Bleacher Report - Michigan Wolverines Football

Trent's Touchdown - Six Games to Watch in Week 12

Trent Lane — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:28:00 -0500

With births to conference championship games and outright claims to the top spots in other conferences on the line, Week 12 looks like a winner. So, let’s skip the preamble and get right to the games.

1) No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan —12:00 on ABC

While this one looks like a cakewalk for Ohio State, this one gives me pause. As much as I hate it when people say that records don’t matter in rivalry games, this one transcends the records. Both have something to play for, just one is more important than the other.

Ohio State is playing for the outright championship of the Big Ten and, more importantly, respect. Yes, they are going to the Rose Bowl, but no one thinks they can beat any Pac-10 team. They are a team being carried by their defense. Every Buckeye fan out there, while not admitting it, just hopes that Terrelle Pryor doesn’t do anything stupid when he has his hands on the ball. I mean, look at the series they played in the OT win against Iowa, three straight dives into the heart of the line. Yes, Tressel really trusts Pryor.

Michigan is playing to get out of the cellar of the Big Ten and, most probably, for Rich Rodriguez’s job. After starting 4-0, they have gotten smacked around by all comers, wining only one of their last seven games. I like Tate Forcier and I like the enthusiasm of the team, but Michigan still makes dumb mistakes. I think Rodriguez really needs to take the training wheel’s off here and just let Forcier air it out. They have nothing to lose.

Michigan has played well at home all year, so they can keep it close. I just think the Ohio State defense is too good for Michigan. Ohio State wins this one, while I get deluged with “Ohio State is for real” stories before they douse their drawers against Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

2) No. 11 Oregon at Arizona —8:00 on ABC

Speaking of Oregon, they get to take one more step to securing the Pac-10. Personally, I like Stanford, but the Duchess like Oregon. As any married man knows, the secret to a successful marriage is to always listen to your wife.

Anyhow, the Oregon offense is pretty simple to figure out. It’s run, run, run, and then beat you with the play action pass. It’s just a question of stopping it. I don’t know why they bothered to reinstate LeGarrette Blount, since LaMichael James is one of the better running backs in the nation. Look for the Ducks to keep doing what they do.

Arizona is in a very good spot. They win out and they go to the Rose Bowl. However, they need to stay consistent on offense, something they couldn’t do against Cal last week. The problem is there is a big question mark at running back, as Nic Grigsby has a bit of a shoulder problem.

While Arizona is undefeated at home, they really haven’t had any quality wins (minus Stanford). Oregon knows how to get up for the big games and they know just how important this one is. I think they go into Arizona and win it, but Arizona sticks around for most of the game.

3) No. 25 California at No. 17 Stanford —7:30 on Versus

Talk about two teams on two different sides of the spectrum. Cal has absolutely no quality wins, while Stanford slapped around USC and Oregon in back to back weeks. God I love Stanford right now.

The blue-collar Stanford Cardinals are showing they are not a team to be taken lightly. They also know how to go for the kill when they have the shot, going for a two-point conversion up 27 in the fourth quarter against USC. Andrew Luck keeps plugging along, knowing the offense doesn’t rest on his shoulders. All he needs to do is get the ball to Toby Gerhart and he is all set. They have a competent defense that doesn’t get lit up, so they are all good.

Cal is one team I don’t understand. They can’t beat a good team, yet they keep getting into the top 25. Their best player is on the sideline after nearly killing himself trying to get into the end zone. We’ll be lucky if we Jahvid Best before the opening game next year. Shane Vereen is an admirable back up, but he isn’t Best. Pardon the pun, but Best is Cal’s best shot at winning.

Stanford wins this one, by doing what they always do. I don’t even think Cal keeps it close, but it’s worth watching just to see Stanford dismantle another team and keep their hopes of a Pac-10 Championship alive.

4) Virginia at No. 23 Clemson —3:30 on ABC

I’ll admit it; this is pure and utter homerism (even if I’ve never been to South Carolina or know anyone who has been there). This is the game every Clemson fan has been waiting for since 1991. Well, technically, that would be in 2 weeks against Georgia Tech, but they need to beat Virginia first.

Let’s forget about the Virginia offense completely. They can’t move the ball against a high school team, and Clemson is one of the better defenses in the country, leading the nation in interceptions. This game hinges on the ability of C.J. Spiller making plays and giving Kyle Parker piece of mind that the game isn’t on his shoulders. Throw in a big play by Jacoby Ford and you pretty much have yourself a victory.

It’ll be fun to watch for about two and a half quarters, which is usually where Clemson decides they’ve had enough and decide to just win it and be done with it.

5) No. 8 LSU at Mississippi —3:30 on CBS

Remember when everyone (including me) was saying how Jevan Sneed was for real? That was 14 interceptions ago. However, out of the limelight, Ole Miss has been able to put together a fairly good record.

If I was a LSU fan, I wouldn’t be sure if I was more scared of Jefferson or Lee starting at quarterback. Listen, I could go into some spiel about how LSU needs to work the run, but it’s all a lie. This game will come down to the LSU defense stopping Dexter McCluster. If they do that, they put the game in Sneed’s hands and as scary as that sounded at the beginning of the season, it would make me downright giddy now.

LSU wins this, but the game is ugly in the fact that it turns into a defensive struggle. LSU just needs to pray that if Lee does start, that he doesn’t make too many mistakes.

6) Harvard at Yale —12:00 on Versus

Come on people, this is The Game. The Game! Basically, it’s an excuse for the alumni of two Ivy League schools to drink all weekend, but that’s a whole different story.

Extra Point

7) Let me throw in my two cents about the Mark Mangino debacle at Kansas. I want to preface this by saying that we don’t know all the evidence and I don’t want to come off like an idiot like Obama and the whole Gates incident. Also, I’ve always liked Kansas because of their underdog status.

That being said, if this is true, this is the weirdest thing I’ve heard in a while—but not completely shocking. With the amount of control coaches have over players in college football, something like this was bound to happen. If this was one or two players, you can write it off as sour grapes, but this is a whole host of players with similar stories.

This doesn’t just affect Mangino though. This will affect his assistant coaches and coordinators, not to mention the legacy of Bill Snyder at Kansas State. There is a fine line between hard-nosed disciplinarian and out of control behavior. No matter the outcome, Mangino is toxic after this. No team is going to touch him. If he did cross the line, let’s hope he learned his lesson.

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Michigan Must Learn Five Basics To Right The Ship This Week

Isaac Smith — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:34:06 -0500

Two-a-day practices in August, offseason conditioning, the basics. What do they have to do with this week's Ohio State-Michigan game? Simple, Michigan must do the little things correctly. With six straight conference losses and a bowl birth on the line, Michigan must return to the basics.

1. Run Blocking

In the six straight conference losses, Michigan has averaged, 1.0, 4.3, 2.8, 2.6, 4.9, and 2.2 yards rushing respectively in those six losses. That is just not good enough to get the job done. The Wolverine offensive line must be consistent in getting off the ball and getting good blocks on the Ohio State front seven. If they can do this, they will take some pressure off of the passing game.

2. Pass Blocking

In the six straight conference losses, Michigan has given up three, one, five, four, five, and two sacks respectively. This is outrageous! Michigan's offensive line must hold up at the point of attack. This is going to be an especially tall order this weekend with an Ohio State defense that is, without a doubt, tops in the Big Ten.

Give Tate Forcier time to throw the ball. How on Earth are you supposed to move the ball when you get sacked that many times in a game?

3. Tackling

Whether on a run or a pass, Michigan must do a better job of tackling this week. Missed tackles have led to huge plays for opposing offenses. It is a good thing they do not keep stats on missed tackles because that would probably be the most embarrassing of any of the statistics out there.

4. Get off the ball

Whether on Offense or Defense, the Wolverines will need to beat the Bucks off the ball every single snap if they have a hope of getting a win in this game.

5. Capitalize in the Red Zone.

Michigan went 2-4 in the red zone against Penn State, and a disgusting 3-7 in the red zone against who? Illinois. That's right. Michigan has been good in the red zone withstanding those two games, but they will need to put the ball in the end zone each time they are in the red zone.

6. Convert on Third Down

Okay, so we all know that a team is not going to convert on third down every single time. Hopefully, they can keep it close to a 50/50 chance, but that is not what Michigan has done at all during this six game conference skid. In the six games they have gone, 7-16, 3-11, 3-15, 5-14, 8-14, and 6-15 on third downs.

Only one game against Purdue (a two point loss) was over 50 percent on third down. Punts kill momentum and getting shut down on the offensive side of the ball puts a lot more pressure on the defense as a whole.

X Factors

Michigan's ability to keep Terelle Pryor at bay and keep Ohio State's offense off of the field will be a significant factor in this game. For Michigan to win, they will have to bail out Forcier who will be under heavy pressure all day.

To bail him out, I think that Michigan will have to run the ball for 200 yards. Something they haven't done all year (except against Delaware State, and who wants to call that a contest?).

A December Bowl awaits Michigan if they can somehow get by this juggernaut known as the Bucks. Michigan may not be playing for the Roses but it is always fun to ruin Ohio State's season.

