4B - October 3, 2011
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
THE QUICK BREAKDOWN
M/ IZ E G / JG E The Michigan Daily football writers break down the weekend's stats that don't show up in the box score. The Denard-o-Meter measures the success of quarterback Denard
Robinson, the Beef-o-Metersjudges how emotional (positive or negative) Brady Hoke was following the game, and the Hype-o-Meter measures the fans' performance.
I k
DENARD-O-METER
3/4
4
Denards
Robinson started 11-for-11, shushing all the crit-
ics for one week. The thing he didn't do was
run; he only gained 51 rushing yards. Michi-
gan didn't need the production anyway.
BEEF-O-METER
3/ The defense dominated. It didn't give up a third-
down conversion the entire game. The offense got
a little crazy for a minute, but Hoke said he heard
Brady Hokes and felt and saw football, which is the goal.
HYPE-0-METER
2/4
Big Houses
The wave was strong even before the mind-blowing
slow motion split wave was run to perfection. But fans
left early and weren't too loud when they were there.
Yet, who could blame them? It was 38-0 at halftime.
LOOKING GOOD
JUNIOR RUNNING BACK VINCENT
SMITH: Smith is a 5-foot-6 ball
of versatility. His hands and
aptitude for pass blocking landed
him a job as the third-down back
to begin the season. His running
ability landed him one of the top
spots in Michigan's running back
by committee. On Saturday he
showed he could run, with a 3-yard
touchdown scamper in the first
quarter. He showed he could catch,
takinga screen pass and turning
it into a 28-yard touchdown.
Surprisingly, he also showed he
could throw, taking a pitch and
pulling up to float a 17-yard pass to
Drew Dileo for a touchdown. It was
the first time a player had run for,
caught and thrown a touchdown in
three years. And the last guy was
from Rice, so that doesn't really
count as major college football. If
Smith can do it again, Robinson
may have to look out. Smith's
arm strength was pretty solid.
REDSHIRT JUNIOR ROY
ROUNDTREE: After winning
the Brown Jug by 58 points, it's
hard to imagine that anybody
on the team is exactly, "Feeling
Blue," but there's no doubt at
some point Roundtree had to be
feeling left out. Eight different
receivers caught passes, including
sophomore backup quarterback
Devin Gardner. Roundtree wasn't
one of them. As junior quarterback
Denard Robinson was busy going
15-for-19 and Gardner following his
footsteps, Roundtree was targeted
one time. And he dropped it. After
nearly 1,000 receiving yards a year
ago, he seemed primed for another
breakout season. But moving from
the slot to the outside has reduced
his production. He has just five
catches and 45 yards so far. His
only touchdown catch was the one
that beat Notre Dame with two
seconds left. Then again, do you
need anything more than that?
NOTABLE
QUOTABLE
De vin w ill
probably
be one of
the best
quarterbacks
in the Big Ten,
once he gets
to start."
-Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson
on sophomore backup quarterback Devin
Gardner.
THE MICHIGAN DAILY TOP-10 POLL
Each week, Daily sports staffers fill out ballots, with first place votes receiving 10
points, second-place votes receiving nine, and so on.
1. LSU (9): Jordan Jefferson
made his return to the lineup
and fortunately did all his
stompingonthe field.
6. STANFORD: The
Cardinal's 45-19 victory
over UCLA was its slimmest
margin ofvictory thisyear.
2. ALABAMA (1): Trent 7. OKLAHOMA STATE: The
Richardson is challenging Cowboys must've gotten
Denard for best dread- worse duringtheir bye
locked player inAmerica. week.
T3. OKLAHOMA (1): After 8. CLEMSON: It was a huge
beating Ball State by 56, the weekend for any team
Sooners don't want to run nicknamed the Tigers - this
into Brady Hoke. one beat Va. Tech 23-3.
STAFF PICKS
The Daily football writers do their best
to predict, against the spread, what
happens in the 2011 football season.
Michael
Florek
Stephen J.
Nesbitt
No.19Michigan (-19S) vs.hMinnesota
No.1LSU (-27.5) vs Kentucky
No.2Oklahoma (-39) vs Ball State
No.3 Alabama (-6) at No.12 Florida
N4 Boise State (-29) vs Nevada
No. 6Stanford (-22.5)'vs UCLA
No. 7 Wisconsin (-7) vs No 8 Nebaska
No. 10 South Carolina (-10.5) vs Auburn
No.11virginia Tech (-7)vs. No.13Clemson
No. 14 Teas A&M (-) )vsNo. 18Arkansas
No. 15 Bayor, (-3) at Kansas State
No. 16 South Florida at Pittsburgh (-3)
No.17 Texas (9) atIowa State
No. 20 TCU (-19.5) vs. SMU
No. 21Georgia Tech (-6) at NC State
No.22WVU(-21)vs. BowliGeen
No. 24 Illinois (-7) vs. Northwesten
No. 25 ASU (-17.5) vs.Oregon State
Michigan State at Ohio State (-35)
Penn State (-16.5) at Indiana
Purdue vs. Notre Dame (-14.5)
Last Week
Overall
Michigan
Lousiana State
Ball State
Alabama
Boise State
Stanford
Wisconsin
South Carolina
virginia Tech
Arkanas
Bayor
SouthFloida
Tess
TC U
Georgia Tech
WestVirginia
Arizona State
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
9-12
72-56-3
Michigan
Lousiana State
Ball State
Alabama
Boise State
Stanford
Wscnsin
South Carolina
Clemson
Texas A&M
South Florida
Texasa
TCU
Georgia Tech
West Virginia
Northwestern
Arizona State
Michigan State
Penn State
Notre Dame
12-93
77-51-3
AN/Daily
Kevin
Raftery
Michigan
LusianaState
Ball State
Florida
Boise State
UCLA
Nebraska
South Carolina
Clemson
Arka nsas
Bayler
Pittsburgh
TCU
NC State
West'Virginia
Northestern
Arizona State
Michigan State
Penn State
Notre Dame
10-11
74-54-3
T3. WISCONSIN: The
Badgersawelcomed Nebraska
to the Big Ten with agoodol'
fashioned 48-17beat down.
5. BOISE STATE: Onlya
20-point win over Nevada?
Somethingmustbe wrongin
Boise.
Tim
Rohan
Lousiana State
Okahoma
Alabama
Boise Sat
Stanford
Wisco nsi
Auburn
virginia Tech
Texas A&M
Baylor
South Forida
TCU
Georgia Tech
West Vieginia
Arizona State
Mchigan State
Penn State
Notre Dame
12-9
82-46-3
9. OREGON: The Ducks
deserved abyeweek after
a running that no-huddle
offense.
10. TEXAS: Case McCoy
isn't even the best brother of
a former Texas star. Jaxon
Shipley dominated ISU.
Sam Sedlecky, '
Maize Rage
President
Michigan
Lousiana State
Ball State
Alabama
Nevada
Stanford
Wiscs sin
SouthtCarolina
Clemson
TexasAM
Beylor
South Forida
Tes
TCU
Georgia Tech
West Virginia
Illwees
Arizona State
Ohio State
Penn State
Notre Dame
11-9
39-25-1
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