Summer Reading
There are two magazines I read every summer: The Wolverine Preview and Phil Steele
THE WOLVERINE
My summer reading includes The Wolverine Preview Magazine which I DO read cover to cover. Our guys know Michigan far better than any other source. (MINE HAS NOT ARRIVED YET...DOH)
Phil Steele
Some people swear by him and other swear at him. His predictions are highly accurate, just ask him and he will tell you. Phil Steele loves him some Phil Steele. I confess that I read his magazine every summer. I never read it all. No one could. It’s like the definitive encyclopedia for college football each year. He especially earned my respect when he accurately predicted the total collapse of Michigan under RR in 2008.
Overall: Steele sees Michigan taking a step back. He sees OSU, Penn St, Wisconsin and Florida as ALL noticeably stronger teams than Michigan. Steele does not directly predict records. Based upon my reading of this he sees Michigan as an 8-4 team, perhaps 9-3. Yet...he says that they are fully capable of winning the Big10 east and the conference. (covering his bases)
GRADUATION: The dominant reason for the step back is inexperience and loss of so many starters. Ranked Michigan 127th in returning talent.(MSU 129th)
Some National Rankings Data
· Power Poll (neutral site team strength): Ohio St. 3, Penn St 7, Florida 10, Wisconsin 11, Notre Dame 16, Michigan 17, MSU 70th
· Prediction for Most Improved team in 2017: Notre Dame?
· Surprise (better) Teams: #1 Florida, #6 Michigan (because Michigan will not fall as far as other expect)
· Expects Michigan State to significantly improve last season’s record
· Scoring Offense: Penn St 5, Ohio St 10, Rutgers 126
· Total Offense: Ohio St 8, Penn St 13
· Rush Defense: Wisconsin 1, Ohio St 7, Penn St 13
· Pass Defense: Ohio St 1, Florida 3, Notre Dame 9, Michigan 12
· Scoring Defense: Wisconsin 1, Ohio St. 2,
· Total Defense: Ohio St 1, Wisconsin 4, Florida 10, Michigan 14, Notre Dame 15
· Toughest Schedule: Notre Dame 12, Michigan St 20, Michigan 36, Florida 40, Ohio St 54, Penn St 55, Wisconsin 70
EXPECTATIONS GAP: The expectations of this board and the outside world are MILES apart
There are two magazines I read every summer: The Wolverine Preview and Phil Steele
THE WOLVERINE
My summer reading includes The Wolverine Preview Magazine which I DO read cover to cover. Our guys know Michigan far better than any other source. (MINE HAS NOT ARRIVED YET...DOH)
Phil Steele
Some people swear by him and other swear at him. His predictions are highly accurate, just ask him and he will tell you. Phil Steele loves him some Phil Steele. I confess that I read his magazine every summer. I never read it all. No one could. It’s like the definitive encyclopedia for college football each year. He especially earned my respect when he accurately predicted the total collapse of Michigan under RR in 2008.
Overall: Steele sees Michigan taking a step back. He sees OSU, Penn St, Wisconsin and Florida as ALL noticeably stronger teams than Michigan. Steele does not directly predict records. Based upon my reading of this he sees Michigan as an 8-4 team, perhaps 9-3. Yet...he says that they are fully capable of winning the Big10 east and the conference. (covering his bases)
GRADUATION: The dominant reason for the step back is inexperience and loss of so many starters. Ranked Michigan 127th in returning talent.(MSU 129th)
Some National Rankings Data
· Power Poll (neutral site team strength): Ohio St. 3, Penn St 7, Florida 10, Wisconsin 11, Notre Dame 16, Michigan 17, MSU 70th
· Prediction for Most Improved team in 2017: Notre Dame?
· Surprise (better) Teams: #1 Florida, #6 Michigan (because Michigan will not fall as far as other expect)
· Expects Michigan State to significantly improve last season’s record
· Scoring Offense: Penn St 5, Ohio St 10, Rutgers 126
· Total Offense: Ohio St 8, Penn St 13
· Rush Defense: Wisconsin 1, Ohio St 7, Penn St 13
· Pass Defense: Ohio St 1, Florida 3, Notre Dame 9, Michigan 12
· Scoring Defense: Wisconsin 1, Ohio St. 2,
· Total Defense: Ohio St 1, Wisconsin 4, Florida 10, Michigan 14, Notre Dame 15
· Toughest Schedule: Notre Dame 12, Michigan St 20, Michigan 36, Florida 40, Ohio St 54, Penn St 55, Wisconsin 70
EXPECTATIONS GAP: The expectations of this board and the outside world are MILES apart
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