September 5th, 2009 at 7:15 PM ^
BYU marching down the field on OU right now...pretty impressive so far
September 5th, 2009 at 7:18 PM ^
Tate can pass AND run:
Denard can run THEN pass:
Just what the preseason has shown.
With that said,
Nick is out. We have 2 QB's. It excites me.
Hopefully we saw our own weaknesses and can adjust for the ND game, and come up with a few tricks. It's a good day to be a MICHIGAN WOLVERINE!
September 5th, 2009 at 7:20 PM ^
Yep, all around great performance. Area of focus should be the secondary going up against Clausen next week.
It'll be interesting to see how the running game goes with Minor in as well.
September 5th, 2009 at 7:38 PM ^
Agree on the secondary. Donvoan got penalized a few times, but was solid otherwise. Floyd got burned a couple of times in the second half. They did tackle very well, which is definitely a good thing.
Hopefully Brandon Graham will get a couple sacks next week, because he was so close about 3 or 4 times. Craig Roh played well on the D-line as well.
Injury concerns: Cissoko apparently got a little dinged up towards the end. Hemingway didn't return after he got the first down in the third quarter and tweaked his ankle (I think). RichRod said in his presser that he thinks Hemingway is okay, but they might have to rest Cissoko some.
Here's to a good week of practice and to taking it to ND next Saturday. Go Blue!
September 5th, 2009 at 7:50 PM ^
I really hope Cissoko is OK. Floyd did not look good. I rather see one of the true freshmen.
September 5th, 2009 at 7:37 PM ^
If I only considered today
PSU (took care of business vs weak Akron)
ND (35-0 vs Nevada, similar preseason rankings quality to WMU)
MSU (takes care of business vs FCS team)
tOSU (squeaks by Navy, similar preseason rankings quality to WMU)
Wisc (in progress, winning 7-0 1st qtr vs N Illinois, preseason rankings slightly lower than WMU)
Purdue (takes care of FCS Towson)
Illinois (destroyed by Missouri)
Iowa (Sneaks by FCS N. Iowa)
Indiana (squeaks by FCS E. Kentucky)
EMU (yet to play but among FBS worst)
Del State (no need to see 'em)
Adjusted for common sense, adding whether I think Mich should be favored
PSU slight dog
tOSU slight dog
ND toss-up (ND favored by negligible point or two)
MSU toss-up
Iowa slight favorite
Ill slight favorite
Wisc slight favorite
Pur strong favorite
Ind overwhelming favorite
EMU overwhelming favorite
DSU favored such that no line will be issued
9-3, 8-4 all of a sudden looks baseline. If we win next week, 10+ wins are possible.
September 5th, 2009 at 8:11 PM ^
"ND (35-0 vs Nevada, similar preseason rankings quality to WMU)"
Uh no, USA Today's preseason rankings had Nevada tied for 40th with 11 points. Thats 10 more points than UM received, and the spread for the game was UM with 2 TD.
So no they're not similar.
September 5th, 2009 at 8:28 PM ^
I don't know why you're comparing Nevada to Michigan because the point was that Nevada and Western Michigan are similar level of opponents.
I think he's right. Both Nevada and WMU have bad defenses and were supposed to have good offenses. So while Michigan and Notre Dame's offensive output might not mean much, their defensive strength was impressive. Next week will be a much tougher test since that will be a large step up in competition for both schools.
For an example of preseason rankings, NY Times ranked Nevada 48th and WMU 56th. I think that counts as pretty similar.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:36 PM ^
I didn't even know the NY Times had a preseason ranking, and didn't check it before making my post. If your just looking at that list your right, that isn't a big difference in ranking, I should have checked more than just espn's listings.
September 5th, 2009 at 10:14 PM ^
I'm not sure what other rankings are available online. In my personal opinion, the NYT quad ranking of Nevada and WMU is pretty reasonable. I think they're both good mid-major teams but not great teams. I predict both teams will go around 8-4 or 9-3.
Nevada did receive 11 points in the Coaches poll and WMU got none. However that is not much of a difference considering Florida had 1466 points and the number 25 team (Oregon St) had 165. So 11 points is just about meaningless. Nevada is probably slightly better than WMU but I don't think it's much of a difference in quality.
Like I said previously both teams are probably pretty good on offense and both are pretty bad on defense. I am very impressed that Notre Dame shut out Nevada. I expected Nevada to put up a lot of points.
September 5th, 2009 at 11:13 PM ^
I think I can agree with everything you have said.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:07 PM ^
Because, as we all know, pre-season rankings are the exact measurement of how teams will do in the regular season.
