Expectations for the Michigan / Illinois Game

I want to see mistake free football from denard.

I expect to see at least 2 awful denard turnovers.

Hope for a "W", and pray that we do not get outcoached for the third time in 4 weeks

Maybe nobody is...Anyway, I expect the Illini to be fired up after losing the way they did last year and just b/c it's Michigan.  Illinois has some talent, recent troubles aside.  Michigan needs to get back to forcing turnovers.  As for the offense, more shotgun and read plays please.

I don't think we can expect to see Denard read the defenses any better then he has already this year. To expect a huge change in this game would seem un-realistic.

I want to see more shotgun snaps and get back to using the read option play a bit more. Gives Robinson the chance to see what is going on in front of him and he doesn't need to turn his back to the defense give him a chance to run, hand off, or even pass. That I think is what made us so dangerous last year teams had to defend against three options almost every time. Robsinson scrambling when a play brakes down is not the same thing although he still has the talent to gain yardage it just isn't something that IMO he is as comfortable doing.

I expect them to come out fired up from last weeks loss and coming to show everyone that this is a different team then past years and won't continue down the 2nd half slide.

Followed with 65 points of awesomeness.

I want to see the freshman improve.  Countess, locking up his side of the field.  Ryan making ridiculous football plays while minimizing mistakes.  Morgan bringing up his consistancy.  Beyer making plays.

Also, I want to see the line just simply dominate.  Blocking with aggression and making some lanes.

are some explosive plays from the offense... or, more appropriately, less missed opportunities for big plays.  If I see another pass thrown three feet too far in front of Roundtree, I swear I'm gonna... I'm gonna... GO ON THE LIVE BLOG AND SAY SOMETHING NEGATIVE!!

There.  I said it.

I want Denard to stay in, get in rythm, complete passes, scramble when he has the chance, and not slip when he's running. I want no Gardner until the game is well in hand. I also want to see more designed QB runs for Denard. I want to see Borges play to the team's strengths.

I also want to see the D Line get more of a push. Martin and Van Bergen had a few nice plays against Iowa, but as a whole the D Line struggled. I want to see linebackers keep contain as well. I want them to make their tackles and play well. And I want to see Gordon over Woolfolk. I love Woolfolk but you just have to play the better man.

I am going to the game in lovely Champaign-Urbana and my expectation is that we win.  I don't care how, I don't care by how many, just win baby!

After back to back years of 3-9, 5-7, 7-6 (including bowl game), my expectation is that we win against an Illinois team that we ought to be able to beat based on the performance of each team to date. 

I want to see Denard hit a couple passes deep early, which forces the IL defense to respect the deep routes, which opens up the run game. I want to see creative ways to get Denard out in space from the Duece set instead of just the jet sweep/fake jet sweep. I want to see the defense play well on the perimeter forcing the run game into Martin, who has a huge day.

I expect Denard to struggle with the deep throws still, but manage to throw a successful jump ball or two. I expect IL to stack the box and dare us to run. I expect we will have meh production out of Toussaint, but well enough to move the chains. I expect our defense to get gashed on the edge but come up with good plays here and there get the IL offense behind the chains and keep the score within reach.

I honestly don't know what the outcome will be. I think it'll be an ugly game for both teams and probably IL will have the advantage being at home. Probably one of those games where the team that makes the last big mistake loses.

the friggin WHEEL ROUTE. OMG there it is again I want to die!

• Winds may be an issue for Saturday in Champaign - South Wind at 16 MPH gusts as high as 35 MPH as night falls. I am going to the game an not looking forward to this. I remember in 2004 at Illinois there were win gusts as high as 45 MPH and that affected a Freshman Henne but UM won 30-19 going away. 

win

I would like to see us win.  And while we are winning I'd like to see a scroll at the bottom that looks like this

Nebraska 87 - Penn State 0 4:53 2nd Q

I was dead wrong on what I expected to see vs. Purdue and Iowa.  So because clearly I have the Universe perceived backwards, I officially state:  I expect Illinois to win by a huge margin.  I don't expect us to do well at all.

