Michigan Football Impending Letdown: A Much-Needed Reality Check For UM Fans

In 2009, Michigan started the season 4-0 behind then flavor-of-the-week QB Tate Forcier, only to finish the season 1-7 for a final overall record of 5-7.

Fast-forward to 2010, and you'll find Forcier relegated to clipboard duty behind new flavor, Denard "Shoelace" Robinson, and freshman backup QB Devin Gardner.

Much like last season, Michigan fans have been quick to jump on their new quarterbacks bandwagon and spout off delusional thoughts about Michigan "being back" and other insane predictions of 10 or 11 wins and such.

"Tate Forcier for Heisman" popped up on the web last year and thanks to some irrational UM fan(s), I'm sure the "D-Rob for Heisman" sites are up-and-running now as well.

What, with UM's fast 3-0 start over two FBS teams with a combined record of 2-4 and their five-point escape over UMass of FCS fame.

[Sarcasm mode off].

Put on the brakes a little bit UM fans.

Robinson has played great and his numbers are fantastic through three games, but again, consider the opponents said stats were accumulated against before getting ahead of yourself on just how great Robinson, or as I like to call him, Denada (Spanish for nothing) really is.

I kid, but seriously, the end result of the 2010 season should be better for UM, but not that much better.

After all, it's not really hard to out-do that 1-7 finish.

Let's go ahead and assume Michigan will beat BGSU next week. That will be another 4-0 start just like last season. Then, Big Ten conference play begins.

Practically every team in the Big Ten is better than UConn, Notre Dame, and UMass, so this is where the wheels could potentially fall off.

If they do, hospitals in the Ann Arbor area will be on standby to help treat all the sprained ankles as UM "fans" jump off the bandwagon (again) at an alarming rate, but more on that later if [when] it actually happens.

Here is UM's conference slate and what the most likely result will be against each of their opponents.

===================

@ Indiana - Win

vs. Michigan State - Loss

vs. Iowa - Loss

@Penn State - Loss

vs. Illinois - Win

@ Purdue - Win

vs. Wisconsin - Loss

@ Ohio State - Loss

===================

That's how I see these games going, BUT I won't be surprised if Indiana or Purdue each win, just the same as I won't be surprised if UM beats Iowa, Penn State, or Wisconsin.

Either way, I think it will all balance out to 7-8 wins at the most. 9 wins [or more] would absolutely be shocking considering the Wolverweenies have a wet paper towel for a defense.

I'm sure any UM fan reading this is burning with anger and utter disdain for me while plotting my death, but instead of doing that, just embrace the truth, for the truth shall set you free.




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Michigan Football Forecast 2010: Mostly Cloudy With a Chance of Failure...AGAIN

It never gets old ripping on MichiCAN'T, so I thought I'd repost this for those who may have missed it!


Before the 2009 season, I wrote an article entitled Michigan Football Forecast 2009: Mostly Cloudy With a Chance of Failure, that was met with much resistance and venom from Michigan fans.

I also met the same fate with my Michigan's Tate Forcier: Lofty Expectations Will Lead to Major Letdown article.

I was called idiot, moron, and hater, and those are just the names I can repeat. There were plenty of "R" rated terms tossed my way that are not safe for reposting.

In the Forecast article, I predicted that Michigan would win four games in 2009. In all honesty, I really thought they might win six and maybe even seven games, but as it turned out, they only won five.

They beat a couple teams that I thought they would lose to and they lost to a few teams I thought they could, or would beat, but in the end, my 4-8 prediction was almost exact.

Not to gloat, but who looks like idiots and morons now UM fans? I digress.

Since the Wolverines 2009 season is over and they are not playing in a bowl game for the second straight year, I thought I'd get an early jump on what 2010 will hold for them.

These predictions assume that RichRod will return as head coach, no current players file transfer papers, and that none of the 2010 UM recruits decommit before signing day.

Nothing is written in stone up North and you know what they say happens when you assume too much, so stay tuned...

---

Game One vs. UCONN



I actually believe UCONN could win this game, but I will give the talent edge to UM and it is in Ann Arbor so for those reasons, I have to go with Michigan in this one, but I do think it will be closer than most UM fans will expect it to be.

