2011 Offense May Be Awesome
I was looking at our depth chart and I came to a realization that I kinda knew, but hadn't really put together. This is for those of you who are still worried about the direction of the program. I think 50pts a game is within reach.
QB-Juniors Tate and Denard and Rd Frosh Gardner- You may say that there will be a transfer or position switch, but whoever the guy pulling the trigger on opening day 2011 will be much better than we have now.
RB Senior Shaw and Juniors Smith and Toussiant. All the potential to be at least close to Minor who frankly we really never saw at full potential so they may be as good or better.
WR Seniors Hemingway and Stonum. Speed guy with size guy perfect complements to each other with 4 years in system. Again if they are not starting then Stokes or Miller or whoever is freakin awesome.
TE Senior Koger is a beast man.
Slot Seniors Odoms/Grady and Soph Gallon- Not sure how great they'll be, but they'll be much better than they are now.
Ol-Spear headed by 5th yr Senior All American D. Molk this unit will feature much hyped recruits in their 3rd and 4th yrs that have better physical tools/recruiting hype than anything we currently have besides Schilling. Lewan/Washington/Molk/Huyge/Omameh sounds pretty good. Who knows who will emerge, but again we have so many good candidates to choose from it should be better.
RR has 100% of his system installed and most of the players will have 3 or 4 years of playing experience at this point. I knew we lost some Seniors this year, but I didn't realize we then only lose Schilling the year after. This offense will be blowing the doors off people on a weekly basis is my guess. Pt a minute saying comes back to Mich.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:19 AM ^
And score 644 points.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:45 AM ^
That team was stocked with seniors of NFL quality as well, much like the one you foresee.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:53 PM ^
But without the separated shoulders and broken ankles...
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 AM ^
Let's get through 2009 season before worrying about 2011. Long way to go and things can change.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 PM ^
I understand the sentiment of your comment, but I absolutely hate it. Why do we have to get through the 2009 season before we can hypothetically look at what the offense will be in 2011? If you don't want to look at what the future offense may look like, then don't. The OP wanted to. He did. I find it interesting, you are only concerned with this year. All of that is fine, but it is still interesting to look at.
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:11 PM ^
Yeah, these statements about not getting ahead of ourselves and worrying about the present are pointless. It should only apply to people within the program. Us speculating about the future has no effect on the present. We can still focus on this season, its just that there isn't a whole ton to talk about that hasn't already been said w/o us playing another game first and getting a new set of issues.
Who woulda thunk it? thinking about two different things at once? how is that possible?
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:28 AM ^
That really looks like a complete offense. I hope we have a defense that is up to par, and I think we will if GRob stays. What is most impressive in my mind is the depth, which is what makes me more optimistic about the future. We are not depending on one individual player to evolve (although a smarter and stronger 2011 Forcier could be something very exciting to watch). I imagine that RichRod is very excited to get to a point where his pipeline is flowing at full force.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:16 PM ^
"I imagine that RichRod is very excited to get to a point where his pipeline is flowing at full force."
So many jokes possible, so little time...
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:11 PM ^
Avodart: "Your pipeline WILL be flowing at full force...GUARANTEED!"
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:38 AM ^
but will the defense be giving up 51? There's plenty of room for improvement in the defensive recruiting.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:45 AM ^
Agreed, as awesome as it is to score 50 points a game, we need to make sure we can keep the other team out of our endzone enough, or the 50 points doesn't do Michigan any good.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:30 PM ^
If we can score 50, we will win the vast majority of our games. When's the last time we gave up 50 points to anyone?
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:48 PM ^
Northwestern, 2000.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:42 PM ^
That's good news. So if we just score 50 every game in '11, there's a good chance we win a MNC.
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:21 PM ^
Look at Oklahoma last year. They averaged 51 points a game, but couldn't outscore Texas or Florida. Still, they did play for the national title.
Florida, on the other hand, averaged only 43 points a game. Their defense, however, gave up nearly have as many points as the Oklahoma defense did (12.9 versus 24.5).
