Expectations for the Michigan / Illinois Game

Submitted by michgoblue on

Obviously, the PSU story has been dominating the news reels, and it should - what happened at PSU is horrific in so many ways.  In looking at the MGoBoard, it is obvious that there is significant interest in this story, which is appropriate, given the magnitude.  But, there is not a single board topic on the front page dealing with Michigan.

Like many, I come to this site as a distraction from day to day life, as a place to discuss my favorite topic, Michigan FB.  A few hours ago, I read through the grand jury findings, and I was actually sick to my stomach.  While I am following this story closely, I just need a break from it for a few minutes, and a place to discuss something far lighter - out upcoming game. 

I offer this thread as a place to discuss the game, with the following questions:

1.  What do you WANT to see out of our team against a medium-difficulty B10 team?  (Obviously, points, a win, a shutout, etc., but how about some real expectations).

2.  What do you EXPECT to see out of our team this week? 

My answers to start it off:

1.  I WANT to see Denard complete 60+% of his passes, and to hit at least 1-2 long passes.  I also want to see Denard recognize the defense and scramble for some yards.

2.  I actually expect both of those things to happen, except for the 1-2 long passes.  Maybe we will see 1 jump ball, and if it completes, great.  I also expect to see our defense tackle better.  It seems like the past 2-3 games, our team has gotten away from some of the great fundamentals that we saw during the first week.  I expect that to be the focus in practice this week, and hence, I expect fundamantals to improve on both sides of the ball.

Discuss.

coastal blue

November 9th, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^

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

 

Tater

November 9th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^

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."  

michgoblue

November 9th, 2011 at 3:22 PM ^

THis team has done the 2nd half collapse twice before.

Losing 2 of 3 (with the win against Purdue), we are on the verge of having a deluge of stories about our "third straight 2nd half collapse."  A win against Illinois puts that to bed, as it gives us a win against a decent (not great, but decent) big ten team, and our 8th win, which is about as successful of a season as anyone could expect of a new coach with such a thin roster.

Wisconsin Wolverine

November 9th, 2011 at 3:12 PM ^

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!!!

Don

November 10th, 2011 at 8:53 AM ^

Over the 2007-2010 seasons, Michigan has exactly one road victory over a conference rival that has finished the regular season with a winning record overall. That was Illinois in 2007. Illinois, while playing poorly lately, is still 6-3 so far. Obviously the team this year is far stronger on defense and the ST play is also much better than under RR, but on the road the offense has been sputtering and inconsistent. Denard is turning the ball over at an alarming rate, our running game comes and goes, our OL has some health issues, and our WRs/RBs are not immune to dropping balls they should catch. Until we prove we can beat teams better than bottom-of-the-pack away from Michigan Stadium, picking us to win on the road is based in hope and general support for the team, not on what they've shown they can do. I actually think we've got a better chance to beat Nebraska at home than Illinois on the road.

UofM Die Hard …

November 9th, 2011 at 3:28 PM ^

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!

MadMonkey

November 9th, 2011 at 3:34 PM ^

  • 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.

snowcrash

November 9th, 2011 at 3:36 PM ^

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.

BlueGoM

November 9th, 2011 at 3:50 PM ^

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

 

awarrenp

November 9th, 2011 at 3:54 PM ^

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.

awarrenp

November 9th, 2011 at 3:54 PM ^

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.

Taps

November 9th, 2011 at 3:59 PM ^

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.

ATLalumni

November 9th, 2011 at 4:14 PM ^

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.

markusr2007

November 9th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^

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.

 

EJG

November 9th, 2011 at 4:30 PM ^

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.

EJG

November 9th, 2011 at 4:30 PM ^

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.

backslash321

November 9th, 2011 at 4:34 PM ^

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.

MGoNukeE

November 9th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^

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.

CLord

November 9th, 2011 at 4:57 PM ^

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

thisisme08

November 9th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^

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. 

 

BlueMan80

November 9th, 2011 at 6:18 PM ^

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.

One Inch Woody…

November 9th, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^

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

aiglick

November 9th, 2011 at 10:06 PM ^

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.

Go Blue Beau

November 10th, 2011 at 8:30 AM ^

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.