trueblue22

September 10th, 2012 at 4:42 PM ^

I'm not saying that we directly influence the outcome of games. I was just expressing my thought about a lower tier team coming in and everyone chalking this one up as a blow out. Just my opinion nothing more and we have all seen plenty of underdogs take a win this season already. With that said I believe we will see plenty of snaps with our second string playing.

MikeCohodes

September 10th, 2012 at 3:40 PM ^

playing them in 2010 and only winning by 5, and that was when UMASS was still an FCS school before making the jump to FBS.  I'm sure no one on the team is taking UMASS lightly, if anything they're probably getting pumped to go out and prove that what happened 2 years ago was a fluke and they're going to crush UMASS into the ground.  If we don't have 42 points by the half I'll be sad.

Hannibal.

September 10th, 2012 at 4:13 PM ^

Better than this one, because the "new system" thing applied, and also because they improved as those games went along.  A year removed from RichRod and the system change, I don't see mitigating circumstances that hint at an upside for 2012.  I have the same feeling that I had two years ago, that we are either stuck with the upperclassemen who aren't producing, or we have to go to true freshmen who aren't ready yet.  At least this year, the true freshmen are studs though. 

93Grad

September 10th, 2012 at 4:43 PM ^

one of the greatest OL's in college history and then against a team with a funky system that hangs yards and points on everyone.

 

So there are some mitigating circumstances, but like you I am worried about the D and hoping we improve like we did last year or it will be a looooooooooooooong season.

Baldbill

September 10th, 2012 at 2:44 PM ^

I know this should be a walk in the park but I somehow am still feeling gun shy. I won't feel good until Michigan is up by 42pts and it is in the 4th quarter.

 

 

Bo Knows

September 10th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^

I wonder if Gardner gets any QB snaps at all, I wonder if we see 5th yr senior Steve Wilson after Bellomy (we gave him a scholarship for a reason right?)

LSAClassOf2000

September 10th, 2012 at 3:49 PM ^

A little perspective perhaps...

In the 2010 game against UMass, we allowed 222 yards passing and 217 yards rushing.

To date this year, UMass is 30 of 57 on passing for 242 total yards, and their rushing game has managed 81 yards on 60 carries. This is not a good offense by any stretch.

I think we're in good shape going into Saturday. Hopefully, Beyer gets back to 100% soon is ready for ND - Clark and Ojemudia looked good out there after Beyer came out as well (4 tackles each, 2 solo, 2 assisted in both cases).

MichiganStudent

September 10th, 2012 at 3:49 PM ^

This UMass team is probably the worst team Michigan has played since bowling green. I actually think that BGSU team would smoke this UMass team.



Victory is a guarantee and a blow out is more likely than anything resembling a close game.

SemperBlue88

September 10th, 2012 at 4:09 PM ^

I re-watched the 2010 UMass game last night to remind myself what happens when Michigan goes into a game expecting an overmatched opponent to roll over as they enter Michigan Stadium. 

If you don't remember... Denard was coming off of 2 consecutive weeks as the National Player of the Week (UConn & ND). He played well, but we fell behind in the 2nd quarter and came storming back before halftime. We let them hang with us until the last minute of the game. Every team that plays us is going to give their best shot because everyone wants to be the next team to "shock the world" by beating Michigan at home.

At this point, my attitude is just win the game and pray no one gets hurt... then move on to Notre Dame.

 

FreddieMercuryHayes

September 10th, 2012 at 4:18 PM ^

I rewatched the 2011 Minnesota game to remind myself what happens when Michigan goes into a game expecting an overmatched opponent to roll over as they enter Michigan Stadium. 

If you don't remember...we absolutely crushed them in every aspect of the game.  58-0.  Wasn't even close.

How about let's panic about the season if this year's UMass game looks like the 2010 Umass game.  Somehow I expect the 2012 Wolverines are a much stronger team than the 2010 version.

BiSB

September 10th, 2012 at 4:30 PM ^

In that game, Minnesota was at the Michigan 20 and driving to score, but they fumbled and Courtney Avery took it to the house. Without that 14 point swing, Michigan only wins by 44, and therefore wouldn't cover the -45 1/2 point spread of this weekend's game. Which is a loss in Vegas' eyes.

Or something.