Week 7: Best thing you saw...
What nearly ended up with being the fans of the clear #2 team in the land didn't end up quite so, but a very entertaining week.
- Tennesse (and Ole Miss) finally gets the door shut on them as pretender
- NC State and Wisc nearly pulled off upsets (as did Indiana)
- Sparty goes down again
- Ohio looks mortal, as does Clemson
The best things for me this week, though, are:
- the safety by Northwestern - one of the best, cleanest hits on a QB you'll ever see, and with tremendous authority as MSU's QB was horizontal immediately after the hit - the definition of a 'de-cleater'
- this article... http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/sports/ncaafootball/houston-cougars-t… ... coaching, like leadership, at every level is about teaching and caring; winning is only a result, of good teaching and building believers amongst the team, the team, the team...the article struck an interesting chord with me
What you got?
October 16th, 2016 at 7:02 AM ^
Seeing how vulnerable OSU is was the highlight for me. I really don't mind that they won. But I have to believe that JH et al are going to look at the tape of that game and it is going to help them. Both in offensive play calling, and in what the defense does (against OSU).
At this point,
- I think Clemson will lose to FSU, but even without the loss, they fall behind us.
- MSU and ND have already been terrible. Wanting more just is piling on to me.
- Put Houston and Ole Miss in a similar category.
- Tennessee has been exposed.
No matter what happens, Michigan controls their own destiny. The crummy thing about looking at other teams and counting on them to lose or win or do something is that you aren't looking at yourself and what you need to do yourself. If Michigan loses to OSU, than UM isn't there yet, and SHOULDN'T be in the playoffs.
In going back to my main point, I really hope that Michigan is very judicious in what they reveal to OSU over the next 5 games. Only reveal what you have to, and what you need to in order to sow doubt in their minds. I also hope that for the rest of the season, a significant amount of time, and some in practice each week, is given to prepping for OSU. I know all about coach speak. But cumong, look at the next 5 games. Are you really concerned about MSU? Iowa? Indiana? Maryland? (forget about Illinois. That's a foregone conclusion.) Yes, you have to throttle those teams, and can't overlook them or look past them. But IIRC, Bo was preparing for OSU every single week. I'm sure Harbaugh hasn't forgotten that. This is the critical year to beat OSU.
- It knocks them out of the playoff picture
- It puts us in the playoff
- We have a senior laden team, and could struggle more next year.
- It evens the record between JH and Meyer.
- OSU will have a lot of experience next year, and be harder to beat.
October 16th, 2016 at 7:45 AM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 8:08 AM ^
What is jt barret's class standing?
I thought he was a redshirt junior.
Is he an early entry guy?
October 16th, 2016 at 9:03 AM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 9:29 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 9:38 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 10:28 AM ^
Keep all of the Michigan players healthy for the OSU game. With OSU looking vulnerable on defense I believe Michigan will get to put the dagger into the heart of the "Urbz is unbeatable" legend and FINALLY renew the rivalry. GO BLUE
October 16th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^
The only point I disagree on is that OSU will almost certainly still make the playoff if we beat them, unless we really humiliate them.
October 16th, 2016 at 7:40 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 9:17 AM ^
The trash fires at ND and MSU make a nice backdrop to CFB this season...someone pass the marshmallows!
October 16th, 2016 at 7:48 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 8:10 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 8:33 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 9:47 AM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 7:58 AM ^
OSU is very mortal. Our defense will severely limit (not totally shut down they'll get a few plays) their run game. Then it's our secondary versus Barrett's passing game and that is a matchup you really have to like. It looks like our offenses are equally capable and our defense is clearly a step ahead. I like our team, Harbaugh, and the best player in college football to give us the edge.
Notre Dame and Michigan State might combine for 2 more wins? Maybe? They should beat Army and Rutgers, respectively, but that is it. They're both headed for 3-9 seasons and it's a great time to be alive.
Louisville might get back in to the playoff due to Clemson's shakiness, but they are also mortal. Don Brown can and has shut down Lamar Jackson in the past. Duke wins that game on Friday if they don't rough the kicker. Duke.
The PAC 12 is a nut house and Colorado might win it.
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October 16th, 2016 at 7:58 AM ^
If there was one important takeaway for me, it was probably that - OSU does look mortal, and that game provided me with a little hope even though they did pull out the win in overtime.
Also, I did talk to a few Spartan friends who are at least hopeful that their younger players - some of whom did well yesterday - are the answer. Not this year, of course, but moving forward. Most of them seem to have given up on this year being in any way meaningful.
October 16th, 2016 at 8:27 AM ^
The speed at which all my spartan friends have abandoned this team is amazingly pathetic.
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October 16th, 2016 at 8:39 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 8:11 AM ^
Go Broncos!
October 16th, 2016 at 8:18 AM ^
Plus ND lost again!! Great bye Week!!
October 16th, 2016 at 8:22 AM ^
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2. Michigan / Clemson / OSU / Washington
6. Texas A&M / Louisville / Nebraska
Just win baby.
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October 16th, 2016 at 8:29 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 8:46 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 8:47 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 11:02 AM ^
Please stop repeating D'antoni's quote (yes, a saying derived from the Bible) as if he taught all of us a valuable lesson about life and humility.
The truth is that there are better and worse things in life. Starting quarterback is a better position than back up quarterback. President is a better position than vice president. The University of Michigan is better than Michigan State University.
The subtext to his quote is that between equals we possessed undeserved pride. By repeating same, the subtext to your post is that balance has been restored and we are now equals again. You settle for too little.
