For Argument's Sake: Previewing the Michigan-Western Michigan game
Sports writers Dave Birkett and Mike Rothstein debate, discuss and predict the Michigan football game every Saturday. This week: Can the Wolverines overcome their off-field aversity to start the season with a win over Western Michigan?
Michael Rothstein: So, I hear there's this thing called a football game going on this weekend. You hear anything about this Dave? By the way, no matter what happens, it can't be any worse than Indiana football, which is just painful to watch. Absolutely horrific. On to Michigan. I really believe this is going to be a difficult game for the Wolverines. Western Michigan is no pushover. The Broncos aren't Utah, but they have a great passer in Tim Hiller and a good offensive line that can provide him some time. Brandon Graham himself said if Michigan doesn't overpower the Western line early, the defensive line might be taken out of the pass game because of his release. That puts a lot of pressure on the young Michigan secondary and potentially a big uh-oh in the opener. Again. What do you think of Hiller?
Dave Birkett: Hiller is a legitimate NFL prospect and one of the better quarterbacks in college football. He's completed more than 63 percent of his passes every year he's played, including 2005 as a true freshman. I don't care what system you're in, that's tough to do. He takes pertty good care of the ball, too, so Michigan must get pressure on him or that young defensive backfield could be in for a long day. I'm pretty confident Western's going to put up some points. Now that Michigan's settled on a starting quarterback - true freshman Tate Forcier - do you think they can do the same?
MR: We'll see. I think Michigan will be able to score because Western Michigan's defense is nothing special. It lost a lot, especially in the secondary. But a freshman is still a freshman and Michigan really, really needs a quick touchdown or two in the first quarter just to assuage the "this isn't happening again" feeling a few three-and-outs or a turnover or two might create. That's what concerns me the most about this game. That if something goes wrong early, the whole thing could collapse around the Wolverines and Rich Rodriguez. In some ways, with the week Rodriguez has had, you could almost expect that as part of Murphy's Law. Personally, I think Western could be leading at the half. Either that, or the Broncos will be down 28 points or something crazy like that because Michigan took every ounce of disappointment they've had and frustration and just break loose.
DB: Fragile is the word I most associate with the team and season right now. A wrong turn here, and things could get messy. If the team rallies around Rodriguez and all the off-field drama, maybe the train takes off in the other direction. It was a good move to name Tate Forcier the starter. He's the most well-rounded of the quarterbacks and the one most capable of navigating the early-season schedule. But he's a true freshman, so he needs help. That means some big plays from Denard Robinson when he's in there, a solid day from Carlos Brown, who'll start at running back, and a turnover or two on defense. That's been a focal point of camp: Limit negative-yard plays and win the turnover battle.
MR: Can a freshman quarterback do those two things? I'm not sure. I agree that starting Forcier is the right call because of his arm and because Michigan should look to pass a bit to take advantage of that young Broncos secondary, but I think the game is close in the fourth quarter. And when a game is close in the fourth, I look to the leaders of both teams. At Western, Hiller is a fifth-year senior with complete control and command of his offense and Austin Pritchard is the defensive leader at linebacker. At Michigan, it's tough to say who the offensive leader is. On defense, it is Brandon Graham and Obi Ezeh, but I'll take the fifth-year senior quarterback over the freshman. My pick: Western Michigan 31, Michigan 28.
DB: I smell a close one, too. Michigan's going to have some fits and starts on offense with Brandon Minor hobbled and Forcier and Robinson taking the bulk of the snaps at quarterback. That said, I think the Wolverines jump out to a decent-size lead thanks to their running game and a pick-six by Donovan Warren, and the defense is good enough to withstand a Hiller-led charge in the second half. I'll go Michigan 31, Western Michigan 27.
Comments
CJRyder
Sat, Sep 5, 2009 : 12:31 p.m.
These guys are dorks. Do they even know the players? Where are they getting their information? If they want to piggy back mainstream media, than they should be wearing porky pig costumes. If you want to have bong football conversation, put it on You-Tube.
tater
Sat, Sep 5, 2009 : 6:37 a.m.
Rothstein wrote: "In some ways, with the week Rodriguez has had, you could almost expect that (a "collapse" of UM) as part of Murphy's Law." RR can't control what those in the media with covert agendae that affect their professional judgement want to do. Thankfully, though, the game will be decided where it should be: ON THE FIELD. It won't be decided by some hack lying to players to get information for his hatchet job, nor will it be decided by a negligent editor who prefers clicks over jounralistic integrity. Neither will it be decided by national "journalists" who are too lazy to take more than a superficial look at the situation. The game will be decided by how well RR has coached during the off-season, how much talent there is on the team, and how well the team plays, especially at QB and on the OL. Last year, UM was in a position where they didn't have a QB who could make the two-deep depth chart at most MAC schools. They were in a position where most of their players had to play a year too early for their physical abilities. They were also in a position where too many lazy, disgruntled "athletes" hadn't bought into the program. This has all been corrected with time, recruiting, coaching, and attrition. While assessing UM's chances today, I have two questions to ask: How many of WMU's players could start for UM? How many of WMU's players could make UM's two-deep depth chart? To the first question, my answer is Hiller. Period. I don't really know WMU's roster enough to answer the second question, but I have a feeling WMU will answer it for themselves today. UM 49, WMU 17.
bigblue
Sat, Sep 5, 2009 : 6:17 a.m.
western michigan 31 MICHIGAN 28....LMAO.. is there another hash bash going on i didn't know about?
bigblue
Sat, Sep 5, 2009 : 5:54 a.m.
well the clock is getting ready to strike 12 for all you MICHIGAN and RICHROD doubters. i hope it was fun while it lasted...NOT.. GO BLUE and GO RICHROD!