UM vs MSU: Who is the X-Factor?

Submitted by Wee-Bey Brice on

Since I am sick and tired of seeing people pick Devin Gardner as the X-factor of the game because DUHHHHHHH!!! I decided to give it more thought...

My choice is none other than MATT WILE. This will be a good ol' fashioned field position game. We need him to boot them back behind their own 25 all game. With their below average offense we will be in great shape if he does that.

Which player do you guys see whose production will swing the game one way or the other (Besides DG)?

UMfan21

November 1st, 2013 at 5:22 PM ^

I feel like this is one of those games where everyone is going to play pretty solid, it's just going to be a big play here or there that makes the difference. 



So I dont know if I really see any "key players" per se.  Everyone just needs to play within their abilities, secure the ball and not give up the big play.

jml969

November 1st, 2013 at 5:39 PM ^

And Jeremy Gallon. I think State will key on Funchess. They won't forget Gallon like Indy did but Gallon will be huge in some critical moments.

Fields

November 1st, 2013 at 5:39 PM ^

One or two times in this game, our defensive backfield is going to get an opportunity.  Raymon Taylor, Desmond Morgan, Tom Gordon......someone.  Someone will see a ball.  A ball rolling on the ground, a duck floating in the air.

The X-Factor is our guys grabbing it and housing it.

The Dirty Nil

November 1st, 2013 at 5:51 PM ^

Since it wasn't specified whether it could be a Sate player or not, I'm going to say Connor Cook will be the X-Factor of the game. If we get to see the Bad Connor, I think M will be OK.

SFBlue

November 1st, 2013 at 6:11 PM ^

Special teams is the X-factor.  As this is likely to be a close game, a play on special teams could sway the outcome.  For Michigan, this means breaking a big return, and converting field goal opportunities. 

For Michigan State, yes field goals, and also don't be surprised to see them try to block a couple of punts. 

My own view on this 'Garnder being the difference maker' stuff is that, yes, that's true, but I suspect that Michigan will reign him in a bit.  I really do not see Borges opening it up unless Michigan is down at halftime (as he did at Penn State).  If all goes well, he will not have a monster game, because he did not need to.  (I would like to see an aggressive approach from the outset, challenging Sparty over the top and down the field, but that is not what we are likley to see.)

Douglas2k

November 1st, 2013 at 6:12 PM ^

It won't be A.J. Williams as he is suspended for one game. This seems to be the standard punishment for being arrested for drunken driving (see Fitz Toussaint last year). Williams ran a stop sign and almost crashed into another car.

He wasn't drinking at a private party, he went out to the Brick Street Bar & Grill, which means he used a fake I.D. I don't think he should be reinstated until he give up his fake I.D.

http://www.washtenawwatchdogs.com/drunken-driving-arrest-of-university-of-michigan-football-player.html 

Section 1

November 2nd, 2013 at 12:08 PM ^

You filthy piece of shit. If I were Brendan Gibbons' lawyer, I'd take great pleasure in suing you for defamation. You worthless fabricator.

Go peddle your shit-eating blog elsewhere.

You really seem to be slightly insane; all of your whiny rants in front of the Board of Regents and your crazy-assed public campaigns with city hall. You are the very definition, in my mind, of the silly, coddled, over-compensated, screw-loose, public employee retiree class in Ann Arbor.

To the MGoBoard membership; this guy is not a troll from Lansing or Columbus. Google him and his website. Check for yourselves. He is one Ann Arbor's own, home-grown, nut jobs.

Gameboy

November 1st, 2013 at 6:31 PM ^

I have two.

First, use Gallon as slot. This does two things. It will free Gallon from press coverage, which for a small guy, is a very good thing. Also, the middle seam is where the action is going to be. If you are going to throw it up on the sideline, you might as well do it with a 6'5" guy.

Second is the punt coverage. You know there will be at least one fake and we get not much on put returns anyway. Just fair catch everything and put the regular defense out there.

PinballPete

November 1st, 2013 at 6:35 PM ^

Jake Butt

I think that the short to intermediate range passing game will be key to moving the ball. I thought Butt had a chance for a breakout before the AJ Williams suspension, now I think his blocking will be depended upon and he will get a good bit of playing time. 

BrownJuggernaut

November 1st, 2013 at 6:45 PM ^

Jake Butt because I like butts, especially when they are a tight end.

Seriously though, when I think of an X-Factor, I usually believe that means that it is someone under the radar. I'd stretch the Gardner DUH thing out to some of the other key guys for Michigan like Funchess, Gallon, and Jake Mother F'n Ryan. Those guys are counted on to make the plays regardless of the opponent. For me, it's gotta be a lesser mentioned player. I think it's gotta be someone of the DL. Moreso with the way Michigan State runs, it's gotta be a guy on the inside. Q or Jibreel. We need them to plug holes and to get penetration. They've got to make it easier for the linebackers to get clean to the Langford and they need to be disruptive in the passing game. I'd love to see them force a Cook fumble. They've got to be difference makers.