Would you take a quote from your little brother and seethe for years to gain enough strength and stature so that one day you can re-use the quote back on him? No. We went through an unprecedented down period. We got knocked down. We stood back up. There is no need to apologize for the natural order of things.
Your very username is "UMProud". Be it.
/endrant (and semi-tongue in cheek post)
October 16th, 2016 at 1:30 PM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 2:05 PM ^
for using "cockgoblin" in a sentence
October 16th, 2016 at 10:50 AM ^
on them if we have a chance. I can totally see the postgame press conference where Harbaugh is asked why he went for two.
I keep imaging his response being something like: "I remember a while ago when we lost a real tough game. A real tough one. We had to watch the opposing team taunt our students and then one of the coaches taunted our fans. He kept saying 'Where are all the Wolverines at?!?!"
"Well (motions over his shoulder as if to point to a scoreboard), I don't think anyone is going to wonder where the Wolverines were at today."
October 16th, 2016 at 11:43 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 8:31 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 8:45 AM ^
-MSU losing. It's great seeing the shoe on the other foot and watching them go down the toilet. But they know exactly what would save their season at this point, and that's beating us. They're out of the running for playing in any bowl game that matters, so beating us is all they've got left. We'd better be ready for anything that day. A lot of trickery and misdirection. Anything to keep us off balance. Dantonio is coming into that game with a brand-spanking-new playbook.
-ND losing. Because obviously.
-Hated seeing Wisconsin lose, but they did show that OSU is mortal, and they can be beaten.
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October 16th, 2016 at 8:45 AM ^
Best things: The UW defense doing to OSU what they did to us. That is what I've wanted to see for the last two weeks - just how good OSU's offense was against a legit defense. And I didn't see them any better than UM's offense, although thier kicking game was better. I also don't think the Badgers played as well - they missed a lot of tackles being too aggressive. OSU was on the road, so that played against them. But Michigan's defense is on a different level from UW's - and UW's is pretty friggen good.
I was surprised how well UW moved the ball on offense. OSU's defense didn't impress me as much as I thought it would. I feel good for a late Nov game...
The MSU/ND meltdown has been a joy to watch. The train wreck that is Brian Kelly is really becoming unhinged. I didn't think his job would be in jeopardy because of one poor season. But he has really got to be embarrasing ND in the post-game pressers. It's not a good look...
I think we jump Clemson, but don't see why we'd jump OSU. They faced a challenge on the road and won it against a VERY good - and legit Top 10 - UW team. Honestly, I'd keep UW in the Top 10 (ahead of Nebraska and just behind Clemson).
Another good thing - four B1G teams in the top 10, and they all looked good. Indiana is a damn good team, and taking both OSU and UN to the limit proves it. I'm kinda glad they didn't have this defense last year!
October 16th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^
That is the one game left on our schedule that really scares me. They're underrated, and it's right before what might be the second biggest game of Harbaugh's career to date (besides the Super Bowl, obviously). I think they have a real chance to upset us if JH and crew aren't careful. Then again, I do not believe Jim will let his dudes look past anyone.
October 16th, 2016 at 12:50 PM ^
Their secondary is still atrocious and Legow is a turnover machine. They are a .500 year that lost at home to Wake Forest. They are not good.
They should have lost to MSU at home as well, but Sparty has rediscovered it's historical tendency to do dumb things at the worst possible time so IU won.
IU will be competitive, but UM should win by two-three touchdowns.
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October 16th, 2016 at 8:49 AM ^
and no one else in the room to have to share it with.
October 16th, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 10:17 AM ^
Did you get any ranch? They have amazing ranch.
October 16th, 2016 at 8:54 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 8:57 AM ^
Bump if you're a pussy and can't handle an off year at MSU You slap-dick, em'effing, pole-smoking, fudge-packing babies should have been around 20 years ago because you'd cut MD some slack. Choke on a bag o' dicks.After getting a bit of contrary opinion, he follows up with:
Yep. Thanks, plenty of pussies. Lemme guess, you jack offs weren't born during the jls years? The Williams years? Get the sand out of your vags. No one is asking you to like it--just respect what md has given you.I have to ask: would that win Scott Tenorman of the Week? Or Tears of Unfathomable Sadness?
October 16th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 10:33 AM ^
Kelly would f*** up Tom Brady We should replace Play Like a Champion Today with Play Like We Are In The Conversation This Year.
October 16th, 2016 at 10:32 AM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 10:34 AM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 9:09 AM ^
In football, I'm going to resist trolling future opponents that we play on October 29 and November 26 until after we beat them.
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October 16th, 2016 at 9:47 AM ^
in East Lansing, winning by 2 TD's, shredding entire Sparty D except for McDowell. Dabo needing to find a four leaf clover to win at home over NC State (even though he did find it gosh darn it).
P.S. Almost forgot, also Coach Harbaugh announcing Antioch High's Homecoming Queen (friday night yes, but saw on Saturday), followed up by his working another high school game chain gang on Saturday in Northern California. Coach is a relentless recruiter for Michigan.
October 16th, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^
McDowell was completely unblocked on three plays that I saw, and it wasn't because he was stunting or moving around. On one McDowell sack, the NW center just moved out of McDowell's way to double team another rusher, leaving an open path to the QB right up the middle. McDowell is very good, but NW's OL mistakes made him look even better.
October 16th, 2016 at 9:41 AM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 1:22 PM ^
Awesome slo-mo at 0:39.