Biggest key to beating Sparty?
Besides having Tate healthy, what is the biggest key for beating little brother this week?
I think that throwing some new stuff at them is it. They will be coming into this game very emotional. A few new looks on both sides of the ball would possibly create confusion and degrade their emotional state further. A confused, emotional little brother should be easier to handle.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:28 PM ^
"Usually, the team that scores more points will win the game."
September 27th, 2009 at 12:33 PM ^
Thank you, John Madden.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:41 PM ^
Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they're bigger than everybody else, and that's what makes them the biggest guys on the field.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:19 PM ^
"To get more yards, it's best to move the ball from the line of scrimmage down the field."
September 27th, 2009 at 5:08 PM ^
The key is to not score touchdowns too fast so our kicker won't get tired.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:30 PM ^
We absolutely need to get pressure on Cousins/Nichol. Get in their face early to cause turnovers and bad decisions.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:41 PM ^
What is this "pass rush" you speak of, and where can one find such a thing?
I haven't seen any around these parts for a while.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:53 PM ^
It's basically what Gerg used to keep ND scoreless in the 3rd quarter, and rush throws throughout the second half. Granted, we haven't seen much lately, but we have it at our disposal. Maybe he was saving it up for the tougher part of the schedule? We should be able to get to Cousins if we want.
September 27th, 2009 at 3:02 PM ^
You can find it at Krogers on the side of a milk carton.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:31 PM ^
that we install a countdown clock until Saturday.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:38 PM ^
Let them shoot themselves in the foot a few more times than we shoot ourselves in the foot.
September 27th, 2009 at 3:13 PM ^
Let Sparty be Sparty
September 27th, 2009 at 12:42 PM ^
Stop the run and make Cousins/Nichol beat us. (Just pleese make sure you put a safety over whoever booboo is covering, he doesnt seem right at the moment)
September 27th, 2009 at 12:44 PM ^
QB-Nick Sheridan
RB-Kevin Grady
WR-Cam Gordon, James Rogers, Kelvin Grady
OL-Huyge, Khoury, Bryant Nowicki, Eric Gunderson, Adam Barker
TE-Martell Webb
DL-Graham, Martin, Heineger, Campbell
LB-Ezeh, Kevin Leach, Kenny Demens
CB-Cissoko, Teric Jones
Safety-Thomas Gordon, Floyd Simmons
Can't lose!
September 27th, 2009 at 2:54 PM ^
I thought Floyd Simmons was Booboo's alter ego?
September 27th, 2009 at 12:45 PM ^
Blair White is there offensive glue guy, and they get a lot of mileage out of their tight ends. Given how poorly our LBs have covered in the season, I would attack Michigan with those guys. While we have a wonderful punter in Zoltan, I think that MSU probably boasts the best punter/kicker combo in the conference, so the scale might tip towards Sparty if it comes down to a late FG.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:54 PM ^
Well I think UM boasts a better punter/running back combo, so if the game comes down to a late rushing touchdown, the scale should tip in UM's favor.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:17 PM ^
Would you score that touchdown for a Scooby Snack?
September 27th, 2009 at 12:51 PM ^
They have the #1 pass offense. Our safeties and 2nd corner need to step it up a notch.
LB's need to learn to play their gaps correctly.
TACKLE!
Keep scoring like we have been.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:55 PM ^
Michigan will have to admit that Dantonio owns the state of Michigan first, then the Sparty nooooo"s will get a huge ego and play terrible, thus enabling us to win.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:00 PM ^
Run the ball, hopefully score on 4-5 min drives rather than less than a minute drives. This will keep the D fresh. Hopefully with a rested D, Graham and Roh can get to Nichols and Cousins.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:22 PM ^
While I hear ya that the D needs to stay fresh, ask Indiana, Notre Dame, et al how much TOP matters against Michigan...
September 27th, 2009 at 1:01 PM ^
Get good pressure on the QB and play hard for 60 minutes and 2 seconds.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:32 PM ^
change our name to the "chippewas" for this week.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:45 PM ^
Because we've only beaten them 77.8% of the time this decade when we're called the Wolverines?
September 27th, 2009 at 3:43 PM ^
Yes...but its more fun when they lose to embarassing teams.
/recent history humor fail on me.
//womp womp
September 28th, 2009 at 1:01 PM ^
Or the "badgers". I just can't bring myself to call us the "fighting whalers", er, i mean "fighting irish".
September 27th, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^
Both teams will be in the 30s and I fully expect it to come down to a Sparty needing to make a play and either he will or we'll have a Sparty, No! moment.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^
Proper exchange in the shotgun formation.
We were spoiled by just how good Molk was last year (not sure) and this year. Near perfect snaps, almost 100% of the time.
Yesterday, a lot left to be desired. That quick snap with a defender in the vicinity of the neutral zone isn't a winner if no penalty is called, and we lose 15-20 yards on the snap over the QB's head. Those 3-4 missed snaps killed drives.
That's key. We operate at a high level of offensive efficiency, MSU can't keep up.
(And yeah, the offense is still putting up 36+ pts/game. Unreal!)
September 27th, 2009 at 1:37 PM ^
We need state of Michigan logos on the back of our helmets.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:38 PM ^
Not snapping the football 6 feet over the head of the quarterback should go a long way towards Michigan being successful this weekend.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:57 PM ^
Too soon?
