Rose Bowl Info Thread

[CWood97]

Thought I'd start a thread for injury info, trends and misc info on the game.

Two big things to watch before making a play on this game:

First, UM WR Jason Avant was hurt in the OSU game with a mild knee sprain and severe ankle sprain. Lloyd Carr has said that he will be back for bowl practices, but other insiders say that that is VERY optimistic. UM has depth at WR, but against USC they need all the firepower they can get. The team leaves before Christmas to LA and I will keep everyone updated.

The trickier situation to figure out is with starting CB (2nd team all big ten) Markus Curry. He was ticketed with driving with a suspended license for the second time, and has had other legal issues as well. Lloyd may or may not sit him for this one, and unfortunately we may not know until game time. Without Curry, UM could be in big trouble. LeSeuer will cover Williams, but without Curry it will be true freshman (allbeit a freshman all american) Leon Hall covering Colbert/Smith.

Any info on USC injuries would be greatly appreciated.....

 

[wareagle]

the only injury i have seen of any note is to Scott's ego

 

[THE KOD]

the only injury i have seen of any note is to Scott's ego

.....................................................

wareagle

he sure does love that pack of trojans.

KOD

 

[Scott4USC]

I have not started capping individual matchups but here is some info on the USC football team and rough idea how I see the game going.

First off, USC is banged up badly at Linebacker. USC best defensive player Grootegood has been out for 4-5weeks but "hopefully" will return for the Rose Bowl. HE IS A PLAYER! USC has virtually no depth at LB so if any injuries happen in practice, it will HURT THE DEFENSE BADLY! Also, USC is very thin at OL and DB's. Remember, USC lost their best RUN BLOCKING OL DRAKE in the UCLA game, which could hurt USC against MICHIGAN. His backup is good but not as dominant. Drake is 6.7 340 pounds and can run fast. It be a good idea to see if USC recieves any injuries on the OL, LB's or DB's during practices. Lastly USC may be without all 3 starting TE's. USC 3rd string TE (who has been playing very well all year) sprained his knee so nobody knows yet if he will be back for bowl game. If he is out then kiss off the USC TE's being part of the USC offense against Michigan. Pete Carroll will practice/scrimmage this team very hard, so injuries are likely. Any injuries to these positions could be devastatiing.

Michigan worries me but not Chris Perry, because USC has the best run defense in the nation, but John Narvarre has the potential to tear apart the USC secondary. The USC secondary is average/good but nowhere near great. This could be a shootout. USC offense will have to dominate to win this game. Michigan offense is very well balanced and they are playing great football now. They remind me of last year's Trojan team. Two early loses and then some of the best football in the nation. USC needs to concentrate on this, or USC will not need to worry about any championships.

I think the key will be that the USCoffense is simply, just too good. We cannot be stopped. We score from anywhere at anytime. Once USC gets the lead and then expands it, MIch will have to abandon its run game ,and NAvarre will try and win it himself, and in the process make some mistakes, and it will be over. I am not confident Navarre can lead the Michigan offense in a shootout against USC. He will make mistakes and this USC defense forces turnovers. USC gave up a ton of yards to Oregon St. but that was the gameplan, USC wanted to make the OSU QB throw the ball MANY TIMES so it will increase his % to make mistakes. It worked perfectly and remember, OSU only scored 7pts against the USC defense off a drive. The other TD was off a 90 yard pass.

USC defensive line will be the difference, they will slow Mich down.
Also Navarre is the perfect QB this defense likes to go against. However USC will go through Michigans defense. USC would go through any teams defense at this moment. USC is very scary good. I also dont think there is anything Mich can do to prepare for the PRESSURE that the USC offense puts on a defense in decision making. One mistake and BOOM a TD. USC offense is one of the best offenses ever, they are so creative, unpredictible , so fast so many weapons.

The way for Michigan to beat USC is to have balanced offensive attack (which they have) and keep the USC offense off the field. CAL had balanced attack and beat USC and won the turnover battle. Michigan needs to win the turnover battle but fortunately for USC they do not turn the ball over. USC weakness on defense is the secondary and USC is vulnerable with passes over the middle of field. If MIchigan has a good pass catching TE that will hurt USC.

If anybody wants any answers to any questions about the USC football team please feel free to ask me and I will answer them. It does not get any better than USC vs Michigan in Rose Bowl with a National Title on the line.

FIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!

 

[THE KOD]

It does not get any better than USC vs Michigan in Rose Bowl with a National Title on the line.

FIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!

................................................................................

Scott4USC

Uh if you havnt been told the National Championship game is being played in the Sugar Bowl.


KOD

 

[Cie]

It does not get any better than USC vs Michigan in Rose Bowl with a National Title on the line.

Scott4USC

I feel bad for you and all Trojan fans. Unfortunately, the Sooners are competing against LSU for the hardware. A split title is a possibility, but I feel that Mich can run and stop the run better than the squads USC has defeated this season. We shall see, but I like the points in an early lean.