And yooze guys can thank me after the game for that.

No turnovers from Denard. At least 28 points. A win.

I expect Denard to make a couple of terrible throws, with at least one being picked off, and probably at a very inpportune time (in the red zone).  I also expect to see a bunch of the 2 QB plays, with minimal results.  Those plays, Fitz's incredible TD effort against Purdue aside, just don't work anymore.  It was cool and neat and sort of worked against Minnesota.  It doesn't anymore.

I expect a double digit win on Saturday. I expect this team to respond to last week and prove that they're a good football team that can win on the road and win games they're supposed to win.

I expect them to be focused early and ready for this game and not wait until the 4th quarter.

That is what I expect. Will that happen? Let's hope so.

I can tell you what I don't want to see . . . another triple-overtime game.  I'm too old for that sh-t.

want to see Devin come into the game for a jet sweep or a fake jet sweep to Denard.

Man, I don't know the hell I want to see.  I know that I haven't seen what I want to yet this year, so I don't know what what I want to see looks like.

I want to see the defense continue to improve.  That much I know.

I want them to put Denard in a lot of shotgun and stop putting him in 2 QB sets. I feel like it kills his momentum as the leader on the field. Let him do what he does best

I also hope the defense will continue to play well. Despite losing, I thought they played well against Iowa

I would be interested to see how the offensive gameplan would shape up without the use of the Deuce formation. On defense, contain the option looks and deep balls. Hopefully Scheelhaase and Jenkins don't resurrect their early season connection.

But I expect Michigan to take the ball and run it down their f***in' throat; out of shotgun, out of I-form, out of Ace set.  I know a lot of you want to see shotgun all the time, everytime, but that's not the direction of this team.  Michigan is making progress under center and I expect the emphasis being on hitting Illinois in the mouth.

I do expect to see more shotgun runs designed for Denard, less 2 QB formations (ie, ~0), and a heavy does of Fitz with the QB coming from under center.  Stay ahead of the chains, a lot of simple passes for Denard, especially as he continues to improve going through his progressions.  Hopefully he hits a deep pass when it becomes open.

I'm not even going to try with defense, like I said I haven't watched Illinois play, but that's my fairly uneducated guess for what we can expect from Michigan's offense.

all I wanna see is a win. which is obvious, but Denard could throw 5 ints. and ill be happy if we win 2-0 or 67-66. I want to see a 8th win! go blue!

What I want is for the offense to capitilize on the defense's improvement and win a road game against a pretty good team. 

gimme the W and i won't ask too many questions.

With the probability of a split in the last two games, the Illinois game will probably decide whether the Wolverines get a warm trip to Florida or a less-desirable trip to Texas.  Any victory will do; even one point is enough.  

I expect to see more short passes and runs from the running backs as Borges tries to keep Denard from sustaining more "boo-boos."  

I'd love to see the boys come out & play with some visible anger.  It seems like the team (& the fans) really felt the gut-wrenching pain from the Iowa loss, & it's good that our expectations have been raised to the point where losing a game is extremely hard to accept.

So it would be a big reassurance to see them bring that sense of vengeance & redemption to life on the football field.  I want to believe that Coach Hoke's 'toughness' is a real, physical thing that I can look at & know it exists & see that it's affecting the game.

Smash some people!!!

for the position

I think the guys are going to be super amped this game, at times too amped but I think they will play well. 

Denard needs a confidence booster to start this game and I would like to see some quick throws and easy routes for him.  Get his confidence back then start doing some designed QB draws.  And I agree with the above post, I hope the two QB formation is shown very rarely if at all.

Play smart football.

GO BLUE!

• Al Borges call a relatively "gimmick free" game -- I think we can compete well straight up
• Denard use his speed to beat the perimeter more frequently -- this year he seems to be relying on jukes to get to daylight rather than his elite quickness and speed
• The receivers hold on to accurate, well thrown passes
• Accurate, well-thrown passes
• DB's playing tight.  When Floyd and Countess play a yard away from their man they seem more effective than when they leave the soft 5 yard gap
• Craig Roh.  I would like to hear his name called with frequency.  All of us on this board have been big fans of Craig, please give us a reason to continue
• Desmond and Jake have a big day with fewer mistakes
• Devin come into the game (but only when it is clear a Michigan victory is well at hand)
• Oh, and world peace.

