OT: MIchigan Sports Thread: UM wins Natty Championship

[The Zetterberg Era]

You really went against the grain with that prediction, haha. Michigan will play Ohio tougher than this, State is getting wrecked.

That won't be a competitive game. Ohio State is the second best team in the country right now in my opinion. They have the best offense, while U of M has some nice edge rushers, they don't have the corners to hold up. They are also going to get wrecked. They at least don't have to go to the Shoe, but none of the B1G teams are close to tOSU, there is a rather large gulf in talent between them and everyone else in the conference.

I would have liked them to play better sure, but a 10 win season is beyond my wildest dreams entering the season. Tucker has had a good class and we will have to see where it goes.

10-5 in the last 15, that is going to be the reality of the kids that are being recruited right now. The Wolverines haven't won a B1G title in their lifetime. Thinking about that as an older person in my 30s that statement is utterly stunning but that is the levels of futility the once proud U of M brand has entered. A tough game against the conference goliath doesn't change that really. That U of M fans even celebrate this stuff actually tells me more about where this has evolved for the first half of my life MSU was pretty much a bug on the wind-shield and an afterthought.

I guess we will see, but I expect the same bewildered looks to be on Big Game Jim next week.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Interesting to see Ryan Day basically call off the dogs here though.

 

[Hen Kolland]

That won't be a competitive game. Ohio State is the second best team in the country right now in my opinion. They have the best offense, while U of M has some nice edge rushers, they don't have the corners to hold up. They are also going to get wrecked. They at least don't have to go to the Shoe, but none of the B1G teams are close to tOSU, there is a rather large gulf in talent between them and everyone else in the conference.

I would have liked them to play better sure, but a 10 win season is beyond my wildest dreams entering the season. Tucker has had a good class and we will have to see where it goes.

10-5 in the last 15, that is going to be the reality of the kids that are being recruited right now. The Wolverines haven't won a B1G title in their lifetime. Thinking about that as an older person in my 30s that statement is utterly stunning but that is the levels of futility the once proud U of M brand has entered. A tough game against the conference goliath doesn't change that really. That U of M fans even celebrate this stuff actually tells me more about where this has evolved for the first half of my life MSU was pretty much a bug on the window-shield and an afterthought.

I guess we will see, but I expect the same bewildered looks to be on Big Game Jim next week.

Michigan’s secondary is still better than Michigan State’s and they have two first round caliber edge rushers. I expect it to be a 3+ score game in favor of Ohio State, but I don’t expect Michigan to give up 500 yards and 50 points in the first half either.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Michigan’s secondary is still better than Michigan State’s and they have two first round caliber edge rushers. I expect it to be a 3+ score game in favor of Ohio State, but I don’t expect Michigan to give up 500 yards and 50 points in the first half either.

I think they will choose to run a lot more on U of M anyway and take some of the legs out of the edge rush guys. Might not be in a half, but I think they hang a big number on U of M in Ann Arbor as well probably along those totals on offense.

 

[YpsiWings]

That won't be a competitive game. Ohio State is the second best team in the country right now in my opinion. They have the best offense, while U of M has some nice edge rushers, they don't have the corners to hold up. They are also going to get wrecked. They at least don't have to go to the Shoe, but none of the B1G teams are close to tOSU, there is a rather large gulf in talent between them and everyone else in the conference.

I would have liked them to play better sure, but a 10 win season is beyond my wildest dreams entering the season. Tucker has had a good class and we will have to see where it goes.

10-5 in the last 15, that is going to be the reality of the kids that are being recruited right now. The Wolverines haven't won a B1G title in their lifetime. Thinking about that as an older person in my 30s that statement is utterly stunning but that is the levels of futility the once proud U of M brand has entered. A tough game against the conference goliath doesn't change that really. That U of M fans even celebrate this stuff actually tells me more about where this has evolved for the first half of my life MSU was pretty much a bug on the window-shield and an afterthought.

I guess we will see, but I expect the same bewildered looks to be on Big Game Jim next week.

