It's not the beginning of the end, but it is the end of the beginning
How long have we been hypothesizing, analyzing, and predicting how things would be at the end of five games? A long time...since close to the end of last season sounds reasonable, as we anticipated who we'd lose and who would be left behind. Then the incoming recruiting class, and impact they would have on the '10 team. The spring game altered our perceptions again, the biggest change being that Denard truly had a chance at starting...and then it was on. So how wrong were we? Who out there anticipated just how potent this offense would be? Did anyone seriously consider Denard a heisman trophy candidate, let alone the favorite at this time? For the most part, we got the defense right, although from the moaning and wailing, you'd think it's results were be totally unexpected.
So now I believe it's time to re-evaluate our expectations, now that the beginning of the season has come to a close, and we know something more of ourselves and our opponents. My biggest question is can the defense get better? The guys practice during the week; is it reasonable to expect it to become a good unit by the time the OSU game rolls around, or just marginal improvement? If the defense performs with marginal improvement, I expect 3 - 4 losses as a reasonable expectation, a caveat being that Denard stays healthy. Without Denard, I think we're a solid 4 loss team, possibly more. If the defense gets markedly improved, I can see us....well, I can see us doing REAL well.
So what kind of improvement can we expect to see from the defense from this point of the season onward?
October 3rd, 2010 at 5:38 PM ^
? We are talking about Michigan football here right?
October 4th, 2010 at 1:14 AM ^
I guess the original post was edited. But still, I feel like people here should be less concerned with calling others out for OT and repeat topics. That's the mods job. We're here to discuss UM football, so let's do it.
Thought Denard would be good, but nowhere in my wildest dreams did I see him breaking a new record every week and absolutely dominating the Heisman discussion after 5 games. Same for the defense, except completely opposite.
October 3rd, 2010 at 5:45 PM ^
This is not OT bro. Before the season I had us at 8-4 and that's where I like us to finish. With Denard we could steal a game or two so that's the big upside. People are so quick to jump on the fact that we're young and don't have a lot of depth on the defense, but at this point in the year we should see some individual improvement, to which, I've seen none. I think some of the underclassmen are going to start to grasp things a bit more as the season progresses and more is asked of them. Our defensive coaches have to do a better job of putting our youngsters in better position to make plays. I'm excited going forward at the prospect of a new years day bowl game and so should all of you.
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:40 PM ^
Along with a victory over Indiana, our defense got a lot of away game reps against a very talented QB and reciever group. On top of the experience, there should be a ton of film to teach from... I think our defensive trend line will be on the rise in coming weeks.
October 4th, 2010 at 2:09 AM ^
You and Dahblue have to be the same person. You both make the exact same boring and tired points about our defense and tell us that being young and inexperienced don't matter as much as the defensive coach sucking. Please, just stop.
October 4th, 2010 at 10:48 AM ^
Don't use my name in vain. You made very specific, and false, claims (in another thread) about me which I challenged directly. I even offered you money if you could prove your shit talking. Instead of replying to me there, you talk shit about me here???
One would think you'd have the balls to reply to my challenge, but then I see you talking shit about me, to someone else, in another thread? Is there anything weaker??? I don't care if you had 100,000 points. If a banhammer should ever fall, it should fall upon you.
October 4th, 2010 at 9:53 AM ^
I don't think you are human. I think you are a random cliche generator.
Our defensive coaches have to do a better job of putting our youngsters in better position to make plays.
Noooo!!!!! You're not human!!!! YOU'RE NOT HUUUUUMAAAAAANNNNN!!!!!!!
October 3rd, 2010 at 5:48 PM ^
I guess your right...fixed...
October 3rd, 2010 at 5:50 PM ^
Great Churchill quote after El Alamein.
October 3rd, 2010 at 5:51 PM ^
wtl;dr
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:05 PM ^
I disagree. But here's a condensed version for your sugar-and-possibly-methamphetamine-shortened attention span: Things happened. What will happen next re: football?
Maybe I can make a video you could just watch or something. Better yet, I'll get the OP to text you next time.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:43 PM ^
You, sir, are a doosh.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:51 PM ^
You are closing in on troll territory here buddy.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:37 PM ^
Troll territory is four-down territory when you're from the UP.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:31 PM ^
Uh...
