PennState confidence and McSorley health?
What is the status of McSorley's injury? He went out and then came in and rattled off a 50 yd TD. I tried to go read some Pennstate247 board for answer and all I see is them proclaiming we are crap and they will be beating us.
Wut?
While we are at it (FFFF still couple of days away), which position group does PSU have an advantage over M?
October 29th, 2018 at 12:43 PM ^
I think McSorly will play. After seeing his backup bulldoze his way into the end zone and throw like two darts on their final drive of the first half, I am kind of hoping he does.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:50 PM ^
The good thing is that we have some film on the backup, kinda.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^
I was thinking this exact same thing. I am absolutely convinced that's what tripped us up last year against OSU. We had a complete game plan for Barrett (that was brilliant), but didn't have a plan for the contingency of a QB that could actually present a threat passing.
October 29th, 2018 at 1:10 PM ^
Let’s hope we have a plan this year for OSU’s backup, running QB.
October 29th, 2018 at 2:10 PM ^
Considering OSU will need to play Martell over the next couple weeks, we should have plenty of film available.
October 29th, 2018 at 4:03 PM ^
I’m convinced John O’korn falling on his face is what tripped us verse ISU last year.
October 29th, 2018 at 2:54 PM ^
A positive item on the flip side of this is that Penn State might need to split starter's snaps during practices this week in order to be prepared to run Stevens if McSorley isn't able to go or can't last the whole game.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
I almost replied with "right, like you know more than his head coach?" And then I realized that is entirely possible.
October 29th, 2018 at 1:44 PM ^
Time out! Whoops- cancel that!
October 29th, 2018 at 3:33 PM ^
More like, "Ok, which Assistant is covering Franklin to stop him from using a timeout?"
October 29th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
Wasn’t that a 3 yard run?? Feel like it was far less impressive than Mcsorleys TD scamper.
October 29th, 2018 at 4:36 PM ^
Pretty much. The backup guy is no bargain either for our defense. He's bigger than McSoreknee, can run well, and looks to have at least as good of an arm.
October 29th, 2018 at 5:50 PM ^
Message to the D: please factor in prep time for their back up QB
That is all. Go Blue.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:45 PM ^
PSU is a dangerous team. We have been hearing lately that the focal point of the offense begins and ends with McSorley. He is a good QB that can do a lot of things. Their RB is also a good one.
If we can take advantage of home field play, I think the offense has a lot of promise to really shine.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
We have no chance of winning this game. None.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^
Awwww...come on....just a little bit of a chance....hmmmmmmm????
October 29th, 2018 at 12:52 PM ^
Zilch. We should be the team getting 11.5.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
#FireHarbaugh Burn it all down.
Hue Jackson is now available. Let's go get him.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
Jackman. Hugh Jackman.
October 29th, 2018 at 1:02 PM ^
Hiring Wolverine to coach the Wolverines is a little bit too on-the-nose.
October 29th, 2018 at 1:24 PM ^
There should be a comedy sketch where Wolverine is our holder for FGs and every time they snap the ball to him he punctures and deflates it. Just spit balling here...
October 29th, 2018 at 2:18 PM ^
How about if we have him do a cameo wearing the MurderWolv costume?
October 30th, 2018 at 6:10 PM ^
Even better would be using the Murderwolf costume, since that is so well-known.
October 29th, 2018 at 7:49 PM ^
Huge Ackman?
October 29th, 2018 at 4:57 PM ^
Just laughed out loud on a conference call I was listening to.
October 30th, 2018 at 8:20 AM ^
So you're on a conference call for work and you're on MGoBlog at the same time? Attaboy, love the enthusiasm.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:48 PM ^
S&P+ 22nd rated offense, 21st defense.
From poking around online, Hamler seems to be the key for their passing game.
PSU had problems running the ball against a good Iowa defense. McSorley had a completion percentage under 50%.
Iowa's QB was catastrophically bad.
Franklin isn't a good situational coach.