The main reason Wolverine fans are cheering right now is if they take care of business this afternoon Michigan controls their own destiny. Needed a Sparty loss and it happened, in emphatic fashion. It sucks losing a rivalry game, but one of our favorite teams still has all their goals in front of them, sounds like a good situation to me, and one I would rather have. Obviously still need to win today, and against Ohio, huge task.

You talk about how surprising a 10 win season for State is, how about Michigan following up a 2-4 season with where they are now. It’s been a huge surprise, this team is playing with fire and passion that has not been there in a long time. I am not oblivious to how lopsided the Ohio series has been, however I am not going to automatically write it off as a loss like so many times in the past.

 

[newfy]

Michigan’s secondary is still better than Michigan State’s and they have two first round caliber edge rushers. I expect it to be a 3+ score game in favor of Ohio State, but I don’t expect Michigan to give up 500 yards and 50 points in the first half either.

Michigan definitely matches up better than MSU does against Ohio State. They have a significantly better secondary and they have the best set of edge defenders in the country. Stroud isnt sitting back there and throwing like that against Michigan.

 

[Reality Check]

Michigan will give Ohio State a far more competitive game than Sparty. But they are still going to lose by at least 10 points.

Ohio State has been in a different class from the rest of the Big 10 for roughly 15 years now.

 

[Your Boy Troy]

Hopefully Blake Corum is good to go for next week. The running game is at its best when the read option with McCarthy is implemented at times.

Haskins is going to need the game of his life because McNamara and his weak sidearm throws aren’t getting the job done.

 

[Bondurant]

How much are we betting on TB12 2.0 tomorrow?

 

[Reality Check]

I think that guy is about as good as Dan Orlovsky. But it's still an improvement over Goff.

Think the Lions lose tomorrow but win on Thanksgiving if Goff is still on the shelf.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

I don’t think Goff has a win in his nfl career without having Mcvay with him.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

I think that guy is about as good as Dan Orlovsky. But it's still an improvement over Goff.

Think the Lions lose tomorrow but win on Thanksgiving if Goff is still on the shelf.

But it's not. The hate on Goff has gotten rampant. Tim Boyle is garbage. He's not an upgrade. Dan Orlovsky wouldn't be an upgrade on Goff. Like, Goff is hardly a good QB, but you don't do what he did in LA if you're just completely dogshit.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

I don’t think Goff has a win in his nfl career without having Mcvay with him.

You're right... the Lions are winless in his one season that he has been away from McVay. And it only required an NFL-record 66 yarder to come after the defense gave up a 3rd and 19 and the NFL let the play clock run to 0.0 prior to Jackson getting the snap.

Like, I don't want to be defending Jared Goff because he's ass... but my god.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

That won't be a competitive game. Ohio State is the second best team in the country right now in my opinion. They have the best offense, while U of M has some nice edge rushers, they don't have the corners to hold up. They are also going to get wrecked. They at least don't have to go to the Shoe, but none of the B1G teams are close to tOSU, there is a rather large gulf in talent between them and everyone else in the conference.

I would have liked them to play better sure, but a 10 win season is beyond my wildest dreams entering the season. Tucker has had a good class and we will have to see where it goes.

10-5 in the last 15, that is going to be the reality of the kids that are being recruited right now. The Wolverines haven't won a B1G title in their lifetime. Thinking about that as an older person in my 30s that statement is utterly stunning but that is the levels of futility the once proud U of M brand has entered. A tough game against the conference goliath doesn't change that really. That U of M fans even celebrate this stuff actually tells me more about where this has evolved for the first half of my life MSU was pretty much a bug on the wind-shield and an afterthought.

I guess we will see, but I expect the same bewildered looks to be on Big Game Jim next week.

I will say, Stroud has look flummoxed sometimes this year when someone gets in his face. When he's got a clean pocket, he's got a cannon arm and throws beautiful balls. Kind of like Dwayne Haskins before him. When he gets someone whacking him every couple plays, he won't be as accurate. That was the real determining factor. It's why teams like Purdue can give the far more talented teams fits. All you need is a competent defense that can get pressure on the QB and you can derail even the best offense. Now, if they can pick up your blitz, you're going to be sliced and diced. It's also why Michigan got their shit pushed in against OSU in the Dom Brown era. Dr. Blitz did that all day and didn't have an answer for the drag routes with WRs who are just faster than the safeties that are asked to cover them. That's why it got out of hand. And it's why it got out of hand against MSU. They didn't have corners that could keep up with Njigba, Olave, or Wilson when the front four pressure didn't get home.

