Anything You Can Do We Can Do Better?
USC just upset Stanford at home and has in Musberger's words "become relevant again." Maybe, just maybe, our team can do the same over the next couple of weeks.
I know a lot of people have said this is a lost season but with this win today we have a chance to finish with a decent record that falls in line with people's predictions pre-season. Momentum in games is important but going into the off season it can be just as important.
I'm not sold on Borges either but this program has a real opportunity over the next couple of weeks. The Chinese have a proverb: "Crisis" is spelled with two characters that mean "danger" and "opportunity". We have that moment now.
Carpe diem Michigan.
November 16th, 2013 at 11:40 PM ^
We'll need a whole lot more than 9 points in regulation against OSU.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:24 AM ^
At times, OSU has looked dominant. But then they give up 35 points to Illinois before remembering Illinois is terrible. We may take them, we may not.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:43 AM ^
Our best chance is good weather, osu essentially overlooking us or trying too hard to ruin us, causing them to make a ton of mistakes. In good weather, when Gardner is on and has time to actually wind up and throw he can be a real QB. He also needs to be taught by our beloved QB coach to be able to audible to the single coverage pass when they put 8+ in the box. They'll score. We just need turnovers or for them to show up expecting to win too easily.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:58 AM ^
We need Tim Biakabutuka to go off for 313 yards.
November 17th, 2013 at 4:24 AM ^
Or Derrick Green.
November 17th, 2013 at 7:40 AM ^
OSU overlooking us?
November 17th, 2013 at 10:08 AM ^
exactly
November 17th, 2013 at 1:06 AM ^
We looked like crap today but some things that influenced the poor play includeds:
- Perry and Grant not playing LB and out with injuries. We played a walk on and another player that had little live game expierence against the run.
- Bosa went out with an injury for the 2nd half and didn't return which effected the pass rush. You can now see why meyer wants Bosa over Washington on the DLine.
- Weather. Windy day=over thrown passes..
- Special teams gave up a punt return (first of the year).
- Missed tackles.
I'm sure these issues will be corrected before The Game.
November 17th, 2013 at 2:49 AM ^
Nobody cares
November 17th, 2013 at 3:11 AM ^
I appreciate hearing the perspective from a Buckeye about their team.
November 17th, 2013 at 3:25 AM ^
The Game will certainly be an interesting rendition this year. Michigan will always play their best game against Ohio State. HOwever, Ohio State may be looknig ahead to either Michigan State or the Rose Bowl, or possibly the NCG.
I feel this game can swing either way this year.
November 17th, 2013 at 3:54 AM ^
This is just not true. Michigan has not played it's best game against OSU in a number of years.
November 17th, 2013 at 2:55 PM ^
Really? 2011 came awfully close. It was certainly the best game we've played offensively under the current regime, and Denard's best game ever.
November 17th, 2013 at 8:50 AM ^
I'm not sure, based on our perfomance this year, how you can even think we can be competitve against any semi-decent team, which I consider OSU to be.
If you watched the Stanford - USC game, it seemed pretty obvious to me that the skill level of players on both teams were, for the most part, at a different level than what you see at Michigan (and the bulk of the B1G).
November 17th, 2013 at 9:31 AM ^
Michigan might have played like crap today/all year but look at some of things that went wrong for Michigan.
Young oline (basically tire fire)
Blown acl's every where
Al Borges
Al Borges
Al Borges (I think I write Borges a lot, my phone is starting to auto correct to it to the right way)
Devin decision making ability has been lacking at times
Did I mention the oline?
Defense giving up touchdowns at the worst time after standing on their heads the whole game
Funk
Borges
Dashawn hand didn't commit so the coaches depression was in the way
The space time continuum opened and Borges went back to 1993 to learn how to call plays.
I mean obviously michigan will have this all fixed by the game so osu better watch out.
November 17th, 2013 at 1:22 PM ^
thanks.
best post of the day award.
you can expect a prize in the mail.
never quit. never.
November 17th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^
definitely
November 16th, 2013 at 11:44 PM ^
Both seem like players coaches that really love the schools they are coaching at. I was thinking how similar our game against OSU would be to the game tonight. However, they made their coaching change....we are too soft to make ours mid season to get rid of Al.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:59 AM ^
is there anyone else on the coaching staff that has experience as a play caller?
November 17th, 2013 at 9:11 AM ^
Guy has been asleep at the wheel for a decade now, not to mention he sucked as an offensive coordinator before. Would be just as bad as Borges and solve nothing. Jackson is basically a retired guy still on the staff. He's been collecting a huge pension for a decade now.
November 17th, 2013 at 9:25 AM ^
I 100% believe Jackson will retire at the end of the year and exit along with his son. So you won't have to worry about him for too much longer.
November 17th, 2013 at 2:57 PM ^
I've heard otherwise. I suppose that losing out could still have a way of pushing folks in this direction. But in absence of some pressure, everything I've heard suggests he'll be around even beyond Jeremy's graduation.
November 16th, 2013 at 11:50 PM ^
What koolaid have you been drinking?
November 17th, 2013 at 12:07 AM ^
I was at the Northwestern game and the atmosphere at the end of the game through the overtimes was insane. As I said I am not sold on the offensive staff but I thought there may have been some real improvement on that side of the ball.
Guess we'll see how the rest of this season turns out. First let's take on Iowa next week.
