Your keys to the game

Submitted by Buzz Your Girlfriend on

...Because there are very few threads about, you know, the game tomorrow.

My keys to a Michigan victory:

1. Offense:  Come out sharp early! There were a couple of games this year that our defense came out more ready to play than our offense. (OSU and MSU games stick out to me, but there were certainly others) An early touchdown or two can change the whole mood of the game.  It will play to our advantage if we snatch the lead early to pressure Miss State to throw more.

2. Defense: Four man front. Switch from rushing to dropping Roh back in a very shallow zone to help contain Relf from scrambling.

3. Special Teams:  Just stop kicking.

nsweet

December 31st, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^

I will go with scoring more points than MSU!

Seriously: 

Denard staying healthy,

no turnovers,

defense making a few well timed stops,

when and if it happens make the friggin FG!

Mich1993

December 31st, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^

I think it comes down to whether our DL can dominate up front (4 man line I hope).  Can a healthy Mike Martin be the difference along with Roh and RVB?

Mich1993

December 31st, 2010 at 10:30 PM ^

I don't mean get a draw.  A healthy Martin was definitely winning the battle at the beginning of the year.  RVB has been playing very well of late and could win his battles.  Roh can provide pressure, and I'd like to see Banks, Patterson or Washington in and holding their position.

A healthy Martin is a world of difference.

aiglick

December 31st, 2010 at 10:36 PM ^

The 15 Bowl Practices won't make our defense elite (not even close) but it should allow them to be more sound on fundamentals. Also, I don't always agree with Lou Holtz but I think that he's right that the team most excited to be in a Bowl has an advantage. The team that didn't play well to finish the season will have something to prove. NTMSU hasn't been in a bowl game in awhile either but Michigan definitely has something to prove after the Wisconsin and OSU games.

Denarded

December 31st, 2010 at 10:40 PM ^

I think a huge part is if Tay Odoms playing. He's Mr. Reliable when it comes to catching the ball and he might just be the best blocking wide out we have, and we'll need him on Denard's sweeps to the outside along with screens.

Bluestreak

December 31st, 2010 at 10:41 PM ^

the victory should be safe.

 

I don't know how many times this season we have lost the ball in promising positions and lost the momentum in the game.

 

DON'T LOSE THE BALL!

Bluerock

December 31st, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^

I'm goin with Zone Left, turnovers, we can't put the ball on the ground.  We hold on to the ball and hit some passes down field ....we're gonna be ok.

tno19

December 31st, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^

 

Not like this is preventable, but we simply can't have a Denard injury scare.  I don't care if it means the Wolverines lose by 30, we should not even consider burning DG's redshirt under any circumstances.

NebraskaStudent

December 31st, 2010 at 11:04 PM ^

Our defense in the middle part of the game will be huge.  We tend to start well and end well, but we always seem to struggle in the second and third quarter.  I don't know the numbers, but that seems to be the trend this year.

 

And whether the OOC schedule Denard shows up or not..

tybert

December 31st, 2010 at 11:51 PM ^

1. Score on the 1st two drives - whatever the hell it takes, including taking chances and throwing in a slew of new plays (Gallon in the Wildcat with Denard as a wideout).. Gives the D a bit of cushion. We shut down MSU, Iowa, and OSU on the 1st two drives, but our O scored a total of 10 pts. We had two drives killed by turnovers, one by a long 4th down w/o a kicker, and one by a rash of Lewan penalties.

2. Some special teams magic (recovered on-side kick, fake punt, etc.). Dammit, the "other" MSU got a winning TD off a fake FG, a key 4th down on a punt when NW decided not to cover the end closely, and a blocked punt that set up the winning score vs. Purdue. They are 8-4 and maybe down to the Insight Bowl without those plays. We got ZERO help in 12 games from our ST.

3. A steady stream of run blitzes to disrupt the beginnings of the option. We still screw up the "react" side of the Defense anyway. Why wait for Reif to decide, when we are bound to miss an open field tackle anyway?

I'm actually OK if we give up 2-3 50+ yd TDs. Just keep the foot on the accelerator on Offense and play this like it's the 67-65 game all over again.

ST3

January 1st, 2011 at 12:33 AM ^

Our O-Line is going to pave the way for 350+ yards rushing and will be named the co-players of the game. Of course, I always have this feeling when we play an SEC team in a Florida bowl game.