Michigan 24, Michigan State 17

[maxreturn]

Is M capable of throwing downfield and giving their WRs an opportunity to contest for a catch? With how opposing defenses are playing them, those 1 on 1 opportunities are there for the taking.

If only we had a QB that could hit the broad side of a barn.

[Cody_Russell]

Yeah opposing teams still don’t respect this passing attack whatsoever. A run on 3rd & long can work for the Detroit Lions when they have a top tier OLine, physical culture/ toughness, and the threat of a passing game. Not for Michigan this season.

Generally curious to see what would happen if M starts chucking the ball downfield. Eh, probably Warren INTs. We’re screwed…

[lineygoblue]

Its painful watching the contrast between the team last year and this stuff we have in '24.

Last year was excellence in every part of the game.

This year its like these guys didn't know they had a game tonight.

[JRB]

24-17 is your final, as Michigan wins another ugly, chippy game against Michigan State. There were positive signs here-- Davis Warren was reasonably accurate, Michigan committed no turnovers or penalties, and they schemed up enough of a ground game with Alex Orji to hold on.The defense gave up far too much on the ground, but kept the game in front of them for the most part. This is the sort of improvement you'd have liked to see three or four games ago, but at least we saw it. We know this team can play a clean game now. They're still likely to finish 6-6, but if they can keep playing clean, they can give themselves the chance to pull an upset down the stretch.

[Mike]

I AM VERY HAPPY!

[Hannibal]

I went to my niece's wedding today. Missed the game. Followed the updates/scores from my phone. From what I followed it sounds like a bronze figurine of a guy in a wheelchair would be a more fitting trophy than Paul Bunyan.

Anywho -- hooray for escaping from the MSU game for another year without a really shitty result. I hate losing to those assholes.

[Hannibal]

We can beat NW to get to 6-6. Hooray for bowl eligibility! I guess that a victory over the mighty Indiana Hoosiers is going to have to wait for another day though.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Didn't watch ...... from what I learned from quick phone checks, glad I didn't. I'm not used to cheering the team on for bowl eligibility. Sad,really.

[Cody_Russell]

It was a good game. Some progress in the right direction. Expected to see this type of performance last week vs Illinois after the bye week.

Quick thoughts:
- MSU dominated the 1st Q on two lengthy possessions. M was lucky that MSU came away with zero points on the opening possession. This quarter also involved the M 3 & out where Warren missed a wide open Loveland.
- M settled in after that. As I said prior to the game, turnover margin would be the determining factor. M won that 1-0 and it led to a gifted 3 points that perhaps affected the game script later on.
- M zero penalties. Huh, didn’t even realize until now. Noteworthy …
- Warren and the passing game looked as expected for the longest time. Then it all clicked during a 2-minute drill prior to halftime. Perhaps better as the game went on. I was complaining early in the game because MSU was egregiously putting everyone in the box as anyone should. The only way to counter that defense is opening up the passing game. It improved as the game went on.
- M defense was solid. Still not a fan of Wink’s all-out blitz on 3rd down. Not when you have Stewart… he’s going to be a problem for Ohio State’s 3rd string LT.
- Perhaps some signs of life with Kirk Campbell. From one of the worst OCs I’ve seen to maybe he can call a few good plays a game… woohoo.
- Big fight at the end of the game due to Loveland starting something with a MSU defender.

Go Blue!
Little Caesar’s Crazy Bread Fantastic Bowl here they go.

[lineygoblue]

There was some good efforts in the game. The zero penalties was a good one. And they won this game in spite of being outgained.

There was a real gut-check time at the end when they turned away Sparty's last effort. And Warren didn't turn the ball over at all. That was a surprise.

I think using both Orji and Warren for THIS game was a decent strategy. Orji's pickup of 2 first downs at the end was good to see.

And there were some other innovative offensive plays for M. The Edwards pass was good. The TD where they ran Orji (?) off the right side into the endzone looked like a play from last year. Everybody got their block, and Sparty could only watch. Nice to see that they still know how to do that.

We get to keep Mr. Bunyan. And bowl eligibility with its 15 extra practices will be helpful heading into next season. Got to find a QB.