What I'd like to see: the defense play a well-disciplined game and regularly close off outside runs, and the offense avoid turnovers.

What I expect to see: the defense play reasonably well but not great, the offense to continue to struggle against defenses with a pulse and again self-destruct with turnovers, and for us to lose 17-14 or so.

us continue to try and fit a square peg into a round hole.

Yes, Illinois lost to Purdue, who is terrible.  But that was coming off a tough loss to tsio and I think the Illini had a hangover from that game. 

I expect a tough, close game.  I expect Illinois to be very prepared, rested and ready to go against Michigan.  They had a bye week to get ready for Michigan.

I also expect Michigan to score less than half the points we did against them last year, unfortunately.   I expect to see Michigan continue to struggle in the passing game.  The defense will hold for the most part but Illinois will score enough... to win.

Illinois 28 Michigan 21

Like: An easy win that is out of reach by mid 3rd quarter. When a back is getting 4-5 yards an attempt, I'd like to see them keep handing it to him. I'd like to see them let Denard be Denard.
Expect: Another road game against a decent team that is coming off of a bye week. I expect this to look similar to last week. I do expect Michigan to win this one.

Like: An easy win that is out of reach by mid 3rd quarter. When a back is getting 4-5 yards an attempt, I'd like to see them keep handing it to him. I'd like to see them let Denard be Denard.
Expect: Another road game against a decent team that is coming off of a bye week. I expect this to look similar to last week. I do expect Michigan to win this one.

I would like to come out of this game thinking "Alright, who are you mister OC, and what have you done with Al Borges?"

Desmond Morgan and Jake Ryan play mistake free football as things start to "slow down."

Rawls time!

An Odoms TD, dude deserves it.

I expect to see almost an exact replica of the Iowa game.  Major Denard related frustration (inability to throw, refusal to run), but an excellent defensive performance.  If a couple more bounces go our way than theirs, it'll be a close win and everything will feel a lot more comfortable.

I expect to win...This is Michigan for God's sake.

I expect to feel a sudden craving for expensive dutch cheese whenever their quarterback's name appears on the TV screen.

The defense turn in a late 90's UofM defensive performance.  I want the line to dominate, I want at least 4 sacks, along with 2 turnover.  Just utterly crush their offense.

Also, I wouldn't mind seeing Penn State win, but for the players and those being punished by the actions of few.  These kids chose that college for the opportunities it presented them, and they should be some of the best years of their lives.  So i am rooting for them to overcome this adversity, not to mention beating Nebraska will help us.

edit: Just Win

In 2009 Illinois was hanging by a thread, had lost 5 straight games, was 1-6.  There was no reason to expect them to play well, but they stopped Michigan and pulled out a win.

Last year Illinois was 5-3 and then lost to Michigan by a butt hair in OT.

This year Illinois started out the year 6-0 but has been dragging ass for 3 straight games (all losses).

Why do I have this feeling in my gut that Illinois suddenly pulls it all together despite their HC Gadzooky just in time for the Michigan game? They really do have some weapons offensively, though their defense SUCKS!

I mean, isn't that what happened last week to Michigan when playing Iowa? Iowa was a mental case after losing to Minny, but suddenly pull it  all together to beat UM.

What's troubling to me is that instead of trying to score as many points as freaking possible on every damn down, Michigan has been trying to, I don't know, earn "style points" for moving to a manball, NFL offense.  IMO Michigan's coaches have lost sight of the objective, which is score, score and score some more.  There's no victory  with this defense without scoring tons of points.  Mattison has said it over and over that they're not talented enough yet. The defense is better this year, but come on, let's win the game 38-10 using our weapons (Denard, Roundtree, Toussaint, Koger), not 27-24.   There were plays last week where I swear to dog that Borges was channeling Mike Debord.

Just give me more points under Michigan than under Illinois when the clock hits 0:00 and I really won't care how good or bad Denard throws, Borges calls plays, or the defense steps up.

