3 Games In...Thoughts? Likes? Dislikes? What is YOUR 2-deep?

I like the adjustments.... to know that what's gashing the D or stopping the O is not going to last the entire game. that the coaching staff is going to figure it out.

If Roh has truly flipped the switch, he is and should be the starter.

Let's wait to see SDSU, Minny, and Northwestern before making a final decision on Roh and Campbell.  Pillaging EMU's offensive line isn't a feat by any stretch.  So far I'm definitely liking Black more though, but if Roh flipped the switch they come closer to being equal.

I'd like to see Roh and Black both in, on opposite sides.  We aren't getting a decense rush out of our line, and those two guys on opposite ends with a combination of RVB, MM, and BWC in the middle might generate some more pressure. 

I'd also like to see Gallon on kick returns like a lot of others have mentioned.  Vince is shifty, but doesn't seem to have accelerate fast enough for a kick returner, or have the all out speed to run towards the sideline and get the edge.  The last kickoff I think he took it around the 3 and was tackled before he got to the 20, which is concerning.  And if they aren't going to play Shaw at RB, maybe they try him back there?  Sprinter-types usually do well on kick returns, and that is Shaw's strength. 

I actually completely agree with your depth chart save one thing-- Michael Shaw. If he isn't on the two deep for RB, then he definitely needs to be PR and KR.

Is there a way to have both Roh & Black on the field at the same time? With the DL rotation, maybe they both just play a lot, subbing in for one another.

BWC . . . I will defer to Mattison. Hoke has said repeatedly that what you do in practice translates to getting the start (and doing it on the field.) I see Campbell improving, but I think that the coaches need to continue to motivate him by not just giving him the start until he has truly earned it. This is one of those times, where like with Stonum, you have to do the right thing, even if it hurts the team in the short term. Campbell has to be in shape, and do the right thing reflexively (pad level and all.) It doesn't take rocket science to see that Heininger is going to hurt the team.

My hope is that they work these things through over the next several games. Our schedule is extremely kind to gradually working Campbell in. I don't think he is critical vs. SDSU, Minn, NW, MSU, or Purdue. MSU would have been a problem, but with the decimation of their OL, I'm not afraid of any of the next 5 teams (in terms of DL play for Michigan.) That isn't to say that they are all going to be wins, but that having Campbell on the line starting isn't as critical. I think he becomes critical in all the November games, and if we're fortunate, in December.

On a related topic to Campbell and unmotivated players, I wonder what Mattison would have done with Gabe Watson. To my way of thinking, he never reached his full potential.

Why do you have Steve Watson over Brandon Moore?

makes no cents.

The only thing im disliking is the fact that if its 3 and 4 or less that denard runs it about 90% of the time. Im glad it works most of the time but i wish we had other plays for that aswell.

Cam Gordon is the starter at SLB when he returns and has starter's stamina. Jake Ryan has made some plays but you can see his inexperience and flaws when he has to play every down. To put it bluntly he does not keep contain well and is only most effective slanting upfield into the backfield or rushing the passer. When he has assignments like contain or coverage you see the flaws.

I think much like you have with Schofield as the sixth o-lineman I would think our best d line rotation would use Roh, Black, RVB, WC, and Martin and just rotate those guys.

Blocks better, as fast, stronger after contact, better vision...not breakable.

The young guys on defense who I expected to improve and who needed to improve have done so.  Gordon, Avery, Demens, BWC, Roh, etc. have all looked solid.  Woolfolk looks solid/healthy/healed when he isn't getting kicked in the grill.  We've discovered some new young guys who look to have real potential like Black, Hawthorne, and Ryan.  Kovacs has been incredible.  I can't wait to see what Cam can do in this defense with an opportunity to blitz the QB and drop into coverage and make plays.

All in all the defense has made a huge leap.  They are making tackles, they aren't giving up big plays, and they are forcing turnovers.  When they give up a nice gain, it is basically always because the other team has done something to fool our guys or because we are in a defense that makes what they are doing extremely easy (or because Michael Floyd is awesome at football).  Nobody is getting pushed around or getting smoked in coverage. 

The offense still has a ton of playmakers and a system to create tons of big plays.  Denard has to relax and play a little better (which I don't doubt he will) and I'd like to see more focus on the running backs early in games, but they are going to be just fine.  This is a really good team, but Michigan fans are just too gun shy to believe it at this point.

Excellent work here, IMO.  Nice formatting and good detail.  Mostly agree with your 2-deep as well.  

The offense is pretty much a known at this point.  Denard wins us games by himself.  No RB will step up and be "the guy", but Vincent Smith looks MUCH better this year (health is the reason I am sure).  WRs - you can replace where most people thought Odoms would be this year with Gallon (Gallon is my "most improved" player by a long shot for this team).

Defense is a little tricky.  Sometimes I feel like it's Mattison not wanting to show all of his cards before B10 season, and other times I just think we've been lucky (lots of yards given up, but much better TO margin than during RR era).  Our five best DL are Martin, Black, RVB, Roh, and BWC (in that order) and I fully expect BWC to be playing 90% of the snaps when we start playing good teams in the B10.  LBs are up and down, but Cam will be back soon enough and that should help things out (really excited about the futures of Jake Ryan and Brennan Beyer).  DBs are better than I expected, with Kovacs leading the charge.  

I like that we are 3-0

Like:

3-0.

Borges mixing spread elements into hybrid offense.

Mattison taking full advantage of players he has to put out a defense that isn't nearly as bad as people thought it would be.

Hoke as leader/delegator/face of program.  

Sparty and Brutus have losses.

Dislike:

Micromanagement and criticism by some fans when team has 3-0 record.  Note that I said "fans;" not bloggers, radio people, or reporters who cover the team.  It is their job to analyze, good and bad.  There is a difference between analysis and bitching.  

It becomes a meloncholy melange:

Denard passes too much.  Denard doesn't pass enough.  Denard runs too much.  Denard doesn't run enough.  Running backs should carry more of the load.  Running backs don't deserve any carries because they aren't performing.  Etc ad nauseum...

This Is MICHIGAN.

Beat ohio.