I don't have enough confidence in Michigan to beat ND. Change me,

Submitted by Braylon1 on

Do I want to feel this way? No. Not at all. I want to see Michigan beat ND so badly that that they can't even see straight. I loathe Notre Dame this time of year. I have respect for their program and tradition but not when they play Michigan. Michigan is the better school, has better history, a better fanbase, and so on and so fourth.

Unfortunately, I'm struggling to find enough reasons to make me believe Michigan beats ND this Saturday.

One can't deny what's working in our favor. Denard. Improved scheme defensively, etc. Healthy Woofolk. Big House, at night at home, etc. I'm aware of those things.

Some things working against us..

  • No Hagerup
  • Very questionable kicking game along with special teams issues last week (although I do think adjustments will be made for kickoffs)
  • Change in offensive scheme that in my opinion will limit the offense enough to the point where Michigan can't keep up its pace under what would be another year in RR's spread. I think last years offense allowed a comfortability for Denard in the passing game when we ran the ball effectively. I get nervous when I think about Denard going through read progressions.
  • ND had a good grasp on the game last year before their starting QB suffered injuries. Now, both are healthy
  • ND defense did very well last week despite the offense turning the ball over 5 times. Coupled with our change in scheme, and yes it is a change despite trying to play to Denard's strengths, I am nervous here.
  • ND gained over 500 yards of offense in bad weather.
  • Michigan LB play is in question. Demens is doing what he can but the loss of Mouton was significant when you consider current depth.

I did enjoy hearing from Borges in this week's press conference that Michigan barely got into the offense. So, I'm not writing off our offense based on what we've seen. At the same time, the offense will need to really come through because ND is going to move the ball.

I have faith in the coaching staff and this football team. I can't help feeling like the underdog in this one for the reasons listed.

Please make me wrong.

 

MGoBoard

NOLA Wolverine

September 9th, 2011 at 3:26 PM ^

Kick off in a day and change. Drink it up before hand if you need confidence in order to make noise at the game. We're playing against Tommy Rees for goodness sake, breathe asigh of relief. 

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 7307

michgoblue

September 9th, 2011 at 3:44 PM ^

So, I am going to give it an honest shot:

1.  We beat them last year. 

2.  The team that beat ND last year returns in full (essentially).

3.  The team that beat ND last year was scary young and lacked depth.  We are now less scary young and have some actual depth.

4.  Our defense has an actual D coach that does rub his beaver on the faces of 18-22 year old men.

5.  But seriously, expanding on point 4, we have a real D coach who seems to have taught our players such basic concepts of tackling with their arms and swarming to the ball.  Said D coach likes to employ something called a blitz, something that our former D coach considered to be a foreign concept.

6.  The offense - Denard will not rack up 500 yards (probably) because now ND has seen him.  But, I wouldn't put it past the combo of Denard and Fitz /Shaw / Hopkins / Smith to get to 500.  Our offense is still going to be able to put up a ton of points on ND.

7.  ND's QB is the guy that couldn't beat out the guy who he is replacing after that guy was benched for the startying job.  Put more simply, they are playing their back-up QB.

8. 

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: 32198

Waters Demos

September 9th, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^

OP raised some relevant points as well.

From a neutral observer's POV, I'm going to thoroughly enjoy this game.  But for that part of me that sympathizes with M, I think it's important to manage expectations. 

Last week's results for both teams were incredibly distorting, and I think there's a good chance ND comes away with a W here.  "Manball" with Denard mixed in may in the end not be enough to overcome Floydball, and ND's defense is quite a bit improved IMHE.  Plus when they weren't in panic mode last week, their running game was pretty effective (though only against USF I realize).

I might also add that perhaps no team last year was "Denarded" more so than ND.  I doubt they let it happen again; in fact I'd more readily believe that Kelly has had a Dantonio style fixation on this game and Denard in particular.

Manage expectations lest you turn into Brian Kelly.  All's fun and games until someone's face melts.  

Joined: 08/19/2010

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BiSB

September 9th, 2011 at 7:21 PM ^

Michigan '10. Michigan State '10.  Tulsa '10. Michigan '09. USC '09. Navy '09. Pitt '09. UConn '09. Stanford '09. UNC '08.  Pitt '08. Syracuse '08.

Notre Dame hasn't displayed magic juju in a close game in a long time... maybe the Valenti Pucker-Pucker-Teddy-Ruxpin-Make-Plays game against State in '06(?)

Joined: 08/15/2009

MGoPoints: 46071

Dana

September 9th, 2011 at 4:08 PM ^

"I did enjoy hearing from Borges in this week's press conference that Michigan barely got into the offense."

 

Can anyone give me some more context on this quote?  Was he saying that their staff saved plenty of stuff for ND?  Or more that, since its a new system, they don't have the entire playbook installed yet?

Thanks!

Joined: 07/10/2008

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