Michigan Spring Game: Post Game Reactions

The offense seemed to move the ball at will against the second team defense. Tate Forcier looked like a "huge" improvement at Quarterback. I was most impressed by his scrambling ability. Even though he wore a red number, he was impressive against pressure and put a number of passes right on the number of the wide receivers. A couple of highlights were a heavy rush where he looked like he was going to get sacked, he got out of the pressure and ran for 10 yards and a first down. The other highlight was when he threw a very nice pass to Roy Roundtree for a touchdown in his second or third series.

• Even though I wasn't there the crowd looked impressive for Spring Game/Practice. I have heard estimates of 50,000+.


• The Alumni game was "surprisingly" fun to watch


• There has to be some real concern around the defense. Defensive tackle Mike Martin and Donovan Warren were held out of the game but the first team D didn't look very crisp against the spread.


• The results from the Spring Game look like the Offense is way ahead of where it was last year and that Tate is very well suited to run this offense. The defense which dominated the spring game last year has a way to go.


• Cheers to the running game. Carlos "Santana" Brown showed some speed and running skill in breaking off a 90 yard + run for a touchdown. Minor and Grady both looked sharp as well.


• Spring Game Commitment: Michigan got it's 8th verbal to it's 2010 class with the Spring Game commitment from Stephen Hopkins a running back from Texas. Stephen is 6"0, 220 pounds and ran for 1,689 yards on 273 carries last year as a junior.
  
  
  
  

Illinois Preview

What a great win last week. Talk about two different feelings in about 4 hours, the first half you think Michigan won't win a game left on their schedule then in the second half you start having un-realistic dreams of the Rose Bowl.

Well, as Rich says enjoy a win for 24 hours then move on to your next opponent. On to Illinois..................

Michigan in the past has had trouble with athletic QB's that can run and throw. Juice is that prototypical dual threat QB that can beat you with his feet and sometimes with his arm. This team went to C-Bus last year and beat a top ranked Buckeye team. Then the bottom fell out, they got embarrassed in the Rose Bowl by USC, start the year by getting beat by Mizzu, eat a few cupcakes, and then get beat by Penn State last week, in a game that wasn't very close.

Michigan beat Illinois last year with similar personnel on Defense, but the Offense had point makers like Henne, Hart, Manningham, and Long. This game can not become a shoot out if Michigan thinks they are going to win, the Michigan Defense needs to hold The Juice and company to the low 20's.

Key's for the Game:

Does Juice get loose? #1 key for the Michigan defense is to not lose contain on Juice Williams, he can easily take 3rd and 7 and make a first down with his feet. The only real threat at WR is Arrellious Benn and the other wide outs are pretty average. With Juice's scrambling ability, Michigan's DB's will have to stay in coverage for a long time and the Michigan line will have to keep pressure on him and hit him a lot. In the option, make Juice pitch the ball and get a helmet on him everytime.

Michigan Defensive Line: Pressure all day. Juice won't be an easy target, but the Defensive line will be able to get a push against a weak Illinois Offensive line. They can't miss opportunities to get a sack or he will find an open WR or kill Michigan with his feet.

Where oh where is shadow, where can shadow be? My feeling is Jonas Mouton is going to spy Juice most of the day from his LB role. He seems to have the speed and athleticism needed to keep up with the Juice.

Can Michigan score? Michigan is going to need points, lots of points in this one. They can't give up possessions with 3 and outs and turnovers. Michigan needs to continue to move the ball against a below average defense. Even cupcakes have scored on the Illinois defense, Michigan needs to as well.

Tale of the Tape:

Michigan Oline vs Illinois Dline: no push either way (zing!)

Michigan DLine vs Illinois OLine: Michigan Advantage

QB Play: Illinois Advantage

Running Backs: Michigan

WR Play: Push

Special Teams: Illinois (until Michigan can catch the ball or return a kick with out a fumble)

Time in the Spread: Illinois (didn't help them last week)

Intangibles: Michigan coming off a big win, Zook and Crew coming off a big loss

Overall Prediction:

Michigan needs to pass to open up the run, but Illinois's Dline and LB's are average at best. Still Michigan's Offense has shown an ability to hurt themselves with silly mistakes or not executing at all. Michigan needs long drives to keep The Juice off the field.

On Defense, Michigan needs to force the Juice to beat him with his arm. He is not known as a strong passer but has been getting better, if he runs wild like he did against OSU, Michigan is in for a long day. There is no doubt about it, the Michigan Defensive Line has to dominate for a Michigan win - Dominate!

I think it really comes down to who can execute their offense better. Michigan has a better D, but they can't be on the field all day against a decent spread team. These type of offense's have been giving Michigan fits for years (I know they see it in practice everyday now). My gut tells me that the Juice will light up the scoreboard and even though Illinois's Defense is not grand, Michigan will do something stupid and won't be able to keep up in a shoot out. The fact remains, that one team has been running the spread for years, the other is in its 5th game. (I hope I'm wrong on this one and that Illinois still has a "hang over" from their Happy Valley beat down)

Michigan 21 Illinois 31

Go Blue!

