So I'll ask this question again for Nddecker1....

[Reality Man]

tell me again why UM can't win 8 or 9 games from what I have read/heard. Unless Rivals is way off the mark then I am genuinely confused at why I should have low expectations.

This is a different version from AB's post.


1. It has a starting BT qb in Rudock. It has a legitimate qb who in theory doesn't turn the ball over.
2. It now has Isaac who is another physical rb (Harbaugh likes physicality) along with Smith. Not the quickest/fastest but probably a good combo with a low turnover qb and decent line.
3. OL is projected to be solid (B).
4. Butt is supposed to be good.
5. Harris may make some contributions. Perry is supposed to be able to get open. That is 2 wr's (Butt/Perry) plus maybe Darboh who can add some value.
6. Is Peppers going to play some 'O'. ST's too?
7. Solid defense. Ball control offense.
8. Harbaugh

This is a team that is a 7 win team? Really? Is Gardner starting as the qb?


So I'll ask this for the last time before the season starts...if Rivals is so knowledgeable on recruiting talent then why should I expect anything less than 8 or 9 wins. Seriously. 7 wins and I should think the season is a success? Sure? If Morris was the qb...o.k.

I will consider 7 wins with no victory against MSU or OSU as a non passing grade. Sorry folks. Convince me otherwise. Where is my buddy Nddecker1?



Reality Man

 

[Lake Tahoe Spartan]

How do you see MSU doing this season?

 

[scfanblue]

Very well because they are loaded with talent and are coached extremely well. The Spartans will have a great season. I also believe that Michigan will also have a great season in Harbaugh's debut. The media acts surprised now saying that they were wrong about the talent. Almost 90% or more of the players that are on Michigan's roster were offered by MSU/OSU/ and many most of the top SEC schools. Brady Hoke recruited well in most spots except QB and to be honest, Alabama even offered Shane Morris. Hoke had a terrible staff except for Mattison and they did not DEVELOP or PUSH their players. The talent is there and Harbaugh will do more with less in certain positions this year and then recruit the hell out of those positions which he thinks he needs. Look at those who have committed for next year by position. Michigan will win 9, 10 or possibly /11 games this year under Jim and the game with MSU will be a great one and especially since it's in AA. Nevertheless, MSU will once again be in the top 10 all year and will also win 9,10 , 11 or more games. I hope they do well and I hope they win another big bowl game. I will not, however, root for them when they come to AA.

 

[Reality Man]

I see a very solid MSU team? Why...well coached and a good qb.

I think the game at UM is a toss up. I think MSU can beat anyone on their schedule. I think UM can beat anyone on their schedule except OSU but always an upset opportunity.

I am with scfanblue. I don't buy this media 'reign in expectations' garbage unless they want to admit they were wrong on the recruiting front. I don't see the 97 UM team but this team could win the Big Ten. They could also underachieve but the over/under should actually be 8.5 wins.

Just because UM doesn't have Mario Manningham or Timmy B or Edwards or Henne/Hart on the roster doesn't mean UM can't win. You don't have to blow out teams to beat them.


Reality Man

 

[tnakfoor]

Can't explain why Morris was offered by Bama but it doesn't mean he is good. He has never actually played good in games in HS or college. That was a bad example to sight in support of your argument. I think the problem for UM this year is that the offense has average players at all skill positions. They will struggle to score against decent defenses. PSU, Minnesota and Maryland on the road will be tough outs for UM. OSU and MSU are too good on both sides of the ball for UM to score enough to win with defense in those games. Utah probably wins because it is the first game. Too soon for Mo Jo to matter for UM. Those are 6 realistic losses for UM this year even if UM improves which they will. Three of them would be sure UM wins in future years but maybe not this year. OSU, MSU and PSU will never be sure wins in the foreseeable future.

 

[scfanblue]

You do not have a crystal ball for UM this year and saying that citing Shane Morris's recruiting outside of his UM offer is not a good example is utterly stupid. Why in the hell would Nick Saban offer Shane Morris then? Because he thought he did not play play well in high school? Are you a pro scout then? Click on UM's current roster and look their projected starters and their recruiting. Darboh, for example was offered by a host of BIG 10 schools including Florida, LSU etc. Deveon Smith the RB was even offered by OSU. Michigan's roster is loaded with players already and I believe the tiny little bit of info that has leaked out from the media about them being wrong about the talent pool and that Harbaugh is going to have a good team this year has people like you nervous and that is why you are on here. Go back to your team board and focus on them. If you are going to troll here don't make statements like you don't know how Alabama could make an offer to a kid because you don;t think he is good. I think Nick Saban knows just a bit more than you and his bank account and 4 RECENT national championships can prove that.

