tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post725210087444212942..comments2024-03-28T17:24:59.031-04:00Comments on Touch the Banner: Preview: Michigan vs. Michigan StateUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-12076268486465021582012-10-20T09:23:55.060-04:002012-10-20T09:23:55.060-04:00Lank, if you think MSU's D is on the same leve...Lank, if you think MSU's D is on the same level as Alabama's, you need to drink less.<br /><br />Also, WTF are you talking about with regards to Thomas and Sims? One is a fat fullback and the other is currently hobbled.<br /><br />Bell is dangerous, but David Wilson of VT last year was even scarier. Greg Mattison has the ability to point out a player and totally shut them down.BlastBeat88https://www.blogger.com/profile/11495258339873702405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-46279492241248001922012-10-19T22:02:50.888-04:002012-10-19T22:02:50.888-04:00@Lanko
Michigan completely changed its game plan i...@Lanko<br />Michigan completely changed its game plan in the 2nd half against ND. (And never looked back afterward.) I don't have the number with me, but I know we moved the ball much better in the 2nd half... much better than your number indicates. Who cares whether we converted bunch of 3rd or 4th downs? When rushing is your bread and butter play, you tend to have many 3rd down situations in your drive. As long as we move the ball, that's good enough for me. While the final score doesn't back it up, the game was certainly winnable at the very least. Well, if you think that we will give a way the ball as often as we did in the ND game, LOL<br /><br />I would not say MSU has a better D than ND. ND's LBs: better than MSU's, ND's DL: better than MSU's. MSU's D is good, but not as good in 2011 without Worthy. Besides, without any snap count issues we had last year, I am sure our O will perform better. JCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-64499766502433922552012-10-19T20:31:17.760-04:002012-10-19T20:31:17.760-04:00MSU's defense is NOT better than ND's and ...MSU's defense is NOT better than ND's and their "fierce" pass rush has tallied just 6 sacks in 7 games.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-81380428855702026382012-10-19T15:29:31.388-04:002012-10-19T15:29:31.388-04:00I must be missing something. Excellent talent in ...I must be missing something. Excellent talent in Sims (may be held out) and Thomas (who? Not L. Thomas at FB, right?). Bell yes, Burbridge, maybe. Michigan has Robinson, Fitz, and the two Devins. More playmakers and better lineman on both sides. MSU does have some things going for them, but not in the offensive playmaker category.<br /><br />Also, if it's which QB can make plays without screwing up, I take Robinson. He may screw up but he certainly will make plays. MSU's QB does not make plays.Kurthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11437907355284296011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-52552972937873161882012-10-19T15:29:15.958-04:002012-10-19T15:29:15.958-04:00I must be missing something. Excellent talent in ...I must be missing something. Excellent talent in Sims (may be held out) and Thomas (who? Not L. Thomas at FB, right?). Bell yes, Burbridge, maybe. Michigan has Robinson, Fitz, and the two Devins. More playmakers and better lineman on both sides. MSU does have some things going for them, but not in the offensive playmaker category.<br /><br />Also, if it's which QB can make plays without screwing up, I take Robinson. He may screw up but he certainly will make plays. MSU's QB does not make plays.Kurthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11437907355284296011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-57254415675647334732012-10-19T14:58:09.159-04:002012-10-19T14:58:09.159-04:00Michigan averaged 3.9 ypc against ND. That's ...Michigan averaged 3.9 ypc against ND. That's not terrible, but it's not great either, for a run-oriented offense.<br /><br />In the second half of that game Michigan only had 3 offensive series. Yeah, they 'moved the ball' but it took a lot of plays to do so and never ended very well. 1st series was a denard fumble, 2nd series took a bunch of 3rd or 4th down conversions before a FGA. The 3rd was a pass-dominated hurry-up that took 3 and a half minutes to get to another FGA. That's far from my definition of success...and MSU's D is better than ND's.