Win (1-0)


Game Two @ Notre Dame



I'm sure Charlie Weis, Jimmy Clausen, and Golden Tate will all be gone, but not all is lost at Notre Dame. There's speculation that ND wants to land Brian Kelly, Bob Stoops, Pat Fitzgerald, or Urban Meyer. I think Kelly is the most likely get, but in my opinion any of these coaches might consider taking the job, and any one of them would be able to coach the Irish to a win over UM. The cupboard isn't exactly bare in South Bend either. Dayne Crist was one of the nations' top QB recruits in 2008 and star-sophomore WR Michael Floyd returns to South Bend as well.

Loss (1-1)


Game Three vs. UMASS



No disrespect meant, but UMASS is an FCS team, and they are no Richmond or Appalachian State. This game should be a lead-pipe lock for the Wolverines. Think Delaware State from this past year. UM won that game 63-6.

Win (2-1)


Game Four vs. BGSU



Lucky for Michigan that QB Tyler Sheehan and WR Freddie Barnes are both Seniors and won't be on the field for BG in this game. Otherwise, they may have been headed for another loss to a MAC team (see Toledo 2008). Without those two guys, I don't see UM having too much trouble vs. the Falcons.

Win (3-1)


Game Five @ Indiana



The Hoosiers gave UM all they could handle back in September when the Wolverines escaped with a 36-33 home win after a controversial interception call that went against IU. QB Ben Chappell, RB Darius Willis, and WR's Tandon Doss and Damarlo Belcher, all starters, will each return for Indiana in 2010. This game could go either way, and in toss up games, I almost always go with the home team.

Loss (3-2)


Game Six vs. Michigan State



The Spartans have won the last two meetings and return one of the best starting QB's in the Big Ten in Kirk Cousins, starting RB Larry Caper, and top WR's B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell. Coach Mark Dantonio is 2-1 overall vs. Michigan and 2-0 vs. RichRod. I won't be in shock if Michigan wins, and I believe this one could be close, and a borderline toss up, but I'm taking the Spartans to win their third straight over UM.

Loss (3-3)


Game Seven vs. Iowa



I don't see Kirk Ferentz leaving Iowa City and the Hawkeyes will return QB Ricky Stanzi, RB's Adam Robinson and the 2009 projected starter (before missing the season due to injury) Jewell Hampton, and top wide outs Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt, in addition to another solid defensive unit. I just can't see UM winning this game if Iowa comes into Ann Arbor with all these guys healthy.

Loss (3-4)


Game Eight @ Penn State



Daryll Clark will be gone, but the Big Ten's second leading rusher Evan Royster will likely return. Sophomore QB Kevin Newsome will take over for the Nittany Lions. He has been favorably compared to OSU's Terrelle Pryor. He is also a former 2009 UM commit that decommitted and chose PSU over the Wolverines. He sounds more and more like Pryor, who shunned UM for Ohio State, and is now 2-0 vs. his former suitors. I expect Penn State, led by Newsome, to win their third straight over the Wolverines.

Loss (3-5)


Game Nine vs. Illinois



If a coach's seat was ever hotter than that of Charlie Weis, it would have to be Ron Zook's. I don't think Zook will be back in 2010, and neither will QB Juice Williams. The cupboard is looking bare in Champaign and Illinois could be the worst team in the Big Ten next season. In my estimation, Michigan should win this game easily.

Win (4-5)


Game 10 @ Purdue



Purdue has beaten Michigan in the last two meetings and they have hope, as in Coach Danny Hope, of doing it again in 2010. If they can find a QB to replace Senior Joey Elliott, they just might do it. RB Ralph Boldin returns after a solid year in which he was only out-gained on the ground by PSU's Evan Royster and Wisconsin's John Clay. This game falls under my toss up rule so I am going with the home team Purdue, but Michigan certainly has a shot at winning.

