What will you consider a positive sign from today's game?
With the settling in of BPONE and a schedule that's looking much more foreboding given the product we've seen, what are the specific things you're looking for out of today's game, other than the obvious comfortable W, to climb a little bit out of the pit?
I'm looking for three:
1) a fast, aggressive defense that doesn't miss a gap - a return to disciplined D that's not surprised or easily fooled by what they see
2) use of the outside WRs on every drive and at least 2 deep shots per quarter - it's well past time to be using the full field to stretch defenses, because they can
3) enthusiasm from Harbaugh that looks more like last year - so far he looks like he did year 3 where he clearly was uncomfortable with things and it's clear the players pick up on it (which also makes me think the blog needs a new banner; the confused look he has on this one now feels like bad juju)
September 28th, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^
Sadly, I don't think we'll see any of those 3 things the OP mentions.
We will have to settle for a turnover-free game from Shea and maybe a special teams touchdown.
The foul stench of last week's game will linger at least one more week.
September 28th, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^
Gonna be hard to come out of this feeling more optimistic about this season unless it's a total dismantling. Like 59-0 and both sides of the ball look crisp.
A 31-10 game is just going to have be wondering whether we're going to lose by 20, 30, or 40 to ND, PSU, and OSU
September 28th, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^
No need for 80 fucking threads, limited use of the word fuck, fire and suck, and less than 200 combined posts in the snowflakes threads.
September 28th, 2019 at 11:29 AM ^
Unsportsmanlike on coach.
September 28th, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
(1) No turnovers or drive killing penalties.
(2) Offense finally builds rhythm and finishes drives.
(3) Defensive plays anything other then the 3-3-5
September 28th, 2019 at 11:39 AM ^
Winning! The team I saw last week looked like they might have gotten beaten by Rutgers too!
September 28th, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
It's Rutger there is nothing from this game that can be taken at all. Wake me up when they go to Penn State
September 28th, 2019 at 11:41 AM ^
I want to see Harbaugh get a "Technical Foul" penalty for being too animated and passionate after a bad call.
Throw something.
At somebody.
I'll happily live with the consequences.
September 28th, 2019 at 11:48 AM ^
Taking care of bidness
It's over by the end of the first quarter, 28-0
42-0 at halftime. All the guys get in, junk TD's are scored and the final is something like 63-21 and Harbaugh is a genius again and the Harbaugh Mafia erupts in a chorus of "I Told You So's" that tell anyone with any concerns that they are traitors, and just the kind who need just the treatment that our morally bankrupt and corrupt, vile president were talking about in that private meeting the other day.
This is one of those games where you right the ship and prepare for the grind that is coming. If this isn't a confidence game, nothing is.
Put up or shut up.
September 28th, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^
An offense that looks like they have a plan, and are all on the same page. We don't have to score 60 or 70, just a reasonably smooth showing.
We knew there would be a step back from the D, so where we are at is fine.
September 28th, 2019 at 11:52 AM ^
Gattis on the sideline would be nice
September 28th, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
Behold, it's happening today!
September 28th, 2019 at 11:55 AM ^
A perfect game.
September 28th, 2019 at 11:56 AM ^
We're saving that for Ohio State.
Maybe even in this century.
September 28th, 2019 at 11:56 AM ^
I could settle for a total Rutger.
September 28th, 2019 at 12:00 PM ^
BIG EASY WIN
all else sucks
also, realizing some key error that was preventing success, for example, players couldn't hear the play calls for the first three games
September 28th, 2019 at 12:16 PM ^
If there's a cheap shot on one of our skill players I'm looking for the o-line to go all primitive and take some scalps.
September 28th, 2019 at 2:39 PM ^
Minimum 2 scalps
September 28th, 2019 at 1:14 PM ^
Im sorry, but you cannot use this game vs. Rutgers to gauge any success on our season. Rutgers is complete trash, almost like playing a jr. high school team. Pattertrash looks like GOLD-en dog shit, because he is playing a garbage team. Want to know where all of these plays were the past games, nowhere, because those teams were better than RU. Please dont use this Rutgers game for ANY comparison, because next week @ IA will be another real team, and test.
September 28th, 2019 at 2:15 PM ^
Can someone please ban this guy?
September 28th, 2019 at 3:35 PM ^
He looked like poo vs. MTSU. I was glad to see a non-pop version. But, I agree in some respects - like how is it our stud WRs can get covered by EVERYONES cbs?
September 28th, 2019 at 1:15 PM ^
Not losing. Other than that, this is by far the weakest team we’ll play the rest of the year. Nothing we see today will be much of a predictor of any other game.
September 28th, 2019 at 1:15 PM ^
Mitch McGary has been known to hold up positive signs...
"WIN THE GAME"
September 28th, 2019 at 2:45 PM ^
I agree. The defense needs to fly around. If they mess up they better do it while playing fast and aggressively. No more catching blocks. As for the offense I'd like us not to play injured players so we can be as healthy as possible for Iowa. Other than that a run game of some sort would be nice. Better protection for whoever is in the pocket and some explosiveness. Lets take shots downfield.
September 28th, 2019 at 3:33 PM ^
Biggest +: Patterson not overthrowing receivers. Each of the last 3 games he has majorly missed WIDE OPEN guys with his throws, even when not pressured. If he had been this accurate, games one and two would have been comfortable wins - if not blow outs. Wisconsin... still would have lost but might have been more interesting. Coaches lost Wisconsin as much as the players did.
Biggest - : o line. W. T. F. Scary we couldn’t run the ball down Rutgers throats. Huge red flag.
September 28th, 2019 at 4:59 PM ^
Going up-tempo on the goal line, FINALLY.
September 28th, 2019 at 5:12 PM ^
Only been on this site for a couple years, but I never remember the banner taking such a beating as it has the past couple weeks.