Support MGoBlog: buy stuff at Amazon

Why Michigan will win under the lights

154 posts / 0 new
Login or register to post comments
Last post
August 29th, 2011 at 8:20 PM
#1
Wolverman
Wolverman's picture
Joined: 01/21/2011
MGoPoints: 668
Why Michigan will win under the lights

  Notre Dame invades the Big House in a couple weeks and most experts as well as some fans are prematurely marking this up as a win for Notre Dame. The last three years have been terrible for Michigan football , possibly the worst in school history. In each of those 3 years Notre Dame has been favored to win , because of a late season collapse by the Wolverine and a supposed surge by the Irish. Things have'nt really worked out the way the "experts" have called it, with the Irish going 1-2 against 3 of the worst teams in Michigan history.

 What makes people so sure Notre Dame will beat Michigan this year? Notre Dame finished the season by slipping by USC and stomping Miami (yea that Miami), but those are'nt the games we need to be looking at. When evaluating Michigan vs. Notre Dame you should instead look at Notre Dames 2 late season losses. The reason why is simple , Miami and Usc run a pro style offense where the QB is a pocket passer with little to no chance for him to tuck the ball and bolt downfield for 70 yards. If you look at Navy and Tulsa who had semi mobile QB's ( NOTHING like Denard) The opposing QB both averaged about 4 yards a carry and more importantly they both won their games. This just shows that even tho the Irish's defense might have improved they did not improve where they need to in order stop Michigan.

 My final reason is the defense, even our 2 worst defensive units EVER played well enough to pull out a win versus notre the last two years. I'm not saying next year we'll look like LSU on the defensive side of the ball, but we won't look like RR's vision of a Michigan defense either. Notre Dame is a pass first offense, throwing the ball 481 times last year while they ran the 414 time for less yards as a team then Denard did by himself.  They lit up our secondary last year  , that consisted of J.t Floyd, Kovacs and a few freshman, but who did'nt. They played good enough to win the game and nothing has happend this offseason to make me think they won't do the same this year.

 I could leave out the fact this is the first night game in Michigan stadium history and the crowd and player will be crazy pumped or the fact that Notre Dame has'nt won at Michigan stadium since 1993 or something ridiculous like that as other reasons Notre dame won't win , but this game could be played in Notre Dame stadium, The Vatican or the moon and Michigan wins this game. 31-24

Top
Tags:

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
August 29th, 2011 at 8:24 PM
#2
robbyt003
robbyt003's picture
Joined: 10/25/2010
MGoPoints: 3127
well the big reason is...

NOTRE DAME IS ALWAYS OVERRATED!!!

“When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing” - Bo Schembechler

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:52 PM
(Reply to #2) #3
baldurblue
Joined: 08/24/2011
MGoPoints: 144
they are

i never understand it, it's like all the analysts are secretely rooting for them to be good and they think that if they say it enough times it'll come true

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 8:29 PM
#4
rtsannes62992
rtsannes62992's picture
Joined: 11/22/2009
MGoPoints: 338
We can't just look at the 1-2

We can't just look at the 1-2 record and look at that blindly. The win last year was definitely different than what it could have been with Crist out for a large portion of the game. Also the 09 game was very close it's not like either of those wins were dominating performances. With that being said I see no reason to completely write the ND game off as a loss. Let's wait until we see something from both teams this weekend to see if it's that big of a mismatch.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 8:36 PM
#5
IrishLax
Joined: 06/21/2011
MGoPoints: 41
Using the Tulsa and Navy losses as examples

Is really flawed.  Tulsa, besides their opening drive, couldn't move the ball and only had one offensive TD in the whole game.  They got their points off of a blocked XP, int return for a TD, punt return for a TD, etc.  Navy runs a completely and utterly different offense than Michigan.  

I think Michigan wins but it has nothing to do with Navy or Tulsa or anything that happened last year.  It has everything to do with the environment that the Irish will walk into at the Big House and the fact that Michigan will be much better on defense.  I just don't see Notre Dame scoring many points and I see Denard going Superman at least a couple times.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:06 PM
(Reply to #11) #6
Irish
Irish's picture
Joined: 06/05/2009
MGoPoints: 3693
Tulsa was a better loss for

Tulsa was a better loss for ND than UM last year.  UM was the lowest ranked team ND lost to last season, plain and simple.