Go Blue!

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The OSU – UofM Rivalry: Rooted in History, Only Getting Better

Julie Reichlmayr — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:06:41 -0500

The late 1960’s and early 1970’s marked the heyday of what would become the ultimate showdown in college football—appropriately referred to as “the game".

In a decade which signified Bo Schembechler’s initial head-coach season at Michigan in 1969, and ended with Woody Hayes last year as head-coach for Ohio State, the rivalry was intensified into the ultimate showdown in college football—events from an era would shape both teams’ future programs.

Twice within the ten-year war, the Michigan–Ohio State game would decide the Big Ten championship for the two undefeated teams.

The Michigan–Ohio State rivalry was not nationally renowned early on. Michigan’s decisive 34-0 victory in the first game against Ohio State in 1897 was little more than another win, quite a departure from today’s life and death game sentiment.

The importance of the Michigan–Ohio State rivalry was virtually non-existent until the Buckeyes won the 1934 game. Ohio State Coach Schmidt was asked how the Buckeyes would fare against the Wolverines in the 1934 match-up: “they [the Wolverines] put their pants on one leg at a time just like everybody else.” Thus began the tradition to provide a gold charm replica of a pair of football pants to players and coaches following wins over Michigan.

Since 1935, the Michigan–Ohio State match-up has decided the Big Ten championship 23 times, and has been played on the last game of the season ever since.

It wasn’t until Woody Hayes was hired in 1951 that “the game” was elevated to rivalry status. From thereon, the Michigan–Ohio State rivalry gained momentum with each season.

The 1969 showdown, with protégé Bo Schembechler at the helm of Michigan’s football program, and a remarkable win against undefeated Ohio State, set the rivalry as the most remarkable in the nation. From 1968–1982 Michigan or Ohio State won or shared the Big Ten title, the same is true 19 out of 22 years between 1984 and 2008.

The ten-year war during the decade of the 1970’s enlivened the Michigan–Ohio State rivalry like no other period of time. There is no doubt the impact the individuals who met faithfully for the yearly November battle had on the intensity of the rivalry.

Schembechler’s impressive first season with the Wolverines, and long-lasting impact on Michigan tradition, is truly legendary. Hayes’ eccentricities and abhorrence with all things maize and blue has become his legacy.

Beginning in 1969, “the game” quite literally defined the season for both teams. Arguably the most important game during this span of time, the 1969 game ruined a near-perfect seasons for the Buckeyes.

Woody Hayes would say throughout his coaching career, no team was better. With an 8-0 record, this was hardly refutable. Luckily for the Wolverines, Coach Schembechler knew Hayes’ strategies, and Michigan won 24-12.

The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is deeply rooted in tradition. Sure, the media promotes the game to garner attention and to ensure viewer-ratings. But unlike other rivalries that have traded tradition for monetary means, Michigan and Ohio State have remained the last game of the season since 1935.

Even when “the game” implications were not as critical to either team’s national standing (as can be said this year), the energy and game hype remained.

“The game” not only thrives… it continues to get better.

Despite the misgivings and disappointments for the Wolverines’ 2009 season, the rivalry remains just as intense. Students are passionate about this match-up, and this trend will not waver anytime soon.

“Remember 1969” seems an appropriate reminder for a struggling Wolverine squad. In a match-up that marks the 40^th anniversary of this infamous showdown, it is important to remember the history rooted in this rivalry and tradition; the individuals who made this game what it is today; the moments that defined it.

The repercussions of “the game” are more pronounced this season for a disheartened, but not spiritless, Michigan team. Win or lose, the intensity of this rivalry will remain.

For a 1969 Michigan team, amidst a “ten year war”, things did not look promising for the Wolverines. Coach Bo Schembechler’s reflections on this match-up are as relevant today as ever.

“If anything means anything in the football business, it is the way a team – a collection of men – can perform the way we did against Ohio State in 1969. It doesn’t happen very often. Sometimes it never happens – not in a whole lifetime. Everything has to be right. The time. The place. The conditions. The setting. And the men. We had it all – just once maybe – but we had it that day in November of ’69 .”

Certainly, the Michigan–Ohio State rivalry would not be the way it is if it weren’t for the Hayes-Schembechler era. For every “Michigan Man” or crazed Ohio State Buckeye, this rivalry is truly as big as it gets. Even today, this rivalry is truly as good as it gets.

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Michigan on Verge of Epic Collapse, Few Seasons Compare

Jay Nicols — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:15:20 -0500

Michigan heads into Saturday afternoon's game against Ohio State hoping to get a second win in the Big Ten. Losing the game would make this the third-worst conference record in Michigan history, one that can only be rivaled by the '30s.

We can look back to Bennie Oosterbaan who went 1-5-1 in 1958, his last year as head coach and Bump Elliott, who went 1-6 in 1962. Lloyd Carr's teams went 5-3 three times as did Gary Moeller's. Bo's teams went 5-3 in 1987 and 5-4 in 1984, that's not bad, but bad for them. Those records were nothing like that of Harry Kipke's '34 and '36 teams.

In 1932 and 1933, Michigan won the National Championship under Kipke. In 1934, his Michigan football team went 0-6 in conference and 1-7 overall, being outscored 143-21. And again in 1936, they went 0-5 in conference and 1-7 overall with 36 points scored for and 127 points against.

After the 1937 season he resigned, but not after he recruited and convinced Tom Harmon to come to and stay at Michigan. Harmon went on to win the first ever Heisman Trophy for the University of Michigan.

During the 1934 season, Michigan lost to Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Northwestern by a combined score of 98-12. The 1936 team went win-less and was outscored 66-13 in the last four games against Illinois, Penn, Northwestern, and Ohio State.

Sound familiar?

The 2009 Wolverines have lost the last four games by a combined score of 156-83. In those games, Michigan was outscored in the second half, 99-19. That stat shows just how bad the defense is in the second half and how inept the offense has been.

Halftime adjustments seem to be a thing of the past for the Michigan football team. In the first four games of the season, Michigan was outscoring their opponents 57-31 in the second halves.

The team lost two close games to Michigan State and Iowa, and have pulled off the most disgusting displays of defensive football anyone has ever seen at Michigan since.

Rich Rodriguez's transition is a work in progress, I know very cliche, but it is the truth. His offense, as inept as it has been, has scored 281 points through 10 games (I don't count Delaware St.).The opponents have scored 303 points.

Last year, the offense scored 243 points through 12 games while the opponents were allowed to score 347 points. Even if you add the scrimmage against DSU, they would have 344 points, showing progress.

It's the defense that has let them down most of the time. Robinson, however, needs at least one more year to implement his system, but he needs players to get it going.

Until Michigan starts to cater to the defensive side of the ball and bulk up the lines, they will continue to struggle stopping teams from scoring.

If they continue to change defensive coordinators, it would just become worse. As poor as the defense has been the second half of the last four games, you can't make another change.

It is necessary to keep these guys in place telling the kids, let's get this fixed. It does no good to can coaches and change schemes every year. I believe it is imperative to stay the course so Michigan can rid themselves of these horrible loses.

Listening to horrible sports talk radio in Detroit, I hear 'so called' Michigan fans hoping for an OSU blow out on Saturday to rid them of Rich Rodriguez. If a fan wishes that, they're not a true fan. I'm sorry, but you just don't do that.

It makes me sick to my stomach to hear such unsavory vitriol coming from the mouths of these faux fans about the Maize and Blue.

Yes, it's been a difficult couple of years. Yes, Michigan is losing at a rate that hasn't been seen in seven decades. Yes, Michigan could finish in last place in conference play for the first time in decades.

But as bad as that is, Michigan fans should never, and I mean never, root for Ohio State, let alone to beat Michigan.

On Nov. 15, 1934, the Chicago Daily Tribune reported that "Kipke Plans Big Surprise for Buckeyes." Kipke had two secret practices the week before that game to work on the defense. He lost the game 34-0.

I hope Rodriguez and Robinson have a better plan to stop Ohio State.

They will need to go 'All In' with the playbook this week to pull off a much-needed victory for the program.

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College Football Preview: Michigan vs. Ohio State

Matt Snyder — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:40:00 -0500

Matt and Zac Snyder of Bleacher Report and mittensportsreport.com break down this week's University of Michigan football matchup.

When Michigan Has the Ball...

Michigan's Passing Attack vs. Ohio State's Secondary

Zac says: A return to the lineup by Martavious Odoms would give the passing game a big boost. The emergence of Roy Roundtree over the past few weeks has been encouraging but the passing game has remained inconsistent nonetheless.

Tate Forcier completed 20 of 26 passes last week and will need an efficient performance Saturday to give his team a chance against Ohio State's stout defense. Advantage: Ohio State

Matt says: Michigan simply hasn't been able to get the passing game going in a consistent way this season. Tate Forcier is still stuck in the habit of holding onto the ball for too long, and putting the ball on the turf too often. Roy Roundtree has been a nice surprise in the season's second half, but they'll need more than one receiver to be successful against the Buckeye defense. Advantage: Ohio State

Michigan's Running game vs. Ohio State's Front Seven

Zac says: Brandon Minor will reportedly miss the game this week. Carlos Brown has stepped up admirably in his absence earlier in the year, although Saturday's game may feature a running back-by-committee effort. An effective running game and ball control will be keys for the Michigan offense.

