Last Time UM scored 30+ in four straight games?
The last UM scored 30 or more points in a game was all the way back to 2000. However, we didn't all 4 of those games. Unfortunately A-Train had to put the ball on the turf late and UM surrendered a 51-54 loss to Northwestern. Last time UM scored 30+ and won all 4 games was 1992 when they went 9-0-3. They actually had 6 straight games of 30+ that year and won all of them.
Oh, my how times are a changing when the offense can have a relatively eh day and still put up 36 points.
September 27th, 2009 at 9:00 PM ^
from the 2002 bowl game vs Florida, then we opened the 03 season with 30+ points in the first 3 games.
Florida 38-30
Central Michigan 45-7
Houston 50-3
Notre Dame 38-0
September 27th, 2009 at 9:02 PM ^
Regardless, that's a pretty scathing indictment of the Carr/DeBord/Malone offense. We had the talent to be averaging 35-40 ppg, but not the coaching mindset.
September 27th, 2009 at 9:11 PM ^
contrary to popular belief it isn't easy to score 30 points every game.
Michigan's had plenty of 3 game stretches where they scored 30, then won the next game with 27 or 28 etc.
http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Michigan.htm
September 27th, 2009 at 9:19 PM ^
True. Just to clarify, this post was not meant as an indictment on Carr, etc... I was joint pointing out that we may be starting to see some changes. As a fan I think the wide open play is fun to watch.
September 27th, 2009 at 9:42 PM ^
I wasn't going so much with the "four games in a row of 30+ points" thing as the fact that we're amazed to be averaging as many points as we currently are. It's not that unusual for a good team to average 35+ per game, especially at this point in the season. It's just that we've come off a coaching regime that seemed to believe that 27-30 points was "enough" and never seemed to envision needing to score more.
Here are our point-per-game averages under Lloyd Carr:
1995: 26.0
1996: 23.1
1997: 26.8
1998: 27.6
1999: 30.2
2000: 33.7
2001: 26.7
2002: 27.8
2003: 35.4
2004: 30.8
2005: 28.8
2006: 29.2
2007: 27.2
I liked Lloyd overall, but offensive strategy was not his strength. As time goes on, we're going to look back at these numbers and be astonished at how inefficient Carr's offenses were.
September 28th, 2009 at 2:49 AM ^
fwiw.
September 28th, 2009 at 3:52 PM ^
And the Big Ten has been a national joke for several years now. Our point of reference should not be Wisconsin or Minnesota.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:50 PM ^
The D1A vs D1A (so ignoring D1AA opponents) is currently 25.5 per team per game. So the B10 number above falls into the expected statistical range of the overall average.
September 27th, 2009 at 9:35 PM ^
Our offense is putting up lots of points (even when we fumble snaps), which is what's going to save us when our defense isn't exactly up to snuff. I think that most of our games this year will be offensive shootouts that come down to the last possession, like ND and Indiana.
September 27th, 2009 at 9:48 PM ^
If we're able to average 30 or more per game through the rest of the schedule that'll be an accomplishment. The season's really just starting.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:04 PM ^
Looks like this is the strategy most Big 12 teams use. Just put up 35-42pts a game and hope your defense can hold off the other team enough to pull off the win.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:43 PM ^
you wouldn't want to do as well as OU or Texas last year? (not that I'm saying we will)
The defense will come along soon enough. Then, we'll resemble an upper-tier SEC team (speed + explosive offense + stingy defense = win).
The defense will come along soon enough. Then, we'll resemble an upper-tier SEC team (speed + explosive offense + stingy defense = win).
September 27th, 2009 at 11:07 PM ^
When your defense allows the other team to complete one-play, eighty-five yard "drives" for TDs, that is one way to get your offense back out on the field. It also puts the offense on notice that it will have to score on the majority of possessions in order to have a chance. Despite our defensive shortcomings, I think we are playing an exciting brand of football, and it is only going to get better.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:08 AM ^
I think what sticks out as significant is that the offense looked far from fluent the last game or two but still scored significant points -- albiet against weaker opponents.
I think our offense will continue to score 30+ most weeks (with some 20+ sprinkled in) this season b/c the offense will continue to improve, Robinson I believe will become more productive (OK, meaning less non-productive plays), more wrinles will be added, and importantly, we will ride Minor/Brown more and more.
While our Defense is giving up 30+ in some games, I have to admit this style of football is so exciting to watch!