Rawls if he can hang onto it, I'd guesss
sonofasonofadomer
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| Date | Title | Body |
|---|---|---|
| 2 years 17 weeks ago | Southbendover... |
...Southbendover...thanks for the classy point by point debate. I disagree that the 50% that is wait and see on Kelly immediately condemned RR. I think most ND fans were skeptical of RR as a hire because Michigan, and the Big Ten in general, have always been a power conference/team. You beat Florida that way. It is your DNA. WVU was never regarded as having a dominant defense, and whether or not public perception is correct, I did not see RR in the same mold as Bo and Lloyd Carr. PSU stuck with Paterno (whether or not you want to believe it is his assistants doing most of the work) and they have cycled back to a solid top 15 team, with early season top 10 potential. RR definitely needed to get his "guys" in, but (a point I made earlier in my other comment) Brian Kelly is not in the same spot. I think your assessment of the ND fans perspective on BK is incorrect in that sense. He has personnel, with the QB injury being the only potential major issue. If he runs a double reverse from the goal line it will be frustrating, but I am hopeful that he will at least teach his team to tackle Forcier once in a meaningful spot, and maybe run the ball at game's end so you have to burn another timeout (ala last year's game in big house). I like Kelly as a hire, but I will wait and see... |
| 2 years 17 weeks ago | That's one perspective |
(Irish fan posting) I have gotten a sense on the message boards and recent ND articles that there is either guarded optimism (with the typical we will be AWESOME!! fanboys) or wait and see cynics (with a nice serving of BK is smalltime and will never be able to recruit, coach, etc). I would say its 50/50 at this point. I disagree that fans are taking the "wait until he gets his guys approach like RR". Aside from the injury to Crist, which is tough, the assumption is there is far better talent (based on star ratings at least) than he had at Cincy and there is no reason to not have a win now year (especially in light of our schedule). Regarding the S&C coach: Whether or not I like Michigan, both teams being mediocre at best is not good for either program in my opinion. |
| 2 years 37 weeks ago | Well you... |
...are fairly typical of the UM fan who never lost a game, simply gave it away. Unless bullcrap is having a special teams gunner lay out a returner while putting their helmet on the ball: bullcrap! If the logic persists that last year's game was a barometer of Michigan's likely success then why didn't ND win in 2006? Or UM trounce them last year? You can pretty much take nothing from a game played in half a hurricane that was 10 games and close to a year ago. UM has entirely new QBs, ND has entirely new coaches on both lines and RB. I think it is strange that so many wolverine fans are looking back at a loss to indicate a victory. Roh winning a starting job from older players might simply mean they were not that good (that was a joke, he is good, but still a freshman). I believe that Brian Smith is the best player on the D, not the bench-warming hawaiian. I am excited to seem him progress over the year (the hawaiian). The truth is this: somewhere between Irish's assessment (the Irish are national champs!! Weis for President! Clausen for Heisman!) and yours (ND is slightly ahead of Central Michigan and completely unable to block Mike Martin's biceps) is the likely assessment. These are two teams that looked better than most expected in week one against middling competition. This will probably result in a competitive game throughout where either ND's offense makes some plays against the Michigan D-line (sorry, your LB's and corners do nothing for me), or Tate Forcier exhibits the poise he showed in the opener at the home stadium and plays mistake free football allowing the run game to take hold. I think the freshman makes a mistake, and ND capitalizes. ND 27, Michigan 20. |
| 2 years 37 weeks ago | The skinny TE Rudolph. |
He will be playing on Sundays, and was the #1 TE recruit in the country last year. But your safety should have no problems with him. I know that Irish's analysis was through blue and gold lenses but.... So Manti is talented but can be tricked into a bad play or two, but Roh should have no problems? Floyd and Tate will be easily blanketed all day? Uh, ok. They did have success against other good DB's last year. Shocking, but true. Floyd is going to the NFL after his junior year (unfortunately). This game will be competitive, but Weis and Company should win this year. Simply based on experience and talent they are presently the better team. If Weis is to prove he is the coach for the future you win games that you are supposed to win. And ND is supposed to win this one. They might not, but they should. So the shutout was "flukey"? Well, then I sure hope ND gets all of the "flukey" breaks again this coming week. |
| 2 years 37 weeks ago | The little engine that could?? |
