BTN: Is it time for the B1G to start fearing Michigan?
September 27th, 2015 at 3:05 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 27th, 2015 at 3:41 PM ^
After all, coaches fear their players will underestimate unheralded opponents.
Other coaches will fear us in a way they haven't for years. They will fear our gameplans and our ability to adjust them. They will fear our intensity and depth on defense. They will know they can't demoralize us anymore with a fast start. That doesn't mean Urban Meyer is quaking in his boots.
September 27th, 2015 at 5:41 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 3:05 PM ^
Come on. Let's take a step back. We have a while to go. We won't know how good this team really is until after the MSU game.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:40 PM ^
A Big Ten Network writer wrote this, not a Michigan fan.
September 27th, 2015 at 4:25 PM ^
To play devil's advocate, that writer's job is to write pieces will generate the most interest and conversation. Stroking the ego of Michigan fans while indirectly trolling MSU and OSU fans is a great way to do that.
September 28th, 2015 at 9:16 AM ^
Re-read the article. He did not say anything that controversial. It was not click-bait for Michigan lovers and haters.
Even Speilman said it: "The Big Ten is on notice."
If you are circling consequential B1G East games that will determine the championship, you are no longer just circling OSU-MSU in November. Michigan will have a direct, meaningful say on who wins the division.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:05 PM ^
We may be getting a bit ahead of ourselves. Let's beat our rivals. This was one dominant game, however we need a string of them to start getting cocky.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 27th, 2015 at 3:09 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 27th, 2015 at 3:33 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 4:16 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 27th, 2015 at 4:43 PM ^
I don't care how bad Idaho State is. 80 points is impressive.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:09 PM ^
I think they all started fearing back in December when Harbaugh was hired, some were in denial.
I really felt like with the talent we had coming back that all we needed was some great coaching and a 10-2 season was possible, looks like we have a damn good chance at that.
Elite defenses will do that for you, allow the offense to find itself, which looks like that's happening and look how improved the special teams are in all phases......it's happening!
September 27th, 2015 at 4:18 PM ^
Actually, though, it started back in late October when it became crystal clear Hoke was most likely gone, and Brandon with him, and JH looking for sure to make a job change.
Now, there will come the inevitable weeping and gnashing of teeth by all that had the bad judgement to poke a sleeping giant.,
The one person any lucid UM hater did not want to see in AA was---HARBAUGH.
IT'S HAPPENING!!!
September 27th, 2015 at 3:09 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 9:17 AM ^
I would not want to play us.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:15 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 27th, 2015 at 3:24 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 7:49 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 3:15 PM ^
I think that the whole B1G took a step back and said "Oh, shit" this weekend. Michigan has given up one TD in the past 175 minutes of football. Think about that.
I'll conceded that OSU is the best team in the B1G.......but # 2 is VERY much in doubt at this point.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:29 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 5:32 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 27th, 2015 at 8:40 PM ^
Say that again.
September 28th, 2015 at 9:21 AM ^
Yeah, Oregon's defense is hardly a good test about how good your offense is. If you put Oregon's defense and Arizona's defense in a room, they could not stop the air from closing the door.
September 27th, 2015 at 5:40 PM ^
they're playing someone else. By contrast, everyone has looked good against Oregon's D.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:42 PM ^
I concede nothing to any program on our schedule. I think we can beat any of them. Now, we also could lose several of them, especially if the turnover bug returns, but there isn't a game (OSU included) that I think is unwinnable.
September 27th, 2015 at 4:57 PM ^
By "concede", I mean that I think OSU is the best team in the conference. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that I think they'll win any particular game. We've seen what OSU did in the playoffs last year.......and most of them returned.
On the flip side, I don't think that any other team in the B1G has shown that they have the ability to be better than this Michigan squad. We still have a lot to learn about MSU, Iowa and Wisconsin.....maybe even Minnesota and Nebraska. I really like where Michigan is positioned because we're physically seeing them get better from week-to-week.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:51 PM ^
Harbaugh and staff are a significantly better coaching staff than what Meyer has. Michigan is also loaded with talent, seniors and experience and is improving rapidly.
September 27th, 2015 at 4:24 PM ^
And our quarterback is better than theirs too......... not.
September 27th, 2015 at 4:35 PM ^
And our quarterback is better than theirs too......... not.
Killer reference, Garth!
September 27th, 2015 at 5:24 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 8:42 PM ^
But I agree with his basic assumption. I do believe that our staff is superior to your staff at this point in time. The players, however, play the games.
Go Blue.