Current Smug rating: "lethal"

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:36 PM
(Reply to #21) #7
bklein09
bklein09's picture
Joined: 08/24/2009
MGoPoints: 3443
I think that's supposed to be

I think that's supposed to be an insult...but we won, so you're really just insulting your own team/program.

Those Who Stay...

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:34 PM
(Reply to #11) #8
Incredible Hoke
Joined: 06/23/2011
MGoPoints: 247
L2Spell.. N00b

L2Spell.. N00b

HOKE SMASH.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 8:57 PM
(Reply to #4) #9
Bodogblog
Bodogblog's picture
Joined: 06/08/2010
MGoPoints: 9125
Tulsa moved the ball very well

400 yards total, 200 passing, 200 rushing. ND had a difficult time getting off the field, and any time a team puts 200 yards rushing on you, the Defense had problems. Tulsa also had 12 penalties for 133 yards, many of them drive killers.

ND should have won that game, but Tulsa moved the ball very effectively all day.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:04 PM
(Reply to #13) #10
Irish
Irish's picture
Joined: 06/05/2009
MGoPoints: 3693
How would the UM offense and

How would the UM offense and defense have done against Tulsa if Denard was knocked out of the game on the opening drive and didn't return?  What is UM's stat line?

 

Current Smug rating: "lethal"

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:08 PM
(Reply to #18) #11
mgowin
Joined: 03/03/2009
MGoPoints: 2369
Irish, you know better than

Irish, you know better than to come on here and bring up last years ( or the year before that, or the year before that...) defense. The Michigan defense we "saw" last year really didn't exist. It was a construct of the matrix or something like that. Last years defense was in Zion winning National Championships.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:26 PM
(Reply to #23) #12
Irish
Irish's picture
Joined: 06/05/2009
MGoPoints: 3693
Zion, haha, good times good

Zion, haha, good times good times

Current Smug rating: "lethal"

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:15 PM
(Reply to #18) #13
Bodogblog
Bodogblog's picture
Joined: 06/08/2010
MGoPoints: 9125
well if it was similar to ND's

the back-up would throw for 330 yards and 4 touchdowns in a little over three quarters of play. Rees threw 50+ times that game and played very, very well.  I doubt Crist would have played much better.  

Wood ran for 58 yards, 3.6 per

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:29 PM
(Reply to #25) #14
Irish
Irish's picture
Joined: 06/05/2009
MGoPoints: 3693
did you miss the 3 ints? not

did you miss the 3 ints? not to metion the game losing one.  He played like a true freshman qb, but I dont know that I would qualify that as very, very well.

Current Smug rating: "lethal"

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:40 PM
(Reply to #39) #15
Bodogblog
Bodogblog's picture
Joined: 06/08/2010
MGoPoints: 9125
Silly to put that last pick on anyone but Kelly

Run the ball to the left coach, and kick the fucking field goal.  Instead he called a time out and then a pass play to the end zone. 

If you have a modicum of sense, you don't make that decision when you're a head coach, especially when you are playing a true freshman QB.

In his first start ever, the kid threw for 334 yards and 4 TD's - Crist threw for 178 yards and 2 interceptions the week before at Navy.  No, I doubt Crist would have done any better.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 10:03 PM
(Reply to #39) #16
Waters Demos
Joined: 08/19/2010
MGoPoints: 3244
All of you who are negging

All of you who are negging Irish for raising legitimate discussion points, which are legitimate despite the fact that you merely happen to disagree, could you please neg me too?  Cheers.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 10:13 PM
(Reply to #70) #17
willywill9
willywill9's picture
Joined: 09/22/2008
MGoPoints: 11433
Wait, you can still neg? 

Wait, you can still neg?  Also, what if the referees had seen this:

 

We could play the "what if" game all day, the fact is Michigan won last year on the road. Weird things happen in this rivalry.

Touchdown Michigan!

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 10:54 PM
(Reply to #79) #18
Needs
Joined: 08/05/2008
MGoPoints: 4483
If the refs had seen that on

If the refs had seen that on replay... then ND would have been awarded the ball, first and goal at the 2. Ball ended up whistled dead in the end zone without anyone covering it.

