Michigan is No. 41 in Rivals countdown
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1100919 (behind paywall).
I was actually pretty disappointed in this review, as it seemed to focus more on RichRod being on the hot seat than anything else. Won't divulge too much of the remaining content, except team strenghts and weaknesses:
Strengths: QB, WR, DL, OL(middle)
Weaknesses: DB's, Special Teams, turnovers.
But the revenge tour begins Sept. 4.
... here's my idea for the revenge tour:
I think the reason you were negged is because you can't bind dilithium. Therefore, "Dilithium Unbound" is nonsensical.
/
... too many members with a facility for the Periodic Table.
But I was referring to the athlete, not the molecule.
But I was referring to the athlete, not the molecule.
I think Spring Lake's argument works for either.
How can they make QB and OL (middle) strengths and turnovers a weakness? Half the turnovers were because of bad snaps after Molk got hurt and freshmen QB mistakes. If QB and OL (middle) are now strengths, quite a few "unforced error" turnovers are eliminated.
After reading the article, it's clear that Rivals doesn't put a whole lot of effort into these things until they get up to #30 or so. It skims the surface and doesn't give any real insight into the team, and misses the mark completely in certain places (mentions the excitement around Terrance Robinson (zuh?), but blanks on mentioning Stonum other than on kickoff returns).
It kind of reads like a Bleacher Report post. Although, too be fair, it would be considered the most lucid, well-formatted Bleacher Report post in history.
for reading my mind!
Well, thanks for giving out a decent amount of information on an article behind a paywall. I think that that's a MAJOR ethics problem there, bro.
what's he done on offense that merits his being mentioned there?
That describes Darryl Stonum in my mind. I thought he was great last season when not injured. I can't name any catches in particular (poor memory), but it seemed to me that when he was healthy he was always fighting for attention and seemed to catch everything that came his way. Basically, he was anti-Savoy.
I was surprised. That was probably the best, most well-done pre-season analysis anyone has done on Michigan so far. Obviously they miss on some points and kind of reach with others, but there is plenty of info there.
I think 41 is very generous considering where we've been..and rivals seemed to hit on all the key points with great detail.
If I had to show a non-Michigan fan something to read on our team, that would be a good start.
pre-season analysis on Michigan can be found in Hail To The Victors 2010.
Indeed. My copy just arrived today!
I literally ran to my mailbox after reading this. Alas, no HTTV for me. The waiting will hopefully make the reading experience that much sweeter...
A must have!
Consume...
With 35 bowl games on tap this season, I would take 41st as Michigan would definitely make the post-season. I wan't to see Rich Rod get his 4th year badly and a bowl trip will probably make that happen. Of course a finish in the top 25 (after the bowls) would really please this fan.
To be fair, the heat under Rich Rod's butt is a much sexier boilerplate topic than, say, the defense's growing comfort with blitzing out of the 3-3-5. Not everyone can follow "spur" and "quick" and "Gerg" and "fabulous," nor do they want to. "Rich Rod is a butthole" sells more subscriptions.
Pretty friendly of them to list QB as a strength.
I think most schools pressed into having Forcier play last year as a Freshman would be excited about the future with him. The Drew Tate comparison is excellent, and I'd be thrilled if he developed into that.
The excitement about Forcier doesn't even take into account the fact that he may end up sitting behind Robinson for the rest of his career depending on how things shake out.
Just uncertainty, I think. The two candidates to start yield different benefits and different worries.
I think you're right on about the importance of Molk. Seems that many people underestimate the importance of a good center, and Molk is a great center. Looking forward to good things from the O-line in 2010.
Not even a mention of Death Roh on the defensive side of the ball? Can't wait for Craig's offical coming out party this fall, the media will be forced to cover him this year.
I don't think it ever mentioned Mouton either who looked like a stud during the spring game.
That's what I thought after reading it. How do you not mention Roh when talking logically about the future of this defense???
Logic? They don't need no stinkin' logic.
To be fair, turnovers have been a huge problem two seasons in a row. I'm not saying that we should expect them to be a problem this coming season, just that it's not unreasonable (if a little lazy projection-wise) to think they might be a problem again.
You know what else we had 2 years in a row? FR QB's who had never played a down of college football before taking the reigns for a major college program.