Fortunately, the running game has been the brightest spot of the team. Unfortunately, it hasn't shone as brightly against some of the other top defenses in the league. Advantage: Even

Matt says: The Michigan running game will take a huge hit if Brandon Minor is unable to play. Vincent Smith and Carlos Brown have both shown that they are capable playmakers, but neither have stepped up as an every down back to carry the load without Minor.

The Wolverines will need to mix up the runners and establish a successful ground game early in order to have much offensive success. Advantage: Even

When Ohio State Has the Ball...

Ohio State's Passing Attack vs. Michigan's Secondary

Zac says: Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor hasn't been asked to carry the offensive load on his arm alone. Pryor has averaged just 160 pass yards per game on the year and has thrown for 15 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions.

Thirteen touchdowns have been caught by wide receivers DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher. Pryor has thrown the ball effectively when he's had to, but that may not be necessary this week. Advantage: Ohio State

Matt says: Although Terrelle Pryor hasn't had the season that most expected out of him, he's still capable of making big plays. Michigan's pass coverage has been soft, at best, this season, and Ohio State will be more than willing to take advantage of that fact. As long as Pryor can take care of the ball, OSU can have a big day through the air. Advantage: Ohio State

Ohio State's Running Game vs. Michigan's Front Seven

Zac says: Brandon Saine and Dan Herron are the kind of thunder and lightning combination that most teams covet. The Buckeyes have put up some impressive rushing totals as of late to drastically close the gap on Michigan for the Big Ten's top rushing attack. The Michigan defense has allowed nearly twice as many rushing yards as the Ohio State defense. Advantage: Ohio State

Matt says: The Buckeyes' dynamic duo of Saine and Herron have combined for over 1,000 yards rushing this season. Throw in a little over 600 yards for Pryor and it's easy to see that the Buckeyes are one of the better running teams in the conference. The Wolverine front may be in over their heads in this one. Advantage: Ohio State

Bottom Line...

Zac (7-4) says: Expect a disappointing end to a second consecutive disappointing season in Ann Arbor. Ohio State might be a overrated this season but Michigan should still have quite a bit of trouble with the Buckeyes on both sides of the ball. Terrelle Pryor's high school coach stated earlier this year that Pryor may have chosen the wrong school.

I'm sure Terrelle would love to prove he made the right decision. Final Score: Ohio State 33, Michigan 23

Matt (5-5) says: It's never easy to predict what will happen in a rivalry game, but the recent trends speak for themselves. The Wolverines come in as losers of six straight games against FBS opponents, and ride a five year losing streak against the Buckeyes.

Michigan will need to eliminate turnovers and come up with a few takeaways in order to have a chance in this one. If the Buckeyes get out to an early lead, it'll be goodnight sweetheart time, but I'm sure the Wolverine Seniors will be fired up for their final game in "The Big House". Final Score: Ohio State 35, Michigan 17

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Michigan-Ohio State Preview: The Wolverines Aim at Recapturing Glory

Adam Bouton — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:03:01 -0500

All Ohio State-Michigan games are big.

Even one that pits a conference champ in Ohio State against a downtrodden Michigan program.

If Rich Rodriguez is to save his job at Michigan, a win on Saturday would go a long way in helping the cause.

Ohio State has had Michigan's number for the better part of a decade and it proved to be one of the main reasons Lloyd Carr was pushed out in Ann Arbor. Michigan sought a coach who would change this and Rodriguez still has a chance to do that.

It starts Saturday.

A win in the season finale would give hope for next year and provide a spark in the university that might help save Rodriguez's job, for now.

Instead of looking at five elements this week, let's take at three things Michigan MUST do to pull out a victory over the Buckeyes.

1. Contain Terrell Pryor

This one is obvious.

Michigan's defense has been soft all season and it must pull out its best performance of the season against the Buckeyes. The final home game for seniors, including Stevie Brown and Brandon Graham, always helps, but a lot of effort needs to come from the young secondary.

Pryor can make plays happen with his arm, his legs and most recently, his mind. He's been much better not turning the ball over meaning Michigan must try and get him on his behind before the secondary gets burned for long touchdowns.

Pressuring the quarterback is essential. Stopping the run to force Pryor to throw the ball is essential. And of course, the secondary playing good coverage down field is essential.

A victory at the Big House hinges on Michigan stopping Pryor. Everyone saw what happened when Daryll Clark torched the Wolverines earlier this season.

2. Run first, Pass second, No Turnovers

Turnovers always play a big role, no doubt and Michigan needs to be near perfect in this game.

Nothing is ever sure this year, but Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown are the closest thing right now on offense. The freshmen have coughed up the ball at times, so Michigan needs to give the ball to its seniors and sure-handed running backs.

Should the run game get shut down (and it easily could as the Buckeyes are the best against the run in the Big Ten), Forcier is going to have to throw and that probably doesn't bode well for the Maize and Blue.

Either way, Michigan needs to play mistake free and make sure that Ohio State's defense doesn't help out its offense by getting on the board early.

3. Finish the game

The Wolverines actually haven't been too bad in the first half this season.

They have outscored opponents 226 to 150 in the first half this year. However, Michigan has scored just 41 points in the third quarter in 11 games. They need to find a way to keep the momentum going into the second half of the game on Saturday.

One of the ways to do this is to ensure that the defense doesn't tire out early. Run the ball and keep the defense fresh on the sideline.

It's the final game for many on Michigan and they obviously want to go out with a win.

Finish the game. It's that simple.

Prediction: Michigan hangs tough for most of the game, but Ohio State pulls away for a two-touchdown win. Pryor is solid, if not spectacular in his debut at the Big House and Michigan seniors go out with a sour taste in their mouth. Michigan finishes 2009 with its second straight losing season.

Ohio State 33, Michigan 20

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The Top Individual Performances in the Michigan-Ohio State Rivalry

Justin Potts — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:42:37 -0500

Michigan and Ohio State square off on Saturday for the 106th time in college football's greatest rivalry. Ohio State has already wrapped up at least a share of the Big Ten title and a trip to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl. Michigan leads the all-time series 57-42-6, but enters this week's match-up needing a win to extend its season through the holidays and take some heat off head coach Rich Rodriguez. Will someone step up with a historic performance to lead Michigan past the 10th-ranked Buckeyes? Or will a Buckeye deliver an all-time great showing to capture a sixth consecutive victory over Michigan and send Michigan to its second straight losing season? There have certainly been some performances for the ages in the past 105 meetings, so we'll take a look at the top individual performances in its storied history. Bear in mind that this is the top performances in the Michigan-Ohio State game, not necessarily the best players on each team or the best performances for each team against another team. This list will go position by position and take into account game implications and past history in addition to pure stats. Make sure to read all the way through to see who is most likely have breakout performances this Saturday.

Begin Slideshow

Michigan 2009: Fail to the Victors

Michael Mrock — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:22:30 -0500

No fan of the Spartans would ever have thought that almighty Michigan would be in such a state of duress.

Sure, as a Spartan fan, it brings a chuckle. However also as a fan of college football, to see this powerhouse reduced to such a pathetic state is tough to watch.

In most seasons, the annual battle of Ohio State vs. Michigan is a national event on ABC to determine the Big Ten champion and representative to the Rose Bowl.

However this year's version is on the Big Ten Network at noon. The Buckeyes have already captured the Big Ten title with their overtime victory against the Hawkeyes last week.

In season's past, the coaches carry the torch of the rivalry. Yet this season, the sweater vest vs. the red wristband have been through the fire of the fan bases in revolt.

After Ohio State was defeated by USC with their freshman quarterback and Purdue in an upset even the Boilermaker fans didn't expect, calls for the firing of Jim Tressel and of a revolt for Terrelle Pryor being the quarterback were heard in Columbus.

However, the team turned it around by defeating Penn State in Happy Valley and clinching the Big Ten title against Iowa.

In Ann Arbor, it has been a different call to arms. Early in the season, revelations appeared in a Detroit Free Press article about numerous violations of how the team practiced.

After a tearful press conference in response from Rodriguez to the alleged violations, many never imagined anything like this could happen in Ann Arbor.

To add insult to injury, there then was the season. Michigan lost to Michigan State in East Lansing to mark the first time Michigan has lost to their "little brother" in consecutive seasons since Bubba Smith played for the Spartans.

They also lost to Purdue at home for the first time since Bob Griese quarterbacked the Boilermakers.

Now if all of this wasn't enough, this week there are new issues with the Rodriguez practice style. Logs of practices from last season were not properly turned in to the university.

This new allegation doesn't seem like the kind of thing that the NCAA needs to step in about. However, it does give credence to the idea that the program is taking on water.

There is not much thought to Michigan actually winning this version of "The Game." However, if they get completely throttled, it does make Rodriguez a lame duck coach.

