Here is the difference between this year and the 97 team

[Reality Man]

when it comes to players and the strength of the defense. When I think of the 97 team and what made them 'tick'...it was because of Sword, Gold, Jones, Woodson and Ray.

These were really the guys who made that defense great. What did they have in common..they were tough sob's and fast (outside of Sword). They swarmed. They could get you inside and outside.

This upcoming team is very different but has the capability of being a similarly great defense but not because of the safeties and lb'ers but because of the DL.

UM has so much talent and depth on that DL that they can play fresh and just wear out teams. They can stuff the run and get to the qb. That is a 3 headed monster with more than a competent back end of the defense.

Look out.



RM

 

[celemo]

I hate you

 

[scfanblue]

Football has drastically changed since 1997 in terms of the speed of the athlete and schemes designed to maximize that speed on both sides of the ball. the spread offense continues to evolve and the defenses to contain it. Michigan had a great defense in 1997 which was solid at all 11 positions/ The offense, however, was mediocre at best. That team could never win it today with that offense. What truly sucks is that the system back then rewarded Tom Osborne a NC because he was retiring. Purely political coupled with media and coaches who voted who were pissed off that Woodson beat Manning for the Heisman. The Huskers needed a miracle at Missouri to win and they got it with kicked ball. I remember Scott Frost blasting Michigan on national television and I hope his Central Florida squad is rewarded for that this year in Ann Arbor. Michigan gutted out each and every game in 97. The 2016 defense has the POTENTIAL to be better. however, thay have not proved anything yet except for the hype machine right now.

 

[BHWolverine]

Glen Steele was a beast on the d-line that year

 

[ChicagoBlueFan]

Glen Steele was a beast on the d-line that year

AGP. Wasn't he a HS wrestler?
I remember reading that his weight room numbers were ridiculous.

 

[STPGopherfan]

AGP. Wasn't he a HS wrestler?
I remember reading that his weight room numbers were ridiculous.

I was thinking the same thing and I'm a Gopher fan. Steele was a terror.

 

[michigangoblue999]

The main difference is this team hasn't won an MNC, or even played a game. Jesus Christ.

 

[JMPIL]

when it comes to players and the strength of the defense. When I think of the 97 team and what made them 'tick'...it was because of Sword, Gold, Jones, Woodson and Ray.

These were really the guys who made that defense great. What did they have in common..they were tough sob's and fast (outside of Sword). They swarmed. They could get you inside and outside.

This upcoming team is very different but has the capability of being a similarly great defense but not because of the safeties and lb'ers but because of the DL.

UM has so much talent and depth on that DL that they can play fresh and just wear out teams. They can stuff the run and get to the qb. That is a 3 headed monster with more than a competent back end of the defense.

Look out.



RM

Glen Steele was great on the d line.

 

[JMPIL]

Football has drastically changed since 1997 in terms of the speed of the athlete and schemes designed to maximize that speed on both sides of the ball. the spread offense continues to evolve and the defenses to contain it. Michigan had a great defense in 1997 which was solid at all 11 positions/ The offense, however, was mediocre at best. That team could never win it today with that offense. What truly sucks is that the system back then rewarded Tom Osborne a NC because he was retiring. Purely political coupled with media and coaches who voted who were pissed off that Woodson beat Manning for the Heisman. The Huskers needed a miracle at Missouri to win and they got it with kicked ball. I remember Scott Frost blasting Michigan on national television and I hope his Central Florida squad is rewarded for that this year in Ann Arbor. Michigan gutted out each and every game in 97. The 2016 defense has the POTENTIAL to be better. however, thay have not proved anything yet except for the hype machine right now.

As I recall 33 players on the 97 team played in the NFL a number of whom played on offense including virtually the entire offensive line,receivers backs,and quarterback .

