Michigan on the Road

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September 6th, 2010 at 4:53 PM
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Dreisbach1817
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Michigan on the Road

This isn't something that people here don't know, but it's worth pointing out again as we look towards ND.

In the Rich Rodriguez era, Michigan has won 1 road game.

While I believe that we are more talented than ND, the road factor is critical.  I think a road win at South Bend would separate this year's optimism from last year.

National pundits right now are ridiculous.  On Friday, Michigan is a 6 win team.  On Monday, Michigan is, according to Todd McShay, a 10 win team.  

So for me, instead of focusing on the big picture, it becomes very simple.....

Win on the Road.

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September 6th, 2010 at 4:57 PM | We are still a young team but much more mature. (Score:1)
UMMAN83
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Joined: 11/26/2009
MGoPoints: 980

The road experiences from last year should help.  We need to pressure their new QB and all will be well.  Go Blue !!!

Go Blue !!!

Dave Brandon: Detailed and thorough investigation proves that Freep report was intentionally misleading.

September 6th, 2010 at 4:59 PM | We havent had the personnel, (Score:1)
TheOracle6
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Joined: 09/02/2010
MGoPoints: 1636

We havent had the personnel, depth, or experience to deserve to win on the road.  This year we do, and we will win several road games this year.

Champions of the west, GO BLUE!

September 6th, 2010 at 5:01 PM | Good point.  But 2 years ago (Score:1)
jtmc33
Joined: 04/15/2009
MGoPoints: 4921

Good point.  But 2 years ago UM was horrible overall, and horrible teams typically don't win on the road (Unless the Brown Jug is on the line and you have Sheridan running your O!)

Last year UM was below average - but still played very tough on the road against a great Iowa team, blew a very winnable Illinois game (against a very bad team - bad example) and blew a win @Purdue.  Those tough road losses will be fuel for the fire for this year's team.  And starting @ND will be a great platform for 2010's team to shed the records and expectations of The Recent Past.

Play with a chip on your shoulders boys, prove 'em wrong....

Class of '97: 4 Years -- 4 Four-loss seasons

September 6th, 2010 at 5:07 PM | purdue 2009 (Score:1)
R Kelly
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Joined: 03/03/2009
MGoPoints: 972

Purdue 2009 was a home game for Michigan.

They did blow the 2008 game at Purdue though.

September 6th, 2010 at 5:16 PM | Good call.  I guess that is (Score:1)
jtmc33
Joined: 04/15/2009
MGoPoints: 4921

Good call.  I guess that is an example of how '08 and the last 8 games of  '09 have been blended together in my head.  

Class of '97: 4 Years -- 4 Four-loss seasons

September 6th, 2010 at 5:21 PM | UM almost stole one from MSU on the road in 2009 (Score:1)
EGD
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Joined: 09/16/2009
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And we would've gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for that meddling turnover bug

"You will suffer humiliation when the team from my area defeats the team from your area." -- The Onion

September 6th, 2010 at 5:11 PM | Well (Score:1)
mrlmichael
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Joined: 09/22/2009
MGoPoints: 886

Not trying to bring up bad memories but we havn't won many games period the last 2 years. I understand your point, but when you dont have good teams you usually dont win on the road. I agree we will find out a lot about our team Saturday, but if the 2010 version of the Wolverines is better than 2009 (which I think we are) then the previous 2 years will not be relevant.

September 6th, 2010 at 5:12 PM | Well (Score:1)
mrlmichael
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Joined: 09/22/2009
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Edit: Oops double post.

September 6th, 2010 at 5:13 PM | Last I checked (Score:1)
kb
Joined: 10/31/2009
MGoPoints: 1428

Denard runs just as fast on the road as he does at home.

September 6th, 2010 at 5:25 PM | tall grass (Score:1)
willywill9
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Joined: 09/22/2008
MGoPoints: 11256

I dont know, with Notre Dame and its tall grass...

Touchdown Michigan!

