Michigan's First Game of the Season as a True Underdog
I was thinking about the game this weekend when I realized that this is the first time this season that Michigan is truly a dog.
I'm pretty sure MSU was a toss up with both teams 5-0, and even though Iowa may have been favored, that game was pretty even going in since it was at the Big House. PSU was about even as well IIRC.
Well this weekend we play the #7 team in the country, fresh off an 83 point explosion and poised to make a run at their first Rose Bowl in over 10 years. Wisconsin is running on all cylinders, and they will not come into Ann Arbor ill-prepared.
Everyone gets up for Michigan. And Wisconsin will not think twice about hanging 40+ points on us in an embarrassing fashion.
So I hope this team plays like is has nothing to lose.
Over the past few years I've learned that a win is a win, no matter how you get it.
And guess what? At the end of the day, a loss is a loss too.
So if there was ever a game to stack the box, bring the heat, and see if our secondary can bump and run...this is it. At least thats my opinion.
I think we should pull out all the stops and see what goes down. Because the worse thing that could happen is that our defense gets lit up, which like, O-K. And the best thing that could happen is that we could finally discover a formula that works on our way to 8+ wins. And right on time too, with OSU coming up the following week.
Wisconsin is going to try to run the ball no matter how many people we put in the box. So lets make them earn every yard they get on the ground. And if they use PA and hit us over the top then so be it. This week, I don't want to die a slow death. This week, I don't want to play bend don't break defense. I want to see what happens when we hit them in the face.
Anyways, thats just the feeling I am getting about this game. And I'm not afraid to admit that a lot of the reason I feel this way is that I don't see us having much of a chance unless we change things up. Its not that I'm a pessimist or don't have faith in our team. I just think Wisky is a really solid team this year that truly deserves to be ranked where they are.
No matter what strategy we go with, however, I'm anxious to see what the boys can do this weekend with no pressure or expectations on their shoulders.
Go Blue!
November 16th, 2010 at 12:25 AM ^
I will share some of the class that is Brett Bielma
After playing at Iowa for four years and beating ISU in each of the four, he went up to Jim Walden, coach of the Cyclones and said to him, "It's been a pleasure kicking your ass for four years." Now, he was right, but that isn't neccesarily classy. My hope is that we somehow field a defense we somehow find ourselves up big then we can go to the card an hopefully its says go for it, whatever "it" may be. I strongly dislike that guy and wouldlove to see him get embarrassed.
November 16th, 2010 at 7:33 AM ^
Everything about Bielma screams MEATHEAD.
November 16th, 2010 at 8:25 AM ^
I have a friend at work who used to be the sports editor at a local Wisconsin paper and wrote for UW's paper when she was a student. Despite being a huge fan, she cannot stand Bret Bielema because "he is all the worst parts of the frat boy stereotype". Apparently he was not a fun guy to cover or have to interact with.
November 16th, 2010 at 12:29 AM ^
to throw the TE screen in the middle of the field, as well as flares to their RB's. Straight up blitzing could be hazardous, but certainly we will need to do a little and hope to win the RPS battles. Mainly, like most of our games, UM will need to outscore Wisconsin which will only happen if Michigan can avoid turnovers and win 3rd down battles.
November 16th, 2010 at 12:35 AM ^
In the next two weeks, GERG is going to have such a great redemption story that it will be made into a TV movie and broad casted on the ABC Family network repeatedly throughout the month of December.
November 16th, 2010 at 12:48 AM ^
If he somehow managed to stop Wisky and O-state, I shall bestow to him the title, Gerg Robinson the White.
Comparisons to the LOTR wizard will become inevitable.
YOU SHALL NOT PASS
November 16th, 2010 at 12:49 AM ^
he's going to be fired and sink in to a depression and start drinking heavily and move to a shack in the woods, but then get asked by the coach of a local football team to come and help out, but only on the condition of no more drinking, and then the coach will get himself ejected from an important game and then GERG has to step up and call a key play for a defensive stop, but the coach wanted GERG to run a 3-3-5, and GERG wasn't paying attention when the 3-3-5 was being explained, so he calls the wrong defensive play (RPS: FAIL) and the other team scores, and the locals chase GERG angrily across the field, and the credits begin to roll while the song, "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor" kicks in, then, yeah, I agree.
