Maize n Brew - Saturday Football ThreadA Michigan Wolverine communityhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49241/mb-fv.png2012-10-13T17:51:36-05:00http://www.maizenbrew.com/rss/stream/32624372012-10-13T17:51:36-05:002012-10-13T17:51:36-05:00Michigan Dominates Illinois
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<figcaption>Gregory Shamus - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>It got ugly, yo.</p> <p>There isn't much to say about this game. Michigan came out from the beginning and took it to Illinois in just about every facet of the game. Coming into the game it wasn't considered much of a matchup, and that proved to be true as Michigan coasted to an easy victory. </p>
<p>We didn't learn much, but the wreckage left behind is spectacular.</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76856/denard-robinson">Denard Robinson</a> may have gotten dinged up, but otherwise he was right on all afternoon. He finished the game completing 7/11 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns while running for 128 yards on 11 carries (11.6 ypc) and adding another pair of touchdowns. He is <i>on.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">The defense is playing at as high a level as it has in a long, long time. Today Illinois was held to 133 total yards, couldn't crack 30 yards passing, and put up a measly 2.8 yards per rush. Michigan dictated things all game and Illinois never got closer than it did to miss a long field goal. What can I say about Mattison that hasn't already been said.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">If you want a big reason the defense was able to put that kind of effort forward, look no further than Jake Ryan, who spent the entire game causing problems for Illinois. His final line: 11 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. For anyone asking how good he <i>could be</i>, I'd simply say: he's there.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76863/fitzgerald-toussaint">Fitzgerald Toussaint</a> didn't have the kind of breakout game many wanted, but he didn't see a lot of clean holes to run through. Both <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134813/thomas-rawls">Thomas Rawls</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134806/justice-hayes">Justice Hayes</a> got some snaps as the game wore on, and all three finished with over 60 yards.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">No Michigan receiver caught more than one pass.</span></li>
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<div>Michigan has Michigan State coming to town next week, and a win in that one would go a long way towards putting the Wolverines out front for the division title. With the way the team is playing now (and Michigan State's disappointing performances of the past two weeks) it seems that Michigan could even enter the game as a favorite. We've come a long way.</div>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2012/10/13/3499278/instant-analysis-michigan-45-illinois-0Zach Travis2012-10-13T16:09:13-05:002012-10-13T16:09:13-05:00Halftime Report: Michigan 17 - Illinois 0
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<figcaption>Leon Halip - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>So far it has been mostly all Michigan.</p> <p>The beginning of the game went just as planned as Michigan held Illinois from its side of the field then turned around and put together a long scoring strike to take a quick lead.</p>
<p>At one point <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76856/denard-robinson">Denard Robinson</a> was 3/3 for 110 yards and a touchdown, including a nice throw to Roundtree to set Michigan up in the red zone. However, Robinson banged his hand leading to a pinky injury on his throwing hand and things stalled -- first with a field goal on that drive, then a three and out.</p>
<p>Robinson returned midway through the second and led the Wolverines on another long scoring drive to take a 17-0 lead into halftime.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the defense has pretty much controlled every Illinois drive. The Illini have yet to seriously threaten to score, and quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75932/nathan-scheelhaase">Nathan Scheelhaase</a> is also out of the game with an injury.</p>
<p>Bullets:</p>
<p> </p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Four different running backs have taken handoffs thus far. Surprisingly, one of them was not VIncent Smith. Both <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159538/dennis-norfleet">Dennis Norfleet</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134806/justice-hayes">Justice Hayes</a> have gotten chances. Toussaint has eight carries for 30 yards and has yet to really see a clean hole through which to run. Rawls hasn't done much either.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">There have been a couple key drops so far, but Michigan's passing game has kept pace with the run game (119 yards for both).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Jake Ryan is all over the field. Kid is a beast.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Illinois has just 25 yards passing, but that is probably equal parts Michigan being on its game and Illinois being awful.</span></li>
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<p>If Robinson doesn't go down with the pinky injury, this one is probably much more out of hand. If Illinois can't find a way to score quick, this one should be wrapped up by the end of the next quarter.</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/football/2012/10/13/3498938/halftime-reaction-michigan-17-illinois-0Zach Travis2012-10-13T14:00:48-05:002012-10-13T14:00:48-05:00UM vs. Ill Game Thread
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<figcaption>Dave Reginek - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Beat the Illini.</p> <p>The weather won't be <a target="_blank" href="http://www.weather.com/weather/right-now/48109">great</a>, but a win keeps Michigan undefeated in the conference and at home.</p>
<p>Go Blue!</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/football/2012/10/13/3498374/michigan-vs-illinois-game-threadZach Travis2012-10-13T06:49:40-05:002012-10-13T06:49:40-05:00Saturday Football Primer
