October 13th, 2013 at 9:46 AM ^
"...and have a coach who is infinitely creative and flexible on offense, unlike ours."
And THAT'S what I fucking hate!! We're the exact opposite! Last night was like I was back watching Lloyd except with much less overall talent! I just do not get it. Why the fuck do you continue to do things that are so utterly predictable and doomed for failure!! We need a major upgrade at OC. Up until this game I was in support of Borges, but this game completely changed my mind. We're the reincarnation of Lloydball in every sense of the word. Terrible, just terrible.
October 13th, 2013 at 8:42 AM ^
Never make predictions within 6 days after a tough loss or big win. It's unreal how fickle sports fans are, and we're certainly no exception.
October 13th, 2013 at 10:56 AM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 9:15 AM ^
Not adjusting my expectations yet. Didn't see a loss here but maybe this is 'Iowa '11' for the team. If M had been well beaten and thoroughly out played, then I'd be worried. But this was a bedshitting. Something that happened once in 32 games under Hoke and probably won't happen again.
IU - W
@MSU - U/D
Neb - W
@NU - U/D
@iowa - W
OSU - L
Tend to think they'll split those 2 tough aways. Just don't know how, yet.
October 13th, 2013 at 9:30 AM ^
8-9 wins. I think we beat Indiana. I think the MSU game is a toss-up, we do have a bye right before it, but until Hoke gets his team ready for a road game and actually wins one, I think we lose. State looks better but still have obvious holes. IF gardner can be turnover free, i think we could steal one from MSU. I think we beat Nebraska, lose to NW, lose to Ohio, and Iowa, really, could we lose to Iowa? I could see a VERY close win.
October 13th, 2013 at 9:55 AM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 11:50 AM ^
Let's not go crazy now... while the offense improved, RR's defenses got worse by leaps and bounds each season.
The road record under Hoke is abysmal, when you consider we haven't beaten a single team on the road that's been better than .500 during the regular season.
October 13th, 2013 at 10:00 AM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 11:27 AM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 10:06 AM ^
I can't be fucked to draw up remotely positive scenarios for this squad anymore. We just got dominated in the trenches by Akron, UConn, and now Frat Boy Walkon U. 27 carries, 27 yards rushing. At this point there is no excuse in the world to justify such dysfunction and fuckery on offense.
Maybe with the way Hoke can recruit, by 2015 we'll execute like teams as such UCF, Indiana and Temple.
Anyway when does hoops season start?
October 13th, 2013 at 11:33 AM ^
If the coaching staff is now in for legitimate criticism—which I think it is—there's no reason that the S&C staff should be immune. We don't appear to have any obvious advantages in strength, speed, or conditioning than any of our opponents, including Akron and UConn. We have guys who are more talented athletically perhaps, but their talents seem to be consistently neutralized—or neutered, if you prefer—by teams with supposedly lesser talent.
October 13th, 2013 at 10:18 AM ^
Denard-like rate, we will be lucky to win ONE game. If Borgess continues to call games like yesterday...and Gardner continues to prove he is color blind, we lose all six.
Either way, at best we win 8 because IU is dreadfull, Sparty is Sparty and Nebraska is led by Pelini. We can't beat Ohio unless their two deep all gets injured between now and then.
It's really sad that we sign all these high 4-star and a couple of 5-star recruits and they are getting turned into 3-stars by members of this staff. It reminds me a lot of the Carr years. The staff would rave about some safety or linebacker only to have them get burned time and time again and the team couldn't tackle anyone or cover a receiver tight.
That crap last night in the last minute of regulation and the entire OT was just stupid. Where did the play for a field goal or run out the clock mentality come from? We were supposed to be better than them, we have 20 more scholarship players than they do! The players can't execute and the coaches can't manage to put them in a position where they can execute. We got beat by a true freshman and a defense that gave up a ton of yards and points to Indiana.
The next 6 weeks will be very scary.
October 13th, 2013 at 10:52 AM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 10:19 AM ^
is that 2011 might be Hoke's apex at Michigan.
My preseason prediction was 9-3. We're closer to going 6-6 than 9-3.