Loss (4-6)


Game 11 vs. Wisconsin



Badger RB John Clay led the Big Ten in rushing in 2009 as a sophomore and will have a legit chance to repeat that feat in 2010. Also returning will be starting QB Scott Tolzien and top WR Nick Toon. UW has won two of the last three vs. UM, and I see that trend continuing in 2010.

Loss (4-7)


Game 12 @ Ohio State



I really don't think I need to say much else here other than Ohio State has now won six in a row over UM, Tressel is 8-1, and Terrelle is 2-0. I know Michigan fans that think UM is getting better believe that UM will start beating the Buckeyes again sooner than later, but I say to them, even if UM gets better, it's not like OSU is getting worse. In terms of quality over quantity, the Bucks are recruiting as well or better than Michigan and the running backs that the Buckeyes are going to have in Pryor's final two years makes USC's recent "stable" of backs look like a bunch of old gray mares. The Buckeyes will make it seven in a row and nine of 10. After their third straight losing season, and assuming RichRod wasn't already fired earlier in the 2010 season, there will be little doubt that his fate is sealed after going 0-3 in THE GAME.

Loss (4-8)

---

Now, having said everything I said above, there are those three toss up games that I consider swing games (Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue) so ultimately with some lucky breaks going their way, or if UM somehow improves more than I expect, or if a couple of the teams I picked to beat them regress, then Michigan could probably win as many as seven games or eight games, but eight is really super-optimistic.

Let's assume they do win seven games next year.

Will 7-5 be enough to satisfy UM fans, alums, and the new AD?

Will it keep RichRod from losing his job, despite his third loss to the Buckeyes in three attempts?

Even though I feel fairly confident in my projections, these questions really cannot be definitively answered until sometime during the 2010 season so I'll just say it again—stay tuned.



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Michigan Football Forecast 2010: Mostly Cloudy With a Chance of Failure...AGAIN

by HD Handshoe
Founder—Block-O-Nation



Before the 2009 season, I wrote an article entitled Michigan Football Forecast 2009: Mostly Cloudy With a Chance of Failure, that was met with much resistance and venom from Michigan fans.

I also met the same fate with my Michigan's Tate Forcier: Lofty Expectations Will Lead to Major Letdown article.

I was called idiot, moron, and hater, and those are just the names I can repeat. There were plenty of "R" rated terms tossed my way that are not safe for reposting.

In the Forecast article, I predicted that Michigan would win four games in 2009. In all honesty, I really thought they might win six and maybe even seven games, but as it turned out, they only won five.

They beat a couple teams that I thought they would lose to and they lost to a few teams I thought they could, or would beat, but in the end, my 4-8 prediction was almost exact.

Not to gloat, but who looks like idiots and morons now UM fans? I digress.

Since the Wolverines 2009 season is over and they are not playing in a bowl game for the second straight year, I thought I'd get an early jump on what 2010 will hold for them.

These predictions assume that RichRod will return as head coach, no current players file transfer papers, and that none of the 2010 UM recruits decommit before signing day.

Nothing is written in stone up North and you know what they say happens when you assume too much, so stay tuned...

---

Game One vs. UCONN



I actually believe UCONN could win this game, but I will give the talent edge to UM and it is in Ann Arbor so for those reasons, I have to go with Michigan in this one, but I do think it will be closer than most UM fans will expect it to be.

Win (1-0)


Game Two @ Notre Dame



I'm sure Charlie Weis, Jimmy Clausen, and Golden Tate will all be gone, but not all is lost at Notre Dame. There's speculation that ND wants to land Brian Kelly, Bob Stoops, Pat Fitzgerald, or Urban Meyer. I think Kelly is the most likely get, but in my opinion any of these coaches might consider taking the job, and any one of them would be able to coach the Irish to a win over UM. The cupboard isn't exactly bare in South Bend either. Dayne Crist was the nations' top QB recruit in 2008 and star-sophomore WR Michael Floyd will return as well.

Loss (1-1)


Game Three vs. UMASS



No disrespect meant, but UMASS is an FCS team, and they are no Richmond or Appalachian State. This game should be a lead-pipe lock for the Wolverines. Think Delaware State from this past year. UM won that game 63-6.

