football

Today marks the first day that we are FINALLY under a week to go before the start of the football season.  I feel like we at MGoBlog should declare today as the start of Kickoff Week so we can get the festivities and optimism flowing at high levels.

Last year I spent tons of time researching what the "experts" do in a fantasy draft, and I followed their advice to a "t". That sucked. Suffice to say I was horrible last year, and I'm really trying to turn that around. Last year I had many good players on bad teams, and that seemed to be a fatal flaw. This year I'm thinking a meh player on a good team is better than a good one on a meh team.

1. What is your advise as far as general strategy?

2. How do you feel about having multiple guys from the same team?

3. Any sleepers you think will break out (McCluster?)

4. Should I start with a QB, or a RB for my first pick? (I'm on espn's fantasy with their standard scoring system)

Any and all advise is appreciated, and hopefully I can win some cash this year...

at my own place, I've maxed out the number of connections I can use to record games over ClearQAM with Comcast.

I need someone with Comcast, (who presumably will be at the game and wouldn't be watching it on their TV) to help me with this. I'd be bringing my laptop, to which the Coax would go to directly. I'll be at the game as well, and come pick it up as soon as it the game is finished.

Preferably, it would not be in your family room (I would prefer it if someone didn't walk out with my Macbook Pro). Also, if you have a DVR in your room, that wouldn't work since you'd need one of these bad boys - http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/12/12-3-08-comcast-dta.jpg

If you're of age, you'd be paid in beer. Or cash. Whichever you prefer.

...days...

...until Je'Ron Stokes and the rest of the X and W receivers burn up the new Michigan Stadium Field Turf and torch the UConn secondary.

Sunday edition special and Rich seems pretty candid with his responses:

http://www.freep.com/article/201008290300/COL01/8290419

A couple of highlights: (Sorry no text boxes, still learning that.)

M: Do you hear a ticking clock on your time here?

R: Oh, I know there's the talk out there, because we get it used against us in recruiting. But do I have a heightened sense of urgency? I don't know if it can get more heightened than it always is. Sure, we need to win and we need to have success. But I've always felt that way

M: What would be a failure in your mind this season?

R: If we're not in the conversation as far as competing for a Big Ten championship and if we're not playing top 25 football by the end of the year.

M: Why is Tate Forcier not further ahead than the others, based on games he started last year?

R: It's really been the other things with him. From a football standpoint, he always works hard. But to advance, certainly at this level, you've gotta do all the other things right -- academically, off the field. ... And if you're always in our doghouse, so to speak, because of (those) other issues, then it's gonna slow your progress down

M: Was that an assumption you now regret?

R: Well, I think, the class that graduated ... Chad Henne and Mike Hart and Shawn Crable ... that class ... that's a special group. Those kind don't come along very often. And so for me to assume that the guys behind them would have been at that level ... that was a mistake.

Overall, a really good read.

Wouldn't you know it, but Angelique has the quarterback situation all figured out.

At some point toward the end of next week, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez will inform his quarterbacks who will be the starter against Connecticut in the Sept. 4 opener.  And that is all well and good. After all, someone has to start. But the point Rodriguez keeps making is this: It shouldn't matter.

It shouldn't matter because Quarterback X could start the first game, and quarterbacks Y and Z also could take snaps. Perhaps Quarterback Y looks so solid during the opener, he gets the starting job at Notre Dame, and Quarterback X does some things that warrant another start in the third game, and Quarterback Z? Don't forget what Quarterback Z can do, and so on.

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The cool thing is that all three quarterbacks have seemed absolutely sincere when they've said while the starting job is their respective goal, they absolutely would support whomever that starter is if he is deemed the best choice for the team to win.  Why such an all-for-one, one-for-all approach?

Because all three, including Forcier, who started every game last season, and Gardner, the freshman who enrolled early and participated in spring practice, believe they will play even if they don't start.

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So while Rodriguez will be peppered this week with the who's-the-starting-quarterback question (me ask that? Never! Ha!), maybe the answer should be: Does it really matter?

Moral of the story: Stop obsessing about who starts at quarterback because it's likely that if your favorite doesn't start, he will get extensive playing time during the UConn game and beyond.  Instead, start worrying about perfecting your tailgating, television watch party or sports bar viewing plans.