 

[scfanblue]

That's correct and 99% of them were recruited by Gary Moeller and Les Miles. Carr always gets full credit for 1997 but Moeller, Miles, and others had a strong hand in the NC from the recruiting trail to the on the field schemes. he had Jim Herman as the DC who was excellent as was Vance Bedford as the secondary coach. Mike Debord SUCKED as the OC. Michigan's defense was so good that they only had to score a few TD's to win. Their best offensive performance that year was against PSU. To me, Carr was a mediocre head coach. Michigan had loaded teams after 1997 and he managed to lose 3 or 4 games each season. He should have hired Harbaugh when he had the chance and surrounded himself with excellent assistants to take over the program. All of his crappy leadership is what led to the botched hiring of RR who should have NEVER been hired at UM. When RR got there, Carr's behind the scenes passive aggressive crap made a terrible situation worse to the hiring of Brandon and poor Brady Hoke who was not ready for such a job. I don't blame Loyd for everything negative at UM and he did some good things BUT he certainly had an imprint in ALMOST launching Michigan into football obscurity like the Miami Hurricanes and Colorado Buffaloes. Thank God that Harbaugh was persuaded back to AA as well as Ward Manuel.

 

[BHWolverine]

Debord best play on 3rd down was a shotgun punt by griese. Carr didnt leave Rich Rod much talent although there was no excuse for the defensive scheme he tried to run. What was it? Something like 3-5-3.

 

[anon_sg4bgyiuileo1]

That's correct and 99% of them were recruited by Gary Moeller and Les Miles. Carr always gets full credit for 1997 but Moeller, Miles, and others had a strong hand in the NC from the recruiting trail to the on the field schemes. he had Jim Herman as the DC who was excellent as was Vance Bedford as the secondary coach. Mike Debord SUCKED as the OC. Michigan's defense was so good that they only had to score a few TD's to win. Their best offensive performance that year was against PSU. To me, Carr was a mediocre head coach. Michigan had loaded teams after 1997 and he managed to lose 3 or 4 games each season. He should have hired Harbaugh when he had the chance and surrounded himself with excellent assistants to take over the program. All of his crappy leadership is what led to the botched hiring of RR who should have NEVER been hired at UM. When RR got there, Carr's behind the scenes passive aggressive crap made a terrible situation worse to the hiring of Brandon and poor Brady Hoke who was not ready for such a job. I don't blame Loyd for everything negative at UM and he did some good things BUT he certainly had an imprint in ALMOST launching Michigan into football obscurity like the Miami Hurricanes and Colorado Buffaloes. Thank God that Harbaugh was persuaded back to AA as well as Ward Manuel.

Hindsight is 20/20.

Back when we hired RR, who wasn't excited to see the direction the team would take under him? He was going to be the polar opposite of Carr - dynamic, fast teams that were going to put the conference on its head. We all thought so.

Then the three win season happened...

 

[BHWolverine]

RR teams put up a lot of points despite not having a consistent QB who could throw especially on 3rd down. Nobody expected the defense to be so bad which is why he lost his job.

 

[ChicagoBlueFan]

Debord best play on 3rd down was a shotgun punt by griese. Carr didnt leave Rich Rod much talent although there was no excuse for the defensive scheme he tried to run. What was it? Something like 3-5-3.

3-3-5. The defense that Wisconsin ran the ball 29 consecutive downs against.

 

[michigangoblue999]

3-3-5. The defense that Wisconsin ran the ball 29 consecutive downs against.

Isn't that basically what Durkin ran against OSU last season?

Crazy. Glad we have Don Brown, who has spent a lot of time preparing for the kind of offense OSU runs.

 

[Kirbyblue]

Glen Steele was a beast on the d-line that year

Yea, I was surprised he was left out of original thread. If it wasn't for him, I don't think you'd be taking about the other guys so much.

 

[Reality Man]

By the way...Renes and Steele were phenomenal. It was never my intention to slight such great contributions. They were fantastic and a integral part of that championship.

That being said...what made the 97 team click was the lb'ers and Woodson/Ray. Woodson would shut down one side of the field and Ray and others could be even more aggressive in other areas.

