What have you heard about our opponents? Fall practice info, injuries, etc.
Like many of you, I have been refreshing this site excessively as the inevitability of football season approaches.
What have you folks heard about the teams on our schedule? I read the OSU insider reported Fields has matured significantly . . . in 3 weeks time. I also saw the thread about Michael Young breaking his collar bone (all injuries to CFB players are bad things).
Anybody heard any other info that may not be "big enough" for it's own thread?
August 22nd, 2019 at 2:11 PM ^
Quintez Cephus returned to their team just this last week. He missed last year due to sexual assault allegations, but was found not guilty on all counts just recently.
He had 500 yards @ 16.7 YPC in 2017, with 6 TDs. He can add something for them.
August 22nd, 2019 at 4:12 PM ^
It's also been like over a year since he played any football
August 22nd, 2019 at 1:58 PM ^
I have a voodoo doll of ryan day and it's listening to a loop of audio "you're john cooper, you ARE john cooper" 24/7.
August 22nd, 2019 at 2:00 PM ^
you are JOHN cooper
you are john COOPER
August 22nd, 2019 at 2:12 PM ^
i'll add those to the loop, thanks.
August 22nd, 2019 at 2:53 PM ^
Would you kindly...lose to Michigan every time?
August 22nd, 2019 at 4:24 PM ^
+1 for the Bioshock reference. Still one of my all-time favorite games.
August 22nd, 2019 at 2:09 PM ^
MTSU will have new faces all over the place on offense. They still haven't decided on a QB. Offensive line will be especially green with two starters returning and little experience in depth.
August 22nd, 2019 at 2:49 PM ^
Listening to Michael Spath today while eating lunch and everyone was saying good things about Justin Fields and how they predict he will probably put up obscene numbers this year.
That's just what OSU needs. Another QB throwing for what seems like 1,000 yards a game and running for another 800 per game. Shoot me now.
August 22nd, 2019 at 3:35 PM ^
I think I heard this (on the Notorious B1G podcast with Allen Trieu) this week.......
Fields has only started 18 games in his career. They were using this to compare him to Lawrence who I assume started every game since 9th grade for his HS.
Field’s talent and physical ability are off the charts but at best he will have a learning curve to deal with this season.... unfortunately he will have 11 games to improve before M gets a shot at him.
August 22nd, 2019 at 3:42 PM ^
Fields will probably be good, likely really good, but it's clear that he isn't Trevor Lawrence-good. I think he'll produce siimilarly to a guy like Barrett, who was obviously very good but also made bad mistakes fairly regularly (including in the Big House).
August 22nd, 2019 at 4:18 PM ^
I mean, I'm sure Fields is going to be very good. He was like the #2 recruit in the nation for a reason. That said, I just have a hard time thinking OSU's offense can replicate what they did the last couple of years with a ton of experience at QB and Meyer at the helm. Fields has enough athleticism to be very good, but Day's offenses have bordered on Air-Raid. I'm not sure Fields can go from terrible in Spring to senior Barrett or Haskins in the passing department over a summer and fall camp. We've seen a lot of college football and those kinds of jumps are rare.
August 22nd, 2019 at 3:47 PM ^
-1 for incorrect use of "it's"
August 22nd, 2019 at 3:58 PM ^
I don't ever wish for player injuries, so here is my wish for Fields this year:
In the second half against Penn State he throws a pick and gets hit with a targeting penalty when trying to make a tackle on the return and has to sit out the first half of the game in Ann Arbor.
August 22nd, 2019 at 4:03 PM ^
I heard that Fields couldn't hit the broad side of a barn in the spring and beginning of fall but now that he has been able to go through a few film sessions he is expected to be better than Joe Montania.
August 22nd, 2019 at 4:07 PM ^
I work in Nashville.
Many of my co-workers went to MTSU.
A gentleman pulled me aside to say thanks for Michigan inviting MTSU to visit.
His daughter's boyfriend is a receiver and is super excited to see the Big House at night.
People eat a lot of biscuits and fried foods here, so I expect them to be slow out of the blocks.
August 22nd, 2019 at 6:10 PM ^
I can’t stand how slow people from the south eat.
August 22nd, 2019 at 4:59 PM ^
Is this BisB on a burner account teasing part II of Opponent Watch?
August 22nd, 2019 at 5:27 PM ^
Haven't followed too much, but what I have heard.
MSU
Lewerke is back up to strength (what that means mentally is still to be seen, but he isn't hurt any more). Their FR is coming on strong at RB and that will likely be a committee. They're really happy with their WR group. OL is shuffling a lot.
LT - Arcuri (former grayshirt TE, extremely tall, had to put on a lot of weight but still likely a bit undersized, has some upside but still probably a year away)
LG - Campbell (former starting RT who was decent two years ago, then had an awful off-season and was very bad last year. Weird to see him on the left side. Probably not great in terms of having a mualer on the inside but also probably an upgrade of Higby, who was weak and had bad feet/hands)
C - Allen (decidedly not the caliber of his brothers, maybe average)
RG - Jarvis (by far their best OL when healthy, but has suffered from injuries last year. Not a great OL, but a solid, reliable guy) or Bueter (this is a guess, but there is talk of kicking Jarvis out and I don't think it's going to be Higby or true FR Samac coming in)
RT - Reid (Reid is undersized but also still incredibly raw, I think he has athleticism to play outside but at his height needs athleticism and technique which he doesn't have and it's a shame for him he never got a RS (and he's not strong enough to play inside) or Chewins (first crack on the right side which isn't a minor deal for someone that's played LT their whole career, added some weight but still probably a bit light for his size), Jarvis (would be a worse version of Bredeson kicking out).
Dobbs is a LT all the way right now (thought they'd start him at RT and then work him inside as he went through the strength program, unlikely to RS) and Samac (other true FR really impressing).
By all accounts they are happy with their defense. The young Panasiuk kid lost weight so supposedly looks more like a DE now than a DT kicked out, still probably an average DE across for Willekes. Like their DT and LB depth, not really a drop off here unless they loss Bachie; have some good players that fit different roles. They seem to like their DB unit, I think they have more athleticism at safety than they have in the past but don't think players are of the same caliber, I would say they have potential on the depth chart at CB, but aren't really ready to step in yet.
OSU
Think everyone has heard about Fields. Probably looking at ~8 designed carries a game as they don't want him to get too beat up. Have heard conflicting things at RB, both that Dobbins is going to be a workhorse and is in better shape this year and that they will keep Dobbins touches about the same because they like the two guys behind him (if McCall could stay healthy I feel like he's seriously underused in their Air Raid pass structure). Very, very happy with their WR group. Haven't heard a lot of details about OL; some inconsistency concerns with some of the new guys, but I feel like they are decently happy with the depth and have some guys with high potential, so hard to make out without being super involved.
On defense, they obviously like their DL. LB is going to be the same core 4 as last year, and they're hoping scheme makes up for that. Their DBs are getting a ton of hype but I'm just not ready to buy in. Okudah allowed a low catch rate last year and is a great athlete, just not bought in that he's a complete CB yet. Lots of athleticm there but got to put it together. Safety still has some concerns. Great special teams.
August 22nd, 2019 at 7:44 PM ^
August 22nd, 2019 at 9:03 PM ^
I’m hearing Justin Fields is terrible and the Suckeyes are totally screwed
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:36 AM ^
well, saw an article, did not read it, by Graham Couch that sparty will go 10-2 , make the BIG championship game and go to a NY6 Bowl Game. They'll beat us, Wisconsin and NW all on the road. The same great Graham Couch who predicted last year's sparty team would have the greatest offense in school history. What a tool.