What can we take away from the Nebraska game?
I'm taking away another awesome performance from Will Hart, Ben Mason (!) smacking dudes, and a good aggressive performance on both sides of the ball from us.
Also taking away that half the Nebraska team is quitting on Frost already. Several of our guys, starting with Metallus and Winovich, stated after the game that Nebraska basically quit playing hard after our first score.
And for that last reason, my main takeaway is this was a solid win, but not nearly as impressive as we may have thought prior to the game being played or the final score. I don't know if it says a lot about where we are today. Still, a good performance, and we have to step it up a notch next week.
Or is this too Debbie Downerish? What does the board think?
September 23rd, 2018 at 8:57 AM ^
Wendy's has a great twitter account first and foremost.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:00 AM ^
That Nebraska currently sucks at football. Also, that it is no easier to judge the trajectory for Michigan in this season.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:02 AM ^
Nebraska is not good at football this year.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:02 AM ^
My take away is that Nebraska sucks and also that we're playing better.
That was the most fun I've had watching a Michigan game since 2016.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:03 AM ^
Nebraska has a run defense. I think it's reasonable that we can take away that our running game is very good.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:24 AM ^
A “really good” running game rushes for more than 1.8 YPC against ND. I’d say our running game has proven to be above average, nothing more so far.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:31 AM ^
Things change, man...it's tru.
September 23rd, 2018 at 11:08 AM ^
The OL allowed us to have a really good running game today. Let’s hope that continues.
September 23rd, 2018 at 12:24 PM ^
I don't watch football on Sundays.
September 23rd, 2018 at 10:45 AM ^
Play calling hurt us. The defense was too aggressive and put us in a big hole early.
It also felt like a game Jim just wanted to test his OLine out and not get Shea killed. We needed to open it up but did too little, too late.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:55 AM ^
Let's see how you feel about our running game after we play MSU and OSU. I think it'll be the same thing we've seen for 10 years. I hope I'm wrong.
September 23rd, 2018 at 10:06 AM ^
The same? I'd be okay with Higdon and Evans averaging 5 and a half YPC against OSU, only extrapolated into an offense that has a QB who can actually throw the ball.
September 23rd, 2018 at 11:20 AM ^
It's like the board refuses to acknowledge that every time we have played OSU(not counting when Durkin was planning his leave) we have only lost because of QB ability. The run game had been good enough, the line held up just enough, the D does its job. Combine all that every time with an above average QB performance and we win every time. Without a doubt in my mind that's what happens.
September 23rd, 2018 at 11:25 AM ^
Correct. And it's usually a QB who is either hurt or a backup.
September 23rd, 2018 at 11:04 AM ^
Fuck off with this bullshit. Michigan was legitimately one of the best teams in the country two years ago yet a third of the board acts like Brady Hoke is still the head coach. How do you even enjoy football?
September 23rd, 2018 at 12:05 PM ^
Amen! Still so many negative opinions after a performance that had so many positives??. Momentum is building for this team and program, and for some people, unless you go 13-0 and bring home the big prize, it will never be good enough. I suspect for those people,the day after a National Championship game would be spent worrying about what could go wrong in the first game the following year.
September 23rd, 2018 at 1:20 PM ^
Agree. The College Football landscape is not the same as it was 30 or 40 years ago. Limited scholarships, more TV money and exposure for every team. Michigan football was a dumpster fire 4 short years ago. Most of the teams in the BIG had thier way with Michigan. As a life long fan, it was a painful watch. I never thought that Michigan would see the run against them from both MSU and OSU, Never! That said, what we are starting to see is a program that will be 9+ wins every year. A team that will be in every game and with a few breaks will start to win BIG championships. This is the first year that the QB situation looks like it is solidified for years to come barring some bizarre injury run. Michigan is picking off some nice 5 star talent from places around the country. Michigan has a coaching staff that knows what it takes to win at this level. I don't see an Alabama like dynasty, but I do see years of prominence within the college football world as long as Harbaugh is coach. Yes, many of us would have like to see an OSU win and get back to the Big 2. But again, that isn't the way of the college football world in 2018. Be thankful that Michigan is ascending.
September 23rd, 2018 at 11:22 AM ^
Sadly, I agree with this take. I'm not letting a few cupcake wins cloud my take this year. Beat someone with a pulse - on the road. Our running game always looks good vs the weaklings and evaporates vs the good teams. Sparty will be stacking the box and stuffing our run game. Book it. Gonna have to get creative with the play calling and open it up or it's going to be the same ol thing.
September 23rd, 2018 at 11:26 AM ^
You know who doesn't say "we should be more creative on offense"? People who understand football.
September 23rd, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
I wish I could upvote this comment, Brutus.