 

[PharmD Blue]

You do not have a crystal ball for UM this year and saying that citing Shane Morris's recruiting outside of his UM offer is not a good example is utterly stupid. Why in the hell would Nick Saban offer Shane Morris then? Because he thought he did not play play well in high school? Are you a pro scout then? Click on UM's current roster and look their projected starters and their recruiting. Darboh, for example was offered by a host of BIG 10 schools including Florida, LSU etc. Deveon Smith the RB was even offered by OSU. Michigan's roster is loaded with players already and I believe the tiny little bit of info that has leaked out from the media about them being wrong about the talent pool and that Harbaugh is going to have a good team this year has people like you nervous and that is why you are on here. Go back to your team board and focus on them. If you are going to troll here don;t make statements like you don;t know how Alabama could make an offer to a kid because you don;t think he is good. I think Nick Saban knows just a bit more than you and his bank account and 4 RECENT national championships can prove that.

Not to mention they will be beating up on little brother again pretty regularly

 

[tnakfoor]

You are really telling folks that based on insider homer reports we should all be fearful of the now awesome UM roster? Shane Morris is not good. He just got beat out by Jake Rudock who left Iowa because he was beat out as a RS Junior by a guy who isn't in the top 5 Big Ten QB's after starting for 2 years. I don't care who Morris was offered by, he isn't good. He was over rated. How many others are on that roster that may not have the talent that you think they do. Is Harbaugh going to make your running backs faster? Now all of the sudden Hoke couldn't coach a lick? Why was he hired then? Think he might have been hyped and over rated just like many of your recruits? You guys don't get it. You are not the number 1 school who performs worst vs recruiting rankings by accident. Hyperbole is a mainstay of your brand. It sells publications, cloths, raises money and on and on. It doesn't mean you are all of the sudden great over night. Play at least one game before you start crowing about what you're gonna do.

 

[PharmD Blue]

Well one thing is for sure: It has little brother over here posting about it more than ever! Enough said

 

[tarun262]

Some big words there tnakfoor - you seriously just love to throw out random facts. Let me throw a few things at you - first of all, if you don't like the enthusiasm shown by Michigan fans why are you on this site? Go get a life in that case. Secondly, tell if a QB with the following stats is good or not:

180 completions on 353 attempts (51% rate), 9TDs and 9INTs

Seriously, don't look it up and tell me if you think that's a good QB or not? I would love your honest thoughts since you think Ruddocks sucks so badly. This is too easy I will answer it for you - those stats were Brian Hoyer (your beloved starting QB in the NFL) in his SENIOR year. Yes, look it up!!! Ruddock's 2 seasons with Iowa are both WAY better then that of Hoyer. So if you really want to start doing random comparisons I will play that game with you all day long. The type of offense a team runs, etc makes a huge difference. It does matter. Denard's stats would have been much better under RR then under Hoke. All the 3 OSU QBs would be terrible if they played for a coach who ran a purely Pro style offense. Seriously if you hate what is being said here so much - go elsewhere.

 

[tarun262]

Can't explain why Morris was offered by Bama but it doesn't mean he is good. He has never actually played good in games in HS or college. That was a bad example to sight in support of your argument. I think the problem for UM this year is that the offense has average players at all skill positions. They will struggle to score against decent defenses. PSU, Minnesota and Maryland on the road will be tough outs for UM. OSU and MSU are too good on both sides of the ball for UM to score enough to win with defense in those games. Utah probably wins because it is the first game. Too soon for Mo Jo to matter for UM. Those are 6 realistic losses for UM this year even if UM improves which they will. Three of them would be sure UM wins in future years but maybe not this year. OSU, MSU and PSU will never be sure wins in the foreseeable future.

Never??? Really - what makes you think PSU is all of a sudden so darn good? They have sucked as well? Once again, randoms. What do you define as near future? You know MSU is 1 or 2 injuries away from going from top dog to middle of the pack - they lose Cook and they are in a lot of trouble. A lot happens during the season - injuries happen, some players regress, some move forward.

 

[tarun262]

I see a very solid MSU team? Why...well coached and a good qb.

I think the game at UM is a toss up. I think MSU can beat anyone on their schedule. I think UM can beat anyone on their schedule except OSU but always an upset opportunity.

I am with scfanblue. I don't buy this media 'reign in expectations' garbage unless they want to admit they were wrong on the recruiting front. I don't see the 97 UM team but this team could win the Big Ten. They could also underachieve but the over/under should actually be 8.5 wins.

