Right, which is why some/many teams will still be signaling. At a minimum, the wide receivers need the info that the QB has, especially when there is a check into something else (coming from the sidelines) based on what they're seeing in the defensive alignment.
That's a possibility, but my semi-informed guess is he just didn't care about the type of info in the placards (I don't personally understand the demarcation of what gets a hand gesture and what gets a placard, but I'm sure somewhere on the interwebs former players have explained).
What I think the national media missed, other than most things, is how limited the info was. This is speculation on my part and not inside info, but playcalls are far too complex to try and download the whole thing, process it, signal it back to your defense all in the few seconds before the ball is snapped. This is especially true when the O goes out, sees how the D sets up, and then signals in a change with the info the D is showing. The snap of the ball is usually only a few seconds away at that point and you don't want your D taking their eyes off the road, so to speak.
I suspect, strongly, this was just trying to nab just enough info to squeeze in a very simple run/pass alert for situations when the scouting or offensive down/distance/set suggests a tendency and you want to alert that the tendency might get broken, like a play action in a situation that is otherwise scouted to be a run. Or to just catch certain checkdowns. That's a quick one-second signal (like pointing to the air) so the D doesn't waste a step checking run when they should just be dropping into their zone. That's about it. So, it's nice to have if you're really confident in it, but also something you can pretty easily do without if your players are super good at figuring out what's coming anyway and aren't wasting that step to begin with.
I'm looking at you, Mike Sanristil. The players were the real scouting heroes.
He specifically told the scouts to ignore the placards. I put that detail in one or two of the early posts but it kinda got lost in the overall hullabaloo.
Signs and placards will still be used because no-huddle teams need them.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart, the rules committee co-chair, and others have said they still expect many teams to use hand signals and signs to relay plays.
But for what it's worth, Stalions was never getting the scouting info on the signs, only the hand gestures.
One of the most frequent-cited stats about JJ during this draft evaluation cycle has been that he was the highest-rated QB in the nation on 3rd-and-7+.
If Orji is the guy, it's quite possible that in 2024, 3rd-and-7 is a running down. I'd be perfectly happy with a Denardian 10-blockers offense with some Worst Waldo play action.
More likely, I'd still bet on Tuttle with a significant Orji package (15-20 snaps). Heh. I said "package."
The whole program reeks of a country club mentality at this point. I'm from Texas and have kept an eye on the Longhorns program since forever, and I'll tell ya, that program was mired with entitled (and well paid) country club 5-star players and big name coaches for a decade plus with nothing to show for it but off-season championships.
Once that softness sets in, it's super hard to get out of your system.
If OSU doesn't win it all with the financial investments they have this year, I can't see the alumni continuing to open their wallets.
Definitely watch Made in America. Easily one of the best documentaries I've ever seen and it was the first time I ever felt like I completely understood why the jury came back with not guilty.
Was going to let you off with a thread title warning but seeing how you're already minus 40+, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to join the mob and downvote. I only get so many chances to break out the torch & pitchfork, and given that I paid for these things, I'm gonna use 'em.
That's what generative AI is for. Estates of famous people are going to be collecting checks for endorsements that never happened while the departed were still alive.
Rushing the field was necessary. Sabb really pushed the envelope though-- go back and watch the ending (it's fun! I do it almost daily). After I saw it on rewatch I was very relieved he didn't trigger a scuffle that would have detracted from the moment.
I thought they behaved pretty well. Here's a video of that follows Milroe from the end of the last play to the tunnel and all in all, Bama players looks like they're handling it fine. I'm not sure if he didn't notice #65 being injured but not checking on your guy wasn't a great look.
Honestly, if anything, I thought the Michigan players were being a little provocative by rushing all the way over to the Bama sideline (led by.. of all people.. Keon Sabb) and kinda taunting them (you can't see that in the video below but the broadcast feed shows it pretty well).
I was about to make a snarky comment like "Hitler pioneered helmet communications?" but then I remembered the Panzer corps under Heinz Guderian in WWII actually did pioneer the use of helmet radios on the commanders so they could communicate and coordinate with the tanks in the field*. It gave them a huge coordination advantage over the Polish commanders who were standing on top of their moving tank with giant square placards of Alf, a golden retriever, Batman logo, and a pierogi.
I kid, Polish tank battalion. I kid.
*Cite: Battistelli, Pier (2011). Heinz Guderian: Leadership, Strategy, Conflict. United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing Ltd. at p14
Fair to assume all Lions fans feel Shanahan should be fired for that disgraceful decision to go for it on 4th and 3 instead of kicking the tying field goal?
