This is the time of year when we start seeing chinks in a teams armour being exploited with catastrophic consequences. OKLA - UM to name two.
Michigan:
Tough loss to MSU. Possessing a World Class D with a so-so O. But these guys are really mad dogs on D. Great D's destroy good O's, especially lacking a dominant OLine. Our D needs to stop UM like MSU ( and the weather) did last night.
Nail-biter home game, with a huge psychological cloud in our kids heads from getting destroyed last year at their place. Beware of early mistakes, esp. those producing points for UM. They need a couple of TDs from the D to win. But our OL will need to find itself and step up to keep #9 and 26 on their feet, and healthy. Notice Fries helped make the hole that SB ran through for his long TD vs NW? Hopefully a sign that he is starting to settle in and up to the task.
OSU:
At OSU: These guys are rising from the ashes. Fast! Theyre a far better team now than vs OKLA. but with so many young players, everone knew they would take time . Right now, their D is maybe as good as UMs. and their O is finding players at WR and RB. Weak on STs provide a window for us to pick up points. BUT our FG game is MIA. What a turn-around. My guess is the KO duties may have changed his preciseness when it comes to FGs.
OSU will pose huge challenges for our strong and growing D. Somebodies goal line stand will made the difference. OSU will come out and hit us hard and fast, try to intimidate, and try to take a few away from #9's receivers. Again, two pic-6's or scoop and scores will win it for that team.
MSU:
Did you watch the MSU-UM game? Another murders row type of D. with a so-so O. Slow developing plays will get stopped in their tracks against MSU. But it was encouraging how much faster TM was in picking out his receivers and getting rid of the ball in recent games. His accuracy under pressure will be tested and there will be balls up for grabs. It will be all about pressure and how our OL stands up to it.
Expect a close game played by a team that will be tired, bruised, and limping,having gone through two brutal games before this one. If we suffer a let-down, MSU can win. PSU by 10.
Summary: October + MSU will be everything, and I mean everything, to our national playoff hopes. Our D is vulnerable to a power running game up the gut, but growing tougher game by game. Depth is impressive, if not our size and experience. DBs are our strength on this unit and will win a couple of games for us. Can the D carry us in the tougher games against equal or better D's?
Say a prayer each night for our OL to mature, to start holding blocks longer and making enough holes for SB to run through, to keep most defenders out of our backfield.
Im watching for some deception, faster developing plays, a few surprising wrinkles, and far less four second developing plays that usually get SB or TM pounded into the ground before starting to run. On O, we will live or die by the other guys blitzes - and how well the OL can pick them up.
The next three games could all be considered 50-50. Which means we could lose as many as two games in this stretch.
Fasten your seat-belts, fans. The best is yet to come,......... but........ it is by no means guaranteed.
Michigan:
Tough loss to MSU. Possessing a World Class D with a so-so O. But these guys are really mad dogs on D. Great D's destroy good O's, especially lacking a dominant OLine. Our D needs to stop UM like MSU ( and the weather) did last night.
Nail-biter home game, with a huge psychological cloud in our kids heads from getting destroyed last year at their place. Beware of early mistakes, esp. those producing points for UM. They need a couple of TDs from the D to win. But our OL will need to find itself and step up to keep #9 and 26 on their feet, and healthy. Notice Fries helped make the hole that SB ran through for his long TD vs NW? Hopefully a sign that he is starting to settle in and up to the task.
OSU:
At OSU: These guys are rising from the ashes. Fast! Theyre a far better team now than vs OKLA. but with so many young players, everone knew they would take time . Right now, their D is maybe as good as UMs. and their O is finding players at WR and RB. Weak on STs provide a window for us to pick up points. BUT our FG game is MIA. What a turn-around. My guess is the KO duties may have changed his preciseness when it comes to FGs.
OSU will pose huge challenges for our strong and growing D. Somebodies goal line stand will made the difference. OSU will come out and hit us hard and fast, try to intimidate, and try to take a few away from #9's receivers. Again, two pic-6's or scoop and scores will win it for that team.
MSU:
Did you watch the MSU-UM game? Another murders row type of D. with a so-so O. Slow developing plays will get stopped in their tracks against MSU. But it was encouraging how much faster TM was in picking out his receivers and getting rid of the ball in recent games. His accuracy under pressure will be tested and there will be balls up for grabs. It will be all about pressure and how our OL stands up to it.
Expect a close game played by a team that will be tired, bruised, and limping,having gone through two brutal games before this one. If we suffer a let-down, MSU can win. PSU by 10.
Summary: October + MSU will be everything, and I mean everything, to our national playoff hopes. Our D is vulnerable to a power running game up the gut, but growing tougher game by game. Depth is impressive, if not our size and experience. DBs are our strength on this unit and will win a couple of games for us. Can the D carry us in the tougher games against equal or better D's?
Say a prayer each night for our OL to mature, to start holding blocks longer and making enough holes for SB to run through, to keep most defenders out of our backfield.
Im watching for some deception, faster developing plays, a few surprising wrinkles, and far less four second developing plays that usually get SB or TM pounded into the ground before starting to run. On O, we will live or die by the other guys blitzes - and how well the OL can pick them up.
The next three games could all be considered 50-50. Which means we could lose as many as two games in this stretch.
Fasten your seat-belts, fans. The best is yet to come,......... but........ it is by no means guaranteed.
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