Michigan 52, Minnesota 10

[WingsFan]

Mason Graham was just mauling Minnesota's OL wearing a club on his hand. Mulling was a RB in HS and he knows how to pass block.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Your last 3 game stretch will be interesting.

[Jeff Buchanan]

The neatest thing about that CJ to Loveland TD was how Loveland faked out his coverage making CJ's TD throw to his wide open TE easy. You can't really see how badly schooled two Gopher defenders were in that video. I've seen better replays of the Minnesota D's brain fart on line . It was a "I see what your doing here" or NOT moment. For that play to work like it did takes impeccable timing between the QB and TE. That play was obviously reped during the week of practice before heading to Minneapolis. If the QB experiences the slightest disruption from defenders or the TE's departure from the LOS to the end zone is ill-timed, it's not going to be a completion. Execution was about as perfect as it could be.

These things - the little details than most of us are unware of these being executed perfectly or not - is a big part of why M's offense is so difficult to stop. Execution errors are being reduced to near zero (also see the total lack of pre and post snap penalties).

[Hannibal]

That had ro be the most uncomfortable blowout that I have ever seen. It didn’t feel like a blowout. Our run defense got BTFO’ed repeatedly in the first half, although they did seem to make some good adjustments. Our pass rush is insane though.

In the running game, we didn’t really dominate the LOS. It was more of a stalemate, but the passing game was fantastic. QB and WR is night and day from last year, although drops are a bit of an issue.

Poor Athan took a tremendous beating and he did not handle the pressure well at all.

I am really liking Moore as a playcaller. He has been a great OL coach and the last two weeks especially the opposing DC has been totally befuddled. Last night was a game that Lloyd would have won 24-10. Moore burned Minny repeatedly by exploiting our matchup advantages and the holes in their coverage. The Loveland TD is a perfect example of the type of play that has been sorely lacking for most of the time since Moeller got fired. Orher teams have done that type of thing to us repeatedly (especially OSU).

We’re not an elite team. But we are a solid contender for the national runner up spot. Let’s face it — we’re all playing for the privilege of being Georgia’s birch in the national title game. But I’d be delighted with that result.

[Tslisher]

Now, the expectations from M football fans is a running game that "stands out" and is "spectacular," blocking that is the "best," a quarterback that never "throws behind" a receiver and completes 100% of his passes. Throttling a Minnesota football team in their home stadium is just "a yeoman's performance." Guess what. We're looking at what is likely to become when all is said and done, a generational sports team.

I don't know about you-all, but, this is the best M football team to take the field since I watched my first game in the Big House in 1966. In that time frame, there have been plenty of disappointments but this team does not disappoint. I'm thoroughly enjoying a season of player and coaching staff brilliance if the ascending trend from game 1 to game 6 is an indication of that.

A take-away for me is that in terms of the many objective statistics that measure CFB team's performance M may be a leader, it may be middling or a laggard. Dump those stats in a pot, stir them up and what results is some kind of objective based analysis that just doesn't seem to correctly evaluate this team success so far nor does it adequately identify this team's potential to win an NC this season.

Think about the sports teams that over your lifetime of watching sports were remarkable at what they did - skate, play football or basket ball, kick a soccer ball, whatever - there was something about their championship successes that was not definable by the myriad stats that fans pour over to define performance. Michigan's 2023 season football team, for me, is among those teams. TBF, M has not yet achieved the championships they undoubtedly set as goals but I'm pretty confident that they will.

I agree Jeff. I’ve been watching Michigan football since 1986 (when Harbaugh lost a game to Minnesota in Michigan Stadium as a player). I was at that game as a college freshman. I’ve never seen a team this complete or dominant, not even 1997. Does that mean they will win the Natty, or even the Big Ten? Lots more football to be played before then. But I’m enjoying watching the best team I’ve seen in my 37 years of watching Michigan football.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Yes your runner up team in 97 was pretty good...but 23 is better...

[Mike]

Wiz, if you thought Nebraska’s QB was decent in 1997, just wait until you see him coach!!

[THE_WIZARD_]

I'm hoping he ends up in East Landfill...

[Mike]

Me too!! Haha

[lineygoblue]

Now that's just plain mean ....

[THE_WIZARD_]

I have not even begun to be mean....

[klondike]

Yes your runner up team in 97 was pretty good...but 23 is better...

Missouri should have won

[THE_WIZARD_]

Well in order to win you must outscore the opponent.

Look...your runner-up team in 97 is something to truly be proud of.

[lineygoblue]

And I'm sure that Tom Osborne's retirement watch still looks good today.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Michigan Runner-Up Trophy.jpgProof positive. Now STFU.