Winning on the road in the BIG is a tall order this year.  So, just want to see us find a way to win.

Just give me more points under Michigan than under Illinois when the clock hits 0:00 and I really won't care how good or bad Denard throws, Borges calls plays, or the defense steps up.

Winning on the road in the BIG is a tall order this year.  So, just want to see us find a way to win.

I'd like to see Borges mind-meld Denard into the days of old when he was so exposive.

Borges run some pass plays that will roll DRob out of the pocket. Illini have some pretty good pass rushers. I also would like to see some tailback ISO plays. I would like to see more curl routes by our recievers. If the Illini go man-to-man in the secondary, I want to throw it deep. Koger should have a good game. I like bacon. Random thoughts.

I want to see our receivers holding on to the ball.

Best chance for a win on Michigan's remaining schedule. Also an opportunity for the defense to build on its adequate-but-not-great game against Iowa while the offense finds consistency against a beatable Illinois team.

Not sure what to expect aside from "win the game." Michigan hasn't shown they can consistently beat a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team. Illinois can fit that description or they can fit the description of a team that lost to Purdue. Assuming the former, this is a big swing game for Michigan; win and suddenly the last 2 home games are more winnable, lose and repeating a 7-5 record would seem likely.

This game is HUGE for Michigan.  Neb and OSU are big for obvious reasons, but this game is extremely important toward assessing UM's climp back up the Big 10 rankings.  Borges has had plenty of time now to figure out plans to make Denard effective.  If he cannot get him to go off an a medium Big 10 D, then my concerns with Borges will carry over into next year.

I expect UM's O to have trouble vs Neb and OSU.  We all expect that.  So Illinois is the last chance our team has to show it's one of the big boys by putting their foot on the throat of a mediocre Big 10 team that is spiraling downward.

This game could very well be a mirror of last week, where Illinois' creative offense scores early, taking Touissant out of the game to a degree as we constantly play catch up, and we end up losing a close one.

Or, perhaps the second half of this year's NW game can reappear and we can torch their D?  God I hope so.

UM 27 Illinois 20

At this point in the season I'm not getting my hopes up anymore:

Offense anemic for 3 quarters before Borges finally starts calling some random ass plays that work, offense gets to within 1 touchdown just to fail with mistakes.

Defense: plays tough as always but simply cannot be put onto the field that much and not let the other team score.  No turnovers again. 

to start fast on both offense and defense and take the crowd out of the game early.  I want the offense to run the ball up and down the field and I don't care how they do it.  I want the offense to hang onto the damn ball and not turn it over.  I want the defense to keep Scheelhaase (sp?) in the backfield and not let him run wild.  I want the defense to get some turnovers and not allow any plays over 15 yards.

I expect Illinois to score on their opening drive.  We just haven't been good the first few defensive series against good opponents.  Jenkins is going to get at least one deep ball.  Only way we prevent that is one helluva pass rush.  I expect Michigan to respond and score on their first drive.  I don't expect, I know Denard will throw at least one to the Illini.  I expect a tight game and pray we don't need to run NASCAR the last 10 minutes to pull it out.  Get ahead, stay ahead.

I just want to see a W for the Maize and Blue!

I said earlier that Illinois would win 34-10, but I'm revising it.

I expect our players to not show any fight in them for 2 quarters. And then at the start of the third, I expect Denard to throw his 4th interception of the game which is run back for a TD. I expect Illinois to show us that we're not out of the basement yet.

Illinois, 45 - 6

As Molk the Man said "it's got to be full out every single play." I do expect that out of this team because no matter what they will give you their best. They represent us well.

Illinois is a clown team this year.  The team should be resilient enough to go into Champaign and come out with a win.

I want to see an eighth win. I want to see our offensive line man up and be the difference this week. Let's stay on blocks better, open some holes, and give Denard all day to throw. You know blitzes are coming all day the rest of the season. I'd love to see us able to do something against it finally. Nice fundamental sure tackling on defense would be awesome too. I'm looking at you J.T.Floyd.