MGo-Optimism: Team 134 Expectations...are yours still the same?
I know our team has looked shaky at best during the first third of the season, but for some reason the last month has felt like we’re on one of those 2008-2010 losing streaks. What if this is the low point of our season? Maybe I’m the only one that thinks about this, but if so, then what exactly does us passing our low point mean? Does it mean we only lose 1 or 2 games the rest of the way? Does it mean we win the Big Ten, but will our early struggles discredit any damage we do inside of our conference? How about if we find ourselves in the National Championship picture? I still think it’s possible. We have players at every position but for some reason it just hasn’t clicked. What if it’s about to click starting in a few hours? Just question for the board…what are your realistic expectations after the first third?
October 5th, 2013 at 9:29 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 9:29 AM ^
I don't know if I should really, ever, "expect" anything from Michigan, other than holding themselves to a standard of integrity and hard work and discipline. Success will follow after that.
Do I think the team is achieveing all of those things at the moment? Mostly, although disciplined football doesn't seem to be locked in just yet for these guys.
October 5th, 2013 at 9:32 AM ^
It's felt like a losing streak?
We're 4-0.
October 5th, 2013 at 9:39 AM ^
But against Akron and UCONN, I've felt more let down and disappointed than any victory that a Michigan team has had in a long time. The way Team 134 has played has been kind of deflating at best. Ohio and other B1G fans have been giving me the business on a daily basis for the past month and rightfully so...
October 5th, 2013 at 9:44 AM ^
A win is a win is a win. Who cares?
October 5th, 2013 at 10:03 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 11:39 AM ^
So, while I agree that we've looked pretty scary (in a bad way) the past 2 games, at the end of the day, a win is, in fact, a win.
October 5th, 2013 at 12:24 PM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 9:59 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 10:49 AM ^
We have great coaches. The players are talented. Patience is a virtue. They will come along maybe even to all our over enthusiastic expectations.
October 5th, 2013 at 9:33 AM ^
championships are won up front, this team needs to improve there or they will lose 3-4 games. You have to control both lines in order to be successful, if we can't start doing this, we aren't winning any titles this season. Be patient man, great times are on the horizon. I think we''ll still win 8-9 games because of the B1G, but unless we improve upfront, we will struggle against Ohio and more than likely State.
October 5th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 9:39 AM ^
Unless our play improves markedly, 8-4 looks more likely to me than 10-2.
October 5th, 2013 at 9:40 AM ^
I dunno. Depends if good Michigan shows up for rest of year or if we're Akron/UConn Michigan again.
I figured 7-0 to start the season. And then finish anywhere from about 8-4 to 11-1. Don't think that's changed but the confidence in that prediction isn't too high right now.
October 5th, 2013 at 9:41 AM ^
all goals are still attainable
I really think if devin can get back to 1 turnover a game we will be at worst a 2 loss team. still think if we get hot we could sneak into the national title talk.
October 6th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^
Nathonal Title talk? This team is barely average in the Big Ten. I honestly thought that the bloggers on here were more intelligent than some of the things that I have been reading. Michigan is unable to control either line of scrimmage. This translates in to an average team or worse.
October 5th, 2013 at 9:43 AM ^
I kind of wish the '11 team did not play so well going 10-2. The defense almost turned on a dime that year, I was expecting only a 7 win season that year. '12 team finish more in line for the talent there. Still the '13 team is just too young to really do any better than 8 wins. I think we have to realize it will take time for the young talented player to gain the necessary experience and for talented depth to be built. In a couple of years we will be fine and we'll be winning 10 or more games per year. I just wish fans were more patient.
The team should improve by the end of the season. I just hope we can beat the teams we should beat and at least play competitively with a chance to beat MSU, NU, PSU and IA on the road and against NE and OSU at home. If we can win 3 of these games we should finish 8-4 but as long as play improves I will be satisfied with 6-6 season, which may end up being our record this season.
October 5th, 2013 at 9:48 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^
I remember when Bo finished 6-6 in '84. There was a rash of injuries but the team played hard. Even against BYU they tried hard and almost won that bowl game against one of the top teams in country. Bo had a great bounce back year in '85. But Bo's teams were loaded.