As a neutral party (despite living walking distance from Levi’s Stadium), I can say
1. Lions looked like clearly the better team in the first half and then appeared to get a delayed case of the yips as the smell of a Super Bowl started wafting by
2. Damn I’m glad I’m not a fan of the Lions, I wouldn’t want this brutal loss harshing my National Championship vibes
3. I wouldn’t lay this loss on Campbell, I like aggressive. Maybe over-aggressive going for it instead of the tying FG but not a ridiculous decision
Seth is correct when he says no one knows what would have happened with the TRO hearing. Craig is off base about that unless the judge told him in advance “oh yeah, no worries, I’m going to grant this sucker."
History repeatedly teaches us the lesson that building statues to “great” men is doesn’t always age well. Men are highly fallible and the past sometimes renders a verdict very far in the future. Forget the statue. Something with a light touch like naming a hall or a field is a little less risky IMHO.
Brian had a good analogy on the last podcast. Beating Alabama felt like we took down the USSR. Beating Washington? Well, nice way to finish but they’re just Finland.
I put this in the podcast post way, way too late so I’ll recycle a bit here since it seems appropriate.
This site has completely changed my experience of Michigan football, which was already amped up but lacked understanding of what was happening under the hood. And I need to understand what’s under the hood. It’s why I went for a fancy postgrad science degree.
I lurked for two years, 2008 to 2010, before making an account and avatar because I had a personal rule: I don’t engage with internet discussion boards. I’m snobby like that. But this community was just too good to pass up on. It remains, 13 years after that, the only record the interwebs have of my random-ass comments on football, news events, and beyond.
Thanks Brian. Thanks Seth. Thanks Alex. But mostly thanks Brian; from 2008, this blog has been my refuge, even if just to share the ennui. Validation and explanation. It’s made a real difference in my life.
Finally got around to the podcast— I've been saving it as a kind of after-dinner mint— and I’m so glad I did. This site has completely changed my experience of Michigan football, which was already amped up but lacked understanding of what was happening under the hood. And I need to understand what’s under the hood. It’s why I went for a fancy postgrad science degree.
I lurked for two years, 2008 to 2010, before making an account and avatar because I had a personal rule: I don’t comment on internet discussion boards. I’m snobby like that. But this community was just too good to pass up on. It remains, 13 years after that, the only record the interwebs have of my random-ass comments on football, news events, and beyond.
Thanks Brian. Thanks Seth. Thanks Alex. But mostly thanks Brian, from 2008, this blog has been my refuge, even if just to share the ennui. Validation and explanation. It’s made a real difference in my life.
Best decision I made was rebooking my flight from day of the game to night before.
After the game, walked out of NRG around 10:30-11ish, tried an Uber but it was hopeless so just kept walking until we found an Residence Inn/Suites with a bar and lobby full of Michigan fans.
Chilled a while, warmed up, and got a ride to an IHOP for pancakes at midnight. Of course the only people there were other Michigan people.
Got back to the hotel around 2:30, went to bed at 3:30, up at 4:30 to catch a 6am flight back to California. On time. Back home for lunch.
Recent Comments
Right, which is why some/many teams will still be signaling. At a minimum, the wide receivers need the info that the QB has, especially when there is a check into something else (coming from the sidelines) based on what they're seeing in the defensive alignment.
That's a possibility, but my semi-informed guess is he just didn't care about the type of info in the placards (I don't personally understand the demarcation of what gets a hand gesture and what gets a placard, but I'm sure somewhere on the interwebs former players have explained).
What I think the national media missed, other than most things, is how limited the info was. This is speculation on my part and not inside info, but playcalls are far too complex to try and download the whole thing, process it, signal it back to your defense all in the few seconds before the ball is snapped. This is especially true when the O goes out, sees how the D sets up, and then signals in a change with the info the D is showing. The snap of the ball is usually only a few seconds away at that point and you don't want your D taking their eyes off the road, so to speak.
I suspect, strongly, this was just trying to nab just enough info to squeeze in a very simple run/pass alert for situations when the scouting or offensive down/distance/set suggests a tendency and you want to alert that the tendency might get broken, like a play action in a situation that is otherwise scouted to be a run. Or to just catch certain checkdowns. That's a quick one-second signal (like pointing to the air) so the D doesn't waste a step checking run when they should just be dropping into their zone. That's about it. So, it's nice to have if you're really confident in it, but also something you can pretty easily do without if your players are super good at figuring out what's coming anyway and aren't wasting that step to begin with.
