Sep 7 | Michigan

[Riddickulous]

Not arguing your point about his freshman season production or that Michigan has limited offensive weapons, but Funchess is a stud. He could be the best TE we face all year and he's going to present some matchup issues for our LBs and secondary. Whether or not Gardner and the Michigan offense can take advantage of it is another story.

Funchess was a complete non-factor all year against quality competition. In Michigan's five losses last season, he had a combined 3 catches for 15 yards with no touchdowns.

 

[NDWorld247]

Funchess was a complete non-factor all year against quality competition. In Michigan's five losses last season, he had a combined 3 catches for 15 yards with no touchdowns.

How'd Eifert do his freshman year? What about Kyle Rudolph? Like I said, I'm not arguing his freshman year production, but he's a stud who, IMO, will take a giant leap this year for Michigan.

 

[BGIF]

How'd Eifert do his freshman year? What about Kyle Rudolph? Like I said, I'm not arguing his freshman year production, but he's a stud who, IMO, will take a giant leap this year for Michigan.

Eifert played in his freshman opening game and DNP the rest of the season. He had problems with a HS back injury and their was concern the injury might be career ending.

Rudolph was the first player in ND history to start at TE as a true freshman. He rewrote the record book for freshman TE.

 

[NDWorld247]

Eifert played in his freshman opening game and DNP the rest of the season. He had problems with a HS back injury and their was concern the injury might be career ending.

Rudolph was the first player in ND history to start at TE as a true freshman. He rewrote the record book for freshman TE.

Rudolph was a complete non-factor all year against quality competition (i.e. ranked opponents). In games against ranked opponents, he had a combined 3 catches for 33 yards with no touchdowns.

See how Riddickulous (pun intended) that sounds?

Funchess made several freshmen All-American teams and is on track to be one of the best TEs in the country (probably not this year, but by 2014 he will be considered a top 5 TE nationally). Do we play a better TE this year? Off the top of my head, we don't. That was my point.

p.s. Rudolph and Funchess had very comparable freshman campaigns. Rudolph led in receptions (29 vs. 15) and yards (340 vs. 234) while Funchess led in TDs (5 vs. 2) and YPC (15.4 vs. 11.7). Not to mention Rudolph played in a more productive passing offense under Weis/Clausen than Funchess did last season.

 

[Riddickulous]

Rudolph was a complete non-factor all year against quality competition (i.e. ranked opponents). In games against ranked opponents, he had a combined 3 catches for 33 yards with no touchdowns.

See how Riddickulous (pun intended) that sounds?

Funchess made several freshmen All-American teams and is on track to be one of the best TEs in the country (probably not this year, but by 2014 he will be considered a top 5 TE nationally). Do we play a better TE this year? Off the top of my head, we don't. That was my point.

p.s. Rudolph and Funchess had very comparable freshman campaigns. Rudolph led in receptions (29 vs. 15) and yards (340 vs. 234) while Funchess led in TDs (5 vs. 2) and YPC (15.4 vs. 11.7). Not to mention Rudolph played in a more productive passing offense under Weis/Clausen than Funchess did last season.

This is a better argument than mine. I cede victory.

 

[Irish Fam]

Anybody going to be in Ann Arbor with me?

I'll be there bro. And i will be meeting up with NDinLA for some pre game shinanigans.

I'll be there as well.

Far from sober by kick off though

 

[IrishLax]

I'm reading some of the articles on the Michigan sites and their blind faith is troubling... because it seems ludicrous, and I wonder if that's how we sound talking up Rees/etc.

The bottom line is that they truly believe their WR core (which on the surface seems truly terrible compared to teams with actual good receiving corps, much less a USC) has 5 legitimate playmakers on it that are about to light it up. Dileo is meh, Norfleet has never played the position, Gallon is OK, Chesson was lowly rated with bad offers and hasn't done anything but maybe he is a sleeper?, and Darboh is a guy we passed on but is pretty darn athletic and could be good. So 2 WRs that are projected UDFA in the NFL, one who has never played WR before, and 2 who haven't shown anything yet. And Lorenz really just penned an article about how awesome they are going to be and how excited he is.

Maybe this is the time of year everyone drinks the Kool-Aid. But if these guys are actually good then I'm a bit worried for this game. I've been counting on them sucking. The other thing that worries me is Michigan potentially running some offense we have zero tape on and are unprepared for. I have no idea what direction Borges is taking this offense.

On Funchess... he's good. Really soft hands and can make some circus grabs. He's basically an early Eifert right now and could be a star if he continues to develop. His blocking isn't superb, and he's their only player worth half a crap at the position. But don't doubt him.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I'm reading some of the articles on the Michigan sites and their blind faith is troubling... because it seems ludicrous, and I wonder if that's how we sound talking up Rees/etc.

The bottom line is that they truly believe their WR core (which on the surface seems truly terrible compared to teams with actual good receiving corps, much less a USC) has 5 legitimate playmakers on it that are about to light it up. Dileo is meh, Norfleet has never played the position, Gallon is OK, Chesson was lowly rated with bad offers and hasn't done anything but maybe he is a sleeper?, and Darboh is a guy we passed on but is pretty darn athletic and could be good. So 2 WRs that are projected UDFA in the NFL, one who has never played WR before, and 2 who haven't shown anything yet. And Lorenz really just penned an article about how awesome they are going to be and how excited he is.

