Michigan running back Carlos Brown out for Iowa with a concussion

Man Michigan can NOT catch a break. Rich Rod is 1 and 5 on the road at Michigan. Hard to believe we beat Florida just 2 years ago. How fast we fell. I am all in for Michigan but worry about such a drop in a once proud program. I would feel better if I felt we were truly better than last year. I am not convinced yet. The way we came out against the spartys was sad. If we do that at Iowa at night it will not be pretty and we still will have Penn State and OSU. A bowl could begin to slip away for year number 2. How long can we tolarate this and expect to ever return to Michigan's normal standards. We are breaking way too many bad records. With 2 recruiting classes in hand we should be making more progress but seemed to take a step back last week against a poor 1 and 3 team. Hopefully players will begin to step up to the challenge.

Michigan is much better than last year. Tate Forcier has made a world of difference. We are only 2 - 3 without Tate.

Football is a game of emotion and focus. We did not have either vs Michigan State. The Iowa game must be different.

The offense is much better than last years inacurate QB fiasco! Actually RR has had only 1 true recruting season. The defense is young and thin at many positions and it will take another 2 recruting classes to get UM defense back to a championship level. I often wonder why the cupboard was left bare on the defensive side of the ball? Even with all the seniors on defense last season our defense was a major disappointment as the season progressed. I like that the defense is showing slow improvement as the season goes along, but the lack of talent in the secondary and LB along with little depth of the DL will limit this team to a 6-6 or 7-5 record. The offense will score points against the middle rung b10 teams. 7-5 will be great after only winning 3 games last season.

I think we'll lose this game but if the offense can score over 30, then we will have a good chance to win...but I don't see it with the cold weather and 20 MPH north winds!

IA 24 UM 20.

I find it difficult to believe that any real fan of UM can look at their 4-1 record and think they have "fallen." The year UM beat Florida, they lost to Appy State and were blown out by Oregon. UM hasn't been blown out so far this year, and has taken care of business against lesser schools.

Things are looking great for the program. 9-3 is still very possible, with a nice bowl game in sunny Florida. RR is restocking the cupboard that Lloyd Carr neglected as he slowly lost his stomach for recruiting his last few years at UM.
UM should lose this game on paper, but they do require that it is played on the field. I expect UM to make a decent showing tonight. They should lose, but they could spring an upset. I'm hoping for a game that makes the Big Ten look good on national TV.

This won't hurt Carlos' Heisman chances much since he'll rush for about 200 ypg beginning with Delaware St.
But, with him out, we beat Iowa now by about 10 instead of 21.
Wisconsin 28
spucks 25

This will be a tough game. I don't think it's unfounded for a "true" Michigan fan to question whether Michigan is improving. The performance against a mediocre Spartan team last week was disheartening. "True" Michigan fans want to ensure the success of the program and until RR convinces us we are improving, it is fair to question. I feel we have definitely improved at QB, but are we improving as a program? Our defense hasn't shown anything in two years, and our O line was pathetic against MSU, a team we have now lost two straight to after beating them 6 straight before that. I'm all in for Michigan, and I want RR to convince me that we are indeed improving and that my team is in good hands. I think we would have won at least 6 games with Tate last year, so we need to win more than that this year to show true improvement, imo. I think 8-4 would definitely prove we are on track, as we should beat Delaware St., Purdue, and Illinois and then one other upset along the way. With PSU struggling with a new O line, the game at home, and considering we beat them 9 straight before last year, I think that would be a feasible team to upset. Of course being competive with OSU is also a must. If we upset them, I'll even take 7-5 as proof positive RR is on the right track.
And for the record, I'm not saying we've fallen, I'm just not sure how much we've improved. As a true Michigan fan, I want Michigan to improve to the point that they are dominating the Big Ten and competing for National Titles. I want to mock Spartys and Buckeyes and even Trojans and Gators. I don't think it's too much to ask to see proof of a step in that direction.

It's clear that having our running game negatively affected will hurt Michigan's chances against Iowa. But, OTH, Iowa's defense is weakest against the pass. I had really hoped that Michigan would re-establish its running game but it looks like another wait and see situation.

And I don't sell U of M Defense short: they're bad in open field so far but have been pretty good at denying points in Red Zone situations. If Michigan can (once again) rely on the quick-scoring potential of the Spread Offense, then they have a chance to build a winning margin. Iowa is not a quick-scoring team. They play the running game and if Michigan's D can stop that, they'll upset Iowa.

Weather: as I posted elsewhere, the Iowa City forecast is for near-record low (around 20 F). That's not just too cold for Michigan, it will probably effect the cold weather Hawkeyes just as much. Just pray that Forcier (smallish and from California) has his thermal underwear on tonight. ;-)

By the way, getting back to tonight's game, as tough as I think Iowa is, I think Michigan should have a very good chance of beating them. Tate is, imo, great. Robinson is also very good and I think we will see him tonight, too. In addition, for some unknown and unfounded reason, I have a sneaking suspicion that Michigan will play a good defensive game. If Michigan does win, I will be a bit closer to being convinced we are on track. I can't wait until game time, it sucks to have to wait all day for it.

i thought you already beat Iowa. It was Slick Ritchy keeping Brown off injury list that did it. If today is New Years Day, good luck in the Rose Bowl.

Replying to azwolverine: That's more like it, I agree that Iowa is vulnerable. As I said, Iowa's a running team and not at all great at passing. Michigan's pass defense it also suspect but if they can do "average" against the pass and keep up the running defense and red zone defense aspects, they'll limit Iowa's scoring.

Forcier has convinced everyone - even national level commentators. So if his O team does its job and lets him get ahead quickly, Iowa will be playing catch up all game long. Michigan's O was nowhere to be seen until the last 4 minutes against the Spartans. Imagine what they'll do if they play even a full half at their level of ability. But they'll probably suffer to an unknown degree without Brown playing - they really need to get their running game back.

As for doubting RR, lets just remember that he had only so many scholarships to hand out last recruiting season. He HAD to build the offense first and even then it meant starting this season with a pile of freshmen. I would only start doubting if he fails to build the defense in the next recruiting season. It's SO obvious we need more muscle & talent on that plate.

What this means is that it's really going to be another two years before we have a fully staffed, experienced football team. This year is the shakedown for the offense, next year will be the shakedown season for the (new) defense. We have to live with our own impatience in the meantime.

Meanwhile - we can be happy with just the prospect that Michigan could knock out the #14 team in the country tonight. That'll put Michigan back in the top 25. And that alone is worth claiming progress, don't ya think?

Trublue76 is probably right too. It will be at least 2yrs. As a State fan I hope Slick Ritchy can hood wink the administration into a contract extension by then.

HEART guys,heart is what we need tonight!If we go out there and play like we are capable then we will win!No excuses......not the weather(come on,we play in Mich.-cold weather isn't nuthin NEW to us.The warm weather guys will get use to it)not Iowa,nothing will stop us if we make the plays we are capable of making!!!Sit back and enjoy.It should be fun.We are watching our young guys GROW right before our eyes!!GO BLUE!!!