Did this game change your expectations for 2014?

I'm not sure. That game may have saved Borges' job, and I don't know how I feel about that yet.

Why the fuck didn't we play to WIN all season long, that is my question? Last second playbook open up to try to save your job, borges? 

 

 

 

Yesterday but unless he goes, I think our ceiling is 8-4.

I'm actually more optimistic today than I was at the end of the 2012 season. The O-line will have more experience and will be motivated to work their butts off in S&C. Green/Smith look like a solid one-two punch and should be better in pass protection. My fears of the OSU/MSU away games will be mollified by their loss of seniors this year.

The only game I'm concerned about is the first game, not sure what will hAPPen.

I still really think Borges has to go (like most people). Something that concerns me is that, even when the team had success on offense this year, it just seemed like nothing came easy. Most plays just felt like a chinese fire drill. Maybe I'm just too pessimistic of the offense, but it just seems like there was usually something that went wrong. I attribute that to the youth, and offensive line issues, so that is my reason for optimism for the future. I think they'll, at the very least, be more consistently competent (without Borges). The future is still bright my friends.

A little. It reminded me that there is a good team in there somewhere that should get better with maturity. I don't know what the hell happened this year, but yesterday showed that it's variable and correctable. Why it took the staff 11 games to play to their team's strengths on offense I will never know, but I hope that lesson is remembered next year, whoever the OC may be.

Our performance yesterday, to me, validated the frustration that a lot of people here have felt this season regarding the OL. Yes, they're very young, but that doesn't explain the historical ineptitude of our offense this year. As yesterday proved, you can cover up a weak OL with a little creativity and faith in your talented playmakers.

Please let this be an enduring lesson. Know thy team, and give your players the best chance to succeed.

The fact that many of you now want to keep Borges blows my mind.  The guy has singehandedly cost M 4 games this year, two last year and two the year before!!!  What are you thinking?

I still think offensive coaching changes need to be made. An elite OC and O line coach could make next year interesting. Without the changes I just predict more excuses about youth, schedule, yada yada. Youth shouldn't be an excuse and there are no "brutal" schedules when you play in the B10.

Just my 2 cents that means nothing.

My takeaway from this game in particular is that a Brady Hoke-coached team is going to give OSU all it can handle.  If there was ever a year for us to get crushed, it was this one.  Just as Dantonio is obsessed with Michigan and will have his team ready for us, Hoke is the same for OSU.  That's good, because we need that kind of focus to beat a guy like Meyer.  We need to make sure we don't become so focused on OSU that we don't bring our A game against other November opponents, though.

I think we might eventually look at this season as similar to 2005 - a year in which every game seemed to be close and we let a bunch get away from us at the end.  That year, besides the five losses, we won two games in overtime (MSU, Iowa), and one on the last play of the game in regulation (PSU), so like this year, it could have been worse or better.  I think we will see a pretty significant improvement next year, although the schedule will make it tough to dramatically improve in the win column.  I see us ending up around 9-3 with the losses coming in tough road games.  (We need to get over this home/road disparity thing - that's the most alarming trend under Hoke thus far.)

I'm holding tight with 8-4 next year. Will be shocked if they boot Borges this year.  My only gripe is I wish the athletic department (or the responsible authority) would spring for a full-time QB coach.  I think it would do wonders for the development of Gardner and the other young QB's.

is about the brutal schedule.  I think 9-3 is realistic, with losses at ND, at MSU, and at OSU. 

Ohio's defensive game plan was atrocious.

It was shocking that Fickell didn't follow the "formula" for crushing our offense - release the hounds!

We really struggled whenever an opponent (even Nebraska!) loaded up the box and dared us to beat it.  

I'm hopeful our line will be improved next year, but we need a better scheme to beat press coverage/loading the box, and Devin needs to make better, quicker decisions (which should happen with experience).

From a talent standpoint, I feel we're adding depth and talent every year.  That didn't translate into wins this year, but I'm cautiously optimistic  next year will be better.

Go Blue!

You are supposed to play well against your main rival at home. And I'm glad hoke and co how to do that at least. But there was just too much ineptitude before that game to change any expectations.

My prediction still stands: after 5 years of Hoke, no B10 championships and only 1 win against Ohio. If we get a new OC, then this could change, but I doubt it.

There were certainly a lot of positives about yesterday, but the fact that people are "happy" about that game tomorrow have really lowered their expectations on this program.

The expectations never change. Win the Big Ten Championship.

I don't think this one game changes any opinions on Borges, especially the ones that count: Hoke an Brandon. If they were going to fire him before The Game, they are still likely to fire him.  He called a nice game, for the most part, but that is about all that changed; he called nice games in 2011 and 2012 as well; just not enough of them.

What does have me excited for next year is how Gardner is finishing the year.  He seems to becoming a leader on this team, and one who has shown he is able to carry this team on his back.  I don't think we realized how inexperienced he was this year, and how much he needed to grow.  I'm excited to see what he can do next year, especially if we have an offensive coordinator who is able and willing to maximize his talents.  Talent-wise, I think he is better than Miller; he just needs a gameplan that takes advantage of it.