September 6th, 2010 at 5:31 PM | You'd think so but we have (Score:1)
Nosce Te Ipsum
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Joined: 03/12/2010
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You'd think so but we have turf whereas Notre Dame still has grass. It has also been said that it was quite long for the Purdue game. It would be in their best interest to grow it out for this weeks game.

Omnia mutantur nos et mutamur in illis.

September 6th, 2010 at 5:51 PM | Long grass (Score:1)
EGD
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Joined: 09/16/2009
MGoPoints: 1891

ND's problem is that if they grow out the grass to slow down Denard, it will be harder to find their missing jockstraps

"You will suffer humiliation when the team from my area defeats the team from your area." -- The Onion

September 6th, 2010 at 5:23 PM | Michigan also only has 4 road (Score:1)
tUOS is OSU
Joined: 11/09/2009
MGoPoints: 206

Michigan also only has 4 road games a year. 1-7, those road games have been at tough places as well. OSU, MSU, Wisc, PSU, ND..

 

"Don't stop Believin"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNG_7ZA70KA

September 6th, 2010 at 5:29 PM | It's never easy to win on the road (Score:1)
MGoJen
Joined: 11/23/2008
MGoPoints: 1301

but I'm currently in love with an SI.com headline about the UConn game I saw yesterday: "Dial 'M' for Momentum". 

We have a lot of momentum going into South Bend, and while anything can happen in a rivalry game, this extra lift will certainly help us on Saturday.  I hope we can continue to play disciplined football and take care of the ball as well as we did on Saturday--these things are probably more difficult in enemy territory but we proved Saturday that we absolutely have the ability to do so.

You'll be better and you'll be smarter and more grown-up and a better daughter. . .

September 6th, 2010 at 5:29 PM | I'm pretty sure those teams (Score:1)
dakotapalm
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Joined: 07/15/2008
MGoPoints: 1879

I'm pretty sure those teams we lost to on the road either beat us at home, or would have defeated us at home over the past two years. If we played WMU, Baby Seal, or Miami(NTM) on the road, we probably win those. It's the SOS.

September 6th, 2010 at 5:54 PM | There is no way to know that for sure (Score:1)
EGD
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Joined: 09/16/2009
MGoPoints: 1891

But I think last year's games against Iowa, MSU, and Illinois could easily have been Ws had they been played in the Big House.  I also think ND could have been a loss had it been played in South Bend. 

Obviously my opinion is based on nothing but pure unadulterated speculation.

"You will suffer humiliation when the team from my area defeats the team from your area." -- The Onion

September 6th, 2010 at 5:40 PM | Its even more simple then (Score:1)
KevRock
Joined: 08/23/2010
MGoPoints: 15

It is even more simple then Win on the Road. 

How about just,

Win the next game.

September 6th, 2010 at 5:52 PM | It's also going to be raining (Score:1)
johnvand
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Joined: 02/04/2010
MGoPoints: 3234

It's also projected to be raining on Saturday.....

September 6th, 2010 at 6:14 PM | Actually, I'm hoping for rain (Score:1)
trueblue1997
Joined: 12/22/2009
MGoPoints: 163

Actually, I'm hoping for rain because whereas ND relies on passing heavily, we have a great running game (no shit haha).  I think rain would definitely give us an advantage.

September 6th, 2010 at 6:48 PM | The Rain, help or hinder? (Score:1)
MGoRob
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Joined: 03/14/2010
MGoPoints: 2284

I was just about to post this. Remember the debacle that was 2008 at ND in the rain. Oh the fumbles.

Showers will, I agree, hinder the passing game and favor the running game. But I would think it would help more North-South running as opposed to shifty moves we expect from Denard. I guess I'm 50/50. It could help when DR is running and the D slips trying to cut back. But it could also hurt if we're trying to do too many "fancy" moves.

Man I can't wait!

September 6th, 2010 at 6:10 PM | Todd McShay is an asshat. (Score:1)
david from wyoming
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Todd McShay is an asshat.

Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me. - the_big_house 500th

I may not be a 70 year old man. - Herm

September 6th, 2010 at 6:12 PM | MIchigan (Score:1)
jamiemac
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 7894

Michigan has always had trouble in their first road game of the season.

Help My Friend Allison Fight ALS 

MSU/IU at the JCB

September 6th, 2010 at 6:13 PM | It is a big game but..... (Score:1)
NateVolk
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Joined: 07/19/2010
MGoPoints: 3827

Right now, each week is a new adventure and this is a new team from last year.   A young team usually is less comfortable on the road; while the home team usually is more relaxed and makes more plays then they would on the road.  My couch potato observation what I have seen of years watching games in all the big sports.

These tougher games and finding a way to improve and win are part of the growth process we have been witnessing for the last 2 seasons and 1 game.   UCONN was one of those too, despite the revisionist history of some in the local media who now claim it was a lay up. 

It wasn't. That's what made it very big in the process.

I laugh at these media litmus tests for legitimacy.  Judge the total body of work over a long period.  Notre Dame will have to play well to knock out this 10' Wolverine team.

"because character wins in life and character wins on the football field....."  1-11-11

September 6th, 2010 at 6:19 PM | Road (Score:1)
Frank Drebin
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Joined: 07/01/2008
MGoPoints: 1353

While I know this is only DRob's 2nd start, he at least has played in meaningful road games (Iowa last year) and shouldn't be affected by the big stage. I think the rain could both help and hurt UM, as it could help to lmit ND's passing attack, but could also slow down our speedy skill position players. Either way, if the team comes out and plays like they did against UConn, they can beat anyone, anywhere.

 

Like a blind man at an orgy, I was going to have to feel my way through

September 6th, 2010 at 6:39 PM | 2nd road win (Score:1)
SysMark
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Joined: 11/15/2008
MGoPoints: 5566

Well then RR is getting his second road win this week - will be fun to watch

September 6th, 2010 at 6:48 PM | I think we'll play well next week. (Score:1)
uminks
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Joined: 11/10/2009
MGoPoints: 1442

I  hope we can pull off a win in South Bend, but if we play well I won't be too upset about a loss.  I had this game chalked up a close road loss in my season projections. But after watching the team play  last week, I'm now leaning more to a win!  If we win next week, I may have to increase my win total projection from 7 to 9! 

expect the best

September 6th, 2010 at 7:10 PM | win or lose (Score:1)
A2MIKE
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Joined: 10/10/2009
MGoPoints: 952

doesn't change my outlook on this season.  I said 8 wins and I am sticking with it.  I figured all along we would start 1-1.  I fully expect this team to get better as the season goes along.  Go Blue and don't let Saturday get you to high or low on this team, just sit back and enjoy the ride!

September 6th, 2010 at 7:37 PM | With ya, Mike (Score:1)
Tater
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Joined: 08/13/2008
MGoPoints: 10385

I am sticking to my guns, too.  Nine wins counting a bowl.  But it certainly looks like the possibility of even a better year is a lot greater than it looked last week.  And the possibility that Michigan has "leaped" back in front of Iowa and Wiscy at least warrants discussion now, too. 

The questions for me are as follows:

Can Michigan's defense play as well against power teams as it did against UConn?

Will teams come up with a stategy to stop Denard, or will he have his way with everyone?

In reference to an RR statement before the season started, can Michigan win a game or two when they don't play well?

Can they steal "The Game" this year? 

If most of these answers are "yes," we could be looking at the best "RR leap" of all.  At any rate, ND is going to be a very good indicator of how far the team has progressed. 

 

 

 

September 6th, 2010 at 7:44 PM | I think comparisons (Score:1)
stillMichigan
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Joined: 09/05/2009
MGoPoints: 1822

I think comparisons to 08 and 09 are ridiculous. Those 2 years are just the price that had to be paid to get to where we are now with a totally different team. Home or away.

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