MLive's 5 Things to Watch for Rutgers game

Submitted by Cranky Dave on
MLive's 5 things to watch in Rutgers game starts with Michigan needing more Drake Johnson. I completely agree and thought he was the best back on the team since last season, when he's healthy. He looked good against Minnesota (5.5 YPC) and with Smith dinged up would guess he starts and gets bulk of carries this week. Also talks about potential matchup between Caroo (ankle injury) and Lewis. http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/11/5_things_to_watch_mic…

Naked Bootlegger

November 3rd, 2015 at 12:24 PM ^

My top item to watch for involving the Rutgers game is the post-game NYC area TV ratings.   I want solid evidence that adding Rutgers to our conference was worth it, especially since TV markets seemed to be a primary motivating factor from B1G officials.  

I don't think I'll get that solid evidence. 

Blue in Yarmouth

November 3rd, 2015 at 2:54 PM ^

but whether you get any evidence or not what does it matter at this point. This is just another one of those things that people continue to complain about long after the arguement has any relevance. Was RR a good coach or not? Not relevant. Should he have been fired? Not relevant. Was Brady Hoke a good hire? Not relevant. Should the B1G have added Rutgers or Maryland? Not relevant. The time has come and gone for discussion on this topic, it's time to let it go. Rutgers and Maryland are here whether we like it or not...Time to move on. 

A better question that still has some relevance and could potentially find some traction is whether the man heading the B1G is doing an adequate job? You could then use the fact that Rutgers and Maryland not being weing worthy of the B1G as a portion of your evidence as to why this clown should be let go. Other than that, the evidence you seek isn't going to do an ounce of good whether you unearth any or not. It won't change the fact that they're here...

gwkrlghl

November 3rd, 2015 at 4:01 PM ^

Is there any way to eject Rutgers from the conference now that they're in it? What if I go to Highpoint Solutions Stadium with a wrench a disassemble it under cover of night? What if I lead a successful campaign to have half the viewers in the NYC metro to cut the cord?

Because we're paying Rutgers to suck. I wish they would go back to the Patriot League where they belong

JonnyHintz

November 3rd, 2015 at 6:52 PM ^

Yes, but that was the whole point of adding Rutgers. In order for that large UofM alumni base in NYC to be ABLE to watch Michigan on BTN, the conference needed to add a team from that region so that they could have the network be a part of that cable package. Something similar would be the Pac-12 adding Notre Dame. Then, the Pac-12 Network would become available for people around Notre Dame. That would add Chicago and Grand Rapids as markets, and possibly even Detroit. While Notre Dame is a good team, and Rutgers is not, the addition is more about the large alumni bases in NYC of other Big Ten teams than it is about Rutgers.

softshoes

November 3rd, 2015 at 4:55 PM ^

At the moment people don't have to watch BTN to be charged for it. I figure Dalaney doesn't give 2 shits. By the time cable ever gets around to ala carte he'll probably be retired sitting on his pile of money cackling gleefully. Or dead because it will take that long for cable to get around to it.

WeimyWoodson

November 3rd, 2015 at 5:41 PM ^

I have no idea how someone who's a Sparty fan does that job day in and day out.  You can tell in his writing he is always coming from a negative standpoint every chance he gets.  One of the reasons I stopped visting that site as much.  That and the countless arguments between Michigan and Sparty fans on every single article.

lilpenny1316

November 3rd, 2015 at 2:48 PM ^

The situation between our offense and MSU 2013 seem comparable.  Uneven offensive play behind a move-the-chains type of QB replaced by the backup not afraid to fit the ball in a tight window.  Maybe it's asking too much, but I think Cook only had about 3-4 games between his first start and the Michigan game that year.  

I truly hope Rudock is okay, but if Speight comes in and we steamroll OSU 29-6 in four weeks, we'll take it.

mGrowOld

November 3rd, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^

I'm not 100% sure he's our "best" back but I am 100% sure he's the only one we've got that seems to understand the goal, once he gets the ball, is to find the open areas without defenders and NOT see how fast he can run into the ass of an offensive lineman.

The Mad Hatter

November 3rd, 2015 at 1:47 PM ^

If we need him to win, put him in as much as you have to.  If we can win without him, I think it's best we limit his exposure to potential injuries.

We have jack shit for a passing game, and OSU had no answer for Drake last year.  That game turned when he got hurt.

UM Fan from Sydney

November 3rd, 2015 at 1:50 PM ^

While I understand what you're saying, it's not a good idea. We won't know if we can win without him in the next three games until we're actually playing. Michigan's offense is not built to come from behind (at least a large deficit). We need to win as many games as possible and if that means using Drake in the next three, so be it.

You can bet your ass that Jim will have this team ready for OSU. If Brady was able to do it, then imagine how well Jim will be able to motivate the team to play better against OSU.

WeimyWoodson

November 3rd, 2015 at 5:45 PM ^

I'm thinking Penn State, which could be a night game (but I read somewhere that it probably won't be since OSU/MSU will take that slot) could end up being a trap game.  Just has the feeling more of the MN game rather then the NW game.