“It happened to be a big turnover when we first got down into the red zone, that kind of killed us. After that, we just kept dwelling on that. It kind of sent us downhill.”- Eubanks

Well let’s be real about something. Harbaugh has never been shy about playing favorites and Ben Mason happens to be in the good ole’ boys club. 

Imagine being a playmaker in this offense (Charbonnet/Tarik/DPJ/Nico/Bell/Eubanks) and you get the team into the red-zone and hear comes a converted DT to take a touch from you. And what does he do? He fumbles the ball away. Imagine the confidence that instills in you as a playmaker in this “Speed-in-Space” offense. 

Nonsense.

We don't have the skills to not get manhandled on both sides of the ball.

"Dwelling"? Please.  That's just another way of saying "Outside looking in."

Pinning it on that turnover is gutless and misidrected.

Emperor's got no clothes.

Really pathetic. That’s all coaching. 2016 Harbaugh doesn’t let that happen. Damning statement that sums up the last three years. 

The problem isn’t the fumble.

The problem is lining up a DT in the backfield and handing him the ball on the 7 yard line.

The players know it’s a dumb idea and when the idea backfires, they question everything.

Added bonus. This isn’t the first time Harbaugh has made this mistake.

Remember the team quitting in the bowl game against South Carolina after McKeon was lined up at tailback and fumbled?

I think Wisconsin's first drive of the game where they ran over our D was the thing that got the downward spiral started.  Then Mason's fumble finished it off.  I think every rational Michigan fan channeled the players' thoughts and just knew that there was no way in hell we were winning that game.  The D knows the offense can't score.  And the offense knows it's dysfunctional and needs the D to generate stops, short fields and turnovers to have a chance.  They feed each other in an odd symbiotic shit storm sort of way.

It has to be soul crushing to fumble the ball away any time the team shows any sign of life. 

This may not be a popular post. Be here were go anyways.

There are three aspects if why I now feel a change is needed at the coaching level.

1. Is mental toughness. When we are in tough situations (tough games in general, road games against decent teams), we have been a no show since '16 in Columbus. We don't seem to understand that everyone doesn't just lay down because we're Michigan. There isn't a chip on our shoulders, and we don't rise to any occasions. We simply behave like a tan that knows its only supposed to win 9-10 games a year and that's totally unacceptable! Totally on our coaches! We're aren't preparing our athletes for success in college or in the NFL with that mentality. 

2. I can't fully tell if this is a X's and O's strategy issue or if this is a coaching staff that are too scared to make a need change. Patterson seemingly doesn't get it. Either way, the coaching is at fault.

If we aren't making the right calls, then that's obvious that it's falling on the coaches. But when I'm watching the game in real time, it sends like we're missing opportunities in the RPO. If Patterson isn't prepared enough, that's on the coaches. If he isn't getting it, then why haven't they moved on? Big time programs make the tough decisions. There isn't enough pressure on Harbaugh to win. If his seat was truly hot, as I suspect it might get after this year, he would have to make the right decisions or lose his job. 

3. Our team isn't very sound with regards to technique. Defensively, we missed tackles all game. Takling high instead of hitting at the waist. Just again not being mentally tough. And in other instances, lining up improperly to deal with slot receivers crossing routes. We got carved up by Indiana with them, and Don Brown as good as he is has done nothing to adjust. Once you're weakness is exposed, everyone will hit you in that heel. This happened yesterday in a third and long situation when Ambrey Thomas couldn't make a play on a drag route that resulted in a first down, and our D couldn't get off the field. 

I get it,  TL;DR version, Harbaugh and company won't get us where our players and fans deserve to be! We get the same calibur of talent as all of the big programs, and yet we can't seem to win a big game. Sounds line coaching to me. 

Mason is still good at FB. Use him as lead blocker in front of ZC on goal line - like Wisky did. Quick dive also on occasion to not be predictable. He has been good on ST also.

The fumble had to be disheartening after the last few weeks and then to get the Bell catch overturned, but you gotta be mentally tough and fight through adversity. 

Under Harbaugh, Michigan has been terrible when facing adversity and it's a genuine issue. Honestly curious what our W-L% is when we go down by 2 more TDs

It's really, really sad that a turnover in the 1st quarter is the wound that the team cannot recover from.

Even the best of the best teams have flukey starts and put the ball on the turf or throw an INT. They are able to bounce back.

That's a pretty significant red flag, reminds me of the late Hoke regime.   Watching them play, I believe this mindset has taken hold, and we are now going to have to wait a while for another good M team.

Fucking mentally weak then 

The tweet by Jake Long yesterday is pretty damning. 

If this is true, and continues to be true, there is just no realistic way that Harbaugh returns next year. Michigan is about to drop off a cliff big time.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with season ticket sales next year after a 6-7 or 7-6 record with humiliating rivalry losses, followed by a terrible home slate next season.

I can’t say for certain that we would have won, but yes, it wore the spirits down. Synergy is as much a part of football as talent, strength, scheme and experience. Going to the fairs up here in Maine and watching the oxen and horses in the pulling barns makes me think of offensive line play. Two horses can each pull 8,000 lbs alone but can pull 24,000 pounds together. The principle of synergy is lifes reward for working together. That principle is the same in some regards to two linemen. Add the fumble to the called back catch and an interception along with Taylors amazing and relentless runs and synergy sank. That’s what makes great coached teams of four and five stars face blow outs [ not that our team is there] against 3 stars who are well coached at home.

Three games in a row the opening drive results in a turnover. The guys know they are going to hear about it from everyone!

Soft as baby shit

Downy soft (TM)

I you had a qb that was a true leader , he would have took control of the huddle and for them past it