September 23rd, 2018 at 1:27 PM ^
Sparty will be tough physical game. That said, win by at least 17... book it
September 23rd, 2018 at 2:40 PM ^
Creative? Did you not watch the game. We attacked them on the ground with RB and FB. We hit open WRs and TEs. Special teams, etc. Sure, the O-Line (and team) still needs to prove themselves against top competition. However, after yesterday, it's pretty clear this team has weapons. Higdon, Mason, Shea, DPJ, Gentry, McKeon...and others like Nico, Evans Wilson, as well Ambry, Bell and some of the back ups RBs.
If the o-line keeps improving. Watch out. We have weapons.
September 23rd, 2018 at 12:41 PM ^
Nebraska is definitely down but we still played a very good football game n all phases and the team just looks more crisp then they did in week one
I hope we continue on this trajectory and if we do I think we can win most of our remaining games. Felt we could go 10-2 in regular season and still feel good about that
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:04 AM ^
That Nebraska football fans right now TOTALLY get where we were as a fan base in September of 2008.
I mean they really get it.
Godspeed Nebraska.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:20 AM ^
This is way worse for them. Frost is their Harbaugh.
September 23rd, 2018 at 10:04 AM ^
They at least have a QB.
September 23rd, 2018 at 10:20 AM ^
Not so sure about that.
September 23rd, 2018 at 10:14 AM ^
They understood that back when Callahan was their coach.
They're coming from a completely different place than we were in 2008.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:04 AM ^
Given the sacks that Nebraska's D racked up in its previous games, it's encouraging to see Patterson and McCaffrey being able to pass well. The pass protection held up better than expected. (Improvement still needed, as shown when some pressure hurried some throws.)
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:06 AM ^
That Nebraska is very bad at footballing. This really was nothing more than a scrimmage.
good things: defense, blocking effort, special teams, Ben Mason.
Bad thing: We still allowed too many free shots at Shea.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:57 AM ^
I don't disagree, but sometimes he holds the ball way too long and ends up taking a hit in the process.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:06 AM ^
Nebraska is bad, but this Michigan team might not play down to its competition, which is refreshing.
September 23rd, 2018 at 12:05 PM ^
Yes it’s true. We have improved beyond barely beating teams with vastly inferior talent. Hooray for us! (Actually this really is refreshing—getting beaten (often crushed) by good times and eeking it out against bad ones was getting old. At least this year I feel like we have a shot at beating a team we lost to in 2017.)
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:07 AM ^
Shea Patterson changes what we can do on offense.
Our run blocking is getting a lot better.
Dylan Mccaffrey will be really good.
Defense starting to gel and look like 1 flowing unit with fewer missed assignments.
There is talent everywhere on the field, if only the tackles can hold up in pass coverage we can win the rest of our games - even OSU could be a coin flip if we keep getting better at this rate.
We might be good at football again, and unlike 2016, there is finally depth on this team so we may just be able to enjoy good things again for more than just one year.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:17 AM ^
THIS! Completely agree. And add that our kicking game is a weapon (kudos to Special Teams coaching). Yesterday was really fun. Can we start to climb out of the BPONE! No more dong punches, please,
September 23rd, 2018 at 10:31 AM ^
What does BPONE stand for? I tried to Google the acronym but came up with nothing.
September 23rd, 2018 at 10:41 AM ^
It's from the ND post-game article Brian put up. Black Pit of Negative Expectations.
September 23rd, 2018 at 11:03 AM ^
Thanks
September 23rd, 2018 at 10:45 AM ^
Black Pit of Negative Expectations. Edit: way too slow - should’ve refreshed to see if someone had answered.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:09 AM ^
My takeaway is that winning is fun. Winning big is even more fun.
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:38 AM ^
My takeaway is that visiting this blog is way more fun after winning
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:09 AM ^
*Martellus
September 23rd, 2018 at 10:03 AM ^
And don’t forget RA-shan Gary
September 23rd, 2018 at 10:24 AM ^
Gary Rashan
September 23rd, 2018 at 10:33 AM ^
Gashan Rary?
September 23rd, 2018 at 12:42 PM ^
NTTAWWT
September 23rd, 2018 at 11:12 AM ^
Delvin Bush
September 23rd, 2018 at 9:13 AM ^
Michigan could be pretty good. Or they may not be.
In all seriousness, I think it's obvious the OL is playing MUCH better than they did against ND, level of competition nonwithstanding. This team has a real shot to make some noise this year.
September 23rd, 2018 at 10:06 AM ^
Agree.
Combination of our team gelling a bit, and some of the other teams on our schedule looking a bit less daunting.
Definitely thinking a 9-3 or 10-2 type season is more likely than a 7-5 or 8-4.
September 23rd, 2018 at 11:50 AM ^
Can't be understated either the value in getting so much playing time for the back up OL. Should go a long way in preparing some new starters for next year, given expected improvements along the way. I feel like they are getting a lot more run than we've been able to give backups, rather than thrusting guys in due to injuries. Getting to run out 78 guys is a luxury we haven't had in some time. It's been a long time since getting ready to watch a game, and comfortably wondering how much run the backups should get....long climb out of the BPONE.