Dropped to 18/17. Amazed not

[Michlady]

To 20

 

[rumseyhouse77]

That is about what I was thinking. The pollsters think Michigan is better than what they have shown the last two games, and the ND win over sparty helped. This team needs to turn it around. I hope the start of the B1G season will get them back to the kind of play they showed in the first half of the ND game. The offense did have moments of excellent play in the last two games, but they have been very inconsistent. Maybe the break is what they need right now.

 

[wlvrnstlr4life]

This team needs 2 breaks. I'm surprised they weren't booted out of both polls.

 

[Michlady]

back to where we started

 

[rumseyhouse77]

back to where we started

Okay, well next game will tell whether this team can get itself head in the right direction or is going to continue to drop.

 

[thewolverines24]

They need a WR to step up. I think the loss of Darboh is really hurting the passing game. Gallon is the only WR providing any consistent production. He has 22 catches this year and the next highest from a WR is six catches by Dileo. Reynolds and Jackson aren't good enough for any secondary to even be concerned with them and it's going to lead to teams bracketing Gallon every down. The play where Gardner went deep to Reynolds was just awful. His burst off the line looked like an o-lineman running downfield. Chesson and Dileo really need to step up and start taking the pressure off of Gallon. Maybe they should try Norfleet in the slot more often. They need someone else to be a playmaker in the receiving game and no one is really getting it done.

Funchess and Butt are providing decent production from the TE spot. If they can't get more out of the WRs, then they really need to start involving the TEs more in the passing game.

 

[Michchamp]

They need a WR to step up. I think the loss of Darboh is really hurting the passing game. Gallon is the only WR providing any consistent production. He has 22 catches this year and the next highest from a WR is six catches by Dileo. Reynolds and Jackson aren't good enough for any secondary to even be concerned with them and it's going to lead to teams bracketing Gallon every down. The play where Gardner went deep to Reynolds was just awful. His burst off the line looked like an o-lineman running downfield. Chesson and Dileo really need to step up and start taking the pressure off of Gallon. Maybe they should try Norfleet in the slot more often. They need someone else to be a playmaker in the receiving game and no one is really getting it done.

Funchess and Butt are providing decent production from the TE spot. If they can't get more out of the WRs, then they really need to start involving the TEs more in the passing game.

I think we have bigger problems than WRs... they've at least caught all the passes that were thrown accurately to them.

two biggest issues: weak interior OL and turnover-prone play from our QB.

I think realistically, the latter is the only one possible to fix.

I mean last year Gardner wasn't THAT bad, so we know he can do it. maybe there's too much pressure on him this season, but if that's the case, then he needs to deal with that so we don't continue to shoot ourselves in the foot. If you took away the TOs against Akron and UConn, sure the games might've been ugly, but they wouldn't have been close. we still could've cruised to 28-13 or 21-7 wins.

as far as the OL goes, the reason I doubt the potential for much improvement is that against UConn, the interior of the line didn't appear to miss blocks as much as they just got pushed around. maybe if they "gel" a little better, they'll be able to provide a more consistent push running plays and a more stable pocket to throw from. the running game did seem

 

[thewolverines24]

I think we have bigger problems than WRs... they've at least caught all the passes that were thrown accurately to them.

two biggest issues: weak interior OL and turnover-prone play from our QB.

I think realistically, the latter is the only one possible to fix.

I mean last year Gardner wasn't THAT bad, so we know he can do it. maybe there's too much pressure on him this season, but if that's the case, then he needs to deal with that so we don't continue to shoot ourselves in the foot. If you took away the TOs against Akron and UConn, sure the games might've been ugly, but they wouldn't have been close. we still could've cruised to 28-13 or 21-7 wins.

as far as the OL goes, the reason I doubt the potential for much improvement is that against UConn, the interior of the line didn't appear to miss blocks as much as they just got pushed around. maybe if they "gel" a little better, they'll be able to provide a more consistent push running plays and a more stable pocket to throw from. the running game did seem

I agree that o-line is the biggest issue. I believe that their poor play on the interior is really hurting Gardner. Miller and Glasgow get shoved back way too easily.

We still have issues at WR and that is going to make things even tougher during the Big 10 season. Chesson is still learning because he is young, but you can definitely see his potential for taking the top off of a defense and opening things up for Gallon, Dileo in the slot, and the TEs. Hopefully things start to click for him later in the season as his experience level grows. I wish Jackson and Reynolds offered more so we didn't have to rely on a freshman, but that's just the way it is.

 

[biggunsbob]

Yeah need to give Ben Barden a shot on the line...

 

[uofmdixon]

We are lucky to be in the top 25.

 

[thewolverines24]

We are lucky to be in the top 25.

Yep. Luckily these awful games came against Akron and UConn so they could eek out wins. The past two performances would not have beat a single team on our Big 10 schedule.

 

[TheVictors]

The annoying thing about the Polls is that had Michigan lost to ND, but beaten Akron and UConn as they did, we'd be about the same spot in the polls, but not "the worst 4-0" team.

Wins are wins ...ugly or not --- but this had better not be a precursor to BigTen play because if so, we're going 4-4 and will finish an ugly 8-4*

 

[thewolverines24]

The annoying thing about the Polls is that had Michigan lost to ND, but beaten Akron and UConn as they did, we'd be about the same spot in the polls, but not "the worst 4-0" team.

Wins are wins ...ugly or not --- but this had better not be a precursor to BigTen play because if so, we're going 4-4 and will finish an ugly 8-4*

If the team continues to play this poorly, we'll beat Minnesota and Indiana in Big Ten play. 2-6.

 

[lostleader]

If the team continues to play this poorly, we'll beat Minnesota and Indiana in Big Ten play. 2-6.

I wouldn't even guarantee that. If anything I am worried about IU as M seems to have a nasty habit of over looking teams.

 

[thewolverines24]

I wouldn't even guarantee that. If anything I am worried about IU as M seems to have a nasty habit of over looking teams.

I'm actually worried about the IU game as well. They can score points and we could be in trouble if our offense sputters or turns the ball over multiple times again.

 

[TheVictors]

I am now worried about every game ...

 

[thewolverines24]

Good point Vic.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Need to start mixing it up on 1st down. Toussaint for -2 ain't workin' out.

 

[jever4321]

Need to start mixing it up on 1st down. Toussaint for -2 ain't workin' out.

Ya. Seemed like we were 3rd and 20 all night. I'm mainly nervous because I think a Denard led team would have kicked the crap out of Akron and UCONN. Devin needs to settle down.

I think Brady hoke is more old school in regards to keeping things close to the vest and not showing his hand. Basically doing just enough to win. Now I don't think he expected to be in a shoot out with either team, but I just can't believe this is as good as it gets for team 134... And for what it's worth, I believe Akron and UCONN played the best game of their season against UM.

 

[thewolverines24]

Ya. Seemed like we were 3rd and 20 all night. I'm mainly nervous because I think a Denard led team would have kicked the crap out of Akron and UCONN. Devin needs to settle down.

I think Brady hoke is more old school in regards to keeping things close to the vest and not showing his hand. Basically doing just enough to win. Now I don't think he expected to be in a shoot out with either team, but I just can't believe this is as good as it gets for team 134... And for what it's worth, I believe Akron and UCONN played the best game of their season against UM.

The bad part about this is that Michigan should not allow really bad teams like Akron and UConn to play their best games of the season.