So It's Peters?

Mr. MMQ – you there? 

So its Peters, Right?

How did you miss this so bad?  Was it your belief in Harbaugh playing the best guy?

MR MMQ?  Are you there?

Yes, yes, I’m here.  I almost titled today’s post “A State of Confusion” based on the fact that as a fan, seeing what I saw Saturday, has me very confused as to what the Coaching staff is looking at a when it comes to grading QB’s.   If they’re grading Speight, O’Korn and Peters in practice every week and somehow didn’t see some of the basic things I was seeing with Peters on the field, I have a big problem. 

The offense responded better. Everyone looked sharper.  That’s a leadership touchy-feely thing that is probably the hardest thing to figure out with kids on the field.  Peters got out of some jams better.  He made the simple throws look simple.  (Yes, the playbook appeared to be cut in half, but still, he made the plays).  He appears to be a “Gamer”. 

I don’t know what Harbaugh has been thinking or what has been going on in the heads of the offensive coaching staff at the University of Michigan.  I mean, either play the best kid in order for the team to win or don’t bother.  Or maybe it was a timing thing?  Harbaugh remarked in his post-game presser that Peters isn’t that “loud”. 

Are you kidding me?  You keep a guy on the bench because he doesn’t yell enough?   

Midpoint in the 2^nd quarter in what had been a completely lack-luster offensive performance up to that point in time, and much to the delight of every fan sitting in the stadium or watching on the tube, the Quiet Future came in and took the reins of the offense.  Peters led 4 touchdown drives (those things where your team actually gets INTO the End Zone) with one of them on a Peters’ Pass (the first passing TD in 15 quarters) and he looked very calm, cool, and collected in the process. 

So what does this mean for the Future?

I, for one, am a lot more optimistic.  The forecast for the season now looks brighter than it did a week ago, but at the same time, I don’t like getting my hopes too high because, well, Rutgers. 

Michigan didn’t allow a sack for the first time this season.  But was that on the line or, well, Rutgers?

Minnesota will be more of the same, although the atmosphere will be a little more “up” due to the night game and the fact that the Gophers will be fired up playing for the “Jug”.  Which, I think should be played for every season, but that’s a whole other discussion. 

Yes, I’m glad the switch came.  Peters will have 4 games (two very winnable)  this season to develop and then be ready to go next season under the QB Whisperer.  Which, I’m still very confused.  If Peters is the reincarnation of Andrew Luck, and the only reason he’s been on the bench is because he’s too quiet, well, I just dunno’…. 

Confusion. 

I don’t like being confused. 

Will there be bad games ahead?  Probably.  Will he learn during the process.  Hopefully.  Does the Future look brighter?

Yes.

The Rest of the “Hot” Mess

CFP Hopes and Dreams were shattered Saturday and a coach got canned, but not for on the field performance. 

YHMA – You Have My Attention

Domers:   Nuts.  The Domers are now very much in the mix and the CFP Committee is going to have a very difficult task in front of them.  3 or possibly 4 Power Conferences may be “rebuked” from the CFP because of the golden domes.  Which will present a problem to a lot of powerful people, which may be a good thing if you favor CFP expansion.

Georgia:  This may be the best all-around team in college football right now.  If you watched any of the pantsing of Florida on Saturday, you know what I’m talking about.  Georgia’s defeat of the Gators was so complete they only had to throw the ball 7 times.  Georgia lacks for nothing and got a coach canned for the dismantling they laid on the Gators.  Well, maybe the coach got himself canned…More on that in a minute. 

Penn State:  So close, and yet so far.  Does the 1-loss blemish to a very good team on the road leave the nittany lions out of the play-off discussion?  Very possibly, yes. And that’s unfortunate as I do think the lions may be one of the best 1-loss teams in the country.  (I think they would beat the domers, Clemson and could also beat Wiscy) But their non-con games simply don’t measure up to some of the other non-conference schedules of the other 1-loss teams. 

TIYFC - Turn In Your Football Cards

Gatorland:  You played bad enough to get your coach canned mid-season.  And lost in very bad form to an arch rival, who appears to be poised and have the right personnel to walk away with all the hardware in the SEC and possibly the nation.

UNC:  You had your chance to un-mask a non-defeated impostor, but couldn’t pull it off.  With 1-win on the season, it’s time to focus on your cheating Basketball team..

