ESPNs Key Stretch: Michigan

Nothing earth shattering at all in his assesment.  We have had 100+ threads on this subject already this summer. 

My feeling is we will come out of our "key stretch" 2-1.  But like he said I am more interested at this moment in our first 2 games.  Sept 4th is closer than ever!! 

I think 2-1 in that stretch isn't a stretch (ha). I have to think PSU's offense has to suffer with the loss of Clark, and I think we beat State. Iowa, to me, is the most challenging of the three and we could have beat them last year with all the big plays the defense gave up. So 3-0 isn't out of the question. But it's July so nothing is out of the question at this point.

I think it'll be very tough to win 2, but it is possible. If we win 2, we could be looking at a New Year's Day Bowl.

Fuck.  But I guess Ritt has to write something during the last of this dry period

I'm going to go check my mgopoints

I should make my signature "We will not lose to Iowa in 2010" because I say it in half the threads.  Also, it is truth.

in for wins over MSU and PSU. Iowa will be a killer, and truthfully, our chances in that are slim, but NEVER underestimate the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.

Shockingly, PSU could (should?) be the easiest of these three, because the Lions have had a pretty substantial outflow of talent the past few years without as much flowing in, and I think they're finally going to feel it. MSU will be a charged game because, obviously, Michigan is gonna want to end the losing streak, while MSU will probably feel that they can make a huge statement by extending the streak to 3 games. That said, I think we have more than enough talent to do it.

I'm pretty sure we'll lose against Iowa. As for the other two games, I say toss up. I would also lean towards 1-2

3 -0. State's going to be a shootout. But I like our O-line better than their O-line, and our D-backs bettter than their D-backs.  Tate took them to overtime last year, this year I am thinking a win by over a touchdown

Iowa is going to be the toughest of the 3, but last year proved that our offense will cause them a lot of problems. They struggled against mobile QB's and we happen to have a couple of them. They do well in the close grind out games, if we jump ahead and force them to go to the air more, and if linebacker play has improved (I think it will) then I like my chances against what I believe to be an over rated QB.

Penn State should be fun and the atmosphere will be great, but unfortunatelly for them, we will be coming in hot and they will still be in a QB shuffle. Their D will be strong, but not strong enough to stop our potent O that's hit it's stride. We stop their win streak at 2.

I can't wait for this season.

You can't get to 13-0 without going 3-0 in this stretch, so I'll go with 3-0.

Rodriguez's offense backslid in Big Ten play last year

can someone explain this? i suppose he means as the year went on.  there is no way he meant relative to 2008.

I didn't want to start a new thead with rant but just happened on First take

That Bowling Green Buckeye lover (Jay Crawford) just tried to throw UM (assuming C. Woodson) under the bus with the Bush Heisman story. They were debating (Skip and an unknown guy)on First Take and that fuckstick had to bring it up. It was dismissed but it still brought up by that agenda having fucktard. The story was on the SEC and Bush not Michigan. Sorry I had to rant but guess who just made my list.

This is without a doubt the key stretch...it's the stretch that started our downfall last season.

I feel very confident we can take MSU at home this year. I think we're gonna see more improvement from last year to this year than they will.

Our offense proved that we can at least move the football against Iowa's tough defense in the 30-28 game. Iowa had a lot of good fortune last season and I'm not sure if it'll last. I anticipate our pass rush to be better under second year DC Greg Robinson. Look for Van Bergen and Jonas Mouton and company to put the heat on Stanzi and rattle his cage.

PSU is a bit of a mystery at this point cause I don't really know how their QB will perform. It's on the road, too...but we do have two weeks to prepare for it.

If we can get past UConn and ND, we will enter this "key stretch" with a 5-0 record. Even taking one of these three will put us at 6-2 and in position for a very good bowl game. We just can't drop all three again or RR's seat gets a lot warmer.

Anything worst then 3-0 in this stretch is UNACCEPTABLE. We are MICHIGAN! We are BETTER than all 3 of those teams and are corch is better two.

Go BIG BLUE!!!!111!!!!11!!

We have another year of practice on offense.  Our offense is probably going to be pretty scary now, no matter who is in at QB. 

So long as the offense works, the defense will suffice well enough to allow the offense to keep scoring. 

Stretchgate. I am just so numb to the stories and in need of coffee right now, I read it as a terrible pun to start a story.

i am going to say that the key stretch for UM this year is going to be @Penn State, Illinios, @Purdue.  These are three games that an improved Michigan team has a great shot at winning.  They lost all three of these games last year, not closely to PSU, Illinois was close until Roundtree caught from behind-gate and Purdue was close.  Michigan wins 2 of those, they are at 7 wins and a bowl.

This year, PSU will be more on UM's level, and Ill and Purdue will be below.  Michigan NEEDS at least 2 of these 3 to have a bowl season.  if not, we are in the same place next season or worse.  if so, that is progress heading into a big year with a good home schedule.

With the high-octane offense we're going to have this year, I think we lay the revenge smackdown on MSU and destroy them. Iowa's going to be tricky, since they return a very good team, but it's at home. Going to Happy Valley is never easy, but PSU's offense isn't going to be great. If our offense can put together a few good plays, I think we got a shot.

Long story short, beat MSU, split PSU/Iowa.

I agree that it's tough to choose whether the first two games are more key than these three, but ultimately I agree with Rittenberg mainly because of the MSU game. I've had my eye on that game more than any other since last season ended. I think it's critical because it's smack in the middle of the season, we've lost to them twice in a row, and since it's at home that is the one game we just can't afford to lose this season; I feel the season, not to mention Coach Rod's job, could very likely hinge on it. When we win that game, winning against either Iowa or Penn State will be icing. Keep in mind that I believe we will go no worse than 4-1 in our first five, and I also believe we will find a way to beat either Iowa or PSU. Losing to both shouldn't kill the season, but don't think this will happen. Even though I feel Iowa will be a better team (best of these three in the stretch), and I admit I have no idea which of the two UM will beat, if either, I think I'm leaning Iowa. It's at home, we owe them from the close call last year, the crowd and the team will be up for it. Penn State will be fun, and with their QB situation we should have a chance, but even some very good teams (read OSU) have had trouble playing at night in Happy Valley. It will be fun to see how it all plays out.

Its getting pretty bad over there, those lost  UM souls who still fight the good fight and haven't found this place yet. Perhaps we should start some MGoCommunity Service and sends some guy/gals over to ESPN to bring some MgoPain to the masses.

Frankly, I expect UM to win that one.

Their offensive playcalling is terribly conservative, Stanzi is a garbage, and while the defense is good, it can be exposed by spread teams.

Iowa is a solid team, but if you are the athleticallty superior team like UM is, you should win if you don't make mistakes.

Do recall that this Iowa team should have lost to a 1AA team and had problems with Arkansas State. Great they are not.