I'm looking at you, Mike Sanristil. The players were the real scouting heroes.
He specifically told the scouts to ignore the placards. I put that detail in one or two of the early posts but it kinda got lost in the overall hullabaloo.
Signs and placards will still be used because no-huddle teams need them.
But for what it's worth, Stalions was never getting the scouting info on the signs, only the hand gestures.
2024 and still no recorded incidents of anything good ever happening at 3am.
This is so much more disappointing than Scruggs, who I wouldn't recognize if he sat next to me.
One of the most frequent-cited stats about JJ during this draft evaluation cycle has been that he was the highest-rated QB in the nation on 3rd-and-7+.
If Orji is the guy, it's quite possible that in 2024, 3rd-and-7 is a running down. I'd be perfectly happy with a Denardian 10-blockers offense with some Worst Waldo play action.
More likely, I'd still bet on Tuttle with a significant Orji package (15-20 snaps). Heh. I said "package."
The whole program reeks of a country club mentality at this point. I'm from Texas and have kept an eye on the Longhorns program since forever, and I'll tell ya, that program was mired with entitled (and well paid) country club 5-star players and big name coaches for a decade plus with nothing to show for it but off-season championships.
Once that softness sets in, it's super hard to get out of your system.
If OSU doesn't win it all with the financial investments they have this year, I can't see the alumni continuing to open their wallets.
Will never get old.
Definitely watch Made in America. Easily one of the best documentaries I've ever seen and it was the first time I ever felt like I completely understood why the jury came back with not guilty.
Was going to let you off with a thread title warning but seeing how you're already minus 40+, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to join the mob and downvote. I only get so many chances to break out the torch & pitchfork, and given that I paid for these things, I'm gonna use 'em.
Title is the real home run here.
He looks way thicker/sturdier than the beanpole I think of in a Michigan uniform.
He got the walking papers, the walking papers.
That's what generative AI is for. Estates of famous people are going to be collecting checks for endorsements that never happened while the departed were still alive.
This is the football equivalent of people who have signs at home that say "Live, Laugh, Love."
Thanks, if I didn't have that reminder, I would never remember to do any of those!
What would people guess is the ratio between the number of times you drive drunk without getting caught to the number of times you get caught?
I don't know the answer, I'm just thinking it over. I'm guessing 50-100?
Et tu, Warde?
TL;DR: "Alford has been one of the best recruiters in the nation."
That's all I really needed.
Rushing the field was necessary. Sabb really pushed the envelope though-- go back and watch the ending (it's fun! I do it almost daily). After I saw it on rewatch I was very relieved he didn't trigger a scuffle that would have detracted from the moment.
I thought they behaved pretty well. Here's a video of that follows Milroe from the end of the last play to the tunnel and all in all, Bama players looks like they're handling it fine. I'm not sure if he didn't notice #65 being injured but not checking on your guy wasn't a great look.
Honestly, if anything, I thought the Michigan players were being a little provocative by rushing all the way over to the Bama sideline (led by.. of all people.. Keon Sabb) and kinda taunting them (you can't see that in the video below but the broadcast feed shows it pretty well).
I mean Wyld Stalions.
Remember how good we were at practice under Hoke? We were like the National Practice Champions back-to-back years as I recall.
You-know-who is working with a documentary producer. I don't know if that's Netflix or some other production.
I was about to make a snarky comment like "Hitler pioneered helmet communications?" but then I remembered the Panzer corps under Heinz Guderian in WWII actually did pioneer the use of helmet radios on the commanders so they could communicate and coordinate with the tanks in the field*. It gave them a huge coordination advantage over the Polish commanders who were standing on top of their moving tank with giant square placards of Alf, a golden retriever, Batman logo, and a pierogi.
I kid, Polish tank battalion. I kid.
*Cite: Battistelli, Pier (2011). Heinz Guderian: Leadership, Strategy, Conflict. United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing Ltd. at p14
How do you feel about tomahawks?
I’m so glad I was completely neutral in this game. That game would have broken my nerves for weeks.
See those goalposts behind Kelce? They’re gonna move… they always do whenever Q-anon comes up snakeyes on a prediction.
Fair to assume all Lions fans feel Shanahan should be fired for that disgraceful decision to go for it on 4th and 3 instead of kicking the tying field goal?
