<p>This game showed me a few things I was hoping to see last game.</p>
<p>1) Solid OL play
2) Depth at RB
3) Reliable backup QB </p>
<p>In short, Michigan's offense is fine. We still aren't optimal, but the level of play is acceptable.</p>
<p>The Defense still scares me. How are we going to manage against MSU, Iowa, PSU, Wisconsin and OSU?</p>
<p>Yea, defense is dreadful, BUT if you think about it…BGSU barely scored on a 4th down on the 1 yard line, and the RB somehow managed to bounce off that DL and scramble to his right to score on another 4th and goal from the 1. </p>
<p>So, it could’ve very easily been a 65-7 game, but I still that the defense has a lot of work to do before Indiana next week. Indiana will be a test to see how UMich can play in the Big 10, but Wisconsin, OSU, Iowa, and MSU are the really solid teams in the Big 10.</p>
<p>I still feel bad that Forcier got shafted. Hopefully he at least bumped himself up to 2nd string with that 12/12 performance.</p>
<p>^ I agree about forcier and I definitely think he’s better than Devin Gardner but Gardner might be our future (so he should have practice) and Robinson is definitely better.</p>
<p>I do predict trouble in against ALL the big ten teams.</p>
<p>The defense is going to give up a lot of points in Big Ten play. Bowling Green is a horrible team. The only team Notre Dame has beaten this year just lost to Toledo. Indiana and Purdue should get us to Bowl eligibility but both are on the road. Illinois could give us a winning season. Michigan State is a possible eighth. Iowa is a possible upset. Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State will go in the loss category. The game in Columbus could be ugly.</p>
<p>I also like Forcier. He has potential, but he is not a great fit for RR’s offense. Still, this year, he is asafer bet than Devin Gardner. I think RR should give both of them significant playing time.</p>
<p>res ipsa, assuming the defense does not improve, I agree with your assessment. However, I am fairly certain that we will see some, albeit minor, improvements on defense. That will not change the outcome of the season, but I do not think anybody will blow us out this year.</p>
<p>I was at Saturday’s game, here are my observations:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>There is no quarterback controversy. When Robinson is in the game the entire pace and attitude of the offense is different, everyone, the offense, the opposing defense, the fans are all sitting up waiting for something spectacular to happen. Denard is a man among boys; he generated 180+ yards in 9 minutes.</p></li>
<li><p>Gardner may be the future, but Saturday he looked like a freshman; the team played slower and his first few steps when running seem to be in sand; once he gets rolling he’s impressive but he needs some time. I don’t understand why he wasn’t red-shirted - I predict an “injury” red-shirt for him.</p></li>
<li><p>Forcier played great and is clearly a better passer than Denard but a big step down as a runner. As for people worrying about Denard getting hurt, Forcier came up lame on a drop back pass play where he got sacked right after releasing the ball. He gutted it out and got a nice ovation from the crowd. If anything I think his chances of transferring are higher now that he played well.</p></li>
<li><p>Forcier didn’t get shafted, he shafted himself by not coming to the voluntary workouts when the rest of his team was there. Multiple reports said he was way out of shape when training opened. The teammates he didn’t lose in camp he lost with his pouting at the UConn game. I’m glad someone got into his head and got his attitude right because Robinson will get hurt this season and Michigan will need Forcier.</p></li>
<li><p>Assuming they finish something like 7-5 then RR will be back and Greg Robinson will be gone. The defense just seems to be clueless at obvious times, 3rd and long is going to be a pass, there should be no confusion. Whereas the offense clearly knows what it’s supposed to be doing the defense always looks a step behind, that’s Robinson’s fault. </p></li>
<li><p>Barring a collapse back to 5-7, Rich Rod is back. There is huge buzz in town and nationally thanks to Denard, Brandon (the AD) isn’t stupid or crazy enough to fire RR and risk having Denard transfer, (For those of you old enough, the kid is Desmond Howard with an arm. He is a one-of-a-kind athlete).</p></li>
<li><p>I still think Michigan will finish 7-5. There’ll be three wins out of Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue and Illinois. They will lose to Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Penn State, though I could see an upset against PSU.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>And to RR’s credit, it is his style of coaching that brings out the best in athletes such as Denard Robinson. Let us hope he stays healthy, that our RBs start contributing and that our defense improves.</p>