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<figcaption>Bradley Leeb-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>Getting you ready for the days games.</p> <p><b>The Game: #25 Michigan (3-2, 2-0) vs. Illinois (2-4, 0-2)</b></p>
<p><b>The Broadcast: ABC, 3:30pm</b></p>
<p><b>The Line: Michigan -21</b></p>
<p><b>The Weather: Mid to low 50's, showers</b></p>
<p>Previews: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.maizenbrew.com/2012/10/10/3478092/michigan-illinois-robinson-toussaint-scheelhaase-buchanan-brown-ryan-kovacs">Maize n Brew</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://mgoblog.com/content/preview-illinois-2012">Mgoblog</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.burgeoningwolverinestar.com/2012/10/preview-terrible-illinois-2012.html">Burgeoning Wolverine Star</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://michiganzone.blogspot.com/2012/10/know-your-foe-illinois-2012.html">MZone (Know Your Foe)</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://holdintherope.blogspot.com/2012/10/who-are-you-and-why-do-we-care-illinois.html">Who Are You and Why Do We Care</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://alioneye.com/2012/10/13/soc-michigan-2/">A Lion Eye (Mostly depressed rambling)</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2012/10/preview-michigan-vs-illinois.html">Touch the Banner</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.maizenbrew.com/2012/10/11/3487240/michigan-illinois-jones-mallory-deshone-kizer-fritts-gelen-robinson-hayes-doles-nathaniel-devers">Visitor List</a> (MnB), <a target="_blank" href="http://www.michigantremendous.com/2012/10/illinois-vs-michigan-preview.html">Tremendous</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/10/12/3493658/college-football-tv-schedule-week-7-2012-red-river-shootout">Full Game Schedule</a></p>
<p>Best of the day:</p>
<p>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2012/10/12/3492902/heres-the-thing-michigan-state">Noon ET, Iowa 3-2 at Michigan State 4-2 ESPN</a></p>
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<p>(4) I love <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/47760/james-vandenberg" class="sbn-auto-link">James Vandenberg</a> as a player and a person, and anyone calling for his benching should probably just become a Nebraska fan already, but holy hell has he been a horrible road quarterback. Vandenberg has now started six true road games with a record of 1-5, a 57.5% completion percentage, exactly one game with more than 20 completions, and a pass efficiency rating of 121.3, which would be good for 97th in the nation this season. Of course, that 121.3 rating would place him ahead of 2012 James Vandenberg, who has racked up a 113.0 rating. Only three full-time quarterbacks at BCS-conference programs have been worse this season. By way of comparison, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36219/steele-jantz" class="sbn-auto-link">Steele Jantz</a> has a 127.3 rating this year.</p>
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<p>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.onefootdown.com/2012/10/12/3492852/q-a-with-rule-of-tree">3:30 p.m. ET 17 Stanford 4-1 at 7 Notre Dame 5-0 NBC</a></p>
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<p>5. GameDay is coming to South Bend! If you were in the crowd, what would your sign say?</p>
<p>The Stepfan Taylor 4 Heisman Runner-Up campaign hit a bit of a snag against Washington, so how 'bout this: "You've got luck, but we've got Nunes."</p>
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<p>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.conquestchronicles.com/2012/10/12/3332162/usc-washington-preview-what-to-watch-for">7 p.m. ET 11 USC 4-1 at Washington 3-2 FOX</a></p>
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<p>1. "On The Road Again": How will USC handle the potentially rowdy CenturyLink environment?</p>
<p>Last Thursday, USC got a taste of a loud stadium in Utah, but CenturyLink Field has the potential to be the loudest stadium the Trojans will play in all season. During the fourth quarter of Washington's upset of Stanford, some reporters claimed the stadium was just as loud, if not louder than, as when the Seahawks are playing, which is saying something since the 12th man in Seattle is routinely one of the loudest in the NFL.</p>
<p> </p>
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<p>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/10/12/3493014/south-carolina-lsu-2012-zach-mettenberger-jadeveon-clowney">8 p.m. ET 3 S. Carolina 6-0 at 9 LSU 5-1 ESPN</a></p>
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<p>LSU, on the other hand, showed you its flaws weeks in advance. After a total decimation of Washington in Week 2, Les Miles' machine showed a few creaks and groans. The Bayou Bengals only led Idaho, 21-14, at halftime before pulling away. They never pulled away from a pretty poor Auburn team on the road. They led Towson by only a 17-9 margin at halftime and, thanks to an increasingly sloppy offense, only won by 16. LSU was winning, sure, and for all we knew they were holding something in reserve for the bigger games. But "holding something in reserve" usually means vanilla play-calling, few risks, et cetera. It doesn't mean failing to protect your quarterback (Zach Mettenberger was sacked four times in 30 pass attempts against Towson), and it doesn't mean dropping passes. LSU's offense was either lacking sharpness or ability when it headed to Gainesville the past Saturday.</p>
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<p>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.goodbullhunting.com/2012/10/10/3484596/the-tailgate-graphical-preview-texas-aggies-louisiana-tech">9:15 p.m. ET 22 Texas A&M 4-1 Shreveport 23 LA Tech 5-0 ESPNU</a></p>
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<p>Dick Cheney must have known something. Cause when he pointed his Halliburton Hurricane Machine at Shreveport six weeks ago, we were all baffled that he'd want to ruin the opener of ol' buddy 41's favorite college team. Well, I think we all realize now that, in his replacement heart of hearts, he saw the potential in Summy and Sonny and envisioned this as a Top 25 game in a sold out roadside stadium all along. Nice work, Dick. Nice work.</p>
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https://www.maizenbrew.com/2012/10/13/3497112/saturday-football-primer-morning-open-threadZach Travis