As a neutral party (despite living walking distance from Levi’s Stadium), I can say
1. Lions looked like clearly the better team in the first half and then appeared to get a delayed case of the yips as the smell of a Super Bowl started wafting by
2. Damn I’m glad I’m not a fan of the Lions, I wouldn’t want this brutal loss harshing my National Championship vibes
3. I wouldn’t lay this loss on Campbell, I like aggressive. Maybe over-aggressive going for it instead of the tying FG but not a ridiculous decision
Is someone going to call Fox and tell them it’s 34-30?
Seth is correct when he says no one knows what would have happened with the TRO hearing. Craig is off base about that unless the judge told him in advance “oh yeah, no worries, I’m going to grant this sucker."
History repeatedly teaches us the lesson that building statues to “great” men is doesn’t always age well. Men are highly fallible and the past sometimes renders a verdict very far in the future. Forget the statue. Something with a light touch like naming a hall or a field is a little less risky IMHO.
The off-key soundtrack was brutal, but I STILL enjoyed the hell out of this. Next time will watch with the sound off.
Brian had a good analogy on the last podcast. Beating Alabama felt like we took down the USSR. Beating Washington? Well, nice way to finish but they’re just Finland.
Early SI Cover Jinx rearing it’s head.
Before my time but pretty damn cool.
These two Canadian Buckeyes are the best. They’re still super likeable in typical Canadian fashion.
https://youtu.be/aB5x3YWtxTc?si=apkfbBr6LMyGu3kn
If nothing else, skip to about 8:15 for the first long Donovan (Roomba) Edwards TD and watch the guy on the right.
Poor Jerry. He feels lower than a crippled cricket’s ass.
Is any bacon served in Canada “Canadian Bacon”?
Forget the bad stuff?? We’re 7 days off of winning a football national championship. Bask, you bastards. BASK.
Roomba, but faster!
I put this in the podcast post way, way too late so I’ll recycle a bit here since it seems appropriate.
This site has completely changed my experience of Michigan football, which was already amped up but lacked understanding of what was happening under the hood. And I need to understand what’s under the hood. It’s why I went for a fancy postgrad science degree.
I lurked for two years, 2008 to 2010, before making an account and avatar because I had a personal rule: I don’t engage with internet discussion boards. I’m snobby like that. But this community was just too good to pass up on. It remains, 13 years after that, the only record the interwebs have of my random-ass comments on football, news events, and beyond.
Thanks Brian. Thanks Seth. Thanks Alex. But mostly thanks Brian; from 2008, this blog has been my refuge, even if just to share the ennui. Validation and explanation. It’s made a real difference in my life.
Finally got around to the podcast— I've been saving it as a kind of after-dinner mint— and I’m so glad I did. This site has completely changed my experience of Michigan football, which was already amped up but lacked understanding of what was happening under the hood. And I need to understand what’s under the hood. It’s why I went for a fancy postgrad science degree.
I lurked for two years, 2008 to 2010, before making an account and avatar because I had a personal rule: I don’t comment on internet discussion boards. I’m snobby like that. But this community was just too good to pass up on. It remains, 13 years after that, the only record the interwebs have of my random-ass comments on football, news events, and beyond.
Thanks Brian. Thanks Seth. Thanks Alex. But mostly thanks Brian, from 2008, this blog has been my refuge, even if just to share the ennui. Validation and explanation. It’s made a real difference in my life.
There are two things we're never telling you civilians about:
1) the monkeys NASA sent into space that came back super-intelligent
2) the fast Roombas
Donovan "Roomba" Edwards. Runs straight ahead til he hits something, redirects, then continues really fast in a straight line.
I've come to like Mr. Brightside after a long hate period, but only because it's so quirky and I look forward to the a capella portion in the stadium.
But I'd choose Pursuit of Happiness, Kid Cudi (Steve Aoki remix)
Lane Kiffin. He always fall upwards into a better job.
Best decision I made was rebooking my flight from day of the game to night before.
After the game, walked out of NRG around 10:30-11ish, tried an Uber but it was hopeless so just kept walking until we found an Residence Inn/Suites with a bar and lobby full of Michigan fans.
Chilled a while, warmed up, and got a ride to an IHOP for pancakes at midnight. Of course the only people there were other Michigan people.
Got back to the hotel around 2:30, went to bed at 3:30, up at 4:30 to catch a 6am flight back to California. On time. Back home for lunch.
Military precision, baby.
Spitting image of Harbaugh.