Michigan 10th Best Defense in Country (per Massey)
After last year's defense, I would have bet my 401K against this happening this late in the year, but Massey's computer ranking (used by the BCS) says that Michigan has the 10th best defense in the country.
Of course LSU is #1 and Alabama is #2.
BigTen teams +ND:
Penn State #3
Michigan State #4
Michigan #10
Ohio State #11
Notre Dame #18
Nebraska #21
Illinois #26
Wisconsin #28
Iowa #56
Purdue #68
Minnesota #81
Northwestern #85
Indiana #158
He thinks our conference is strong defensively, not as much offensively.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:10 PM ^
We will beat the SHIT out of OHIO
November 20th, 2011 at 9:14 PM ^
Because were one spot ahead of them?
November 20th, 2011 at 9:14 PM ^
Our amazing play in the big house mixed with Ohio's non existent passing attack mixed with our great run defense mixed with the fact that it's not a coincidence that our current coach and the coach that was honored first name's are.... LLOYD BRADY means that Ohio stands no chance.
November 20th, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
When you underestimate an opponent it usually comes back to bite you in the ass. It happens a lot in college football.
November 20th, 2011 at 11:34 PM ^
I don't think it is possible to underestimate a team thats beat you 7 years in a row. Coach Hoke will have Michigan ready for a war on saturday believe that. Withe the exception of the richrod years and a few scattered years here and there it makes no difference what the records are in The Game. There where a few years in the 90ies when OSU was loaded and we struggled but we still came away with a win.
November 21st, 2011 at 1:01 AM ^
The predictions and expectations from both sides are becoming a cacophony to my ears. I'll never predict a win at the end of the regular season because I'll honestly never expect one. They can be dead to the world and still find a way to win against Michigan. I will, as always, plead for victory on this one and leave it at that.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:16 AM ^
assured that Brady Hoke will let them do nothing of the kind.
If one of us does it, the Gods don't care so much.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^
Seems suspect to me. Penn State moved the ball at will against Ohio State yesterday, and nobody in their right mind would describe Penn State as a good offensive team.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:16 PM ^
Is this the biggest turnaround ever? I remember reading a post at the start of the year comparing defensive turnarounds, and our celing was supposed to be at best in the 60's. I don't think a defense has ever jumped 100 spots in one year before.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:19 PM ^
November 20th, 2011 at 9:18 PM ^
defense on purpose. Actually not bad defense, horrible defense. And Mattison has to be a defensive god. Those are the only two reasons that can explain the difference between last year and this year.
November 20th, 2011 at 10:17 PM ^
you're being facetious but I think it comes down to scheme but more importantly effective leadership. Getting kids to buy in to what you're doing starts when you show them you genuinely care about them and that you're going somewhere they want to follow. Rubbing stuffed animals in the faces of your players and humiliating them in front of their peers is not what inspires them.
November 20th, 2011 at 10:52 PM ^
Humiliating them in front of their peers? Exactly how do you think this was done?
November 20th, 2011 at 11:50 PM ^
This is how it was done.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:18 AM ^
goes to a special place in hell where big time FAIL meets up with bad human being. But I'd like further confirmation.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:21 AM ^
I don't think he's suggesting that GERG was <i>intentionally</i> humiliating his players, but rather that what GERG saw as a motivational ploy -- rubbing a stuffed beaver in a players' face -- was inadvertently humiliating.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:23 PM ^
This ranking hasn't even factored in last week yet. After shutting down Nebraska and OSU failing against Penn State's offense, the gap should be larger.
November 21st, 2011 at 12:18 AM ^
I think this omits the Western game, but we're #14 in total defense, #43 in rushing defense, #14 in pass defense, and #8 in scoring defense. While we are tied for #100 in interceptions, we're second in the country in fumbles recovered.This defense is very very good.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:24 PM ^
158? Does this include the FCS?
November 20th, 2011 at 9:29 PM ^
I was wondering the same thing...
November 20th, 2011 at 9:35 PM ^
settings for all of college football.
There is a tab for FBS, FCS D2 etc.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^
November 20th, 2011 at 9:25 PM ^
that had 4 Big East teams in the top 10 defenses last year? That was a joke. Also why would you include that team in south bend (aka - tsisb)?
The fact is our defense is perhaps the most improved defense from one year to the next in the history of B1G football ... and that is an important sign of the future of Michigan football.
Go Blue!
November 20th, 2011 at 9:36 PM ^
ND is pretty much a part of the Big Ten.
Plus, Ace includes them in his Recruiting Rankings, so why not here?
November 20th, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
Hate to beat the same drum here, but how does Indiana get to 158? Thought there were something like 120-ish teams?
November 20th, 2011 at 10:48 PM ^
pretty sure it includes all FCS teams as well as FBS teams.
November 20th, 2011 at 10:52 PM ^
is there like a pre-assistant of the year award prediction website anywhere out there? mattison's gotta be the sure thing winner, correct?
November 21st, 2011 at 10:16 AM ^
Yes, the B1G is pretty good on defense this year, and not so much on offense. Penn State and Ohio are prime examples. Besides the MSU O-line coming of age (against us unfortunately) to align with the experience of Kirk Cousins, and Northwestern when Persa can walk, the only other experienced offense out there is us. Seriously, our defense has gained a lot of steam since the ND game, and the real reason we lost the MSU and Iowa games: we were tinkering around too much with our offense (and Hoke mentioned Denard wasn't 100%).
So I like our odds against Ohio, and whoever our bowl opponent will be. AND despite what happened to us in 2006, I hope the SEC does send two teams to the NC game, because the B1G will fair better in the other bowl games (rather than playing 1-up SEC teams, the B1G may be playing 1-down SEC teams for a change).
November 21st, 2011 at 10:21 AM ^
Deleted and moved to the proper place