At this point, it should be ok to assume that turnovers should dramatically come down given that we actually have experience and depth at multiple key offensive positions (QB included).
Until we beat up on UConn and ND, that is.
Articles like this are rehashing the standard MSM lines. Fun for conversation but not especially meaningful until the games start. 5-0 and we are solidly in the Top 20.
Rivals is being more charitable to Michigan than a lot of those doing rankings. Ultimately, though, Michigan will have the opportunity to prove where they belong on the field, and that is as it should be. I see 40 or so as a worst case scenario, and the 'teens as a more likely destination for Michigan at the end of the season.
Although it might be fair I will never get used to this shit sandwich we have been eating for the last two years. 41 sucks ass!
the turd year will be much better.....
Can't wait til we're not bringing up the rear in the B10 anymore...
If Michigan ends up with a workable solution in the secondary I think you have a great chance of being right. Let's hope so.
and you fail to mention craig roh on D or stonum on KR then you didnt try very hard
Roh isn't mentioned but Stonum is mentioned with special teams.
If the 3-3-5 works for us and are D plays well enough, i can see us really starting 9-1, even 10-0 before we battle UW and OSU.. i dont think RR has anything to worry about, outside of a injury to molk or a DB
GO BLUE!!!
You don't think RR has anything to worry about? Pretty sure he has everything to worry about. Predicting a possible 10-0 start is pretty delusional, even for someone that is overly optimistic.
I heard the UM staff has been in the basement developing something called "Chia Woodson," which would allow the staff to pour water on Michigan DBs and all of a sudden they will make acrobatic interceptions and hit like UPS Trucks.
Otherwise, I think 8-4 is more realistic.
I was actually pretty disappointed in this review, as it seemed to focus more on RichRod being on the hot seat than anything else.
National services, I.E Rivals will never go far enough in depth. They always seem to skim the surface and hit on the points the media is focused on. I would like to believe, that if someone like Sam Webb was to do this review. You would see a lot more insight and more detail at every position. Now do not get me wrong, im just using Sam as an example. Most of these reviews are superficial. IMO, they will never get it right. All we can do is rely on the local sports reporters and let the team prove the national media wrong.
so according to Rivals....Dorrestein is starting at LT over Taylor Lewan
I feel that will not be correct come September 4th
It's Dorrestein's job to lose. He missed time in the spring due to injury, but he's a returning starter and three years older than Lewan. If his back issues have healed, he'll probably be the starter on September 4. If not . . . Lewan will be ready to step in.
I completely agree. Perry has 3 years and about 20lbs on Lewan. If Dorrestein can't go, I think Lewan will do well, but I like Lewan a lot better a year and15-20 lbs from now.
This is a decent ranking. but when the season starts we will be moving up.as long as molk stays healthly,are qb's will be on fire.can't wait to see the 3-3-5 defense,it fits are team best.GO MICHIGAN!!!
I think the biggest key to a step forward on offense will be limiting turnovers. Fortunately, many of our turnovers the last 2 years have been correlated to our inexperience. With more experience at quarterback, we should hopefully be able to have a 0(or maybe positive) turnover differential.
It has its flaws, but I'm encouraged that--of all the preseason rags I've had the displeasure of picking up--this one didn't claim "the trenches on both sides", the OL alone, or the DL alone as a weakness for Michigan. Though the effort in compiling this thing wasn't elite, it was a lot better than that of rivals.com's competition.
Forcier may or may not fix his turnover issue, ie he still was holding the ball out from his body when scrambling in spring video's and in spring game.... Ball security cost 2 games at least last yr,
Oline as a whole should be much stronger this yr, with now many olineman being upperclass and at least in barwis system 2yrs this is a much stronger and more talented group then we have seen the last 2yrs. Maybe the best group on the entire team.
Defense stopping the run in the bigten is the #1 thing to this season. If they cannot stop the run in any front 3-3, 3-4 or 4-3 no matter what they do this season will not be good. I still think it is paramount to run 4 man front with martin and campbell at dt's together but that's jmho. If 3-3 works I will shut up about it.
I still think this team should win 9 games this yr but nothing will suprise me, ie offense takes off and the defense comes together and this season shows 10 or 11 wins after the bowls or it falls apart and wins 5 or 6 games.....
Rivals is safe at 41. I just think too much has gone wrong the last 2yrs that they have to force things to go right for them this yr!