I'm going to this game, and remember...5-0 when I attend the Big House...

Michigans defense dominated Juicy-Juice & Co. last year in Champagne, even with Henne & Hart out.

This one could set the tone for the rest of the season if you ask me, if they win, they're confidence is going to go through the roof, if they lose, they could lose to Toledo next week.

Make or Break...Go Blue!


At RR's presser yesterday, he said Minor will get more carries (he only has 10 carries for 72 yds all year, and 2 have gone for 20+ yd TD), he won't start, but he'll get more touches, Dorrestein is finally healthy and Ortmann will move to Guard so Ferrara won't start anymore.

Carlos Brown & Hemingway are officially out

Koger is now the permanent starter at TE, Carson Butler has been buried on the depth chart...

Stonum has lost his starting WR job (minor disciplinary issue), Toney Clemons will start opposite Mathews, with of course Odoms in the slot

Michael Shaw could get some touches

Avery Horn & Odoms will share kick return duties

Mathews will handle punt returns

I don't see a Toledo loss. But, this may decide the bowl streak. A win will get them 7-8 wins IMO, while a loss puts them in bowl jeopardy.

Yeah this is a must win game. Beating Illinois and Toledo mean there are only 2 more wins until they are bowl eligible.

They don't need 7-8 wins to go to a bowl. 6 will get them there. Some bowl, somewhere, will want the pay day that comes with Michigan. It won't be a bowl worth talking about (see UM v Nebraska a few years back), but it will keep the streak alive. That means 4 more wins.
Toledo will be 1.
I would hope we can win 2 of 3 between Purdue, Minnesota, and Northwestern.
So we need to beat PSU, MSU, or OSU possibly to get into a bowl (unless we have a 3 game win streak against PU, Minn, and NW).

I agree. But if they lose to Ill, then I could easily see them slip back into the bad playing prior to the Wisky game and lose some you wouldn't expect.

The rest of the article at the link...also MSU, Penn St, team to the south.


It's obvious now that Rich Rodriguez isn't what he was billed as shortly after becoming Michigan's head coach.

That stuff a ticked-off Purdue coach Joe Tiller alleged during a heated recruiting moment about RichRod being "a guy in a wizard hat, selling snake oil" just doesn't hold up in light of what he's telling Michigan fans in the aftermath of only the greatest comeback in the 500-game history of The Big House.


So the thinking goes now that the Wolverines have figured out Rodriguez's spread offense, have experienced a mountain-top epiphany, an "a-ha!" moment, and now it's all downhill from a home game against Illinois this week to contention for the Big Ten title.
A guy in a wizard hat, selling snake oil, would tell you that.
Rodriguez won't. "I wish that was the case, but I'm not sure it is," Rodriguez said. "I think we're still going to be grinding away. I've faced the reality that we're going to grind all season. I don't know if it was a moment for everybody where it suddenly clicked. I've seen moments before that have teased us. At the same time, at least we got some confidence from it. At least the guys realized, 'Hey, if we do execute the system and take care of the ball, we can play a little bit.' "



http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/8631436/Do-Wolverines-finally-get-it?

I think this is a winnable game, and here are the keys to winning -

First, the defense needs to continue to be a bend-but-don't-break defense. They've allowed a number of long drives that have only resulted in FGs. This has done two things. It has eaten up clock time which, oddly enough, helped them even though their defense was on the field. Every second that goes by is one more second the opponent loses at the end of the game - meaning a low scoring game. A low scoring game helps UM. Also, by only allowing 3 when that drive ends instead of 7, the score is even lower.

Second, ball security. It's one thing for the offense to struggle. They'll work it out eventually in the game. But special teams turnovers don't even give the offense a chance. Offensive fumbles mean we give the ball back 20-40 yards worse off than a punt would.

Finally, keep plugging away. A 1-3 Louisiana Lafayette team scored 17. A 2-3 Eastern Illinois team scored 21. UM's defense should be able to keep Illinois under 30 points - maybe half that even. If Michigan doesn't give away free points like they did to ND, that offense should be able to plug away 3-and-out after 3-and-out until the occasional drive moves them along and allows them to get points on the board. If the team keeps their heads up (which there's no reason to believe they won't after last week) this will absolutely be a winnable game in the 4th quarter.

I know Chris would like to see a UM/CMU Motor City Bowl...

It could happen.

UM can win this game. However, to do it they need to be consistent on both sides of the ball and must start controlling the line of scrimmage. The win against UW was a bit misleading. The offense was only effective via sporadic big plays. That won`t cut it wekk in and week out. Also, the turnovers are ridiculous. The O-line is still not playing well. The defense seems to play well for one half.

This is going to be an intriguing game. I am not sure who will win, but I think the score will be, Winner 24 Loser 20.

I know Chris would like to see a UM/CMU Motor City Bowl...

It could happen.

I'd actually prefer not to. first, I think that would be a disappointment for Michigan. Second, I'd like to watch CMU, MSU and U of M all play in bowls and win. That can't happen if they play each other. I'd rather see CMU again Illinois in the Motor City bowl so everyone can see a real spread QB instead of hyping Juice.

The O-line is still not playing well.



That's because they haven't been healthy.

This week will be the first time all of their O-Line is completely healthy. Ferrara, the converted DT, won't be starting anymore. Both Ortmann and Dorrestein are starting, and Schilling & Moosman have been great all year.


The defense seems to play well for one half.

