What do you need to see tonight to feel good/optimistic/relieved?

Submitted by justingoblue on

What say you, MGoBoard? What needs to happen in eight (!!!) hours to bring the season to a close on a positive note? Morris going HAM? OL looking good? Da'Shawn Hand announcing he committed to the wrong school? X or Y oz's of beer consumed? What do you want to see before 240 days of darkness descends upon us?

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Fifth-Stringer

December 28th, 2013 at 2:18 PM ^

To deal with next year's much tougher schedule (Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State). 2014 will be tough, but I hope that tonight will show that it might be better as well.

Joined: 10/09/2011

MGoPoints: 490

Fifth-Stringer

December 28th, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^

Running game and O-line that look more functional than they did at many points this year, defense that holds up better and doesn't give up big plays. Progress between the regular season and the bowl would help me believe that the team can get better between now and next season.

Joined: 10/09/2011

MGoPoints: 490

kirbylax10

December 28th, 2013 at 2:22 PM ^

I just want to see the O-line continue to progress. I also want to see Shane rip a few deep just for fun. But all in all, I want to see him be more accurate then he has been so far between his high school careers, camps, and this year. I'm excited to watch the future play tonight.

Joined: 08/31/2013

MGoPoints: 157

DonAZ

December 28th, 2013 at 2:23 PM ^

I'm assuming MIchigan defense plays more or less like they have all year.  Good, not great, but enough to keep K-State from running away.

Given that, then:

  • How much offensive game plan is geared towards making Morris comfortable early
  • How quickly Morris settles in
  • How well the offensive line provides adequate protection

So that first offensive drive is going to be interesting.  If it's three-and-out with Touissaint running stretch then I get very worried.  But if we see some a good mix of run and pass with some easy pass plays to help Morris settle in, then I'm feeling better.

I don't know if Michigan wins this ... but to see a decent gameplan and decent execution will give me a good sense of hope going into next year.

Joined: 12/05/2011

MGoPoints: 16679

Demonstrationhall

December 28th, 2013 at 2:28 PM ^

would love to see the Defense hold KSU to less then 13 first downs, under 26 minutes of time of possession, and Blue have a plus 2 in turnovers.

Morris going 12 -20 with at least 3 passes over 15 yards (not counting yards after catch). 160 yards + in passing.

Troussant(sp)  running for 130+ yards.

Lewan with zero holding calls and no unsportsman like calls, two false starts is acceptable.

Hoke wearing a head set would be nice but not nesessary.

A unique offensive game plan....Coach B shines.

Keep KSU under 120 in rushing and 180 in the passing game.

If 4 of these criteria are completed, we win....well cept the head set thing....not needed for victory.

 

 

 

Joined: 10/24/2011

MGoPoints: 52

sammylittle

December 28th, 2013 at 2:29 PM ^

When our offensive plays fail, I simply want to be able to say, "I see what Al was trying to do there," "That was a good idea and would have worked if _______ had maintained his block," or "That would have worked if not for a heroic play by the defender."

Joined: 09/29/2008

MGoPoints: 7825

MGoStrength

December 28th, 2013 at 2:29 PM ^

Wormley, Clark, & Ojemudia able to get to the QB without blitzing, offensive line able to run block effectively, some snaps for D. Thomas since he's gonna play next year somewhere (nickel?) next year, some snaps for our future safety opposite Wilson, and our linebackers able to shed blocks and make plays...not worried about Shane for next year since he won't be our starter, but it would be nice to see him gain some confidence from this game.  I don't know what to say abou the offensive playcalling anymore.  Do we wish for a poor play calling to get Borges fired or a good game and have to deal with him another year?  I don't like either option to be honest and I don't think he gets fired with a good game, maybe not at all anyways.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

Magnus

December 28th, 2013 at 3:02 PM ^

"that players are actually getting better. the last 2 years have not looked any different than RR last 2 years."

That second sentence makes no sense at all when the team has been 7-5 and 8-5 in the last two years, whereas Rodriguez was 5-7 and 7-6.

Furthermore, the vast majority of players have improved. You're being way too pessimistic. Here's the list of starters who (in my opinion) have remained stagnant or regressed: Taylor Lewan, Michael Schofield, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Jake Ryan, Thomas Gordon. That means 17/22 guys have improved, and there are some reasonable explanations for most of those five guys listed above (Lewan couldn't really get much better, Toussaint was coming off a nasty broken leg and the line was terrible, Jake Ryan hasn't been explosive because of his torn ACL).

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 165898

umchicago

December 28th, 2013 at 4:03 PM ^

except for glasgow, any improvement among the young guys on the OL has been marginal at best, imo. for this reason, i look forward to tonite's game to see if the OSU game was a fluke or true improvement.  i good game up front saves funk's job; otherwise i send him packing.

Joined: 02/05/2009

MGoPoints: 33625

Ziff72

December 28th, 2013 at 4:07 PM ^

We had 22 returning starters?   You said 17/22 starters improved.   I think we can remove the interior of the line,  AJ Williams/ D. Dileo,  D. Gardner, Q, Ross, Black etc.. as guys that showed no marked improvement.  