I understand the UM fan perspective concerning your team, but not sure that ND came into the season with a HUGE load of preseason expectations. They were ranked (and absent in many polls) around 23. The only HUGE thing on their shoulders was the looming criticism of Weis, his job security and a roomful of cynics. If ND were to even run the table everybody would be squawking about their SOS being light, blah, blah, blah... |
| 2 years 37 weeks ago | UM fanboy |
UM fanboy1: I know that we lost the game decidedly, but we really gave it away, what with the turnovers, missed reads, slips on the wet field, etc. UM fanboy2 confused: But don't special teams, turnovers and play execution count as well?? UM fanboy1: Umm, uh...did I tell you the latest Charlie Weis is fat joke?? ;) In jest. |
| 2 years 37 weeks ago | The key is after the WR's |
ND will run traps, three step drops and send the RB out to the flat to offset the pressure of the Michigan D-line. I would take Kyle Rudolph (TE) against the safety or LBs all day. If they are successful doing that then Graham and Martin can run up and say hello to Clausen all day while he watches another completion. Roh looked good against WMU, but Roh (or any LB) trying to cover Rudolph (if ND spreads the field with 3+ WR sets) should give UM fits if Clausen is on that day. I personally do not feel most college CBs can cover Tate or Floyd one-on-one if they are out on an island too long with them. That is why getting defensive pressure from your front 4 will be key. ND needs to have long, sustained drives. Because although UM has some talent (Martin, Graham, etc) you are still rebuilding the depth chart a bit. Anytime somebody from the two deep comes onto the field you are dealing with inexperience and/or a dropoff. As a sidebar: When did Hiller (WMU QB) become Peyton Manning?? |
| 2 years 37 weeks ago | I think that was a fair statement. |
The majority of the MSM (for what that is worth) and sites like Doc Saturday were showering a lot of love on Kapernick (spelling?). I think it is a fair statement that if RR was offered a trade of freshman Tate Forcier for third year Colin in the "offseason" you make that trade in a heart beat. Of course it was only Nevada (just like WMU are not world beaters) but let's try not to fall into the trap that because two freshman quarterbacks have ONE good day (and Denard doesn't make that run against most strong defenses) against WMU that suddenly they are head and shoulders above a third year starter in a prolific offense. Maybe wait until after game two. |
| 2 years 37 weeks ago | What is most exciting... |
...is this game feels like it matters a little bit again. And it has been some time. There will be some nice storylines nationally leading to some strong build-up. Has Rich Rod turned it around? Was WMU a fluke or foretelling" Will ND's air assault hit the skids or will the Clausen for Heisman campaign launch in the Big House? Will Weis and/or RRod be out if either is blown out? (Weis, I would hope, because he should not be...argh). If ND gets out ahead I think the irish take this one this year, in a SEMI-comfortable fashion. If it is tight, or Michigan has a huge kickoff return for TD, etc to jump out, it will be decided late in the 4th. Right now (I am an ND fan) I give the edge to ND's O against the UM secondary. Clausen, Tate, Floyd and Rudolph are the strongest unit when comparing both teams, and the one place where there is (on paper at least) the most obvious difference between the two teams. Many UM fans are looking at last year's game as a barometer of UM's success for this years, and ND's struggles, but with a hurricane deluge the second half and ND up early I think there is little if anything either team will carry over from last year's game. Clausen is much better, UM is a full year into their new system (new QBs) which is an improvement. I am looking forward to the game. |
| 2 years 37 weeks ago | A whole lotta #15's |
That is what I saw from the games this past weekend. A lotta #15's to be sorted out. There is congestion in the middle and over the next 3-4 weeks we still start to separate a true top ten from the rest of the field. By my eye OSU, VaTech, LSU, etc, all drop below top tier consideration based on what I saw. If the Huskies do not fumble at the goal line in the first half that is potentially an entirely different outcome. LSU's D and O were unimpressive given the opponent. Teams like ND, UM, Cal (very impressive), MSU looked a few notches better than expected. The end result, a whole lot of teams swirling around #15 give or take. I would welcome others take on my one other thought: Boise St. did NOT impress me week one. That was a horrible game. Sure their D seemed inspired, but I thought the Ducks playcalling and execution had more to do with their demise on offense than some inspired D: Lateral runs in the endzone, STARING at your one receiver. They played terrible. And Boise St., for all of their offensive firepower missed chance after chance and kept letting an Oregon team that was horrific hang in. They looked like a strong non-BCS team. Nothing more, nothing less...#15. |