:(
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:10 PM ^
I am holding steadfast on 8-4 like I predicted at the start of the year. The only difference is I now think Michigan will beat Penn St. The defensive back field will get marginally better because they are young and have quite a few guys seeing action for the first time. The errors guys like Gordon (both), Johnson, Avery, Talbott, Floyd, and Christian make are a little easier to stomach because they are young so they are "teachable" moments that are building toward something.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:21 PM ^
this reminds me of '99
UM and MSU are both undefeated and a win is a huge step forward
fortunately this time around it's in A2!
I'm pretty happy with where we're at right now even with the defense struggling
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:07 PM ^
This weekend Denard does what Tom Brady couldn't.
...and the legend continues
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:24 PM ^
For a whole bunch of reasons. There simply isn’t a lot of time to work on fundamentals during the practice week, because they’re focused on the next game plan. Also, they have full contact drills just one day a week (Tuesdays).
Another reason, to put it bluntly, is that the players are what they are. After four years of evidence to the contrary, Obi Ezeh isn’t going to suddenly become a great middle linebacker. Jordan Kovacs isn’t going to suddenly get fast. James Rodgers, a career wide receiver till this year, isn’t going to become a shutdown corner.
Remember too, the chances that individual players mature over the season, is offset by the possibility that key guys get injured. To the extent that players do improve, the opponents are improving too.
What happened to Denard Robinson is a good example. He showed very little improvement during the 2009 season, to the point where many people asked why Rich Rodriguez continued to play him. The big improvement came in the offseason.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:28 PM ^
I upvoted this post even though I really didn't want to. Pretty much what I feel. I just hope we can get 1 of the next 2. If that happens, we are in good shape.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:28 PM ^
i think we go 9-3 with losses to osu, sconsin, and one other heart-breaker
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:31 PM ^
RR has to fill 7 more graves to Pasadena
... And while Richter played the Victors they found someone else inside...
Anybody got Robert "Frost" Ufer's poem handy?
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:35 PM ^
If you are going to quote Winston Churchill after el alamein in 1942, get the quote correct.
<br>
<br>
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:05 PM ^
Churchill is too wordy /s
okay, too out the quote marks, read on!
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:05 PM ^
Churchill is too wordy /s
okay, too out the quote marks, read on!
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:35 PM ^
Before the season started, I didn't see more than 6 wins on the schedule for UM. I didn't think their defense was good enough...okay...that's an understatement. I thought UM was completely screwed on defense. I thought that Tate would start and even though I figured he would improve from last year, I didn't think that would be enough to outscore teams. I also did not think it was possible for a player to mature and improve as much as Denard has from Frosh to Soph.
It appears that I was wrong and am glad to be. The emergence of Denard is something that, I would imagine, has caught everyone by surprise. I know people had predictions of 8 wins or more, but, I don't remember anyone predicting the Denard Robinson Experience. He truly is a special player and we are watching something really amazing happen.
Perhaps my favorite part is that he appears to be a very humble player for his age. No showboating (that I can tell), no grand standing, just making ridiculous plays and celebrating with his teammates. I'm proud to have him representing my alma mater.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:43 PM ^
I agree, after seeing Denard in the spring and all the talk about how he had improved, I knew he would probably be the starter if he could control his passes.
He is the kind of kid Spread coaches dream about. I thought that if he could learn the offense and be able to become a decent passer then he could def put up huge numbers.
I didn't consider the heisman, because I figured the Defense would prevent us from winning a lot of games where Denard would do everything he could to help us win.
I do know this, if he doesn't win the heisman this year, he will win it by the time he is a senior that is for sure.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:53 PM ^
Than Tate to begin with. I remember when Brian cautioned at the beginning of last year that since tate had been coached up his entire life what we saw last year was about as good as he was going to get. Whereas denard was so raw he has grown and passed Tate based on pure athletic ability. The best thing I saw yesterday from denard was on that pass to jr he hung in the pocket and delivered a strike. Tate felt the pressure and would just roll out and improvise. Denard just amazes me and I still think he will become a better player just by fact he can refine his passing ability.
October 4th, 2010 at 2:20 AM ^
Whereas denard was so raw he has grown and passed Tate based on pure athletic ability.
He may have more pure athletic ability, but he also worked his butt off in the offseason to get where he is.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:37 PM ^
It's OT, but...
I can't start a new topic, and I had an interesting question. Could someone please start a new thread on this for me? Please??
Which former Heisman winner does Denard remind you of?
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:43 PM ^
Haha.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:45 PM ^
I'm being serious!