Win (2-1)


Game Four vs. BGSU



Lucky for Michigan that QB Tyler Sheehan and WR Freddie Barnes are both Seniors and won't be on the field for BG in this game. Otherwise, they may have been headed for another loss to a MAC team (see Toledo 2008). Without those two guys, I don't see UM having too much trouble vs. the Falcons.

Win (3-1)


Game Five @ Indiana



The Hoosiers gave UM all they could handle back in September when the Wolverines escaped with a 36-33 home win after a controversial interception call that went against IU. QB Ben Chappell, RB Darius Willis, and WR's Tandon Doss and Damarlo Belcher, all starters, will each return for Indiana in 2010. This game could go either way, and in toss up games, I almost always go with the home team.

Loss (3-2)


Game Six vs. Michigan State



The Spartans have won the last two meetings and return one of the best starting QB's in the Big Ten in Kirk Cousins, starting RB Larry Caper, and top WR's B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell. Coach Mark Dantonio is 2-1 overall vs. Michigan and 2-0 vs. RichRod. I won't be in shock if Michigan wins, and I believe this one could be close, and a borderline toss up, but I'm taking the Spartans to win their third straight over UM.

Loss (3-3)


Game Seven vs. Iowa



I don't see Kirk Ferentz leaving Iowa City and the Hawkeyes will return QB Ricky Stanzi, RB's Adam Robinson and the 2009 projected starter (before missing the season due to injury) Jewell Hampton, and top wide outs Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt, in addition to another solid defensive unit. I just can't see UM winning this game if Iowa comes into Ann Arbor with all these guys healthy.

Loss (3-4)


Game Eight @ Penn State



Daryll Clark will be gone, but the Big Ten's second leading rusher Evan Royster will likely return. Sophomore QB Kevin Newsome will take over for the Nittany Lions. He has been favorably compared to OSU's Terrelle Pryor. He is also a former 2009 UM commit that decommitted and chose PSU over the Wolverines. He sounds more and more like Pryor, who shunned UM for Ohio State, and is now 2-0 vs. his former suitors. I expect Penn State, led by Newsome, to win their third straight over the Wolverines.

Loss (3-5)


Game Nine vs. Illinois



If a coach's seat was ever hotter than that of Charlie Weis, it would have to be Ron Zook's. I don't think Zook will be back in 2010, and neither will QB Juice Williams. The cupboard is looking bare in Champaign and Illinois could be the worst team in the Big Ten next season. In my estimation, Michigan should win this game easily.

Win (4-5)


Game 10 @ Purdue



Purdue has beaten Michigan in the last two meetings and they have hope, as in Coach Danny Hope, of doing it again in 2010. If they can find a QB to replace Senior Joey Elliott, they just might do it. RB Ralph Boldin returns after a solid year in which he was only out-gained on the ground by PSU's Evan Royster and Wisconsin's John Clay. This game falls under my toss up rule so I am going with the home team Purdue, but Michigan certainly has a shot at winning.

Loss (4-6)


Game 11 vs. Wisconsin



Badger RB John Clay led the Big Ten in rushing in 2009 as a sophomore and will have a legit chance to repeat that feat in 2010. Also returning will be starting QB Scott Tolzien and top WR Nick Toon. UW has won two of the last three vs. UM, and I see that trend continuing in 2010.

Loss (4-7)


Game 12 @ Ohio State



I really don't think I need to say much else here other than Ohio State has now won six in a row over UM, Tressel is 8-1, and Terrelle is 2-0. I know Michigan fans that think UM is getting better believe that UM will start beating the Buckeyes again sooner than later, but I say to them, even if UM gets better, it's not like OSU is getting worse. In terms of quality over quantity, the Bucks are recruiting as well or better than Michigan and the running backs that the Buckeyes are going to have in Pryor's final two years makes USC's recent "stable" of backs look like a bunch of old gray mares. The Buckeyes will make it seven in a row and nine of 10. After their third straight losing season, and assuming RichRod wasn't already fired earlier in the 2010 season, there will be little doubt that his fate is sealed after going 0-3 in THE GAME.

