November 4th, 2018 at 5:29 PM ^
OP is about 4 or 5 games behind our RB’s declaration...
November 4th, 2018 at 5:31 PM ^
#hisusernamechecksout
November 4th, 2018 at 5:09 PM ^
They are much improved. I think they are good, but still has some room to get better. That actually goes for the whole offense.
November 4th, 2018 at 6:33 PM ^
The passing game needs to go to a higher level. I'm concerned it still isn't good enough to beat Alabama. Running game, defense, and special teams (other than the uncertainty about Quinn Nordin) look almost good enough now.
November 4th, 2018 at 6:41 PM ^
Unironically saying "I'm concerned it still isn't good enough to beat Alabama." 2018 football is wonderful.
November 4th, 2018 at 7:18 PM ^
Long way to go before this team can beat Alabama.
But the way they're improving week-to-week, sky's the limit.
November 4th, 2018 at 8:11 PM ^
With 4 weeks to prepare for a semifinal, I'd give them a puncher's chance.
November 4th, 2018 at 8:38 PM ^
Yea but you're also giving the greatest coach in college football history 4 weeks to prepare. So not always ideal.
November 4th, 2018 at 8:54 PM ^
Fielding Yost has 4 weeks to prepare for a game?! LTFO!
November 5th, 2018 at 2:15 AM ^
Saban doesnt read this blog. Im assuming you are talking to him and referring to Coach Harbaugh correct?
November 4th, 2018 at 8:46 PM ^
The ceiling is the roof
November 4th, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
If we make the CFP, I guarantee our showing will be better than those of our rivals.
November 4th, 2018 at 8:05 PM ^
Was there any mention about nordin's blocked punt at the post game presser? Getting real concerned about his head not being in the game.
On the sidelines, I don't see him very much practicing and kicking into that netting. Anyone else notice this?
November 4th, 2018 at 9:13 PM ^
kick*
November 4th, 2018 at 9:14 PM ^
kick*
November 5th, 2018 at 12:41 AM ^
Wow we are a delusional fan base. Like the past decade has just been erased from our memories.
We play OSU away and play for a big ten title if we win that game. But sure, let’s talk about how we’ll fare against Alabama.
November 5th, 2018 at 7:33 PM ^
You're right! What would happen if one of those delusional commentators was called on to kick a field goal to win the game, and wasn't emotionally ready because they were delusionally looking ahead to the Alabama game!
Or, we could be like every fan base, and enjoy good results when they happen, and not allow ourselves to be crippled by fear of OSU.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:09 PM ^
No.
Yes.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:10 PM ^
Has to be improved, but I think they are masking the pass protection issues with play calling.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:18 PM ^
Yeah but I've been waiting a couple years for that to happen too, so yippee for that as well.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:47 PM ^
Penn State has an outstanding pass rush. That was easy to forget watching the game yesterday.
November 4th, 2018 at 7:13 PM ^
And Shea's legs. A lot of plays he's avoiding defenders who have beat their man and making something out of a would be sack.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:11 PM ^
Didn't Seth say in the Pod that he would give them stars if they did well against PSU? I think it is about time they are recognized for the great job they do!
November 4th, 2018 at 5:11 PM ^
Two more weeks to sharpen the knife.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:11 PM ^
This dickhead would reluctantly have to agree...
November 4th, 2018 at 6:29 PM ^
so if he lost, say, 50 lbs and the tan, do you think he'd look like the SEC's favorite carnival barker?
November 4th, 2018 at 7:27 PM ^
Pete Finebaum?
You are the best Xtra!!!!!!
How was the trip to AA?
November 4th, 2018 at 8:05 PM ^
trip was great for all the obvious reasons about the game, but also for the fun we had seeing old friends and the tailgate. that includes robf visiting with us and getting to say 'hello' to scanner blue (he was working so not much time to chat with us). made a new friend when chris webber stopped by to talk and got a photo with the kids. was thinking of posting a 'return of CWebb' thread.
drive was easy, great chow. game was sooo much fun and the kids loved it to the nth degree, as did i. will be back for the IU game. psyched for that one, too. don't want to count our chicks before they are hatched, but the clutch of possible eggs looks pretty great right now.
November 5th, 2018 at 2:53 AM ^
LOL at your chick/eggs metaphor, XM!
Great to see you again and your 3 youngsters too, did they enjoy watching and marching alongside the Michigan Marching Band?