Sometimes, a team in the WAC plays like a team in MAC.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:33 PM ^
I made no comment on the accuracy of preseason rankings, but if the poster is going to compare Nevada and WMU on the basis of their preseason rankings being similar; I would not agree.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:58 PM ^
But do you think the two are similar after seeing both of them? Nevada was supposed to have the vaunted pistol and wmu was supposed to have the vaunted Hiller. Clearly neither worked.
September 5th, 2009 at 11:09 PM ^
Until I have seen more of the UM game I don't want to make to strong a comment but I would put Nevada above WMU just looking at their offenses. Pass defense was pretty much mirror images of each other, considering nevada's pass defense was dead last last year you could make the argument that WMU's secondary was stronger and I wouldn't have much to say otherwise.
But the offense, Nevada averaged over 37 points per game last year and brought back 3, 1,000 yard rushers this year and Kaepernick can throw (over 2,800 additional yards in the air). Thats beyond prolific. Again I haven't seen much of the game yet, but what I did seemed to be hiller hand cuffed by his inexperienced receivers with deflections and bad routes. At the same time that could be the result of a good pass rush hurrying hiller into bad throws, not certain yet.
September 5th, 2009 at 11:47 PM ^
I watched both games. Honestly, neither Nevada nor WMU could get anything going. To say Nevada is significantly better than WMU is grasping at straws in a big way.
September 5th, 2009 at 8:00 PM ^
The music is getting worse. They just played a remix of "this is how we do it" during the OU/BYU game.
September 5th, 2009 at 8:09 PM ^
Looks legit.
September 5th, 2009 at 8:29 PM ^
So many penalties this game. I wouldn't be surprised if penalty yardage was somewhere near 60% of the total yardage.
EDIT: Since that sounds confusing: Say both teams have a total of 400 yards so far, they might be approaching 240 penalty yards. Yeah, that's an exaggeration, but it seems like it's been like that.
September 5th, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^
And Sam Bradford is down and holding the throwing shoulder.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:01 PM ^
Woah. I've been watching the Alabama game. Just read your comment, so I flipped over and saw Bradford in street clothes with his arm in a sling.
Have there been any updates on his status?
September 5th, 2009 at 9:07 PM ^
I haven't heard anything specific. There was some speculation about collar bone, but nothing substantial. It didn't look too bad on the fall.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:03 PM ^
currently on the sideline in a sling and t-shirt
September 5th, 2009 at 9:08 PM ^
Bradford is out for the rest of the game.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:11 PM ^
I'm pretty pumped about the late west coast games myself. Even though i think Cal will kill Maryland, and LSU will destroy U Dub, I want to see Locker and Best play. I just hope i don't see Best throw up Gatorade like he did last year. I can't belive that BYU actually has a chance to be Oklahoma.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:14 PM ^
Thataway Tribe. Way to beat up on UVA.
Absolutely great victory for the Tribe.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:32 PM ^
Big pick for OU. Great hands by Clayton to bring it in. Short field for OU
September 5th, 2009 at 9:33 PM ^
For those that may not be watching the Alabama V-Tech game, Julio Jones is sorta good.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:52 PM ^
Not sure how the VT/Bama game is going, but if you can watch the OU/BYU game, its 13-7 OU, there's 8 and change left, BYU is on the offensive 40. It's getting intense.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:54 PM ^
Thanks for the tip, will be making the switch.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:56 PM ^
BYU quick snaps for a 12 yard 4th and 8 conversion. HUGE
September 5th, 2009 at 9:57 PM ^
HORRIBLE PASS INTERFERENCE CALL
September 5th, 2009 at 10:00 PM ^
Touchdown BYU ties it. PAT will take the lead with 3:03 to go
September 5th, 2009 at 10:05 PM ^
Down only 8 w/ a minute left, NIU had the ball in Wiscy territory (about the 30), but didn't make it on fourth-and-three.
B10 not exactly murderer's row this year.
September 5th, 2009 at 10:15 PM ^
Oklahoma is inside BYUs 35 yard line and driving with 1:33 left in the 4th
September 5th, 2009 at 10:16 PM ^
Everything comes down to this 4th down play
September 5th, 2009 at 10:18 PM ^
54 yarder? If Purdue can kick 59 I guess. Bringing in the punter to kick it too. As a Texan, may you miss
September 5th, 2009 at 10:19 PM ^
left and short. BYU gets the ball with 1:23. OU has one time out
September 5th, 2009 at 10:20 PM ^
HE MISSED IT! BYU has to get a first down and the game is over.
September 5th, 2009 at 10:36 PM ^
Bad break. No way BYU wins with a healthy Sam.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:00 AM ^
Injuries are part of the game, every team knows this. BYU won fair and square.
September 5th, 2009 at 10:36 PM ^
Let's stop interviewing NASCAR drivers during football games.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:02 AM ^
Go UDub! They've outgained LSU by quite a bit but are down 17-10.