My point? I'd like a competent defense to go with that great offense.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:40 PM ^
recruiting is down this year is because we went 3-9 last year. similarly if we finish this year strong (like 8-4, 9-3 for example) recruiting will go back to where it usually is.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:41 AM ^
This is just about as bad of a topic header I can think of. You've posted enough around here to know that the owner of the site would like more informative topic headers.
Thanks.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:02 PM ^
You talk like there could be more going on in 2011 than what is discussed in the original post. Blasphemy!
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:12 PM ^
But what does it all mean? Besides, the world is going to end in 2012--are you saying Michigan could be the last national champion EVER?
Now THAT is quite a distinction! YOWZA!
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:22 PM ^
And that potentially high-powered offense will be getting OSU and (I assume) Notre Dame at home, and avoid Penn State altogether.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:36 PM ^
but our "open week" is at the start of the conference schedule. We play eight Big Ten opponents in eight consecutive weeks. Future schedules
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 PM ^
I imagine John Beilein's squad will be looking pretty good that year also, with Darius Morris, Evan Smotrcyz (sp?), Tim Hardaway Jr., Brundidge, Novak and Douglass as seniors etc. http://www.umhoops.com/scholarshipbreakdown/
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:56 PM ^
simply as "Evan" (think Tim Biakabutuka in basketball shorts).
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:02 PM ^
Darius, Evan, Hardaway Jr., Brundidge, and seniors Novak and Douglass? It's written as if all of them are seniors.
One problem with that is there is no size with the tallest being 6'8" or 6'9".
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:24 PM ^
You can click the link to umhoops.com to see their status, I apologize for not employing impeccably clear and accurate grammar on this board.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:18 PM ^
ummmm there's also a guy that's really good that's named matt vogrich kthks
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:20 PM ^
but how awesome may the 2014 offense be?
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:41 PM ^
The offense in 2011 looks great on paper. Is it too much to ask to have Cox, Hopkins or someone else become Minor RAGE 2.0 as a change of pace and pass protecting back?
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:03 PM ^
But keep in mind, we all kind of drink the Kool-Aid around here. Speculating that Toussaint, for example, will be a stud is fun to do, but none of us has any basis to do so. (*Side note: I do it all the time too.) Our QB situation will undoubtedly be very solid, and I'm hoping for a solid O-line, which usually happens when it is filled with experienced upper classmen. But, as for the rest of the skill positions, I've yet to see any indication of the awesomeness you project as none of the young guys has shown can't-miss star qualities yet.
But...damn I hope you are right.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:14 PM ^
I don't neccesarily see stars in all these guys, but what I am pointing out is our offense is pretty solid this year and at the WR, Slot and TE we lose nobody for 2 years other than Matthews. Assuming the natural progression of player development I see Shaw, Hemmingway, Stonum, Koger and Odoms to be very solid and maybe awesome. If they lose their jobs then that player should be unbelievable.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:17 PM ^
bb98 - it would be fantastic to have at least one huge play maker to throw the ball to but doesn't it seem like RR's offense can be very successful and rack up a ton of points if the current guys make incrimental progress? Just a little improvement in breaking back to the ball when Tate scrambles or holding a down field block a little longer will make a difference.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:43 PM ^
I think and hope that with the returning personnel we'll have in '11 we should be very good even if there isn't a Braylon, Woodson or Hart-type guy on the roster. But, the tone of the post was that some people would be "awesome" and I just don't see that yet at the individual level. I am much more optimistic for the "awesome" team at this point than for the Heisman-caliber position player (with the exception of Tate, of course).
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^
True freshmen like Tate and especially Denard (if he can improve his arm) playing at the level they are now look to me like can't miss star quality players.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:49 PM ^
Am I the only one who thinks that if it came down to it, a RS Frosh Gardner would not be "much better" than what Tate is this year?
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:24 AM ^
but...if he was starting ahead of Tate and Denard then he would be. My premise of this whole post is that these players don't transfer and our healthy.
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:05 PM ^
Can't be called Minor RAGE without Minor. Cox RAGE!!!
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:16 PM ^
Well then, how about RAGIN' Cox? Every football team needs one.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:38 PM ^
"Play Hard- the Ragin' Cox Story."