Top
August 30th, 2011 at 10:11 AM
(Reply to #110) #19
MGoBender
Joined: 03/26/2010
MGoPoints: 7968
I was going to say you were

I was going to say you were incorrect, but I think you might be correct. If the ball is fumbled into, then out of the endzone, then the defense is awarded possession... Here's the rules:

 

Hi Phil,

This was a challenging question and I had to research it to find the answer. There are different rules in play depending on into which end zone the ball is fumbled. If the offense fumbles the ball into its own end zone the ball is live and all standard rules apply. The defense can recover for a touchdown or the offense can recover and either advance the ball or be tackled in the end zone for a safety.

I believe that your question actually related to the offense fumbling into the defense's end zone. In that case, their are a couple of different options. The defense can recover the ball and either advance it or they can down it in the end zone and start with the ball at their own 20 yard line. It gets really tricky if the offense recovers the ball. Here are the options.

1. If the ball is fumbled on 1st, 2nd or 3rd down and with more than two minutes left in either half, any offensive player can recover the ball for a touchdown.

2. If the ball is fumbled on 4th down or with less than two minutes in the half, only the offensive player who fumbled the ball can recover it for a touchdown.

3. If, in situation two, a different offensive player recovers the ball, the ball goes back to the original line of scrimmage and the offense keeps the ball.

However, none of these happened because play was blown dead when it shouldn't have. So I think we have an inadvertant whistle, meaning the offense has the choice of replaying the down or taking the ball at the time of the whistle (or in this case, where they last possessed the ball which is now loose). So, yeah, I guess this was a waste of time, but these deep rule book situations are always interesting to me.

Top
August 30th, 2011 at 2:29 PM
(Reply to #126) #20
Irish
Irish's picture
Joined: 06/05/2009
MGoPoints: 3693
I guess 5% doesn't sound that

I guess 5% doesn't sound that bad but situationally they were poor decisions, especially since everyone in the stadium knw the position the offense was in on that final drive. It was hs first season. I havent seen anything on fans NOT wanting Crist. Some certainly preferred Rees because they thought he was better as long as they win they wont care. But I think I will go with the staff who saw them in camp everyday

Current Smug rating: "lethal"

Top
August 30th, 2011 at 3:11 AM
(Reply to #39) #21
Blue since birth
Blue since birth's picture
Joined: 12/24/2009
MGoPoints: 916
Nice try...

"did you miss the 3 ints? not to metion the game losing one.  He played like a true freshman qb, but I dont know that I would qualify that as very, very well."

 

 

But ND only threw 3 ints that game. Rees, Montana, and Crist each had one.

Montana's numbers were very close to Crist that game sans one pass from Crist that went for crazy YAC (to Rudolph for 90-some yards?). Crist also put points on the board... But Montana's lack of doing so on one (arguably two) occasions were little fault of his own. IIRC one drive he led down the field ended in a FG because the sideline couldn't manage the clock before the half. He was moving the ball as effectively as Crist according to the numbers.

But I guess if enough people say the same thing ("if Crist had been in") enough times it becomes reality.

 

Top
August 30th, 2011 at 2:41 PM
(Reply to #128) #22
Irish
Irish's picture
Joined: 06/05/2009
MGoPoints: 3693
I thought we were talking

I thought we were talking about the Tulsa game?

If you are talking about the UM game, ND didn't score a single time when Crist was out of the game.  Man sounds like ND really lost a good one when Montana transferred.

Current Smug rating: "lethal"

Top
August 30th, 2011 at 6:43 PM
(Reply to #143) #23
Blue since birth
Blue since birth's picture
Joined: 12/24/2009
MGoPoints: 916
Yeah, I jumped the gun on

Yeah, I jumped the gun on this one. My apologies.

(more on page 2)

 

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:38 PM
(Reply to #18) #24
bklein09
bklein09's picture
Joined: 08/24/2009
MGoPoints: 3443
IRISH = EXCUSES You should

IRISH = EXCUSES

You should use that smiley face thing for when you are making an excuse for losing.

Or better yet, you should use the smiley when you AREN'T making excuses!

Those Who Stay...

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 11:27 PM
(Reply to #18) #25
hart20
hart20's picture
Joined: 05/25/2011
MGoPoints: 4709
Our offense would have been fine.

We had/have good depth at quarterback. Our defense would have been the same, Denard doesn't play defense. And again, Rees may have thrown the pick, but the loss  is on Kelly.

