Monday, October 11, 2021

The Original Michigan Monday: Looks Around The Big Ten

Michigan gets a much needed bye week after two weeks on the road and starting the season 6-0.  This week is a good time to look around the Big Ten and see what is happening with other East contenders and rivals.  

Michigan State:  I don't pay too much attention to Sparty in the off season, unless their are going through a coaching change.  I had no idea they decided to rebuild through the transfer portal.   This strategy has not only worked, should be considered a home run.   They are ranked 11th and on Saturday ran over a Rutgers program that Michigan struggled with a few weeks ago.  This team is good and will give test everything Michigan has later this month.  MSU takes on IU this weekend, in which will be a great scouting game for Michigan fans.  

Ohio State:  This team wasn't very good early.  They had a new QB and a shaky defense.  What fixes those things? Tulsa, Akron, Rutgers, and Maryland.  This team is always dangerous as they and on a bye week as well. 

Penn State:  Was in control of the game at Iowa until QB Clifford went down with an injury.  I know James Franklin is a great recruiter and probably wanted by USC and other programs looking to bounce back.  With that said, he has to be one of the worst in-game coaches I've ever seen.  Once Clifford went out, Penn State best chance was to run the ball and shorten the game.  He did just the opposite and was running tempo and having a QB with zero confidence trying to throw the ball.  If Clifford is ok, Michigan will have a tough time winning at Happy Valley at night in another White Out. 

Iowa: is now the only team in the West and can moon walk to Indy.  They have an easy schedule remaining and won't be tested the rest of the year.  I still don't think their offense is good enough to beat a Georgia or Alabama, or even a Michigan or Ohio State on a neutral field.  The only trip ups possible is @ Wisconsin in a couple weeks or @Nebraska to end the season.  If Nebraska wants that signature win, that could be the one.  Host Purdue on Saturday.

Michigan - Ohio State - Penn State - Michigan State all play each other in the 2nd half of the season.  The East will get figured out on the field.   Iowa just has to take care of business, as they will be favored in all their remaining regular season games. 

This weekend Big Ten games are just awful.  

MSU @ IU is the best game. Strangest game:  Army @ Wisconsin.  Be careful Badgers, be very careful here. 

  • Michigan offensive line took some injuries on Saturday.  Let's hope Keegan, Zinter and Filiaga all can heal up during these two weeks.  Also Roman Wilson's injury was confirmed, he didn't travel and is expected to have some sort of wrist injury.  
  • Speaking of traveling, I see that Ronnie Bell has been traveling with the team.  That is great news and great for the team that a captain can be that involved with an season ending injury. 
  • I still believe Michigan needs to find another WR in this offense with both Ronnie and Roman out.  True freshman Christian Dixon/Andrel Anthony are my first choices, but they probably want to preserve their red shirt (I think they would only play 1 of the 2 for that reason).  My second choice would be Dax Hill.  He plays a ton of snaps on defense, so that is probably not an option.   I see they are putting #7 Donovan Edwards out there, but that makes me nervous for some reason.  I don't think he is a natural pass catcher on down field throws.  

24 comments:

MichiganMan said...

I thought MSU game was going to be walk in the park, but I like how both teams are undefeated and we will have a big showdown in East Lansing...I wish both teams best of luck...

Blue for Life
Fire Don Brown and hire Rich Rod....

MichiganMan said...
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MichiganMan said...

You guys remember Xavier Worthy one time a Michigan lean..had a monster game for Taxes over weekend...we need a playmaker after R.Bell went down....

Blue for life
Fire Don Brown and hire Rich Rod....

Tim said...

@ MM - your ability (or lack of ability) to analyze information never ceases to amaze me. Who said MSU will be a walk in the park? Bob never said that and I don't recall anyone posting that. Saying they are tougher than expected is true, MSU tougher than anyone thought a month ago, but we certainly never said they would be "a walk in the park"

And you say fire Donnie and hire RR? Are you saying hire RR as a DC?

I know you are just here to ruffle feathers and you dislike Michigan so I continually tell myself not to even spend my time replying to your worthless, incoherent, lack of meaning posts...but here I am.

I have said this before and I will say it again, I hope you find meaning in life, you get a job and move out of your parents basement. I understand how a young naive kid can get their kicks going to an opposing teams blog and ruffle feathers, but come on, this has been years. At some point I hope you have more to do in life than continue to go to opposing teams blog and post crap that no one cares about.

ScottyDoggs said...

I feel like I am being drawn into a battle like Vietnam, but how can you call yourself "true blue" > when you wish both MSU and U of M "good Luck", when MSU is an arch rival of Michigan {{does not add up}}....either you are a troll like many have commented, or you need therapy to stop your delusions.