Even if they give him another season to turn it around, a third straight loss to MSU as well as losses to Notre Dame and Ohio State will send him out the door.

It also doesn't help his cause with a new athletic director taking over in a year once Bruce Martin officially resigns.

University president Mary Sue Coleman did announce this week that she is fully backing Rodriguez but such talk is only talk and doesn't lend to the real fact that this whole mess is partly her fault.

The Michigan fan base has an attitude of entitlement to their program which is cemented by being the winningest college football team ever, as well as having Bo Schembechler as their Moses.

The only true coach to take over the program must be an offspring of the Schembechler coaching legacy or played for him. Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr carried on the tradition until the hiring of Rodriguez.

It is interesting to ponder if Bo was still alive, would he have allowed the university to hire Rodriguez or will he himself flew down to LSU and dragged Les Miles on the plane back to Ann Arbor.

With Bo's input being impossible, Coleman and Martin decided to go outside of the box and spend four million on a buyout to bring the Rodriguez spread offense to the Big House.

Rodriguez's departure from West Virginia left that fan base wanting blood for the betrayal. Accusations of him shredding documents before he put on the block 'M' created murmurs, but not enough to have doubts.

But in Rodriguez's first year, his spread offense gave Michigan its worst season in 40+ years. They lost to State at home for the first time since Desmond Howard fell in the end-zone, lost to Toledo at home and they missed their first bowl game since the 60's.

Now the team is a joke compared to seasons before. The Forcier/Shoelace combo is a disaster at quarterback and they have a defense that is lacking the ability to defend.

They may be getting the top high school quarterback in Devin Gardner for next season, however signing day has not occurred yet.

Michigan must once again end a season with their tails between their legs. Their dignity as an elite program is tarnished.

How do they save face may not be easy when there is so much written on the wall. All they can do is try to put together a decent last game with OSU.

However in the off-season, they will have quite a few questions to answer to pull out of this tailspin. How long will Rodriguez stay? Who will be the new AD?

Will Coleman follow Rodriguez out the door if he is fired for her part in hiring him? Who will be the quarterback in the first game against UConn when the Big House is finally finished?

Such is Michigan in this new era. Even as a Spartan fan, it is tough to see the Wolverines reduced to the ferocity of house cats.

However, it is up to the Maize and Blue to reestablish their identity or face the reality of not being part of the discussion of who gets to hold the rose at the end of the season.

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"The Game" Is More than a Game for Rich Rod and the Wolverines

Russ Hartley — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:30:52 -0500

You could not have enough rulers to measure the implications of this week's Michigan-Ohio State game. No matter what anyone says, "The Game" is one of the most profound rivalries in college sports. The meeting between these two teams is always filled with aggression, hard hits, and until recently, the Big Ten Championship.

Technically this game is meaningless to the Buckeyes, but Jim Tressel won't admit that. OSU clinched a Rose Bowl appearance with their win over Iowa last weekend. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor will be heading into hostile Ann Arbor, looking for his first win at "The Big House."

The importance of this game leans towards the maize and blue. Talk has stirred this season of the firing of coach Rich Rodriguez. I feel this is ridiculous, but that argument is meant for another article. Rodriguez is 1-5 against his rivals (OSU, MSU, and ND). No one realizes the importance of this game more then the head coach of Michigan. If Tate Forcier can lead this team to a win, Michigan fans will decrease the temperature for Rich Rod's hot seat.

A win for the Wolverines doesn't only mean a win over their arch-rival, but a bowl appearance. Before the "Rich-Rod era," Michigan went to 34 straight bowl games, and had been a dominant powerhouse in college football. The Michigan tour bus has encountered some bumps in the road recently, and trust me, two years without a bowl game would be too much torture for the program and its fans.

If the Wolverines can pull out an upset, a 5-7 record will turn into 6-6 and a bowl game. If the Wolverines fail again at beating the Buckeyes, Rich Rod will continue to hear chants of his termination from the program. And with a new coach and a new offensive system, this program may have to start over from scratch, again.

Remember when Michigan went 4-0, Rich Rod had a safe job, and Wolverine fans thought the program was "back?" Well, now they have fallen from the rankings, lost six of their last seven, and the sure bowl game isn't so sure anymore.

The will to win may not be enough for Michigan to get a win on Saturday. The defense will need to slow down Pryor, especially on third down. They must stay consistent throughout the game and dominate in the trenches.

Michigan has had a trend this year to play great for one half, and completely collapse in the other. The offense can not fall behind by much, since OSU has been firing on all cylinders lately. Michigan will not be favored to win, that's a given, they will need to out-perform Ohio State, because they may be fighting for their coach's job.

Ohio State has dominated the rivalry in recent years, and fans have began to think this game as not much of a rivalry. Just to make this clear, Michigan is still winning in the head to head record, so before this rivalry is forgotten, OSU must take the record. Michigan is slipping in the rivalry lately, but if they bounce back they could remind people that this cross-state battle still is one of the best rivalries in college sports.

*Russ Hartley is the founder & host of Yung Gunz Sports and can be reached at YGSpodcast@Gmail.com or www.twitter.com/yunggunzsports

*Find the YGS website at www.YGsports.webs.com

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Donovan Warren of Michigan Should Explore His NFL Options

The Wolverine — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:39:00 -0500

I think Donovan Warren is smart to explore his NFL options at the end of the regular season. He's been an NFL talent in waiting since his freshman All-American year.

While injuries hampered his ability last year, Warren has been a bright spot on a poor Division I defense this season.

Of course, he has committed his share of missed tackles and poor angles, but overall, he is in the right place at the right time 9.5 out of 10 times. Even when he is out of place, he rarely gives up the big play.

He has fluid hips, a quick burst, above average cover skills, above average tackling ability, and above average height for the position. Add a tough demeanor with a positive, aggressive attitude, and you can see why he'll be playing on Sundays.

But the question remains: Is this the time to go? The so-called experts are all over the place on his projected draft positions. You'll see everything from second to fifth round.

Part of the reason Warren hasn't been able to dominate at the corner position this season (although he's tied for second in the Big Ten with four interceptions) is because he's been asked to participate in a new scheme that puts him in a sort of hybrid safety/corner position due to Michigan's weakness at safety.

Yet he's been all over the field. During the Wisconsin game, I couldn't help but notice him making several tackles of Bucky's tight ends that should have been made by others.

Even though Warren is performing at the position, the spot duty has limited his evaluation and precluded him from solidifying himself as a lockdown corner.

Michigan's defense is young and bad but will progress from this year to the next. That development should allow Warren to stay at corner and improve his stock. Should Warren have a breakout game against OSU this year, his projected stock could rise even further.

That being said, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly the areas that Warren needs to improve upon. If he truly believes that he's playing at his best, he should go, even if that means sacrificing a round in the draft (absent the first round, of course). NFL scouts would have a full display of his skills from which to evaluate him.

Of course, there's always room for improvement, but if he doesn't think he can get much better in the next year, it may make sense to go to avoid risking injury. He knows all too well the limitations caused by injury and may not feel the same sense of invincibility that other players who return for their senior years may feel.

All this leads me to the final point: There's nothing wrong with exploring your options. He ultimately will make the decision that is best for him and his family. I am of the opinion that Warren will be in a Wolverine uniform next year. But you can't and shouldn't knock the kid for seeing what's out there.

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Michigan-Ohio State: I Am As Excited As I Have Been in a Long Time

Charles Welch — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:16:58 -0500

Michigan is 5-6. They have lost four straight, and have flat out sucked at times.

Their defense has struggled to stop anyone, and let's face it (most of you already have), it will be very hard to beat the Buckeyes in 2009.

OSU has owned us as of late, and they have a very good team this season. Their defense hasn't given up a run exceeding nine yards in a number of weeks, and they seem to be flat out hitting the ground running for the most part.

However, this team isn't invulnerable nor invincible. Terrelle Pryor has struggled to have a truly breakout game, they are too conservative, and their offensive line isn't the best we have seen this season by any means.

The Buckeyes defense has struggled at times, last week at home for example. A freshman quarterback pushed them to the limits in their own house, a week after he stunk it up against Northwestern.

The same Iowa team that Michigan took to the limits and had on the ropes at Kinnick, took OSU to their limits in the Shoe. You are never quite as good as they say you are and that is the case with Ohio State.

You are never quite as bad either, as with these Michigan Wolverines. Michigan has lost some games recently, albeit close ones. Michigan came back and took Sparty to overtime.

The defense stepped up when they had to and allowed the offense to find it's rhythm. Tate Forcier didn't have his finest moment against the Hawkeyes, but Michigan still only lost by two in a game that was decided with 46 seconds left.

Michigan got a raw deal at Illinois if you ask me, Carlos Brown scored on third and goal from the one yard line. If you don't believe me, go check out the tape.

Then, of course Danny "The Great White" Hope went and pulled out all the stops to beat the Wolverines going for an onside kick in the third quarter. Tough breaks.

As for Wisconsin, yeah they ran the ball well, but keep in mind they outmanoeuvred the Buckeyes to the tune of over 200 yards of offense in the Shoe. On top of all that, Tate Forcier has exceeded a 150 passer rating in three straight games!

