Siemian's leash had gotten a little bit shorter over the week.</p>
<p>While Siemian did finish the game strong, Alviti's presence will be something to watch next week, especially if Northwestern gets down early to Notre Dame.</p>
<p><i>- Josh Rosenblat</i></p>
<h3>Around the Big Ten</h3>
<p><b>Ohio State a Playoff contender?</b></p>
<p>Well that was impressive. If you hadn't already had you're weekly helping of Big Ten football excruciatingly fed to you by by Northwestern and Michigan, Ohio State vs. Michigan State was a pretty healthy second course.</p>
<p>The Buckeyes went into East Lansing and put together an offensive exhibition, tearing Sparty's defense to shreds and coming away with a 49-37. And in reality, the Buckeyes could've easily reached 50 or even 60. J.T. Barrett was that good.</p>
<p>After an early-season loss to Virginia Tech that had many dismissing Ohio State as a national contender, the Buckeyes have really turned it around. Sure, their Big Ten competition hasn't exactly been stout, but Urban Meyer's team is playing as well as anybody in the national right now, and is a serious contender for the College Football playoff.</p>
<p>Two things don't help OSU's cause: Outside of yesterdays game, they don't have anything remotely close to a big win, and they're loss, at home to Virginia Tech, looks worse and worse every week.</p>
<p>But with the SEC doling out self-inflicted wounds left and right, and Florida State perhaps looking vulnerable, the door is still open. Ohio State will have to win out, but they easily should. They are the class of the Big Ten, and that's indisputable. It's now just a question of other national contenders faltering.</p>
<p><i>- Henry Bushnell</i></p>
<p><b>Wisconsin, Nebraska the class of the West</b></p>
<p>The Badgers and Cornhuskers play next week in a battle of the two best teams in the Big Ten West. Yes, Minnesota, that means I am saying that the Gophers are the third best team in the division right now.</p>
<p>Wisconsin seems to be hitting its stride, albeit after a grind-it-out win at Purdue on Saturday. Both of these teams have the most explosive offensive weapons of any team in the conference in Melvin Gordon and Ameer Abdullah. Both players are a threat to take it to the house each time they touch the ball. Nebraska also has one of the best defensive fronts in the Big Ten. Minnesota can't match either of these teams' big-play ability.</p>
<p>The winner of this match up will represent the West in the Big Ten championship game.</p>
<p><i>- Josh Rosenblat</i></p>
<h3>Big Ten Power Rankings</h3>
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</p>
<table width="356" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<colgroup> <col width="65"> <col width="81"> <col width="72"> <col width="65"> <col width="73"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="15">
<td width="65" height="15">Rank</td>
<td width="81">Team</td>
<td width="72">Henry's Rank</td>
<td width="65">Josh's Rank</td>
<td width="73">Average Rank</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">1</td>
<td>Ohio State</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">2</td>
<td>Michigan State</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">3</td>
<td>Nebraska</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">4</td>
<td>Wisconsin</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">5</td>
<td>Minnesota</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">6</td>
<td>Maryland</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">6.5</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">7</td>
<td>Iowa</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">8</td>
<td>Michigan</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">7.5</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">9</td>
<td>Northwestern</td>
<td align="right">10</td>
<td align="right">9</td>
<td align="right">9.5</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">10</td>
<td>Purdue</td>
<td align="right">9</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
<td align="right">10.5</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">11</td>
<td>Penn State</td>
<td align="right">11</td>
<td align="right">10</td>
<td align="right">10.5</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">12</td>
<td>Rutgers</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
<td align="right">11</td>
<td align="right">11.5</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">13</td>
<td>Illinois</td>
<td align="right">13</td>
<td align="right">13</td>
<td align="right">13</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td align="right" height="15">14</td>
<td>Indiana</td>
<td align="right">14</td>
<td align="right">14</td>
