September 14th, 2019 at 1:28 PM ^
Early thoughts now that we're deep into the 2nd quarter of most games:
Maryland: like we thought, their first 2 games were against baby seals and they look way more human against a better opponent. Sloppy game on both sides, but Temple is stride for stride with them. Still like Maryland's offense, and how they always get the ball into their best player's hands (cough cough throw the ball to Nico please). They're likely a 7-5 type team that'll beat everybody but the OSU/Penn State/Michigan/MSU teams on their schedule, minus 1 off game or 2.
Illinois: Functional offense, Brandon Peters is legit (great touch on his throws, but we knew that), but that defense is abysmal. They may not improve on their numbers of wins from last year, but they'll look better on offense while they do it.
Penn State: sloppy game due to weather, but their offense is rickety but explosive. Similar to 2016 for the most part. They'll get stuck in 3rd and long situations, then KJ Hamler or their freaking stupidly deep stable of running backs (Ricky Slade, the presumed #1 is probably only the 3rd best back on the team right now. Journey Brown is a stud, Devyn Ford is gonna be a problem in a year or two). Like Maryland, their offensive strategy is just get the ball to your playmakers and let 'em make a play (cough cough somebody please tell Gattis). Every 3-4 plays, they grab a handful. But their offensive line keeps things interesting by bouncing back and forth between generating a push on the ground, then allowing 4 guys to run right at the QB. And their defense is fast and good, no surprise there.
Indiana-Ohio State: Indiana is Indiana. Good enough defense, logical offense lacking top end talent. Keeps up well enough, but struggles once the talent difference sets in. Ohio State is sadly showing very few chinks in the armour. 3 games in, they're clearly as good as last year, Justin Fields is every bit the scary talent we feared, and Ryan Day's new defensive staff has fixed that problem, and the offense just kills you with 3-5 yards a run until they lob it deep to Olave or any of their other NFL wide recievers. Maybe we're still waiting for a better opponent but I think it's time to admit that Ryan Day knows what he's doing and there's not going to be a dropoff. Can't wait to see how they stack up against Penn State and Michigan State, but I imagine they'll be fine. Ugh.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:30 PM ^
Their offense was very boom or bust in 2016 with Moorhead, but I just don't think Rahne will be up to the task. I could be wrong though.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:34 PM ^
But...but...what about “first game jitters” and “early season issues”?? We’ve been told by the very wisest people here that EVERY team has those, so we’ll be fine. Right?
September 14th, 2019 at 1:37 PM ^
It's a time-honored tradition to assume that your future opponents will forever be as bad as their worst game and you're going to improve from your worst game.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:47 PM ^
You really can't judge any team until at least 3 games in (assuming they play at least 1 decent team and not 3 tomato cans like the SEC does). Now is when we start to learn things. Our game vs Wisconsin will be very telling for both teams and I'm scared we won't like what we see.
But I'm not entering the BPONE until I absolutely have to
September 14th, 2019 at 2:04 PM ^
I agree that Wisconsin will tell us a lot. I have a feeling that bringing Runyan and DPJ back, as well as resting Shea, will help quite a bit. It's also comforting that Don Brown has thoroughly owned Paul Chryst's offenses since he's been here.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:33 PM ^
In principal I agree, but I don't know that it will tell us anything because it's a road game. We typically play bad on the road. Lost to Iowa Wisconsin Penn state, etc. Always seem to underperform in someone else's house. We could play bad and lose to Wisconsin and still not see what our season long potential is.
September 14th, 2019 at 5:40 PM ^
I hear you on this. I've got a toe dabbling in BPONE right now. Next week is the tell-tale event for UoM. If we fuck it all up there then it's a safe bet to say that we spiral down from there as we realize we just can't get it going. I fear that this could be even worse than we think as the offense is never realized and we become the team we've seen so far, permanently.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:38 PM ^
Justin fields is doing well. Which irritates me because when the fuck is Michigan going g to get a good QB/scheme or whatever.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:33 PM ^
Chase Young is scary!!! I don't like that...At least IU just scored.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:35 PM ^
Shouldve named this thread "Jack off to OSU while commenting about how scary they look" because that's all Im seeing in here
September 14th, 2019 at 1:37 PM ^
How about “Ohio State IS playing the way we SHOULD be playing”?
September 14th, 2019 at 1:44 PM ^
If they can do it against real competition (not G5 cupcakes and an injury-ridden IU), it would be more impressive.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:50 PM ^
Just stop. Michigan looks okay against MTSU. OSU looks like killers against IU.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:56 PM ^
When is IU ever good at football?
September 14th, 2019 at 2:45 PM ^
We struggle with IU every damn year, are you kidding me?