<br /><br />I don't know that saying MSU 'used to' do anything is appropriate until they stop doing it against Michigan. I hope that happens tomorrow, but I'm not expecting it.Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-30371111860904551912012-10-19T14:06:54.035-04:002012-10-19T14:06:54.035-04:00Ditto that JC! I felt Michigan ran the ball vs ND ...Ditto that JC! I felt Michigan ran the ball vs ND well too, and with a steady dose of Denard and Rawls, they should have success against Sparty. I don't think they'll have an answer for Funchess either. Sparty's confidence has been shaken, so if things start going Michigan's way early it'll take the wind out of their sails. Defensively, Michigan should be able to stop <br />Bell, and again like JC mentioned will be bringing some heat against that shakey O-line and rattle Maxwell. I'm thinkin a score of 23-0...unless State pulls off some trick play I won't be surprised if this is another shutout.RockNRollahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05004155441763604927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-30743606568706979962012-10-19T12:27:39.565-04:002012-10-19T12:27:39.565-04:00Michigan moved the ball very well against ND, espe...Michigan moved the ball very well against ND, especially in the 2nd half. I don't see 200 yard rushing from Denard, but I don't see 50 yard rushing from him either. He will probably go 70-120 yard rushing, which should be enough to keep Sparties in check. Given Sparties' weak OL and its depth, I am sure Mattison will dial up the pressure on Maxwell. <br />While this game used to bring the best out of Sparties, I don't see a close game. Michigan certainly will covert the spread.JCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-33030797127973900482012-10-19T11:04:51.700-04:002012-10-19T11:04:51.700-04:00No "advantage X"? Also, you said "c...No "advantage X"? Also, you said "could have guess", which lol. uniqenamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-92122102670761165712012-10-19T11:00:10.509-04:002012-10-19T11:00:10.509-04:00Yeah I think, maybe too optimistically, that Michi...Yeah I think, maybe too optimistically, that Michigan will win this handily. I personally haven't been too impressed with state from what I've seen this seasonjr91392https://www.blogger.com/profile/02562197205443608385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-76229086444383381062012-10-19T10:38:16.066-04:002012-10-19T10:38:16.066-04:00Like you, I think Vegas is overstating things with...Like you, I think Vegas is overstating things with the 10 point line, but I think it's even closer. MSU always brings its best for UM and, especially now, with 3 losses already, they're going to view this as their season-defining game.<br /><br />MSU's D is excellent and they've specialized in stopping Denard. Michigan couldn't run against Alabama or Notre Dame and MSU is at that same level. They'll key on the run and let the DBs cover one-on-one. Michigan will be forced to pass. Do you trust Denard to beat them with the pass? I do not. Funchess and Gardner are going to have to make enough plays to offset Denard's mistakes. Hopefully Borges dials up the right mix of screens, Max-protects, and roll-outs to keep the MSU D from teeing off on Denard.<br /><br />Will MSU be able to score? Probably not a lot, but they have 4 excellent talents in Bell, Burbridge, Thomas, and Sims. Michigan will focus on stopping Bell, and, just like MSU's D, force the other team to pass. Maxwell will have time to throw, because our pass rush isn't nearly as fierce as MSU's and is more blitz dependent. MSU is going to bring some new wrinkles out that could surprise Michigan's defense.<br /><br />In a contest where the score is likely to be determined by which QB can make plays without screwing up - I think MSU is better off.<br /><br />That said, this game can hinge on a single big play. We have Norfleet and we have homefield advantage. That might be enough to offset what is seems like a coin-flip game to me. <br /><br />I'm expecting a classic, hard-fought battle, that comes down to a big 4th quarter play.<br /><br />UM 17 MSU 16Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-69572678958123534692012-10-19T08:50:13.640-04:002012-10-19T08:50:13.640-04:00I hope you're right, man. We've got to be...I hope you're right, man. We've got to beat these guys. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com