MichiganMan said...

Tim, I said "I thought they were going to be in the park" at beginning of the season", but now after 6 games it looks like they are a solid football team...hopefully, we can be 8-0....AJ Henning gots to play slot and run cross the middle like OSU and Alabama do...I liked Rich Rod, I thought he was fired too prematurely...

Blue for Life...

Fire Don Brown for AZ....

MichiganMan said...

They are both from Michigan I am a hardcore Michigan fan, but I also support MSU when they are not playing us...

Blue for Life
Hire Lincoln Riley and fire Don Brown..

Goblu said...

The Rich Rod comment from Bucknutsack is all you need to know when listening to him about football. Or better, not listening to him. How's this for simple math:

Years Overall % Conference %
Rich Rodriguez 2008-2010 .405 .250

Brady Hoke 2011-2014 .607 .562

Jim Harbaugh 2015- .730 .742

I am now back to ignoring this idiot. Not going to read his crap or reply - he's a waste of space.

Goblu said...

(formatting stinks, but you get this gist. He supports the worst coach in program's previous 70 years)

Tim said...

Great post Goblu. RR was fun to watch hammer weak non-conference opponents. Then was frustrating as all get out when we played a real team. I still remember that Wiscy game where they basically told the entire stadium all they were going to do is run in the second half and we could not stop them. Poor Mike Martin.

MichiganMan said...
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MichiganMan said...
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MichiganMan said...

Guys weather we support Rich Rod or Jimmy doesn't matter neither one ever won a big ten title or national championship and it looks like they never will. We must recycle coaches until that ever happens...I am stratified with us winning 9 - 10 games...If anything more I will be happier man... Good luck to both coaches....wish them all success

Voice of Reason said...

Bob, I agree, Michigan left too many points on the field. If Michigan had converted those field goals into TD's it would have been a very different game. I'm not surprised that Nebraska was playing desperate football because they were looking for that signature win that would validate their program. Michigan's win under these circumstances does validate that Michigan is growing into the powerhouse again that we once knew that they could be. Like Cade said, Michigan would have lost this game a year or two ago. Keep in mind that that's the reason why Frost wanted to have this game at night with the crowd, because he was hoping for the 2020 Michigan to show up again, but that didn't happen. This team is growing up. Go Blue!!! IMHO!!!

MichiganMan said...

Winning these close games on the road give them more confidence going forward... They should be feeling good about themselves playing MSU and Penn State on the road...

Blue for Life hire Lincoln Riley

Cormac said...

RichRod or DickRod as I call him was an unmitigated disaster. Bill Martin's tenure as AD is forever stained by that hire. Anybody that advocates rehiring that moron is an idiot.

MichiganMan said...

He would have gotten us 8, 9 , 10 wins every year...3 of them would have come from D-3...6 would be from Universities with 1 to 2 star recruits...same as Harbaugh..if Harbaugh loses to MSU, PSU and OSU...he is done after the season...Maybe Campbell from Iowa St. will be our new head coach...I would like to see Lincoln Riley....

Blue for Life...Hire L.Riley

MichiganMan said...
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MichiganMan said...

I don't care who the is hell is our coach. Just get us to Big Ten Title game and college playoffs.

Blue for Life...Hire L.Riley
Fire Don Brown from AZ

M Don said...

MM, did Don Brown kick your dog or something? Your obsession with him is insane to major a degree!! He’s no longer here & gone for a good reason for refusal to adjust! His system may work in the no defense playing PAC-12…quite similar to Rich Rod’s offense who’s system would never have worked long term in the big ten. Those small fast players get a little slower in the winter after being hit for 12 weeks & you can’t put all the talent only on offensive side giving up 50 points a game defensively!

Let it go man! Don Brown is gone & can earn a living elsewhere. Grow up, learn the English language, and possibly some proper grammar. You might make something of yourself.

szanreno said...

C'mon M Don, lack of proper English, poor spelling and grammar are what make his posts fun to read. He does seem to have a pitiful existence though...

MichiganMan said...

I have a computer science degree. Who cares about grammar I not writing an essay for a grade...Don Brown should not be coaching anywhere. Because of him we got embarrassed by OSU.

Blue for Life
Fire Don Brown...Hire Lincoln Riley

szanreno said...

You're the second person I know of with a college degree who claims they purposely turn on and off grammar and etc. Why would a college educated person allow that of themselves? Especially when working hard to leave that ignorance behind. You have no degree, or no self respect if you do...

MichiganMan said...

Guys our team cannot give up big play s anymore and it almost cost us the game versus Nebraska...

🔵 For life hiring Lincoln Riley