September 14th, 2019 at 2:53 PM ^
When they abused brown’s scheme last year with vastly inferior talent.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:46 PM ^
Fuck You you tiny brained wanker
Edit: with all due respect
September 14th, 2019 at 1:37 PM ^
Never liked throwing a 15-20 yard pass on 3rd down when you need four yards. Just move the chains.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:40 PM ^
I watch OSU with such envy in my heart. I long for Michigan to be so consistent. Why do we always have to come up so short year in and year out? We look so inept this year, so far. OSU will have our number yet again this year in full force. If we don't beat OSU this year, we as a community need to just stop talking about the rivalry altogether. No "maybe next year, this-that-and-the-other, we just won't ever be able to do it in this lifetime. Who in the community honestly thinks that we can/will beat them this year? Is there hope? I respect everyone here and especially the intelligently talented football minds here.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:46 PM ^
Realistically, I don't think any fan thinks we can beat them. It's more hope than anything else. Osu is unstoppable right now.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:51 PM ^
It's not wrong to look at Ohio State and bemoan their stupid ability to never be terrible any given season. But ignoring them won't help turn the tide. Remember when their defense wasn't great last year and they took some of our coaches? That's what you do. If Ohio State does something well, take it away from them and copy them. We grabbed Warinner and look how well that went. Stop treating Ohio State like a boogeyman. We need to lean into the rivalry and devote every second we can in practice to beating them. Put up the countdown clocks, watch the old games, and act like they're the biggest rival we have, because they are.
Growing up in Columbus, no team mattered except Michigan. Michigan needs to take the rivalry seriously, like we have with MSU.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:45 PM ^
UM fans are wild. If we had a starting QB in a 23-17 deficit to Eastern they would lose their shit. But Brandon Peters is a superstar.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:54 PM ^
It's not Peters' fault his defense can't cover a kindergartner. He looks good (maybe not All-American good, but plenty good for Illinois).
He deserves some credit for his steady play. Don't be sour just because a former player looks good for another team.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:14 PM ^
Yea...OK
September 14th, 2019 at 2:20 PM ^
He is sour due to people on this board --1 in particular— being (imo) major dumbasses in continually saying that Peters>>Shea. I think BP has looked pretty good in the parts of each game and I am extremely happy for him. However, I have not seen anything that makes me think he would be better than Shea or Dillon in M’s offense.
September 15th, 2019 at 9:42 PM ^
The comment is about UM fans. If you think Peters concerns me either way you are the “wild” ones i was referring too.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:47 PM ^
I wonder if everyone stops jerking off Penn State if Pitt keeps this competitive in the 2nd half or better yet, even come out on top. This is two weeks in a row their offense has looked like shit in the 1st half, play someone with a pulse that can play for a full 60 and they have real issues.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:53 PM ^
PSU losing to Pitt. Hamler limping off.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:54 PM ^
Other than Ohio St, none of these teams worry me. Penn St is struggling again, Maryland looks awful against Temple, Michigan St doesnt worry me, Illinois isnt very good and Iowa is just ok. If we beat Wisconsin, I'm not worried about anyone but ND and OSU
September 14th, 2019 at 1:55 PM ^
Exactly my thoughts.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:46 PM ^
Michigan State worries me a lot.
September 15th, 2019 at 4:18 PM ^
Me, too. I wanted to to bean Arizona State.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:56 PM ^
Penn State looks pedestrian
September 14th, 2019 at 2:24 PM ^
Or pederastian
September 14th, 2019 at 2:27 PM ^
Or Episcopalian?
September 14th, 2019 at 2:26 PM ^
Their oline looks like a sumo team,pasty white slow hogs
September 14th, 2019 at 1:56 PM ^
Zero offensive points for Maryland in fist half against Temple. TEMPLE.
BuT gUyS mArYlAnD iS aN oFfEnSiVe JuGgErNaUgHt We GoT sCrEwEd WiTh GaTtIs!!!!!
September 14th, 2019 at 1:57 PM ^
Penn State has every thing a contender needs (talented QBs, stack of RB's, speedy explosive receivers, fast and stout defense) but dear god their offensive line still looks average, if not bad. Fortunately for us, they haven't been able to get their o-line together, but if they did, they'd be on Ohio State's level
September 14th, 2019 at 1:57 PM ^
What I’ve Learned:
Michigan is trash. OSU is an unstoppable monster. It doesn’t matter what other teams do or look like because we suck and they’re automatically better than us.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:08 PM ^
I don't know about the "monster" part but they sure are making everything look easy. Their defense looks totally different this year. We better improve in a hurry. Next week will tell a lot.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:58 PM ^
Maryland has two points at half against Temple? Two fucking points? Against Temple?
September 14th, 2019 at 2:12 PM ^
Maryland’s pattern the last few years: Look like one of the nation’s elite teams in the first two games of the year with a surprise win over someone you don’t expect (Syracuse, Texas) and then crap the bed in game three with the season falling apart afterwards.
Game three is their kryptonite.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:02 PM ^
Let's Go Pitt!
and remember today is ¡El Assico!
September 14th, 2019 at 2:08 PM ^
The EMUs, especially on offense, looked good in that 1st half. They have some solid weapons, attack downfield throwing the ball, and look organized and ready to play. Their coaching staff has done a good job there.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:16 PM ^
I'm watching EMU playing Illinois. They are coached better than Michigan.
September 14th, 2019 at 3:00 PM ^
I'm sure the HC Creighton would make the leap. Could keep his house.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:21 PM ^
Georgia tech currently losing to citadel is surprising. Maryland only scoring 9 in 2.5 quarters is also telling, I don't know what it's telling, but it is.
September 14th, 2019 at 3:00 PM ^
didn’t they completely scrap the triple option for a spread offense?not a easy transition.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:22 PM ^
IU's defense is HOT TRASH.
Edit: WHITE HOT BURNING TRASH