Care: Running Back Roster Management
Dallan Hayden should be RB1 for Michigan. Williams will most likely be back but he won't be 100% and Henderson needs to rest until the postseason, as all he is doing right now is prolonging his injuries.
Hayden has proven he can carry the ball well, gives the offense a jolt of energy, and runs the ball differently than the other two guys. He deserves the carries right now. Even if he doesn't "start" against Michigan on the first snap, he should get the majority of the carries unless Williams proves he is much more effective.
Don't Care: The Close Game Against Maryland
The score was close, far closer than any of us expected and nobody likes it. But we won, on the road, by double digits (still the only team to do that every game this season).
Winning is winning and in college football it's tough to do that every single week.
We have weaknesses that this game illuminated but it gives Knowles more footage to use to adjust, as he has done all season, and gives all of our coaches plenty to work on.
On to the next one.
Care: Going Undefeated is HARD
Piggybacking off the point above for this one. There aren't many teams with zero losses remaining in college football. Teams have lost to teams they shouldn't have (hey there Tennessee, Florida), and teams have lost because they simply weren't as good (hey Tennessee again). Very few teams don't fit into either of those categories.
We are one of them.
Winning is really hard to do every week and regardless of how we look each week we have made significant adjustments during games to finish strong every time. That's a huge testament to this team, our coaches, our mentality, and our culture. This team isn't soft. This team doesn't give up.
The best part about being 11-0 is the chance to go for 12-0.
Don't Care: Michigan's offensive gameplan
I watched the entire Michigan game for the first time this season. Their offense is not impressive. Blake Corum can get yards in places you think he won't but their entire offensive philosophy banks on it. As soon as they met a team that could stop that even a little bit, Michigan had no idea what to do.
In hindsight I'm happy they beat Illinois because it sets up this massive undefeated match up next Saturday, but they shouldn't have won that game.
JJ McCarthy is either playing the greatest long-con game in Cfb history or he really is just an awful down field passer. He looked lost yesterday and his receivers constantly looked frustrated that he couldn't hit them when they were open.
If our defense plays disciplined football, we will win the game.
Care: Injuries, injuries, injuries
I'm not sure who cursed this team but they are extremely effective at it. The fact that our RB1, 2, 4, 5, WR1, CB 1 and 2, best Safety, long snapper, and up and coming DT (Hall), and now starting RG have all had significant, multi-game injuries is absurd.
The fact that we still perform the way we do is insane and a huge testament to our staff and depth.
But give us a break some time please.
Don't Care: About anything else, it's Rivalry Week!!
Beat TTUN. See you all after that game.