November 16th, 2010 at 2:15 AM ^
That is a long sentence.
November 16th, 2010 at 7:27 AM ^
You forgot the pitchforks. "The locals chase him angrily across a field carrying pitchforks....."
November 16th, 2010 at 9:39 AM ^
Excellent, use, of, commas
November 16th, 2010 at 2:40 PM ^
what you wrote! you are a sad clown making a sad statement about Michigan football! you have your opinion and mine in this case is that you suck as a fan right now! that is not a personal attack on you as a human being! that is a personal attack on whay i can evaluate here in the mgoblog arena. The bodies i see hittin the floor this weekend are Wiscy coaches, players, mom's, dad's, sister's and brother's or players and the fandom that is the cheesiest state! Go Blue beat purdue!
Edit: still not sure why when i click reply to a persons post, i see my reply several posts lower! however, this is meant for parkersback.
November 16th, 2010 at 12:46 AM ^
I agree, we need the defense to bring it this week. The increase in gang-tackling is a good sign. Hopefully it continues, the offense stops giving away the ball, and the team gets a win for RR and, most importantly, the seniors.
November 16th, 2010 at 1:00 AM ^
Turnovers will be huge for this game. If Michigan wins it or at least breaks even. I like the chances of pulling the upset. I think the chances of winning goes up quite a bit as well if Michigan avoids penalties especially holds, clippings, and chop blocks, which have killed drives all season.
November 16th, 2010 at 1:07 AM ^
was the primary reason UM beat them in 2008.
November 16th, 2010 at 2:47 PM ^
pretty much anything that happens on the field except for turnovers! if there is one area where we have NOT showed any promise it is in the turnover margin battle! wins and losses, heck even seasons hang in the balance of turnover margins. i know we have yound dudes. seriously though last in the big ten in turnover margin! unacceptable! i scratch my head to think if it is a player problem or lack of coaches preparing the young men of a BIG TEN team to HOLD ON TO THE BALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! somebody please give me some insight as to thier opionion of this horrible trend in our football program! Go Blue beat wiscy!
November 16th, 2010 at 1:14 AM ^
November 16th, 2010 at 2:37 AM ^
Started Yesterday. GET PUMPED!
November 16th, 2010 at 2:59 AM ^
GET PUUUUMPED
November 16th, 2010 at 10:01 AM ^
That is, at a minimum, 675 pounds. He is bench pressing two offensive linemen at the same time.
November 16th, 2010 at 7:21 PM ^
is swagger
November 16th, 2010 at 3:08 AM ^
Nice story, but Michigan was 3.5 point dogs vs. Iowa and @ Notre Dame.
They're only 4.5 point dogs vs. Wisconsin.
Public perception is not reality.
November 16th, 2010 at 5:10 AM ^
This entire thread was silly. It wasnt just vegas lines thats had us as dogs, we were definitely dogs against Iowa according to public perception. There's also a case to be made that we were dogs vs. UConn, @ ND, vs MSU, @ PSU.
November 16th, 2010 at 11:44 AM ^
I was hoping to post this, then had to find out it was by GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAR.
November 16th, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^
Your brother is the man, but you couldn't even commit suicide properly.
Good to hear they have mgoblog in prison.
November 16th, 2010 at 7:02 AM ^
What comes around go's around. Watch out Wisconsin.
November 16th, 2010 at 7:12 AM ^
November 16th, 2010 at 8:06 AM ^
I miss John Stocco
November 16th, 2010 at 8:40 AM ^
Indiana last week, they also struggled against Purdue the week before.
I'm not laying any money on Michigan, but I'm also not worried that Wisconsin is some machine that can only be beaten by perfect execution.
