Can we start talking about Western?
August 31st, 2009 at 7:16 PM ^
Does Western write for the freep? I must have missed his article.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:21 PM ^
I PREDICT A MICHIGAN VICTORY WITH A SCORE OF PAIN TO MISERY
August 31st, 2009 at 7:22 PM ^
i honestly would love for Brian to put a 48 hr lockdown on diaries and the message board so that, by wednesday, nothing will have developed he won't have discussed and by then it will be thursday and everyone will be so fired up they will ONLY focus on the game (hopefully)
August 31st, 2009 at 7:30 PM ^
Why did something happen?
August 31st, 2009 at 7:45 PM ^
people are talking about calling Coca Cola and challenging them to remove their support of the freep and going on Amazon to accuse Rosenberg of being a Chavez supporter.
i feel like UM supporter IQ is dropping drastically every minute this story circulates further into the mainstream. pretty soon we're going to wack people with sticks as soon as they say "foot"
August 31st, 2009 at 7:58 PM ^
Now now, you just used an example from international politics to describe a hated member of the media. Methinks fans from Ole Miss would be incapable of doing that. I think our IQ is okay for now.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:02 PM ^
I don't really understand why everybody needs to freak out about this. Just let it go. Nothing you can do about it now except support the team and RR. No need to attack Freep reporters or make ridiculous statements. Just relax and let the season happen.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:26 PM ^
Since you started the thread, why don't you give us your overview of Western.
(if that sounds "dickish", I apologize. I'm actually curious to hear what peoples takes are on the team.)
August 31st, 2009 at 7:29 PM ^
Do you miss Andy Evans?
August 31st, 2009 at 9:28 PM ^
Really?
Interesting...
August 31st, 2009 at 7:29 PM ^
By the by, the weather forecast for Saturday is just what an opening day should be, sunny, high of 77, and 0% chance of rain. It will be a glorious day.
I'm somewhat concerned with their passing ability. Their QB should be damn good. Other than that, don't they have a ton of new starters this year?
August 31st, 2009 at 9:16 PM ^
UM D is going to face a lot of good QBs this year,
Hiller
Clausen
Clark
Lafevour
Juice
Stanzi and pryor will also probably put up good numbers
August 31st, 2009 at 9:18 PM ^
Just FYI, but we won't face CMU this year, so Lafevour is out. Not to disagree with your point though.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:23 PM ^
wonder why I thought that?
for some reason I thought UM played all 3 directionals, huh my mistake
August 31st, 2009 at 10:30 PM ^
Maybe you were looking ahead at the Pizza Pizza Bowl. Very possible.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:19 PM ^
We don't play CMU. In my defense, this was posted at the same time.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:19 PM ^
We don't play CMU in 2009, that would be the other team in Michigan.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:29 PM ^
I don't think it will be that close. 37-17 sounds better
August 31st, 2009 at 8:05 PM ^
I was actually thinking 35-17 yesterday before I heard about the shitstorm. I liked the comments of the players today and their resolute expressions. I think the extra bonding that should happen from RR pointing out the "us against the world" aspect of the freep's cowardly hatchet job will result in two more TD's, so I'm going 49-17.
In other words, UM will come out of the locker room Saturday as fired up as they would be for a rivalry game. This will be a "no mercy" game.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:42 PM ^
Damn. I liked 52-17, but now that sounds too similar to your prediction, so I may have to change it to like 9-2, or something.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:46 PM ^
I was thinking about having two "last chance to look stupid" threads on Friday. One would be score this weekend and one would be end of season record. I'd lock them both right before kick off so no one can edit or add to them.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:05 PM ^
Do it.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:31 PM ^
I'm looking for Minor to run wild and BG to fold someone up.
BTW, this is going to be my prediction for every game this year.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:34 PM ^
They return one of the better QB's we'll face all year, a decent running back, and nothing else. I think they lose 10 guys on defense, and they have one CB over 5'10". We should absolutely run them over.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:40 PM ^
From the looks of it, the D has lost quite a bit from last year. Though they are young, they do have potential(sound familiar?) A safety transfer from Miami should prove to be more than competent. I don't see the offense having too much trouble moving the ball. Scoring should come early and often.
On the other side of the ball, I see it being a bit tougher of a match-up. Our D is new and young. The Broncos offense, aside from the receivers, is experienced. With an upper echelon QB and solid RB core. They may have a chance to hang until late.
Tough to say exactly. With all of the new emotions from the weekend, I would have to give M the win 45-23. IMHE
August 31st, 2009 at 7:43 PM ^
You started the 1st thread to get past 10 posts that didn't have FREEP in the title!
August 31st, 2009 at 8:01 PM ^
WE JUST GO APE SHIT AND TAKE OUT EVERY WESTERN PLAYER IN THE WAY TO THE ENDZONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then do the same to Notre Dame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And EVERYONE ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
National Champions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 31st, 2009 at 8:05 PM ^
Solid analysis. Very in-depth and intuitive. I'm impressed.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:07 PM ^
+1 I lol'd.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
that advised Dior Mathis to "FUCK.SHIT.UP"?
