PSU will be closer than you think
I believe this game will be closer than the Illinois game. I give us a 25% chance to win, a 50% chance to prove me right, and a 25% chance it turns out that I've unknowingly been smoking one of Mario's old blunts.
Here's why:
We have owned PSU. I've had a decade of sheer enjoyment watching the hopes of a PSU family member rekindle each year, only to be extinguished by consistently superior Michigan teams. What started out as "Wait till next year, we're going to be better and beat you", soon turned to "Look, just don't give me a bunch of crap about it, you're probably going to beat us again b/c we're not very good this year." It has been wonderful. Granted, this is probably the year that the dominance ends; but those thoughts, entrenched by the depths of time, will be in the backs of both UM's and PSU's minds. If it's close for a while, deja vu will play a role.
Also, despite the opportunity to exact revenge for years worth of beat-downs, I think they'll be looking past us. They have NC hopes that go through tOSU next week. We, needless to say, just want to beat whoever's in front of us.
I believe (seem to be fewer of those daily) that our team will improve as this season goes on. It continues to amaze me that there are so many calls for change already. It's as though we're wondering why an 80 year old guy who had double knee replacements 3 days ago isn't ready for the Boston Marathon yet. We ARE NOT EXECUTING the basics with regularity yet offensively. Personally, I think we have gotten a little better each week, despite continually having multiple O-line adjustments, different WR/slot groups due to injury/suspension/illness, different attempts at finding a "change of pace" back who won't fumble, switching QBs etc. I completely discount the Toledo game - my diary - my perogative - due to a "perfect storm" of the above reasons (as well as key D personnel being out too).
Defensively, Illinois lit us up by executing the spread as well as anyone could the week they played us. I challenge PSU to even match it. Obviously we need to give up fewer big plays, and play better assignment football. I think we will see that our coaches CAN actually make adjustments, and that the D (hopefully healthy too) will look much better on this "re-do" against PSU's spread.
It's crazy to think that new coaches, with new players, new systems and "inadequate" (for said systems) personnel can completely adjust over the coarse of a timeout, halftime talk, even one week-long practice. That's why they call it "rebuilding", not "pre-fabbed homing". Give it time; and here, in the beginning, while it's roughest, set yourself some resonable expectations.
I still say we have a shot. I guess you can call me a fan. Guilty.
On the blue/maize Prozac: UM wins 27-24;
Marios's blunt: UM loses 38-24.
October 13th, 2008 at 11:37 AM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 11:45 AM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 11:48 AM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 11:57 AM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 12:06 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 12:07 PM ^
...and Minnesota will beat Illinois,
and Toledo will beat Michigan,
and Oregon State will beat USC,
and Michigan will beat Wisconsin...
College football is awesome.
October 13th, 2008 at 12:14 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 12:29 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 12:44 PM ^
I attended Sat night's beat down of Wisconsin by PSU - their defense looked very, very good - tremendous front 7 play which does not bode well for our patchwork line.
Mostly PSU drove the blow out with great defense, but on offense, PSU was efficient and exploited quite a bit of poor DB play on Wisconsin's part (sound familiar?) - consistently had the off receiver open deep on the post (and in one case, a well executed out and up) - they simply did not making mistakes on offense - Clark at QB can create time to throw with his feet, and was patient enough to wait for WR's to get open for big plays - they will be hard to beat.
October 13th, 2008 at 12:38 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 12:46 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 4:38 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 12:49 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 12:56 PM ^
Why the hell not? Why can't Michigan beat PSU? Nothing is going according to logic anymore. Why can't Michigan hold PSU to under 20 points and Threet record his first 300 yard game? Why can't Michigan "man up" and win a game they have no reason winning?
.....holy shit....that flying pig about took my damn head off.
October 13th, 2008 at 1:00 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 1:04 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 3:49 PM ^
I am sure this picture and various articles of the last loss are in the Locker room today. I think this game against PSU could be the knock out blow for Michigan and it's players.
October 13th, 2008 at 2:24 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 4:23 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 4:27 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 4:53 PM ^
- If Michigan's defense goes into the game not relying on momentum and just plays it heart out down and after down. Does not look at the score board or hear the fans. Just plays good sound Football, they will slow the Penn State Offense. Same goes for Michigans Offense. Down after down just do the best you can. That's how you win. Michigan needs to stop looking at the scoreboard. Odds are you are going to be down. It is going to be close. So why do it. Why boost your ego up and huff and puff around the field. Just play sound football and they will be pleasantly surprised.
October 13th, 2008 at 6:23 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 6:46 PM ^
if it (a win) happens, I envision it like this... a lot of ugly defensive football wrapped around a few good things like:
Odoms getting loose for a 30-40 yard TD...
Matthews in the corner of the end zone, maybe after a deep turnover...
McGuffie capping of a long drive...
a FG or two...
4+ sacks by the DL...
2 INTs by our D...
October 13th, 2008 at 7:07 PM ^
October 13th, 2008 at 6:38 PM ^
I grew up in PA, and have lots of PA friends and relatives. Let me tell you, Micihgan has gotten WAY inside their heads. They go into spasms at the sight of the winged helmet.
Where their heads are at right now is that they are looking to lay a beating for the ages on us to make up for a decade-plus of frustation. And it should happen in the first half so that the starters can be rested and get prepared for OSU.
If it starts to not go according to that script, they will become EXTREMELY restless. If the game is anywhere close by the fourth quarter, they will get a massive case of the yips straight out of Greg Norman's anxiety closet.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:17 AM ^
October 14th, 2008 at 7:08 AM ^
when the coin toss is made. After that, not so much.
And in this case, past is not prologue. The games of the past will not influence any aspect of this game, except to serve as a little more motivation for PSU.
Also, this is a young team in only their 2nd road game of the year. I do hope I am wrong, but I think this game will be ugly.
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