For the past few years, Michigan has given us their best shot, and even beats us even though they are not as talented

 

But this year, they're actually pretty damn good and they have two playmakers in peppers and green...not to mention Gardner plays out of his mind when he plays ND

 

Anyone else worried?

 

I think Kelly needs to run scrimmage in the stadium all week to really develop familiarity and finally some real home field advantage

 

I think that's part of the reason why we finally scored close to 50 at home... We've been scrimmaging in the stadium

 

People should under-estimate the advantages of being familiar with your home field/court/etc...

I'm ALWAYS worried about Michigan. I'd be worried if we were a top 5 team and they were unranked. Love this rivalry but the week before the game I think I get ulcers.

I should concern you !! Kelly is 1-3 vs those pricks! Biggest game of the year and it's not close IMO

Biggest game of the year and I have to miss it because of a freaking wedding reception!!!!

 

Apparently ppl didn't get the memo about not weddings after 8/25

We get them by 20 points!

 

Yes there is some rough sledding ahead with STANFORD/FSU & UNC all in bunch----but we will get Michigan easier the expected.

 

Last years effort was DIACO's SECOND worse defensive game plan and execution----only the NAVY fiasco was worse.

 

The defense was sluggish until USC last year----so even though we lost important players overall this years defense will be harder for gardner to deal with then he UBERPOOR EFFORTof 2013.

 

On the same note---last years REES offense managed over 30 ---the upgrade in our offense in 2014 is simply DRAMATIC and difficult to overstate.

 

We have he HOME FIELD

Our DEFENSE will be confusing for the first half at least

 

I like this match up for the first time in years!!

 

Look for a surprisingly easy win

 

aloha's

Double confirmation. I blame the Bishop, who should know better.

We get them by 20 points!

 

Yes there is some rough sledding ahead with STANFORD/FSU & UNC all in bunch----but we will get Michigan easier the expected.

 

Last years effort was DIACO's SECOND worse defensive game plan and execution----only the NAVY fiasco was worse.

 

The defense was sluggish until USC last year----so even though we lost important players overall this years defense will be harder for gardner to deal with then he UBERPOOR EFFORTof 2013.

 

On the same note---last years REES offense managed over 30 ---the upgrade in our offense in 2014 is simply DRAMATIC and difficult to overstate.

 

We have he HOME FIELD

Our DEFENSE will be confusing for the first half at least

 

I like this match up for the first time in years!!

 

Look for a surprisingly easy win

 

aloha's

i love ya brutha, but put down that pineapple salad.....did you watch ND's defense?? the backfield is completely lost.. i never in my life thought i would be begging for austin collinsworth to be back on the field...they may be confused, but not necessarily confusing.. ND is playing Michigan, not Rice...they have significant talent, Rice has none.. I love your optimism, but i'm scared shitless......

Count me as nervous about this game. I can see Michigan eating up some yards and scoring some points on this D. I'm really hoping KVR is back to help sure up the secondary.

I'm nervous about this game but more because it's Michigan than anything else. This game is almost always tough regardless of talent or ranking. That said, Michigan and ND both have some talent and playmakers but both also have some holes. I dont know if we can take much away from them beating a horrible App. St. team. They have issues on the lines on both sides of the ball. Yes, we have question marks on defense that they will probably exploit but let's not act like they are a good team because they've done nothing to prove that yet.

I am always concerned playing Michigan, about the same as I am always concerned playing USC. They always find a way, regardless of talent, to play out of their heads when they play us. I do feel better about our chances this year but there are still way too many unknowns when we go up against a strong team. We will know soon enough. I'd feel ALOT BETTER if we could get Russell and Ishaq back. Hopefully, with new playing surface, our ability to practice in stadium, our great offense, and a little more communication with the defense, we send Michigan back to Ann Arbor with a loss with our last meeting. That would make my week!

Hawaii is right about a lot of things. We are certainly better than Michigan, but this game does scare me. It always does. So many times we are better but we lose. Let's see, Dayne Crist gets hit in the head, loses vision and is never the same. Charlie is whipping them and the refs throw 10 bad penalties and steal the game, and the list goes on and on. When we beat Michigan it is always a special year even if you are Tyrone Willingham.

 

There is something about this game. Good versus evil. If you know the history of this game and what they have done to us on and off the field you know how important it is for us to triumph in this last meeting. This is our season. But when you consider all the factors there is one factor that stands out above all~~~~Golson.