You have to hate Losing more then you love Winning

That line is something the Wolverines lost sight of under Lloyd Carr. He learned from Bo and knew at the end of the day everything was going to be all right. Bo's Michigan was about overpowering the other team. You never had to out think them. Who cares if the entire world knew Mike Hart was going to run left, let them try to stop it!

Well over the past few years, teams were stopping it and stopping it regularly. Our play calling became weak and our ability to not "lose" games was gone. Case in point: The disaster last year: the team was not ready to play before the ball was even snapped. I pointed that out as they ran from the tunnel. The team had taken on the personality of it's coach, clam, relaxed, cool, and prepared like they have the past 40 years.

Well guess what? Things have changed. Lloyd Carr is and always will be a class act, he did things the right way, he recruited well, made kids go to class, and tried to keep them out of trouble. He gave us the magical year of 1997 and left on a high note as Michigan beat the highly favored Gators in a New Years Day Bowl.

We appreciate and Thank You Lloyd, but Today is a New Day and this team has something to prove to everyone. Nobody expects anything from this team. Sports Illustrated doesn't even think Michigan will have a winning record and lose it's Bowl streak. Even this blog thinks a successful season is 4 loses. When was the last time you thought 4 losses was a good year?

You have to hate lose more then you love to win.

That is the key, I hope the Wolverines learned that a year ago this weekend. That is what I believe, RR and staff bring to this team. It's a new approach on offense and defense but it's more then that. It's a belief no matter how good you think you are you have to work your ass off to be better and to win football games. No hanging around and smoking pot or taking practice off to farm with Dad. It's about two things: Class time and Football time. It's about putting time: in the gym, on the track, in the film room, in the weight room and on the practice field.

It's about being hungry, it's about team work, it's that you haven't earned anything yet, it's about hating to lose more then you love to win.

I love the sign: Those that stay will be champions. But today's sign should read, those that work hard will be champions. Championships are no longer a right of passage for the Michigan Wolverines, they need to earn them.

Earn something on Saturday.

2008 Season Michigan Preview: Game by Game Predictions

8/30: Utah - at the Big House: Tabbed the new uniform bowl by this blog as both Universities will be debuting their non-Nike Jerseys (Utah-Under Armour, Michigan-Adidas). This is no opening cupcake game for either team. Utah is rated higher in most polls then Michigan but come in as a 3 point dog. The Utes are an experienced team coming off a 9-4 record last year. Their two best players are their QB and Kicker. Yes, their kicker Louie Sakoda is one of the best in the nation. Not real good for the Wolverines if this is a close game down to the wire. Utah also is known as fast starters in 2007: First Qtr scoring Utah 68 - opponents 19.

Prediction: Michigan 30 - Utah 21

9/6: Miami (OH) - at the Big House: As we know Michigan shouldn't over look anyone, mostly with a young team. Miami is no MAC push over but Michigan has a way to beating every MAC team they have ever played. This game will be close for a quarter or so before Michigan finds it's footing. Prediction: Michigan 28 - Miami (OH) 10

9/13: ND - at ND: This game is a toss up for me. I really need to see both teams play before I predict this one. My first reaction is to pick ND because whichever Michigan QB is playing well at this point won't understand the pressure of being the starting QB for Michigan in South Bend.

ND was terrible last year and everyone expects them to be much improved and might even be favored at home against the young Wolverines. (I reserve the right to change this pick) ND: 21 Michigan: 17

9/27: Wisconsin - at the Big House: The schedule doesn't get any easier when the #13th ranked Badgers come to Ann Arbor. Wisconsin hasn't usually done very well in trips to Ann Arbor and are playing the old style Big Ten football. This style match-up favors Michigan and I expect them to win this game and upset Wisconsin at home. Michigan 24 Wisconsin 7

10/04: Illinois at the Big House: Illinois last year was "way" over rated but did have a huge win in Columbus then got embarrassed by USC in the Rose Bowl. The Fighting "Zookie's" have a mobile QB and been running the spread for a few years now. Michigan always struggles against a QB that can run and throw. I expect this game to be close, but I have a bad feeling the "Juice will get loose" in Ann Arbor: Illinois: 17 Michigan 10

10/11: Toledo at the Big House: Michigan playing in it's 6th game with only one on the road, helps heals some wounds against another MAC team. Can't overlook them, but Michigan doesn't' lose to MAC teams: Michigan 40 Toledo 17

10/18 PSU at Happy Valley: Michigan finally hits the road again for this sort of Prime Time game (4:30 start). PSU has lost an un-believable 10 games in a row to Michigan, which must really make JoPa think as he enjoys the "early bird" special at his local dinner. The PSU fans will want blood in this game as the Wolverines come to town. Here is another "hostile" environment that many of the young Wolverines won't have faced before. I have a feeling the Wolverines feel pretty confident in Happy Valley but PSU is like 20 months pregnant. PSU 21 Michigan 20

