An ugly stick.
I realize this is easier said than done but I think we were on the right track last year until it broke down a few times:
On defense:
- Stop the run
- Keep Pryor in the pocket and make him beat you from there - all indications are he can't at this point.
On offense:
- Don't turn it over - our offense will be good enough to score on them
IMHO
And this means getting better DLs and LBs.
I have a friend who grew up with Tressel's daughter in Youngstown. She told him that before last year's game Ol' Sweatervest was throwing up from nerves. I don't know how this helps the team, but it helps me forget the past 6 years.
That's because he knows the gravy train is coming to an end soon...and when that happens the half-wits and criminals that make up the Ohio State fanbase will become restless.
Encourage Pryor to throw the ball. Seriously, do it. It's hilarious.
Oregon is laughing like crazy.
Oh stop it. You and I both know that game didn't actually happen.
I think it's taking advantage of their starting pitching early in the game. Gotta grab that early lead. Bob Todd is throwing two guys this weekend that are just marginal starters, while saving his better pitchers for the bullpen. I don't get it. If we can jump on those guys early (given that they stay in the rotation), I think Michigan will probably win 2 of 3. Wimmers is tough, especially with that no-hitter against us last year still looming in the back of my mind.
I'm not sure RR reverses our fortune himself. Maybe if we throw Barwis at the baseball team for some motivational laughs, it could work.
The past two years we have had only a handful of players who could have started for them. That makes it hard to win regardless of how good our scheme or game plan or motivation is.
They are winning the talent battle. They have a great coaching staff.
We have unproven talent that people think is great because it's at Michigan. Our coaching staff hasn't proven diddly doo here.
nd the short answer is no.
Rodriguez will not be the one to reverse the trend vs Tressel.
Your post/avatar combo oozes sadness, despair, and negativity. And this coming from the guy with probably the lowest mgopoint count on this blog. Don't jump, man. Don't jump.
I've thought the same thing with the avatar for a few days now.
Point totals mean???
I thought so.
Do you not remember the early/mid '90s? OSU had more talent than Michigan almost every year. And lost, almost every year.
I agree that Tressel coaches well, but at times he has profitted from an unwillingness to make adjustments. Think '04 - they kept punting short enough that we weren't confident enough to fair catch, or catch on a bounce. Every punt got a 20 yard roll and no return. Throw Clarrett (I don't care whether I spelled that correctly) into the mix, and we didn't stand a chance. Because we kept forfeiting 20 yards due to lack of adjustments in the kicking game.
The more decisions into which you can force Prior, the better chance you stand. If he doesn't have to think, he wins. If he can't just default to his legs for 8 yards (Oregon) whenever he wants, he gets really beatable.
false clarett did not play in the 04 game, only 02
Yes, because with that huge talent gap, amazing coaching staff, and us with a freshman QB and his 5 turnovers, Ohio State sure wiped the floor with us last year.
Take away their Natty Lights.
Also: solid defense and a running game.
Go into the 'shoe and FUCK. SHIT. UP. Either that, or one of us takes a job as a pre-game catering server for OSU and poisons their food or something.
I am not worrying about OSU at this point, im more worried about winning the first game of the season against UCONN and spring boarding our guys with confidence going into the ND game, and hopefully cruising till MSU at home.
That's cool, but totally unrelated to this thread.
We've seen this through the last few years, and we've also seen that games are won in many different ways. I hope we can win some games with stingy defense, but I think we all have to get used to the offensive unit being the soul of Michigan Football under Rodriguez. Oh yea, BEAT OSU
is jump out to a lead that forces them into a shootout type of game, terrelle pryor is simply not capable of keeping up in that type of situation. of course to do that you have to force turnovers and score in special teams.
Seconded.
If everyone remembers, when RR was hired he was deemed a "game changer" by coaches and the media alike in the sense that he is bringing a new brand of football to the Big Ten. Say what you will about the past couple of seasons, I truly believe he is building a team which will consistently challenge OSU for dominance in the conference.
Tressel has built (well) a program which relies on the run and solid defense. If you can jump on them early, force them to play in space, and play solid defense, I believe the rest will take care of itself.
Simply taking away, or at least limiting Pryor's ability to kill us with his feet will be half the battle. Musburger can take that "growing up before our eyes" crap and stick it where the sun don't shine. He simply is not a field general, and if you take him out of his comfort zone, I think that will be their downfall. Keep in mind when it comes to him and that offense, he is square peg. Does anyone really see him lighting anyone up for 300+ anytime soon?