November 16th, 2010 at 9:35 AM ^
They did end up beating purdue by 21 FWIW. I don't think they are unstoppable but you have to be able to cover in man while stacking the box. While Michigan winning this game is the best case scenario for OSU, call me skeptical of your DB's ability to hang all day. No offense.
November 16th, 2010 at 9:05 AM ^
Wisconsin is overrated. And in retrospect, beating them won't feel like such a big deal after all.
November 16th, 2010 at 9:49 AM ^
It will feel like a real big deal if we beat them
November 16th, 2010 at 9:00 AM ^
Let's agree there should be no field goal attempts this week. Anything within field goal range is four down territory. I don't want to see a place kicker unless it's an extra point. We aren't going to win this game by out field goaling them anyway.
November 16th, 2010 at 10:11 AM ^
Go for two every time.
I'm only kind of kidding.
November 16th, 2010 at 9:20 AM ^
They have struggled at times and are capable of having a let down game as well. They may be big up front, but they can be beat. Michigan must execute their offense, and that means better blocking up front, and don't show anything in the first half.
NO ONE HAS CONFIDENCE IN MICHIGAN'S DEFENSE!. So I think a lot of fans are relying on some very good luck this week, me, devine intervention!
Play physical, and the receivers need to be mentally sound, don't get intimidated (Roundtree/Stonum). Do your job and just have fun. You play football, so you shouldn't be affraid to take a hit. Make them pay!
November 16th, 2010 at 3:15 PM ^
Noel Devine transferred to Michigan just for the Wisconsin game? We got this one wrapped up.
November 16th, 2010 at 9:43 AM ^
Tolzien is no Matt McGloin...we're ready
November 16th, 2010 at 9:45 AM ^
If it bleeds, we can kill it.
November 16th, 2010 at 9:57 AM ^
What we need to win, apparently, is "a plan."
November 16th, 2010 at 10:00 AM ^
Both on our players uniforms and the football itself, we will be fine...
November 16th, 2010 at 10:09 AM ^
I don't buy the "win is a win" (or "loss is a loss") thing. If we win this game, it will feel like more than "just a win". We're playing fairly poorly and Wisc is killing it. It would show that we're really getting it together (instead of barely beating bottom-feeders). It would give us 8 wins, a mark that (even with the MSU loss) is a clear statement that we're on the way. It'd be our first win over a bowl eligible team.
Contrast the strength of that potential win with the wins over Illinois and Purdue, where we played poorly and barely eeked out wins over bad teams. Two laters later, they all will be written down as "wins", but when we're all trying to figure out if the team is headed in the right direction, a win isn't always the same as other wins.
November 16th, 2010 at 10:15 AM ^
I love your plan. But I see no evidence that this team, this program, will ever "pull out all the stops". They simply do not do this. I would love to see something different. But I expect more of the same on defense maybe with a bit more agression and teensie bit improvement. The offense will continue to gobble up yards but be the turnover machine it is.
The best news is that Wiscy HAS to be a little full of themselves and may have a bad week of practice. There is our hope.
Gosh. We have become Purdue or Indiana, a program like that. Goodness gracious. We are simply hoping to pull of an upset to define us. <sigh>
November 16th, 2010 at 10:47 AM ^
I'm not convinced wisconsin is some kind of juggernaught. Sure they ran up the score at home on a shattered indiana defense, but look: against purdue the yardage was even 303-303, and they pulled away on the strength picking off a crap QB. They were outgained by Iowa, they barely outgained OSU, and were outgained by 150 by MSU, who kicked their heads in. And they barely eked out a win at home against a meh ASU team. What are we supposed to be impressed by? Ours is not the same defense that MSU ran over a few weeks ago. Here's hoping for some insired D saturday.
November 16th, 2010 at 11:05 AM ^
Uh, Michigan was +4 against Notre Dame
I might need to re-read the rules, but I'm pretty sure we were underdogs that afternoon
November 16th, 2010 at 5:10 PM ^
Also, +5 vs Iowa