MichiganCardinal

One more time. Punch this ****er in.

Jamo has the MOVES

Remember that Kevin O’Connell’s mother named him Kevin

What a terrible ****ing spot

It’s like the NFL wants to justify their Chiefs offsides penalty by calling it against all the teams they don’t like

Hell of a script so far by Johnson

No way this snow is real.

Being at the game has never stopped me from posting. The board is more intelligent than the moron friends and family I bring to the games (don’t let it go to y’all’s heads)

They’ve got a chance to do something they haven’t done in my lifetime today. Go win this one.

They will have some tough decisions to make in the coming years. Sewell, McNeill, ASB, Hutch, Jamo, and Houston will all require a decision sooner rather than later.

While they won’t generate super-matchup ratings like UM/OSU did, I think the networks (and fans for that matter) will take more games like UM/USC, UM/UT, and UM/Oregon, in addition to a 10-2 v 9-3 UM/OSU game… Despite losing some amount of those 17MM, they are still winning in the aggregate over watching Michigan play eight games in a row where their QB doesn’t take the field in the 4th quarter. The question will likely become whether schools like Indiana, Purdue, Vanderbilt, and even Rutgers/Maryland, who have either been with the establishment for a century or were recently brought in for a distinct money-making purpose, but who don’t move the needle so much in that ratings race, get an invite to the table as well. UM/Indiana doesn’t get those ratings, but it’s also not like we can have 12 weeks of 10MM+ viewer matchups.

I don't see Sorsdol as a viable starter on the line. Quality depth is the most I hope to get out of him. Glasgow will be 32 for week one next season, assuming he's re-signed. I think we just disagree on the very minor point of whether guard or center is more important moving forward. Good problems to have when a team is 10-4.

Correct. I think Sewell is heir apparent to Decker. I don't expect Decker to be re-signed after Sewell resets the market for OTs.

I think they should have an idea of where they want the player they take to be the long-term starter at. When they took Sorsdol, I think part of the appeal was that he could backup any of the five positions on the line. Jack of all trades, master of none (to some extent). While that's nice to have in a depth piece, I want them taking first round talents who can be a 1st round talent at a particular position (being a high talent at nearby positions is just a bonus)... For me, I think in terms of long-term concerns on the OL, Center is 3rd behind RG and RT. Ragnow's toe concerns me too, but he is signed through 2026, and to this point I haven't seen indication that it would so serious as to require medical retirement. I agree that I would like to see the player they pick up have the athleticism and flexibility to be a backup G/C/G that first year before settling into a starting role, but I would prioritize finding the best possible RG first, and then looking at how well they could be a G/C/G backup in 2024.

1. Pass Rush. Probably an edge rusher, but if there is a pass rushing DT available, take him. Jeff Simmons was taken at 1.19, Chris Jones was taken at 2.37, and Javon Hargrave was taken at 3.89. You don't need a top ten pick to get a pass-rushing DT, if you know what you're looking for like the Titans, Eagles, and 49ers did. 2. Corner. I don't think this is a draft upgrade though, at least not early. I don't want someone learning on the job in 2024 and we need an instant starter. Find a good free agent with two functioning ACLs, re-sign the talent you've got in-house (CJGJ), leave Jerry Jacobs in Vegas after the Super Bowl (wishful thinking?) and the defensive backfield should be halfway decent. Pickup DB depth with one of the 3rds. 3. Offensive Line. If you re-sign your two offensive guards, which I think they will, then you have only long-term/depth needs, but maintaining this unit is of utmost importance. I like how they came into this year with six starting offensive linemen, which lasted until Vaitai got hurt again. Replace Vaitai with your RG of the future, who can replace Glasgow after 2024. This should probably be a 2nd or 3rd round pick. If a starting RT of the future falls into your lap in the 2nd round though, I don't think you can pass that up. 4. More Pass Rush. It cannot be understated how much of a one-man front the defensive line is right now. There is Hutch, then behind him there is McNeill, then behind him there is virtually nothing generating pressure. We don't need world-beaters, we just need guys who can demand some amount of attention and win a one-on-one now and then to free Hutchinson. If we got a DT with #1, get an edge, and if we got an edge with #1, either get another edge or pickup an athletic DT. 5. "X" Receiver. We never really replaced DJ Chark. And while it's been shown that we don't necessarily need him this season, I do think having a Tee Higgins or Mike Evans type (even if not that caliber) would add an extra something to this offense. 6. Kicker. Can we not be holding ****ing kicking tryouts in the practice before week 15 next year please? Is that too much to ask? 7. Depth. You can never have enough. Pretty much any position on the field, particularly on defense, can use more bodies, more competition, more guys ready to be that next man up.

You want to be on in the 'in' when that happens though. When it all finally breaks apart into the haves and have-nots, you don't want to be sitting on the outside hoping for an invite, you want to be on the inside helping pick who to exclude... You'd think Florida State would be 'in' whatever becomes next of NCAA football... But will North Carolina State, Wake Forest, and Syracuse? I'd much rather be sitting next to Alabama and Georgia or Michigan and Ohio State in discussions if I were FSU, because those will be the schools leading the charge into the future; not Clemson and Florida State.

28/42 for 335 is halfway decent, he just can’t turn the ball over three times. His defense didn’t do him any favors though against Mason Rudolph of all people.

If the game is anything like all our other road games, there will be enough Honolulu Blue streaks in their white to break it up.

I think this will be a really good game. Minnesota is usually fairly well coached and they won’t be walked over on their home turf for a division title, QB3 or not. Flores’ ability to generate pressure will be a tall task for the offensive line, and JG to identify and get rid of the ball quickly to ASB or LaPorta. Looking ahead, if we lose this game odds aren’t that unlikely that we will have to go into week 18 to decide the division, which is far less than ideal. Though I do think we win that game in such a scenario. I expect Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson to treat this game as a must-win, even if in actuality it is not. Having two weeks to get right and get healthy before the playoffs - whether as a two-seed or three-seed - would just be so much nicer than having to ‘press’ all the way through.

Yeah they’re planning a white out, which is why we are color rushing an away game.

Remember as we choose between family gatherings and the Lions game this Christmas Eve, the Lions have only let you down four times this year. Can you say the same about your family?

If they keep it up against the Giants and 49ers (who may have the 1-seed secured), they seem destined for the 6-seed. They won’t catch the Eagles or Cowboys for the 5-seed, and I would expect a 9-8 or 8-9 team to get the 7-seed. Perhaps good reason to shoot for that 2-seed. A Lions-Rams wildcard game would almost certainly get slotted to Monday Night.

Me: “remember MichiganCardinal, you’re broke as a joke and can’t go over-budget on Christmas gifts again this year” Also me when shopping for my hockey playing nephew on a “$50” budget:

Stafford seems to have lost a step. Back in the day he would have escaped the pocket on that sack.