Loss (4-8)

---

Now, having said everything I said above, there are those three toss up games that I consider swing games (Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue) so ultimately with some lucky breaks going their way, or if UM somehow improves more than I expect, or if a couple of the teams I picked to beat them regress, then Michigan could probably win as many as seven games or eight games, but eight is really super-optimistic.

Let's assume they do win seven games next year.

Will 7-5 be enough to satisfy UM fans, alums, and the new AD?

Will it keep RichRod from losing his job, despite his third loss to the Buckeyes in three attempts?

Even though I feel fairly confident in my projections, these questions really cannot be definitively answered until sometime during the 2010 season so I'll just say it again—stay tuned.


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Ohio State-scUm Live In-Game Chat: 11:30AM

O-----H-----I-----O----- in the big house = PRICELESS!




It's been 2,191 days since scUm last beat Ohio State in football!

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Ohio State-TTUN Week 12 Preview: Free History Lesson and Prediction Included

by HD Handshoe
Founder—Block-O-Nation



For those who may not know, we do not speak their name during HATE WEEK, so whenever you see TTUN, it refers to M*c*g*n. TTUN stands for The Team Up North, and TSUN stands for The State Up North.




Outsiders might not see this as a big game when No. 8 Ohio State (9-2, 6-1) visits Ann Arbor this weekend to take on TTUN (5-6, 1-6).

Astute college fans nationwide know that's not the case. The records don't matter—the rankings don't matter—the hype doesn't matter when the Buckeyes and TTUN meet.

Even with TTUN rebuilding, the hate and utter disdain between these two programs, fan bases, and neighboring states absolutely matters.

That is why this rivalry has always, and will always, rank as the best rivalry in all of sports, period.

HBO's Ohio State TTUN The Rivalry Documentary


Ohio State already has a share of the Big Ten title and a trip to the the Rose Bowl (their first since 1997) locked up, but they want to win the title outright with a win over their hated rival from TSUN (that state up North).

TTUN, under then-first year coach Rich Rodriguez, missed going to a bowl game in 2008 for the first time in over 30 years, and are in danger of missing out on the post season yet again in 2009.

The hot seat is getting hotter and hotter for Rodriguez, and it might just explode with another bowl season absence and embarrassing loss to the Buckeyes, a la 2008.

You can bet when toe meets leather at Noon this Saturday, that both teams will be ramped-up and ready for this one—The 106th edition of THE GAME.


OHIO STATE vs. TTUN—HATE FROM YESTERYEAR



TTUN—By The Numbers

Tate Forcier has 1,824 passing yards, 230 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, 12 passing touchdowns, six interceptions, and a QB Rating of 133.

Denard Robinson has 185 passing yards, 320 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns, four interceptions, and a QB Rating of 97.

Forcier, Robinson, Brandon Minor, Carlos Brown, Vincent Smith, Michael Shaw, Michael Cox, and Kevin Grady have combined for 2,147 yards on the ground and 26 rushing touchdowns. That's an average of 195 yards and 2.4 touchdowns per game.

TTUN's top receivers are Roy Roundtree (23 receptions, 318 yards, three touchdowns), Greg Mathews (23 receptions, 285 yards, one touchdown), Martavious Odoms (22 receptions, 272 yards, one touchdown), Junior Hemingway (15 receptions, 263 yards, two touchdowns, and Kevin Koger (16 receptions, 220 yards, two touchdowns).


Ohio State—By The Numbers

Terrelle Pryor has 1,761 passing yards, 633 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 15 passing touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a QB Rating of 131.

Pryor, Brandon Saine, Boom Herron, Jordan Hall, and Jermil Martin have combined for 2,037 yards on the ground and 19 rushing touchdowns. That's an average of 185 yards and 1.7 touchdowns per game.

Ohio State's top receivers are DeVier Posey (47 receptions, 689 yards, seven touchdowns plus one passing touchdown), Dane Sanzenbacher (26 receptions, 495 yards, six touchdowns), Duron Carter (13 receptions, 176 yards, one touchdown), and Ray Small (15 receptions, 175 yards). Small is also a solid contributor as a punt returner.