I mean, OSU is very likely to steamroll, but they're not invincible. They definitely can have games where they come out with the double barrel cannons early and become invincible. They have a nasty killer instinct. But if you can weather the storm against them, their own defense is actually pretty suspect. They thrive off of getting up big and making you one-dimensional. Their great DEs can pin their ears back and go QB hunting if they're up 3 scores. In other words, OSU is a team that snowballs. They get the first step on you and they put their boot on your throat. They give up the first step and they'll scramble because that's not familiar to them.

 

[guinness]

You're right... the Lions are winless in his one season that he has been away from McVay. And it only required an NFL-record 66 yarder to come after the defense gave up a 3rd and 19 and the NFL let the play clock run to 0.0 prior to Jackson getting the snap.

Like, I don't want to be defending Jared Goff because he's ass... but my god.

He was winless under Jeff Fisher too, going 0-7 during his (admittingly) rookie season in 2016.

An issue I have with Goff, is that he's not some rookie at this point, he's played the equivalent of 5 full seasons.

 

[RabidBadger]

As a Michigan fan, I expected this outcome for Sparty and expect the same when it's Michigan.

That said, if MSU seriously wants to make Mel Tucker the second highest paid coach in college, shake their hand and let them thump their chest over beating Michigan every year.

That's crazy.

I completely get why MSU paid Tucker. No one expected MSU to get more than 4-5 wins this year, let alone knock off a couple ranked teams. I thought it was way more absurd to pay Harbaugh more than Urban Mayer and have no significant wins to show for it.

 

[FabricDetails]

 

[Bondurant]

Like, Goff is hardly a good QB, but you don't do what he did in LA if you're just completely dogshit.

Goff's ceiling as a NFL QB is a game manager. He is not a dynamic player, a clutch player or a player that can be counted on to deliver wins. He can manage the game when the pieces around him are solid. From time to time he will turn in a good performance. McVay wanted a guy that can deliver in more ways than one. Goff is not that guy and his shortcomings are glaring on a bad team like the Lions.

MC/DC's comments today about going heavy on the run when they should have been passing is him beating around the bush and saying every QB on the roster is trash.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

View attachment 482770

Better RB than Swift.

 

[FabricDetails]

Better RB than Swift.

This comment is all over Twitter, haha. I would appreciate it more if I especially cared for Football.

 

[izlez]

Goff's ceiling as a NFL QB is a game manager. He is not a dynamic player, a clutch player or a player that can be counted on to deliver wins. He can manage the game when the pieces around him are solid. From time to time he will turn in a good performance. McVay wanted a guy that can deliver in more ways than one. Goff is not that guy and his shortcomings are glaring on a bad team like the Lions.

MC/DC's comments today about going heavy on the run when they should have been passing is him beating around the bush and saying every QB on the roster is trash.

The problem is, Tim Boyle's ceiling as an NFL QB is "Not an NFL QB". And people are trying to act like he's better than Goff.

 

[Bondurant]

The problem is, Tim Boyle's ceiling as an NFL QB is "Not an NFL QB". And people are trying to act like he's better than Goff.

I have yet to see anyone claim Boyle is better. I have seen people claim they want to see the ball thrown deeper than 5 yards which Goff is hesitant to do even before he was "injured" and they want to see anyone other than Goff for at least one game.

 

[guinness]

I completely get why MSU paid Tucker. No one expected MSU to get more than 4-5 wins this year, let alone knock off a couple ranked teams. I thought it was way more absurd to pay Harbaugh more than Urban Mayer and have no significant wins to show for it.

I thought Harbaugh took a pay cut this year/extension?

But yeah, my issue with him as well, if UM fans are going to crap on Tucker's contract, which is honestly fair for all of them...what exactly has Harbaugh accomplished at Michigan? Can't beat Ohio, struggles against State, beat whom they should, goes 10-2, 9-3, gets the high in-state recruits, but also hasn't won a bowl game in years, which actually surprised me.

