One of the BEST Defensive Lines in The Nation
September 16th, 2015 at 10:39 AM ^
Love the optimism, but we haven't exactly shut down any high powered offenses lately. Oregon State is bad.
We may not know how good this defense truly is until we play Sparty. Northwestern is off to a good start, not sure if they're good or if Stanford is down. BYU's star QB is out with an injury. If we don't shut down Maryland, you can worry.
I would love nothing more than for a reincarnation of the '85 or '97 defenses...
September 16th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
BYU will be a good test.
September 16th, 2015 at 10:39 AM ^
and that's without Mone. Scary to think what we could be if Wormley comes back next year.
September 16th, 2015 at 10:41 AM ^
FWIW, Macus Ray declared a couple weeks ago that"Willie Henry WILL play in the NFL" Personally I haven't noticed him much yet this year either way (nothing really good stood out, but nothing really bad either).
September 16th, 2015 at 10:43 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^
I think Henry will play in the NFL too. But in the future, sentences that begin with "FWIW, Marcus Rays says" aren't a good way to begin a point. We all know what the I is W. You'd be hard pressed to find a pundit who is wrong more often.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:18 AM ^
McCorkmick
September 16th, 2015 at 10:42 AM ^
Double post
September 16th, 2015 at 10:42 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 10:42 AM ^
Did the MSU game get moved to Sunday?
September 16th, 2015 at 10:47 AM ^
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September 16th, 2015 at 11:31 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 2:30 PM ^
...it would be frowned upon by many people if they found out about it. The key is going to be not getting caught.
September 16th, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^
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September 16th, 2015 at 10:42 AM ^
Well, we also thought this for most of the 2006 season and then they got exposed against OSU and USC, so let's just wait until we see them play a much better team. Utah is good, but not great.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:31 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 1:31 PM ^
Yeah, all one of them.
September 16th, 2015 at 2:19 PM ^
RR never had a QB for two years. 2008 was Sheridan/Threet; 2009 was Forcier; 2010 was Denard. My guess is that Denard would have done even better in 2011 than he did under Hoke if RR had been back and that RR's offense would have worked just fine (like it has everywhere else) against good defenses if he ever had an experienced player.
We'll never know.
But I am glad we now have HARBAUGH anyway.
September 16th, 2015 at 10:45 AM ^
Really hoping to see some turnovers in the upcoming games. Against good teams--turnovers make all the difference, especially for an offensive that lacks dynamic ability. I'm really hoping to see some INTs in the next few games. It seems like forever since we've had multiple INTs in a game (0 so far this year....other than the hail mary)
September 16th, 2015 at 10:46 AM ^
I have a feeling our lack of speed on defense will be exploited, specifically the linebackers. Hopefully by then everyone will be more sound on their run fits in an attempt to compensate, also have better drops.
September 16th, 2015 at 10:46 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^
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September 16th, 2015 at 10:52 AM ^
Do be the best you have to beat the best. We will get a chance to beat the best this season.
September 16th, 2015 at 10:55 AM ^
Weeellll....
even last year we had a decent defense, as the article describes.
But laws yes, we had a crappy offense. M00N that spells crappy - laws yes.
I hope the offense keeps improving to match the D tehn we would have a top 25 team.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:07 AM ^
J Peppers will bring Captain Trips to a few games games this year.
September 16th, 2015 at 10:59 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 11:02 AM ^
Superstition has nothing to do with. Saying things one actually believes (a practice you don't seemed interested in engaging) is your ticket.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:12 AM ^
Michigan fans -- at least in here -- are an amazing amalgamation irrational pessimism coupled with annoying rationality. I understand both sentiments -- I suppose -- but find both a bit pathetic.
I feel you! Nothing more annoying (and pathetic) than rationality. I think we all prefer and respect crazy talk.
Are you David Byrne, perchance?
September 16th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
You thought Hoke should still be the coach after the Minnesota game...you opinion is invalid.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:33 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 1:38 PM ^
Optimistic thinking on the part of the fans will neither jinx the team nor help it. It has no effect whatsoever on the performance of the team. Neither does pessimistic thinking.
The only exception I'll make is that I believe in certain circumstances fan enthusiasm at home games can make a difference. But I don't believe that's what you're talking about here.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:01 AM ^
If and when they hold their own against MSU, I'll be ready to deem this DL elite. Until then, the jury is out. Let's just hope we keep BYU from dong-punching us, both figuratively and literally.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
UNLV is really, really bad. This isn't 2007-era App State coming to visit. I'm not even a little concerned.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:02 AM ^
Great? Potentially.
One of the best in the nation? Pump your breaks, pal. If they have strong showings against the likes of BYU, MSU, and OSU (the last of which I'm not holding my breath on), then you can make that claim. But until then, I think they're just good. Keep in mind we lost Bryan Mone who was supposed to be HUGE for the line this season.
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September 16th, 2015 at 11:06 AM ^
He was the second-string nose tackle. "big" or "key" is probably more accurate than "HUGE."
September 16th, 2015 at 11:05 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 11:44 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 11:55 AM ^
Let's beat MSU and OSU, then I'm fine with this thread.
September 16th, 2015 at 1:08 PM ^
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September 16th, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^
about our DL, until I see how we play against some of the better B1G teams. I've liked what I've seen so far generally. But, one of our biggest shortcomings in recent years has been putting sufficient pressure on opposing QB's. Until I see us do that consistently, I will be cautious about how far we've come.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^
Unreleated but not worthy of its own thread...
People on twitter are saying that Michigan was the only power 5 team to open the season against two power 5 opponents. Can anyone confirm? A quick scan of the top 25 suggests that its true, but I don't know if it holds true for every power 5 team. I find that interesting if true though.
September 16th, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^
UCLA and the little Irish guy
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September 16th, 2015 at 11:26 AM ^
How does this team compare to the one that beat Indiana last year. Was that 34-10? Where did that get us. As someone who tried to explain away last year's drubbing by Notre Dame, I now just enjoy when the team plays well. Having a top line is great, but not enough by itself. Our super defensive line in 2006 (1-1-2007) did not help stop the pass in the second half against USC. The line only can do so much.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:47 AM ^
That was Miami, but point taken.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^
Let's just take a moment to appreciate that we have both Henry and Wormley on the same line. Wormly's getting through because they've been double-teaming Henry. If you double-team both there are going to be gaps, and we're going to send Jabrill through them.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:32 AM ^
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September 16th, 2015 at 11:40 AM ^