2013 - Year of Manball...Right?

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If Gardener returns to QB this team in 2013, then I can see a more  gradual transition from fusion cuisine to MANBALL.  Gardener will obviously line up under center more than Denard does and has the arm to be a more classic drop-back passer, but his feet are too much of a weapon to do away with entirely.

All depends on the OL; we still can't gap block and pull worth a crap.  Those are almost pre-requistes for any MANBALL offense.  The first class of OL recruited specifically for this will only be RS FR.  If Lewan stays, it will help because he can do both, but it may still be a while until we really see MANBALL, or MANBALL run succesfully I should say.

I agree its gonna be a couple years til we see real MANBALL. We need to get a few of Hoke's recruiting classes in there to create some depth.  Once the offensive line is full of 300+ we'll be back to pounding the rock.  Bo style is comin back.  

I agree with your assessment of the OL, but I have two things to add. Schofield, who is a pretty decent pass blocker, could move to LT, and having a redshirt frosh at RT is less bad, and that could be Magnuson or Braden. Just because Braden isn't above Gunderson as a true frosh doesn't mean he won't be much better than him in a year. Graham Glasgow has had some pretty good reports so far, and he was one of the few second string OL who looked good on Saturday when he was in. I could see him playing a guard spot or RT if one of those other guys isn't cutting it. Secondly, 6'4" 288 is not too small for a center, especially one who is still a year away from starting.

I disagree a lot with your assessment of the DL. From the two deep, we lose two guys, and neither of them are killing it at their spots. Second year Pipkins should be every bit as good as BWC, and Black with another 10 pounds should be a solid 3-tech guy. QW and Ash will have another year, so will Beyer and Clark, and we have a handful of guys coming off redshirts who should provide depth. The only spot that worries me is the SDE, but it's not like Roh is playing at All American levels now, and between Brink, Heitzman, Strobel and Wormley, we should find two guys good enough to rotate at that spot. The DL will be solid to good, and the fact that the LBs behind them should be incredible will only make their jobs easier.

By 2015, we will have an OL of Hoke recruits with a couple of years of play under their belts, an experienced QB who fits the profile he seeks, and a solid defense featuring the best damn collection of LBs in the country at the rate things are going.  Plus, most of the big games are at home.  We have a couple years to nab an elite RB and WR to play with them.  I think the next couple years will be 9-4ish; if we manage 11-2 again in any year before 2015, I will be pleasantly surprised.

Jack Miller is 6'4 288 now. At what weight do you expect him to be a year from now that will be less manball? 6'4 300 is a nice size for a C.

You have to look at our schedule next year.  We'll be 10-2 even if Lewan doesn't come back which I think he will.  I think Russell Bellomy will surprise people.

And a redshirt freshman left tackle? Ummmm...

Wasn't Lewan a redshirt fresman when he started?  And if memory serves, it was something like second game of that season?

I think next year will be similar to last year, record-wise.  The schedule next year is very easy, with the only true road test coming at MSU.  I also don't know why so many people are under the impression that Lewan will be gone after this year.  All indications have him returning.  I think our OL will look something like this next year:

LT - Lewan

LG - Kalis

C - Miller

RG - Bryant

RT - Schofield

While we do lose 3 seniors, I like the looks of that OL.  Depth should also be much better next year.  Add in the fact that we return virtually every skill player, the offense should be fine next year, even with the loss of Denard.

I agree with your sentiment.

The one thing we have going for us (in a twisted not so cool way) is that Lewan isn't playing like a top-15 pick right now. I also think he enjoys being part of Michigan. 3 games in and I've never met him, but I'm optimistic he sticks around.

Both lines are still weak compared to "the expectation at Michigan for the position" TM haha, but depth will improve on oline simply due to everyone in last year's class having another year and having 5 freshman.

Dline is rough for another year...Jake Ryan and Frank Clark RUNNING WILD YEAHHHHH

Some guy named Steve Everitt was listed at 6' 5" and 275 pounds as a senior. 

QB- bellomy / gardner
RB- toussaint
FB- hopkins
WR- gallon / dileo
WR- j. robinson / j. jackson
TE- aj williams / devin funchess
LT- lewan
LG- bryant
C- miller
RG- kalis
RT- schofield

WDE- clark / beyer
SDE- black
3-tech- brink
NT- pipkins
Sam- ryan
Mike- bolden
Will- morgan / ross
CB- avery
CB- countess
FS- gordon
SS- m. robinson

strengths: rb, exterior o-line, linebackers, secondary
weaknesses: qb, interior o-line, 3-tech

On my NCAA Football video game I MANBALL it up every game. Run the Iso up the middle with Fitz and usually bust it for a first down more times than none.