Am I Nuts?
A lot of people on here have been making predictions about the rest of the season so I thought I would throw my hat into the ring......
This may sound nuts, but I took a lot of positives out of the Iowa loss. Remember this was an away, night game, at a top 15 (perhaps overrated) team.
Forcier played by far his worst game of the season, and we lost by two.
We had five turnovers, and we lost by two.
Our maligned defense continually holds tough in the red zone after turnovers.
The O-line controlled one of the best D-lines in the country.
In many ways, we are where we deserve to be. 4 straight close games and we have won the two at home, and lost the two on the road.
I think we learn from the mistakes and the secondary learns to hold on 3rd and 30.
Call me nuts....I think we win out.
Yep, pessimistic Bilg is calling 6-0 for the rest of the way in the regular season, with a loss to LSU in the Citrus (or whatever they call it now) Bowl.
Hold me to it.
Note: This is not sarcasm or simply hopeful thinking. I really do believe we win out and go to a January Bowl. However, if this does not happen and we stumble to the finish with a 2-4 record, while all are free to laugh and mock me, this should not destroy my credibility into perpetuity.....IE, if on the board in 2017 I predict a victory a week before the OSU game, I don't want to see a "Yeah, whatever, you predicted a 6-0 finish to 09....."
This may sound nuts, but I took a lot of positives out of the Iowa loss. Remember this was an away, night game, at a top 15 (perhaps overrated) team.
Forcier played by far his worst game of the season, and we lost by two.
We had five turnovers, and we lost by two.
Our maligned defense continually holds tough in the red zone after turnovers.
The O-line controlled one of the best D-lines in the country.
In many ways, we are where we deserve to be. 4 straight close games and we have won the two at home, and lost the two on the road.
I think we learn from the mistakes and the secondary learns to hold on 3rd and 30.
Call me nuts....I think we win out.
Yep, pessimistic Bilg is calling 6-0 for the rest of the way in the regular season, with a loss to LSU in the Citrus (or whatever they call it now) Bowl.
Hold me to it.
Note: This is not sarcasm or simply hopeful thinking. I really do believe we win out and go to a January Bowl. However, if this does not happen and we stumble to the finish with a 2-4 record, while all are free to laugh and mock me, this should not destroy my credibility into perpetuity.....IE, if on the board in 2017 I predict a victory a week before the OSU game, I don't want to see a "Yeah, whatever, you predicted a 6-0 finish to 09....."
October 11th, 2009 at 12:20 PM ^
I see a lot of the same things you do, but I am slightly worried about the "DRob or Tate?" question. Last night for the first time this year we saw the old problem of two quarterbacks equaling zero quarterbacks. I'm willing to call that a fluke (even Luke Skywalker had difficulties in mastering the force), but in general would like to see the DRob/Tate combo live up to its potential against Penn State before I'd feel confident about victories against both Wisconsin and UOS. Assuming, of course, that Gerg continues to get performances out of his defensive personnel that are far better than the talent level would suggest.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:26 PM ^
Obviously all fans hope for wins in every game. But yes, based on what we have seen to date, you are nuts to believe that Michigan will win out.
What we have seen is that Michigan can stay close to any opponent. Michigan is 2-2 in its close games, which is exactly what you would expect. When the game is close, the result often comes down to a lucky break or two, and those will go against you as often as not.
To win out, one of two things would need to happen. Either Michigan would need to dominate every opponent, or in close games the breaks would need to go their way every time. A team needs to have an awfully charmed life for that to happen.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:29 PM ^
You're a little bit nuts, but that's ok!
The fact that you can say this with even a remotely straight face speaks volumes about the progress this team has made from last year to this year.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:33 PM ^
I don't think we win out, but I agree with your optimism following this game. We gave the #11 team in the nation all they wanted in their stadium, with an overall largely poor QB effort and severe ball-control problems. If you eliminate some of the self-inflicted damage, again, we would have run them. That's progress, IME.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:40 PM ^
IN fact I was thinking all night that Michigan is really close to turning the corner. The D, little by little, has actually been getting better every week. Yes, they still have some blown converages issues, but film work, repitition etc. will slow that down. The runnning game was working real well, and yes the qb's had their issues, but they are still frosh. I don't know about winning out, but I'm predicting a 4 game winning streak coming up....with PSU being the KEY to the season. 3 out of the next 4 are and home, and the one road opponent (illi) is imploding.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:44 PM ^
Your coach melted down on national tv, humiliated the future of your program, and created more doubt, fear and loathing in your star QB (the future of your program) than anyone could have thought possible. You didn't run the ball for more than 12 yards at any point -- note, you are a running team -- and your secondary gave up two long plays to a TE who has been hurt approximately 80% of his career, but ran in untouched twice at half-speed.
Other than that, great game.
Thanks much for hiring the West Virginia man instead of Kirk.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:48 PM ^
"Meltdowns" are understandable considering that if not for our own mistakes we roll your boys. As it is, congrats on the win.
October 11th, 2009 at 1:24 PM ^
what the heck.
Your team is ranked #12 in the country, and you only managed to beat our team - our lowly, fumbling, freshman mistake-making, rattled, away from home, "poorly coached" team on your own turf, in front of your black-faced fans - by 2 points with 46 seconds left in the game.
Looks like you should stick to your own boards.
October 11th, 2009 at 2:58 PM ^
to the black faced fans: who rushes the field when your team is ranked #12 and you barely escape a win over an unranked team. i mean really? did you tear down the uprights after you survived arkansas state last weekend?
October 11th, 2009 at 1:26 PM ^
Meltdown? I saw a coach yelling at a kid who was making pretty bad mistakes and then giving him some lip back after the guidance.
