I'm not ready to sign off PSU or Wisconsin as a loss yet, but I'm really starting to think that we are building towards an end of season victory. The improvement in defense over the last two weeks, and the addition of Molk in 2 more imo will make us the better team at home.
I think Penn State could be the better team, but I think their lack of big time opponents will hurt them, and our bye week next week will help us a ton. Don't forget the chip this team carries on their shoulders and they won't take losing these last two weeks lightly.

Coming out on a limb, but I've always felt like D. Robinson is the better fit for the offense. We are starting to see why. Two consecutive teams have used LBs to take out underneath routes that Forcier needs in order to be effective. I'm sure ND and IU would have done the same, but they simply don't have the players. The problem with Forcier is two fold. His arm, while accurate, is not strong enough to throw over underneath routes. A glaring example was yesterday. Receivers were open downfield, but he either missed them or the ball was way too late. That's irredeemably poor arm strength. Second, Forcier cannot run between tackles, which takes away a vital element of the read option. His speed is not much to be desired either but for the runs to the sideline. The only redeeming quality about Forcier is that he's ready to win now. That's what we needed this year, but more development of D. Rob. may well mean that Forcier will no longer be needed in the future, precipitating a frosty exit.

Just look at what D. Rob. brings to the table. He actually does have a live arm, a superior one to Forcier. He's obviously faster, can run between tackles and has revived his throwing motion. What he does not have is the readiness that came with preparing for the position his entire life. But once he learns the read/option, the throws and the decision making, which is somewhat improved over the course of the season, he will have more upside. I've always believed from day 1 that speed is the most important quality in the spread. That's a quality that D. Rob. does have that Forcier (and Gardner) do not. Once the refinement occurs, I think D. Rob. will be our QB. I'm not sure if Forcier can accept that reality.

They are both still true freshmen. A year from now, there should be some separation between these two, one way or another.

IMO, the biggest missing part for Tate last night was the absence of David Molk. Had he played center, and Moosman played his normal guard slot, I think the pressure on him would have been less. Water under the bridge at this point, though.

and the Iowa/Penn State game, I'm not ready to concede the loss to Joe Pa's boys especially at home. Last night was rough - 5 turnovers, Tate having the type of game that was freshman are prone to have, plus a hostile environment . . . at it was still just a two-point game.

You say they can move the ball with the run and pass but, they really haven't shown that yet. Certainly not against Iowa which is the only legitimate team they have played so far. Take away the over inflated stats they put up yesterday against Eastern Illinois and you'll see a different picture. They have struggled in all facets of the game offensively. Plus, I believe (hope) Molk will be back for this game. It's at home and think you are writing the team of way to quickly.

I'm sorry, but I see nothing in this team that indicates an end to the losing streak against OSU. I hate saying that, but it's hard to imagine a scenario where that happens. Thaddeus Gibson will snap Tate in half. Denard's running won't fool their linebackers. All things right now point to that game being ugly. I don't want to say that, but it's unrealistic to think we get a win unless we start seeing VAST improvement in all facets of the game. To be honest, I think what Wisconsin did against OSU is a predictor of what we'll look like against OSU. Our D may actually keep us in the game, but I don't see our Offense putting more than 13 points on the board.

as I see it:
we are 4-2. DSU is the closest thing to an automatic win we have left. That puts us at 5-2. I think we will get a (surprise) win against one of the PSU, @WISC games, and I think we will lose one of the Illinois, Purdue games, putting us at 7-4 going into OSU. I think all 4 of those games will be close, with the potential to win 3 of the 4, but also LOSE 3 of the 4.

that puts in a low-level bowl game, which I'll say we win, finishing 8-5. and that's fine. Next year, I would expect better performances and bigger things from these guys and the coaches.

I agree with some of the comments that M has a better chance to beat PSU than OSU - although, far from a sure thing. What gives me some optimism for both those games includes (i) home games - our young QBs seem to like home cookin, (ii) Tate will hopefully have time to heal up, (iii) Tate's watching the last two drives last night from the sidelines may increase his focus and reduce his ocassional gun slinging tendencies, and (iv) being so young, I think M has more potential to improve than either OSU or PSU as the season progresses.

Can we at least recognize that our team has played significantly differently at home and on the road? We weren't fumbling punts and runs at home, and Tate wasn't turning the ball over too much at home. Despite how badly we've played on the road the last two weeks, we've still had decent chances to win these two games, so I think we have to give ourselves SOME hope in our home games versus PSU and OSU. I don't think the Ohio State losing streak will end either but hey, their offense may be the easiest for us to defend out of anyone.

Also, does it seem to anyone that Rodriguez is willing to sacrifice a couple wins this year for the development of Robinson? Last night, he took out Tate when we were down 9 and put in Denard. I understand that it worked on the first drive, but last week, Tate played pretty badly up until that point of the 4th quarter, and brought us back and tied it. When we get into those scramble 2 minute situations where Tate can roll out and make plays, that's when he gets in his comfort zone. Robinson got a TD and we got the ball back, but the drive by Robinson showed that, even if he can make us score, it's going to take a while for us to get into the end zone. You need someone who is actually ready for the time crunch of that situation to give you a chance to win. We still almost got away with it if Robinson hadn't made a terrible pass on the last throw. Even so, I just don't like Rich Rod taking the ball out of Tate's hands in situations where he has shown he can bring us back.

Maybe this will all result in Denard being a much better QB, and it will be worth it, but from where I stand right now, I'm just not sure.

M almost beat Iowa at Iowa, one can make the argument that OSU at home could be winnable.

only two more possible losses on the schedule, Wisky and OSU (yes, I believe we will beat PSU at home). That would leave us at 8-4. If we can steal either a Wisky win on the road or an upset OSU win at home, we will be 9-3. This is not out of the question.

Tate got rattled down the stretch and I hypothesize that he was "dinged" with a slight concussion. Denard was great on the first drive and made a really bad throw on the second. I actually saw a lot of development from Shoelace at Iowa. That was a tough spot to come in cold and he was pretty electrifying. I think we will see a ton of Denard next week and I wouldn't be shocked if you leave the Big House thinking, "Wow, he's really getting better."

That being said, Tate is Tate and that is very promising.