Gotta love the enthusiasm though :).
August 31st, 2009 at 8:03 PM ^
http://westernmichigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=979175
Pretty fluffy article, and my apologies if it has been posted. Seems that QB is going to be the main concern for us, but it's clear the OL is an unknown. If we exploit that early (please GERG, please) I think it'll be more than enough to knock Hiller off his game. Then, if the offense is on, well, fingers crossed.
You can also stop reading that article when you get to the Married to the Game part. And I thought our Rivals writers like fluff.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:08 PM ^
One more thing...looking at the stat lines from last year for Hiller:
Passing:
Att Comp Pct Yds TD Int
522 339 64.9 3,725 36 10
And uh, rushing:
Att Yds Avg TD
38 2 0.1 1
So outside of one obvious QB sneak, the guy isn't exactly Dennis Dixon. Pressure the outside and hope their tackles get tired and force some mistakes. Two seasons ago he had 15 interceptions.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:10 PM ^
Quarterback and shifty running back is the most of our worries.
I attend Western and the defense last year, even with it's "star" FS, was only ok.
Either way, I will be at the game being a fan of both teams? But really, Michigan. Completely.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:13 PM ^
I could be mistaken, but I thought their defense last year was in the top 25% in most statistical categories. While that's not necessarily great, that's really good for a MAC level team. It's what won the game versus Illinois IIRC. I could be totally mistaken though.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:17 PM ^
You are probably right. However, I hadn't been used to watching that style of conference through my childhood. So, I thought it was bad in comparison to the Big Ten.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:17 PM ^
Also, I forgot about the whole Illinois thing. That was funny.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:37 PM ^
I was too lazy to check their defensive standings against the rest of the nation but I got this data from my copy of Phil Steele's 2009 CFB preview mag:
WMU 2008 defensive stats
Points per game: 24.9
Yards per game: 395
Rush ypg: 140
Pass ypg: 255
So, not that great overall and they only have 3 returning starters for 2009 whereas they had 10 for 2008.
Intersting side note: WMU had a VERY good defense in 2006 and IIRC the defensive co-ordinator for that D was...Scott Shafer.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:11 PM ^
I've had the pre-football butterflies for months now and this whole freep fiasco has only made me even more impatient for the season to start! For fuck's sake!
I'm thinkin' it's gonna be a close first half, with M hopefully pulling away in the second.
38-21
August 31st, 2009 at 8:12 PM ^
I'm curious as to how many starters they return on the o-line. If they return few hopefully we can get a decent pass rush to somewhat negate Hiller.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:39 PM ^
According to the info I have in front of me, WMU returns 4 of 5 OL for 2009.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:44 PM ^
I believe one of them is first team MAC by rivals, but I could be wrong. There weren't too many first-teamers on Western other than a LB.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:31 PM ^
Last year Western lost to Neb 47-24,lost to Central Mich 38-28,won vs Temple7-3, got Toledo by 10,Lost to Ball St 45-22 and was hammered by Rice 38-14.
My guess 47-17 Michigan.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:43 PM ^
Would love to Michigan (Graham) get a couple quick sacks to knock the QB off rhythm. If we do that it is should be smooth sailing.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:57 PM ^
defense. None whatsoever. They have lost everyone but 3. Our offense will not be the problem but our defense will be. Tim Hiller is a pro style qb who will find new receivers at will. Our corners and safeties will be tested.
Western 21
UM 35
Mark it down
August 31st, 2009 at 8:54 PM ^
But I think the game will be practically over by the end of the third quarter. We know our guys have been working hard all summer, and with what happened the last couple of days, I'm sure they won't lack focus. I think we score 40+ points if we can put two halfs together. And if we can finally manage to make an opposing defense tired, maybe we can expect the likes of Denard, V.Smith, and Roy Roundtree to put on a fourth-quarter show similar to what we witnessed Juice and company do last year in the Big House.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:06 PM ^
42-14 UM. This team is going to be angry, and Minor should have a field day running against WMU's inexperienced line. Plus, Tate should have decent protection, and UM's receivers are quite a bit better than anything in Western's secondary. As for the D, Hiller is not a running threat, meaning Martin & Co. should be able to clog the middle and let Graham tee off later on in the game.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:18 PM ^
This team is going to be angry so I expect plenty of Minor Rage and I really fear for Hiller's safety with Graham coming at him. I think the final score will be 38-14 Michigan.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:22 PM ^
Lot's of bold predictions. I say 28-24 Michigan. Maybe 35-28. It'll be by 10 or less.
August 31st, 2009 at 10:03 PM ^
A good chunk of people have dropped the MINOR RAGE here. What makes everyone believe he'll come out swinging fresh of an injury/ break.