Rittenberg picks Michigan; Bennett predicts Michigan loss for second straight week
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/15609/blogger-debate-michigan-…
Also, a nice fluff article about our defense:
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/15728/michigan-defense-prepare…
September 9th, 2010 at 2:26 PM ^
Bennett does know that Notre Dame isn't in the Big East for football doesn't he?
September 9th, 2010 at 2:32 PM ^
i'm sick of all this BS about Denard's performance being "rediculous" but then qualifying that with something about how he can't duplicate that or he can't run 29 times again, like Saturday was some sort of fluke against a team like Norfolk State U (awesome marching band btw). I say Denard carries 30 times for 210 yards. OR he would if he isn't allowed to.
September 9th, 2010 at 2:44 PM ^
I said this in another thread. I don't remember which one so I can't block quote or link it.
Basically, though, the thing to keep in mind that a lot of people look at this performance and then say, "Look at the upside he has!" as if this was going to be his average game. This game probably was his upside. Rushing for 200 yards is a very tough feat to accomplish, but then add on 200 yards of passing and it seems almost absurd to predict that type of game even twice in one season.
I think we will see some mistakes in this game made by Denard. We will probably also see his completion percentage fall back a little closer to earth. We should expect something like15 carries for 100 yards, 15/25 for 170 yards, and possibly a turnover of some sort on Saturday, not what we saw this past weekend. I think that is the point that he is trying to make. You can't expect to see one player put up 400 yards on their own, week in and week out.
September 9th, 2010 at 3:11 PM ^
Robinson's ceiling is doing something like that against OSU. Those stats may be the upper end of what he's capable of, but we may see him do that against better competition at some point.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:20 PM ^
I don't disagree with that, but my point is that we need to temper our expectations for him this year. He had arguably one of the best, if not the best, games by a Michigan QB. I'm not saying that is his necessarily ceiling, but I think that it is more likely for this to be his ceiling than his average game. Once we start playing more difficult opponents, we will see his stats come back to earth a bit and I just don't want people to be disappointed with a good performance because "he could have done better" or something like that.
September 9th, 2010 at 3:39 PM ^
to say after his first college start that we have seen his upside. Isn't it more likely that there may be a better game in his future as he gains experience and learns the defensive reads better? This probably was an above average game, but I expect him to improve on this performance and show even more upside next year as he gains game experience.
September 9th, 2010 at 3:57 PM ^
Statistics wise I don't see him doing a whole lot more than ~200 yds rushing and passing at least against BCS level competition.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:26 PM ^
given this performance set the rushing record for a Michigan quarterback -- and we have had more than a few of those -- it must be very difficult to do.
September 9th, 2010 at 3:57 PM ^
It remains to be seen if 383 total yards represents anywhere near a high-water mark for Denard. Given that we hardly got the downfield passing game going, I'm not so sure. I think we may see some games down the road where he has a ridiculously high YPA.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:00 PM ^
I believe an eminently reasonable assessment of DRob's upside is that he runs so fast that he reverses the spin of the earth, Superman-style, erasing the past two crapulent seasons. QED
September 9th, 2010 at 2:45 PM ^
The word is "ridiculous" with an "i".
I agree with you, BTW.
September 9th, 2010 at 2:52 PM ^
Or is that extra?
September 9th, 2010 at 2:39 PM ^
My neighbor is predicting UM by 7. Really though - is it just me or has there been an insane amount of threads on predictions? Look what happened last Saturday...predictions mean nothing.
September 9th, 2010 at 4:14 PM ^
My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris last night, said he is predicting UM by 4.
I'm pumped!
September 9th, 2010 at 2:52 PM ^
31-21 Michigan. Bennett then predicts another Michigan loss against Bowling Green and UMass.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:46 PM ^
I think DR is due for a completion or two of longer than 43 yards, which was his long last Saturday. He could match his passing yardage with 2 big plays. Then he will be able to break a bunch of the 10-20 yard runs, and it will all look real pretty. 300+ yards of total offense again - put it on the board. UM 39, ND 21.