On thing that is different this year compared to last is that in our opener against Temple last year, we allowed their QB to get out of the pocket and convert on 3rd downs. This got even worse the net week at Michigan, when we let Gardner out of the pocket to convert on 3rd downs. That did not happen Saturday against Rice, who had a very mobile QB. So, if containing Gardner is part of our game plan-which I think it will be- we were more efficient at that in the opener. Gardner is a great athlete. So, we'll see, but our scheme did its job Saturday, which was not the case last year.

 

On the other hand, we had a number of assignment blunders that left receivers wide open. Gardner will exploit that just as the Rice QB's did if we do it again.

 

I believe its easier to fix mental mistakes than it is to fix problems with the scheme and personnel. So, I'm hopeful that Gardner won't run wild, and that if he beats us he'll have to do it as a pocket QB who methodically makes great throws. But if we blow assignments, it could be a long night.

The defense should be prepared. We have two mobile QBs of our own that should help a lot this week during practice.

The defense should be prepared. We have two mobile QBs of our own that should help a lot this week during practice.

 

Very good point! And also Monty Van Gorder on the scout team!

I'm nervous about this game but more because it's Michigan than anything else. This game is almost always tough regardless of talent or ranking. That said, Michigan and ND both have some talent and playmakers but both also have some holes. I dont know if we can take much away from them beating a horrible App. St. team. They have issues on the lines on both sides of the ball. Yes, we have question marks on defense that they will probably exploit but let's not act like they are a good team because they've done nothing to prove that yet.

 

Hey nice to hear from you blarney!

 

Always a scary matchup, and after all the chicken talk, this should be a nasty game with two teams that hate each other.

 

What I like......their strength versus our strength in their dline against our Oline. We have a quick QB now so we just need the line to play their asses off for 60 minutes. If we handle that facet in impressive fashion, then this game should be the romp Hawaii thinks it will be.

 

What I don't like.......Gardner isn't very green anymore. He's older, smarter, and experienced. Unless his line plays horribly, I will always expect him to go off against us. I've always though much more highly of Gardner than many on this board. He's sloppy and unorthodox, but he's always very dangerous. I am about 70% sure that he's going to have a damn good game.

 

My biggest concern......Funchess is the monster in the middle, and this is another their strength versus our weekness thing. Expect funchess to get a lot of crossing routes and curls and seams over the middle. The safeties will be tested all day and that scares the crap out of me. Do we get the highly accurate Gardner or the one that can't hit the side of the barn? Yes sir, safeties will be in a lot and there will be plenty of single coverage on the outside.

I really hope we get some heat on that kid or it'll be a shootout.

Any rational fan is "concerned", but at the same time it's an opportunity to finally beat those fckers on the last game of the series. It's not like Michigan has dominated ND over the years, they've gotten more lucky than anything. '09 Weiss blows it with playcalling and B1tch Forcier jukes Brian Smith right out of his shoes, '10 Crist goes down for about half the game, ND is forced to play with Nate Montanna, '11 well you all know, last year that bogus PI on Bennet Jackson.

You guys are simply TOO INTIMIDATED by a team that's NOT even top 25 caliber---by a QB that had his ONLY great game in 2013 against diaco and our defense---by a couple of tough losses under REES that were VERY CLOSE and that's against MR TOMMY----

 

Every year I make my post about the GUANTLET---Michigan and MSU back to back early----

 

NOT THIS YEAR

 

ND BY 20 as we show a little home field advantage --we exploit a weak MICHIGAN OLINE---Golson is the one that TESTS THE SECONDARY--NOT GARDNER---

 

Color me calm and confident for what will be WIN #2!!!

 

aloha's

Edited September 1, 201410 yr by hawaiiirish

We can beat Michigan

 

Execute. Don't turn the ball over and don't give up easy, quick scores and we will be fine.

 

We have to make Gardner sustain drives.

 

Getting Russell back this game to guard Funchesesnnnesssnesss would really help. but if not, we can put Riggs on him.

I think we will see improvement from week 1 to 2. Kelly put in the 2nd team and we still moved the ball. Kelly finally has the weapons on offense. I think we put up 40+ And get the "W"!

I think we will see improvement from week 1 to 2. Kelly put in the 2nd team and we still moved the ball. Kelly finally has the weapons on offense. I think we put up 40+ And get the "W"!

 

I agree and I am not too worried about the game. That said, do you think Rice had their starters in at the end?

 

When I think about the game a bit more, we are really strong on offense. Outside the first two series, we kinda did whatever we wanted. When we got the ball at the end of the first half, we tried to score a TD in 25 seconds and we actually did score. Last season, we would have kneeled out the half.

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"You can't bring that stuff when they're playing Michigan!"