what do today's D struggles suggest about next week?
I don't know why--maybe it's all the time spent here, but even if this IS a historically bad defense, I feel so close to the players that it's hard for me to criticize. I know they play their hearts out. I know they got several key stops in the second half. And (haven't seen anyone else say this) THEY WERE OUT THERE THE WHOLE DAMNED GAME. Not only that, but the much-maligned three-man rush was beating IU's brains out as the game stretched on, and made it possible for the secondary to shut down those vaunted receivers on another several key plays.
Alright, next week is a new game. We are home (thank goodness). How will our D stack up against MSU? Will they have to work as hard? MSU's receiving corps can't possibly be as fine as IU's, can it? How is MSU's rush game, and can the three-man front stop it, or do we see more 4-man fronts? What are the key matchups?
As always, if you find such discussion premature, please don't feel required to respond.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^
Over under on defense/Gerg threads:
<br>25
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:08 PM ^
the over.
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^
This is GERG's motto for the season.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:08 PM ^
i'll take the over
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:08 PM ^
Over under on how many people will think they're being witty and creative by responding to defensive threads by posting "over under on defense/gerg threads":
20
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:09 PM ^
This is exactly what we thought would happen why are people surprised?
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:03 PM ^
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:15 PM ^
C'mon folks! Take out that goal line fumble and replace ONE of those stalled out drives with a TD drive, and we win by 21 points, and NOBODY is saying anything.
Our defense did enough for us to win against a team that I think will finish with at least a couple, maybe as many as 4 or 5 Big 10 wins. SHUT UP AND ENJOY IT!
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:08 PM ^
more rhetorical questions? I say no.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
and look up the word rhetorical in your online dictionary.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:19 PM ^
he wasn't actually looking for responses, but was instead pointing out to all of us various "keys to the game" talking points he was smart enough to think up. So, in short, I will not look up "rhetorical" because I do not need to. Thanks though.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:09 PM ^
We won.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
lots of youth, still getting players to run a fast D, I think next year the D will (not be as good as our O this year) but will have big improvement with this many young players getting time. Ass some incoming talent and team will be strong. We are just a year away, we all kind of knew that before the season cept Denard is so amazing we get ahead of ourselves. If Dnard can win games with this O then we will be in every game, but next year is our year. Still think we win 8+
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:11 PM ^
This defense can usually stop the run. IU never bothered running, that's partly why this looked so damn bad. MSU will run more than that.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^
MSU's running game is also leaps and bounds better then IU
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:14 PM ^
Anyone else see GERG talking to RR after the game? It was brief, and I couldn't quite tell what he said, but it almost looked like an "I'm sorry...." Anyone see this? What did you lip read?
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^
yea I saw it, was likely saying sorry. I think most DCs would do something like that after giving up 480 passing yards tho
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:50 PM ^
"thanks for saving my job" which was followed up by a very awkward hug that RRod seemed to want no part of.
October 2nd, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^
If I read his lips right he said " Please don't fire me, I promise to rush more than three guys against MSU."
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:18 PM ^
didn't read his lips but body language was like the little dog turning his back end to the big dog
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:17 PM ^
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:15 PM ^
I don't think it can get worse than today but MSU scares me a bit.
As long as the offense finds ways not to sputter then I think we'll be fine
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^
... doctor a picture of Lloyd Brady hugging our defense, everyone will laugh, and we'll get on with it?
I mean, I've never seen a group of people get so upset (albeit a minority, it is a vocal minority) about something that we knew all along. Our defense is razor thin, it is young, and we are 5-0 and holding on to the wild ride that is UM football. Embrace it or be miserable, pretty easy choice.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:19 PM ^
The Barwis difference was evident today, it seems that the team does not weaken as the game wears on so keeping games close is the key. If we can keep the game close through the first three quarters the conditioning seems to bring us up or them down either or and jimmy crack corn I dont care. I do think Chappell is a better qb than Cousins will know for sure next week, but I know for sure our offense is better than their defense and we will put points on the board. 31-27 win is about right. And we will not be playing with ski-masked bat carrying thugs is another thing we know for sure. Go Blue
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:19 PM ^
I say that we play 12 men on defense next week and hope that the referees don't notice...
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:17 PM ^
Play 12 men on defense will not help if we still just rush 3!!!