.

Tennessee:  Butch Jones is probably gone today or sometime this week.  Tennessee has to be worried that Florida has a head start on getting either Chip Kelly, the guy from ISU, or whoever the next hot offensive commodity is.

FSU:  Bowl streak is definitely lost and FSU looks like a complete disaster of a football team right now.  I get the fans anger at Jimbo Fisher and company.  The Seminoles don’t even look like they want to play….

CUD – Complete, Unmitigated Disasters!!!

TCU:  Seriously?  Iowa State? You had all week to get ready for the clones.  You knew what they were.  You were supposed to go to Ames and take care of business.  That loss may take your conference completely out of the CFP discussion.  

NC State:   Opportunity squandered.  And I’m having a difficult time believing that an 4-8 team last season could go into the CFP with 1 loss and be a disruptor.  You should have played a closer game, Wolfpack.  Results are unacceptable. 

UCLA:   Was almost put into the TIYFC section, but they can still screw things up in the Pac12 South.  Their next loss will see them in the TIYFC and possibly get Mora canned as well...

Wash State:  3 weeks ago this team was hot in the CFP discussion.  Now they have 2 losses, Saturday’s being an ugly debacle which wasn’t even as close as the score indicated.

Sparty:  Got NWU to OT and couldn’t get the job done.  What was suspected all along was verified by NWU.  Sparty is still a lot more of last season’s 3-9 team than what they’re trying to convince everyone of this season.  

CBOTL – Come Back Off the Ledge

These are losses that looked bad, but there’s no reason to panic and sell the season duckets yet.

PSU:  I know I already mentioned them in “YHMA”, but PSU fans should remain on board and start rooting for the State of Michigan to start playing better football.  The suckeyes could still screw this up and put PSU right back into the conversation.

 

WWB – We Won, But…We Should Be Worried

Nebraska:  Beating Purdue doesn’t sit well with Husker fans.  Beat someone that matters in the B1G West and we’ll talk. 

And the Rest…

Wiscy vs. Illinois:  Wiscy will more than likely be the B1G West Rep.  Question is, are they for real or is this just the SEC East in the mid-west? 

Indiana @ Maryland:  The Hoosiers are probably the best 0-5 B1G Conference team out there.  Just can’t seem to get a conference win.

Va Tech vs. Duke:  If Va Tech and beat the Miami Fraudsters, they’ll possibly get another shot at Clemson on a neutral field.  And also be ANOTHER 1-loss team for the CFP Committee to have to deal with….

Texas A&M vs. MSU:  In another “I’m completely Baffled” moment, Texas A&M appears to be starting their November slide a week early this season and gets blown out at home against MSU.  Mullen’s stock is on the rise everywhere else in the SEC.

The 5 Stages of Slappy Fan Grief

1. Denial and Isolation –PSU.  All of Pennsylvania is rooting for the state of Michigan…   
2. ANGER –Tennessee and FSU:  Two football teams that just don’t look like they want to play football anymore.    
3. Bargaining –1-Loss non-contenders that are pretenders thinking they have a shot at the CFP.  Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and TCU.  Huh, all those teams are in the Big iiX…
4. Depression –Michigan...Because it’s not going to happen this season…But if Peters had played against Sparty?   I don’t want to think about it.
5.  Acceptance – Volunteers, Seminoles, Mountaineers, and anyone else who’s season has completely fallen apart. 

Idle Thoughts from Saturday

-I was sick last week.

-And I don’t feel great this AM…

-Went to the tailgate, anyway...

-And bought a frying pan at Walgreen’s at the corner of State and North U.

-And carried it with a beer walking down State Street towards the game.

-And thought, “I may be the only person to ever have done this!”

-Profound thoughts….

-Good tailgate crowd.  

-Beautiful day.

-Can Game is going to be close this season. 

-Next Saturday could be pivotal. 

-Long tailgate with lots of throws. 

-Wondering about going to the Minnesota game. 

-Really makes for a long day and weekend with a 7:30 kick.

-Offense looks like doggy doo-doo.

-Peters yet?

-There he is. 

-Hey!  He looks pretty good!

-Offense seems to be playing better, too!

-Leadership on the field…

-GAMER! (Even though I hate that term).

-Should be a game in practice, too.

-But some guys (and girls) just don’t get up for practice.

-Turn the lights on or give them an audience –

-Look Out!