Guys naturally get better year to year,  the only guy I can really think of who made a jump outside the natural progression is Morgan.  Maybe.

I have no real stake in this argument but to say 17 of 22 starters improved on a team that was pretty terrible is just misleading.

Next year should be a much better gauge for this kind of argument because you'll see a lot of young guys that were  Hoke recruits play a more significant role. 

Joined: 07/07/2008

MGoPoints: 9823

GoBLUinTX

December 28th, 2013 at 4:13 PM ^

Move the goal posts?  The question was about improvement with no qualifiers.  You may not like his answer, but that's no reason to amend the argument by dismissing year over year improvement.

Joined: 12/02/2013

MGoPoints: 5895

Magnus

December 28th, 2013 at 4:29 PM ^

Ziff, you and I have both been around for too long for you to think that I meant we had 22 returning starters. So perhaps when you read that, you should have tried to figure out what the argument entailed rather than jumping in with some nonsense right off the bat.

Was the discussion about "making a jump outside the natural progression"? No. Nobody brought that up except you. It's true that I haven't seen a redshirt freshman walk-on explode into an All-American. You got me there.

You don't think A.J. Williams made some improvements? Fine, I guess. I do. You don't think Gardner improved? I saw him throw double-digit interceptions in the first six games, and then he threw just one pick in the final six games. Ross was better than last year, and so was Black, in my opinion. I actually dismissed Quinton Washington because he didn't play much, so I was thinking more about Willie Henry, so that's a quibble that I can understand.

In summary, a lot of guys improved. If you think I'm only talking about in-season improvement, then you're having a different argument. And if you want to have that argument, I would like to point out Jake Butt, De'Veon Smith, Jehu Chesson, Derrick Green, Graham Glasgow, Chris Wormley, Gardner, Raymon Taylor, Frank Clark, and so on.

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 165898

jdib

December 28th, 2013 at 2:40 PM ^

any other scheduled narcotic deemed illegal without a prescription to mask my inner frustration and rage would suffice.............

 

But in all seriousness, a solid effort by the o-line, funchess not dropping passes, and a solid effort by Shane Morris.  Win or lose if the game is close and we played a solid game w/ very little turnovers or little things that cause us to beat ourselves i would be ecstatic.

Of course, i want the win but if it means both teams play sloppy and we just miraculously win because we played a little less sloppy, then i guess i will just have to settle with being moderately happy and enjoyin my stay in defcon 2.

Joined: 10/31/2012

MGoPoints: 13905

justingoblue

December 28th, 2013 at 3:01 PM ^

Went through and did it by hand, the outcomes of the two bowl games will have this effect. I osted this in an earlier thread.

ND:

874-306-42 (.74005)
875-305-42 (.74089)

M:

911-320-36 (.74005)
910-321-36 (.73923)

Joined: 11/16/2010

MGoPoints: 29741

aiglick

December 28th, 2013 at 2:45 PM ^

Playing without mistakes and coaching to win the game. It is Morris's first start and Borges needs to put him in a position to succeed. I'd like to see development from the OLine. Yeah something that shows the team has had a couple of weeks to get ready. No big plays let up. Make them drive the length of the field. If it actually turns out 25-20 but it is the type of game where both teams played great and one just had to win it I will be fine with that. Save some of the luck for next season.

Joined: 11/27/2010

MGoPoints: 21418

ND Sux

December 28th, 2013 at 2:44 PM ^

 



  • Shane looks confident / comfortable (assuming OL isn't a disaster)


  • running game has life


  • SINGLE-SEASON RECEIVING RECORD FOR GALLON


  • defense gives up <30 points


  • Don't lose TO battle by more than one (new QB, so not expecting to win that)


  • Matt Wile, your time to shine mister!


  • Win = celebration sex


  • Loss = venting sex


  • The two above are not the same


 

Joined: 10/01/2009

MGoPoints: 15650

Jimmyisgod

December 28th, 2013 at 2:42 PM ^

A win tonight in any way gives us an 8-5 season and we can say we're still pretty close.  A loss in any way and 7-6 is going to be tough to deal with all summer. 

K State has been playing well, if they somehow beat us convincingly it could really hurt our brand.

Joined: 01/24/2012

MGoPoints: 10342

Dontfakeitfunk

December 28th, 2013 at 2:55 PM ^

Wake up to realize I've been in a coma ever since Morgan dunked against Syracuse and this has all been a horrible dream. Weve got a Bball Natl Title, beat OSU back to back weeks and are heading to Pasadena. Amirite?

Joined: 11/10/2013

MGoPoints: 123

S Carolina Wolverine

December 28th, 2013 at 2:59 PM ^

Shane will be a good one. The problem being we have lost 10 games over the last 2 seasons and it appears there will be zero changes on the staff.

 

2014 will be the same as 2013 wins and losses wise as our schedule is even tougher

 

7 to 8 wins next year and 5-6 losses

 

Go Blue!

Joined: 11/24/2013

MGoPoints: 764