Michigan 31, Eastern 3

Score-wise, the game went about the way I thought it would.  Eastern just covered the spread.  The most troubling part of the game is that Eastern only attempted 6 passes. . .they ran on almost every down, and still averaged 4.5 yds per rush.  One of the weaker MAC teams runs down after down, and the defense struggles.  NOT A GOOD SIGN.  In fact, Eastern had a chance to jump out to a big lead in the 1st Quarter, but stumbled, fumbled and bumbled its way out of at least 14 points.  Again, we must conclude NO IMPROVEMENT on defense.

On offense, Robinson struggled badly passing the ball in the first half, and Michigan had to rely on him to run the ball.  In second half Vince Smith picked up a few yards.  Troubling: Hoke and Borges said they wanted to reduce Robinson's carries, yet today, against a MAC team, Robinson had 26 carries, and the tailbacks had 23 carries.  NOT A GOOD SIGN.  Again, Michigan is too reliant on Robinson in the running game.  Against a MAC team, Michigan's tailbacks should do better.  Vince Smith looked good in the second half, and maybe it's time for Hoke and Borges to admit this slow midget is their best tailback.

With Eastern refusing to throw the ball when the game got out of hand in the second half, you could conclude they gave up trying to win.  BOTTOM LINE: Nothing to indicate Michigan will be any better in the Big 10 than they were under RichRod.  Nothing to indicate they can beat anybody other than Minnesota, and maybe Purdue.