cool man.

This Diary is cutting edge, I tell you. Full of strong assessments. No spelling errors in naming current Michigan players (EDIT: you mispelled a former player's name as well). Detailed breakdowns of the roster.

Well done Wolfman.

This seems to be the a key theme by the OP and by others as the one thing Michigan has improved upon since last year.  Even where we had our greatest losses (DL, CB, and RB), we now SEEM to have increased the depth level.  So, here's the question in my head.  Are we truly deeper at those (and other) spots, or is depth just a claim used when there isn't much else positive to say about a certain position?  Without enough talent, depth doesn't really mean much.  So, do we have enough talented depth?  I feel we do, but I could see people making arguments to the contrary. 

Feels good to think about football and not sanctions for once this week.  Oops, I said it.  Sorry.  Forget I even spoke of the word. 

The offense should be better, but the defense is still a question mark.  It is easy to say that the LB play will be better, but how do we really know?  Also, the secondary needs to improve greatly.  If both of these positions on defense improve, I see a 8 win season in the fall.

Shaw and Smith really need to be healthy during the season, that is my only worry about the o

I can see it now: "Happy anniversary, dear: hope you don't mind celebrating it at the Big House."

I'm not sure that I buy the argument that Michigan was "about 6 inches" away from beating Illinois last year.  You realize that they lost that game by 25 points, right?  It was the biggest deficit of the season.

I understand all of the arguments about momentum and those sorts of things, but c'mon, it was 25 points!  I don't think that really qualifies as a near-win.  Just saying....

There were a few close games last year that went our direction (those two Indiana schools) so let's not forget those when looking at the close losses too.

That being said, I beleive the O will score 4 - 7 points a game more than last year and the D will allow 2 - 4 points fewer per game than last year. Why? I believe in the general opinions above (and the kool aid is good!). So, a 6 to 11 point positive swing should account for at least 3 more wins... 8-4. That's my bench mark for this year's team. A 5-0 start though is a must!!

I believe and hope that Coach Robinson has the sense to stay out of the 3-3 as much as possible.  Here's why:

• DL is easily the strongest position group, so it makes sense to have more of them on the field.
• 3-3 puts your defense (and more specifically, your secondary) in a more vulnerable position against the pass, especially with regards to vertical seams and in the flat.  The players responsible for covering these areas are the youngest, most inexperienced, most suspect players on the defense.

It seems to me that playing the 3-3 is not playing to the strengths of the personnel.  There are situations where the 3-3 is very effective, and I am hopeful that Coach Robinson will limit his use of the 3-3 to those situations.  If not, expect track meets (i.e., high-scoring contests with a lot of running up and down the field).

I can't help but drink it myself. 

2- 0: confidence followed by two more wins and 8-4 is possible.

1-1: Acceptable and off to 3-1. Big Ten season start could dictate the season.

0-2: Heads hang and doubt enters.

That puts the season on the fans. If the home crowd creates a chaotic atmosphere and the team rides the energy, 8-4 is doable.

QB: Soph, Soph (I know, they were in every game, but still, am I the only one that would like to see 1 junior there at least?)

RB: 103 carries in 2009 (V. Smith with 48 of those, Shaw with 42, Cox 13)

WR: Really...our only dependable guys are the slots. Without the Outside guys being a threat, our YAC offense isn't going to be very prolific

OL: Much better depth and experience, but that RS Freshman LT haunts me

DL: Disagree with OP. I think they will be better without Graham because all positions are bigger, stronger and deeper than they were a year ago

LB: never heard of this position. Next...

Secondary: Why parce this into CB and Safety when that just means 2 separate chances of a mild stroke? Let's just have 1 collective "hummana hummana" situation...

I agree with Brian's assessment. Throw away 2008. Year 1 was really last year and this is year 2. Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ohio State are all better than they were a year ago, especially on defense. I see us on the low end of 6-6 and high end of 8-4.

Its Michigan, we are always optomistic. The last two years I was optomistic (two not so wonderful seasons) and this year is no different Im optomistic again!