---

11/21/2009—Game 12—Noon Kickoff
TV: ABC

VS.

---

Ohio State—TTUN History and Tidbits

• This will be the 106th meeting between Ohio State and TTUN.

• Ohio State trails in the all-time series, 42-57-6.

• From 1897-1918 OSU played TTUN 15 times, losing 13 times and playing to two ties, a 0-0 tie in 1900, and a 3-3 tie in 1910.

• Ohio State's first-ever win over TTUN came in 1919 by a final score of 13-3.

• Since 1919, Ohio State is 42-43-5 head to head against TTUN.

• In what is widely considered the modern era of college football (1950-present day), Ohio State is 30-27-2 vs. TTUN.

• Ohio State is 3-7 in the last 10 road meetings vs. TTUN ( six of those losses were by John Cooper pre-2001).

• Ohio State is 9-10-1 in the last 20 meetings overall vs. TTUN, dating back to 1989.

• Ohio State's last road loss to TTUN was in 2003 by a score of 35-21 (that year, OSU was 11-2, TTUN was 10-3).

• Ohio State's last road win at TTUN was a 14-3 victory in 2007.

• Jim Tressel is 7-1 overall (4-0 at home, 3-1 on the road) vs. TTUN.

• Ohio State will play in their eighth BCS bowl game this postseason, the most BCS appearances by any school.

• Ohio State has won 34 Big Ten titles—having now won or shared five in a row, including 2009.

• Ohio State claims seven national championships and has had six Heisman winners (seven trophies).

• The Ohio State football program began in 1890 and all-time, they currently have an overall record of 817-308-53.

• This is Head Coach Rich Rodriguez's second season at TTUN (8-15).

• The TTUN football program is the all-time leader in wins, currently with 877.

• TTUN claims 11 national titles, the last being a split title in 1997. Prior to that, TTUN's last title was in 1948.

• TTUN has won 42 Big Ten titles, the last being a co-championship in 2004 (Iowa).

• The TTUN football program began play in 1879 and currently has an overall record of 877-300-36.


Game Notes

As you may already know, Ohio State will wear throwback uniforms provided by Nike this week to pay tribute to the 1954 Buckeye National Championship team.

Here's the full uniform:



FULL PHOTO GALLERY OF THE 1954 THROWBACK UNIFORMS


Video featuring former Buckeye Raymont Harris "modeling" the throwback uniform:




The Bottom Line

On paper, TTUN appears to be able to move the ball and score, but when I look at their schedule, I can't ignore the weak out-of-conference opponents that a lot of their stats came against, plus their poor showing in-conference.

They have a horrendous defense, while the Buckeyes have one of the best in the Big Ten, and the nation.

I don't expect a 42-7 blowout like last season's game in Columbus (I won't be upset if I'm wrong though), but a comfortable win is in order, even though a bowl bid is riding on this one for TTUN, and in spite of "Tressel-ball."

Sorry, but you're just not my boy Blue...

Final Score Prediction

Ohio State 34, TTUN 16


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Michigan Rumor Mill: Is the Honeymoon Over Already For Tater Tot?

by HD Handshoe
Founder—Block-O-Nation

From over-hyped incoming freshmen, to the savior of Michigan football, to Heisman candidate , to bench warmer, to playing football somewhere else in 2010?

It looks like my Michigan Football: Cloudy Forecast With a Chance of Failure and Michigan's Tate Forcier: Lofty Expectations Will Lead to Major Letdown articles weren't that far off after all.

Don't adjust your eyes. You read all that correctly, including the possibility of Tate transferring.

There's a rumor that Denard Robinson will be starting for UM this weekend at Wisconsin, and that Tater isn't too happy about it.

In fact, Robinson apparently is starting. The rumor I was referring to is that Forcier might be looking to transfer elsewhere as a result.

I read about this today on BuckNuts.com and it appears it was posted by a Michigan State fan by the name of MichState04, who lives in Detroit.

