Todd McShay on ESPN
Todd McShay was asked to buy or sell certain college football teams this morning on either First Take or SportsCenter (can't remember which). On Michigan, he has a buy. Says
-lots of weapons, improved offensive line
-although questions on defense
-THERE ARE NO ELITE TEAMS IN BIG 10 THIS YEAR
-therefore, despite holding teams to a very high standard in this little game, Michigan is a buy
-this means he believes Michigan is "in the mix" to win the conference
Many of us would agree with this: improved offense, questionable defense, weak Big 10, anything can happen. We will know a lot more when Tate takes his show on the road.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:31 PM ^
... don't get me wrong, I like that we are in the position to get the favorable press from the national media. I just have to take it with a grain of salt. It just takes one loss to a poor team for them to start claiming the sky is falling.
I guess it doesn't sell ads when you say, "Michigan is going to have a decent season." Either we're in contention for the Big10 title or RichRod is being run out of town.
Yellow journalism is alive and well.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:31 PM ^
are there really any elite teams this year besides florida and maybe alabama
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:37 PM ^
Florida looked pretty average against Tennessee. Without Percy Harvin it's much easier to stop Tebow.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:25 PM ^
I've thought all along that Percy Harvin was the key difference maker on that team. He always bailed them out in critical situations when they needed a big play. I think they will really struggle to replace Harvin's clutch production.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:44 PM ^
Urban was really counting on Nu keese Richardson (Tenn. ) or Denard Robinson (US) to come in and be his new Percy Harvin. Thankfully both left him in the lurch and his team will pay for it before the season is over. GO BLUE !!!!!!!!!!!
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:13 PM ^
and alabama's offense can be stopped if you have a good secondary.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:02 PM ^
co-sign death_roh. I was thinking the same thing earlier. I almost want to say just Alabama at the current moment. I just don't have enough evidence on Texas yet, and OU, having their starting QB or not, was close on BYU, a team I'm definitely not as high on after watching them play FSU.
USC is down, ACC isn't really dominating in their wins. Don't know enough about Cincy. I'm not sure who else you'd tab as elite.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:11 PM ^
I think it's Florida, Texas, and everyone else. And in truth, Texas and Florida do not strike fear in my heart either. This year looks to be a collection of 1-loss teams vying for a shot at the MNC, with no dominant team emerging.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:15 PM ^
+1 for the sweet username. Did you notice for most of the EMU game the tv announcer kept pronouncing it Rah until you could hear the stadium announcer in the background pronounce it correctly? What an IDIOT.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:15 PM ^
miami has been pretty convincing
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:45 PM ^
We'll have a much better idea about how good Miami is after the next 2 weeks, especially if Bradford is healthy.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:32 PM ^
to relax a little on big 10 championship. Out of 80 something scholarship players 60 something are freshman and sophmores, lets wait till next year before this hype train gets rolling
(also not trying to be a downer just think we need to level expectations a little)
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:38 PM ^
I agree. Take it one game at a time.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:41 PM ^
What's Todd McShay's MGoBoard name?
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 PM ^
A quick google search for "Todd McShay english bulldogs" brings nothing of value up.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:09 PM ^
returns 95,400 results, but the first, from wikipedia states:
Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately.This must be a controversial individual.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:09 PM ^
I agree. the general sentiment on this board at the beginning of the year was 7-5, 8-4 plus a bowl game. So far, the offense has looked better than expected while the defense has struggled. Even if you count ND as an upset, this team still looks like a Capital One/Outback bowl team. Nothing wrong with that, but maybe a year or two away from elite status.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:11 PM ^
Or at least wait until we win some conference games.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:33 PM ^
we need to see how this team does on the road when they are down by 2 scores late in the 3rd quarter....
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:35 PM ^
we really dont play anyone that tough on the road this year (iowa is not that great), our real test we'll be against penn st
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:41 PM ^
Are we really discounting Sparty already? If Cousins could hit the broad side of a barn, they would be 2-1 with a win on the road against ND. We are at their place and they have a countdown clock for us so we know they will be ready to play.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:52 PM ^
To discount them, we would have had to count them in the first place.
Yes, they'll be ready for us. Yes, they'll be angry. Yes it will be a test. But, I don't think any of us are as scared of this game as we were before MSU lost to CMU and a team we already beat because of glaring mistakes.
Bring 'em on.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:37 PM ^
i personally loved this by him "I only buy on teams that I feel can win their conference."
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:40 PM ^
that being said, let's not get too caught up in the MSM. You can bet they'll be calling for RR's head again once we lose (and it will happen at least once this year). The MSM is a fickle (and often grossly incorrect) beast. Better treat it like Jabba the Weis: stay away from its mouth and anything that comes out of it.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:45 PM ^
He also listed Forcier as his #5 player not named Tebow or McCoy. Went on later to discuss how he took Forcier OVER Clausen.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:45 PM ^
aren't going to be huge, huge challenges for this team needs to put down the bong and come back into touch with reality.