I blame 2013 on artistic renditions of pineapples.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 8:38 PM
#26
snoopblue
snoopblue's picture
Joined: 11/11/2009
MGoPoints: 2009
I still don't understand why

I still don't understand why everyone is saying ND is going to be good this year. They won some games last year, but they also lost some games too. I guess I don't follow them enough to know but it seems like they have the same team as last year, only with a healthy Crist. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think we'll beat em at night.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 8:41 PM
(Reply to #5) #27
mgowin
Joined: 03/03/2009
MGoPoints: 2369
Ratings. Its good for those

Ratings. Its good for those who make a living from covering college football for ND to be good.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 8:44 PM
(Reply to #7) #28
OHbornUMfan
OHbornUMfan's picture
Joined: 01/22/2010
MGoPoints: 1986
Good ratings to praise and to bait.

I saw Herbie today, when asked what number ND was a lock to win, say 5.  It was tremendous. 

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:09 PM
(Reply to #8) #29
mgowin
Joined: 03/03/2009
MGoPoints: 2369
was he at Tootsie's world

was he at Tootsie's world famous Orchid Lounge?

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 8:44 PM
(Reply to #5) #30
Run 2 Daylight
Run 2 Daylight's picture
Joined: 09/01/2009
MGoPoints: 3861
Well when you blast Utah and

Well when you blast Utah and Miami and take out USC on the road to finish your year in the first year with a new system and coach the future looks pretty rosey. When you put that up against a team who got taken out back to the woodshed 3 times in a row to end the year, lost its coach, and has an option QB it's pretty obvious who onlookers would lean towards.

My sources are unreliable, but their info is fascinating. 

 

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:01 PM
(Reply to #9) #31
Maize and Blue ...
Maize and Blue 4 Life's picture
Joined: 03/15/2009
MGoPoints: 3771
Utah?

Most overrated team in college football last year.  Miami wasn't exactly very good and they beat USC without Barkley in a down year for the Trojans.  

Last year is totally irrelevant now as we have a new coaching staff and schemes.  The question for me is will the D improve enough to offset what I believe will be a decrease in offensive production? 

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:19 PM
(Reply to #14) #32
Run 2 Daylight
Run 2 Daylight's picture
Joined: 09/01/2009
MGoPoints: 3861
Last year is totally

Last year is totally irrelevant but you're wondering if the D will improve enough and you're concerned about Denard's transition to the new offense? Oh, I suppose last year IS relevant, seeing as, for the most part, those are the players that will be playing. 

My sources are unreliable, but their info is fascinating. 

 

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:08 PM
(Reply to #9) #33
bklein09
bklein09's picture
Joined: 08/24/2009
MGoPoints: 3443
Ok, so ND went 4-0 at the end

Ok, so ND went 4-0 at the end of last season and we went 1-3.

But SOS has to be mentioned here.

If ND had played our schedule, I would guarantee they would have lost at least 2 of those games. ND was not beating Wisky or OSU. In fact, I think they would have been blown out like we were. ND may of had a chance at Miss State, but I still think they lose that game. So that puts them on 2-2 at best, with 1-3 likely. Hmm just like us.

Also, please keep in mind that USC was 8-5 last season and lost 4 Pac10 games. Miami was 7-6. Utah's biggest win last season was??? Pitt? SDSU? BYU?

Those Who Stay...

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:23 PM
(Reply to #22) #34
Irish
Irish's picture
Joined: 06/05/2009
MGoPoints: 3693
ND ended with the 4th

ND ended with the 4th strongest schedule in the country, UM wasn't ahead of them

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2011/Internet/toughest%20schedule/fbs_9games_cu...

Current Smug rating: "lethal"

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:40 PM
(Reply to #32) #35
bklein09
bklein09's picture
Joined: 08/24/2009
MGoPoints: 3443
Read my post.  I'm talking

Read my post. 

I'm talking about SOS in the last 4 games.

Does ND beat Wisky or OSU last season? 

 

Answer the question...

Those Who Stay...

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:42 PM
(Reply to #32) #36
justingoblue
justingoblue's picture
Joined: 11/16/2010
MGoPoints: 13218
Going off of nothing but wins

Going off of nothing but wins and losses maybe. A ten win Tulsa team compared to an eleven win Wisconsin team accounting for one point in that method? I wonder what would have happened if Utah-Army-USC-Miami had played Purdue-Wisconsin-OSU-Miss State? The only matchup that even sounds close is Purdue/Army.