AS far as the best case scenario, LSU would be playing against USC for ALL the marbles. Why, because those are the 2 most worthy teams in the land.

As far as the best teams in the land, I would put LSU 1st, OU 2nd and USC 3rd.

Good luck:weed:

 

[The Big Tease]

Michigan worries me but not Chris Perry, because USC has the best run defense in the nation,

Scott.....I hate to keep throwing facts at you, but THE Ohio State University has the best run defense in the nation. A few yards better....but nonetheless better, and if we couldnt stop Perry....I doubt you guys will be able to.

 

[RexBudler]

I love the OVER in the Rosebowl .....i am a BIG USC fan but i think i would rather just sit back and watch these teams pile up the points

 

[THE KOD]

Chris Perry

On USC's defense:

"It is a challenge that we are going to have to step up to. They have great athletes on their defensive line. Their whole defense has great athletes all around. We are going to have to come up with a game plan, watch them and try and figure out their weaknesses and go out there and exploit them."

On the liklihood of success going up against USC's run defense after the performance against Ohio State:

"I don't know. USC has had success stopping everybody, so for me to go out there and say they are not going to be able to stop our run game would be stupid. They are a great team, so we are going to go out there, practice real hard, try and improve each day and get ready."

 

[Scott4USC]

The Big Tease

I'll take USC DL over anybodies in the country. Also USC DL is all juniors so they will be back next year. They have only allowed one 100yard rusher in 2 years. This same DL has faced at least 5 RB's who are just as talented (maybe even more) than Perry in the last 2 years. Remember, this DL is all juniors and all played last year.

Perry seems like class act and I now have more respect for him. Smart guy and saying all the right things. I was impressed with his running style against OSU. Good luck to him in the NFL but I will be suprised if he dominates USC. I am not worried at all stopping/containing Perry, I am more concerned about the USC pass defense and the health of the USC linebackers.

Cie Grant
I agree with both human polls, USC #1, LSU #2 and OU #3. If USC beats Michigan, USC will win NC from the AP/human poll while LSU/OU will win NC from the computers/BCS.

FIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gman2]

I am more concerned about the USC pass defense

if usc thinks they can get by playing the defense they played against oregon state, theyre sadly mistaken.

derek anderson threw for an obscene 485 yards.
and they werent all garbage yards. osu moved the ball consistently up and down the field. anderson is just so lame that he threw a ton of INTs.

personally, i dont think perry will be the main issue.

i think he'll have a solid but not spectacular day. i dont think michigans gameplan will be to pound it at usc. theyll establish the run a little, but i think most of the game navarre will be passing. thats how you beat usc.

 

[bbk]

Completely agree Gman; I think Michigan should have big game in the running and passing game; USC giving up alot of yards in every game they play and expect a team like Michigan that can run and pass to really exploit this weak Defense; As long as Michigan does not self destruct with turnovers; Michigan should win game by at least a TD; USC just came off a game where they gave up 540 yards of offense to an average at best Or State team and now face a team with an offense that is clicking. USC should get some points but wont be enough. Expect USC to do what O State did; put pressure on Lienhart and make him throw picks just like he did against Ostate. 6.5 pts is a gift considering Michigan should win this game outright. Will be my biggest play alll year.

 

[Scott4USC]

I think you are mistaken. USC defense did give up a ton of yards but that was the gameplan. Carroll is a genious on defense and USC is VERY HURT at LB. Carroll knows the QB for Anderson will make mistakes, guaranteed. So what does Carroll do? He sets his defense where OSU would have to move the ball down the field and make Anderson throw it many times. The more Anderson throws, the more INT's the USC defense will get. USC picked off what, 3-4 passes???? Looks like the game plan worked. USC wanted to stop the OSU RB (who is the best RB in west) and he only got 56 yards rushing, so USC put the whole OSU offense on shoulders of Anderson and he failed. OSU scored 7pts off 90yard pass and 7pts off a good drive but at the end of 2h when USC was up 28-7, 7other pts came off INT for TD, and the other 7pts came at the end of game in garbage time with 1min. left.

USC defense played exactly the way Carroll set it up. Tighten up inside the 20-30 yard line and force Anderson to beat you (which he can't). Carroll could care less about stats.

In the 3 years with Carroll, the USC defense has never lost a game for USC. Only time USC defense gave up ton of meaningfull pts was against WSU @WSU but that was contributed to USC playing a FROSH DB who got torched (cuz starting DB was injured) and POLOMOLOU getting injured early (who was best SS in country maybe outside of Newsome @KSU). Still, the USC defense did not lose that game.

USC will get healthier at LB for Michigan (hopefully return LB GROOTEGOOD who is the best defensive players on the team) and Carroll will have a perfect gameplan for Michigan. The great thing is if it does not work in 1h, this staff is simply AMAZING at making halftime adjustments. USC been moneymaker the last 2 years betting on them 2h along with game spreads.

BBK
Please do not make it your biggest bet all year, you will lose.

FIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bbk]

I hope Navarre fails to the tune of 485 yards passing in the Rose Bowl I have a feeling Michigans defense is alot better than OSU and will stop USC just a little bit; USC is not playing a weak ass pac 10 defense anymore

 

[gman2]

I think you are mistaken. USC defense did give up a ton of yards but that was the gameplan

scott:

please retract this utterly absurd statement before i lose respect for everything youve ever posted on this entire site. seriously. please retract immediately.

thank you

 

[THE KOD]

scott:

please retract this utterly absurd statement before i lose respect for everything youve ever posted on this entire site. seriously. please retract immediately.

thank you

.............................................................

Got to agree with gman2 on that statement .

Now Scott4USC is attending the meetings and is privey to the game plan. USC gave up the 485 yards passing because they stunk it up.

I have met some homers in my life.....

KOD:moon:

 

[Pujo21]

Michigan had 3 Yards rushing versus Oregon ( Perry 26 yards on 11 carries).

 

[Scott4USC]

You still do not understand. Carroll did not care about giving up yards. His gameplan was to stop Jackson (which he did) and make Anderson throw. USC DB's are not the greatest so OSU did get ton passing yards "but" USC got what they wanted in the turnovers. Also, USC defense toughened up inside the 20. If you have a QB who makes turnovers and they have an outstanding RB, why not stop the run and force the QB to throw the ball alot. Remember, USC was without their best LB too on defense. Meaning give up easy catches/yards, but increase his pass attempts. Anderson did exactly what Carroll wanted/expected him too. OSU was never threatening to beat USC once USC went ahead 21-7 in 1h. I call that a good day by USC. Once again, Carroll could care less about the stats. Now if Oregon St. was scoring TD's inside USC territory, then Carroll would have had to make adjustments.

FIGHT ON!!!!!!!!

 

[The Big Tease]

LOL!!!!! Yea Scott.....lets give up as many yards as we can! I can hear it now......


Coach Carroll in Locker Room: " MEN, we are here. Last game of the season. Win it and we have a shot at the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! So here is what we are gonna do......GIVE UP A TON OF YARDS!!! Thats right you heard me.....miss tackles if you have to! We want those bastards to put up no less than 28 points! We are all about the big play here, men. I want that quarterback to throw for over 400 yards and if a ball happens to come to your breadbasket....pick that sucker off. That is how we will win today! Dont worry about tackles, dont worry about pressuring the QB, just interceptions today fellas.

USC Players: Ya know what Coach....that sounds great! The teams we play all year dont know what defense is...so why should we??? Dammit, lets do it! Coach you can count on us.....Over 400 yards it is! WE GOT TO PROTECT THIS HOUSE!

LOL!!! Scott...please stop.....you are killing me.

Yea Ohio State had that same game plan against Michigan....

You guys are in for a rude awakening.......You have seen nothing like Edwards, Avant, and Breaston all year, and throw Perry in there and you guys may be in trouble.

 

[spits]

One thing I believe that hasn't been mentioned is that Michigan's offensive line finally hit it's potential the last 1/3 of the season and began dominating the line. They did it in big games as well such as at Michigan St. and at home vs. Ohio St. Should be a battle in the trenches with Michigan's O-Line and the D Line of USC.

Another factor is USC does have a huge advantage in that this is a home game for them. Michigan as we know has struggled on the road this season and over the years they have struggled when going out West to play.

I don't know enough about the entire USC team but obviously their offence is well-publicized and deservedly so. Leinhart is the real deal, but this will be his first bowl game and he is only a sophmore. Navarre is mistake-prone...especially on the road....but this is his last collegiate game and his play has improved drastically over the course of the season. This Michigan team has played like a #1 team since the 4th quarter of the Minnesota game on. And Navarre was a big part of that comeback.

As a Michigan fan my concern is with the possibility of being outcoached. I think both teams will come into the game with strong gameplans. It will be halftime adjustments that might make the difference and this season it seems Michigan hasn't done as well after the half.

Scott4USC mentions that he is concerned about the health of their LB. That is critical because no matter how strong your line is, it won;t have a significant edge, if any at all over Michigan's O-Line, which will make it imperative for their LB's to wrap up Perry. If your best LB is not healthy, that will give Michigan a good chance to run the ball at a decent clip. Combined with their plethora of WR...I definitely feel the Over is the way to go in this game.

I don't want to think about when USC has the ball however. Michigan's defence has been Jekyll and Hyde this season. At times against solid competition they have looked dominant (Purdue, Mich St.) and at times they have looked very suspect (Iowa, Minnesota). Needless to say, they haven't faced an offence like USC's..that is for certain. I just hope they play an attacking style and go after Leinhart who I feel is their weakest part of the offence.....which tells you how much I think of their offence considering this kid is gonna be a good one...he is already. Only problem is I doubt Carr and def. coordinator Herrman have enough confidence in their secondary against a team like USC to blitz Leinhart continually and force him to make quick decisions.

Just some thoughts from a Michigan fan.