These aforementioned items aren't what excites this author the most. What excites me the most is the emotion that this game will demand of the players involved.

I expect a hungry group of players on both sides, particularly for Michigan, There are group of seniors that are playing their last game in the Big House, and will play through broken bones to get out there and win.

At the risk of sounding sentimental, Brandon Graham has the spirit of Bo on him right now. I have seen it in his eyes. He knows that he'll play for a lot of things in the future, but this may be the last time he'll ever play for a team. The team! The team! The team!

Screw the contracts and the endorsements. This Saturday, you can forget about all the fortune and fame. It's all about the team! It's all about Michigan Football.

I expect that Graham and Steve Brown, along with Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown will play their hearts out and their asses off.

Believe it or not, Graham will spend much of the day in the backfield, and he will harass Terrelle Pryor like he has never been harassed. Take a tip from Purdue.

Another story is that of Justin Boren, which may be the single most emotional and inflammatory piece of this puzzle. Boren transferred from Michigan to Ohio State, and this will be his first time playing against his old school.

He is stepping onto the field at Michigan Stadium for the first time in two years. I hope he gets the welcome he deserves! Quite frankly, I know he will.

In conclusion this is going to be one of the most competitive, fiery contests in this rivalry in a long time if you ask me. Expect this game to get nasty, and expect Michigan to pull out all the stops.

You can call me crazy, but I for one have no anxiety about this game. The only thing I have is extreme excitement, and a newfound hatred for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Hail To The Victors and Go Blue!

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Jim Harbaugh, Mike Wilbon, and Practice Logs: Will Michigan be Forced to Change?

Jay Nicols — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:11:54 -0500

Add Michael Wilbon of ESPN to those who see Michigan football heading in a new direction at head coach.

He has an inside source that says Rich Rodriguez will be fired, and it doesn't matter what he does on Saturday against Ohio State. Thanks Wilbon for such informative information.

Wilbon said on his PTI partner's radio show in D.C. that he "had a solo conversation with someone who is affiliated with the current coach at Michigan, and he does not believe for a second that he'll be back."

He went on to say that this was someone who played for Rodriguez. As for all information like this, we should take it with a grain of salt.

How much do I believe Wilbon? Not much. I just don't see it happening. Anything is a possibility, but not in the current situation that Michigan faces.

Michigan is losing its AD in September 2010. I know Bill Martin doesn't want to go through the whole process of hiring a head coach at Michigan again.

Also, Michigan is still in the process of hiring a new AD and seems to be nowhere near a candidate other than finding an advisory board to find that candidate.

Names have been tossed around, but nothing is going to be done until the spring. That just seems logical at this point.

If Wilbon is right, he could only know something that the rest of us don't know and that is that Michigan will be found guilty of major violations and in turn that would basically terminate Rodriguez's contract. That is the only way he will be fired after this season.

Internal audits of the football program found that practice logs have not been submitted for 2008-09 football season. A memo was sent out in late July to the athletic department. Compliance has been met since that memo was sent.

The Detroit Free Press reports that this could be a 'failure to monitor' violation which is categorized as a major violation. If this is true, than the tenure of Rich Rodriguez would be over, and I will apologize to Wilbon.

So if Michigan fires Rodriguez after this season, who would they look at for as a replacement? Let's speculate on one man, Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh is the hot name right now. He just beat Oregon and USC in consecutive weeks and has his Stanford team playing above potential. Harbaugh is a turning into a great coach.

In 2008, he was very green. He had not been a coach at the major level and Michigan felt they needed to have an established name head their program. Two years later, he has Stanford ranked in the Top 20 and playing meaningful games in November.

When he went to Stanford in 2007, he had a blank slate. Stanford was coming off a 1-11 season when Harbaugh took over.

His success in Division I-AA Mid Major at University of San Diego was enough for Stanford to hire him. He was a combined 21-2 with two national titles.

He is solid at recruiting, having a top 20 class in 2009 and a top 15 class so far for 2010. So there is no question he can recruit.

His defense plays strong, with an offense that would fit at Michigan. His offense runs the I-Formation, which is quite possibly the most basic formation in football.

When using the I-Formation, the coach can alter the formation based on your strengths; running or passing.

Watching Stanford is like watching Michigan play during the Bo era. Run vertically, hard nosed, and pass efficiently. Harbaugh rushes, 421, more than he passes, 243. With the running back depth Michigan has, that could be a nice fit.

It's not as hard to change from a spread offense to a pro offense because you have the athletes, you just need to bulk up the lines.

So with a Harbaugh hire, attrition may not be that bad. But if he was coming on board during probation, it may be tough, and probably tougher to pry him from Stanford.

Harbaugh, in 2007, commented on Michigan academics regarding athletes, saying, "Michigan is a good school and I got a good education there, but the athletic department has ways to get borderline guys in and, when they’re in, they steer them to courses in sports communications. They’re adulated when they’re playing, but when they get out, the people who adulated them won’t hire them."

Those comments incensed the Michigan Wolverines community. Fans, players, and former teammates were quick to slay the dragon. He was exiled from Michigan and now people are clamoring for his coaching attributes.

It would be hypocritical to disparage him one year and fall back in love with him two years later.

I know those comments have no bearing to the current fan base and that they'll play no role in his hire if he is ever offered the job. But that's just something to think about when talking Harbaugh to Michigan.

Another reason that it would be tough for Michigan to land him is that he is from Palo Alto, and his family lives there. Would he be willing to relocate his family to Ann Arbor?

Those are more questions that need to be answered, and since Harbaugh is not talking Michgan as he prepares of Cal, we'll have to wait to hear his thoughts.

So if you are a Michigan fan who wants Jim Harbaugh as coach, don't hold your breath. Michigan is not going to make a move at head coach, not this year.

Please, move on and cheer your team as they smack Ohio State and Justin Boren in the mouth on Saturday in Ann Arbor. I mean, as long as I'm writing about things that won't happen, I mine as well go 'All In' with my rhetoric.

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Michigan Rivalry Week: Day Two

Big House Bob — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:03:00 -0500

Another log on the fire : Michigan didn't keep work out logs for a period of time in 2008. Some of the mis-information floating around is that these were mandatory, which is un-true. These logs are one way that Michigan tracks compliance internally. It is not an NCAA mandate.

The logs have been put back in place and are now done on a regular basis. Mgoblog has the best re-cap of this story if your interested. I think the bottom line is, if Michigan had these logs the entire "Work Out Gate" would have been avoided but now Michigan needs to show more proof they didn't overwork their players.

Two former Michigan recruits are thrown off Tennessee's Football Team: Unless you have been living under a rock you know by now that wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson, 18, and defensive back Mike Edwards, 18 were arrested this week after an armed robbery charge outside a gas station near Tennessee's campus.

Both players were recruited by Michigan last year and showed only minor interest. As it worked out, I'm glad they didn't come to Ann Arbor.

Pardon The Interruption but Michael Wilpon has his facts wrong. Michael went on the radio yesterday saying he had sources saying that Charlie Weis and Rich Rodriguez were going to be fired. I can't speak for ND, but the only chance RR is going to get fired is if the NCAA comes back with Major Grade A violations.

They just paid to get him out of his WVU contract and firing him would cost another $4 Million. Even Dan Syder thinks that's a lot of money. It's not going to happen. BTW: His source was a former Rich Rod player that was willing to bet money or make it rain.

The Silverdome isn't worth it's weight in Silver! So you want to buy a former NFL Stadium that has hosted events like WrestleMania: Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant, The Monsters of Rock, and the Super Bowl? It cost 55.7 Million in 1975 but needs some work. What do you think? 10 Mill? 20 Mill? How about $583,000!

Yes, just over half a million to a Canadian Real Estate firm. Now that is a deal! Now how much for the U.P.? Just kidding U-ppers.

The Michigan Players had a closed door "Players' Meeting" on Monday before practice.

Next year Michigan will have a bye week. The new 2010 schedule has been
posted on the left tool bar.

Saturday's game will be the most important recruiting day of the year with a number of top prospects taking their official visits to Ann Arbor.

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For Michigan Wolverines Fans, Here's Hoping...

The Wolverine — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:22:00 -0500

That the finger pointing, if any, is at a minimum this week.

That the coaches can come up with one solid game plan that pulls all of the positives together and puts the players in a position to succeed.

That the players give it their best this week in practice.

That Brandon Minor, Carlos Brown, and the other seniors are in a position to play this Saturday.

That Brandon Graham destroys Justin Boren at least once in a head-to-head battle.

That Tate Forcier doesn't try to do too much and just throws the ball away when needed.

That our LBs and safeties make the correct reads.

That coach Rich Rodriguez inspires the hell out of his players before the game.

That Coach Rodriguez inspires the hell out of his players before the second half.

That the players play a complete second half.

The program needs this win. Badly. Expectations are low, but it can be done.

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Big Ten Officials Have Lost Their Minds

Big House Bob — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:27:00 -0500

I know officiating is the toughest job in sports. No matter what you call, someone is going to be mad at you.