Pryor's record as a starter is what? 18-3? In his first two seasons?
Texas beat OSU in last year's [whatever] bowl game because of a late game defensive breakdown by OSU.
Not a "field general"? What the hell does that mean? Our quarterbacks aren't even field seargants.
It is going to be tough this year. OSU looks very good this year (similar to the Troy Smith breakout year). Their defense will be among the best in the nation. The key to win this year is momentum from the previous 11 games. Michigan needs to beat CONN and ND first and foremost. Then beat BG and UMASS. Then go at least 4-3 if not 5-2 over the next 7 games. Only with confidence will they beat OSU this year. We are another year or 2 away from an equal "talent+experience" level with them, but confidence can get us a victory in a rivalry game.
I do think GERG should consider a 2-2-7 defense to corral Pryor however.
The key to beating OSU is defense and special teams... the two keys to beating OSU are defense, special teams, and turnovers... the three keys to beating OSU are defense, special teams, turnovers, and running the ball...
I, for one, believe that by the time November rolls no one will doubt that we will be able to compete with OSU. I am not a blind optimist, but when I look at our depth chart I feel like we have enough talent to match up for the first time since 2007.
Don't let him murder anyone (everyone does it..), especially any of our players on defense
Any of you Biology Majors know how to clone humans? If so, clone Brandon Graham X 22 and that should do it. Watching 22 BG's would make me happy...then again the Universe may explode.
Ritualistic sacrifice to Jobu, the voodoo spirit
Jobu needs a refill.
by Tressels and Izzos, and they're only coming into their prime(s) as field generals and strategists. I'd love to see us slice and dice those mofos like a frickin' Veg-O-Matic but at least for this year we're gonna need luck, especially if Pryor plays like he did against Oregon.
I want to see RichRod survive, and confidently going about his business as the O mastermind I think he is. But even if we're doing good this year my crystal ball says "tentative" in the big game.
Maybe Tressel underestimates us, and goes with the vanilla game plan again, saving the good stuff for the bowl. Maybe we are ON FIRE. This game isn't just about talent, about xs and os. It's also about the Michigan tradition, G*D D*MMIT!
Hope it happens in the snow. And 20 below.
In almost all cases, the years we beat them, we had better QB's. The years they beat us, they had better QB's.
"We will win, when we deserve to win." Playing better offense and defense than them should get the job done.
And lots of it. Throw in a little game plan and execution just to sweeten the deal too.
whose throwing shoulder isn't being held together by chewing gum and rubber bands would help. UofM hasn't been in that situation since 2006.
2009: Forcier...true freshman, torn labrum in throwing shoulder
2008: Sheridan...DEATH!
2007: Henne...throwing shoulder completely f'd up
So, 2006 was the last time UofM really had any realistic chance of beating OSU (ime) and they almost did...in Columbus...against the team that played for the MNC...and they only lost because of Crable's PF penalty.
Penalties happen. Every time OSU needed something in 2006 (and every year but one since Tressel took over), they've gotten it.
The 14-3 and 21-10 scores give us Michigan fans all kinds of hope--but did ANYONE think we were going to win those games, before, during, or after?
And again this year, we are reduced to a littany of "What ifs"
Many seem to be banking on Terrell Pryor not being able to throw a good pass--yet we bank on a guy who was injured against Indiana and another QB who isn't half the prospect Pryor was (Robinson). Oh yeah, there's all kinds of reasons to feel good about this year.
Start with losing Brandon Graham. The one defender who kept the Buckeyes from scoring 40 last year (the other was Tressel's coaching).
Now we depend on three star recruits from Ohio while they get the five star recruits from Ohio (BTW, our five star recruit from Ohio in 2009 doesn't exactly appear on the verge of starting just yet). We get loopy over Roy Vinnopal and Jake Ryan--they get the best of Ohio and continue to roll.
I'm not down--it's just that if you look at this objectively--and then combine it with the FACT that Rich Rod is a Dead Man Walking in many, if not most, of the people at Michigan's eyes--it ain't gonna happen this year, and after the team goes 5-7 again and Rodriguez is canned--what the hell is 2011 gonna look like?
Michigan football is toast.
Not to sound like a straight up dick, but it must suck to be you.
Play hard and don't suck.