October 2nd, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^
that's just ridiculous. Of course the refs will notice.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:21 PM ^
Im just realizing with how young our D is and we are still able to somehow win is incredible..
This game seemed to set up perfectly for IU to snatch it from us.. Every time we stopped IU on Offense, we got the ball back and sucked ass.. EVERY time.. if we even score on 2 of those opportunites we score over 50 on them.. and it is another blowout.
It really hurt us big time not having shaw in to gash for 5 or 6 yards every carry and setting up short 3rd downs.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:22 PM ^
Sparty appears to have the ability to play to every Michigan weakness. While they certainly don't have the dominant running game of say an Alabama, they definitely have the ability to both pound (#) and dash (-) to the outside. The pass game isn't the greatest either...but they'll surely look like All-Americans against our johnson 'no more tears' shampoo defense. Plus Chappell supplied the entire Big Ten with more than enough game film on how to exploit us.
I think the deciding factors for next week are health (denard, mike shaw, banks), the home crowd.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:23 PM ^
IU only managed 88 yards on 34 carries for a 2.6 yard/rush average. I thought that was great and that bodes well next week against State.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:24 PM ^
a near perfect game on offense. I don't see MSU doing that with all the hype of the rivalry game, on the road. State will make some mistakes, they are 2nd worst in penalties this year, and it will allow our D to get off the field. Can they stop us at home? I doubt it. Their pass defense is about as bad as IUs. Get ready for some more of those "Denard takes two steps towards the line of scrimmage, freezing the DBs, then zips a 70 yard TD pass" type plays.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:25 PM ^
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:02 PM ^
Have you ever heard of punctuation?
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:16 PM ^
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:26 PM ^
I'm not about to do all that on a message board
I don't get it. You have time to hit the apostrophe key but not the period key? What are you late for?
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:32 PM ^
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:41 PM ^
I is concerned because I is liking this site and you is fucking it up with your horrible use of the English languge Mr I just joined one hour and 45 minutes ago so I have no idea how things work around here but Im gonna continue to blind everyone with my horrible writing because thats how i roll
October 2nd, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^
Hey NERD leave him alone that ENGLISH s*** is for LOOSERS who like school and stuff NERD
October 2nd, 2010 at 10:07 PM ^
I "is" concerned too (or should I say to...) because this is a forum for conversation on Michigan Athletics and no one is going to take you seriously or want to carry on a conversation when you write like you went to school at the Derek Zoolander Center For Kids Who Can't Read Good And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too.
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:35 PM ^
for his meeting with awesome people thats what you know people who are way too important and have no time for things like periods like him
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:30 PM ^
It does make your posts very hard to read with no punctuation.
October 2nd, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
Well done and mature. Why can't people just say this semi-politely instead of busting this guy's balls?
October 3rd, 2010 at 1:31 AM ^
Some balls deserve a busting...
The guy isn't even making an attempt.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:28 PM ^
It's hard to say, because MSU runs a traditional offense. I do think our D is better-suited to stop offenses of that type, but given our weakness at corner, we're probably going to see more soft cushions and WR screens . . . it's a pick-your-poison situation. If we can get a defensive performance like we had last year, we'll win. One thing in our favor is that MSU hasn't played a road game all year (I'm not counting the game in Detroit).
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:29 PM ^
who else was happy to see Vincent get a big run!?
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:47 PM ^
He needed it after the last four games and all the hyping of Denard and grumbled slighting of the RBs. I hate to say it, though: he was pretty worthless outside of that one play. I think Mike Shaw has made it clear that he's our feature back.
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^
worthless is not a word i would use to describe any Michigan player.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:40 PM ^
we can beat every team left on our schedule. If we would have had the ball more today, we could have put up 60 points. And with our defense we can lose to any team left on our schedule. We can't take any team for granted and start counting the wins before we play the games.
MSU will be a very difficult game because the offense is not one dimensional and the defense and special teams are good (both better than ours). Avoiding drive killing penalties and turnovers will be huge.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:40 PM ^
Indiana is probably a bigger matchup problem for UM. MSU is better than IU, but I don't know if MSU is going to be ready for the track meet (Sparty No!).
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
is that everyone we've played has been a "matchup problem" for us. UMASS moved the ball at will against our D for crying out loud. I love the team but am worried that Purdue and Illinois might be the only teams we can beat this year who are left on our sched (maybe also Penn State b/c of their true FR QB and what not).