<td align="right">14</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<h3></h3>
https://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/9/7180699/northwestern-michigan-m00n-comedy-laughing-weekend-rewind-week-11Henry BushnellJosh Rosenblat2014-11-08T23:48:04-06:002014-11-08T23:48:04-06:00Michigan knew NU's 2-point play was coming
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<figcaption>Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>"We planned for it all week," Michigan linebacker Jake Ryan said. "We knew what they were doing."</p> <p><i>Update: According to a former player, this could have been a different play than the one Northwestern runs that Michigan thought was coming. The player doesn't want to give the play away, and I will respect that, but there could have been a little gimmicky wrinkle. Th problem is, the play takes a really long time to develop, and that's not ideal with a non-mobile quarterback and an inconsistent offensive line. In fact, it took so long to develop, that it isn't entirely clear if the wrinkle was added. Still, there's some evidence that it was, and that should be taken into account.</i></p>
<p>Northwestern's decision to go for two at the end of the game against Michigan was questionable at best, but perhaps worse was the play that the Wildcats chose to run ... twice.</p>
<p>After NU sent its offense out to go for two, Michigan predictably called a timeout. The Wildcats showed their cards and the Wolverines adjusted, meaning you'd expect NU to adjust, too. However, NU decided to run the exact same play that it had previously planned on running, and it was a very similar play to the two-point conversion that the Wildcats ran against Cal. Given all of those circumstances, I asked Pat Fitzgerald why they didn't change the play.</p>
<p>"We thought it was going to work," he said.</p>
<p>That's a pretty arrogant response for a coach of a pretty inept offense. Did he really think that they could show all of their cards on a play they'd run before and still be successful? Obviously, it backfired, as the blocking didn't hold up on the rollout and Trevor Siemian fell down before being sacked.</p>
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<p>It's easy to blame this on execution, but there were some really bad coaching decisions here, not the least of which was that Michigan (predictably) <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/11/michigan_knew_what_northwester.html">knew this play was coming</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Frank (Clark) did a nice job and the coaches in the (press) box did a nice job, because it was the same two-point play they had ran a year ago (in a game)," Michigan coach Brady Hoke said.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The players knew it was coming, too. From Frank Clark:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"You watch film all week until you get bored of watching it, and you see the same play over and over," Clark said. "We know the plays they like and what they like to run in the red zone, and I executed.</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>"I knew it was going to be a sprint out once I saw the double motion, and that's how I went about it."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And Jake Ryan:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We planned for it all week," Michigan linebacker Jake Ryan said. "We knew what they were doing."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So with the game on the line, Northwestern confirmed to Michigan that it was going to run a play that the Wolverines had already expected to see. That's purely on the coaches.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/8/7180087/michigan-knew-exactly-what-was-coming-on-northwesterns-2-point-attemptKevin Trahan2014-11-08T18:31:54-06:002014-11-08T18:31:54-06:00Northwestern-Michigan player grades
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<figcaption>David Banks</figcaption>
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<p>Two A+s, but plenty of Fs.</p> <p><b>Pat Fitzgerald/whatever happened on that red zone sequence early in the fourth quarter: F</b> - 3rd-and-goal from the 10-yard line, down 7-0, arguably four-down territory. Trevor Siemian throws a short pass to the right to Justin Jackson for six yards. But on fourth-down, Fitzgerald decides to kick a field goal...</p>
<blockquote data-partner="tweetdeck" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Northwestern just threw the ball five yards right to the sideline on third and 11 … to kick a FG. That's absolutely awful.</p>
— InsideNU (@insidenu) <a href="https://twitter.com/insidenu/status/531223031218438144">November 8, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p>Like if you want to kick a FG, fine. But why are you wasting third down by getting closer? What is the thought process there?</p>