November 17th, 2013 at 3:57 AM ^
So, you're easily pleased I take it?
If your girlfriend cheats on you and then she takes you to dinner and says she loves you are all sins forgiven?
November 17th, 2013 at 10:05 AM ^
I guess everyone should apologize in advance if they have an opinion that differs from yours.
November 17th, 2013 at 9:28 AM ^
You did see we scored 9 points in regulation right? You did see we got a FG after they handed us a 7 yard punt right? You did notice that we did a corner pass to a 5'7 WR in the end zone and not the 6'4 guy right. You must of been in the wind and missed all that. Our O stinks.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:40 PM ^
The atmosphere was "insane"? In my corner of Ryan Field, it was more like "open disdain" mixed with "what the hell just happened?" Everyone was pretty much in tune to how pathetic the whole thing was.
November 16th, 2013 at 11:52 PM ^
Still great at home, we have a ton of great offensive weapons, a good defense, and OSU does tend to let up a ton of points to iffy teams (Cal 34, NW 30, Iowa 24, Illinois 35) so we've got a chance.
Part of me fears that we win and Al Borges confounds us for another 5 years but I think it might be worth beating an undefeated OSU
November 16th, 2013 at 11:58 PM ^
It's true that perception of a team can change in just one or two games. In 2011 it was the Illinois game. So we'll see.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:05 AM ^
I think winning either of the last two games would be unlikely. I'll be happy if they do it, but I won't be distraught if they don't. The team has too much inconsistency.
It's all gravy from this point on for me. They lost two games I think they could reasonably have won. But winning against Iowa or Ohio State would be upsets.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:12 AM ^
The USC and Michigan wins today could not be more different.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:15 AM ^
Colorado in the Pac12
November 17th, 2013 at 4:06 AM ^
I say this as a Colorado alum and fan: no way. The depths CU reached last season would be unthinkable for Michigan. CU is 4-6 this year and the fan base (myself included) thinks this is a very positive sign. I shudder to think of UofM reaching that level. I'm thinking Michigan in the Pac12 is more like...wait for it...Arizona.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:23 AM ^
and respect your notion but it's a totally different situation. Our offense, on the whole, once again proved that it hasn't changed. We still run out of obvious run formations and 7, 8, sometimes 9 man boxes. Our single covered 6-5 235 freak & Gallon (great route runner, plays like he is 6-2) go unused in these many cases. Devin (almost rightfully so by now) panics at first sight of penetration but rarely guess up field, rather thinking he can outrun anyone to the edge or just run 10+ yards backward before going down. It took a miracle (and a bad ball spot that was even reviewed) to even get to 9 points. Nine. 3fgs. One, again, a last second miracle. They had a 7 yard punt from their end zone and we did Jack balls with it. Point being, this team is who we are this year. Our best hope, imo, is beating Iowa, getting murdered by osu (mainly because the defense will be on the field all game) and hopefully getting a cake bowl opponent in whatever janky bowl we go to. That would make us 9-4. Under the circumstances, it's not that bad looking to recruits that dint watch the games, lol. Then, we decide on staff and retain or not we have to hope experience on both sides can at least put us in a better overall position even though we lose two NFL OTs. This year? Sorry, man. Last cause as far as suddenly "breaking out".
November 17th, 2013 at 12:33 AM ^
Nobody wanted RRod's spread style offense and wanted a "Michigan Man" to return UM back to three yards and a cloud of dust football. Now that we have it, people still are not happy.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:40 AM ^
We want someone who can win games against decent teams.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:57 AM ^
Then why hire a coach that had more losing seasons than winning?
November 17th, 2013 at 10:07 PM ^
the only thing acceptable is beating osu, which happens to be in the top 10 of college football teams, maybe even top 5 (i doubt this). decent is not the right word for michigans expectations you.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:42 AM ^
I don't think anyone wanted squeaking by against hapless Akron and UConn teams.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:53 AM ^
What did u think was gonna happen when we hired a coach who has zero offensive mindset? Hell, Hoke can't even get the D-Line to get more than 1 or 2 sacks a game typically and he's a Dline coach..
This is year 3, and our Dline is pathetic.. what's gonna change in year 4 and 5?
November 17th, 2013 at 1:20 AM ^
Our DL is not loaded with talent but it's hardly pathetic. We've given up 9 rushing TDs on the year, one of the lowest totals in the country.
November 17th, 2013 at 1:36 AM ^
D is clearly not the problem
November 17th, 2013 at 7:22 AM ^
The defense is what has been keeping Michigan in most games.
November 17th, 2013 at 12:48 AM ^
right now. Two NFL OTs, Bryant/Braden and a guy we were all told could and should have started as a True Freshman led many to think Fitz along with the to HB recruit could get 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Now? We're like a half yard and a cloud of our QB getting sacked.
November 17th, 2013 at 3:32 AM ^
I question whether Schofield is an NFL level T after what I saw today.
November 17th, 2013 at 8:09 AM ^
And lewan, especially Mike, have had disappointing seasons. Schofield should be at guard, I can't believe he'll get drafted.
November 17th, 2013 at 1:03 AM ^
Do you honestly expect the fanbase to be happy with the current state of the program?
November 17th, 2013 at 8:12 AM ^
Will always exist. Plenty of people were critical of Bo too.