ESPN: We totally underestimated the Michigan Wolverines
ESPN just owned up to totally underestimating Michigan in their "Monday drive through."
The Michigan Wolverines: Speaking of Ohio State, a funny thing happened on our march to the Nov. 21 Game of the Century of this Year, when the Buckeyes welcome Michigan State to town. It turns out the maize and blue team hosting the Spartans on Oct. 17 might be way more improved (way faster) than we expected. That Utah loss keeps looking better and better.
More in the video, including thinking MSU is overrated, and a lot of discussion on Michigan. They definitely don't think MSU is any kind of lock to make the NC playoffs. With their weak win against Western Michigan, their unimpressive win against Oregon, and a blah win against Central Michigan, only pulling away at the end of the game.
They also note that MSU is not favored against Michigan, and think that Michigan is for real. Commentators mention that Utah game was a tough game, and they've improved a lot since then.
September 28th, 2015 at 1:44 PM ^
The catch is - how much is NU going to score agains the defense? NU hasn't exactly been scoring much: 16 against Stanford, 41 against Eastern Illinois, 19 against Duke and 24 against Ball St. They're not even averaging 20 pts/game against FCS schools.
As long as the offense doesn't set NU up with good field position, do you see NU even getting to double digits with points? The X factor this year will be the offense. Against most of the remaining teams on the schedule if the offense can score 20+ pts, it should be a W.
September 28th, 2015 at 2:55 PM ^
I can see a shut out if NU doesn't figure it out. It'll be like one of those early 2010s LSU-Bama games where the score is super low but competitive as hell unlike the M00N game.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:48 AM ^
The irony is strong with this post.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 2:14 PM ^
Dantonio and staff are cackling with knowing glee, so they can once again play the, wait for it... "We get no respect card" when Sparty comes calling to Michigan with the alarm on their Frozen clock about to strike.....whatever.
I really don't care what they say, do or how they feel they're being treated in the media. When they come to A2 in a few weeks, they are leaving with a loss. And it will be an all business approach for the Wolverines in the way they go about it in slobberknocker fashion. Are you ready for a WAR?
September 28th, 2015 at 9:23 PM ^
It will be an epic battle, not unlike the final battle scene in LOTR: The Return of the King. The Dark Lord Sauron Dantonio must be defeated!
September 28th, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^
Now is not the time to start patting themselves on the back.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:18 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 1:21 PM ^
I was absolutely giddy reading what BYU said in their postgame. It's what you WANT to hear from an opponent. This is what I have longed for...
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/09/byu_shell_shocked_in_…
"In my opinion, that was the best team we've played up to this point in the season," Mendenhall said. "Not only physically, but execution wise. A credit to their staff for having them prepared the way they were."
"We were dominated in every facet, their defense over our offense -- every guy, every play," BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae said. "That thing was a shell shock from the first snap, right up through the last. I would have liked to have seen more internal leadership in a game like that.
"We were beat from top to bottom, play 1 through, ah, whatever it was."
Asked about Mendenhall's comments about Michigan being the best team BYU has played all season, Anae replied, "I totally agree."
"It wasn't anything different than what we've seen before," BYU receiver Mitch Mathews said. "They played a lot of man and the only thing I can say is that they were disciplined.
"They shocked us, and we weren't ready for it. We deserved that. It's going to be a big learning tool."
Mendenhall credited Michigan's size and physicality with knocking out at least five of his players, including Michael Davis, Micah Hannemann, Harvey Langi, Kyle Johnson and Adam Hine.
"I'm sure I'm missing a few," Mendehall said. "I think they're a very good football team — I can't emphasize that enough. Of the four teams we've faced, they are clearly the best team."
September 28th, 2015 at 12:59 PM ^
But now is a great time to be confident and start thinking of themselves as capable of beating #1 and #2.
