Ground game is key to success vs MSU
October 12th, 2015 at 7:48 PM ^
Is London out for this game? I don't see them breaking 100 years on us.
October 12th, 2015 at 7:50 PM ^
I sure hope not. That's a long ass time.
October 12th, 2015 at 7:55 PM ^
Most of us will be dead by then.
October 12th, 2015 at 8:00 PM ^
It's amazing what a couple of letters will do to a word and sentence. It took awhile for my eyes to see it (at least not 100 years)...night guys. Time for bed.
October 13th, 2015 at 12:56 AM ^
believe anyone here told you to quit drinking and go to bed...
October 12th, 2015 at 8:16 PM ^
Most? Someone is a vampire on this board.
October 12th, 2015 at 8:31 PM ^
LJ Scott is the best RB on the team even though he's not the starting back
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October 12th, 2015 at 8:57 PM ^
My sparty roommate talks about him a lot and thinks he needs to play more. I don't see them finding a lot of success against Michigan's dline, though.
October 12th, 2015 at 8:58 PM ^
We'll see. If MSU OL are healthy, it'd be an interesting battle against Michigan DL. Conklin is the best of the bunch
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October 12th, 2015 at 9:35 PM ^
I don't see MSU's line being particularly healthy, even if they get their guys back. Conklin and Allen are key members who have been hurt these past couple of weeks.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:43 PM ^
Conklin will supposedly be back but Allen I think got hurt badly in the Rutgers game. Whoever their All-American center is is who got carried off the field last week.
October 13th, 2015 at 8:26 AM ^
Excuses!
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October 12th, 2015 at 9:11 PM ^
He might be better than London, but no RB on their team is frightening if their line isn't full strength. We're gonna shut down their run game. Make them one dimensional, then if Cook still beats you all you can do is tip your cap and then tip their bus
October 12th, 2015 at 7:53 PM ^
I'm definitely worried about Michigan's ability to get the run game going agianst the MSU DL, but I think Harbaugh should do a good job of scheming around that similiar to the game plan around NW's corners.
October 12th, 2015 at 8:24 PM ^
unfortunately its tough to consistently move the chains, string together drives, flip fields and rack up 6s (and some 3s) vs good teams with such heavy reliance on manufacturing yards / big plays / points in that type manner. sure, much of football centers on scheme and execution but if you cant line up and run the ball consistently (and your pass game does not really scare the opponent), better hope your D can stand up and similarly limit the opponent
October 13th, 2015 at 11:04 AM ^
Rudock is due to hit a long one for a TD. It needs to happen, and it needs to happen early to back off the DB and LBs.
Teams have been playing us with all 11 men in the box. We've still been able to move the ball on teams that are not as talented as us, which quite frankly includes NW, but we can't count on that against MSU.
Their DL is still first class. If they get to augment them with all the LBs and DBs in the box, we're going to have a tough time moving the ball.
October 12th, 2015 at 8:36 PM ^
MSU? I thought their d line tired
October 13th, 2015 at 8:36 AM ^
they had some success all game long. Not sure what they finished with, but we'll have some success too. MSU will not crack 100, IMO.
October 13th, 2015 at 9:41 AM ^
Rutgers averaged over 6.6 yards per carry on 26 non sack carries. I have to believe that Michigan's run game is better than Rutgers.
October 13th, 2015 at 10:37 AM ^
That's what I thought I saw too. Really my only concern is Conner Cook getting really hot. He seems to be playing better as are his WRs.
October 13th, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^
If our DL can live in the MSU pocket I don't expect Cook to be as effective as he was against Rutgers. When pressured he is prone to making mistakes, but when all the chips are on the line the guy plays out of his mind.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^
Rutgers was able to hit some deep passes that kept MSU from crowding the LOS. Leonte Carroo was very dangerous.
If we want to run like Rutgers did, we will have to do the same thing.
October 13th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
and find a NFL receiver like Carroo...
October 12th, 2015 at 11:10 PM ^
For the first time in a long time, I am confident that our coaches can correctly identify an opponent's strengths and weaknesses, and our own strengths and weaknesses, and seek to maximize that which is good and minimize that which is bad. In other words...plan.
Under RichRod:
"So what's our gameplan?"
"Run Denard up the middle."
"And what if they can stop him?"
"...what do you mean?"
Under Hoke:
"So what's our gameplan?"
"...what do you mean?"
"You know, how are we going to win?"
"Oh. We're going to go out there and be physical and execute."
"But what are we going to DO?"
"...what do you mean?"
October 12th, 2015 at 11:44 PM ^
Were a much better offense and rushing team than we were against Utah's great DL. MSU's defense is probably not as good at Utahs. Look at what theyve given up to weaker foes. We'll open up the playbook even more to boot.
October 12th, 2015 at 8:01 PM ^
Duh.
Call me crazy, but I'm not concerned about moving the ball on them. There were only two times this year I felt Harbaugh really let us look behind the curtain...first half against BYU and first half against Northwestern. And we moved the ball at will while getting some very easy, open looks for Rudock both times. After those games were out of reach, he totally shut down his own offense. I expect more of the same, and probably with even more creativity, Saturday.
October 12th, 2015 at 8:41 PM ^
I have to agree with "call me crazy" Wichitan Wolverine:" here's why.
Sparty gave up 24 to WMU, 28 to Oregon, 21 to Air Force, 10 to CMU, 21 to Purdue and 24 to Rutgers. I know they are going to play Michigan like it's their Super Bowl, but why does anyone think Michigan can't find a way to at least put up as many points as Air Force or Rutgers?
I think Michigan wins this game 31-7. Sparty's score will come as the result of a trick play that works. The other four they try won't.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:14 PM ^
Like we are on the path to the College Super Bowl. We are not getting out punched this year. BANK IT.