October 29th, 2018 at 5:45 PM ^
Weather seemed to screw up both QBs in accuracy. But PSU's efficiency numbers in the pass game this year haven't been all that good overall, between the personnel losses to graduation/NFL and no more Moorhead calling the plays, that part of the offense has really taken a dive. Run game is still top 10 to S&P+, and Sanders is a home run hitter.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:48 PM ^
The last thing we need to do is hurt him during the game and have the backup beat us up and down the field like a couple games I would rather not remember
October 29th, 2018 at 2:41 PM ^
Just keep hitting them. We'll get to the walk-ons eventually.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
To answer the OP's last question: The fetal.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^
They are pretty good. Not great, and definitely not as good as they were last year, but still good enough to give us a hard time and even beat us if the stars align a certain way. We should not take them lightly or consider the game “in the bag.”
That said, I am confident that if both teams play well and luck breaks even, we win.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:56 PM ^
I'm not counting on any changes in our luck until we play osu...depending on the ref crew that works the game.
October 29th, 2018 at 6:37 PM ^
Despite the fact the Game is in Bucknut Land, I'm thinking M will get an even shake in the reffing this year.
In recent years the B1G designated OSU as the special conference offering for the CFP. With the wheels starting to fall off OSU, I don't see that happening this year. If M wins the next 3 games, the way opens up, Urbz gets carted off the field with a heart attack, and M is headed to title game.
October 29th, 2018 at 1:40 PM ^
Fans can do whatever they want but I am fully confident that those inside Schembechler Hall are taking this as seriously as humanly possible. As we've heard Don Brown say, he thinks about the 2017 PSU game every day. I'm sure Jim feels the same way, watching that asshole Franklin exhorting his team to hurry to the line so they could try to tack on another score.
It's time for revenge.
October 29th, 2018 at 2:34 PM ^
He probably has a plan to shut them out completely. I'd hate to be the team that Don Brown wakes up every morning thinking about.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:52 PM ^
Breaking: Penn State fans think Penn State will beat Michigan, more at 11.
Injury wise: he came back in and played the rest of the game. Also, Vegas didn’t hold the line until later in the week. He is fine.
I don’t think they have a positional advantage anywhere except maybe their CBs against our WRs.
October 29th, 2018 at 1:06 PM ^
They also think JoePa didn't know his best buddy was raping little boys. They're not the most thoughtful bunch.
October 29th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^
DEs against our tackles on passing downs will be their advantage. But they will struggle against the running game so hopefully that won't matter much.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
send a bat light for nittany fan! i will look forward to his measured response.
as to 'confidence', at least for this michigan fan i was pretty pumped after EL, but have calmed down since. i think we will be in for a tough game, that we are likely to win, but it won't be a cake walk.
October 29th, 2018 at 2:21 PM ^
Good time for the bye week.
October 29th, 2018 at 2:38 PM ^
agreed. i needed to prepare for this week's game. i'm all healed up, ready to blog....
October 29th, 2018 at 8:28 PM ^
But are you getting mentally prepared and taking Friday off?
October 29th, 2018 at 10:09 PM ^
Glad you’re back in action. I was beginning to suspect that you were holding out for the draft.
...too soon?
October 29th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
Watch the Vegas line. If it tightens up, McSorley is healthy.
Personally, I think that if McSorley is confirmed OUT for the game, it will be much tougher. I trust Franklin to put together an idiotic "lol Trace will do it all" game plan if he's healthy-ish, but might actually do some real game planning around the backup.
Basically, I would much rather our defense deal with a known threat who may not be able to do everything that he is called to do (McSorley)...instead of a team full of great athletes being turned loose.
October 29th, 2018 at 2:20 PM ^
McSorely is most likely a go already, otherwise vegas probably wouldn't have opened the line. It's already down to 10, and will probably stay right around there. 10 is basically 7 on a neutral field, and 4 if it were at PSU, which feels about right.
October 29th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
Whatever. The bucs and shartans handled McSorley. Michigan's defesne is far superior to those two. Superior on both sides actually. Especially at home. Their defense will break in The Big House. Higdon and Mason are going to walk all over them and when the bombs start going over the top against that weak secondary, there isn't going to be much more to talk about. Black is back baby. The Lions better be firing on all cylinders or they're in for a long afternoon.
October 29th, 2018 at 1:05 PM ^
I agree with the first part of you point but sub out the Buckeye defense for Iowa's because he shredded Ohio State. Iowa and MSU bottled him up. Interested to see how they perform on road. All their difficult games have been at home.
October 29th, 2018 at 1:15 PM ^
This post got me hype for a 44-10 blowout. LEGOOOOOOOO