This current team is constructed a little differently. This team needs Lewis and Thomas and Hill and others and they will all make significant contributions but don't kid yourself..it's the DL that can make this team great. Gary and Charlton. Mone, Hurst, Wormley and Glasgow. Inside and Out just putting pressure on opposing offenses. Every spot is going to be a battle for the opposing team and if one guy gets through...

Gedeon and McCray will be vital along with Winovich and Peppers and others.



RM

 

[Reality Man]

I hate you

Who do you hate worse....Reality Man, Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump?

Just curious. Throw in Hitler too anyone you can think of. Include Cancer too. Rank them. I want to see where I rank all time.



RM

 

[detroitjohn]

By the way...Renes and Steele were phenomenal. It was never my intention to slight such great contributions. They were fantastic and a integral part of that championship.

That being said...what made the 97 team click was the lb'ers and Woodson/Ray. Woodson would shut down one side of the field and Ray and others could be even more aggressive in other areas.

This current team is constructed a little differently. This team needs Lewis and Thomas and Hill and others and they will all make significant contributions but don't kid yourself..it's the DL that can make this team great. Gary and Charlton. Mone, Hurst, Wormley and Glasgow. Inside and Out just putting pressure on opposing offenses. Every spot is going to be a battle for the opposing team and if one guy gets through...

Gedeon and McCray will be vital along with Winovich and Peppers and others.



RM

I agree, the DL makes this line great, I think the defense nicely parallels the 06 defense: Lockdown corner, serviceable LBs, great and deep defensive line. We have Peppers, they had Crable, so maybe a toss-up at LB.

The 97 OL was great but very young (Steve Hutchinson and Jeff Backus I think were both redshirt freshmen). What differentiates this team, potentially, from 97 is at WR. The 97 team had Tai Streets and Jeremy Tuman at TE and that was it. We have very strong, 3 deep WRs and every bit as good a TE in Jake Butt, plus his sidekicks.

 

[Kirbyblue]

when it comes to players and the strength of the defense. When I think of the 97 team and what made them 'tick'...it was because of Sword, Gold, Jones, Woodson and Ray.

These were really the guys who made that defense great. What did they have in common..they were tough sob's and fast (outside of Sword). They swarmed. They could get you inside and outside.

This upcoming team is very different but has the capability of being a similarly great defense but not because of the safeties and lb'ers but because of the DL.

UM has so much talent and depth on that DL that they can play fresh and just wear out teams. They can stuff the run and get to the qb. That is a 3 headed monster with more than a competent back end of the defense.

Look out.



RM

Coaching, Apples and oranges!

 

[scfanblue]

The difference between the 1997 UM team and now is that they (97) went UNDEFEATED and the 2016 team has won ONE game. Once again, you cannot even begin to compare football today with 19 years ago and the athlete now and then. The 2016 team has got to face much more powerful programs in OSU, MSU and Wisky now. Iowa has always been the same to me. But OSU , MSU, and Wisky are way better now with a different type of athlete. . Also, the 2016 team IF they win the conference may have to beat Wisky or Iowa TWICE!!!! which is tough OR once if they lose to them in the season and that's if we beat OSU in Columbus and MSU in East Lansing. Then!!!! they have to play either Alabama (because they will be there again) probably Clemson or another Big Ten team like OSU is they finish with only one loss and are right there in the rankings!!!!! Much tougher to win it today

 

[ecrosswhite]

The 2016 team hasn't played anyone yet. The 97 team beat everyone...MSU & The ohio state Buckeyes...that's the difference right now.
If the win the college football playoff and national championship game...they will really be different in a great way... Right now we haven't even eclipsed last years wins(10)

 

[ArrowheadBlue]

one game into the season and UM is annotated. Let's wait for the first 5 games before jumping into the holy grail of football

 

[scfanblue]

one game into the season and UM is annotated. Let's wait for the first 5 games before jumping into the holy grail of football

Finally. A voice of reason

 

[John4UM]

Good riddance, it looks like a war zone here. Why are we dwelling on the past? Let's stay focused on the 2016 season, not the Stone Age.