And good luck, too, to your two sons as they prepare for the next round of the HS football playoffs---I'll be rooting for them and watching the High School football scoreboard shows this weekend.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:12 PM ^
I don't get why so many people just assumed they couldn't be good to begin with. We have three starters who were top 100 recruits, including the "best center prospect in a decade" or whatever. The other two guys were average three star types who are upperclassmen and have a ton of playing experience. There are plenty of good college offensive lines that don't have that kind of look on paper.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:23 PM ^
I don’t think anyone was concerned about the interior too much. Most thought the interior would be fine and potentially even very good. The bookends were where the worry was at and the starters at those positions, coming into this year, didn’t have much of a track record. JBB was always fine in the run game but struggled in pass pro. Runyan couldn’t crack the OT spot last year when it was a weakness as well, so many assumed he would be below average and I think that’s completely justified based on what we knew of him coming into the season.
November 4th, 2018 at 6:04 PM ^
JBB was not always fine in the rushing game. He is now, but he floundered a bit there as well as pass pro.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:25 PM ^
The last decade or so of Michigan football is why. Everything you just listed has been a staple of UM’s OL’s for years and years. Hasn’t been until now that paper good = on field good.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:13 PM ^
Yup, you’re the only one...
November 4th, 2018 at 5:19 PM ^
Lots and lots of max pro. But their run blocking is on fire. They’re just mauling people. Those long drives are just like a boa constrictor just squeezing the life out of other teams.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:23 PM ^
Good run blocking line.
Solid pass blocking line.
Amazing improvement from the tire fire Drevno left behind. Clearly the most improved unit on the field since the ND game. Warinner is an elite coach. If they had 2 years of Warinner, it would probably be an excellent O-line by now.
We still leave way too many points on the field in my opinion given our time of possession and yardage domination...I think our kicking game is hurting us a bit there, as well as Shea being a bit gun shy early in games.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:27 PM ^
They are much better. Could they hold up against Bama? That's another question.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:44 PM ^
We will need to throw down field early and often agains BAMA with our 3 elite receivers and giant tight ends. BAMA is elite everywhere and we won't be able to run on them unless we get their LBs away from the line of scrimmage...and even then it will be a struggle.
It really sucks that in a year where we are trending to make the playoff, it appears that an all-time, once a decade team, in BAMA 2018, would probably be our first matchup if we make it to the playoff.
If we are completely healthy across the D-line, we can probably cause them some issues....but Tua is mobile, and will make some wtf plays that no other QB we have seen this year has made against us so far.
On offense, we really need to start throwing downfield this week and next so shea has a bunch of reps going over the top. We won't be able to boa constrictor BAMA.
November 4th, 2018 at 6:05 PM ^
I think they can be good against Bama. Would they dominate? Maybe not. Sure as shit wanna find out tho
November 4th, 2018 at 5:38 PM ^
There still a few things need to get fixed but considering where they were at the beginning of last season until now they have exceeded my expectations. It also helps that we have a qb who can recognize the pressure and a rb that doesn’t go down on initial contact. This oline is more than enough to beat osu win the big ten and make the playoffs. What they do after that remains to be seen
November 4th, 2018 at 5:40 PM ^
Runyan growing to 6'5" was a game changer. He sucked at 6'4"
November 4th, 2018 at 5:40 PM ^
My only problem with yesterday’s game is why doesn’t harbaugh let Patterson air it out. He’s more than capable of doing this and our wr are dying to get the chance. I want to see Gentry DPJ and Collins with 4-5 receptions each. Is that too much to ask?
November 4th, 2018 at 5:48 PM ^
That's more of a Shea problem than the play calling. He missed some really open receivers deep and kept checking down
November 4th, 2018 at 8:07 PM ^
The play of Shea's that stuck in my crawl was the one where he scrambled out of the pocket to the right and had two wide open receivers in his direct line of sight for several seconds, the RB and a WR fifteen yards downfield who was so wide open he was waving his arms frantically. Somehow Shea didn't see him and the play went for about a yard gain.
November 5th, 2018 at 2:33 AM ^
You could crawl that far.
November 4th, 2018 at 5:50 PM ^
Yes, it really is.
He had a gameplan that worked really well, but you want to see something else, just because?
November 4th, 2018 at 5:53 PM ^
My guess is because they don't need to. Its clear Harbaugh wants his offense to be a ball control offense, which would allow Michigan to dominate time of possession, keep their defense fresh, and wear out opposing defenses in the fourth quarter. By airing it out, you risk turnovers, failed drives, and if you become too addicted to big plays, you risk running into the problems that Big 12 defenses have in that it puts your defense on the field longer which could wear them out and expose them.
My only complaint is that I wish they would be a bit more creative on third downs, but what Michigan is doing now is working, so keep doing what they are doing.