The 3 wins in '08 was pathetic IMO! If RR would have at least mixed his spread plans with the pro style offense, I think we should have won 3 more games even with a weak OL. The defense had a lot talented players that year. Never want to experience a losing season again.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:53 AM ^
we should have been happy to win those three games, it took a miracle comeback to beat wisconsin (who turned out to be not so great). mixing up the offense wouldnt have done anything except put more pressure on the terrible oline in prostyle sets trying to get push. the only game we should have won was toledo if not for that pick six and the missed field goal to tie at the end. other than that we got STOMPED most of the season.
October 5th, 2013 at 9:52 AM ^
I am going to Zoltan Mesko my puppy if we go 6-6. Just kidding of course...I think...
October 5th, 2013 at 9:44 AM ^
I was thinking 10-2, her reading has me thinking 8-4 since I would still be pretty happy with 9-3.
October 5th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 9:54 AM ^
Not too good a feeling although exciting (agonizing?) at times.
Still, I think 10-2 is reasonable expectation. I trust Hoke and co. to make right adjustments.
October 5th, 2013 at 9:55 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 10:12 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 12:02 PM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 11:11 AM ^
Stay classy.
October 5th, 2013 at 9:59 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 10:00 AM ^
I believe this is still a 9-3 team. I like the talent coming in but experienced offensive and defensive lines take multiple seasons to establish.
I think MSU will be very difficult to beat given their ability to blitz every down. Just like Brian and Craig said on WTKA their secondary will go into man to man coverage and can get away with PI in front of B1G officials in East Lansing.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 6:07 PM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 10:06 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 10:17 AM ^
I think the jury is still out on Borges and Co. It makes me uncomfortable when a guy talks about the past a lot, and how he did things somewhere else, with another quarterback. It just makes me think his best days are behind him. Hopefully I'm wrong.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:07 AM ^
I expect flawless execution of a plan well crafted for victory. This team is not man for man better than the rest of the schedule. We are a better team however than the rest of the schedule.
The spirit of this years team (Lewan and Gordon) and the leaders of 2014 (Gardner and JMFR - not too early please) are going to step up and lead the way. I expect victory - even if that means beating a good team twice.
Please don't ask me about confidence.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:11 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 10:12 AM ^
Even with the less-than-handy wins against Akron and Connecticut, it's hard to argue too much against the likelihood of 9-3 on the season (the typical prediction of the board at the outset, as I recall) without seeing this team in conference play and coming off a bye week in which some changes were made.
I would think that, from a performance evaluation standpoint, we'll have a clearer picture a couple games into conference play how the rest of the year might go - that is to say, marked trouble today and against Penn State next week might be cause for concern.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^
No expectations at this point, but I believe Michgan will win at least a few more of their big games. I mean, they are 1-0 on that level. So it isn't yet time to write off the potential of this team. Penn State will be a good indicator -- win or lose, if they make a lot of mistakes in that game, then it's time to downgrade expectations.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 10:16 AM ^
The team is undefeated. Until such time as that changes, no, my expectations (which are the same as Brady Hoke's) are also unchanged. I'm a realist of course and I've seen how badly this team is capable of playing - and I've also seen how good they're capable of being.
Put another way, I'm not going to dive into this woe-is-us shit and give up on the season just because I'm butthurt about Akron. Fuck that.
October 5th, 2013 at 11:15 AM ^
Making the pre-season guess that we're likely to go 9-3 doesn't mean "giving up on the season" as a fan any more than being skeptical about Jim Cramer means you're giving up on the stock market.
October 5th, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
If one thought we should contend for the Big Ten title before the season, and now decides we cannot, in that case I would consider that giving up on the season.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:23 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 10:24 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^
This season is going to be like watching the basketball tournament.
Just survive and advance.
The bye week might have been good for the team but damn it feels like I've been waiting a month for them to play again.
This feels like the first game of the year all over again.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:50 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 11:10 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 11:16 AM ^
we prolly won't be in the picture, and defiantly shouldn't be. but I think we have potential to pull a "notre dame" where we win a ton of close games and end up undefeated. not saying I expect this, but wouldn't be surprised ethier.