All Things SkunkBear

[phork]

Unless you meant just in terms of MSU, Ohio State hasn't ass-hammered anybody aside from *maybe* Hawaii, and I don't know if I'd consider that an ass-hammering with the way they played in the first half.

OSU might be on cruise control... but if that's the case, then it's been a terrible decision, because their QB position is currently out of whack and their defensive front hasn't been productive in a pass rush as much as they should.

Oh I agree. But QB issues go away when Urbz decides to actually use Elliott more than he has.

 

[IrishLion]

Oh I agree. But QB issues go away when Urbz decides to actually use Elliott more than he has.

True that, I think they are for sure trying to save Elliot's legs for that last three-week stretch of MSU/scUM/B1G'chip and then a playoff run, which is smart, but it's hurting their QB's.

If I were an OSU fan (or if ND were in their position), I'd be getting agitated/paranoid that my QB's are being hung out to dry and losing their confidence in favor of saving Zeke's legs. That way, when they get to that last three-game stretch, their QB's might not be in the right state of mind to take over if they need to.

Also, I think Barrett is a lot better than Cardale. The way to beat OSU is to make Cardale sit in the pocket and make reads. Their OL hasn't been great in pass pro, so if you make Cardale try to make quick reads or pressure him, he makes catastrophic mistakes. I don't think OSU finishes unbeaten.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Living in Michigan as an ND fan has been increasingly difficult this year.. All these Walmart Wolverines coming out of the woodwork because the glory days are here. Then you have the Sparty fans who used to be so much fun to party with who have taken on the cocky, condescending role in the state. With both of them flaunting their record and future and ND losing to Clemson this weekend I've had to control myself not to break someone's face.

At any rate.. on to Navy. Need a convincing win to shut these slappy's up.

We must have some of the same friends.......

 

[PANDFAN]

Former U-M football player charged with illegally videotaping sex | MLive.com

 

[Blazers46]

Are the Wolverines really a 8pt favorite against Northwestern? Do they expect them to win 8-0?

 

[irishfan]

7-pt favorites over MSU this weekend. ESPN FPI gives Michigan a 73.1% of winning. This is turning into the story of the year. FPI also has them as favorites over Ohio State to end the season. It is really looking like they may be 10-1 and playing OSU for a Playoff spot. Crazy. I'm a big Harbaugh fan, I just wish he were doing this at a different school.

 

[dublinirish]

7-pt favorites over MSU this weekend. ESPN FPI gives Michigan a 73.1% of winning. This is turning into the story of the year. FPI also has them as favorites over Ohio State to end the season. It is really looking like they may be 10-1 and playing OSU for a Playoff spot. Crazy. I'm a big Harbaugh fan, I just wish he were doing this at a different school.

MSU is riddled with injuries especially up front. I could see UM holding them to a single touchdown. All the momentum is with Harbaugh coming into this game

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Credit where credit is due. Harbaugh has done a bang up job turning that turd of a team into believers and winners. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop but it hasn't happened yet. Waiting for them to actually play a team with more talent to see how they respond when they go down early.

I was and still am a detractor of Harbaughs, he has had early success at most of his stops but I just don't like the guy (it doesn't help that he went to conceivably the worst university on the planet).

Right now they are riding high and believing, we need to see a team usher in some doubt for the skunkbears.

Let's hope MSU is dialed in and knocks them down a peg or two. Then MSU gets beat by tOSU. Then tOSU gets beat by Meatchicken.

Then all teams forfeit the rest of the year due to vaginitis.

 

[connor_in]

There just doesn't seem to be enough F@#% Michigan in here...

So...F@#% Michigan

 

[Irish Insanity]

MSU is riddled with injuries especially up front. I could see UM holding them to a single touchdown. All the momentum is with Harbaugh coming into this game

And I believe MSU is supposed to be getting back one of there many injured olineman this week. Which should allow most of them to shuffle back to their original positions.
I'm not leaning one way or another on this one, but I watched the entire MSU vs Rutgers. Rutgers had 2 weeks to prep. Their blitz packages looked good and we're getting home against the depleted MSU oline. But MSU looked very vanilla. They weren't trying to put much out on that tape.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Credit where credit is due. Harbaugh has done a bang up job turning that turd of a team into believers and winners. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop but it hasn't happened yet. Waiting for them to actually play a team with more talent to see how they respond when they go down early.