October 12th, 2015 at 7:55 PM ^
How many has the team that won total yards won?
Teams who are ahead are more likely to run the ball, and win. Teams that are behind are more likely to pass the ball, and lose. I wonder if rushing for fewer yards is more the symptom than the cause.
October 12th, 2015 at 8:27 PM ^
In 2004 where we were out gained on the ground, MSU had more total yards. We had more passing yards. If you recall, we were down pretty big in that game. Same goes for 2007. MSU had more total yards and we had more passing yards.
October 12th, 2015 at 7:58 PM ^
The rushing stat in this series goes back much farther than 2000. The winner of the rushing game has won nearly every meeting since Schembechler was hired.
Before Braylonfest, the only other game where that didn't happen was in Lloyd Carr's first year, 1995 where on MSU's final drive, they were forced to attempt a 4th down conversion, we stopped them a yard and half short but the ref moved the chains anyway. Then they went on to score to win 28-25.
Fuck Sparty.
October 12th, 2015 at 7:58 PM ^
Thanks for that. I didn't want to go back that far but it is good to know that is the case in this series. Whether or not people think this is a dumb stat, it is pretty important for this series.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
Having witnessed every Michigan - MSU game since 1982, it's not a dumb stat. And it's not the result of the team that already has the lead running the ball to kill off the clock.
It's cause and effect. The team that can run the ball better wins. The team that can't loses. It's the inherent nature of this series.
Clearly we are not going to win by counting on Rudock to move the ball downfield if our running game can't. And MSU can't rely just on Cook. He will hit some, but he will be under enough pressure that he won't be aboe to hit every pass to sustain drives.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:10 PM ^
Yeah, it's hard to get a good look at that today, because your counterpart who archives MSU's wins on YouTube is an insecure douche like most Sparties. Won't show anything that doesn't portray MSU in the most flattering light possible, not even the opponents' scoring plays. Your team wins in the end, guy, it's OK to show how we got there.
October 13th, 2015 at 10:42 AM ^
So what you're saying is..... Their archives are very short?
October 13th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
And they only go back to 2008.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^
Did they play football before 2008? That's right, they did, just not well.
Ah, who am I kidding. They could say the same about us for the past 8 years. NOT ANYMORE!!!
October 12th, 2015 at 7:56 PM ^
If I were another team I would move my D up on our offense or double dare Rudock to beat me with his arm by doing this. Being able to run enough to stay out of 3rd and longs will be very important.
Also, I'm sure Harbo has something in store for the team that tries this. I can't wait to see sour ass Dantonio at his losing press conference.
October 12th, 2015 at 7:56 PM ^
We will rush the ball. Somehow some way. They will not.
We will win.
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October 12th, 2015 at 8:48 PM ^
Brown Bear, you're normally pretty steady around here and you seem pretty damn confident...
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October 12th, 2015 at 8:51 PM ^
I'm cautiously optimistic. I'm nervous as hell but feel good about this game. It's an odd feeling.
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October 12th, 2015 at 9:05 PM ^
I don't ever get too confident about upcoming games. I try to remain cautious. This feels especially weird because of how I have felt the past few years about the msu game. Last year was exactly what most expected going in.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:59 PM ^
Interestingly, I feel a complete calm about us beating them. I'm excited for the game but I have absolutely NO doubt about the outcome of this game. It doesn't end well for sparty.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:36 PM ^
Your complete calm concerns me.
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October 13th, 2015 at 10:49 AM ^
I had a complete calm before the NW game... And I feel damn near the same right now. This is what I sent to my brother about NW and I'm not too far off with what I feel for this game:
"If the offense gives them points we’ll be in trouble. I don’t really want to say this, but I see us beating them pretty badly. Not like we did to BYU, but not far from it. They’re a lot like us, can’t throw the ball and our DBs can be put on an island and we can load the box and make plays in space. I don’t see them doing much on our defense, but, what do I know? I think our O is good enough to scratch out some points (21-24) and even maybe the D creating some points or short field situations. I think BYUs offense is a worse matchup for us."
I didn't expect the Chesson TD or the fact that the O didn't have to "scratch out some points."
October 13th, 2015 at 8:44 AM ^
Excellent screen name/avatar combo. I feel the same way about this game, just as I did vs. NW. State was over-rated to start the year, and the stubborn ass voters refuse to drop them despite lackluster wins vs. lower level teams. I don't think Sparty is much better than NW, if at all. I'm confident we ROLL Sparty by 20 or more.
October 12th, 2015 at 7:56 PM ^
The team with the most point has won most the time
October 12th, 2015 at 8:16 PM ^
well, most times:
October 12th, 2015 at 7:58 PM ^
The difference was quality QB play that overcame the rushing difference. This year MSU has Cook who is their only hope for winning. Our D's only noticeable weakness is short-intermediate crossing routes. I've seen everyone outside of Lewis get burned on routes like that. the middle is something you give up when you dial up a blitz and if Cook can get the ball out quick enough he may be good enough to pick us apart. I think this game comes down to how well Cook plays vs. how good the coverage will be over the middle. I like our chances, still, but that will be how MSU stays in the game 100%. Go Blue!
October 12th, 2015 at 8:08 PM ^
is EXACTLY what I'm nervous about.
Also, Rudock having a Utah-like day. (unlikely and I'm thrilled with his slow but steady development)
We have not played against a very qood QB with a good D except for Utah.
However, the many things I'm confident about include:
1. being well prepared in all 3 phases of the game.
2. The D playing well (at a minimum)
3. The special teams being an asset, instead of a liability.
4.No One on this team quiting, regardless of circumstance.