September 28th, 2015 at 1:04 PM ^
Jake Rudock feeling more confident is a good thing. I'm not worried about him being overconfident just yet.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^
In other words, they think all the same stuff we're thinking now.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^
When the facts change, then you can change an opinion--the facts have only begun to start changing.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^
I've adjusted expectations up. My mind was blown with 31 - 0 at halftime. With all the Rudock gloom and doom the week before, and wondering if the defense was just beating up on creampuffs, it was hard to know what to expect. It is now clear that the defense is indeed very good. Still have to see how they do against MSU, but I'm encouraged. As regards Rudock, the game against BYU was actually what I expected. I believe Rudock's stats and the score would have been significantly higher except that Harbaugh called off the dogs and hid most things away, saving them for when needed.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^
I wouldn't call MSU's win over Oregon "underwelming." It just doesn't look as impressive as it did two weeks ago.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
To get better week by week feels so damn good. Maryland isn't good but it's a night game on the road that we should dominate. Northwestern will be a good tune up before MSU. Not taking NW lightly but we're just a better team. I absolutely love our dline and secondary.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:36 PM ^
Hoke's teams performed badly on the road. I really want to see if Michigan dominates and destroys Maryland, in their first Big 10 away game this year. If that happens, my expectations will go higher: 9 - 3 at worst, 10 - 2 more likely.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^
Or for Idaho, everything goes wrong. But 80 is still an impressive number. And once things start rolling they can get out of hand. In a way, I think the same thing happened to Oregon. They played Utah close for a quarter and then things started unravelling and Utah could do no worng and Oregon could do very little right.
A quick summary of just the first half of the UNLV game.
UNLV takes opening kickoff to Idaho State 28. Two plays later 7-0.
ISU gets the ball at their 25, three plays later they fumble and UNLV starts at the Idaho State 43.
UNLV goes 3 & out but downs the punt at the ISU 6.
ISU has a decent drive, goes for it on 4&6 from the UNLV 32 and fails.
UNLV goes 4 and out, tries to get a first down on 4th & 1 and fails.
ISU gets the ball back, gets a first down and then, after failing on 3rd&11, tries a 43 yard field which gets blocked and taken back to the ISU 23.
We are midway through the first quarter.
UNLV 4 play 23 yard drive, up 14-0.
ISU gets the ball on their 25 after a touch back and on 2nd an 10 throw an Interception at the ISU 40.
UNLV gets a nice run of 40 yards to go up 21-0.
ISU 3 and out and punts.
UNLV starts at their own 30, and has a 7 play 70 yard drive (with a 45 yard run on a 3rd and 2 that puts them at the goal line. 28-0
ISU goes three and out after starting at their 25 after another touchback and gets their punt blocked.
UNLV starts at the ISU 11, 2 plays later it is 35-0.
ISU gets the ball back has a nice, but quick 8 play 75 yard drive, only taking 1:31 off the clock during which the first quarter ends and at 14:04 in the second quarter it is 35-8.
UNLV drive stalls, punt goes for a touchback. On 3rd and 12, UNLV gets an interception taking this one back to the ISU6. 3 plays 6 yards 42-8
ISU takes the return out to their 31. 3 and out and UNLV starts at their 39.
UNLV goes 61 yards in 6 plays (including 36 yard TD pass) taking a whopping 2:41 off the clock. 49-8
Idaho goes 3 and out and punts to UNLV who has 2:21 in the half. They get down to the ISU 13 on and 8 play drive, and kick a FG to end the half. 52-8
The second half is more of the same, fumbles, interceptions and a pick six. UNLV did have some long drives distance wise, but a lot of their drives were a short field. And most of their scoring drives were a blown assignment or something else that alllowed for a big play.
September 28th, 2015 at 2:05 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 12:48 PM ^
but still flawed. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves.
We will go as far as our defense can carry us. But we will potentially struggle against a complete team that brings both a defense and an offense to the table. I'm not quite ready to assume this is a 1997 caliber defense yet. And while Jake Butt may be as good as Tuman, I don't think Rudock is going to make the same leap Brian Griese made.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^
Don't buy into the hype. Just keep your nose to the grindstone and keep working hard.
September 28th, 2015 at 2:17 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^
MSU has a great Dline much like Utah did, I will be very interested to see how well we can continue to run the ball against them. They will be selling out hard to shutdown the running game I would expect, Rudock will need to bring his A game.