— InsideNU (@insidenu) <a href="https://twitter.com/insidenu/status/531223201079365632">November 8, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote data-partner="tweetdeck" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>I know we never <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayedTheGame?src=hash">#PlayedTheGame</a> but that is all sorts of crazy from a math and common sense standpoint.</p>
— InsideNU (@insidenu) <a href="https://twitter.com/insidenu/status/531223639166025728">November 8, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
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<p><i>Update: Fitzgerald and Siemian did say that the third-down play was a check down by Siemian, and that the play was designed to go to the end zone.</i></p>
<p><b>Mick McCall: D</b> - We don't know who was behind the Matt Alviti mini-experiment -- Fitz or McCall, or both -- but it didn't really make much sense. He ran the ball three times for -2 yards out of a wildcat-like formation, but wasn't giving a legitimate shot to run the offense.</p>
<blockquote data-partner="tweetdeck" data-cards="hidden" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiRohan">@MiamiRohan</a> I wouldn’t even like that. Either give him a whole series or two, or keep him on the sidelines</p>
— Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) <a href="https://twitter.com/HenryBushnell/status/531188469398515715">November 8, 2014</a>
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<p><b>Trevor Siemian: C</b> - This was an ugly game, and Siemian certainly contributed to that. But with an ineffective run game, Siemian actually played alright, or at least better than he has been. And in the fourth quarter, he led two drives that we'd be celebrating and lauding if not for a failed two point try and the combination of the 3rd-down play call and the 4th-down decision. His final stat line was also decent: 32-49, 273 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions.</p>
<p><b>Offensive Line: C-</b> - Brandon Vitable and Co. were actually pretty good in pass protection for portions of the game, but they couldn't pave the way for anything on the ground, which killed the offense. "We couldn't get any movement at the point of attack," Fitzgerald said afterwards. He also credited Michigan's defensive front though.</p>
<p><b>Defensive front seven: B+</b> - They made plays all game, and more than gave the team a chance to win. However, a lot of their success could be partially attributed to</p>
<p><b>Students who came: A+</b> -- To endure that first half and not succumb to the gravitational pull of the exit gates... that was pretty impressive.</p>
<p><b>Students who stayed home: A+</b> -- Some of the best decisions of their lives.</p>
<p><b>Ibraheim Campbell: A-</b> -- Campbell made Northwestern's biggest play of the game. He intercepted Devin Gardner in the redzone, and took the return back 79 yards all the way to the Michigan 15-yard line. But with the way the offense was playing, he had to get into the end zone (and possibly could have), which bumps him down from an A+ to an A-.</p>
<p><b>Matt Harris: A-</b> - Harris was great in coverage almost all day, as was most of the secondary.</p>
<p><b>Punt team: F</b> - Chris Gradone's first punt of the game was a 24-yarder. He was later replaced by Hunter Niswander. On his first attempt, he fumbled a low snap, then somehow got off a left-footed punt that went for 20 yards. His next one went for a net of 25 yards. And then in the second half, his punt from the Michigan 43-yard line was kicked into the endzone by Godwin Igwebuike.</p>
<p><b>Tony Jones: F</b> - Jones was the culprit on the game's most decisive play. He muffed a 3rd-quarter Michigan punt, giving the Wolverines the ball at NU's 21-yard line, and in two plays, they got in the end zone. Those seven points were all they would need.</p>
<p><b>Jack Mitchell: F</b> - After a Michigan fumble three plays into the second half, Northwestern took over with great field position. But after three unsuccessful plays, Mitchell missed a 36-yard field goal that would've given NU the first lead of the game.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/8/7178929/northwestern-michigan-player-gradesHenry Bushnell2014-11-08T18:21:26-06:002014-11-08T18:21:26-06:00Pat Fitzgerald NU-Michigan postgame notes
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<figcaption>Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Fitz gives explanations for the puzzling calls from the game.</p> <p>Notes from Pat Fitzgerald's postgame press conference after the loss to Michigan.</p>