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:49 PM ^
i think people are saying we dont have tough games on the road in a relative manner. msu, wisky, and iowa will be tough, but nothing like osu in columbus or psu at happy valley. you can throw ND in south bend to that list too. id take the first 3 on the road before the latter 3 any year.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 PM ^
I hate when people say we don't play any tough teams on the road or anywhere else for that matter because it means we are looking ahead of the task at hand and already deciding the outcome of games before the one in front of us is finished. We are 3-0 just like many other teams and it is amazing considering where we were this point last season. I like to be optimistic as the next person but let's enjoy THIS WEEK and THIS GAME before talking about a Big 10 Championship that will not be decide for another 8 games.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:32 PM ^
USC at Washington didn't look like a tough game until kickoff.
I don't mind people looking ahead; that's their right. But for myself, I like to savor each week, especially after last season. I think there are going to be alot more surprises in the Big Ten season this year.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:07 PM ^
perception/reality of the B11. Washington is now pretty good and if and when OSU or PSU loses to a Iowa or Wisconsin or whoever then it will bee that OSU and PSU aren't that good. Until our top tier teams start winning big games this will not change. It's probably a fair argument.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:49 PM ^
The key to our season is:
1. Stay injury free as possible e.g. No DEATH, and keeping our starting DB's in the game.
2. Productivity on D
GERG is doing a great job maximizing the talent on D, and making adjustments. Hope that someone can step up on D. The fact that walk ons can see time on D speaks volume.
3. Tate and the offense continuing their progression so the staff can implement more of the playbook. I've heard only 70% is being utilized so far. We will need to be an especially prolific scoring team this year.
The road game that concerns me most is PSU. I suspect we have a chance of being favored in the others.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 PM ^
PSU? We get Penn State at home this season. Did you mean MSU? I think we have a chance to be favored in the MSU, Illinois and Wisconsin games. I think we have no chance of being favored in the Iowa game. Night game at Kinnick, Vegas will make us the dog for that one.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:59 PM ^
Yep
I meant Sparty. We will be favored, but their season will be on the line after losing at Wisky
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:03 PM ^
Don't get me wrong, I'm not sitting back cackling with glee that we're going to get Sparty with their backs against the wall for our game. I'd much rather go into that game with MSU pumped up and overconfident than desperate and scrappy. That MSU is going to be a HUGE challenge.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:02 PM ^
With all the trash talking Dantonio has done in the past, you know this is the most important game on the schedule for him. Whether he would admit that or not. Even if MSU comes into this game 1-3, it would still make their entire season if they could beat Michigan.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:50 PM ^
On elite teams this year, I'm buying:
Florida
Miami (yes, that Miami..have been very impressed)
Alabama
Possibly Penn State but we'll see
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 PM ^
just because we say a game ahead should be a win or isn't that tough doesn't me the team is looking ahead. The TEAM is the one that needs to stay focused. One of the most fun things to do as a fan is to speculate on what upcoming games will hold for us. None of us are coaches or players on the current team
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:56 PM ^
+1. That's why the polls were created. True story.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 PM ^
That's good to hear. Thanks for the post.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 PM ^
You are correct death_roh and if I could +1 you from my phone I would. The only thing that kinda confuses me , and don't get me wrong because I do not want this to be misunderstood to be negative, is that all these analysts were the ones talking bad and doubting Michigan and RR in spring and just before the season and we paid no bit of attention to it then. But now that they are on the national bandwagon their opinions are to be taken seriously? It is great to hear these things I just take them for what they are worth I guess and that is speculation.
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:08 PM ^
That's a hell of a good point, MWW6T7. If we're going to say the MSM consists of blowhards, morons, and idiots but then turn around and grant them credence when they are high on us, we are hypocritical. The MSM only matters for one thing, in my opinion: Public Relations for potential recruits. They don't change my opinions one way or the other, and I would imagine most of the people on here agree. So, if they talk bad about us, to me, it's bad b/c I don't want bad PR flowing our way that can help negative recruiting against us, and if they're talking us up, that's good from a PR standpoint. But their analysis or their predictions are honestly worthless. I’d probably rather they just kept our name out of their mouth(s), really.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:10 PM ^
I don't see Rich Rod letting this team get too cocky or comfortable. He knows as well as the team that they have a lot of work to do, that they are young and need to keep learning and executing in order to win football games.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:21 AM ^
whenever michigan loses, the first people i blame are the fans who stopped taking it one game at a time.