Most of the time these guys do a decent job, but recently if you look around the sports world, officiating has gotten pretty ugly. For examples, look at the Major League Playoffs/World Series, NFL (Cowboys-Packers game last Sunday), and the SEC.

What I have noticed lately is a strong decline in officiating in the Big Ten. These guys are making bad decisions, and they are not using the video replay properly or within the rules.

The latest "high profile" mistake came in the Purdue-Michigan State game this weekend when Purdue's running back Ralph Bolden was given a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty because he hugged Purdue's mascot Purdue Pete after scoring a touchdown.

Are you kidding me? What was so unsportsmanlike about that? What a minute, doesn't Pete carry a big hammer? I see these guys working now—Bolden was trying to bring a weapon on the field.

Below is a mistake that the officials got right on the field, but the replay booth overturned the call. Please notice the IU WR's foot hitting the field turf and kicking up the chopped up rubber. The replay said he didn't get a foot down. Terrible, just terrible!

Since most reading this blog are Michigan fans, let's review a few calls that occurred in Michigan games.

- The Michigan-Illinois game. There are a number of calls on this video that are in question:

* Roy Roundtree's touchdown overturned in the booth.

* Brandon Minor's touchdown overturned in the booth. If you watch the video, there is a player in between Minor and camera when they ruled his elbow hit the ground. So in this example the replay booth used their judgment to overturn the call instead of evidence—which is a huge fail!

* It looks to me Carlos Brown had scored on third down—no review.

- My next big Michigan complaint came in the Wisconsin game. Wisconsin's running back John Clay dove over the top, and Brandon Graham met him in the air and drove him back into the Wisconsin backfield. The call on the field was touchdown; why, I don't know, because only the tip of his helmet was over the line.

They reviewed it and let the touchdown stand when the replay clearly showed the ball didn't make it over the goal line. In fact, it really wasn't close.

First off, I am not taking the position that Michigan wins either game if those calls were executed properly, but there is something wrong in the process here. Humans make mistakes, but the replay system is here for one reason only: to make the correct call.

Judgment and feelings are not allowed to come into play for replays. It's either yes or no, black or white. If it's gray, the call stands how it was called on the field.

I was in the stadium at Illinois when those calls were made or not made, and I can tell you with 100 percent certainty it changed the game on both sidelines.

So what's wrong with the system? Don't just complain—come up with a new solution.

Okay, first off I have been watching the same old officials for years in the Big Ten. It's time for some fresh new blood on the field and in the booth. I know the good jobs come with experience, but you can't tell me there aren't some young officials out there with good experience.

One problem maybe from the definition of instant replay from Wikipedia: When replay is used, a Replay Official (usually a former college, NFL, or XFL game official ) reviews every play at its conclusion from a secure booth in the press box. If you have worked for Vince McMahon, you should not be able to make any type of call at an NCAA event.

I'm also not sold on the booth review. They seem too detached from the action to make the proper call. Mostly these guys are near retirement or have been put out to pasture.

Maybe the NCAA should go more to an NFL-style system and add another official to the field. The game is delayed too long and too often by these replay stoppages. If you give the coaches a couple of challenges, the game would be stopped less, and they would only challenge the important calls.

BTW: This maybe the only time in history I agree with Charlie Weis. The Big Ten has some bad officials, and something needs to be done. Big Ten coaches can't talk about it or they will be fined. Replay needs to be in the game because there are too many mistakes on the field, but these replay officials have lost the purpose and intent of their role.

The Big Ten has been suspending players; it's time they suspend their officials as well.

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Michigan Wolverines' Season Will Mercifully Come to an End on Saturday

Keith Shelton — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:07:54 -0500

They won't have to suffer much longer. We won't have to suffer much longer.

The end of the season can't get here soon enough for the Michigan Wolverines and what a season it has been.

At this point, the once promising 2009 campaign, can now only be looked upon with utter disgust. Disgust at the way it ended. Disgust at what could have been, and what now is.

Folks, Michigan has sunk to rock bottom. They are the worst team in the Big 10. When is the last time that could be said about the Wolverines? Possibly never?

That this team was once 4-0 seems like an impossibility. In fact I wouldn't believe you if you told me, had I not seen it myself.

From 4-0 they of course transitioned to 5-6, with the lone win in the Wolverines last seven games coming against FCS opponent, Delaware State.

The plummet can be attributed to a multitude of things.

1) Injuries

Starting center David Molk went down with a knee injury a few games into the season, which forced the entire offensive line to readjust. It began with miscues and bad snaps from center, and has morphed into good old fashioned inconsistency.

Wide reciever Martvaious Odoms has also been hampered for most of the season with a knee injury.

2) NCAA Investigation

The giant elephant in the room. The team got off to a 4-0 start on a defiant high when the investigations were announced, however that can only last for so long. It may be weighing on this team now, as the investigation heats up. It was recently announced that Michigan did not keep any time logs during the 2008 season.

3) Freshmen at quarterback

Tate Forcier certainly didn't appear to be the average freshman quarterback through the first half of the season. He led big time comebacks against Notre Dame and Indiana, and nearly accomplished the same feat against Michigan State and Iowa as well. Then he began to regress. His accuracy decreased, his turnovers increased.

Rich Rodriguez also appeared to lose some faith in the young Forcier as fellow freshman, Denard "Shoelace" Robinson got more and more playing time, often with disastrous results.

However it wouldn't be fair to place all the blame on the quarterback situation.

4) The defense

It's the worst defense Michigan has ever had, to put it bluntly. There are a few factors that go into this.

Greg Robinson is the third defensive coordinator in three years at Michigan. Although Robinson has a solid reputation as a defensive guru and has the Superbowl ring to prove it, he still has to undo the damage done by Schafer. At least, we hope that's all it is.

One of Michigan's prized secondary recruits, Boubacar Cissoko, was also kicked off the team midway through the season for violating team rules. That spiraled an already shaky secondary into utter chaos.

Other positions on the defense suffer from a lack of depth. The linebackers are in complete disarray with Obi Ezeh getting benched against Illinois in favor of a walk-on, and the tackles resembling a Swiss cheese line.

Brandon Graham and freshman Craig Roh seem to be the only bright spots here. Unfortuantely, Graham is a senior and won't be back in 2010.

Michigan has allowed 35 or more points, four games in a row, and at least 30 points in eight out of 11 games.

All of this seems to be getting to embattled coach, Rich Rodriguez. It is possible he is now losing his grip on his players.

Tate Forcier spoke out after the Wisconsin game, revealing that Denard Robinson took all the snaps with the first team offense leading up to the game, but Rodriguez started Forcier anyway, and played him for most of the game.

Where is the logic in that?

Is it any wonder then, that there are rumors circling of Forcier wanting to transfer out?

Now, the 5-6 Wolverines limp into the Ohio State game. A rivalry that has now lost most of its luster.

Michigan needs a victory in their final game just to become bowl eligible. Truthfully, they will be lucky to keep it within three touchdowns.

If Wisconsin can put up 45 points, and Illinois and Purdue can decimate you with over 300 yards rushing, what will Ohio State do?

I shudder to think, but I will watch with a wince on my face anyway.

There is no telling what next season will bring now. There is only uncertainty. What will the results of the NCAA investigation bring? Will Michigan's defense be shored up with the new recruiting class? Will more players transfer out? Who will start at Quarterback next year? Tate Forcier? Denard Robinson? Devin Gardner? Is Justin Turner the real deal? How about Will Campbell?

At any rate, Michigan should not accept anything less than a winning Big 10 record from Rodriguez next year. At bare minimum.

For now, this season cannot end soon enough. This team has been embarrassed, beaten, degraded, and decimated. They enter the Ohio State game with their tail between their legs and if there is any fight left in them at all, hopefully they will unleash it all on the Buckeyes.

Maybe, just maybe, this season can end with a glimmer of hope. One bright spot in an ocean of ugly. A momentum boost for 2010 and a small reason for hope.

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Devin Gardner and Vincent Smith: The Next Great U-M Backfield Duo

Adam Bouton — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:07:09 -0500

One hasn't even set foot on campus yet, while another is making a stir in the Michigan backfield.

They are Devin Gardner and Vincent Smith, Michigan present and future.

Both have oozing potential and should be important players in the coming years for the Maize and Blue.

How soon is the question.

Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier seemed to have the position locked down for years to come after gutsy performances against Notre Dame and Michigan State. However, after a series of losses and some rather questionable performances from Forcier, the future at the position seems to be up in the air.

His durability and small size are a question and he doesn't seem like the glove to fit the hand of Rich Rodriguez's spread offense.

Denard Robinson is the type of athlete that could work at the quarterback position, but that is provided that he learns how to effectively throw the ball down the field.

The man who is throwing passes and running past defenders in the Michigan high school playoffs currently might be the best person for the job.

Gardner, a senior at Inkster High School, has the tools both with his arm and his legs to be the type of guy Rodriguez is looking for behind center.

He may not get a shot right away, but the buzz surrounding him before he even gets to U-M has to be a telling sign that everyone is eager for his arrival.

One player who has already arrived on the Michigan football scene is Smith.