October 11th, 2009 at 1:35 PM ^
Someone who isnt drinking the RR cool-aid
October 11th, 2009 at 5:24 PM ^
Yes, thank God there are some Iowa fans out there who don't blindly support the coach of a different team. And how the fuck do you misspell Kool-Aid?
October 11th, 2009 at 1:37 PM ^
Bellanca, I respect your opinion, and I enjoy reading your comments/"diaries" at BHGP.
But I don't think Rodriguez did anything to Tate that coaches all over the country do their QB's when they think they mentally fucked up. I also think that your post is informed by your love of Ferentz (which I get), and a burr you seem to have in your shorts about Brian's somewhat misguided dismissal of him during the coaching search.
You want to spin the game as an ass-whipping, which I find it hard to see. Your #11 team, enjoying a 5-1 turnover margin, barely beat an unranked team coached by a man you feel to be inept, at home. I'm not sure I'd crow all over the internet about it.
October 11th, 2009 at 2:31 PM ^
You mean the same Kirk Ferentz that has led his team to one BCS bowl in 10 years, which he lost. The same guy that the Mgoblog community let out a collective groan. I'll take our chances with our coach.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:44 PM ^
Boy, we all spend a lot of time wondering and making predictions about this team. Admittedly, for me, it has a calming effect to read the many posts that bring me back to reality, i.e. this is where we're supposed to be, etc..We all got a taste of victory at the beginning of the season, and it's so hard to deal with the reality of where we are now (there will be losses and they may not be pretty).
But I'm curious to know what the team really thinks. What do they think of RR losing his cool on the sidelines? What do they think of Tate having a lousy game from start to finish? What do they think about the fanbase, some of whom criticize them for not being perfect? After the beginning os the season with all the talk of team discord, I'm hoping that this will never be the case.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:45 PM ^
Last night seems to show that we can only beat ourselves from here on out.
October 11th, 2009 at 1:22 PM ^
I agree they have a great shot to win out. Of course, that assumes that they can hold onto the damn FB. I thought the team played a whole lot better than against MSU, with the exception of TF (Tate Forcier or aka as True Freshman). If TF played like he did against ND, MU wins this game. I think he is probably hurting more than is known (why was he shaking his hand after he threw the ball? -- no one hit him on that play?) and I think after he got slobberknocked by a couple of IA guys, he got a little gun shy.
I also don't see anyone complaining about Mike Williams not getting back on the 3rd and 24 TD to Moeaki. That should not have happened. He did not appear to be busting butt to get back into coverage on that play. Excpet for the two plays to the TE, I rally thought the D played well. It was certainly their best game against a worthy opponent.
The home games against PSU and OSU give M a chance to win out. I think the most difficult game is at Wisconsin. Those guys will be angry about losing to M last year (a game they should have won). Of course, if M crowds the line against them like they did Iowa, they have a shot to win there too.
In any event, need a healthy and humble TF as well as DRob. DRob oozes talent but he is a work in progress.
I can see M winning out. I think 4-2 is more likely unfortunately.
October 11th, 2009 at 1:45 PM ^
I was too pessimistic about the game, since I thought it was going to be more or less a blowout for Iowa. Regardless, I don't know how anybody can blithely assume victories against Illinois or Purdue are a given, let alone Wisky, PSU, and OSU. It was only a few weeks ago that there was all kinds of confident talk about how we were going to run over Indiana with no trouble, but that didn't happen. With the youth and inexperience at critical positions on offense and defense, and serious depth issues to boot, every game is going to be a struggle (aside from next week). The offense sputters more than it hums, the defense can be relied on to give up numerous big plays, especially on third down, and special teams continue to be an adventure.
One bright spot is that the team never gives up and plays extremely hard; they were more physical last night, especially on defense, than in any game so far this year. For a team that makes as many mistakes as we do, that has to continue.
October 11th, 2009 at 2:29 PM ^
I'd like to add how the Space Emperor looked back to form, and if we just turned turnovers into punts (not even long drives, just punts!) think of the difference right there. There's that, the prospect of a healthy Minor and (soon please, expensive bone machines) Molk: lots of food for optimists like myself.
October 11th, 2009 at 3:40 PM ^
I think we go 4-2 the last half for 8-4. Last night's game
was one I predicted we'd lose. Other than the aforementioned
turnovers and freshman mistakes we should have won. Going
to Iowa on their homecoming, and they're ranked, I thought
they'd pull away, but they didn't.
I think if Tate's hurt, he ought to sit out next week, let
DRob get some serious playing time. We're going to need both
of them healthy if we want a win vs PSU and/or win out.
We'll see how good Wisc is after Iowa plays them at home.
October 11th, 2009 at 5:45 PM ^
I say they finish 3-3, 7-5 overall with a win at home against the Suckeyes. I would bet against them sitting Tate next week since losing to Delaware St. would be unforgivable. D Rob is just not where he needs to be yet.
October 11th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
How UM would end up at 7-5 after beating tOSU? Are you assuming we'd lose to Purdue? Illinois? Del State?
October 11th, 2009 at 5:33 PM ^
Nuts.
October 11th, 2009 at 10:01 PM ^
Almost not worth responding to Iowa trolls.
1) Not even a rival
2) Barely won a home night game where you win a turnover battle 5-1 against an unranked opponent with 80% underclassmen.
3) We didn't want your coach, he's a dinosaur...Poor man's Lloyd Carr
4) Mich is building a program, you guys have 2 good years every decade
5) Seriously....Iowa
Enjoy the win and stick to the boring Big Ten Ball...In a year or two when we are a well oiled machine, you will be lucky to get a win on us every 5 years or so. Your outdated schemes, and lack of speed and talent were so evident last night, and you were only bailed out by Mich's immaturity and mistakes. Congrats on the win.