I think we probably do. Some of the talk about guys like Prosise, Brown, and Cam would likely have them rolling.

That said, one probably could have said the same thing about Golden Tate ("all he can do is run go routes") before he broke out.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Maybe this is the time of year everyone drinks the Kool-Aid. But if these guys are actually good then I'm a bit worried for this game. I've been counting on them sucking. The other thing that worries me is Michigan potentially running some offense we have zero tape on and are unprepared for. I have no idea what direction Borges is taking this offense.

The potential is there, and I'm glad we're not playing them late in the year. But Michigan has a ton of question marks on offense. The odds of enough guys stepping up and the whole unit gelling by week 2 are very poor, imo.

 

[T Town Tommy]

The potential is there, and I'm glad we're not playing them late in the year. But Michigan has a ton of question marks on offense. The odds of enough guys stepping up and the whole unit gelling by week 2 are very poor, imo.

Agree. Borges probably tipped his hand the last five games when DR went down. With a less mobile QB now - but still capable of making a few yards - I would expect him to throw more. The fact that their OL is filling three spots may hurt the passing game however. I don't know if the Wolverines can run effectively - they didn't last year with an exp. OL - so their passing game may suffer somewhat. And no way do they gel by week two AND play one of the best DLs in the country to a draw. Ain't happening.

 

[ACamp1900]

Some of the stuff written about Rees, Cam and others is laughable... But they can win us games... Same exact thing for many of UMs players...

This will be a battle,... As always

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Some of the stuff written about Rees, Cam and others is laughable... But they can win us games... Same exact thing for many of UMs players...

This will be a battle,... As always

Agree

 

[loomis41973]

Anybody going to be in Ann Arbor with me?

I will be there with my wonderful wife and a few guests..

 

[phork]

I'm calling the beat down now. Put it in stone. We win by atleast 2 TDs.

 

[WestCoast]

I will be there with my wonderful wife and a few guests..

next time try going with your wonderful guests and a few wives....

 

[Buster Bluth]

next time try going with your wonderful guests and a few wives....

in before the BYU game referencee

 

[ThePiombino]

in before the BYU game referencee

Damnit!

 

[dudexcore]

I really, really hate Michigan. That is all.

 

[dshans]

I really, really hate Michigan. That is all.

Don't hold it in ...

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/m560M4Kf4yo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[A2forND]

I see that damn block M everywhere. I respect the school, but HATE their athletics. Kelly will have them fired up for this one...looking forward to him shoving their night game up their A**

You should have heard them after the last night game in Ann Arbor...

Btw....I'm thinking GameDay will be in town for this one? Last year they were by the clock tower I believe...

 

[Irish Insanity]

**** Michigan. That is all.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Hoke told <a href="https://twitter.com/michiganinsider">@michiganinsider</a> the whole day Saturday was set up to simulate the Notre Dame game, w/2 walkthroughs, etc.</p>— Mark Snyder (@Mark__Snyder) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark__Snyder/statuses/369440168282824704">August 19, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[greyhammer90]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Hoke told <a href="https://twitter.com/michiganinsider">@michiganinsider</a> the whole day Saturday was set up to simulate the Notre Dame game, w/2 walkthroughs, etc.</p>— Mark Snyder (@Mark__Snyder) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark__Snyder/statuses/369440168282824704">August 19, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Oh they want it bad.

 

[gkIrish]

Oh they want it bad.

Naaa they just scared

 

[TheRealLynch51]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Hoke told <a href="https://twitter.com/michiganinsider">@michiganinsider</a> the whole day Saturday was set up to simulate the Notre Dame game, w/2 walkthroughs, etc.</p>— Mark Snyder (@Mark__Snyder) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark__Snyder/statuses/369440168282824704">August 19, 2013</a></blockquote>
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This REEKS of desperation!

 

[Buster Bluth]

This REEKS of desperation!

....and preparedness.

 

[dublinirish]

i hope Hoke had a dumptruck driven full speed right at their OL cos thats only way to simulate Irish Chocolate

 

[ClausentoTate]

I'm just praying we don't pull a Nebraska @ A&M and question if they have tradition/how loud they can get. I've never seen a comment backfire as much as that did.

 

[TheRealLynch51]

....and preparedness.

Doesn't matter how much they prepare. If we go out and dominate the trenches, like we should, their gameplan will be meaningless.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Hoke told <a href="https://twitter.com/michiganinsider">@michiganinsider</a> the whole day Saturday was set up to simulate the Notre Dame game, w/2 walkthroughs, etc.</p>— Mark Snyder (@Mark__Snyder) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark__Snyder/statuses/369440168282824704">August 19, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Very strange. Why waste time preparing for ND when they should be looking ahead to Minnesota? After all, the B1G title is all that matters. AMIRITE?

Doesn't matter how much they prepare. If we go out and dominate the trenches, like we should, their gameplan will be meaningless.

Why do you think our OL is going to dominate their front seven? We only averaged 3 yards/ carry against them in 2012.