Yes.

Yesterday I was at The Game cheering my ass off in Section 14. Their O-Line took over and started really moving our D-Line in the second half. We didn't have enough depth or experience to hold the point of attack. When one of their O-lineman got to our LB, Hyde had 5 yards or more automatically. Hyde is a beast and when he had.clean feet to start he was hard to stop. Ohio is going to have problems in the future because they won't have that power back. All their other backs are speed /spread guys that don't want contact.

Yesterday was the result of the past 7 years really. Our program has been in coaching and player turmoil and we basically lost years during the Rich Rod era. They suffered through one year of Fickell but landed their guy in Meyer as soon as they could. He didn't have to suffer through rebuilding a roster and walked in to having a QB ready for his system. They have depth and experience on their O-Line and we do not. Our O-Line will get better with depth and experience. Deveon Smith and Derrick Green are going to be unbelievably good next year and beyond.

I liked the decision to go for 2 but I wished that we would have used our timeout after they used theirs to make sure we had the play call right and everyone was on the same page.

We lost and I understand that there are no moral victories but I will say this. Hoke has went toe-to-toe with Meyer the past 2 years with an inexperienced and less talented team both time and lost by a combined 7 points. I am not nearly as worried about the future with him but they need to review the entire year on both sides of the ball. Mattison should stay because the D has been more consistent all year and will be good next year. On offense, Funk should go, Borges should unless he signs a contract promising to unleash the offense each game, Jackson might have to retire too.

Overall very proud of the team yesterday ad Go Blue!

Honestly, 90% of our problems this season were ultimately caused by the weak interior O-line. If we had a halfway decent interior line, Borges' job status would not be an issue. If we can get that fixed, then I see 9-4 or 10-3 with wins over OSU and MSU as a realistic possibility, Borges or no Borges.

It showed the potential of the team when playing well, so yes, it did change expectations for me.

Nothing changes.  We'll be 8-4, possibly 7-5.  The defense will be great if there's no big injuries, but the offense loses two of its best players and sputters.  I don't think it's feasible having a great year with the youth we'll have on the offensive side of the ball.  But, if we go 8-4 that's a step up from this season.  Right?

I thought Michigan as a whole had a great chance to compete yesterday only b/c I thought OSU is more flawed than people realized. Thought for the majority of the MSU was the best team in the conference.

 

The O-Line & Defense will be better next year. I think its fair to expect a similar season next year to what MSU did this year considering the state of the B1G.

 

But for the Offense to truly hit it's potential, Borges still has to go. I feel sick just thinking about DG in THIS offense w/o the chemistry he had w/ Gallon.

 

We need an OC that understands our playmakers' strengths and puts them in positions to thrive. Until then, there will still be far too many moments of incompetence.

With a dominating Bowl game no matter who they play. Haven't played two good games in a row all year. That would be a start.

If Borges was just more consistent and called more games as effectively as he did yesterday, this could've easily been a 9-11 win team. But one game shouldn't save his job. His inconsistency is maddening.

If we get rid of Borges and hire an OC who knows how to get the most out of his players EVERY WEEK, not just 3-4 weeks out of the year, then I'd predict a 9 win season, potentially 10. Those road games are going to be rough, though, but the talent will absolutely be there, especially if Mr. Peppers comes into the fold.

All hinges on the trenches. Can we finally form a competent O-Line, and can the D-Line generate consistent pressure? If not, we could be staring at another 7-win season.

victories only real victories. Anything short of having a shot at a BIG title going into the final game is a disappointment. People need to drop the "we are young" excuse and the "just wait till next year" garbage. Bottom line is every team has some new or young players at key positions, whether it is OL, QB, RB, whatever. That will always be the case for Michigan and every other team in the nation. Just win some damn games against opponents in this weak ass conference.

Yes. If they can go toe-to-toe with a top 5 team, they should be a top-5 team. And looking at the schedule, there's really no excuse for not winning 9 games at worst including all seven home games, since they don't play Nebraska, Iowa, or Wisconsin. The trick will be overcoming Hoke's road woes: ND, Rutgers, MSU, Northwestern, OSU are the road games.

I think it changed my expectations. It showed that the young guys on the line are indeed capable of opening holes, and against the #8 (at the time) scoring defense in the nation. If the offense can just be average next year, I think we see a strong record.

My expectations were pretty high all along. This year's team isn't much different than MSU last year, with many close loses. If the team is just 7 points better in every game, they could have 11 wins next year.

I'm more bullish on the schedule too. I think schedules where the toughest 1-2 games are on the road, and the middling team are at home are best. Road trips to PSU and Iowa are always traps. Getting an improved Minny, PSU, and Maryland at home are a big deal.

nope

well, Auburn was 3-9 (0-8) last year and are now 11-1 (7-1) this year and that's in the SEC.

if anything, the game reaffirmed that M will never quit on a season and certianly will produce their best game vs OSU.

the above about Auburn gives me more hope than anything they reasonably could have done yesterday