Fog clearing

So, keep in mind that I started this blog on Saturday. Then I got "The Book" aka Endzone: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Michigan Football, and have been consumed ever since. Forgive me. Or not. Nevertheless, here is my postgame analysis.

The fog, both proverbial and actual, has lifted. I can see clearly now that this year is going to be a process of growth. The past seven years were real. As much as I would like to forget them, pretend they never happened. They did. And they have left a lasting effect. It is going to take some time to rinse the Hoke off these players. They have been soft. They have been coddled. They have not been developed. But they will be.

That is where my hope lies on this Saturday morning while I watch College GameDay with my coffee in hand. I hope, no, I know, these players will get better.  They will be coached. They will improve. They will not be coddled. They are not soft.  All of these were evident if you watched closely Thursday night. 

There were many positives to take away from the game, here are my Pick 6:

#1 Our quarterback never got sacked. Yes, there was pressure at times, but he never got sacked. I don't care to report, nor know, how many times Devin Gardner ended up on his back last year. This is progress.

#2 Given that the quarterback was never sacked, this gave Rudock time to progress through his reads and make plays. Yes there were some passes overthrown and some, 4 exactly, that shouldn't have been, but the pass protection was much improved. This is progress

#3 I like Jake Butt. Always have. Always will. And, who wouldn't love a tight end named Butt. It's storybook classic. The guy is just plain good and should have been used so much more in the past. I'm excited to see what the future hold for him. Being a regular target and a good one is going to pay off in the end. This is progress

#4 Jabrill Peppers is going to be a beast. On more than one occasion, he made great open field tackles while pushing his defender to the side.  Simply because he was able to be on the field and do what he does best. Get after it. That's progress.

#6 The wide receivers. They were able to create space between them and their defender. And more than just breathing room. There was actual space there to make a move and make the catch. This is progress.

#5 In game and halftime adjustments. I've said to many people, "I don't expect to win every game, but I do expect we won't be out-coached." When things weren't working, changes were made. By the coaching staff and players. It was a thing of beauty. This too, is progress.

#6 Every play we had 11 guys on the field. Refer back to #1 when I say, I don't care to know how many times this didn't happen last year. This is just inexcusable. There is no reason to have that happen once, let alone, multiple times in one game. This is progress.

I'm excited for the season to come, there will be ups and downs, but for the first time in a long time, I'm confident I just watched the worst game they'll play all season. Time will tell, but I think I'm right.

Go Blue!
~ Bekki