I was and still am a detractor of Harbaughs, he has had early success at most of his stops but I just don't like the guy (it doesn't help that he went to conceivably the worst university on the planet).

Right now they are riding high and believing, we need to see a team usher in some doubt for the skunkbears.

Let's hope MSU is dialed in and knocks them down a peg or two. Then MSU gets beat by tOSU. Then tOSU gets beat by Meatchicken.

Then all teams forfeit the rest of the year due to vaginitis.

I guess that depends on your definition of success and whether or not you include the NFL. College specifically, I am not sure I would agree with that comment. San Diego was 8-2 the year before he got there, he went 7-4 first year. At Stanford, he won 9 games in his first two years combined, when Harris had won 6 in the previous two years combined. Improved Stanford, but not really something I would call a success.

 

[TomHaverford]

I guess that depends on your definition of success and whether or not you include the NFL. College specifically, I am not sure I would agree with that comment. San Diego was 8-2 the year before he got there, he went 7-4 first year. At Stanford, he won 9 games in his first two years combined, when Harris had won 6 in the previous two years combined. Improved Stanford, but not really something I would call a success.

at Stanford he took over a team that was 1-11 in 2006 and had 9 losses by 17 or more points and 5 losses by 30 or more points. The rebuild job he had to do at Stanford was not easy.

His first year he beat Carroll/USC powerhouse as 42 point dogs in the Coliseum with a 3rd string QB. By year 3 he had them at 8-5, and by his 4th and last year there he had them at 12-1 with a BCS Bowl victory and he built the well-oiled machine that Shaw has just kept in drive.

What that dude did at Stanford is probably the most impressive coaching job I've ever seen. It's STANFORD. Not Florida or Alabama.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Tom, have you started to drink any kool aid after Saturday? You expressed concerns before the game. Anything change?

 

[Buster Bluth]

I guess that depends on your definition of success and whether or not you include the NFL. College specifically, I am not sure I would agree with that comment. San Diego was 8-2 the year before he got there, he went 7-4 first year.

He went 7-4...and then 11-1 and 11-1 to round out his tenure there. Seems like he got his program in place and crushed it.

At Stanford, he won 9 games in his first two years combined, when Harris had won 6 in the previous two years combined. Improved Stanford, but not really something I would call a success.

If Harbaugh's time at Stanford can't be considered a success then I don't know what could be. Stanford was a 1-11 dumpster fire when he arrived and when he left four years later they achieved their highest ranking in seventy years. He built that program's foundation so well that mediocre coach David Shaw was able to win multiple Pac-12 titles in his absence.

2006: 1-11

2007: 4-8
2008: 5-7
2009: 8-5
2010: 12-1

How the hell is that not success?

 

[Grahambo]

I'd take Harbaugh in a second.

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

I'd take Harbaugh in a second.

x2. I love his offense

 

[ulukinatme]

I'd take Harbaugh in a second.

x2. I love his offense

 

[IrishJayhawk]

He went 7-4...and then 11-1 and 11-1 to round out his tenure there. Seems like he got his program in place and crushed it.



If Harbaugh's time at Stanford can't be considered a success then I don't know what could be. Stanford was a 1-11 dumpster fire when he arrived and when he left four years later they achieved their highest ranking in seventy years. He built that program's foundation so well that mediocre coach David Shaw was able to win multiple Pac-12 titles in his absence.

2006: 1-11

2007: 4-8
2008: 5-7
2009: 8-5
2010: 12-1

How the hell is that not success?

Yes.

He's a scary good coach. He's also perfect for college because he's so intense. Kids start to get annoyed by it right when they graduate. NFL players bought in for a few years and then got tired of it.

 

[TomHaverford]

Tom, have you started to drink any kool aid after Saturday? You expressed concerns before the game. Anything change?