-So, what does this all mean?

-What do I make of this?

-Michigan’s coaching staff should have made this move a lot sooner.

-What were they thinking?

-If we can see it on the field, why can’t they see it in practice?

-I don’t get it. 

-I’m very confused

-PSU is going to pull this off?

-No.  suckeyes look like the team from the East.

-Maybe Michigan can at least spoil the CFP for the Suckeyes?

-And get a rivalry win?

-Exhausted today. 

-Damn World Series games are impossible to turn off. 

-Especially when they’re tied going into extra innings.

-No, I didn’t fall asleep…

-Paying the Price today... 

THE MMQ’s “I DON’T NEED A COMMITTEE!”

1.    Georgia – Un-defeated and have the best Non-Conference Win over the Domers…

2.    Bama – SEC showdown coming up and it will probably be an eliminator as I don’t see the committee putting in two teams from the weak SEC.  And Bama’s non-conference record is looking downright awful.  And with FSU’s downfall Bama could lose SEC championship and get shut-out of the CFP due to non-con schedule.    

3.    suckeyes – Gotta’ put them in here.  1-loss to Oklahoma early in the season isn’t a big enough blemish.  Of course, they have to win the B1G. 

4.    Domers – I know.  It kills me having to put them in here, but their only blemish is to either the #1 or #2 team in the country.  How do you keep them out?  And the schedule favors the domers over other 1-loss wannabes…

Undefeateds and 1-loss Lurkers:  PSU, Wiscy, Va-Tech, Miami, Oklahoma, TCU, OSU and Clemson.

Which ones are for real and have a legitimate shot?

Clemson – Win the ACC and you have at least a very reasonable argument against the Domers and 1 extra victory on your record.  Conference Championships need to be recognized.  ACC could be the other conference with two teams in.  Assuming Domers make it. 

Wiscy – Should be in if they beat the suckeyes in Indianapolis. 

PSU – if the committee stays true to form and the suckyes do lose, PSU may get the nod with a super close loss on the road to the suckeyes and Wiscy’s lack of a schedule.

Everyone else needs a lot of help and need the first 5-6 teams to lose a lot of games

The Hot Seat

Another Coach bites the dust.  The race for Chip Kelly is on!

And we’ll feature Urban Meyer’s wife Shelly this week!

ZAPPED List

We’ll keep track of who’s gone as the season progresses….

1. “Holier than Thou” Hugh Freeze
2. Andersen – Oregon State
3. Kugler – Texas El Paso 
4. Tyson Summers – Georgia Southern
5. McElwain – Florida.  In what could be filed as a “Hold my beer” or “Well, that escalated quickly” meme, McElwain falsely alleged that he had received death threats that couldn’t be corroborated.  That’s getting canned for cause when the entire world (at least the Florida AD) was looking for a reason.  Don’t give them one.

Electric Chair of Death!

1. Jones – Lost to Kentucky and is O-fer in the SEC.
2. Bielema – Wins, but does that change anything for Brett?   
3. Riley – Ditto.  Edging Purdue does not a coaching job save…

The Hot Seat

1.    Mora – Never has a coach had more talent go to the NFL and not been able to win a Championship…

2.    Fedora – UNC

3.    Sumlin:  Can’t lose to MSU like that…

4.    Odom– Mizzou.   

5.    Beatty – Kansas. 

6.    Ruhle – Baylor

7.    Lovie Smith – Illinois

8.    Mullen – not a hot seat as much of the “Let’s go get him to be our coach”

9.    Ogeron -LSU  slowly moving down the list with wins

10. Mulzahn – Up 20 and lose on the road?  And out-coached by Orgeron?

11. Stoops – Kentucky.  Blown out in any SEC game at home moves you up the list..

Projections

1.     Mullen – Will be the next head coach at Florida

2.    Chip Kelly – Look for him in either Husker Red or Volunteer Orange (maybe)

3.    Matt Campbell – knows the Midwest but could also be a candidate for the above two jobs

Etc.

This has been one of the best World Series Ever…

And it pains me to admit it watching former Tigers playing for the top prize in funny looking uniforms. 

Schadenfreude – Chip Kelly Replaces Everybody

Replace Sumlin with Manziel and other wild thoughts from losing fan bases…

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/10/30/16567100/penn-state-florida-texas-a-m-fan-reaction-week-9