I think it's really funny and actually pretty stupid when media or former players make comments that motivate the other team. Ohio State and former Buckeyes were famous doing these things during Michigan's long win streak. Tressel has put a stop to that activity, which is a good move if your a Buckeye fan.
The latest example of media stupidity is this following blog post from Jim Miller a former State QB who now works for the MSU Official Spartan Sports Network:
This Game is Already Over!
I state that because football has always been a game of force. Michigan is not a team of force at certain positions any more. Former coach Jerry Hanlon's statement is telling because he is acknowledging Michigan does not have the players to win the physical battles that they once dominated traditionally. Name me one Michigan defender who is dominant? Name me one offensive lineman? Name me a running back? Oh, my bad, that would be their quarterback Deanard Robinson!
Michigan expects a beat down and Michigan State is more than willing to give it! Michigan's defense has been a sieve for more than two years. UMass lit them up for 37 points! So what do you think State is going to do? If they counted triple doubles in football, this game would set the bar. MSU could potentially rush for 400 yards and throw for another 300. Controlling the clock is paramount for Michigan State along with not turning over the football, but this is as close to a practice as "routes on air", because Michigan's defense is nonexistent.
Defensively, everyone has been asking me how do you defend Denard Robinson? He is a tremendous player, but he is just one player to defend. I believe his Heisman hopes come to a crashing halt this weekend. You spy Denard with the best middle linebacker in the country, Greg Jones. You give him one job, which is to seek and destroy. If it is not Greg, it will be Eric Gordan, or safeties Trenton Robinson or Marcus Hyde. Somebody will always have Denard accounted for and they are all guys that can run. They outweigh Denard and all MSU defenders who have the opportunity, will be instructed to deliver punishment. Denard is frail at 180 lbs. You slow players like him down by physical abuse.
State needs to show up in the right frame of mind with a sense of purpose. That purpose, is to deliver a message to all one hundred thousand plus sitting in their plush new renovated stadium. You have to be a complete team to compete in the Big Ten! You have to be a tough team to compete in the Big Ten! You have to be a dominant team to win the Big Ten! Helpful reminders from "Big Brother" to Michigan about straying from their roots as a football program will be on display Saturday.
Jim, let me first correct your mistakes in your post:
- Denard is 193 pounds.
- Mike Martin on Michigan's defensive line is playing like an All American.
- I would like to introduce you to two Michigan offensive lineman: David Molk is Michigan's center and playing at an All Big Ten pace. There is a new comer to this game, a guy named Taylor Lewan who is a 6'8 300 pound redshirt freshman. He wears Jake Long's former number. Since you probably don't know who Jake Long is, he is basically Tony Mandrich without the "juice".
Now to the biggest mistake you made. Why would you try to motive the Wolverines this weekend? Michigan has plenty motivation to play hard but this will be all over Schembechler Hall today. Jim you work for MSU and to say things like: but this is as close to a practice as "routes on air", because Michigan's defense is nonexistent, is just plain stupid. Do you think an MSU coach would say this? I don't.
I'm not going to write that Michigan has a strong defense but writing that the Spartans don't have to show up and can win the game, is crazy talk. A classic mistake for a program that really knows what it takes to compete in the Big Ten. Funny stuff!
3 comments:
I agree totally with what you've stated, however, winning will stop all of this. Our defense will continue to get publically maligned and screwed until they take pride enough to stop bending over, pull up their pants and choose themselves to be the "men" on the field. Come on now...we expect men to be men, not sissies on the football field. I grew up in a tough neighborhood where if someone thought you were a punk, they would treat you like a punk. However, when you punched him in the mouth, that is when they would back off and treat you like a man with respect. Other teams will continue to treat our defense like punks, until they step up and punch someone in the mouth.
Is that likely to happen? There is a saying, "you can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh-t." That is true, however, I'd like to think that if Michigan [the winningest program in football history] brings a player in on scholarship, then he has potential to be a solid player; and our coaches [who coach at the winningest program in football history] can develop that potential. Greg Robinson has a Superbowl ring as a DC, so how many other schools can say that?
Therefore, I am looking for the defense to start becoming smart, aggressive and creative soon, and making a significant contribution on the field. The same goes for our special teams.
Well said, you are 100% right. At some point these guys are going to have to get some stops. I also believe they will/should get better week to week. Let's hope they have made a big jump this week!
One think that won't change is that Sparty will always think they are Alabama after a win over Wisconsin at home.
Greg Robinson must GO! his only accolade is a super bowl ring as a DC, that is it. look at what he's done since he's been with MICHIGAN, Nuthing at all. but made it worse. RR has to pull him before he, RR, ends up losing his job. we use to dominate on D now we are being dominated by teams that SHOULD NOT be on the field with us. he is our weak link. a team is only strong as it coach. So if our defense is weak, then our coach is weak. Joe Lee Dunn ran this same D and was successful. Why doen't RR make a play for him? Great coaches make great decisions and Robinson is not making them. Gordon is not a Safety, but Vinopal is he has safety instincts. make gordon the hybrid linebacker.
do your research on Joe Lee Dunn, McMurry University, and Rob Manchester, Georgia Military College.They both run the 3-3-5 one of the two should be at Michigan instead of Robinson. We must make a play for another DC next year. if not RR is gone for not making the change.
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