Nope. Still concerned about Rudock.

Even if Michigan pulls out a W against a decimated MSU team, Bad Rudock could reappear at any moment and cost them a game in the next 4.

I still doubt they'll beat Ohio State. Ohio State has so much firepower on offense and Michigan just doesn't have the QB. Even if that D holds down the Ohio State offense to like 21-24 pts, do I really trust Rudock to put up 24 or 27 ? Nah.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Tom, what do you think is your toughest game left? Decimated MSU, @ 1 loss PSU, or ending the season at home vs OSU possibly staring the playoffs in the face.

 

[TomHaverford]

Tom, what do you think is your toughest game left? Decimated MSU, @ 1 loss PSU, or ending the season at home vs OSU possibly staring the playoffs in the face.

Ohio State. For sure. At least I think. Cardale is a streaky player but when he's hot, he's on fire. They have a lot of weapons on offense as well. Zeke Elliot, Braxton Miller, Jalin Marshall, Michael Thomas...try to find me one team in the country with 4 weapons that explosive. I don't think you can do it.

MSU might be out 3 starting OL and their top back-up OT Dennis Finley had a nasty leg injury and is out for the year. That's 4 of their top 6 players on the offensive line potentially out. That's tough for any team to deal with. Michigan's defensive front right now is the strength of their entire team, they are playing at a very high level and they have a lot of depth. Cook is a great QB, might be the best in the country, but if he's playing without those guys and good protection he's going to have a long day, as any QB would.

As far as @PSU goes, that OL is going to have a tough time with the Michigan front and Hackenburg is SOOOO overrated. It will be the toughest road test for them since Utah though, and playing on the road is never a sure thing in the B1G.

 

[tussin]

As far as @PSU goes, that OL is going to have a tough time with the Michigan front and Hackenburg is SOOOO overrated. It will be the toughest road test for them since Utah though, and playing on the road is never a sure thing in the B1G.

As someone who is forced to watch every minute of every PSU game, I can confirm that Hackenberg is indeed trash.

 

[ulukinatme]

Won't need to worry about Ruddock much if the defense keeps playing like they do. Depending on which Michigan State shows up I see no reason why Michigan shouldn't carry just the Utah loss going into The Game. tOSU certainly has looked beatable this season. A lot of teams have come out strong against them, but they wilt in the 2nd half as they can't maintain the energy as the talent of the Buckeyes takes over.

 

[phork]

While I see the results on the field I am still unbelieving because the only good team they have played they lost to. NW is a fraud there is nothing impressive about their schedule. The same can be said for UM. I said 9-3 this year because I could coach that team against that schedule and be 9-3.

 

[TomHaverford]

As someone who is forced to watch every minute of every PSU game, I can confirm that Hackenberg is indeed trash.

how did this guy ever get so much publicity in mock drafts and Kipers of the world as a 1st round pick? Just because he's big, tall, and has a strong arm? He's very inaccurate and he doesn't read his progressions that well.

 

[connor_in]

FINALLY, a guy with intestinal fortitude

 

[ND NYC]

There just doesn't seem to be enough F@#% Michigan in here...

So...F@#% Michigan

Bump

 

[TomHaverford]

Yes.

He's a scary good coach. He's also perfect for college because he's so intense. Kids start to get annoyed by it right when they graduate. NFL players bought in for a few years and then got tired of it.

Agree with this 100%.

49ers OL Alex Boone said as much in that HBO Real Sports piece on Harbaugh.

Harbaugh's intensity and brash nature grates on guys making millions a year in the NFL after awhile. In college guys aren't paid millions, they can't go to an owner or GM to air out problems with the coach. In college the coaches are the judge, jury, and executioner. Plus like you said new batch of players every year, total group of new guys every 3-4 years.

 

[koonja]

I told TP that Hackenburg was way overrated his freshman year and he wasn't having it. Another piece of proof to my football genius.

 

[aubeirish]

I told TP that Hackenburg was way overrated his freshman year and he wasn't having it. Another piece of proof to my football genius.