<p>- Fitz said that the seemingly inexplicable short throw on third-and-goal before the field goal was a max blitz and Trevor Siemian checked it down. Siemian confirmed it was a checkdown. "Probably should have just thrown it into the endzone and given our guys a chance."</p>
<p>- Why do the two-point conversion? "We were going to win."</p>
<p>- I said that it looked like the same call as the 2-point conversion vs. Cal, and I also wondered why they didn't change the call after the timeout. Fitz said it was similar to the Cal play, but not the same. They didn't change it because "we thought it was going to work."</p>
<p>- Fitz was really unhappy with the snapping today on special teams.</p>
<p>- Fitz said they aren't concerned about winning out. "We need to worry about winning the next game."</p>
<p>- "It looks like the o-line gave Trevor more than a nanosecond to throw the ball. That's productive." There continues to be no blame put on Siemian from Fitz.</p>
<p>- Matt Alviti had a few designed plays, according to Fitz. I asked if the pistol handoff was a read play or if there were any read plays for Alviti. He declined to comment, citing future game planning, which seems ... odd? Won't other coaches see that tape?</p>
<p>- "We think (Alviti) can run our entire offense," BUT "Trevor's our starting quarterback." That's not changing this year.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/8/7179121/pat-fitzgerald-northwestern-michigan-postgame-notesKevin Trahan2014-11-08T17:52:54-06:002014-11-08T17:52:54-06:00Rapid Reaction: Repeated failures doom Wildcats
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<figcaption>David Banks</figcaption>
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<p>The game started out slow for both teams Saturday afternoon and as the sun went down and the sky went dark, the slowness persisted. The lights high above Ryan Field flooded the playing surface with a spotlight that seemed too bright for either team, even as Vines of their mistakes went viral.</p>
<p>There was the left-footed <a href="https://vine.co/v/OeV7hhbme1x" target="_blank">botched punt</a> from Northwestern's Hunter Niswander. Then there was Michigan receiver Devin Funchess, who <a href="https://vine.co/v/OeVneYlQx0u" target="_blank">was hit in the side with a snap</a> as he was crossing the formation. Just minutes later, Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner <a href="https://vine.co/v/OeVrrv2MLPY" target="_blank">tripped over his running back</a>. Then later in the third quarter, Tony Jones <a href="https://vine.co/v/OeVHAdlbOKQ" target="_blank">dropped a punt</a> that gave Michigan a short field. And, in a surprising development, the Wolverines' De'Veon Smith ran in a touchdown to give Michigan a seven-point lead.</p>
<p>But Gardner later then <a href="https://vine.co/v/OeVDZQXZ5mP" target="_blank">threw an interception</a>, which Ibraheim Campbell returned for 79 yards. And with an opportunity to tie the game, Northwestern did what they had been doing all game long: the offense amassed -28 yards on the drive. Niswander's punt dropped inside the five, where Godwin Igewbuike <a href="https://vine.co/v/OeVjnOt3AMB" target="_blank">inadvertently kicked it out of the back of the endzone</a>.</p>
<p>Then, by the grace of God himself, Northwestern went on a 19-play, 95-yard drive that got the Wildcats to the Michigan 10 yard-line. On third-and-goal, Northwestern threw a short pass to Justin Jackson that seemingly would set the offense up for a fourth-down try. Instead, head coach Pat Fitzgerald opted to take a field goal with just under seven-and-a-half minutes to left in the game.</p>
<p>So down 7-3, Fitzgerald chose to rely on his defense, the unit that had been playing well, if you could even say as much. But the Wolverines garnered a field goal. Setting up one last opportunity for Northwestern to salvage a victory, what would be the team's fourth of the season.</p>
<p>And when Trevor Siemian took the field with 3:03 left in regulation, the Wildcats did the improbable: they looked competent again. Siemian drove the team down the field and the Wildcats, of course, marched into overtime after Siemian found Tony Jones for a touchdown in the back corner of the endzone.</p>
<p>BUT WAIT.</p>
<p>Pat Fitzgerald kept the offense on the field and in a poetic episode that, it seemed, the whole game had built to, Siemian <a href="https://vine.co/v/OeYaM6YJbi7" target="_blank">slipped as he dropped back</a> on the two-point conversion and Northwestern lost the game 10-9.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/8/7178931/northwestern-vs-michigan-final-score-two-point-conversion-failureJosh Rosenblat2014-11-08T17:49:48-06:002014-11-08T17:49:48-06:00Embracing the Suck of Northwestern-Michigan