The freshman from Pahokee, Fla. has found some reliable playing time as the season has progressed.

He found some playing time on passing downs during the Wisconsin game and also was able to find the end zone during the first half for the Wolverines. He has good speed and makes quick cuts as a small back.

Smith and Michael Shaw should be the two competing for the starting tailback job next season as both Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor graduate. But in the long run, I won't be surprised at all to see Smith take the role solely.

Just imagine back to when Rodriguez had both Pat White and Steve Slaton in the same backfield.

Gardner and Smith could come close to that.

They probably won't match it, but they are the types that fit those two West Virginia prodigies the best.

Next year could mark a new era in Michigan football. Finally. Gardner and Smith should be a part of that.

The Michigan offense, however you look at it, looks bright with the arrivals of prospects and with the players already suiting up for the Wolverines.

Even with the current season heading south, there is reason to believe in the future.

And it could include a stalwart backfield with Devin Gardner and Vincent Smith.

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Why We Need the Maize and Blue to Get Good Again

David Thurman — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:27:38 -0500

Dave Thurman (9:27 am)

It's Michigan week! Call them what you will—scUM, Meatchicken, the ugly helmets, or, that school up north—the fact is we need them to get good again. Say what? You heard me right! We need our chief rivals to recapture their mojo and start playing like a big time program.

Before you dismiss me as crazy allow me to explain. We need Michigan to regain their swagger for the following reasons:

1) To reinstate the rivalry to its rightful position as the best in college sports —Many sportswriters have gone on record saying that Ohio
State-Michigan is the greatest rivalry in sports (ESPN recently ranked it No. 1 among all rivalries—college and pro!) But if the Bucks keep winning every year, and if there are more 42-7 games, then the contest will lose a great deal of its relevance and might go the way of Army-Navy or the Packers-Bears.

2) To help the Big Ten restore its luster and silence the critics —Has any conference been under fire as much the past few years as the Big Ten? We (and I use that word as a lifelong Big Ten fan) have a black eye right now and even a healthy dose of Tammy Faye Baker's makeup can't cover it up. What is needed are some victories over highly ranked opponents. But as long as Michigan is down and Penn State mediocre, then there's little hope of the conference impressing the nation or winning a majority of its bowl games. The last time people spoke Of the Big Ten with awe and respect was 2006, when No. 1 Ohio State met No. 2 Michigan. We need more of those "gold old days."

3) To force Tressel and company to take it up a notch —Everyone seems upset with the conservative "play not to lose" philosophy of the Sweater Vest. But why change when you can win the Big Ten year after year and reach BCS bowl games with your present system? That 42-39 victory in "the game" back on November 23, 2006, was far from conservative as the play calling was wide open. When you have to open it up to win, its amazing what happens. And when your chief rival is doing a great job recruiting five star talent, and winning lots of games, you can't afford to rest on your laurels. I contend that the coaching staff will work a little harder when Michigan returns to form.

4) To help the Bucks reach another national championship game —That's right. Let's say we had defeated Purdue (like we should have) and then came into this game with only one loss. Would we have a chance to beat Michigan and be rewarded with a ticket to Pasadnea for the BCS National Championship Game? No way. But if Michigan were ranked in the top ten, and considered a top notch team, then a victory over them might just secure the needed votes. Right now the only chance to get to the big game is to go undefeated, and we all know how difficult that is.

So, when the Maize and Blue get back to their accustomed spot as a national power, it will really benefit the Buckeyes. Go figure! We need to actually root for good old scUM to rise from the dead.

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Michigan-Ohio State: Is this the Most Important Game Ever for Michigan?

Justin Potts — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:08:55 -0500

With the calls for Rich Rodriguez’s firing growing louder each week, and the threat of a second straight losing season, Michigan enters Ohio State week in what could be the most important game for the Wolverines in the history of the rivalry.

Sure, there was the “Game of the Century” in 2006 when both teams entered the game undefeated and ranked first and second in the nation.

Sure, there was 1997 when Michigan needed a win to advance to the national championship game.

Sure, there was the huge upset of No. 1 Ohio State in Bo Schembechler’s first season in 1969, a year after Ohio State drubbed Michigan 50-14, to claim a share of the Big Ten title.

But Saturday could be more important for the future of the Michigan football program than any of those.

No, there isn't a Big Ten title on the line or a BCS berth to play for.

But for a young Michigan team struggling to find its identity in the midst of the most dramatic change to the program in decades, a win over Ohio State on Saturday would have huge ramifications for the future.

First and foremost, a win would make Michigan bowl-eligible. Though not guaranteed a bowl invitation with a 6-6 record, Michigan is almost certain to get one given its prestige and fan following.

Even if it is the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (formerly known as the Motor City Bowl) it would be a tremendous boost to the program for the extra practice time and national exposure.

The regular season ends this Saturday, Nov. 22. The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl is held on Dec. 26, so Michigan would essentially have an extra month of practice. For a young and developing team, that extra practice time would be invaluable.

Many of the freshmen only had a month of practice time before the season started. Tate Forcier and a few others left high school early to enroll in January and participate in spring practice.

But most, including quarterback Denard Robinson, arrived just in time for fall camp on Aug. 10 and opened the season against Western Michigan on Sept. 5.

During the season, there isn’t much the team can work on as it prepares for each opponent week-to-week. Much of Rodriguez’s system was installed in fall practice to get ready for the season.

During game weeks, the practices are spent working on getting ready for that week’s opponent and fine-tuning certain details. Various players miss practices every week because of injury, stinting their learning ability and practice time.

New wrinkles may be installed or specific plays that the coaching staff thinks can exploit the opponent can be put in, but the vast majority of what the players learn (the schemes, the playbook, the fundamentals) is learned during fall practice.

That’s why many times a team can look quite different in a bowl game than it did during the regular season, because that month of practice serves as another fall camp.

Injured players get healthy, new plays and schemes are installed and practiced until they become second nature, and confidence is gained while the losses of the season are forgotten.

Look no further than Michigan in 2007, for example. The team, in Lloyd Carr’s final season, sputtered to an 8-4 regular season record. It endured a humiliating home loss to Appalachian State, a blowout at the hands of Oregon, and got shut down by Ohio State.

In the bowl game, the Capital One Bowl against a 9-3 Florida team led by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, Michigan showed a much more dynamic and diverse offense than it had all season, winning 41-35.

It left Michigan fans wondering what could have been had Michigan played that way all season and also excited about the future of that style of offense once Rodriguez was hired.

And while Rodriguez’s offense has shown great promise and flashes of brilliance at times this season, it’s still plagued by inexperience.

A bowl game and the extra month of practice time would do wonders for this young and developing team.

In addition to the extra practice time, making it to a bowl game will give Michigan exposure on a national stage during the holidays at a time when everybody is watching, and a chance to finish on a high note heading into the offseason.

Nobody wants to endure eight months of misery like what followed Michigan’s 3-9 season a year ago. By finishing the season with a win over Ohio State and a bowl game, Michigan fans will be excited about 2010, and the players will be confident heading into the spring and summer.

The second reason Saturday’s game is so important is that beating Ohio State would help with recruiting. Michigan has quite a few visitors coming to Ann Arbor for official visits.

A chance to see Michigan beat its major rival in the Big House on the final week of the season would go a long way toward helping a recruit tip the scales in Michigan’s favor.

Eight of Michigan’s 24 commitments in the 2007 class were in attendance for the Michigan-Ohio State game in the Big House that year.

And while Michigan didn’t win that game, it wasn’t quite in the dire situation it is in now with a need for talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

If Michigan lays an egg against Ohio State and boos rain down from the stands, the attending recruits won’t have as good an experience as if Michigan pulls off the big win.

Some of the visitors expected to be in attendance on Saturday include: Chula Vista, Calif. four-star linebacker/safety Tony Jefferson; Pittsburgh four-star cornerback Cullen Christian; Jacksonville, Fla., four-star safety Rashad Knight; Detroit four-star cornerback Dior Mathis; and Eagle Lake, Fla., four-star safety/linebacker Marvin Robinson.

Robinson is already committed to Michigan, but has talked in the past few months about visiting other schools. A big win and a great experience on Saturday could help solidify his commitment.

Jefferson is currently committed to UCLA, and is visiting Florida next weekend, so showing him what it’s like to beat Ohio State in the Big House could go a long way toward stealing him.

Christian is also a prized recruit, since he’s a cornerback, a position Michigan really needs to fill, due to the dismissal of Boubacar Cissoko and possible departure of Donovan Warren to the NFL.

He has already visited UCLA and West Virginia (and possibly Pittsburgh), so Michigan has a chance wrap up his commitment with a great showing on Saturday.

Michigan needs to make this weekend special with a glimpse of what the future holds for the program and show these kids that despite the recent struggles, the program is heading in the right direction.

The third reason a win over Ohio State on Saturday would be huge for Michigan is for the support of Rodriguez and a reward for the senior class.

A win won’t completely erase the anti-Rodriguez sentiment, but it will at least quiet down until next season and win back some of those who have turned against him.

His 8-15 overall record and 3-12 Big Ten record includes just one win over Michigan’s big three rivals (and that was Notre Dame this season).

