Bringing back another tradition: Winning big on the road
Maryland is currently getting smoked by West Virginia. They present another step for Michigan to take: Re-introducing the comfortable/impressive road win.
Under Brady Hoke, by my count, Michigan only won three or four games on the road in comfortable fashion. In 2011 against Illinois, and arguably against Northwestern, though Michigan was down 10 early in the second half. And in 2012 against Purdue and Minnesota. The sole comfortable road victory under Rodriguez was the bizarre 2008 game at Minnesota. And thanks to an unexpectedly intense 2007, you have to go back to some road pancakes in 2006 to see any other "comfortable" road wins.
That means that we can count the comfortable road wins by Michigan since 2006 on one hand. Some of this has to do with the challenges of playing on the road, low-talent teams fielded by RichRod, blah blah blah. What it comes down to is that Michigan has been a bad road team for years, particularly under Brady Hoke. Even supposedly easy games (UConn, et al) have become heartrending chores.
And a reeling Maryland team gives us a great opportunity to see another box checked in the "things have changed" to-do list. To win championships, Michigan has to play well on the road.
I'm genuinely excited to see it.
EDIT: Note--Brady Hoke's road record was 7-12.
September 26th, 2015 at 5:14 PM ^
YES! This team needs to keep building one step at a time and I think we may be in store for an amazing upset or two.
I will be in College Park cheering for a big victory! GO BLUE, BEAT MARYLAND!
September 26th, 2015 at 5:23 PM ^
I'll be there too, with my son for his first Michigan game.
I have only been to 3 Michigan road games in my entire life, but they were all epic:
- 1986 Jim Harbaugh "Guarantee Game" against Ohio State. Win.
- 1997 "Judgement Day" game against Penn State. Win.
- 1999 Tom Brady come from behind game against Penn State. Win.
With that kind of stellar record, I'm not about to waste my away game mojo on anything less than a Michigan beat down of Maryland for the ages.
September 26th, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 8:42 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 5:56 PM ^
My son and I will be there as well!!!!!
GO BLUE!!!!!
September 26th, 2015 at 6:27 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 7:56 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 5:16 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 5:16 PM ^
Michigan will destroy Maryland without punting once, thus taking away their only weapon
September 26th, 2015 at 5:45 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 6:42 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 5:16 PM ^
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September 27th, 2015 at 8:47 PM ^
I suspect O'Neils style will help a ton. Low line drive punts away from Likely are well within his skill set
September 26th, 2015 at 5:19 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 5:24 PM ^
I think Harbaugh should keep doing exactly what he's doing. Don't waste plays, try to get a lot of people a lot of reps and don't show anything you don't have to. I like to think there are some plays waiting for Sparty and Brutus that we haven't seen out of this team yet.
September 26th, 2015 at 5:28 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 5:35 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 7:59 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 5:50 PM ^
I'm in favor of doing that to more opponents, starting with Maryland.
September 26th, 2015 at 5:27 PM ^
the Terps are demoralized every time they step on the field these days.
As we stand here right now, (with Maryland down 38-0 in the 3Q), Caleb Rowe is 5/21 for 24 yards and 3 picks.
In light of some of the comments here from last week, THAT is what a dumpster fire at QB is.
September 26th, 2015 at 5:21 PM ^
Maryland doesn't look very good at all today. 38-0. Woo-eee.
September 26th, 2015 at 5:37 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 6:13 PM ^
Agreed. I'm still disgusted that they are a Big Ten member. Though Rutgers makes me absolutely sick. I can't wait for November 7th. Hopefully by then, the remainder of Rutgers' team will have been arrested and we can beat them 72-0.
September 26th, 2015 at 7:12 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 5:38 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^
Maryland benched Perry Hills last week for Caleb Rowe.
They just benched Caleb Rowe in this game for Daxx Garman after Rowe's 4th INT.
September 26th, 2015 at 5:46 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 6:08 PM ^
They were not decent last year. They were a smoke and mirrors team that happened to have 1 more conf win in a bunch of toss up games vs similar crap teams like PSU UM rutgers.
When playing real competition they lost by 30-50 last year (Wisc, OSU, MSU). Someone had to win games when MD played UM or UM played PSU or UM played NW. MD just happened to win more of those than other similar teams.
I said coming into the year they will be prob win 5. That looks aggressive. By the way WVA has a very nice offense that would prob be top 3 in the Big 10.
MD doesnt have a QB right now - no good options with rowe acting like this.
September 26th, 2015 at 5:58 PM ^
tell us a lot about the rest of the season. A loss and the rest of the season could be difficult. A win and things could get very, very good.
This team looks like it is getting "it" and making it work on the field. They can continue to improve if they stay hungry and keep listening and I think that they will.
September 26th, 2015 at 6:07 PM ^
But I don't think it's that simple. We dominated and controlled both lines...THAT is what most gives me hope.
