Best thing you saw: Week 1
First, last year this was great fun for me because of your participation. It made Sundays better. Ergo, I hope you'll indulge me again.
Second, as I offered last year, if Negs beat the Pos', I'll stop.
Third, my goal was to highlight the best of non-Michigan games, but that didn't hold - which was fine. It was fun all the same.
So...with context - I watch lots of games but not all of them and because it's the best game EVER, and the best use of a fall Saturday, I'm interested in your thoughts on the best of the week that you saw. And this year, how about a Michigan and non-Michigan division?
I know it's not the end of week 1, but the remaining "big" games involve the ACC. Louisville nearly lost to Purdue, fergodsakes, so how good could those games be? May as well start discussing now...
Non-Michigan: Maryland - Texas was a little sloppy, but very entertaining, as was South Carolina - NC State. I'm a little disappointed Bama - Free Shoes U wasn't more entertaining (and godspeed young Francois). All that said, as much as we all would have enjoyed the Broncos bucking the Trojans, the blind long snapper for USC getting game action is a great story and the best thing I saw. More proof of the power of sport.
Michigan: duh. I do wish the score reflected the true dominance a bit more, but the depth showing up on D, and the O line rate awfully high. Regardless, I'm going with WE HAZ KEEKER!
What you got?
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:43 AM ^
USC all they could handle while msu watched at home
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:46 AM ^
WMU not CMU
September 3rd, 2017 at 1:43 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:54 AM ^
and starting with leader of team was able to regain focus by setting Wilton and getting him ready to lead team in second half. We saw proper changes being implemented, allowing him to safely lead offense in second half and allow defense to lead us to the W while offense finds itself, something not too far away from. Impressive move by coaches, execution by players.
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:45 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:46 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:49 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 1:48 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:45 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:55 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 10:04 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:47 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:02 AM ^
The bottom of the Big Ten East holding their own against good competition... and knowing that we're not counted among it.
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:52 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:00 AM ^
reversed. He seemed to be everywhere.
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:53 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:58 AM ^
And the class of the WMU staff and players to stand there and not rush the PAT. The game was out of hand; there was no need to risk injuring the kid for the sake of losing by 17 instead of 18.
September 3rd, 2017 at 1:39 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 2:02 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 2:01 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:50 AM ^
Ouch!
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:54 AM ^
Impressed by so many of the young players. DPJ looked fabulous on punt returns. Black and Eubanks made some outstandiing catches. The new line held up well all things considered. The Defense was a Don Brown Defense...Scary good all around. Getting a win after two pick sixes in the first half speaks volumes of this you team.
September 3rd, 2017 at 1:26 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 7:19 AM ^
ripped off some 50 yd returns. he was all-world in that virtually every punt was well-handled and a few with nice run backs too. but the part that was great was the part that was not flashy at all - he scooped or caught them all and instead of florida downing the ball 10 yds further back, he returned them all 5-15 yds forward. so that 10-20 yd delta in field position on every punt starts to make a real difference. very well done.
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:27 AM ^
I loved the punt he caught over his shoulder along the sideline. It was inside the 10 and he had two defenders right there, but he still brought it out 15 yards. If he doesn't catch a pass this season, his punt handling looks to be top notch already. One more game like that and we we'll start the Peppers comparisons!
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:04 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 7:41 AM ^
"Getting a win after two pick sixes in the first half speaks volumes of this you team. "
I think there was steel in the spine of the leaders on this team. Seriously, a Hoke team would have folded up shop right then and there. The leadership Harbaugh has developed is different (it exists!). This team kept on fighting.
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:23 AM ^
how fun it is to watch Harbaugh coached teams. The competition they've had makes them so mentally strong but also their preparation is perfect. They're tackling, routes, protections are all so well coached for a team with this much youth.
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:09 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:55 AM ^
Michigan Division: The whole defense, and especially Devin Bush, flying around on defense and annihilating everything Florida did.
Non-Michigan Division: Football is back! And that Maryland-Texas game was a lot of fun.
We're not lame enough to start yelling "SEC! SEC!" after a pick-six (remember that?) but the Big Ten had a good weekend with bottom-feeders Rutgers and Purdue looking respectable against teams that spent most of the season in the top ten last year, Maryland scything through Texas, and of course Michigan manhandling a team from the SEC yet again.
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:25 AM ^
Maryland was at Texas, I'd call us on the road although we appeared to have the advantage in fans. Purdue was in Indianappolis instead of W. Lafayette.
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:42 PM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:56 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 12:59 AM ^
Michigan Division: The Defense as stated.
Non-UM: Western Michigan threatening a potential playoff USC team! Oh, and Slippery Rock won today, but I guess that isn't really non-UM.
September 3rd, 2017 at 1:06 AM ^
The accuracy of the Hotels.com ad. That lady definitely holds all veto power in her house. Guarantee those kids rock Michigan gear soon enough.
September 3rd, 2017 at 1:13 AM ^
The back 7 was great even if Florida isn't that good on offense. There was tight coverage against some pretty decent wideouts. They need to become lockdown by the PSU game.
September 3rd, 2017 at 10:03 AM ^
in the secondary giving up easy points. After that first completion allowed, they were much better than I expected, let alone feared.
As impressed as I was with Bush flying all over, Metellus was a close second in that regard.
September 3rd, 2017 at 2:43 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 1:40 AM ^
Very close second would be the secondary being like, pretty good.
Florida hasn't been known for their offenses recently though. And they were missing their top 2 skill players. Not trying to be a downer. It was a dominating performance and they gave up 3 points in a neutral environment to the SEC East defending champ.
September 3rd, 2017 at 2:01 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 2:02 AM ^
looks as good as last year's senior laden one. Don't forget that Florida isn't some MAC team. Yes, they lost some good players but they have a ton of talent and an offensive line that is hearlded. Our defense made them look like boys against our men. We have the best defensive coach ever
September 3rd, 2017 at 2:15 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 2:42 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 2:45 AM ^
Best, Non-Michigan - Texas losing will always entertain me; former Michigan assistant beating former Ohio assistant only makes it better.
September 3rd, 2017 at 2:48 AM ^
Howard beating UNLV is apparently the largest upset in history... even bigger than Stanford-USC and Michigan-App St.
Wow...
September 3rd, 2017 at 7:50 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 3:43 AM ^
Also DPJ's sure hands catching and returning punts.
September 3rd, 2017 at 4:05 AM ^