10/25: MSU at the Big House: Tabbed the Big Brother Game: MSU is feeling pretty good about their chances in this game, right now in August. The thing is MSU is thinking they are better then they really are and will have losses at CAL and maybe even to the athletic Florida Atlantic. Michigan will be ready for MSU this year and the Defense will stop them all day. Michigan 30 - MSU 3

11/1: at Purdue: This is Joe Tillers final Michigan game and he has the Wolverines at home. The problem is Purdue isn't much better then they were last year and will play well against poor competition to fail when they play the big boys in the conference. Michigan 27 Purdue 17

11/08: At Minnesota: Michigan never plays well in the Metro Dome. Never. I'm not sure why either. Maybe it's the weird Friday games or playing in a dome, the Wolverines always have to find a way to win "the little Brown Jug" when they travel North. This year is no exception to that rule, but as always Michigan's talent will rise to the top and the Gophers will retreat into their gopher hole. Michigan 31 Minnesota 24

11/15: Northwestern will be much improved this year and will surprise a few teams. They won't surprise Michigan at home before the Wolverines travel to Columbus to meet the 10-1 Buckeyes. Michigan 28 Northwestern 21

11/22 at OSU: I would love to break out the history books on you and talk about 1969 when a new coach from Miami of Ohio took over the Wolverines and played the top ranked Buckeyes in the nation's #1 rivalry. Does this sound familiar? From Bo's Wikipedia: In 1969, the Buckeyes came into the game as defending national champions and 17-point favorites with the top ranking in the country and a 22-game winning streak. Hayes' 1969 squad included five first-team all-Americans. But Schembechler's 7-2 Wolverines dominated a team Hayes later considered his best, beating Ohio State 24-12. In a single afternoon, Schembechler and his charges resurrected Michigan's grand but moribund football tradition and returned the program among college football's elite, a perch it has maintained ever since.

This paragraph will have Buckeye's up at night for the next three months thinking about that very real piece of history. Can it happen again? Will it happen again? It could. It's scary how things are very similar to that 1969 situation. OSU will be favored and should win this game (no points prediction at this time).

Best Case for the Wolverines: 10-2

Worst Case: 6-6

Big House Blog Prediction: 8-4

OSU vs YSU Game Preview

Ohio State – Youngstown St. Game Preview

The 2008 season starts with several entertaining games on Thursday and Friday of this week. Most notably Georgia Tech, under new coach Paul Johnson, will unveil their “triple option” attack against Jacksonville State on Thursday night. Go Jackets!!!! However entertaining this game (and others) may be, everyone knows the season really starts on Saturday and one of the first games to kick-off will be Ohio State vs. Youngstown State from the “Shoe”. . Last year’s game ended 38-6 in favor of the Buckeyes. I don’t think it will be that close this year. With the negotiations between Time Warner and the Big Ten network finally producing results, I’ll be able to watch the game in the comfort of my home instead of at a bar. That is a pleasant surprise.

What to look for on Saturday:

· Like I said in my preview of the upcoming year, Ohio State’s season hinges on several key factors…all of which will be on display this Saturday. The running game will be a constant all year. I’m excited to see what a healthy Beanie Wells will do. The short and intermediate passing game should also be able to consistently deliver positive yards.
There are only two questions most Buckeye fans have about the offense. #1 Will Todd Boekman be a better decision maker this year? #2 How soon/often will Terrelle Pryor see playing time? I want to see Boekman stay patient in the pocket, going through his reads and finding the open receiver. I do not want to see him with happy feet, forcing the ball into double coverage. While it won’t make a difference in the outcome of this game, solid play by Boekman this week and next would make me feel much better about the USC game in week three. I’m going against conventional wisdom and stating that while we will see Pryor for several series on Saturday (I’m guessing the 3rd or 4th series plus several others), anyone thinking the Coach Tressel is going to dust off the “Stanley Jackson – Joe Germaine Revolving QB Attack” is going to be disappointed. The depth chart at Bucknuts.com still reads Boekman – Bauserman – Pryor. I’m comfortable with that progression.
· I also mentioned the need for improved play on the defensive line as well as a more physical presence by the cornerbacks and safeties. Creating a few more turnovers should be a key by- product of those two things. I don’t expect YSU to be able to mount any serious challenges on the ground or through the air. The second and third teams should see extensive time in the second half.
How it will go:
· Beanie will go for 135 yards on 20 carries. He’ll score two touchdowns, one on a run of 30+ yards.
· Boekman will throw the ball all over the field (in a controlled manner) to six different receivers. He’ll throw 2 touchdowns, one on a long pass to Robiskie. I’m saying he will avoid throwing any interceptions.
· The defense will pitch the first of several shutouts this year.
· The bad taste left in our mouths after the BCS title game will be replaced with the sweet taste of victory.
I have it 45 – 0.
Go Bucks!!!!!!

-Buckeye John