I disagree with this. The defense has been great all year. When the offense turns the ball over in their own half of the field, the defense has been able to hold them to FG's (except for the ND game when both UM turnovers we're inside the 10 yd line). The pass defense has yet to really get burned on a big play (except for the one Golden Tate TD), and the run defense is 1st in the Big Ten.

My only knock on the defense was their lack of QB pressure in the ND game. They tackled fine and stopped the run well but left the DB's to cover all day. They've stepped up and made more plays in the pass rush though.

Good start. Threet looks calm.

14-3. Hopefully the defense can keep it up. Illinois can be explosive.

I hesitate to believe UM's offense has figured it out. I'm more inclined to believe the Illinois defense really is that bad.

14-3. Hopefully the defense can keep it up. Illinois can be explosive.

I hesitate to believe UM's offense has figured it out. I'm more inclined to believe the Illinois defense really is that bad.

But their offense might be that good. Juice and his mates are toying with the Michigan D.

But their offense might be that good. Juice and his mates are toying with the Michigan D.

They're toying with the cameras as well and it's pissing me off. The camera crew continues to follow whoever gets stopped in the backfield, only to find out the actual ballcarrier is several yards downfield.

So..........how bout that Vanderbilt?

Enough with this horrid ass finesse football. McGuffie is getting killed out there because of the horrid play-calling. I don't mind the spread, just cut out the gimmick plays and start running up the middle more.

McGuffie needs to be running between the tackles, not outside them.

Well, easy come easy go. After the first 10 min, i thought they might be better than i thought. however, 42-6 is 42-6. They will need to bring their A game to beat toledo, or really anyone else they play. i'm seeing 3-4 or 4-3 the rest of the way. of course, 6-6 seems much better than 5-7. threet is like a tougher john navarre. you never know what you'll get. of course navarre was a 4-year starter, and i hope that threet isn't and that threet will actually improve.

Once again, UM failed to control the line of scrimmage. McGuffie is a decent scat-back, but watching him put his shoulder down in an attempt to run with power is hilarious. That kid is always one solid tackle away from his career being ended.

The turnovers are nearly inexplicible and the the goofy trick plays in lieu of real football is laughable. Even with "his players" I am afraid watching blue and yellow football a la RR is going to be a disgrace to UM`s fine tradition. A real shame.

If I were a UM fan I would be concerned about a schism being created between the defense and the offense. The defense is playing well enough to win, but the offense resembles a bunch of drunk clowns piling out of a Chevette.

I disagree on McGuffie. He has the power to run over guys. I think he'll have a short career in the NFL though due to injury.

I do agree on the offense though. drunken clowns is not too far off. I have no idea what they are trying to do half the time. and what's with Threet dropping the ball as his arm goes back? I've seen that at least 3 times this year.

I disagree on McGuffie. He has the power to run over guys. I think he'll have a short career in the NFL though due to injury.

I do agree on the offense though. drunken clowns is not too far off. I have no idea what they are trying to do half the time. and what's with Threet dropping the ball as his arm goes back? I've seen that at least 3 times this year.
That is not what I observed. On one play specifically, the play got strung out to the sideline and McGuffie put his shoulder down and turn up field, but it didn`t work. McGuffie was summarily bounced.

The defense is playing well enough to win, but the offense resembles a bunch of drunk clowns piling out of a Chevette.

Most points allowed in The Big House since Florida St. in '91? Juice sets a Michigan Stadium record with 450 all purpose yards and 4 TD's? The D hardly played well enough to win. This is just a mess in all phases of the game. 2010 can't get here fast enough.

Most points allowed in The Big House since Florida St. in '91? Juice sets a Michigan Stadium record with 450 all purpose yards and 4 TD's? The D hardly played well enough to win. This is just a mess in all phases of the game. 2010 can't get here fast enough.
I stand corrected.

2010- Renovations will be officially complete

QB- Forcier (Soph) or Beaver (Soph)
RB- McGuffie (Jr.), Minor (Sr.), Toussaint (Fr./Soph)
FB- Moundros (Sr.), Helmuth (Sr.)
WR- Stonum (Jr.)
WR- McNeal (Soph)
WR- Ricardo Miller (Fr.)
Slot- Odoms (Jr.)
TE- Koger (Jr.)
OT- Schilling (Sr.)
OG- Barnum (Jr.)
C- Molk (Jr.)
OG- Dorenstein (Sr.)
OT- O'Neill (Soph)


DT- W. Campbell (Soph)
DT- M. Martin (Junior)
DE- Craig Roh (Soph)
DE- LaLota (Soph) or Van Bergen (Junior)
OLB- Mouton (Sr.)
MLB- Obi Ezeh (Sr.), JB Fitzgerald (Junior)
OLB- Marell Evans (Sr.)
CB- Cissoko (Junior), Dior Mathis??? (Fr.)
CB- Donovan Warren (Senior)
S- Marvin Robinson (Fr.) or Michael Williams (Junior)
S- JT Turner (Soph) or Brandon Smith (Soph)
Nickel- Troy Woolfolk (Senior)

K- Fera (Fr./Soph)
P- none on roster for '10

2010 we'll be ready to contend for the big show

I thought Minor was a Junior. He'll be gone in '10. Look for the McGuffie and Shaw show at RB.

I thought Minor was a Junior. He'll be gone in '10. Look for the McGuffie and Shaw show at RB.


Yup, your right, my bad on that.

Minor, C. Brown, and Grady all will be gone after '09