My thoughts

[Monster]

two months ago, i predicted 8 wins for us...maybe 9 if we were lucky. I figured the losses would be sparty (but a good shot to win), osu, nebraska, and possibly illinois/northwestern.

today, we're 6-1 and played sparty very close until denard threw a desperation pass for a pick 6. This was in EL. Yesterday I was pissed, but now I realize that we still have 5 winnable games left. Hoke wasn't expected to do much this year, but they've recruited well so far, and we've played much better defense.

This team is in a huge transitional phase and we just have to wait it out. If we're still at this level in three years, I'll be very worried. But for now, I've decided to stop complaining and let things play out the way they play out.

I love this team and get a little too passionate sometimes, but always....GO BLUE!

 

[wolverine304]

Yes, I like the calm reseasonable monster more than angry monster haha.

But the way we improved so much, there's no way we are still at the same level in 3yrs.

The offense, that is rich rods and not hokes, did pretty much as good as it did last vs msu. But the defense gave up 21pts. Instead of what, 38? they did last year. I can really see us playing for a rose bowl or championship with Shane Morris, maybe even sooner depending on Devin's development.

 

[Monster]

Yes, I like the calm reseasonable monster more than angry monster haha.

But the way we improved so much, there's no way we are still at the same level in 3yrs.

The offense, that is rich rods and not hokes, did pretty much as good as it did last vs msu. But the defense gave up 21pts. Instead of what, 38? they did last year. I can really see us playing for a rose bowl or championship with Shane Morris, maybe even sooner depending on Devin's development.

Yes, an Angry monster is no bueno.

 

[mhughes0021]

anyone that thought this was a top 10 team was nuts. Little brother brought them back down to earth a bit. 5 winnable games sure but 9-3 is going to be closer to reality and still a good first year for the Hoke regime. Its looking up...couple real good young studs. They need a couple years to shore up the D and they need to figure out what the fuck they are doing with denard before they make any big splashes.

 

[wolverine304]

The bye week came at a good time. Hopefully they figure out what they want to do at qb. Both playing wouldnt be that bad, but to switch devin in and expect a sophmore to be able to pass on a good defense is just stupid.

 

[Michchamp]

The bye week came at a good time. Hopefully they figure out what they want to do at qb. Both playing wouldnt be that bad, but to switch devin in and expect a sophmore to be able to pass on a good defense is just stupid.

yeah, I agree. small consolation for the spartans getting a bye before they play us, but still. the problems against MSU were obvious and Borges has 2 weeks to work on them.

I don't know why people are acting like we "got exposed." We didn't get blown out, and like monster said, we were in the game until the pick-6; we had plenty of chances to tie it in the second half. This was nothing like last year when MSU came in the Big House and pounded us.

 

[byco42]

I see no consolation in ever losing to MSU, no matter the circumstances. It's especially discouraging given that <s>there</s> their best players are better than Michigan's at the present time. That has to change. That Michigan was "less overmatched" does not diminish the fact that they were overmatched. And when you are overmatched in the BIG, that does not bode well nationally.

 

[michlady77]

Not agreeing with prediction but everything else said

Similar to what I alluded to inbandwagon posts in my indecipherable manner

 

[byco42]

Not agreeing with prediction but everything else said

Similar to what I alluded to inbandwagon posts in my indecipherable manner

We've learned your unique lexicon, ML. No worries.

 

[biggunsbob]

4th and inches you don't play action pass. I worry that Borges my not be all that great in key moments in games... A horrific call consider no one was over the center.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

biggunsbob[/color]]4th and inches you don't play action pass. I worry that Borges my not be all that great in key moments in games... A horrific call consider no one was over the center.

It's one of those calls that either makes you a hero or a goat. In this case - it made him a goat. It's like lobbing it up in the air in the last seconds of the ND game hoping your player catches it and the ND player doesn't.

The problem, in this case, is that I don't think we needed a heroic call at that point. We just needed to stay alive and keep moving and that call was inappropriate. We needed to just get a base hit but instead we were swinging for the fences.

 

[hungry]

Yes, I like the calm reseasonable monster more than angry monster haha.

But the way we improved so much, there's no way we are still at the same level in 3yrs.

The offense, that is rich rods and not hokes, did pretty much as good as it did last vs msu. But the defense gave up 21pts. Instead of what, 38? they did last year. I can really see us playing for a rose bowl or championship with Shane Morris, maybe even sooner depending on Devin's development.

People need to quit blaming RichRod. Al Borges is the o coordinator. He called those plays on saturday, not richrod. People just need to stop talking about richrod. he's gone. He is no longer coaching this team. I'm glad he was fired, now can we please stop talking about him?!?!?!