I still contend he must beat Ohio this year, maybe next, otherwise it looks like a program content to perennially be 2nd tier in the Big 10. Bo or Yost aren't walking through the tunnels anytime soon.

Got their Michigan man though. Yup. Sure, a nice guy, affable, but it's a results oriented landscape, and Michigan can outspend MSU by a large margin, and wins on paper. But like the hockey and basketball teams as well, games aren't won on paper.

But are the results really that different? Ohio just beats them both with ease.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

I thought Harbaugh took a pay cut this year/extension?

But yeah, my issue with him as well, if UM fans are going to crap on Tucker's contract, which is honestly fair for all of them...what exactly has Harbaugh accomplished at Michigan? Can't beat Ohio, struggles against State, beat whom they should, goes 10-2, 9-3, gets the high in-state recruits, but also hasn't won a bowl game in years, which actually surprised me.

I still contend he must beat Ohio this year, maybe next, otherwise it looks like a program content to perennially be 2nd tier in the Big 10. Bo or Yost aren't walking through the tunnels anytime soon.

Got their Michigan man though. Yup. Sure, a nice guy, affable, but it's a results oriented landscape, and Michigan can outspend MSU by a large margin, and wins on paper. But like the hockey and basketball teams as well, games aren't won on paper.

But are the results really that different? Ohio just beats them both with ease.

He's had multiple 10 win plus seasons. Mel Tucker hasn't reached 20 wins in the NCAA. Michigan has been on the precipice of the Big Ten Title and Playoffs (2016 says hi).
Harbaugh also had a history of building a contender out at Stanford, coached the 49ers into a Super Bowl, and Michigan has revived itself from the Brady Hoke era to not be dogshit.

Mel Tucker is getting 9.5 million for 10 years off of the strength of a 16-14 college record. This would be like if we signed Mortiz Seider to a 8 year 80m contract tomorrow because if we didn't Arizona would give him 8 years 96m. Could it possibly work out? Yup. Hell, is it more likely than not that it would work out? He looks legit to me, so maybe? Would it be WAY too much WAY too soon? Also yes.

I also think they've been playing with fire the whole season. They've been really fortunate to pull out some of the wins that they got. I mean, when they played Michigan, Tucker rolled the dice a bunch on fourth down calls and hit them all. He was pulling out some low percentage plays and none of them blew up in his face. I just am seeing like three years from now Sparty fans wringing their hands wondering what the buyout on Mel Tucker's contract is.

 

[jkutswings]

He's had multiple 10 win plus seasons. Mel Tucker hasn't reached 20 wins in the NCAA. Michigan has been on the precipice of the Big Ten Title and Playoffs (2016 says hi).
Harbaugh also had a history of building a contender out at Stanford, coached the 49ers into a Super Bowl, and Michigan has revived itself from the Brady Hoke era to not be dogshit.

Mel Tucker is getting 9.5 million for 10 years off of the strength of a 16-14 college record. This would be like if we signed Mortiz Seider to a 8 year 80m contract tomorrow because if we didn't Arizona would give him 8 years 96m. Could it possibly work out? Yup. Hell, is it more likely than not that it would work out? He looks legit to me, so maybe? Would it be WAY too much WAY too soon? Also yes.

I also think they've been playing with fire the whole season. They've been really fortunate to pull out some of the wins that they got. I mean, when they played Michigan, Tucker rolled the dice a bunch on fourth down calls and hit them all. He was pulling out some low percentage plays and none of them blew up in his face. I just am seeing like three years from now Sparty fans wringing their hands wondering what the buyout on Mel Tucker's contract is.

I think both MSU and UM had easy schedules this year and could take a step backwards next season. But I'm completely fine with what Tucker has done thus far, his new contract, and where I believe he will take the program.

If Harbaugh permanently fails to utilize every asset at his disposal in the modern market (transfer portal, NIL, etc.) then I'd be surprised if he ever gets beyond regularly being a 9-3 to 10-2 kinda team.

Right now it's Ohio State's world, and the rest of the B1G is living in it. But over the next few years, I see MSU as more likely to legitimately challenge as things continue to get built up.