"We bring you to Michigan to take care of Michigan; your job is to protect that block M."
-Carol Hutchins

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 10:22 PM
(Reply to #57) #37
gujd
Joined: 12/22/2008
MGoPoints: 210
completely agree

I was going to ask because it sounded strange, but SOS is not measured by winning percentage of the teams you play, but based on rankings, BCS or otherwise, right?

Proud member of the Rebellion

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:46 PM
(Reply to #32) #38
BigBlue02
Joined: 06/29/2009
MGoPoints: 1929
Who had a stronger strength

Who had a stronger strength of schedule for the last 4 games? After all, that is the reason for the optimism, right?

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:26 PM
(Reply to #22) #39
Run 2 Daylight
Run 2 Daylight's picture
Joined: 09/01/2009
MGoPoints: 3861
I totally agree with you,

I totally agree with you, however neither of us are responsible for Notre Dame's level of hype. Their fanbase is going banannas over how they ended the season (Which we absolutley would be doing as well), and analysts still respect those three teams they beat at the end of the year. So in regards to the OP's question as to why everyone (with a TV show, magazine, or blog that talks about ND) thinks Notre Dame will be vastly improved, those would be two big driving factors. On top of every thing else ND has going for them coming into this year.

My sources are unreliable, but their info is fascinating. 

 

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:27 PM
(Reply to #22) #40
justingoblue
justingoblue's picture
Joined: 11/16/2010
MGoPoints: 13218
Utah was overrated because of

Utah was overrated because of the Pitt game. Pitt was a top fifteen team and had legit talent all over the field (QB Sunseri didn't really struggle in that game, IMO) until they decided...well I have no idea what they decided other than to go 8-5 playing a BE schedule.

Utah then beat up on a bunch of weaker teams and remained undefeated, which is enough to get you really high in polls no matter who you're playing.

"We bring you to Michigan to take care of Michigan; your job is to protect that block M."
-Carol Hutchins

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 8:45 PM
#41
Gobluegr
Joined: 07/07/2011
MGoPoints: 649
Why Michigan will win under the lights...

Because it's Michigan for Gods sake.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 8:55 PM
#42
Irish
Irish's picture
Joined: 06/05/2009
MGoPoints: 3693
you're losing me....

Jacory harris is a pocket passer? Miami had and played 2 very scramble capable QBs, the offense is as prostyle as UM will be this year

How is Navy running the triple option almost exclusively even close to anything UM is running as a prostye offense?

So 2 losses closer to the middle of the season are more indicative of what ND's defense is going to look like than the final 4 games?  (Where they allowed less than 10 points a game,  averaged 268 yds of offense against.)

The 2 RBs you should be measuring are Jonas Gray and Cierre Wood, (#2 and #1) both of which averaged 5 or more yards per carry, though Jonas had much fewer touches.

 

Why is it all the posts and threads like this are about how ND isn't that good but none of them talk about why UM is better this year?  ND despite losing Crist for nearly half the game was still good enough to beat UM last year and nearly did.  With less than 30 secs left in the game ND marched right back down the field with one chance to throw into the endzone.

The ND team UM played in week 2 is not the team everyone is excited about, its the one that embarrassed Miami, beat USC, took down the #14 team in the country all with a true freshman QB when the team looked closer to falling off a cliff than even qualifying for a bowl game. Why is UM better this year?

Current Smug rating: "lethal"

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:02 PM
(Reply to #12) #43
raptor
raptor's picture
Joined: 04/11/2009
MGoPoints: 2030
GERG

Michigan should be leaps and bounds better simply by the replacement of GERG with an actually competent defensive coordinator. And Woolfolk is back so our secondary is significantly less filled with DOOM.

EEB c/o 2014

www.amassingmiles.blogspot.com

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 10:13 PM
(Reply to #17) #44
MGoBender
Joined: 03/26/2010
MGoPoints: 7968
Michigan should be leaps and

Michigan should be leaps and bounds better simply by the replacement of GERG with an actually competent defensive coordinator

That is faulty logic. Our defensive personelle is just as weak as it was last year.

Yeah we gain Woolfolk, but we also lose Mouton. Let's try to actually combat Irish's very valid points with some statistics or logic of our own, instead of throwing out weak arguments that make very little logical sense (talking to everyone in general, now, not just you).

