What game are you much more optimistic about than the MSM?

Submitted by uniqenam on

For me, it's the UM-OSU game.  Last year we out-played them with a starting QB who had half an arm and played like he had half a brain, not to mention the fact that our defense can't be worse this year than last year.   OSU, on the other hand, still has one player that has not impressed me yet: Terrelle Pryor.  I know that everyone in the MSM loves the Poet in Cleates, but I'm not enamored with his game yet.  He didn't really look that great all year, and really didn't give the kind of performance against Oregon that (to me) makes me look at him and say "Oh mama, wake me up from this nightmare."

What about you guys?

jg2112

July 22nd, 2010 at 9:45 PM ^

All three of these guys had better offer lists than Sheridan, obviously. And if you think Ohio State would alter the gameplan against Michigan if one of these guys were in instead of Pryor (remember, the last two times at Michigan Stadium, over 250 yards rushing, and comfortable victories without the QB throwing at all), well, good luck to you.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ohiostate/football/recruiting/player-Kenny-Guiton-59958

http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Joe-Bauserman-18256

http://rivals.yahoo.com/edgytim/football/recruiting/player-Taylor-Graham-87897

GunnersApe

July 23rd, 2010 at 10:24 AM ^

I think it would hurt them but their M.O. is usually a smart pocket QB who doesn't turn the ball over. Troy smith was an athlete turned QB and now the TP experiment.

 

T.P. goes down, the O stays vanilla and play action becomes the norm again instead of the scramble. No secret, have a solid run game, play good D, keep your opponent pinned with a great punting game, force a mistake against their O and connect with one or two deep play action passes to keep the D honest.    

MCalibur

July 22nd, 2010 at 10:29 PM ^

In essence all that guy is saying is that he thinks Pryor is being overhyped based on one game. I would agree that he's overhyped, but there's very little support for that opinion in that post.

I think he's flat out wrong that Pryor hasn't at least flashed his potential. His freshman year was very good. Last year his accuracy was down and he threw a few too many picks, but he wasn't that far off from where he was supposed to be. Tressel's conservative bent is keeping Pryor from exploding.

Assuming that he won't get better is a mistake. If we assume that, then we should also assume that Denard can't be a reliable QB and that Tate will always be reckless.

For the record, I'm don't mean to imply that you believe that he won't improve.

MCalibur

July 22nd, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^

Pryor is definitely overhyped. He's got a lot of work to do to become the best QB in the conference, let alone in the nation.

For Heisman, Tyrod Taylor is a direct competitor to his exact skill set who was much better last year against a way more difficult schedule.

As for best QB nationally, Mallet will be tough to beat if he's fully recovered.

Wonk

July 22nd, 2010 at 9:28 PM ^

I think Mr. Shoe is right about this one.

The MSM will throw around numbers willy nilly (5-7, 6-6, 7-5) but if pressed, they'd be unable to come up with any real concrete guesses about what teams they'll beat and what team's they'll fall short to.

For example, if you cornered Colin Cowherd (who I believe pegged us at 6-6) and went through the schedule with him, game by game, you'd come away with Michigan winning 3 games: Bowling Green, UMass, and probably Illinois...because he knows nothing about the team, and just sort of pegs numbers randomly based on how he thinks the season is going to go. When presented with specifics in the form of other teams on the schedule, his will brain jog back to vague recollections of a hotel room TV showing Purdue beating Michigan in 2009 while he was snorting meth out of a male hooker's belly button...and he thinks: "Yeah Purdue is the better team!"

I think that's indicative of just about every main stream sports journalist. They're too busy, and have to cover a broader spectrum to actually sit down and analyze the details of one specific team (except the top 10). 

So MGoShoe is absolutely right. I am more optimistic about every single game than a bulk of the MSM. 

Zone Left

July 22nd, 2010 at 9:37 PM ^

I think most folks still have Penn State beating Michigan.  I'm not convinced they're going to be able to score at all.

Also, Iowa is losing a lot on their respective lines and none of their skill players on offense are that impressive.

CalifExile

July 23rd, 2010 at 1:09 PM ^

Bulaga is an OT. They have 4 starters back on the line, one LB and both safeties. They also have a Sr LB who was B10 POW in his only start last year. Tyler Sash is probably the best safety in the B10. Phil Steele and The Wolverine agree this is the best secondary in the B10.

Z

July 22nd, 2010 at 10:52 PM ^

I thought their offensive line being unsettled was another reason to think they would struggle mightily on offense this year.  At least it was in April according to this article: http://blog.pennlive.com/bobflounders/2010/04/penn_states_offensive_line_far.html

I was imagining something along the lines of Jimmah Clausen's freshman year at ND.  Do you know of any developments that would refute this?

Needs

July 23rd, 2010 at 10:43 AM ^

Like Penn State's staff having a ton of experience in developing linemen at the college level, unlike, say Charlie Weis, who tried to install two separate offenses in the fall with a ton of first-year starters? I think we have a good chance against Penn State, mainly because they play hyper conservative against quality teams, but we shouldn't count on the kind of coaching malpractice that Weis employed.

GunnersApe

July 23rd, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^

Even if Royster has a sub standerd PSU RB season he becomes the all time leader, no small feet

The 6-1, 213-pounder is currently eighth on the Lions' list with 2,918 yards but he needs only 481 yards to surpass College Hall of Famer Curt Warner (3,398 yards) for the top spot.

http://blog.pennlive.com/bobflounders/2010/04/evan_royster_returns_to_make_a.html

jmblue

July 22nd, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^

Last year we out-played them with a starting QB who had half an arm and played like he had half a brain

Classy.  Let's not forget that he was a true freshman going up against one of the best defenses in the country, with absolutely no running game to help him out. 

jmblue

July 23rd, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^

If Forcier played poorly, then who exactly is the "we" that outplayed OSU in your opinion?  It certainly wasn't the ground game that kept us in it.  You're making it sound like Tate let the rest of the team down.  I'd say it was the complete opposite. 

Maize_and_Drew

July 22nd, 2010 at 11:10 PM ^

Given the media lovefest over Dantonio with his 22-16 record at MSU,  and 2 straight losses to little brother, Michigan will come out with a huge chip on their shoulder against the Spartans.

I'm looking forward to a Beat Down in the Big House against Michigan State this year.

exmtroj

July 22nd, 2010 at 11:33 PM ^

We play several teams that lost a lot defensively, and it just might come down to some wild shootouts like WVU used to have against Louisville back in the day.  Not really something we're used to in Ann Arbor, and our collective blood pressure will rise, but damn, it's going to be exciting.