MichiganExile

September 28th, 2015 at 3:58 PM ^

Chris Spielman is a pretty good broadcaster, but his hyperbolic love of Michigan right now seems a little premature. The whole "Braden could start for OSU," is particularly crazy. 

Like most Mich-OSU guys I think he may just want that rivalry to mean something again so he's looking for something, anything to indicate Michigan is back. 

Joined: 01/12/2009

MGoPoints: 12384

Brandon_L

September 28th, 2015 at 4:07 PM ^

Same comment as our very own Harbaugh and that was that he would play the game, coach the game and then die. Spiels is a great analyst and is ordinarily spot on. The guy does not say anything just to say it. He has no agenda and you can bet he will be on the phone or face to face with Urban discussing what he sees out of our team. The ironic thing about Spielman is that he lives here in Columbus and he was instrumental in the hiring of Urban and the two of them are close. What this means in my eyes is Spielman is trying to let everyone including the Buckeyes know that Michigan is legit and one week after playing Sparty they have to go to the Big house and face a physical Michigan team. He is right about top 10 "right now".

Joined: 11/23/2009

MGoPoints: 2467

BigBlue02

September 28th, 2015 at 6:40 PM ^

-downplay BYU - check -downplay BYU's quarterback - check -downplay two prior opponents - check You've hit on every point rival fanbases hit on when they say Michigan is all smoke and mirrors. All you would have had to do is predict BYU to dominate Michigan before the game so you look even more ridiculous after the outcome and you'd have all your bases covered.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: -1003

luvmesumblu

September 28th, 2015 at 8:17 PM ^

I honestly thought the game would be close and it would be won late in the 4th quarter by either team so I was surprized at the end score.  I'm so happy that it turned out the way it did because it really shows our potential.  Not sure what you're talking about smoke and mirrors...that's not the case with my post.  The announcers talked about how BYU could be tired and had a tough schedule so that stuck with me.  While Spielman paid us a compliment we really won't be a nationally recognized T10 team unless we win the next 3 games.  

Joined: 10/17/2011

MGoPoints: 110

MaximusBlue

September 28th, 2015 at 4:06 PM ^

We can raise our expectations based on the eye test. This isn't the last several years. We finally have a complete, competent, coaching staff. We're getting better week by week. We should win the next two games and have a big showdown with a #2 ranked sparty. This is the way it's supposed to be. Embrace it!

Joined: 07/31/2012

MGoPoints: 9765

Yo_Blue

September 28th, 2015 at 4:12 PM ^

There are still 29 undefeated teams.  That will dwindle as the cupcake portion of most teams' schedules end and their conference games begin.  Give it a few weeks to settle out.

 

Unbeatens:  Temple, Memphis, Navy, Houston, Clemson, Florida State, NC State, Miami, OK State, TCU, OK, Baylor, Kansas State, W Virginia, Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Toledo, Cal, UCLA, Utah, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, LSU

Joined: 08/24/2010

MGoPoints: 102592

CLord

September 28th, 2015 at 4:11 PM ^

The team concept of "we'll enjoy this today but come tomorrow start thinking about our next opponent" needs to apply to our fanbase as well.  

Several times in the last 8 years we've done nicely to start a season only to be exposed by MSU and Dantonio - a guy who focuses his entire staff on finding ways to counter Michigan.  

That game is going to rough for Rudock.  State is going to store 8 in the box and crash dbs and safeties to make Rudock's life hell, and I'd give even odds he throws a pick six that game the way he's hesitating and the way MSU's D has risen to the occasion against us.

Tired of the 5-0 or 4-1 starts followed by a nose dive starting with the Sparty game, so I for one plan on keeping mum until we see what we see vs State.

Joined: 09/11/2011

MGoPoints: -6341

goblue16

September 28th, 2015 at 4:28 PM ^

But Michigan's strength so far has been running the ball. I've loved Ruddock even after the first game but I'm not so sure he's gonna be able to throw it 40 times a game and expect to win. He's playing good because of the pressure taken off due to the great run game

Joined: 03/28/2010

MGoPoints: 17468

CoverZero

September 28th, 2015 at 4:14 PM ^

If we could replay the first game, there is a good shot that Michigan would beat Utah and would be a top 5 team.

Joined: 08/30/2014

MGoPoints: 14571

GoWings2008

September 28th, 2015 at 4:18 PM ^

IF this...

IF that...

 

We don't have that luxury. The way Utah has played, I think we'd have just a good of a chance to win as we did when we played the game.  Don't forget, they get to improve, too.  And they are proving themselves to be worthy of the high praise they're getting.

Lets just concentrate on conference play, get to msu and osu and throttle them, then the rest of the season will take care of itself along with the post-season.  