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 10:43 PM
(Reply to #80) #45
MGoBlue96
MGoBlue96's picture
Joined: 12/26/2010
MGoPoints: 1816
Same personal yes, but

they are also guys who have a whole off season to improve. I think your underestimating the development that takes place in the offseason, specifically with young players. The scheme seems to fit the personal better. Not to mention Mattison is a sigfiicant upgrade at DC, and that will make an impact immediately even if it's not moumental. Individually I don't think those things would enough to make the defense sigficantly better, but colletively I think they will be enough to make the defense sigficantly better.

And no offense to Mouton since he gave his all here and could have been a better player with better coaching, but is he really that big of a loss?  He did make some big plays, but he also made just as many horrible/poor plays that were very costly.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 10:43 PM
(Reply to #80) #46
Bodogblog
Bodogblog's picture
Joined: 06/08/2010
MGoPoints: 9125
standard by now

reasons for improvement:
 - Woolfolk returns
 - Avery has experience (true freshman last year)
 - Roh not playing LB 
 - Jibreel Black no longer a true freshman, nor playing SDE where he was overmatched physically
 - Carvin Johnson not starting at OLB (at less than 200 lbs.)
 - Gordon beats out Carvin Johnson at FS (and I thought Carvin was pretty good)
 - scheme / coaching
 - actual blitz packages
 - Cam Gordon much bigger than last year
 - Full year of Demens
 - Martin/RVB/Roh/Demens/Gordon/Kovacs/Avery/Floyd all return

Against the one negative, the loss of Mouton.  We will improve significantly

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 10:52 PM
(Reply to #104) #47
MGoBender
Joined: 03/26/2010
MGoPoints: 7968
These are all valid points,

These are all valid points, but it's not like Notre Dame didn't have an off-season either.  They had players that progressed and put on weight and have more experience.  They also have an All-American.

I do believe our defense will be better (how can't it be, AMIRITE??), but "offseason improvement" isn't a very valid argument for why our defense will better shut down Notre Dame, who is returning a QB and stud WR and some solid backs.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 11:16 PM
(Reply to #108) #48
Bodogblog
Bodogblog's picture
Joined: 06/08/2010
MGoPoints: 9125
offseason improvement wasn't one of my arguments

though maybe you're directing that at someone else

And I left off one of the biggest - T/O margin.  Our long-awaited reversion to the mean will help the defense tremendously.

EDIT: also keep in mind that when talking about getting stronger in the offseason, it means more at M (and with most young teams) than it does with others.  People aren't arguing that Martin is heavier, or Molk, or even Demens or Omameh (though that boy is a beast this year).  They're arguing, or at least they should be, that Cam Gordon is much larger this year than last.  This means something b/c he was so under-sized in '10.  Same with Roh.  Size-wise, having a player get stronger and go from under-sized to average is a much bigger improvement than having and average sized player return as (still) an average sized player while just getting stronger.

Top
August 30th, 2011 at 10:16 AM
(Reply to #114) #49
MGoBender
Joined: 03/26/2010
MGoPoints: 7968
I was mostly directing it at

I was mostly directing it at others.  I think the player size gains are a little overrated.  JME.   Most teams have players playing at undesirable weights and they improve over the offseason.  While Michigan has more players with room to improve, I think that advantage pales in comparison to things like They Have Manti Te'o And We Don't.

But thanks for arguing things other than "We're Michigan."  Much more intellectually stimulating to read.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 11:34 PM
(Reply to #80) #50
hart20
hart20's picture
Joined: 05/25/2011
MGoPoints: 4709
Are you kidding me?

Gerg is 70% of the reason why the defense sucked last year. You don't think not giving receivers a 15 yard cushion on 3rd and 3 is going to help? Gerg is probably one of the worst DCs in all of football. 

I blame 2013 on artistic renditions of pineapples.

Top
August 29th, 2011 at 9:04 PM
(Reply to #12) #51
Bodogblog
Bodogblog's picture
Joined: 06/08/2010
MGoPoints: 9125
USC had their back up QB

who played awful. It was in the pouring rain, mitigating SC's athletic advantage. And they had a wide open bomb that was flat dropped, or they would have won that game.

Still, the winning streak at year's end was impressive - I thought they were done after Tulsa.

Top
Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.