Are We Good or Is ND Bad?
We went 3-9 last year. We were ranked 99th or worst in half a dozen key offensive categories and turnover margin, and not much better on defense. ND is ranked 18th this year and Lou Holtz picked them for the NC game. We have two new freshman quarterbacks (again) this year.
Today's final score: Mich 38 ND 34
I'm so confused.
September 13th, 2009 at 5:16 AM ^
only has a job from his name alone. He is lost it and crazy. Great win but an equalizer all around. We have a happy note to build on but let us see when we are 4-0 traveling to MSU with a Frosh QB.
September 13th, 2009 at 5:30 AM ^
We just beat a very good ND team. MSU just lost to CMU at home. MSU is a dangerous game if we overlook it, but we are the better team. I would be shocked if ND doesn't beat them by double digits next weekend. They certainly are not our measuring stick.
September 13th, 2009 at 10:09 AM ^
It is also a dangerous game for Notre Dame as well. ND never seems to get up for MSU like they do for Michigan, and they very well may be still hurting after losing to us.
So, it actually wont surprise me if MSU wins that game outright.
September 13th, 2009 at 6:58 AM ^
by the time the MSU game arrives he will be a junior with three more years of eligibility.
September 13th, 2009 at 7:46 AM ^
+1 to you sir.
September 13th, 2009 at 5:46 AM ^
We'll find out if we're good or if ND is bad as the season goes along. I think it's probably somewhere in the middle (we're both okay - hopefully I'm wrong on this and Michigan is really good). Don't take anything Lou Holtz says as anything more than the ramblings of a senile old man who can only talk about ND - it's embarassing to keep running him out there.
Also, don't sell MSU short. Again, it's only 2 games and they're replacing their entire backfield. While I'd like to see little brother crash and burn, I'm not willing to say that we're significantly better or that ND should dominate them next week. Don't forget that Weis is 1-3 against MSU in his time at ND.
September 13th, 2009 at 6:50 AM ^
I haven't watched the broadcast but from the view at the game, ND's got an excellent offense... I think they'll beat SC. They pass well and can setup the run from the pass. I think ND will go 10-2.
As for their D, I'm not sure if they're good or not. I thought they did a nice job holding us in check in the first half.
September 13th, 2009 at 7:19 AM ^
They lost to CMU that = crash and burn for the expectations this year for sparty. CMU is good but I think that MSU is still MSU
September 13th, 2009 at 6:13 AM ^
...and Meechigan beat them. My optimism, which is already higher than most here, has gone even higher after yesterday. There can be no doubt now that Michigan football is back. I think they officially re-entered the Big Three with yesterday's victory.
September 13th, 2009 at 6:24 AM ^
I agree. We won not because ND is bad. ND played great. Anytime Clausen had time to throw, he hit his receivers and they usually caught the ball. They played great special teams on both sides and you can see the impact of Tenuta on their defense. And, although it kills me to say this, that statue of liberty play was killer. We beat a very good team. When is it ok for us to start believing in Michigan again?
September 13th, 2009 at 10:51 AM ^
We get back to #1 when we win the conference (and hopefully a Rose Bowl to go with it).
September 13th, 2009 at 6:31 AM ^
I think it's a little bit of both. I think we're ahead of expectations and ND is overrated just a bit.
P.S. does anybody remember hearing Manti Te'o's name called other than the intros? Wasn't he supposed to be the best linebacker prospect in the country?
September 13th, 2009 at 2:48 PM ^
Manti Te'o had a pretty nice tackle early in the game, but keep in mind that the only reason he was in the starting lineup was that their normal starter was a little dinged up, but still saw a lot of snaps.
September 13th, 2009 at 6:35 AM ^
That's a good football team we beat. It's ok to start drinking the kool-aid!
September 13th, 2009 at 6:41 AM ^
Thanks. I'm parched.
September 13th, 2009 at 7:13 AM ^
It wasn't perfect but the game reminded me of 'Rocky II'; they gave us their best shot, we gave them our best shot, but in the end ND went down.
September 13th, 2009 at 7:31 AM ^
probably the best QB / WR combo we'll see all year. With that being said, I was a bit concerned about the lack of pressure we were getting all day. The defense also looked like it was getting pushed around by ND's OL. However, the D came up with big plays when they needed them.
As for Tate, I think we can officially end our concerns about having a "freshman" QB. He clearly plays beyond his years and is a superstar in the making. I'm not ready to hand him the Heisman just yet, but he clearly carried our offense yesterday and I don't have any concerns about him cracking in East Lansing. Hopefully we can take care of business the next two weeks....get healthy...and role into EL 4-0 with all of our cogs running full speed. Little brother, get ready for a beat down!