Al Borges fucked up on saturday bigtime!! Do I want him fired? No. I just want the blame on him.

 

[hungry]

The bye week came at a good time. Hopefully they figure out what they want to do at qb. Both playing wouldnt be that bad, but to switch devin in and expect a sophmore to be able to pass on a good defense is just stupid.

I think playing both is fucking stupid

each to their own, i guess

I say play Denard unless winning by 28 or he's hurt.

 

[hungry]

The bye week came at a good time. Hopefully they figure out what they want to do at qb. Both playing wouldnt be that bad, but to switch devin in and expect a sophmore to be able to pass on a good defense is just stupid.

yeah, I agree. small consolation for the spartans getting a bye before they play us, but still. the problems against MSU were obvious and Borges has 2 weeks to work on them.

I don't know why people are acting like we "got exposed." We didn't get blown out, and like monster said, we were in the game until the pick-6; we had plenty of chances to tie it in the second half. This was nothing like last year when MSU came in the Big House and pounded us.

Well, some peope are saying they were exposed as not being a top 10 team...who really thought they were? I didn't know anyone and we pretty much all laughed when they got ranked that high.

It was a close game, but so was the game we played in EL 2 years ago.

 

[hungry]

I see no consolation in ever losing to MSU, no matter the circumstances. It's especially discouraging given that <s>there</s> their best players are better than Michigan's at the present time. That has to change. That Michigan was "less overmatched" does not diminish the fact that they were overmatched. And when you are overmatched in the BIG, that does not bode well nationally.

I agree with ya, Byco. The fact that they will return everyone on D of consequence (unless Worthy enters the draft) is kind of disturbing.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

I see no consolation in ever losing to MSU, no matter the circumstances. It's especially discouraging given that <s>there</s> their best players are better than Michigan's at the present time. That has to change. That Michigan was "less overmatched" does not diminish the fact that they were overmatched. And when you are overmatched in the BIG, that does not bode well nationally.

I agree with ya, Byco. The fact that they will return everyone on D of consequence (unless Worthy enters the draft) is kind of disturbing.

I thought Worthy was a senior....either way - I don't see a situation where he doesn't leave for the draft if he continues his performances like this throughout the year.

 

[biggunsbob]

What is really frustrating about that call on fourth down is not only was is stupid but Robison took another hard sack that could have been avoided. This was Borges and Hokes fault period. It has nothing to do with rich-rod anymore. What is maddening is we could have tied it up and still had plenty of time with MSU facing that stiff wind.. Our game management by Borges and Hoke were beyond bad. They were both so over their heads saturday it was not even funny.. Running two QB's in constantly was beyond dumb... And yet with fourth and inches after getting out Thugged all game Sparty wanted to give the game to us. It just looked like we were in panic mode all day and especially on that stupid play.

 

[Michchamp]

Yes, I like the calm reseasonable monster more than angry monster haha.

But the way we improved so much, there's no way we are still at the same level in 3yrs.

The offense, that is rich rods and not hokes, did pretty much as good as it did last vs msu. But the defense gave up 21pts. Instead of what, 38? they did last year. I can really see us playing for a rose bowl or championship with Shane Morris, maybe even sooner depending on Devin's development.

People need to quit blaming RichRod. Al Borges is the o coordinator. He called those plays on saturday, not richrod. People just need to stop talking about richrod. he's gone. He is no longer coaching this team. I'm glad he was fired, now can we please stop talking about him?!?!?!

Al Borges fucked up on saturday bigtime!! Do I want him fired? No. I just want the blame on him.

I didn't think he was blaming RichRod, just giving his two cents about why he's not freaking out at this point.

yes, Borges screwed up.

for better or for worse, they seem to be sticking with Denard & the passing game. Against ND and Northwestern, it worked out well for us. Against MSU, in high winds and a better defense, it was a disaster. It's kinda amazing MSU dropped two sure picks and only ended up with 1 takeaway last Saturday.

 

[Michchamp]

anyways, yeah, the 4th and 1 play action was a bad call. a HORRIBLE call. I agree with what Hungry said in that other thread... even if it worked it was still a bad call.

fortunately, we have a bye week, so we have plenty of time to go over film, review the approach, and improve going forward. This game obviously served as a wake-up call that what worked up to this point isn't going to work against the better defenses on our schedule.

if our offense continues to blow, with awful passing stats, and a non-existent running game, then it's fair to blame Borges.

 

[wolverine304]

I'm not putting the blame on rich rod or hoke. They just both happened to run completely opposite types of offenses. And in his first year, there are going to be some bumps.

Yeah there was some bad play calling, but look how much we improved from last years game.

They still seem to be confused about what they want to do with the offense. This bye week could help a ton.