What to look for in the last 2 weeks

Submitted by SpreadGuru on

Since when does Michigan turn into a "we need razzle dazzle trick plays" type of attitude.  Here's what Michigan needs to do the last two games...COMPETE.  Go out and hit both of them in the mouth, tackle better than we have, protect the ball and execute.  If we do that, those games will be fourth quarter "up for grabs" types and we will all be happy.  I personally think that we are going to win at least one of them.

But we won't do it by not being physical.  Wisconsin and Ohio State will try to "out-physical" us and if that happens, it could be ugly.  Our offensive line has been a bright spot all season and now this is their "coming out" party.  Defensively, we dominated the line of scrimmage against a weak Purdue team.  Now the "D" needs to strap it up and get going.

Our tackling will need to improve.  Clay, Ball , White, Herron and Saine are 100 times better than any piece of crap from West Lafayette.  We have been better at gang tackling and I think that is a positive.  When the poor-mans Cam Newton (Pryor-although I am sure he is not poor$$$$$) carries it, we will have to be great 1-on-1 tacklers and I believe in our guys.  We need to try to make both teams one-dimensional.  If we can do that, we will be in good shape.

Also, we are becoming the worst team in the league in ball security.  That being said, I don't think it is impossible for us to protect the ball.  We did it early on vs. UCONN and ND, we need to revert back to form.  Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that the only thing stopping us is turnovers?  We are not punting the ball a lot so let's be +3 over the next two weeks and we'll be fine.

Lastly, just execute.  QBs need to grade out highly with the zone read and we need to be physical.  Throw the ball to the proper spot/receiver and let's run.

I am fired up.  Hey Wisconsin and Ohio State, do you want some?  Well come get some...

Be afraid, be very afraid.

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Football

aaamichfan

November 15th, 2010 at 8:43 AM ^

24 hours is up. Wiscy is coming in with an idea to physically beat Michigan. They want to go to the passing game at their option, after they've blown us up on the ground. And yeah, they want style points in Michigan Stadium. I don't care if we even win this game. I want to see M out-hit these fat bastards. I want Mouton, Martin, and Demens cracking heads like they know they can. Sell out for the run, let the secondary deal with the PA fakes. Our offense will score often enough. It's all going to hurt this week, everyone's getting bruised and bloodied. Hard Edge? That's this week. Seniors should be proud of getting this team back to winning, and to a bowl. But they didn't come to Michigan for moral victories. They came to be great. When these fat fucking bastards get back to Madison, after they've shaken the cobwebs out, make sure they know where they've been.

Joined: 10/23/2009

MGoPoints: 14362

Wolverine0056

November 15th, 2010 at 8:45 AM ^

Yeah turnovers are hurting us. Our defense has had some unfortunate series because of the offense turning the ball over so much the last two games (mostly). Besides the opposing offense having great field position quite a bit the last two games, our defense has played pretty decent, IMO. I think Denard just needs to slow down a little bit when it comes to throwing the ball. He is making some mistakes because he is not going through his passing progressions completely. 

As long as our offense hangs on to the ball and doesn't have 5(!) turnovers, we will play pretty competitively the last two games and hopefully pull away with at least one win. 

Joined: 08/02/2010

MGoPoints: 7773

blueheron

November 15th, 2010 at 8:48 AM ^

I don't disagree with all of SpreadGuru's post, but these parts were hard to read:

* "Go out and hit both of them in the mouth ..."  Are you suggesting that Michigan has played soft?  As Pete Carroll might say: What's your deal?

* "But we won't do it by not being physical.  Wisconsin and Ohio State will try to "out-physical" us and if that happens, it could be ugly."  Really?  You have to be physical in football?  I had NO idea.  Surely Taylor Lewan, David Molk, and Mike Martin could learn something from you.

Joined: 03/26/2009

MGoPoints: 30729

tlh908

November 15th, 2010 at 8:51 AM ^

Right now I am hoping for a bright sunny day on Saturday with no rain and decent temperature.  Then our offense will once again be unleashed and Denard puts up a 200/200 yard game.  

Joined: 09/25/2010

MGoPoints: 2842

Don

November 15th, 2010 at 9:07 AM ^

I really doubt that either Wisconsin or Ohio State are afraid of anything they'll see from us. If you're admonishing either a team or a fanbase to be afraid, it's more logically ours.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148257

TorontoBlue

November 15th, 2010 at 9:25 AM ^

mostly cloudy, low 36/high 50, 20% chance of precip. 

be loud, be very loud in the Big House - let's f*ck up Wiscy's season and put an exclamation mark on ours at the same time.

GO BLUE!

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 956

oakapple

November 15th, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^

That's just a laundry list of the usual things that are necessary to win tough football games: tackle, execute, “grade out highly,” protect the ball, make the opponent one-dimensional. Is there any football cliché you left out?

Joined: 02/06/2009

MGoPoints: 2130

Firstbase

November 15th, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^

...will play a role. Cold / wet will make it harder for us to compete, certainly.

If in the 40's or 50's and dry, we'll have a far better chance, IMO.

EDIT:  Almost forgot. Denard will need to lose the tentative nature and just go for it, the way he did the first five games. He's been gunshy the past few games and not running or throwing with as much authority.

Joined: 09/30/2009

MGoPoints: 9374

funkywolve

November 15th, 2010 at 11:06 AM ^

These are arguably going to be the two best teams that UM plays this year.  The next two are probably Iowa and MSU and in both of those games UM was down 21 points heading into the 4th quarter.  I'd love to see UM win the last two but at the very least I'd like the games to be competitive for 4 quarters.

Joined: 10/08/2008

MGoPoints: 20184

jhackney

November 15th, 2010 at 11:35 AM ^

HARD EDGE! I can't wait for the coming out party for the o-line either. They have only allowed Denard & Co. to gain 521.7 YPG so far. This is the game they open it up!

"What are these muthaf*ckin badgers doin in this mothaf*ckin stadium?"

-Tate N. Forcier

Joined: 12/11/2008

MGoPoints: 19772

Bleed.Blue.

November 15th, 2010 at 12:04 PM ^

Does anyone remember what we did to wisconsin in 2008 at home, they were ranked high and things werent looking good for us but we still found a way to win!! That was by far one of the greatest games I have ever been to. Just thinking about it gets me PUMPED!!! HARD EDGE BABY!!!!!!!!! 24 hours are up.

Joined: 11/14/2010

MGoPoints: 13

kalamazoo

November 15th, 2010 at 2:30 PM ^

I remember the announcer..."Minor...is MAJOR, TD!!!!!!"  He was waiting all day for that.

Then the gift interception return for a TD and the whole team was like, wow, we're winning!

(EDIT: I had to watch it again and thought it was funny how the timekeeper was trying to keep us in the game...before realizing we were winning and starting up the clock again...clock stalls at 10:27 from Minor's TD through the ensuing kickoff and next interception return TD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7zTselUuB8.  There probably was an adjustment somewhere though.)

Joined: 08/20/2010

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