September 13th, 2009 at 11:45 AM ^
Despite the fact we won I think ND might be a bit better. I thought they were better on both lines (especially on offense). They were killing our D line both rushing and pass protection. It looks like they kept a lot of people in to protect and we only got pressure when we blitzed. I think our skill positions on defense were better and nearly equal on offense. Tate's a hell of alot better than Jimmah was as a freshman.
Basically we are damm close on talent and better coached. I really worry about depth on defense. I do think we will get better as the year goes on and I'm not sure the same can be said about ND.
September 13th, 2009 at 7:41 AM ^
Missed FG, then after another long drive unable to put the ball in the endzone, Allen stepping out of bounds on what should of been a TD, allowing the long return by Stonum; they really had the chance to have this one in hand in the first half, especially since we had our difficulties keeping the offense on the field. I think we'll hear good things from ND in the weeks to come.
September 13th, 2009 at 8:42 AM ^
ND did shoot themselves in the foot. Our corners looked a little timid, giving too much cushion. This could be a weakness that other teams could exploit. That said, I was impressed with our offense and especially impressed with the teams' heart. The players never quit. I also love the fact that we came out in the second half and recaptured the momentum in a game that was slipping away. It was nice to see a UoM coach make the better halftime adjustments. All-in-all, I see a future filled with Muppets.
September 13th, 2009 at 8:58 AM ^
is NOT a bad team. We were well prepared offensively and Tate Forcier played wonderfully. I don't know how many times I wanted to punch the TV watching our corners get beat on a regular basis. The offense is starting to roll and will hopefully continue to do so.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:07 AM ^
Notre Dame isn't bad. That offense is the real deal, that was no doubt the best pair of wideouts and the best passing QB we will see all year. Definitely the best pair of wideouts -- Floyd may not have had Benn's recruiting hype, but I say he's already showing more production, and add in Tate and that's a ridiculous pair, especially adding in Rudolph and their other receivers.
Good learning experience for Cissoko. I thought Warren played pretty well.
And Forcier has that "it" that you can't teach and that recruiting rankings can't/don't measure. I can't believe he's this good as a true freshman. Simply astonishing.
September 13th, 2009 at 10:49 AM ^
Floyd = Benn + competent quarterback. Those receivers are scary.
Forcier's improvisational abilities are unreal. Remember all those broken plays against us that just somehow turned into big yards or touchdowns? Well, they're ours now.
September 13th, 2009 at 10:28 AM ^
mind bottling isn't it? Neither of us are a top 10 team but we both should be solidly in the top 25 for the next few weeks if not all season.
September 13th, 2009 at 10:30 AM ^
Given the two teams respective strengths and weakness, I wouldn't want to face Notre Dame again this season.
September 13th, 2009 at 10:35 AM ^
don't want to play them next season. I don't know what their OL looks like but unless Clausen and Tate go to the NFL they're going to return those two guys, Floyd and Rudolph. We'll presumably be better too, but that game is going to be every bit as tough as this one was.
September 13th, 2009 at 10:57 AM ^
I think Turner is bigger and might be a bit more physical. If he comes along this season and spring/summer practices, he might end up being the corner we really need to match up with their receivers.
Given the youth of Michigan's team, getting more familiar with the system, and above all absent that massive mismatch, ND might be the one with problems.
September 13th, 2009 at 12:24 PM ^
Their OL consists of 4 seniors and a sophomore this year, so next year their line could really struggle once again, though I don't know the quality of their recruits/back ups.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:26 AM ^
Our offense looked quite good - even with Hemingway out, Minor bruised a bit and Stonum out for most of the 2nd half. Forcier, obvs, was excellent. We haven't had a QB that could do some of those things since... I dunno when. Leach? He and Minor were studs. Minor just looked great running and blocking. We have to keep him healthy. I think we can all see how important he is by how few snaps other RBs got.
But I think it's bad news that we put almost no pressure on Clausen - ND O-Line wasn't supposed to be good - got gashed by Armando Allen for over 6 per carry - Ezeh, for one, looked... not good and the light DLine, as a whole got pushed around a lot. Obvs, the pass D allowed a lot of big plays. We should all hope for Mike Williams' speedy recovery. We're paper thin in the secondary as it is. These were great WRs, yes, but we'll face other competent QBs+receiving corps that can do damage.