10-2 Penn State and Iowa take us down, Ohio State falls to us in a close one.

Nightmere over!

Most who were optimistic about the 08 team was banking on the QB's doing just enough to get by, not turn the ball over etc. Figured Mesko would pin teams back and I thought that no team was going to drive the long field on that D. As it played out, many teams didn't have to drive more than 50 yards.

I'm sold on depth at OL, QB, RB, DL and slot.

Not sold on LB depth - we have heard about Demens but haven't seen it. JB and Leech are the only other options we saw last year. Haven't heard much about Jones or Bell so that's still a question mark for me.

DB as well. Until Dorsey makes it in and Turner makes one play in a game I'll be a little scared. I'm not comfortable with JT Floyd at that 2nd CB spot but hey maybe he'll have an Andre Weathers type year and suprise me.

FG's scare me as well but they always will and a Freshmen punter isn't the greatest situation either.

There is going to be a couple guys step up on this team and there are going to be a couple freshmen that get in and show some promise as well.

I agree, I think we will get at least 7 wins and realistically could get 8. The first two games will be a good barometer to show how good ouR team will be. I just can't wait until September 4th!!!

The offense of course will be dynamic, Defense will do it's part and will improve. We'll see on the UConn game. Kinda funny thou how so many Big East fans are syaing that UM is looking ast Uconn, and also sayn that Um's defense will be failure without BG. They will be in for a rude awakening sept. 4. Like the Big East fans know anything about Michigan. =P Go Blue.

I think the key to the 2010 team will be the linebackers.  Michigan's been blessed with very good linebacker play in the past, so it CAN be done!  As long as those guys stay hungry and keep breaking down game film with the coaches, we should be able to stop most of the running games out there.  The only player out there that really scares me is Pryor.  Either Pryor can magically make defensive secondaries forget how to cover holes in a defensive line, or Michigan's linebackers need to step it up against him in the Horseshoe.  He's good at avoiding tackles too, I think that's his real secret.  As for the safeties...well...if our defensive line sans Brandon Graham is actually better at pressuring the quarterback with more weight and experience, then hopefully we won't get torched on 40-yard play-action passes.

As for the offense, a healthy David Molk will be key.  He'd better wrap his bum leg up in bubble wrap when he's sitting on the beach, because our team was so much better when he was on the field.  Forcier and Robinson both looked OK at the spring game, but given that the opponent was also Michigan, those weren't exactly 'ZOMG SHOELACE!' moments.  But Robinson definitely looked pretty good out there.  I can't wait for the day when both of those guys can play on the field at the same time.  Heck, we might even see Robinson at deep safety on some key downs...You never know...

optimism. 

especially homerific optimism. 

keep on fighting the good fight, my lad.  And don't let them hook any electrodes up to your brain.

I don't know why but I'm feelin 9-3 this year. BTW Sept 4th will be my 11th aniv. so hopefully we can both celebrate with a win. GO Blue!

is of course the UM defense (not to mention the schedule).

I have few doubts that Michigan is going to run, move the ball well, and score points this fall. So they lose two gimpy tailbacks in Minor and C. Brown who were tough and fast respectively, but never at 100% health in their careers.  They can be replaced.  The offensive line will be better than last year.  I'm not really worried about Michigan's offensive output.

However, what could kick Michigan out of bowl contention again this year is iffy play at linebacker and the defensive secondary.  I Michigan doesn't need a great secondary for pass defense in order to get bowl eligible (See exhibit Michigan State passing defense 2009).     But Michigan must field a defensive secondary that is fast enough and tackles well enough  to provide good support against the run. If the GERG achieves this somehow, then I think Michigan can win enough games to go bowling.

Got to stop the run.

Barkeep, set me up with another shot of Kool Aid!

I don't see any argument trying to prop up our "defense" as defensible, but for the first time, our offense may very well be able to outshine our defense's weaknesses.

I look forward to a seven or eight win season, and I hope to be able to watch a bowl game Christmas Eveish.

At least there's some room on the bandwagon now...

+1 for any Sound of Music reference.