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WEEK 3: MICHIGAN (#11) @ Wisconsin (#13) 12:00 PM EST on FOX
Michigan opens as a 3pt underdog this weekend in Madison against Wisconsin.
Is is this where we see change and the offense we all heard about?
Or, more or what we’ve seen the first 2 weeks?
Is Shea healthy?
Did we hold back the first 2 weeks not wanting to show anything?
What do do we think?
Go Blue!!
Some stats I read earlier....Michigan has lost its last 4 games on the road in Madison (2005, 2007, 2009, 2017). Good field!
Michigan is not good as an underdog. They have lost the last 13 games as an underdog.
Is is this where we see change and the offense we all heard about?
Or, more or what we’ve seen the first 2 weeks?
Is Shea healthy?
Did we hold back the first 2 weeks not wanting to show anything?
What do do we think?
Go Blue!!
Comments
All we heard was that we would see this bright shiny new toy that was supposed to be Josh Gattis' offense. Well, through two games, I have not seen a hell of a lot about this offense to convince me that anything has changed?!?! Maybe they were holding things back and maybe Shea has been playing hurt. So will we see this bright shiny new toy this weekend? Will we see an offense FINALLY open up when we are playing as a road dog? Will Shea be healthy enough to actually keep the defense honest with his ability to keep the ball and run??? Lots of questions that will hopefully get answered this Saturday!
I’ve gotten to the point of desperation with this program. What difference does it make if we finish 10-2 or 8-4? Neither earns us a berth in the B1G Championship game nor a W against tOSU. We’ve lost 15 of 16, haven’t won the B1G in 15 years. What do we have lose? Just go out there & try to put 100 up on everyone. Will it work? Probably not. But again what do we have to lose...
The D will have their hands more than full this week. It’s on the road against a B1G opponent. We need to get the crowd out of it & Wisky our of their comfort zone. We need to jump all over them on the scoreboard 14-0/21-0 if we have a shot. And there’s only one way to do that. Hopefully Harbaugh has the stones & Gattis & Patterson have the skills to make that happen. But I doubt it...
I was fine with the offense in the opener, save for the turnovers. If they protect the ball and throw downfield a bit they should be fine on that side of the ball. Maybe a little more getting the ball to guys with speed in space.
How does Wiscy respond when they give up their first TD of the season?
How does the JR QB respond against pressure? He's been sacked 4 times in 2 games, but will likely see more pressure this week.
On the negative side, Wisconsin was embarrassed in the Big House last year, and they have had 2 weeks to prepare for UM in their own friendly confines.
Protect the ball, get early pressure on a green QB to get in his head, and break a couple big plays using skill players Wiscy can't compete with.
Oh and NO TURNOVERS!!!
What I’m curious to see is how well Michigan’s base defense will be against a power Wisconsin team.
Last year Wisconsin had success on the ground before inexplicably deciding to air it out in the second half. That was their demise, and Michigan took advantage by pressuring them into big mistakes.
If Wisconsin holds true to form, and runs right at the D, which they should, does Michigan have enough to stop them?
On offense, will Michigan take advantage of the wealth of talent at receiver? We know exactly what the potential is, it’s a great opportunity to see how much Gattis is willing to put the opponent’s defense in conflict.
These are the games I love to see. I love this test, because it should tell everyone what this team truly is.
I don’t have the slightest idea what the outcome will be, but I’m excited about the game and challenge.
Go Blue!
Michigan 31 Wisconson 24
Of course, all of those potential positives could be negated if Harbaugh continues to play ultra conservative on offense as we always seem to do on the road vs. ranked opponents?!?!
Go Blue!!
But IF he does & the Coaches let him play then shame on them. We’re not talking about a senior & being 11-0 & getting ready to play tOSU for a spot in Indy. Where some risk would be worth the potential reward. This is an 18 year old kid, 2 games into his career, playing on a team that’s going to go end up 9-4. Hopefully the adults around him guide him to do the right thing.
Go Blue!!
Is DPJ still out this week? I thought he could have played 2 weeks ago vs Army but was held back for precautionary reasons. If he is still out, I can't believe how snake bitten we seem to be at the receiver position. I mean, it seems always one of the two between DPJ and Tarik are always hurt!!!
Generally I hate hypotheticals, but...the way the first two games played out I can’t help but wonder if there’s any scenario (other than injury) in which Patterson gets sat & McCaffery gets to take over.
I know its on the road in a tough environment & obviously it would be in a tough spot in the game because if all was well it wouldn’t even be a consideration. But if Patterson puts a couple balls on the turf in the 1st quarter, or even half, or were down at the half 17-3 (or similar) & the O is sputtering & out of sync or he misses a few, more, wide open receivers. I mean at some point Harbaugh has to be willing, & able, to make that change at QB. Right???
I don't know why but I have this quiet confidence that the offense and, more specifically, Shea Patterson is going to have a break out game on Saturday. I feel like Shea is finally close to being 100% for the first time since the 1st play of the season and should be able to finally execute Gattis' offense the way it was intended.
Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part but I just feel like the offense is like a can of soda that's been bottled up but shaken and is waiting to explode.
Although, we're all hoping that Michigan was holding back lots on what it plans to do offensively as well so we shall see!!!
I can only imagine how badly this team wants to get on the field Saturday.
As I said earlier in the week, these are the games I love to see. Two solid programs with no definitive outcome.
Hoping for some solid football, and dreaming of Shea having a September Heisman performance.
Can’t wait.
Go Blue!!