October 13th, 2013 at 1:44 PM ^
See, this is the ridiculous kind of comment people are making to creep further toward the ledge. Not just you, the board in general. We're 5-1 and you say 6-6 is more likely than 9-3? With the games remaining you really see 1-5 more easily than 4-2? (edited for poor math skills)
October 13th, 2013 at 10:54 AM ^
This fanbase couldn't survive another coaching search for at least 5 more years. I wish we had grabbed Cam Cameron when we had the chance though (OC).
October 13th, 2013 at 10:59 AM ^
Loss: NU, MSU & OSU
Win: Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska
October 13th, 2013 at 11:11 AM ^
Now, given data for a 5-1 start, still seems pretty reasonable to say that we expect the above given:
O-line performance
D-line performance
Inability to play well on road
Gardner being our single great offensive talent
Protecting defensive secondary (bend don't break)
The question is whether this team folds after this or comes back and learns from it and both the coaches and the players do better. I don't know which way this goes, and neither do any of you. We can only watch and see. You and I will find out a lot about the coaches on this team based on how they finish this year and how much they know about coaching and motivating and teaching and disciplining and supporting players.
October 13th, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^
We are now a program that scrapes to 8 wins, has tough matchups with the MAC and FCS opponents, and shows no sign of changing that anytime soon.
October 13th, 2013 at 12:04 PM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^
Honestly, 5-1 or 4-2... Staee is a must win if we want to get to the B1G Championship... Yes the B1G Championship is still a possibility... Better beat Indiana and Iowa or we have no business competing for a B1G title... NW doesn't scare too much anymore as they looked terrible against Wisconsin. Hopefully we have a strong showing against Nebraska, and Ohio still looks beatable... We still have some serious issues on the offensive line, but we still have so much talent in Gardner, Fitz, Gallon, Chesson, Dileo, and Funchess. Defense looked encouraging in the second half, but major issues need to be addressed with the secondary.
There is too much talent on offense and defense to count these guys out this early... Now coaching is a different story. Borges and Funk need to get their acts together if we want to get even remotely close to 5-1 and a B1G Championship. Playcalling and turnovers are what will need to change if we want to finish this season strong.
October 13th, 2013 at 11:46 AM ^
Fergodsakes, it's long past time that we should look at another team on the schedule and confidently pronounce that they don't scare anybody. Or have you forgotten the confident pronouncements about how depleted Penn State was?
The Akron and UConn games weren't aberrations. They showed what this Michigan team really is: inexperienced at too many positions, mistake-prone, lacking enough difference-makers on all three units, with a coaching staff that's a bit overrated and strangely unwilling to take advantage of an opponent's weaknesses. All of it together is the classic formula for mediocrity.
October 13th, 2013 at 11:53 AM ^
I can't believe that people are still trying to pencil us in for Indiana like it's a no-brainer win.
October 13th, 2013 at 12:09 PM ^
DG line - If anyone thinks we are going to lose a game then I don't want them on my team. It doesn't always happen, but never prepare for a loss.
Of course, he also said Borges stayed aggressive in this game down the stretch as well. My mind is all over the place.
October 13th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
At this point, I see 7-5, but 6-6 is a distinct possibility. 5-7 and 8-4 much less likely, but possible I guess. 8-4 is the ceiling.
This was not "the plan" when Hoke was hired. Our record the next few seasons, and ultimately Hoke's job (again, in a few years) will depend on how hard he pushes to keep Funk and Borges. I wonder if he even realizes that....
October 13th, 2013 at 1:01 PM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 1:15 PM ^
2-4 without a miracle of Borges being fired, 4-2 with a miracle of Borges being fired.
October 13th, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 2:37 PM ^
That anyone is predicting a win over Indiana. I see one possible win, MAYBE Iowa. The rest are surefire losses.
October 13th, 2013 at 3:27 PM ^
October 14th, 2013 at 8:10 AM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 5:18 PM ^
Win
Loss
Win
Loss
Win
Loss
October 13th, 2013 at 7:15 PM ^
Indiana - Toss up
@MSU - Loss
Nebraska - Toss up (leaning loss)
@Northwestern - Toss up (leaning loss)
@Iowa - Toss up
Ohio State - Loss
So 2-4 or 3-3 the rest of the way is my "optimistic" outlook.
October 13th, 2013 at 9:29 PM ^
prepare for the NFL