Comments on The Only Game That Matters: Michigan: The Preview

I don't understand why people think Michigan's def...

2008-07-02T12:18:00.000-04:00

I don't understand why people think Michigan's defense is going to be so good. Last year's squad ranked 58 in rush defense and didn't have an impressive sack total even with 8 sacks against Notre Dame! It's not at all clear whether or not the D line will be any good. Jamison, Johnson, and Taylor had a combined total of 8 sacks last year. Sure the secondary may be could but how are they going to stop the run?

I just don't understand why people continue to har...

2008-06-11T13:51:00.000-04:00

I just don't understand why people continue to harp on the argument that 'Michigan is just too talented' to be mediocre this season.

They haven't reeled in a top 5 class in recent memory. Notre Dame has, and they still went 1-9 in their first 10 games. When you have an unproven line (yes Boren was a good player, a whiny one, but a good one), and filling in your positions with players less recognizable than VH1 stars, you just won't be contending for the Big Ten title this season.

They might even have trouble with Minnesota and definitely with Michigan State. When a team like Michigan can't keep its mouth shut after a rivalry game and act like they've won it before, you bet the 'little brother' will be licking its chops to spit on you when you're down like Michigan is this season. What for a thorough beating by Michigan's traditional rivals including Notre Dame.

I see Illinois as having a punchers chance in ever...

2008-06-09T14:49:00.000-04:00

I see Illinois as having a punchers chance in every game they play this year - and that scares me. Michigan will lose at least one head-scratcher this year, where it's clear that Michigan is much better but they just can't put it all together. That's where my rationale for Illinois came from.

B2

A fine, if albeit somewhat "glass-half-empty" view...

2008-06-09T09:26:00.000-04:00

A fine, if albeit somewhat "glass-half-empty" view of the upcoming season. That said, I can't argue with too many of your points, but rather the overall conclusion that you come to following them.

I have but one real "not so fast my friend" in me here: No way on Illinois. That team will recede back into the depths of mediocrity without Mendenhall, and they aren't going to be playing Michigan at night in Champagne, it'll be in Ann Arbor against a solid defense who will have done nothing but practice against a type of Illinois' offense all year. Throw in the fact that Zook is simply not a guy who's going to intimidate anyone from an X's and O's standpoint and I just don't see that one happening.

I can't let you give the same Herbstreit/Cook prediction without protesting at least a little.

I just don't see this offense costing us 6 football games, especially not with the defense we'll be putting out on the other side of the ball. I think there will definitely be moments of ineptitude, but there's still way too much talent in place for me to think that it will constantly cost us games.

But hey, like you said, none of us has any idea what the team will look like come August... I can't wait.

Damn! 6-6! I hope you're wrong, and I believe th...

2008-06-02T22:11:00.000-04:00

Damn! 6-6! I hope you're wrong, and I believe that they've got WAY too much talent to lose 6 games. Are they going to be great? Unequivocally, no. The defense is too good for Utah, and Rich Rod has won everywhere--with no where near this much talent.

I believe 8-4 is going to happen for all the reasons you described, but Michigan has won too many games against too many teams running the old Zone Left and zero blitzes. Emptying the kitchen sink wins a lot of games with talent in the mix. I picture 4 games with lots of offensive issues (three early and one late in November), 4 solid games, and 4 with ninja woohoo scoring.

Essentially, only one team will out talent Michigan this year--and they won't play them until late November. It's definitely a "who knows" situation, but I lean more towards Champ.

We both agree, though, 9 wins is definitely a very strong year for such an extreme philosophy change. One last optimistic note, they went 8-4 in Jon Navarre's 1st full season.