Joined: 01/26/2011

MGoPoints: 69675

goblue16

September 28th, 2015 at 4:26 PM ^

Utah looks like a legit playoff contender. Obviously they still have ucla USC Arizona but Oregon was probably the toughest raps game of their season. everyone talks about the sec west but have you looked at the PAC 12 south lately.

Joined: 03/28/2010

MGoPoints: 17468

azian6er

September 28th, 2015 at 4:32 PM ^

To everyone saying "pump the brakes" I agree it is unwise to get a big head after only 3 straight dominant wins - HOWEVER - and a BIG HOWEVER, we certainly DO look the part.

This is not the case of the 11-2 Hoke led team where we all knew we got 11 wins by luck and shouldnt have been in a BCS bowl because we were playing very mediocre football.

This year we actually look good - and we all recognize that we are playing damn good football. Again, it could be that our matchups have been such that we were able to exploit the last three teams - but - I highly doubt that is the case.

We have earned the respect and ranking we have because anyone who knows football knows that we are for real up to this point.  The Oregon-Utah game was the most deciding factor - maybe even more so than UM's drubbing of BYU.

 

Joined: 04/09/2012

MGoPoints: 3749

Doctor Wolverine

September 28th, 2015 at 4:35 PM ^

As others have said, we could get there, but probably not yet. The defense is there, but the offense is still inconsistent. Either way, it is fun to at least hear people mention us among the elite again.

Joined: 08/13/2009

MGoPoints: 3013

MotownGoBlue

September 28th, 2015 at 4:38 PM ^

It's hard to argue that we didn't look like a Top 10 team on Saturday. I think that's the context you have to take it in. The same Chris Spielman said that we basically looked like garbage last season versus Utah, and he was right.

Joined: 08/09/2014

MGoPoints: 25338

MGlobules

September 28th, 2015 at 4:39 PM ^

to bolster team confidence. I could see us busting MSU in the nose, which would be a pleasure. But we also shouldn't be surprised if the team falters against MSU or OSU. Those are tough tough teams and confidence is a huge issue for college players.

It will be such a pleasure just to go into those games knowing we've got a shot.

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 47516

VauntedD

September 28th, 2015 at 4:43 PM ^

Spielman is a fan of great D.  With that said there is plenty to like and lots of depth.  He alos believes that Harbaugh will continue to refine the offense and Rudock will coninue to prove. The Special teams have been great with the exception of the fake punt last week.  When you have all three phases playing well yet improving every week I can see where people are climbing on the wagon. 

Joined: 02/11/2015

MGoPoints: 1729

Hotel Putingrad

September 28th, 2015 at 4:55 PM ^

the biggest difference I see this year is that there's a purpose to the play calling on both sides of the ball. And adjustments based on results of said play calling. The talent was always there. It's just being harnessed now. If we can tear off chunks of yardage in the passing game in the second half of the season, we can beat anyone, anywhere.

Joined: 12/10/2014

MGoPoints: 211874

kehnonymous

September 28th, 2015 at 4:58 PM ^

Man, the MGoStaff is really really really gonna have to step up the University of Michigan coverage to match the depth, breadth of Michigan coverage we see on 11W.

/s, because duh.

Joined: 11/25/2011

MGoPoints: 32979

GustaveFerbert

September 28th, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^

We're on a noon radio show following Urban's press conference. His belief in UM was based on it playing strong defense and having a running offense versus relying on a qb to gain 100 yards a game. He further said that UM will go as far as Jake Rudock takes us. His top teams included MSU, Utah, Stanford, and LSU.

Joined: 12/13/2008

MGoPoints: 4785

LSAClassOf2000

September 28th, 2015 at 5:18 PM ^

The username that posted that tidbit on Eleven Warriors was "Hoody Wayes"? Contrived metathesis is about as unoriginal as it gets, but then consider the source in this case, I suppose. Also, I didn't have the stomach to read the resulting 76 comments. I was afraid actually. 

As for what Spielman said, high praise indeed. I was more in the "we're getting there - maybe not now, but sooner than people think" camp myself, but I think we can graciously accept the compliment for the time being. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130561

McSomething

September 29th, 2015 at 9:29 AM ^

I almost don't know how to handle even keel Buckeyes. Ones that absolutely hate us, yet still respect them team and rivalry. Many of them actually want us to climb out of the cellar and be a heavyweight worth slugging it out with at the end. They want The Game to be a battle of titans. Sparties on the other hand....

Joined: 09/29/2010

MGoPoints: 36836

SFBlue

September 28th, 2015 at 5:44 PM ^

Spielman spent most of Saturday's broadcoast throwing out back-handed compliments and offering excuses to BYU (LOL at his Tom Brady "analysis"). This is just more insincerity. 

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 15699