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<figcaption>David Banks</figcaption>
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<p>We commemorate a terrible football game by embracing the suck in Vine form.</p> <p>Northwestern and Michigan played in a truly, truly awful football game. The scoreboard spelled <a href="https://twitter.com/sbnationgif/status/531194684366802944" target="_blank">"M00N"</a> for far too long, and really, it was a lot of suck. That's fitting, since Pat Fitzgerald said earlier this week that the Wildcats were <a href="http://www.laketheposts.com/2014/11/03/monday-press-conference-embracing-the-suck/" target="_blank">"embracing the suck."</a> There was so much suck in this game, that we're dedicating an entire post to embracing it in Vine form. <i>(Vines via ESPN).</i></p>
<h4>1. Letfy punt</h4>
<p>Hunter Niswander mishandled the punt, and in an effort to get it off, he kicked it with his left foot. It went 20 yards.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="600" width="600" src="https://vine.co/v/OeV7hhbme1x/embed/simple" class="vine-embed"></iframe>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script>
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<h4>2. Best fumble ever?</h4>
<p>Michigan fumbled after the ball hit the player in motion.</p>
<p><iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/OeVneYlQx0u/embed/simple" width="600" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>
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<h4>3. Devin Gardner attempts offense</h4>
<p>On Michigan's next possession, Devin Gardner fell over while trying to hand off the ball. Nobody tripped him. He just fell.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="600" width="600" src="https://vine.co/v/OeVrrv2MLPY/embed/simple" class="vine-embed"></iframe>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script>
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<h4>4. Tony Jones PUNT RETUR... oh :(</h4>
<p>Tony Jones never returns punts. Earlier in the game, he called for a fair catch when the Wolverines weren't within 30 yards of him. This is why.</p>
<p><iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/OeVHAdlbOKQ/embed/simple" width="600" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<script src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h4>5. Devin Gardner attempts offense, part two</h4>
<p>Devin Gardner had a player wide open down the sideline. He chose to make this throw instead.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="600" width="600" src="https://vine.co/v/OeVDZQXZ5mP/embed/simple" class="vine-embed"></iframe>
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<h4>6. Northwestern attempts trick play</h4>
<p>After finally getting good field position after the interception return, Northwestern started its drive with this trick play. It ended up punting.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="600" width="600" src="https://vine.co/v/OeVDwnhm0Av/embed/simple" class="vine-embed"></iframe>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script>
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<h4>7. This is not how to down a punt</h4>
<p>Northwestern finally had a good punt! Then they kicked it into the endzone.</p>
<p><iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/OeVjnOt3AMB/embed/simple" width="600" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>
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<h4>8. COME BACK BALL COME BACK</h4>
<p>It did not oblige.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="600" width="600" src="https://vine.co/v/OeVI0EVMBpD/embed/simple" class="vine-embed"></iframe>
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<h4>9. A perfect ending to the suck</h4>
<p>After driving down the field to score a touchdown, Northwestern went for 2 to win. Trevor Siemian slipped and fell.</p>
<p><iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/OeYaM6YJbi7/embed/simple" width="600" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>
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https://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/8/7178853/embracing-the-suck-of-northwestern-michiganKevin DukovicKevin Trahan2014-11-08T17:47:45-06:002014-11-08T17:47:45-06:00Trevor Siemian slips on 2-pt. try to win
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<p>Perfectly fits the script.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="600" width="600" src="https://vine.co/v/OeYaM6YJbi7/embed/simple" class="vine-embed"></iframe>
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https://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/8/7179079/trevor-siemian-slips-on-2-pt-try-to-winKevin Trahan