from what he have done so far. It is clear that what we have been doing all year is not working. State is going to have our tendencies scouted and that will be enough to shut our offense down. It could be something small like giving Justice Hayes the bulk of the carries or something drastic like running the option (classic or read) but if we do what we have done all year we will lose.

+3 -- one must stop a long State drive near the goal line and another returned for six or so close that the offense can get six.

+4 -- if the two conditions above are not met

Other than that, hard to see a logical way this gets done.

 

So, all pressure on MSU!

 

lay some checkers down flat, get the other guy to relax.

slowly build up one here, two there.

then boom, out of nowhere: we win DIAGONALLY.

1. The offensive line gives Gardner enough time to hit the deep routes that State dares you to complete

2. There is enough of a running game to be in third and 5 or less more times than not

3. No turnovers

4. No special team gaffes

5. The defense doesnt allow any big plays.  Make Cook go the length of the field

6. When one of the above five things go wrong we dont collapse

At the risk of sounding overly optimistic it's not impossible.  We actually CAN do all those things - whether we do or not is still very questionable.   I actually it's going to a much better and closer game than the line suggests.

We need to make State respect the run game.  The run game doesn't have to be dominant just credible. This will  open up oppertunities for Funchess deep.  If the offense can hit some big plays and the d plays lights out we will be in this game.

and use a little common sense. . . But if you're getting roughed up.  Fight back dammit. . . 

MSU is beatable.  These people have no idea how to handle success. Sparty fans are shooting their mouths off way too much.  

Their secondary is vulnerable.  I think Funchess could pull a Braylon on these guys, if we just let him . .

 

So anything can happen. It would be an epic Sparty No! and under Marky D they have manged to stay away from that which makes it a 0.000001% possiblity. 

They score more points than the opposition.

Realize who the best players at every position are, for once. Don't throw any interceptions and don't fumble the ball. Put 11 players on the field for special teams. Learn what a time out is good for. Play as a team. 

Basic stuff.

Have a good practice, and a lot of clapping is essential.

a major scandal with video evidence, and a  random spat of injuries happening to MSU all come to mind. 

Turnovers are huge. If we are +3 or more in the turnover margin we win.

Ever see The Replacements? That's how.

The magic of sports?

By running a reverse "Little Giants" on every PAT. 

 

+

 

Channel the energy they had for OSU last year and I say we have a shot.

MSU will have to be not ready, extremely over confident, and turn the ball over multiple times. Michigan will have to jump out to an early lead, around 14+ points and hold on like hell. The offense will have to go big; trick plays, reverses, hail marys, everything. All these things will have to happen for a UM win. Playing straight up will result in a loss. UM's roster is not as physically mature as MSU and eventually their strength will win out.

Well, they won't, so don't anyone get your hope up.

If we put pcp in their water bottles and then play devil music.

And hiring a good one

Even if we wanted to take vertical shots with Funch - and we've shown not much interest to this point in the season - I'm not convinced we can block them well enough to get downfield.

we have to.  We try and go toe to toe with them...not wise.  Take some crazy risks, I mean what do we and the coaches have to lose?

 

Hail!

 

 

Well my first thought was hoping that everyone on MSU's team comes down with chronic diahhrea the day of the game. Seeing as how that's not very likely to happen, however, if I'm Hoke I'm assuming I may not be around long enough to coach the OSU game, so I throw the entire kitchen sink at MSU. Basically game plan how you did for OSU last year. Coach like you've got nothing to lose.

If I'm the defense, I try to find some way to get pressure on Cook. He seems like he's always really close to throwing 3-4 picks a game, especially last year, but somehow miraculously gets away with throwing maybe 1. Unleash JMFR, do whatever you have to do to get Cook on the ground.

If I'm the offense, line up in the shotgun and hope that MSU is so fixated on taking Funchess away that Darboh, Canteen, Chesson, etc. will have a chance to get open. The run game will be abysmal against MSU and we all know it. Have to hope that somehow our wideouts can get open enough times to make a couple plays.

Do whatever you have to do to strip the ball, force turnovers and set up a short field. If we're consistently forced to go more than half the length of the field against MSU, don't expect much of anything in the way of points.

Finally, play loose. No one in your own fanbase, much less the rest of the country, expects you to win, or even be competitive. There's minimal expectations. Play like you've got nothing to lose. At least show MSU you came to play and are going to match their intensity.

The only way I see is a fast start that shocks MSU, which would mean a couple scoring drives from the offense (maybe a touchdown from  a deep pass to Funchess or a busted play by someone else) and some strong defense (coupled with MSU's offense coming out flat). Michigan could take a 14-3 lead at halftime, then they have a chance. I would imagine in that scenario MSU would rebound and figure out a way to get a couple touchdowns in the 2nd half, but that would make it a one-score game in teh 4th quarter and then anything could happen.

The only other situation is a game in which Michigan keeps pace with MSU on the scoreboard. And the only way I see that happening is if the defense holds strong.

If MSU scores points and takes an early >10 point lead, get ready for a blowout. Because we've known for awhile that this Michigan team is not built for comebacks. I know what Purdue and Nebraska did...unfortunately, and it's sad to say this, but I don't see how Michigan's offense could do that unless MSU truly falls asleep again.

Personally, I thinki t will look close on the scoreboard for at least 75% of the game but never actually feel close because MSU will have the lead the whole time. 

They won't and it won't be pretty or anywhere near close. You have to accept that and brace yourself for another hard game. I respect these kids and they'll give their all. I'm even proud of them. I'm sure state will do everything in their power to try to make you forget but don't let them. There will be another day and it's coming. Until then , go blue and don't break.

stay out of the penalty box, be solid ont he penalty kill, take advantage of your power play opportunities...

 

Oh, you meant that other game.

Michigan will need a D/ST TD.  Maybe Norfleet can finally take one to the house.   

Offensively, Gardner will need time to throw.   Id hope with the bye week, the OL has had some time to gel.   Maybe the second half of the season will produce a mild elevation in production ala 2008 as the OL gets more reps I the new scheme.   

Michigan will need a D/ST TD.  Maybe Norfleet can finally take one to the house.   

Offensively, Gardner will need time to throw.   Id hope with the bye week, the OL has had some time to gel.   Maybe the second half of the season will produce a mild elevation in production ala 2008 as the OL gets more reps I the new scheme.   

I never thought id see a day when Michigan fans have no hope Michigan can beat MSU

He said we were working on re-establishing our identity as a running team, or something. That sounds workable.

Playing Michigan football. 

Contain the run! If we do this, obviously it forces the Spartans to pass. If we bring pressure, mistakes can be made, and hopefully taken advantage of.

Run the ball well! A good ground game and timely play action passes. 

Mistake free football!

This is of course the winning recipe for any football team, but this used to be synonomous with Michigan football. Coach Hoke must get the team to start believing in themselves like he did when he first got their commitments. That will hopefully, with good coaching, translate into better play on the field. And finally to be cliche, be the first to punch the other team in the mouth!

 

I think we should score more points than them, that should give us the best chance to win. In the real world... We need to have an effective running game, and pressure Cook to force throws and try to win the turnover battle. With that said I am not very confident.

Throw it deep to Funchess and pray

Closely followed by Halloween

You're outmanned, you're outgunned, you're outequipped. What else
have you got?

Guile.