I actually had hope after the Utah game because last year we lose by 2 scores and 21+ if we turned the ball over as much as we did.
We belonged on the same field as Utah and after losing, I was encouraged. This was a similar measuring stick and MSU will be the next one. We're legit - not elite (we have an elite defense) - but we're a SOLID football team. I consider a SOLID team to be 9-3/8-4. We've still got to capitalize on more opportunities (open holes, open WRs, complete catches, more tough catches rather than just the 1, etc.) on offense if we want to truly be a 10-2 type "CONTENDER."
IMO we're SOLID, I'd love to see us move into CONTENDER where MSU is currently located (IMO), and ELITE is the final step...that's acquired over time. Even CONTENDER needs more than one year (otherwise 2011 would've signalled we were back).
Now solid teams take care of the games they should win...in one way shape or form. We need to go on the road and win this game comfortably.
September 26th, 2015 at 6:36 PM ^
Now, I'm as anxious as you are to see how Michigan plays at home against Michigan State, but let's not ignore the fact that Northwestern comes to Ann Arbor first and their resume belongs amongst the best in the country right now. Both Duke and Stanford have rebounded from ugly Northwestern games to post impressive wins; it may be that Northwestern, rather than lucking into ugly wins against bad teams, is genuinely good.
At least, their defense is. Our defense is as well. But Northwestern will be a tough game.
September 26th, 2015 at 8:02 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 8:21 PM ^
If this team continues to progress on the same trajectory... we will have a top 5 defense and a top - 25 to 40ish offense. The strides that have have been made with dline and the secondary alone have great so far. Stribling and Clark are really making strides. The games we've won have been on the strength of our running game offensively.
How long did playing press last in in 2014? Durkin has the defense hungry. I have not seen a dominant, complete game from all 3 phases like this in 10+ years, it was a thing of beauty and brought a tear to my eye.
Harbaugh is a real thing and has made a significant change in the way we play (the talent is here) in regard to the team's psyche and execution. The effort and precision in all phases was exceptional today. I agree with you, as usual. Team 136 needs to assert itself on the road to show that it's really a championship contender.
September 26th, 2015 at 6:06 PM ^
JUST DONT KICK TO WILL LIKELY!
September 26th, 2015 at 6:10 PM ^
It definitely would be nice if we could help West Virginia give Maryland have two weeks in a row of games they will not soon forget even if they would love to do so. If we can repeat anything like the BYU performance, it might be a very, very long day for the Terrapins next Saturday and I am OK with it because, yes, a definitely win on the road - against a team that beat you last year - would be nice indeed.
September 26th, 2015 at 6:15 PM ^
Harbaugh's comprehensive approach to working on all aspects of the game, was a thrill to watch unfold. Not surprisingly he also HAS THIS TEAM. I'm sure he will also be addressing the away game performance.
I try not to say this too many times in one day.... I love Mr. Hackett
September 26th, 2015 at 6:23 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 7:38 PM ^
Hell, just take away that last interception and we are 4-0.
September 29th, 2015 at 12:14 AM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 6:38 PM ^
Hell yes. I have become completely scared of road games and losing Utah didn't help, but that was Jim's first game and the team was just getting a feel for what they have. I wasn't that mad after the loss as I was during RR and Hoke's eras because I know there will be improvement simply because of the coaching difference. Now I'm saying, "Bring it on, bitches."
September 26th, 2015 at 6:43 PM ^
We need to obliterate Maryland next week. This team needs to continue to gain moment and confidence. It is certianly great that while winning there were numerous coaching points to keep improving. Special teams Peppers avoided a nightmare by fubling the ball out of bounds while attempint to run to field a punt and the fake punt was a disaster. Often can keep getting better and better with evryone being involved.
September 26th, 2015 at 6:45 PM ^
Speaking of being on the road... any word on Rashan Gary's visit? Was he introduced to Jeter? I saw Jeter on the sidelines with Harbaugh at one point before the game... I just hope he made it up to see Rashan.
September 26th, 2015 at 6:50 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 6:51 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 6:56 PM ^
only one being 1997 Rose Bowl and I do not believe I will need to get on the field to steal some grass and try to get close to the players and away from the massive police officers.
September 26th, 2015 at 7:55 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 8:02 PM ^
Was just talking about this to a friend before seeing this post. Though I think expectations have been adjusted somewhat from where they were before the season, the biggest things I was looking for this year was for Michigan to win the games they should win and for the team to show improvement during the season.
Again, even if we think Michigan has elevated expectations, beating teams like Maryland is a must for this season. It's been years since this team won a comfortable road game as the OP noted, but more notably, it's been even longer since Michigan beat a good team on the road in a significant game. I can't argue this is a good team or a significant game, but it's a team that Michigan should beat in a night environment. Win this game and hopefully that confidence starts to come in some of the games like at Minnesota.
September 26th, 2015 at 8:31 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 8:03 PM ^