Saturday Morning Beaver Talk
Oregon State kicked off their season last night. I wouldn't blame you for not noticing, as it was on the PAC 12 Network. But they won Gary Anderson's first game, beating Weber State 26-7. Their new QB ran for 152 yards, if you'd like to find something to worry about this morning. The Beaver defense played very well also after having a poor 2015, holding WSU under 200 yards of offense and stopping them on all thirteen third down conversion attempts.
Now here's the good news: Weber State is an FCS team coming off a 2-10 season. The score was only 6-0 at halftime, and 13-7 after three quarters. OSU went 6-17 on third down, and passed for only 110 yards with an interception.
I've heard some concern about this game from some fans, so what does everyone think now that we know a little more about both teams?
September 5th, 2015 at 8:48 AM ^
27-7 Michigan
OSU is not very good, we're home and oh yes
Harbaugh
UNLV vs Weber State would've made the old "pillow fight" hall of fame - they are baaaadddd.
September 5th, 2015 at 6:27 PM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 8:49 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 8:59 AM ^
I saw it and thought, "Today - September 5th, 2015 - is the day someone on the blog just up and went there with a thread....well, this season anyway."
Then I found out the thread was about Oregon State, which is at least more topical than some of the overnight fare.
September 5th, 2015 at 9:02 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 9:04 AM ^
couldn't have been worse than the gay porn a Penn State fan spammed us with after the 27 for 27 game
September 5th, 2015 at 9:52 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 9:59 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 10:04 AM ^
I came for the Beavers.
September 5th, 2015 at 9:06 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 10:12 AM ^
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September 5th, 2015 at 8:50 AM ^
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September 5th, 2015 at 9:07 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 8:53 AM ^
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September 5th, 2015 at 9:49 AM ^
Have to give up on my prior 11-1 projection as no longer realistic.
September 5th, 2015 at 10:24 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 11:32 AM ^
you guys are going to be the ones, not the only ones who will be disappointed and become negative...maybe not you TWO, but there will be plenty who picked 10-11 victories who will be horrible to see posting on this site...don't be that guy...
September 5th, 2015 at 12:02 PM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 8:54 AM ^
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September 5th, 2015 at 9:03 AM ^
we will be okay, but they will be well-coached. I'm sure they will improve from week 1. Our goal should be to fix the mistakes from last week and continue to improve. Add in some things for the guys to improve on for the following week also.
September 5th, 2015 at 9:03 AM ^
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September 5th, 2015 at 11:37 AM ^
This game is the least likely to lay an egg. First home open under Harbaugh. Bitter taste of a winnable loss from last week is in their mouths. We'll be favored at home. The Beavers will put up a fight but we'll run away with it in the 3rd quarter.
September 5th, 2015 at 9:06 AM ^
We get a couple extra days to fix mistakes/prep for the next opponent, this is good. In years past (bye weeks before MSU), I dredded more practice time under Hoke because he was bad.
September 5th, 2015 at 9:06 AM ^
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September 5th, 2015 at 9:27 AM ^
Weber State is not just FCS its a horrid FCS team. With these mismatches I tend to look at the halftime score as the "better team" is usually putting in backups in the 2nd half at some point and the "bad team" is worn down, as its usually much smaller physically. So that halftime score or end of 3rd quarter tells me a lot more than what happened in the 4th.
Mike riley left at the perfect time - that putrid defense lost 9 starters and the only weapon on offense went to the NFL. They gave up 35, 38, 37, 31, 29, 45, 39, 27, and 47 pts in their 9 conf games. And again - lost 9 starters.
If a true freshman Qb comes into UM and does well UM has much larger problems then the running game. Indiana brought in a freshman QB last year and even Hoke's team handled them. I expect OSU (NTOSU) to be the worst or 2nd to worst team in the Pac 12 this year although I love the new staff - in 3 years this is going to be a very well coached team who gives Pac 12 powers problems, esp at home.
By the way Oregon St was AWFUL on the road last year with a much more experienced team. The people who are worried about this game are thinking of the name, and conference and didn't look at the roster and turnover. They are installing a brand new offense to boot - its like going from Carr to rich rod ...with a freshman Qb. So think 2008 Michigan offense.
I expect this to be the 2nd or 3rd easiest game on the schedule. I'm expecting something like 34-13 and a lot of people who don't realize how bad Oregon State is, to be yelling "Michigan is back" and talking 11-1 after this game.
Preview I wrote a few months ago below.
September 5th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^
stops being a turnover machine, every opponent is dangerous for Michigan.
September 5th, 2015 at 9:09 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 9:12 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 9:19 AM ^
I think Michigan wins. What I'm also interested in is seeing if Michigan can improve in certain key metrics in the process.
Obvious key metrics -- final score, turnovers, rushing and passing yards.
Metrics I'm very interested in -- first down production, third down conversion rate.
Last year Michigan was horrible with first down production ... resulting in lots of 2nd and longs. Against Utah Michigan did a little better. Sadly, Utah did better than Michigan.
I have a debate raging in my mind about which, ultimately, is the more important metric -- 1st down production or 3rd down conversion. A good 1st down rate suggests an offense that moves well; a good 3rd conversion rate suggests a team capable of sustaining drives.
Anyway ... I'll be watching for Michigan to improve its 1st down production rate. Fewer 1 yard or -1 yard runs. Fewer INC passes on 1st. More 5 to 8 yard gains on 1st, please.
September 5th, 2015 at 10:25 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 11:58 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 11:10 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^
We can't wait until we're behind in the second half to play pass-first, though. Based on the past two years (and the start of the last game), you can be sure every opponents' initial defensive gameplan will be to overload the box and stuff the run up the middle. Hoke kept bashing his head against a wall for two years because he thought we would just get tougher or something. We have to be smart and take what they give us.
September 5th, 2015 at 9:24 AM ^
OSU, unfortunately for them, is going to bear the brunt of Michigan's rage from the previous loss. We got this one by at least 2 TDs and it'll serve as a decent tune up for the tweaks that JH & company will make after the Utah loss.
Oh and.....
September 6th, 2015 at 10:43 AM ^
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September 5th, 2015 at 9:27 AM ^
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September 5th, 2015 at 9:31 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 9:32 AM ^
the Michigan OL can handle. I think all of our backs will get a lot of yards. I look at this as an overall confidence building game! I would say Michigan 31 vs OSU 13. If we lose this game at home it will be one of those long awful seasons ala '08!
September 5th, 2015 at 11:29 AM ^
remember thinking that against Akron...I know, the guys are older and different coaching staff...still brings back memories:(
September 5th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^
Weber State went 2-10 last year and the year before. In 2012 (the year John L. Smith bailed on them) they went 2-9. OSU used 2 QBs last night. The QB who started in the 2nd half did lead them to 2 TDs and 2 FGs. He looked pretty fast and elusive, but a lot of Div 1 skill position players look / are fast compared to FCS players on bottom dwelling teams.
If Michigan doesn't win by at least 2 TDs, we probably should start worrying about the rest of the season.
September 5th, 2015 at 9:46 AM ^
If UM doesn't unleash unholy hell on them then something is truly amiss.
September 5th, 2015 at 9:49 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 9:49 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^
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September 5th, 2015 at 9:58 AM ^
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September 5th, 2015 at 10:09 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 10:33 AM ^