September 27th, 2009 at 2:03 PM ^
just show up. sparties will beat themselves.
September 27th, 2009 at 5:12 PM ^
to those poor Montana State boys.
September 27th, 2009 at 3:22 PM ^
Not get caught up in any taunting/mind games by Sparty and the crowd. They are 1-3, and this is their season. They will go after UM, maybe do the stupid "stomp on the 50 yard line" thing that inferior teams always pull out, and try to get UM off its game. I think if the team just goes out and performs, they will beat State. I know people are pointing out all of these "close losses" by State, but as the saying goes, close only counts in horeshoes, hand grenades, and (surprisingly) curling. It will be a high-scoring game, but MSU has yet to show that killer instinct needed to win those type of games.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:31 PM ^
About that killer instinct.
But maybe it only applies to sucker punching hockey players from MSU.
September 27th, 2009 at 3:42 PM ^
In the Bo-Mo-Llo era, the team who finished the game with more rushing yards won the game 30 out of 32 times. It'll be interesting to see whether that holds true in the RRod-Dantonio era as well.
September 27th, 2009 at 3:48 PM ^
Booboo is key
he must not screw off
September 27th, 2009 at 4:10 PM ^
We should be fine provided our team is not intimidated by the VGI Sparty with laser beams shooting from his eyes they play on the big screen when MSU takes the field. Both classy and intimidating.
September 27th, 2009 at 4:14 PM ^
No "slanting." We seem to "slant" our way out of position more than not. I'm not saying slanting isn't a good technique, but maybe our guys aren't yet to the point where there is quick enough recognition if the slant goes the wrong way. Also, our LB's don't seem to get into the gaps (as one other guy said) to fill the lanes opened up by the slanting. I would like to see a good, basic four-man rush.
Cheat the LOS a bit--they like quick, short passes and over the middle--keep their big receivers in front of the DBs and make tackles, MAKETACKLES GASP.
I think Nichol will start this week, and I think we'll see some option. String it oot. Send Stevie Brown and Kovacs on blitzes a bit more (they seem to work).
Their QB situation is in turmoil. Get to the starter, get them nervous, and Dantonio will get an ithcy triger finger and that will disrupt their rhythm.
Notre Dame commented on UM's team speed--said they couldn't adjust--and they were a step faster than Sparty. I don't think they'll be ready for the team speed UM brings to the table and IMO, that's going to be a big difference.
Offensively--who knows? How is Tate's shoulder? Do you put him in and pray he lives? Will his overall game be hampered?
If Tate is not 100%, but can go, I think we'll see a lot of short passes, screens, and more Koger. More rolloots with dump offs. The downfield blocking by the receivers will have to be excellent again. And I think we will see a lot of Denard unless Tate is really healthy.
And right now, if he is getting good reps in practice, I like it.
We also may see more QB under center in an effort to settle the snap issue, and to try to pound the rock--as Wisconsin did so well against them yesterday.
It depends on how the coaches view the importance of THIS game. Do they go all oot (or ALL IN HAHAHLOLZ) for this win? 1 for 2 in these next two games will be very good IMO--which one is more winnable and which one gets the '07 Wisconsin Treatment?
September 27th, 2009 at 4:25 PM ^
I am going to let RR figure this out for himself and not force him to listen to my take on the matter (MSU).
Go Blue!
September 27th, 2009 at 4:31 PM ^
Why even respond?
September 27th, 2009 at 5:20 PM ^
Rodriguez needs to know that he should do three things to win:
1. Call more touchdown plays on offense. Those are better than the ones that don't result in touchdowns.
2. Call more turnover plays on defense. This will allow the offense to execute more touchdown plays.
3. Call more touchdown plays and more turnover plays than MSU.
That's some coach talk for y'all.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:34 PM ^
The UM playbook, haven't you?
September 27th, 2009 at 4:36 PM ^
2 questions whats wrong with tate and why is michigan game at noon and on the big ten network
September 27th, 2009 at 5:35 PM ^
1) It's been "reported" that Tate will be OK. I guess we'll see.
2) Because of sparty's record. If Michigan was 1-3 the game would be at 3:30 and available to the nation because the network would love to show a game where Michigan is bad for two years in a row. Since it is sparty, they are bad all of the time. Who cares to see that?
We can think of the earlier start time in a positive light: It forces sparty to wish they had won for an additional three and a half hours over the next year.
September 27th, 2009 at 5:44 PM ^
that the network cares what our record is. If anything, they'd rather see Michigan be good.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:26 PM ^
The idea that the networks would "love" to show a bad Michigan team to a national audience is not just ridiculous, it's downright paranoid.
The networks are not out to get us. They like it when we're good; our games draw strong ratings (especially when we're good).
September 27th, 2009 at 4:58 PM ^
Biggest key is establishing the run. With Tate possibly hurt, pounding the rock will take less pressure of whoever is in at QB. Wisconsin had a pretty good day running the ball. For whatever reason we went away from the running plays that picked up great yards around the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Then in the 4th we seemed to start it back up again, and voila, success moving the ball. I wish I could say defense is the key to winning, but I've already given up on this D. I see lots of yards, lots of points.