September 28th, 2015 at 1:18 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 12:56 PM ^
It's fair to say Michigan State is overrated at this point but if they do like they've been doing the past couple of years, they will improve as the season goes. But so will we, and that's the variable here. That game is by no means a lock for either of us. I like our chances. Same with Ohio State. No guarantees, either way.
September 28th, 2015 at 1:09 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 28th, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^
And yet, they still had a writer give MSU a vote for #1. Yes. #1.
There isn't a sane person in the world who looks at the MSU stats and thinks they're a top-5 team (or even top-10, but I get it...based on last year, etc. etc.)
http://stats.ncaa.org/team/index/12240?org_id=416.0
| Team Stats - Through games 09/26/2015 | ||
| Stat | Rank | Value |
| Total Offense | 93 | 372.3 |
| Rushing Offense | 80 | 162.8 |
| Passing Offense | 84 | 209.5 |
| Team Passing Efficiency | 34 | 151.52 |
| Scoring Offense | 56 | 33.3 |
| Total Defense | 77 | 395.8 |
| Rushing Defense | 32 | 118.8 |
| Passing Yards Allowed | 107 | 277.0 |
September 28th, 2015 at 3:29 PM ^
Typical media overcorrection. Look, I am thrilled as anyone with the progress and was annoyed as anyone with the 6-6 type projections seen in some quarters and the assertions that "Harbaugh will get this team moving in the right direction, but he needs a couple years because he just doesn't have players right now," like Hoke was as derelict in recruiting as he was in player development. This team always had players, they just needed coaching, and they now have the perfect man for the job. This team is getting better and unilkely to be embarrassed by anyone on the schedule, like it's been the last few seasons. BUT...I do fear the hype train is already started to get out of control. This is a good team. It is not a world beater just yet, and I feel like the pundit class is trying to compensate a bit too much for their earlier pessimism.
September 28th, 2015 at 3:36 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 3:49 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 3:56 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 4:13 PM ^
but after being in Michigan Stadium the last 3 weeks, I can tell you that this team is starting to grow in confidence. They were faster and hit harder last Saturday than they were against Oregon State. If they take of business this coming Saturday night (which means routing Maryland) then IMO, Northwestern doesn't stand a chance to beat us. MSU continues playing the dregs of the B1G (Purdue and Rutgers) and they'll have no idea what they will face in Ann Arbor on October 17th.
Harbaugh's football isn't about hype and bulletin board horseshit. Its about playing the game with "an enthusiasm unknown to mankind". And lucky for us, we get to cheer for the Maize and Blue. I hope everyone remembers how the "experts" said re-building Michigan would take at least 3 years. Yeah - it's only been 4 games, but this team is SO MUCH better than any team we've had since 2006 (including 2011) and with continued coaching this Michigan team will be very difficult to beat. College football is full of surprises - good and bad, but I sure like what I see right now!
Go Blue!
September 28th, 2015 at 4:57 PM ^
we are playing a QB Harbaugh would not have recruited out of HS, but Rudock is cetainly the beneficiary of good coaching. The future is so bright.
September 28th, 2015 at 4:18 PM ^
Here is one Buckeye fan saying Welcome Back Boys. See you in November!!!
September 28th, 2015 at 5:09 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 28th, 2015 at 4:25 PM ^
The Utah loss only looks way better from the perspective that it was a winnable game. Michigan hosed themselves with a pick 6 and the turnovers.
Otherwise, a loss is a loss -- there's no asterisk by that 'L'.
September 28th, 2015 at 4:39 PM ^
i don't want people patting us on the back yet. Gotta take care of business. Still a lot of big games on the schedule.
-Sparty and OSU, tough for obvious reasons
-Minnesota- on the road, at night, gotta get the jug back, they will be pumped
-Northwestern- 4 straight crazy victories over them. Hopefully our luck doesnt run dry
-Penn state- not a great team but should be improved by then. Hostile environment
September 28th, 2015 at 5:26 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 8:10 AM ^
we'll find out how good we are when we play Northwestern, they're not a chump team. That will be telling before the MSU match up.
September 29th, 2015 at 9:22 AM ^
you'd think as a fanbase we'd have grown wary of these September declarations of being back on the basis of one game against a religious school. I mean, I don't want to shit on the parade here but it's not like we've never been here before in the past 8 years.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^