September 27th, 2015 at 9:30 PM ^
the crack pipe
September 27th, 2015 at 3:16 PM ^
Let's all slow the horses and focus week by week. Enjoy the ride
September 27th, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 3:24 PM ^
I still worry about Rudock giving Michigan a dynamic enough passing attack to be balanced and able to keep pace with the Buckeye and Spartan offenses, and the ability of this linebacker corps to protect the middle of the field, but point taken. Michigan is unlikely to be the best team in the conference when it's all said and done (not saying they can't be), but they are going to improve weekly and will no longer be a team that can be taken for granted.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:39 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 3:49 PM ^
...one the other hand, is Rudock and the Michigan offense worse right now that Conner Cook and the MSU offense in September of the first year that Cook started (2013)?
Arguably, Rudock and M's offense are ahead of MSU's offense in 2013 at the week 4 point.
MSU began that season with a very poor offense and a really good D. They relied on defensive scoring in the early part of the year to win games.
As the season went on MSU's offense improved but never got above the level of 'competent.' But they won the Rose Bowl with a moster D and a very average offense, and finished 13-1.
Not saying that is the exactly same situation, or saying that Michigan is likley to do the same. I remain in the camp that thinks M is greatly improved over the first 4 games, heading in the right direction, but still has a long way to go before really being a top 15 team.
But Harbaugh is sort of using the same model MSU used in 2013: Play great D, deal with a not yet great offense by asking them to do only what is with in their (Rudock's) capabilities, and get better every week in all pahses of the game.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:56 PM ^
Well, Cook was also a sophmore (right?) with minimal game experience and hence room to grow. Rudock is a fifth-year senior and likely is what he is. However, I would certainly add the caveat that he has only been in Ann Arbor since the summer and is likely still getting comfortable with the system and the receivers. So we'll see.
September 27th, 2015 at 4:23 PM ^
You have sound reasoning and I really hope we beat everyone rest of the way. The one difference I do want to point out is that we were a dumpster fire in 2013. MSU is a better team than we were in 2013. So, we get to go through two good teams, while MSU only had to worry about OSU.
September 27th, 2015 at 6:51 PM ^
...Rudock as 5th year not the same as first time starter Cook as a sophomore.
Also, M schedule this year is harder than MSU in 2013.
Per Wikipedia, in 2013 MSU won the 'Legends" division. The runner up tie was a not very impressive 8-5 Iowa and 9-4 Nebraska, so their Legends division opponents were not very strong. MSU did not play OSU in the regular seasn, but did beat OSU in the CCG. Michigan was not a good team in 2013, so not a tough game for MSU.
Anyway, I still would guess than Michigan's 2015 offense is better than MSU's 2013 offense,, as of week 4 of the two seasons. And if Michigan's D continues to be really strong and improve each week, then anything is possible.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:17 PM ^
Headset-less Brady Hoke and his short-sleeved shirt have been replaced with hyper Jim Harbaugh and his Sharpie, play card and Mother Goose glasses. It’s a whole new ball game in the Big House. It may be time for the rest of the Big Ten to start getting afraid.
They kept saying during the broadcast that the Big Ten has been put on notice, and that might be a good way to put it actually. I don't know that it is outright fear that I would be talking about at this point, but the confidence and coaching and, particularly as in yesterday's game, the way Michigan just shut down a rather talented squad, definitely make me think the conference should be at least a bit nervous, with some teams being fearful now. We do have the conference schedule - including rivals - ahead of us yet, after all.
September 27th, 2015 at 8:45 PM ^
That both Mike D'Antonio and Urban Meyer woke up this morning with a far greater sense of urgency to be prepared for Michigan.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:17 PM ^
A week ago everyone was ready to downgrade the team to 7-5 or worse. Yesterday was a great game, but let's see a full 60 minutes of execution on offense before we start putting teams on notice.
September 27th, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 3:20 PM ^
Defense wins championships. If this team can sustain and build upon their performance yesterday, there is no team that can beat them. Bronco said Michigan was on another level than anyone they've played.
Another level.
I suspect this is an NFL team by mid-season, scheme and level of play-wise.
Put on your seatbelts.
Go Blue.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:22 PM ^
And I bet by December, they'll be ready to take on the Patriots!
Come on.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:32 PM ^
Critical reading is a lost art.
'Scheme and level of play-wise'. Omitted was personnel-wise.
You have an NFL staff playing NFL schemes (playbook). If executed on a high level, what indeed would they resemble?
You come on.
Go Blue.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:42 PM ^
Critical thinking is a lost art, apparently.