Michigan 52, Rutgers 17 Post Game Discussion

[klondike]

Working to at least make this game interesting. Some stats and other takes:

• Rutgers isn't good on offense but on defense they are ranked 16th in limiting big plays (over 10 yards). 19th in run defense allowing 108.13 ypg. 21st in pass defense (187.1).
• Schiano's disciplined defense held M to 20 points in Ann Arbor in 2021
• Is Harbaugh going to green-light deep balls? No. Rutgers is one of 12 teams to have not relinquished a 50-plus yard passing play this year, allowing only 2 over 40 (tied for 5th).
• Schiano will make McCarthy beat them underneath. He'll play some version of a soft at the corners C-2 (limit big plays) with weird S/LB assignments to get numbers in the box.
• Schoonmaker is going to be the leading receiver. The screen game will be there.
• Michigan probably won’t deviate from its “slow bleed” formula, and it shouldn’t.
• Your eyes are likely to bleed watching this game. If you enjoy the sight of a python squeezing it's prey before the thing eats it, well, you might like watching

Really. They only allow 287 yards a game. Sounds like a great defense.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Yeah, that sounded strange but it's accurate. #13 in total defense averaging 295.2/g. I don't think that includes the most recent drilling by the Gophers.

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/22

[Hannibal]

They are really good on defense and attrocious on offense. Pretty similar to Iowa on both sides of the ball.

This will be one of those games where 8 years from now, you won't remember anything about it. Like the 2018 Rutgers game -- I can't remember a damn thing about that game. I couldn't tell you who scored a touchdown or anything.

[klondike]

They are really good on defense and attrocious on offense. Pretty similar to Iowa on both sides of the ball.

This will be one of those games where 8 years from now, you won't remember anything about it. Like the 2018 Rutgers game -- I can't remember a damn thing about that game. I couldn't tell you who scored a touchdown or anything.

There's no UM vs. RU games I remember cept. The 77-0 and the Brady Hoke fiasco one he lost in multiple OT.

[klondike]

Yeah, that sounded strange but it's accurate. #13 in total defense averaging 295.2/g. I don't think that includes the most recent drilling by the Gophers.

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/22

I do remember they are very pesky with Schiano deploying his lineman to twist and stunt and fill gaps very well. It's hard for lineman to pick up man on man. Zone wasn't easier either. UM really hasn't had a bad game running yet. Some mediocre efforts but no stinkers. I hope this isn't one.

[THE_WIZARD_]

They are so bad on offense that UNL shut them out for 3+ Quarters...@Rutgers.

HARBAUGH!!!!!!! 45 Ruts-gers 0

[Jeff Buchanan]

PJ Fleck always appears like he's taken a daily dose of Adderall. He drives me nuts when I watch him coach on the sidelines or give interviews - calm the fuck down and speak slowly.

Anyway he seems to have an affinity for getting good lineman, running backs and coaching them up. I don't think M is any worse running the ball that the Gophers. Minnesota ran for 253 yards at a 4.3 ypc clip (good but not great). M's numbers are not that different (253 ypg, at a 5.7 ypc clip). M has more chunk plays than Minny. For teams that crowd the box keeping 1 S deep v. M they got gashed. More conventional defenses tend to be more effective v. M's run game ..... Schiano knows this.

I would be shocked if Harbaugh and the offensive brain trust dialed up a heavy dose of passing. Danger lurks in turnovers against a team whose offense sucks, can't drive the field and needs highs variance events and a short filed to stay in a game v. M. Why do that when you're MO is to cram the ball up the opponent's ass with 13+ play drives that feature little if any passing and a strong run game. Given Rutger's beleaguered offense, the defense is on the field a lot. You can see 4th quarter stats in the Minnesota game were substantially in favor of Minny in the 4th quarter. The Gopher's wore the Rutger's D to dust. M can and should play it that way too.

[AlabamAlum]

Rutgers total D is okay. Their scoring D isn’t in the top 40.

[Tom W]

I like Michigan's chances in this game.

[lineygoblue]

I think Michigan is going to be one pissed off football team and Rutgers is in the wrong spot on the schedule.

I'm more concerned about Illinois.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Bert will be a challenge. They play tough D. Hard to see Bert scoring a lot though.

[Hannibal]

There's no UM vs. RU games I remember cept. The 77-0 and the Brady Hoke fiasco one he lost in multiple OT.

I remember 2020 and 2021 -- for the wrong reasons, of course.

[iam416]

Rutgers is bad. I can't believe this is up for debate. They're not as bad as Indiana, but that's a low bar. They're basically Iowa with MAYBE a slightly better offense and a much worse defense. In fact, the Rutgers-Iowa game probably should have been roughly 13-10.

[Hannibal]

What debate? I see a consensus that UM will win pretty easily in a game that won't be a ton of fun to watch. Unless they have a big hangover from last weekend, which could very well happen.

[iam416]

It won't be "fun" to watch only if you don't like watching a standard HARBAUGH!!!!!! gruesomely mauls his opponent to death. Yeah, you don't have Marvin Harrison. So what. You have Corum and Edwards and they'll run for 300+ yards and Rutgers will have zero chance of scoring on anything othe than fluke play.

It's standard M football under HARBAUGH!!!! I would imagine that, after a 20-2 run, it would be enjoyable for you people.