Sooo....

[Veer option]

Just imagine Dan Fox covering Rainey, Demps or Richardson out of the backfield.

I try not to.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Someone laid on the special teams coach for poor performance. Kelly doesn't see it this way. In his phone-in presscon he addressed this. He feels that the special teams problems [that he worries most about] are due to the punk performances so far by individual specialists.

He cited Kyle Brindza for not getting enough distance on the kickoffs, David Ruffer for inconsistency kicking field goals, and poor consistency on long-snapping. He stated that Ben Turk has done better on his last 8 or so kicks [don't hold me to that number, it was something in that range]. These are things that Kelly feels might cost you games.

The business about getting positive yards on punt returns he seems to look upon as a luxury rather than a game determiner as long as you can safely catch the ball. Kelly is different than "we" are in that he worries about doing negative things which end up directly in a loss. He feels that if we can sweep those away, we'll beat the other guys with our better O&D play.

Frankly I agree with the philosophy and that is why I wanted Goodman back there simply catching the ball securely from the beginning. All John has to do to please me, and I'll bet Coach as well, is move his feet fast to get under the punts , grab them, and don't run backwards.

Kelly said that because the special teams problems are dependent on individual specialized talents, the coaching staff can't do much about them except give plenty of reps in practice and hope that the guy does his job on the field.

 

[NDOM]

Now that it's been a few weeks I thought I'd stop back by and see what you think about ND's improvements, and the outlook on the rest of your season. Personally I really only see Standford being a L but the rest of your schedule is very winnable. Are most still pleased with Kelly?

All I know is that we gift wrapped the game for Michigan. That and the fact that Michigan is SEVERELY overrated. If Michigan didn't have 10 home games per year and a tougher schedule they wouldn't be ranked where they are now. Seriously though, how does a team get to have 8 home games every year and only 4 true road games. not to mention the patsies you guys play before conference play starts. But to answer your question, I think if we played you guys again we would win. That is all.

 

[TerryTate]

All I know is that we gift wrapped the game for Michigan. That and the fact that Michigan is SEVERELY overrated. If Michigan didn't have 10 home games per year and a tougher schedule they wouldn't be ranked where they are now. Seriously though, how does a team get to have 8 home games every year and only 4 true road games. not to mention the patsies you guys play before conference play starts. But to answer your question, I think if we played you guys again we would win. That is all.

You must have some good stuff on you.

First pro-ND post I've seen from you in a while

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

You must have some good stuff on you.

First pro-ND post I've seen from you in a while

Shhhhhhhh..... Don't jinx it. He's on a roll.

 

[TerryTate]

Getting poorer by the week.

 

[jakerbluegold]

I'm banking on that. Got a bet with a girl at school and if Michigan finishes with a better record than ND, I'm sporting maize and blue to class for a week.

Teams start to hit their stride about the time the conference schedule starts. I do feel like this Michigan team is vastly overrated. Transplant Denard with another quarterback and this is a 4-5 win team. He's a game-changer in the way Michael Vick was/is.

At East Lansing and at Ames will not be easy games. While I'm not sold on Zook making Illinois a relevant team again, I think they have to at least be respected. Nebraska will be a tough game no matter where they play and I guarantee O$U will get up for Michigan. Especially since that game may decide their eligibility for the bowl season.

You mean Iowa City right? I live in Ames, and haven't heard about the Wolverines coming to town.

 

[Rack Em]

You mean Iowa City right? I live in Ames, and haven't heard about the Wolverines coming to town.

It's all one big blur...

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I, as a football fan...trying to be unbiased, am not sold on Hoke. His record this year, and next, will be inflated because of 1 man, Denard Robinson. He reminds of Charlie Weis. He is going to to win 10 games this, and next year, but when his system is in place, I think there will be a drop off.

Who knows though, I could be wrong. But it seems like it's Denard's unbelievable athleticism that is winning UM games, not Brady Hoke's coaching

 

[phork]

Big10 season starts, the damage will be done. MSU is going to kill them. If Denard starts tossing up those ducks like he did against us, it will get ugly early. As a previous poster noted, 5 straight home games to start the year, 8 home games all told.

I love how UM fans jump all over us for scheduling AF, Navy & Army. Lo and behold, they have added AirForce next year. Much like last year when the competition gets tough, they will fold. All of their defensive revampment talk against who? E & W Michigan. SDSU, Minnesota? Come on now. And I keep hearing them say that W. Michigan is a legit team, heh guys cluepon for ya.. They are a legit team in the Mac. They beat us, that is true and givem their due, we couldn't finish it. But I would love for nothing more than a UM trip to New Orleans or some other BCS bowl and get the crap stomped out of them. Silencing all their calls of WE'RE BACK!
You are better, you are not back.

 

[Old Man Mike]

As long as The Denard can stay physically optimum, Michigan will be difficult to beat by Big Ten teams [who are slower at almost every defensive position than we are]. BUT, last year they started to "break him up" and Michigan went down the drain. When will this happen this year? THAT will tell you when their record goes south.

I don't believe that I've ever seen a team so dependent upon one player for its success. Michigan has many good players, but The Denard bends everything that the opponent tries to do defensively out-of-shape and does so purely by himself. Kind of astonishing really.

 

[phork]

As long as The Denard can stay physically optimum, Michigan will be difficult to beat by Big Ten teams [who are slower at almost every defensive position than we are]. BUT, last year they started to "break him up" and Michigan went down the drain. When will this happen this year? THAT will tell you when their record goes south.

I don't believe that I've ever seen a team so dependent upon one player for its success. Michigan has many good players, but The Denard bends everything that the opponent tries to do defensively out-of-shape and does so purely by himself. Kind of astonishing really.

It is true. I don't think he more encapsulates Heisman more than anyone else. Stats aside, its like PANIC mode every time the play breaks down or he starts running. Nice kid as well.

 

[Dizzyphil]

UM will get hammered again in their bowl this year, it will be inevitable. They will finish 2nd or 3rd depending how they do against Sparty. Wisconsin will be number one and Nebraska will factor in. Michigan is on a path to get number 2 or 3 out of the SEC and I don't think UM can beat any of the SEC teams down to #5 which I think will be #1 LSU, #1 Alabama (hard to pick right now), #3 Florida, #4 South Carolina, #5 Arkansas.

Although, I wouldn't want to play any of these teams right now either. Time will tell for the rest of the year how good the Irish could compete against them.


Diz

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Seriously though, how does a team get to have 8 home games every year and only 4 true road games.

Didn't we have only 4 away games last year? Granted our schedule is way harder, but we choose it that way. It's not scUM's fault the Big 10 sucks this year.

 

[phgreek]

I don't know, the more I look at it the more cupcake I feel our schedule is. Iowa doesn't look great, Northwestern (w/o Persa) is suspect, Nebraska and msu we should be underdogs for but not unwinnable. And who know's what's up with osu, they get the rest of their roster back next game so they'll be better.

...I respect Michigan, but honestly, your schedule is as much cupcake as your depth allows it to be...

I haven't been watching all that close, but my perception is you need Robinson to be 100% all year, and your d-backs are pretty much the same. They all stay healthy, and sure, you may have some easy wins...some injuries and nothing is a given for you...