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 4:06 AM ^
USC long snapper and Shane Morris highlight real jump and Durkin's team crushing Hermann's team in Austin
Worst: Speight's accuracy, even without the second pick he was off on too many throws
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September 3rd, 2017 at 4:17 AM ^
Michigan Division: Finally a 4th quarter that flew by against a ranked team instead of having to be endured with quiet desperation. We gassed a very good D-Line and whooped their asses in the second half.
Non: How 'bout them Broncos and Terps?
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:14 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 6:19 AM ^
If your best thing is a single play: Brandon Watson PBU (said this in another thread)
All around: front seven, bush in particular
I'm also liking our three-headed monster at RB. Sort of wish Isaac gets more carries - not more carries than Evans, but better than a 1:2 ratio (which I believe is what we saw, 11 carries to 22 or something like that).
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:41 AM ^
That PBU was perfect! And it came right when UF had momemtum and were starting to look confident. Says Watson: 'get the fuck off the field!!!' And that from a guy that couldn't buy his way onto the field last year. Outstanding!!
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:12 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 6:46 AM ^
For the FCS/FBS upset of the week. Couldn't have happened to a finer, integrous school.
September 3rd, 2017 at 7:31 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:05 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 7:07 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 7:32 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 7:45 AM ^
Among the non-Michigan things that I enjoyed, like others, I found myself glued to the Texas-Maryland game because of the insanity of it all, the special teams TDs, Maryland's surprisingly proficient run game against Texas and of course, the shock of Long horns fans that other conferences value defense.
For our game, watching a young defense perform at a level close to last year was very encouraging, and the offensive line seems like it should be able to do more to establish the run consistently this time around - yes, hot take from one game there, but I was pleased with them overall despite some first game jitters / rust. Still, the OL had moments that made me nervous too, so we'll see what the next few weeks of practice bring too.
September 3rd, 2017 at 7:47 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:20 AM ^
I was kind of surprised at why Isaac didn't get more carries. He was clearly the best RB today.
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:34 AM ^
looked good, with Isaac a cut above
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:57 AM ^
I agree all 3 did look good. But Isaac to me looked special yesterday. He needs more carries
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:54 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 7:52 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 7:52 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 7:57 AM ^
hardly at all. he consistently got by their D-line when they penetrated into the backfield. i only remember a few times he got bottled up but otherwise he always made at least one guy miss. very impressed, and in fact i thought all of our backs showed excellent vision and bounced outside at the most opportune time as well. i still have derrick green tremors sometimes....
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:05 AM ^
After years of watching other teams run around, it was GREAT seeing Michigan outrun a stodgy, slow SEC team.
September 3rd, 2017 at 1:18 PM ^
This is not even hype. It's a stone cold true statement.
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:09 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:19 AM ^
The stats are not going to tell the complete story for him, you have to really watch the tape. The sack TD was as much Gary as WInovich. He was triple teamed. Two interior linemen tried and the RB also tried which allowed Winovich to come free. And Gary still collapsed the interior of the pocket on the play. That is a grown man out there who is going to cause havoc. Devin Bush is going to be insane this year and he is an amazing player but those LBs should be taking Gary out to dinner every week.
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:58 AM ^
This remark is so on the money, but I suspect Gary is going to get his Stats eventually, especially as the other teams figure out too much in resources cannot be dedicated to Gary, because if you do, the other guys will kill you.
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:58 AM ^
This^^^
A couple of times I heard the announcers saying Gary needed to get involved. I also saw several comments on here in the live stream threads saying the same. He and Hurst occupied the interior OL to the point that Bush and Winovich had free runs. Gary is a full-on BEAST!!!
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:10 AM ^
Rashan will be a destroyer of worlds and harvester of souls.
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:55 AM ^
Easily answered--the DEFENSE. Anybody paying attention knew it was going to be damn good, but so soon? It's why we are going ALL THE WAY!
Second place---the offensive line---there were some rough spots against a good defense, but the offensive linemen had a pretty good game. Ulizio made some errors, but he can play, and is going to improve. Now they have time to gel.
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:41 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:48 AM ^
especially our young defense, and our team speed.
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:51 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:55 AM ^
Nothing better than hearing phrases from opposing coaches like "they wanted it more", "they were more physical than us", and "they whooped us".
Who's got it better than us? Noooooooobody!
September 3rd, 2017 at 8:55 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:05 AM ^
M: Watching the team celebrate after Nordin's 55 yarder. At least watching, it looked like that lifted the mood significantly.
NonM: Hats off to DJ Durkin for taking a Maryland program into Texas and walking away with a win. I know Texas is rebuilding, but who would have ever thought Maryland would walk away from Austin with a W.
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:07 AM ^
In the entire 2nd half, Florida ran two plays which started in Michigan territory. The results? Two sacks.
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:12 AM ^
Best, Michigan Division: have to go with the defense as a whole. It was better than I figured it would be, faster, more disciplined, more physical. It looked a lot like last years defense, only faster! I'd say the DB group was a little more loose, but for being (mostly) underclassmen in thier first start, they were lights out! The passes UF hit were good throws into tight windows. Can't fault that - tip o'da hat to Franks and Zaire. Playmakers all over the field, at all three levels.
Best non-UM: Maryland winning, WMU giving USC all they wanted, the USC center (stuff like this is sooo cool!). Football is back!
Worst - season ending injuries. Media talking heads... All I hear is how UF looked bad, but not the why behind why (kind of expected, though).
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:17 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:17 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:34 AM ^
Watching the 30-minute highlights — thanks, Eye of the Tiger — I realized I was having as much fun watching the defense as the offense.
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
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September 3rd, 2017 at 9:40 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:43 AM ^
as an auditory bonus; I heard the lamentation of their women.
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:44 AM ^
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^
Devin Bush
Nordin
DPJ and Black
Ty Isaac