AFTER THREE WEEKS!

Let me answer one question that was asked on a website. YES, we should worry about SDSU. Michigan is getting better but far from guaranteed wins against teams like the Aztecs. Yes, they are a 9 point favorite and yes SDSU has to travel across country for an early game but Michigan must play well. That leads me into some research I have been doing. We all have realized that Michigan's defense, especially, has been getting off to slow starts. So here is some stats I have noticed.

First off are these numbers.

Passing Offense is 93rd in the country.
Rushing Offense is 19th
Scoring Offense is 46th
Scoring Defense is 24th, what? WOW, are things really changing?

I Don't know, you see, the rushing defense is an awful 103rd. The difference is that there have been big stops in clutch situations and the turnover difference is off the charts. The passing defense on the other hand has been fantastic and I don't have the national ranking but it is somehere between 28-45 range.

Here are some numbers by quarters for the defense.

quarter by quarter yardage they have given up this season

1st quarter

rushing passing
223 167

2nd quarter

rushing passing
131 162

3rd quarter

rushing passing
155 260

4th quarter with the exception of WMU

rushing passing
47 97

As you can see, the defense gets better in the fourth quarter. Even with the exception of WMU's fourth quarter, they were coming from behind so the rushing yards would not be much higher than it already is.

The rushing defense is the only huge problem currently and that is because of slow starts. With SDSU coming in with a quality offense and productive RB, there is no room for error. A team can only start slow so many times before it bites em in the butt. This team is one that could hurt them if they get out to a substantial lead.

Here is the deal folks. This defense is good, getting better and building depth, But there is no room for mistakes like I said. At his time last year I would have said that SDSU was a favorite in this game but the intensity, focus and toughness is there. I was watching some of the EMU game last night and the sweeps were killing them early. Soon after, they caught on and it went away, this tells me that adjustments are being made and players are put in the right place. All of this is very optimistic for me personally. Every game is huge right now, and 4-0 would be a great start.