Monday, November 23, 2015

Michigan Monday: A Look Ahead To The Game and Possibilites

This is the place where we look ahead to this weekend's opponent.   This week Michigan will host currently #3 Ohio State.   The Buckeye's will drop out of the top 4 after a loss at home to the Spartans over the weekend.   We all know the Buckeye's too well and it seems they are coming apart at the seams a bit.   Urban Meyer proved last year he is one of the best college coaches in the country, this year he proved why he ran away from Florida.   OSU looked terrible on Saturday and only scored when MSU sent them two 7 point gift cards.   Urban's Heisman trophy candidate RB ripped his play calling after the game and his National Championship QB said he walked out on the Horseshoe for the last time.  Some are now pointing out that last year's run was more Tom Herman former OC and now head coach of Houston, then maybe Meyer.   Urban hasn't dealt with OSU's adversity well this year well and got out coached on Saturday.  

Even though it was disrespectful for Elliot to rip his coach, what he said was the truth.  I think you give him the ball until they stop it.  It will be interesting to see what Meyer does this weekend with him.   

I expect some Michigan fans were sadden a bit on OSU not beating MSU this weekend and not setting up a play-in game this weekend to the Big Ten Championship.   I'm not one of them.  The game even though close in score, wasn't close.  MSU dominated the Buckeye's on both lines of scrimmage and with two back-ups QB's.   Another thought Michigan fans might have is, "we were one punt away from a un-defeated Big Ten season going into the OSU game". 

Here is where my head is:  If Cook doesn't play on Saturday against Penn State it will not be an easy win.   Penn State might have one of the best defensive lines in the league.  Michigan didn't even try to run the ball on them.  It's obvious that MSU is not comfortable having their back-up QB's throw very often.   Penn State has a great shot at winning the game if Cook is on the bench.   My big concern is with James Franklin, who is known has a great recruiter but I have big concerns on his overall coaching ability.  To me he seems like a coach who is over is head being at a major program in the Big Ten.  We have had two recent coaches with that same problem (RR & Hoke) and to me it looks like a similar situation. 

OSU will be ready to play on Saturday.  Yes, their goals for this season are gone.  Even if they win on Saturday and MSU loses, I don't expect Ohio State to make the playoffs even if they win the Big Ten Championship game.   The weather on Saturday was so extreme in Columbus it completely killed their passing game.    Michigan will still have to play one of their best games of the season on Saturday to win.    Michigan's D-line will have to play like they did against Penn State and not like they did against Indiana.   Michigan will also have to try to find a running game and Rudock will need to be perfect. It will be fun to watch and feels great that this game has meaning again.

ESPN Big 10 Power Rankings has OSU #3.  Michigan is #4.

Michigan is favored by 2 points. 

BTW: Iowa is ranked #1 in the Big Ten by ESPN power rankings.  Not sure they will leave Lincoln, undefeated on Friday.

My power rankings:

1: MSU
2: OSU
3: Michigan
4: Iowa

  • U-M Athletic Department announced that Gerald Ford (#48), Tom Harmon (#98), Desmond Howard (#21), Ron Kramer (#87), Bennie Oosterbaan (#47) and the Wistert brothers (#11) -- Albert, Alvin and Whitey -- will have their jerseys retired in a ceremony against Ohio State next Saturday.   These were the former Legend numbers worn by players under Hoke, another good move by Jimmy!

5 comments:

ScottyDoggs said...

First off let me know if I post too much (often)... besides that...WHATZUP WITH THOMAS RAWLS... he kicky booty seriously over the weekend... 209 yards and 2 touchdowns (something like that). Fred Jackson(I think) used to rave over Thomas and said he was better than the Heisman winner from Alabama... What went wrong with us >Hoke? Running backs need an offensive line (we had a less than desirable one...
Lots of Michigan transfer do very well (more power to them)... but we keep looking for a great running back, and sometimes we have them and they Slip through our hands like a "wet frog".

Scott K said...

Elliot, jones and miller all gone from cols. next season, possibly bosa and apple jumping ship as well.... Let urban lose two consecutive games to Michigan teams and see that much talent jump ship, then lose recruiting battles for the #1 RB and #1 DT, he'll start to get heat from that rabid, vile, fair weather fan base. retirement might look better and better to him. ha ha ha

GO BLUE

Big35Hurt said...

Urban Liar after this upcoming week's ass whoopin':
http://glee.wikia.com/wiki/File:Fred-sanford-heart-attack-o.gif

Big35Hurt said...

By the way......Elliott averaged 2.8 yards/carry on Saturday. Why would they continue to give him the ball? He didn't deserve it. Ohio State couldn't throw the ball. They couldn't run it with 9 blockers, so the next logical thing was to try to run it with ten blockers.....Elliott needs to just shut his mouth and take his whoopin' like a MAN. GROW UP!

ScottyDoggs said...

Big35Hurt... Let's hope your right... we need this one big time!