Michigan 31 Wisconsin (10)....17 - Post Game Thread

[lineygoblue]

The Wolverines are a very good team, and with this we won’t have to listen to Liney sandbag for the rest of the year. At least something positive will come outta today.

First of all, I haven't been sandbagging. I sandbag as much as you do. And I said I'd "let up" if Michigan won today, and I will do that.

This was a close game until Mertz and Ferguson left the game. Had they played the entire contest, this would have been much closer, and possibly a Wisconsin win. Mertz had found his stride. His replacement was directly responsible for 21 of Michigan's points. That's enough to swing the final score.

I feel a bit better about Michigan's chances going into Lincoln next week. The defense did a great job today, but the offense still ran tackle to tackle way too much for my liking. At Nebraska, M will face a dual threat QB who can hurt them. He won't stand there for target practice like today's opposition did.

But, hats off to the boys. They did what they had to do. Good win in a tough venue. Excellent performance by the defense, .. but the offense needs to improve in the running game.

I thought the Fox broadcast team was heading for a funeral at the end. With Wisconsin losing, you'd have thought they were going to a funeral for a dear friend.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Despite having to follow this game on a game tracker and listening to Brandstatter - awful - this is a huge win for Michigan and Harbaugh. Noteworthy it's M's first win in Madison since 2001. It's a significant road win for JH. Two monkeys of their back.

It wasn't perfect, pretty close, but what I liked was McDonald's defensive game plan, well, except for the last 32 seconds of the first half in prevent (part of the imperfect). That NEVER goes well in the college game. Besides that it was a great pressure scheme that sure as hell, and as expected, tormented Both Mertz and Wolf. Pass D didn't suffer as from listening and not seeing, M never brought more than 5 and rarely had to do that. There pressure was probably under 4.5 rushers per run play. The Badgers rushed for 43 yards on 32 attempts at 1.6 ypg. That's domination up front against a very good OL.

The offensive play calling was very good minus what I thought was conceptually a run game plan that played into what Jim Leonard does. Stuff LBs into gaps between the OTs as the play unfolds. Anything M was doing pre-snap then with blocking schemes wasn't throwing the LBs off their game at all. I think the longest run from scrimmage was 7y. Nobody was getting to the edge and opposing DC's have got these plays shut down. A lot of that has to do with two probably All American LBs on Wisconsins D roster. It was the same running on the edges or short outs there. Just wasn't happeing for the same reason.

I'll wait for the the UFR but the RO and RPOs were called. Success rate, I just don't know. Surprisingly, M ran 70 plays for 365 total yards at 4.93ypp. Passing game was 18/30/1 (INT in garbage time with 4th string guy at QB.) Rushed for 112 - the most given up by a Jim Leonard D in a while. My only nit is that the passing play-calls were there but either Cade missed or catchable throws dropped. Those misses prevented the dagger from being placed in the first half and probably allowed Leonard to disregard that threat and play straight up.

Highlight of this game for me was after giving up 10 points to the Badgers and momentum in the waning minutes of the 1st, M came out in the 3rd, stoned Wisconsin forcing a 3 and out and proceeded to mount an 11 play TD ending drive to go up 20-10. Next the pressure D sacked Mertz out of the game and harassed his reliever Chase Wolf into an INT. Very different player character on this team is contributing to its success. They want to win and are making big plays on botgh sides of the ball.

Wisconsin just isn't a complete team but I'm not going to take anything away from M. IMO, this was the most complete win in the Harbaugh era.

[AlabamAlum]

Liney, you swore a bloodoath to not sandbag for the rest of the year. I expect you to honor your oath!

[Mike]

Great win! Go Blue!

[klondike]

Nice win but not overly impressed. Not sure what the opposition was and is. Then missing 2 key players. But at least Michigan didn't screw the pooch and did what they had too to win. I think the BGT will see a lot of head scratching games this year. So take a win on the road and run with it.

[WM Wolverine]

Quite impressed with the defense, save for the TD to end the half where you've to allow anything in front of the end zone and nothing in. Very different game plan than Rutgers as McDonald brought pressure unpredictably and made Mertz/Wolf throw tough passes.

[THE_WIZARD_]

HARBAUGH!!! will beat FROSTY!!! like a Grand Canyon mule next week.

[AlabamAlum]

Nice win but not overly impressed. Not sure what the opposition was and is. Then missing 2 key players. But at least Michigan didn't screw the pooch and did what they had too to win. I think the BGT will see a lot of head scratching games this year. So take a win on the road and run with it.

You beat Wisconsin in Madison by three scores. That, sir, is an impressive win.

Go Blue! AA Club Supports You!

[WM Wolverine]

M beat a 1-3 team, hurray. Then @Nebraska, bye week, Northwestern then @ Sparty's dump. Backloaded schedule it appears.

[THE_WIZARD_]

HARBAUGH!!! vs. THE NICK!! for the National Championship!! Sounds like a damn monster movie...

[AlabamAlum]

M beat a 1-3 team, hurray. Then @Nebraska, bye week, Northwestern then @ Sparty's dump. Backloaded schedule it appears.

M beat a team that was1-2, but the closing line had the Badgers favored and many agreed with it. Winning a conference away game against Wisconsin doesn’t need to be Pooh-poohed. It was a good win and you took the lead and never gave it up.

[THE_WIZARD_]

We will refer to it as THE SANDBAG BOWL. The amount of sandbaggery that week will set all time records...

[lineygoblue]

The 2021 team is going to go as far as the defense takes them.

The offense is still to predictable and too focused on inside running. The Wisconsin player #41, I believe it was .. he must have had 4 unassisted tackles on Haskins, where all he did was line up on the outside shoulder of the LT, and bullrushed Haskins. He had at least 3 TFL's doing that. Gattisbaugh never adjusted for that.

On the good side, I thought JJ showed a lot of promise. That last TD he threw hit the guy right in stride and had a great touch on it. Well done, and the future is bright at the QB spot, IMO. As long as we can keep him away from the NFL that is

[klondike]

It really doesnt matter as UM is miles behind the scarlet crew. Up 45-6 at half time. Over 400 yards. Do you see. Do you understand. It's all for nought. We can squeak out win after win but will still get annhilated in the big game.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Make sure you have a pasteis de belem while you're in Lisbon, Jeff. They're really good.

Had several. Had no clue until our guide said they are the toast of the town and loved by locals. We walked passed a bakery which he quickly said, Oh, this is the best place for pasteis de belem also, similarly, pastel de nata. We stopped. Delicious.