Just because UM doesn't have Mario Manningham or Timmy B or Edwards or Henne/Hart on the roster doesn't mean UM can't win. You don't have to blow out teams to beat them.


Reality Man

Agree - I see MSU winning likely 10 games (OSU will be tough and I predict a loss @Michigan purely as an optimistic fan - tnakfoor, I know what you are going to say, but seriously get a life!). We will know a lot about MSU when they play Oregon. I also think this year defenses will not be surprised by the MSU offense (they emerged last year and caught a lot of teams by surprise). They will do well.

I agree, I think Michigan will not be as bad as people think they will be. Remember, this is the same team that started last season as a Top 15 team with virtually the same players but younger - people forget that. They severely underperformed and now the pendullum has swung the other way. I think injuries to Mone, Wheatley, etc all do hurt us but I think this team will be better then most think. Now will that be enough to show in Wins/Losses - TBD. Last year, we were a 5 win team that would have won 11 games if we only had to play the first half of every game and would have won 1 game if we only had to play the 2nd half of every game. We made no adjustments - overall though we were a 5 win team that was worse then most 5-win teams. Similarly in 2012 we were an 8-win team that was way better then their 8 wins with close losses to SC, OSU, and an injury to our starting QB against Nebraska. Like I said, a lot will be known about Michigan once they play @Utah. If the offense completely sputters, we will be in for a long long ride with no relief in sight until next season. If our offense can put together 20+ points, I think we will do much better because I expect this defense to be pretty solid.

Personally I want to see progress on the field - when that happens, wins and losses take care of themselves.

 

[PharmD Blue]

Some big words there tnakfoor - you seriously just love to throw out random facts. Let me throw a few things at you - first of all, if you don't like the enthusiasm shown by Michigan fans why are you on this site? Go get a life in that case. Secondly, tell if a QB with the following stats is good or not:

180 completions on 353 attempts (51% rate), 9TDs and 9INTs

Seriously, don't look it up and tell me if you think that's a good QB or not? I would love your honest thoughts since you think Ruddocks sucks so badly. This is too easy I will answer it for you - those stats were Brian Hoyer (your beloved starting QB in the NFL) in his SENIOR year. Yes, look it up!!! Ruddock's 2 seasons with Iowa are both WAY better then that of Hoyer. So if you really want to start doing random comparisons I will play that game with you all day long. The type of offense a team runs, etc makes a huge difference. It does matter. Denard's stats would have been much better under RR then under Hoke. All the 3 OSU QBs would be terrible if they played for a coach who ran a purely Pro style offense. Seriously if you hate what is being said here so much - go elsewhere.

It's called fear, and little brother seems to have a lot of it nowadays. That's what happens when your instate rival hires (finally!!) one of the best coaches in the sport.

 

[irish_mick]

tell me again why UM can't win 8 or 9...

1. Average QB
2. Average OL
3. Average offensive skill positions
4. Average LB corp
5. Average secondary
6. Unknown at kicker
7. The 2 teams from Utah are no cake walk & a 2-2 OCC a likely outcome.
8. Both MSU & OSU are superior in every facet of the game, which likely brings the loss total to 4
9. This leaves no room for error on the road vs. PSU & Minnesota. Losing to both in much more likely than beating both.

Unfortunately when a great majority of team is average (QB, RB, OL, LB, CB, K) vs. a descent schedule, the team record is usually a reflection of such (6-6).

 

[DetroitRockCity]

1. Average QB
2. Average OL
3. Average offensive skill positions
4. Average LB corp
5. Average secondary
6. Unknown at kicker
7. The 2 teams from Utah are no cake walk & a 2-2 OCC a likely outcome.
8. Both MSU & OSU are superior in every facet of the game, which likely brings the loss total to 4
9. This leaves no room for error on the road vs. PSU & Minnesota. Losing to both in much more likely than beating both.

Unfortunately when a great majority of team is average (QB, RB, OL, LB, CB, K) vs. a descent schedule, the team record is usually a reflection of such (6-6).

If Brian Kelly were coaching this team, I would agree with you.

 

[tnakfoor]

It's called fear, and little brother seems to have a lot of it nowadays. That's what happens when your instate rival hires (finally!!) one of the best coaches in the sport.

You guys like to tell yourselves it's fear because it feeds your fantasy. I think MSU fans are more concerned about being able to stay healthy and keep OSU from putting up more than 35 on them in Columbus. Still fear isn't the appropriate emotion. It's a game, not life. In reference to PSU....it's about their defense and your ability to score more than 13 points on them.