Basically he said he was listening to a Sports-talk Radio show on WDFN-Detroit and this is what he heard from host and usual Michigan homer Ryan Ermanni:

Quote:

1. Denard is starting on Saturday.

2. Tate is not happy about this.

3. Tate put some interesting comments on his facebook yesterday regarding this issue (this has been verified by a number of people).

4. Tate's dad is urging him to transfer, and he is apparently considering it.

Obviously all this is third hand to MGoBlog, but I figured if the guy who is a UM homer was saying this on the radio, maybe its slightly more reliable than your average internet report. Anyway I have no way of actually deducing the reliability of this radio guy's source, but thought I would put it out there so people could make their own opinion. -- end quote.

If RichRod is fired (as some UM fans want), Michigan football will remain here for the foreseeable furture, right next to their 2008 and 2009 seasons:



All kidding aside, this story is not verified as of this post, but I would not be surprised to find that there is some truth to it.

Especially when considering RichRod doesn't seem to be the most popular guy in Ann Arbor right about now, potential NCAA investigations withstanding.

I will update this when and if any new info emerges—stay tuned.


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Week Five Fallout: Tate Forcier vs. Terrelle Pryor—Head to Head, Who's Better Right Now?

by HD Handshoe
Founder—BlockONation

Separating the boys from the MEN.

---

After Michigan started the season 4-0 and Ohio State began 3-1, the media and UM fans wanted us to buy what they were selling—That UM was back, and that UM freshman QB Tate Forcier was "the man".

What a difference one game can make.

I've heard and read UM fans referring to Michigan State as their little brother. It must really sting now that "little bro" has won the last two meetings, especially after this past weeks loss.

Every Michigan fan on the planet would have guaranteed a win and a 5-0 start before that game.

Forcier looked bad for all but the last six minutes of the fourth quarter, and UM lost in overtime, 26-20.

Whoops...

[/rant]

Ok, now as for comparing Forcier and Pryor to this point, we don't have much to go on but there are two things we do have that we can use to measure them against each other.

First is their individual performances against a common opponent (Indiana).

Second is their individual performances in the game that each has lost, as both teams are now 4-1.

(For the record, I am doing this because without much ground to stand on, UM fans would have you believe that Forcier is the better QB and a Heisman winner in-the-making, while Pryor, a player they all coveted in 2008, until he chose Ohio State over UM, "crumbles under pressure" and "can't throw" to save his life.)

vs. Indiana

Tate's numbers at home in Ann Arbor:

11/21 passing, 199 total yards (184 passing, 15 rushing) and 3 total touchdowns (2 pass, 1 rush) with 1 interception


Terrelle's numbers on the road in Bloomington:

16/27 passing, 222 total yards (159 passing, 63 rushing) and 4 total touchdowns (3 pass, 1 rush) with 1 interception

Michigan's loss to Michigan State

Tate's numbers on the road in East Lansing:

17/32 passing, 250 total yards (223 passing, 27 rushing) and 2 passing touchdowns with 1 interception

Ohio State's loss to Southern Cal

Terrelle's numbers at home in Columbus:

11/25 passing, 213 total yards (177 passing, 36 rushing) and 0 touchdowns with 1 interception


Clearly Tate played better in UM's loss to Michigan State than did Pryor in Ohio State's loss to USC. But we know USC has one of the top defenses in the nation, while MSU is one of, if not the worst in the Big Ten.

So that tells us that Tate can play better against a bad "D" than Terrelle can vs. a very good "D", or in other words, not much.

Therefore, the best gauge we have are their individual performances against Indiana.

Pryor had slightly fewer passing yards, but more overall total yards (222 to 199) and more touchdowns. Pryor also played Indiana on the road, and the Buckeyes cruised to victory, while Michigan squeaked by MSU in Ann Arbor.

With it being a free country and all, you can make up your own minds, but I know who I'm picking and I don't even have to say his name, do I?

Here's a hint though in case you need it:

He's 12-3 as a starter and Tate only has five career starts....

While I do not claim this to be a scientifically proven and infallible method for comparing the two, it absolutely does provide some insight for now, and provides a jumping off point to spark the debate and add fuel to the rivalry fire.

It will ultimately be settled on the field on November 21, 2009 in Ann Arbor.


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