That stat alone has caused much of the friction among Michigan fans, since one of their main charges against Carr was that he couldn’t beat Ohio State once Jim Tressel arrived in Columbus in 2001.

Winning on Saturday would make Rodriguez 2-4 in that category, but more importantly, give Michigan its first win over the Buckeyes since 2003.

In addition to helping quell the Rodriguez detractors, a win would give the senior class its first win over Ohio State.

Guys like Brandon Minor, Carlos Brown, Brandon Graham, Stevie Brown, Greg Mathews, and Zoltan Mesko, who hung around through the coaching change, deserve a big win to cap off their careers.

Some of them (Graham and Mesko, at least) have bright futures ahead of them in the NFL and have played hard without complaining all season, despite not being Rodriguez’s recruits.

While "deserve" might not be the right word, since nothing in life is deserved, it would be a major disappointment for those guys to go their entire career without beating Ohio State.

A loss would end Michigan’s season at 5-7 (its second straight losing season) and give Ohio State its sixth straight victory in the rivalry.

It would send Michigan home for the holidays and keep the senior class winless against the Buckeyes.

It would leave feelings of despair and depression among Michigan fans worldwide until next fall.

It could prevent some highly-touted and much-needed recruits from choosing to play football at Michigan, and therefore, stunting the growth process even further.

So while many of the previous 105 games in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry have featured higher stakes in terms of championships, this Saturday’s game could be the most important game in the history of the rivalry for Michigan.

So let’s hope that everyone is all in for Rodriguez and the senior class when toe meets leather at high noon on Saturday.

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Michigan-Wisconsin Review: No Defense = No Chance

Big House Bob — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:08:00 -0500

I actually thought Michigan played hard this afternoon. They showed flashes of what could have been this year.

The defense got a couple of turnovers and even scored a touchdown. Tate Forcier and crew seemed to move the ball through the air and could've won the game with a few more touches and stops on defense.

The future does look bright for the Michigan offense with a strong game by freshman Vincent Smith at running back and catching the ball out of the backfield.

If Michigan doesn't rough the punter in the first half, and if they could have found a way to land on the ball on Wisconsin's fumble on the first play of the second half, Michigan could have snuck away with a win.

With one game to play, it seems Michigan is headed for a 5-7 record and missing a bowl game for the second straight year. That's disappointing after starting the year with a win over ND and a 4-0 start.

With that said, this team did get better on the offensive side of the ball, but with young players and three defensive coordinators in three years, the defense continues to underperform. Right now this defense can't stop anyone and has probably cost Michigan three to four more wins this year.

I don't understand why they continue to be in zone pass coverage. Tight ends seem to run wide open anytime the opposing offense wants to run a pass play. I would rather see these guys covered in man to man.

I'm sure there are reasons for the zone, but Matt Millen actually made a valid point during the OSU game. He said most defensive breakdowns in college come via the zone because of the 20 hour a week rule—that defensive players don't get enough experience/practice running that form of coverage.

My point on the man to man is that it would hopefully show a tighter coverage to the QB and could give Brandon Graham and others the one to two extra seconds they need to get to the QB for a sack. It seemed on Saturday the rush was getting there just a second too late, and Wisconsin was finding the tight ends for five- to 10-yard gains.

(What was with the Wisconsin rushing touchdown where Graham laid out John Clay? Why do they even have replay? He wasn't even close to crossing the goal line. Another terrible call.)

I'm concerned about the defense next year. I know experience helps, but does Michigan have the right talent and depth (on defense) they need to win eight to 10 games next year? I don't think so. The Michigan coaches really need to recruit hard for the last five spots in the 2010 class for impact players.

I feel sorry for Graham, who is playing at an All-American level, and Brandon Minor with his banged-up ankle. They deserved a bowl game, and they are not going to get one. Enjoy next week, gentlemen—you have both been loyal Wolverines, and you both will be missed.

If you didn't catch the No. 15-ranked Michigan basketball team in action tonight, they have a ton of young talent and will be exciting to watch all year long. I haven't seen this much young talent on the Wolverines since the Fab Five.

With Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims' leadership, this team will make some noise in the Big Ten this year. It's fun to watch a ranked, well-coached basketball team again!

Reality check: If you're feeling down about Rich Rodriguez's Wolverines, take a second to think about the fight that Phil Brabbs and Vada Murray are going through. Both are proud former Wolverine football players, and both are fighting cancer. If you need some perspective on what's really important in life, keep Phil and Vada in your thoughts and prayers.

If you want to donate to Phil's treatment please donate here. I have.

I'm not excited about Ohio State week, but I am excited about Michigan basketball for the first time in a long time. Go Blue!

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College Football Preview | Michigan at Wisconsin

Matt Snyder — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:50:00 -0500

Matt and Zac Snyder of Bleacher Report and mittensportsreport.com break down this week's University of Michigan football matchup.

When Michigan Has the Ball...

Michigan's Passing Attack vs. Wisconsin's Secondary

Zac says: Tate Forcier may have found a new favorite target with last week's emergence of wide receiver Roy Roundtree. Michigan's passing game has struggled at times this year because of the lack of a true go-to receiver. If Forcier can spread the ball around the field and count on Roundtree to make a big play when needed, then Michigan fans may see some progress in the passing game. Keep an eye on Chris Marados; his four interceptions leads the Badger defense. Advantage: Even

Matt says: Rumors were rampant on Friday that Denard Robinson would get the start Saturday at Wisconsin. Even if the rumors turn out to be true, I would still expect Tate to see the lions share of time under center. Denard Robinson should get more looks (the Wolverines need big plays), but Tate is still a much more polished passer, mistakes included. Advantage: Even

Michigan's Running game vs. Wisconsin's Front Seven

Zac says: Michigan leads the Big Ten in scoring because of their strong running game. Five Michigan runners have each reached the 200 yard mark for the season, while seven runners have achieved per carry averages of at least 5.3 yards on at least ten carries. Brandon Minor exploded last week with an effort that combined power and speed. Wisconsin's defense ranks behind only Ohio State in stopping the run but don't count on anyone slowing down the Wolverine ground game for 60 minutes. Advantage: Michigan

Matt says: Whether or not Michigan has success on the ground (and on offense as a whole) will depend on the health of Brandon Minor. Wisconsin has one of the best run defenses in the conference, and we've learned that the Wolverines can lean too much on their passing game. If Minor can carry the load, Michigan has a chance at running a balanced offense which would help to keep their defense off the field. Advantage: Even

When Wisconsin Has the Ball...

Wisconsin's Passing Attack vs. Michigan's Secondary

Zac says: Scott Tolzien has been solid for much of the season, but not spectacular. Fortunately for Tolzien, the Michigan secondary has been less than solid. The Wolverines have given up more pass yards than any other Big Ten team except for Indiana. Purdue's Joey Elliott enjoyed a career game opposite the winged helmet last week in Purdue's first win in Ann Arbor in 43 years. Nick Toon will require a lot of attention from the defensive backs but the Badgers' biggest playmaker in the passing game may be Garrett Graham. Graham's four touchdown receptions leads the team. Advantage: Wisconsin

Matt says: Wisconsin ranks as one of the worst passing teams in the Big Ten, but Michigan is also near the bottom of the list in pass defense. There really wont be a winner of this matchup, just a bigger loser. The only way Michigan wins this matchup is if the run defense can force the Badgers into long passing situations. Advantage: Wisconsin

Wisconsin's Running Game vs. Michigan's Front Seven

Zac says: John Clay beat out Zach Brown for the starting tailback spot in training camp and hasn't looked back since. Despite a knee injury in the second half of last week's game, Clay ran for 134 yards on just 15 carries against Indiana. Brown and Montee Ball may also see a few carries as the game progresses. The Michigan front line will need to stay focused on their assignments all game long and avoid the big play in order to be successful. Advantage: Wisconsin

Matt says: The Badgers are always known for a bruising ball control running offense, and this year's team is no different. Running back John Clay is the Big Ten's leading rusher with 973 yards on the ground this season. Wisconsin won't look to make flashy plays in the run game; they simply line up and run it straight at the defense. If Wisconsin can control the line of scrimmage and the game clock with the running game, it will be another ugly day for the Wolverine defense. Advantage: Wisconsin

Bottom Line...

Zac (6-4) says: Playing at Camp Randall Stadium is always tough; playing on Senior Day adds an extra level of difficulty. This game is a real gut check for Rich Rod's guys and may decide the fate of the entire season. The strong running games of both teams may make this one of the quickest played college football games of the year. Final Score: Wisconsin 27, Michigan 23

Matt (4-5) says: I want to pick Michigan in this game, and I really want to see them win, but it's a difficult matchup in one of the toughest road venues in college football. Time is running out on Michigan's season and bowl eligibility hangs in the balance. Michigan must control the ball on offense to give the defense a rest, and the defense must limit big plays so the offense doesn't have to play from behind the entire game. Maybe I'd pick Michigan if this game was in Ann Arbor, but it's not, so I won't. Final Score: Wisconsin 31, Michigan 24

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