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:28 PM ^
he reminds me of McFarlin. Or something does...
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:47 PM ^
Gee: that's too bad. Even though I would like the threshold moved up, at least posts like this show that the system still works.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:53 PM ^
all due respect...
Can you tell me why that post was not appropriate? I guess I'm not really sure why it was bad to write that...
Thanks for any help!
October 3rd, 2010 at 8:30 PM ^
there is a limit for mgopoints to start threads. you are at -17
edit:-19
edit 2: -60.
wow
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:29 PM ^
We are planning to start a thread called "what troll does Dumb_Penalties remind you the most of" and we don't want yours to be a distraction.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
Your general contributions to the discourse on this thread alone, reflected by people willing to give up points to put you in your place and downvote you, reflect that you have not earned the right to start a thread.
Although your question regarding former Heisman winner is interesting, but, again, starting a thread is a privilege which you have not yet earned. And to answer the question, no one, except perhaps a Tebow-type who is a running and passing threat. And now I am going to light myself on fire for comparing Denard to Tebow. While throwing up in my mouth.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:41 PM ^
Michigan does not allow Timrelle Prybow eye black mascara to be worn by its players.
October 3rd, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
to answer your question, Charlie Ward.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:46 PM ^
I persist in expecting 7-5 (with wins over Illinois and Purdue), while hoping for more. I would really like to win at least one of the next 3 games on our schedule - if we can pick up two of them, it would be a real delight. However, the shitstorm that is our defense makes me sadly doubtful, even though any game where Denard is healthy (knock on wood!!!!!!) is a game in which we have a chance.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:09 PM ^
and then the weekend after that, and then the weekend after that...
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^
Alot of people *cough*-myself included-*cough* thought Denard could (or even would) be a Heisman candidate (especially after seeing the spring game)... Being the far and away favorite, with no one else even close, nearing mid-way through the season is a pleasant surprise though.
I'm still going with 8-4 and "being more surprised by 7-5 than 9-3". I think there's a decent shot in every game on the schedule...
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:22 PM ^
Last year our D played up/down to the level of competition and kept us in most games, even against Iowa and OSU. Nobody in the Big 10 can stop our offense and nobody else's offense really scares me. We'll have more shootouts and probably lose a few games, but the sky is still the limit as far as I'm concerned.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:23 PM ^
I think, contrary to the usual proverb: our offense will keep us in the game. So that even if we're down it's still going to be possible for us to put up points. Doesn't mean we're gonna win the games... but I think we'll play a lot of close games.
The next 2-3 games really are huge as far as showing what this team's got.
Like others, when I'm feeling optimistic I go with 9-3. Pessimistic: 7-5.
What would 10-2 do to y'all if that actually happened?
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:34 PM ^
I figured our offense would be much more consistent with another year of maturity, but I did not count on Denard's magic powers.
I thought 8-4 was realistic before the season, but Penn State looks less impressive than I expected and though our defense is as advertised, we always have a chance with this offense.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:51 PM ^
9-3 a bridge too far. Not with this defense. After last Saturday, I certainly think we can beat Penn State and Purdue. That would give us 7 wins. Illinois -- 50/50. Scheelhasse is maturing every week, and so is the Illinois D. Iowa? Again, a toss-up. Wisky and Ohio State will be hard for our D to stop.
That leaves MSU. I am seriously dreading this game. I frankly don't think our D can stop them. And their defense is much better than any other we've faced so far this year. Can they stop Denard? Not every time, for sure, but maybe enough times that it counts in their favor.
So, I think I can find 3 more wins on the schedule, 2 almost for sure. But 4 more? I wish I could be more confident.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:48 PM ^
I am predicting 8-4 (Purdue, Illinois, PSU), unless we beat MSU. If we beat MSU, my prediction changes to 10-2... if Wisconsin couldn't hold down MSU, how will they hold us down?
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
I originally was thinking 8-4 and I still think that is very possible but I'm thinking 9-3 is more likely at this point. I also think our best case scenario is 12-0 and I would have never said that going into the season. I just think if we were playing OSU this weekend I would expect a pretty decent game and nobody is better then them on our schedule. It would take a lot of good bounces and great TO margin but we'll see. Thats why they play the game. For now it's great to be 5-0!
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
anyone know if denard could win or even be eligible for the Doak Walker award..he's not a running back, but say he's the nations leading rusher at the end of the season? they should just award him the first denard robinson trophy..