MIWolverine1111

June 5th, 2010 at 10:40 AM ^

We just need one of our young players like Campbell or Roh to step up this season and by the end of the season they will be getting the recognition they deserve. It would be nice to see a few Michigan defensive players on this list in the near future.

Magnus

June 5th, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^

On the list for offense, Forcier was the lone Michigan player, and he was outside the top 10, too.

I certainly hope somebody steps up on both sides of the ball to prove those voters wrong.  It's weird to see top 10 lists of the best players in the conference . . . and have the only Michigan players barely receiving honorable mention.

Raback Omaba

June 5th, 2010 at 11:32 AM ^

Do not mean anything. Nothing. Nothing at all. I have been telling this to my Michigan Hater friends for the past month now. They are meant to ignite debate and fill space during an off season where there's not much to talk about.

It means nothing to be ranked in a pre season poll...what matters are the polls at the end of the season.

 

The perception is that our team had a bad year last year and we lost two of our best defensive players, so our D will be even worse. The perception about our offense is that it will get better due to maturity and experience, but it is still young and RichRod's spread "can't make it in the Big Ten."

Of all the teams in college football, we have perhaps the highest rate of unkown variables that make predicting our season very difficult. Things like maturity of QBs, D coordinator continuity, improvement by young corners, Barwis progression are not accounted for and can only be measured on the field. Additionally, there are plenty Soph & Redshirts that will see the field this year that are also unknown to the country. Plenty of them and with tons of talent. Who knows, Jeremy Gallon could blow up and be the next Devin Hester.

What I mean is this - look at the team, what you know, and make your predictions based on that. I feel strongly that we will have a great - not good - season this year. Obviously the variables I stated need to work out positively for us, but from what I've seen, I am confident that they will.

 

Perception is not reality. UofM 2007 - Ranked #2 in the country - dud. UofM Basketball in 2009 - huge momentum going into the season - dud. MSU football 2009 - expected to go 10-3 - Dud.

Pre Season rankings mean nothing. RichRod was hired for a reason and his resume warranted the position. He has won everywhere he's gone, and I believe that given time he will win championships here. I doubt a championship will be won this year, but the pieces are falling in place.

 

ihateMichigan

June 5th, 2010 at 11:47 AM ^

Do mean something.  Especially to a mid major team, such as Boise St or TCU.  The only way they play for a NC is if they are highly ranked at the beginning of the year.  Voters dont move them up as fast because of the competition they are playing.  So I would agree that it doesnt matter much for a team in one of the big 6 conferences.  And preseason individual awards are solely for the media to talk about something in the offseason. 

Magnus

June 5th, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^

Well, duh.  We all know this.

But it's representative of how far the program has fallen in the past few years.  There are multiple INDIANA players on the offensive list.  It's not like these guys are just picking players from OSU and PSU.  Other crappy teams are represented on these lists and treated with higher regard than Michigan.

It doesn't mean anything, but it still kinda sucks.

MGoShoe

June 5th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^

...we all know that the program has fallen off a cliff.

The point is that it's fashionable to hate on Michigan.  We will be significantly better this year.  It will pass. 

It does kinda suck, but just kinda, because it just...doesn't...matter.

ambamb

June 5th, 2010 at 1:28 PM ^

Reality is this is a perception of where teams and players are. Just as you have stated here that M will be significantly better. That is also a perception.

Pre season discussion is an attempt to predict the future, for entertainment purposes. Duke was rated a top 5 team to start the season and won the NC. The other option is to not write and/or discuss anything and go completely nuts waiting for the football season (or we could discuss Big Ten expansion).

Mud

June 5th, 2010 at 11:33 AM ^

I'm sure next year at this time we will have one and possibly two of the top ten on the offensive list but with so many variables it's kinda hard to guess who exactly that might be. Defensively we might still be a year out but at the same time it wouldnt surprise Roh, Martin or Van Bergen had the type of year that lands them on the list next year. Lets hope for the best. Just MHO. 

Maize and Blue…

June 5th, 2010 at 12:46 PM ^

2011 we will 10 returners on O and 8 returners on D. I suspect this preseason list will look different next year.
Martin is one of the few JR/SR starters we have on the team that has made significant plays. Mouton has been wildly inconsistent, Obi seemed to regress last year, Woolfolk is back at CB after starting the year at safety last year. Molk could be top ten, but missed almost the entire Big 10 season. The WR have played with inexperienced QBs the last two years.

I hope Schilling takes this as a slight and spends the year pancaking DTs.

jrt336

June 5th, 2010 at 12:23 PM ^

We have some good defensive players (Martin, Roh, Van Bergen, Woolfolk), but I wouldn't put anyone on our defense in the top 10 in the conference. I don't think I would for offense either. We don't really have a super star, just a lot of talented, but relatively inexperienced, players.

Sac Fly

June 5th, 2010 at 1:37 PM ^

... put greg jones at number 1, hes good but they also are switching to a 3-4 which i thnk is a huge mistake. he is a 4-3 linebacker

mgovictors23

June 5th, 2010 at 2:01 PM ^

Guess their going to have to make a lot of adjustments to that list once the season is over. I can easily see a lot more offensive players getting added.

Monocle Smile

June 5th, 2010 at 2:02 PM ^

is Mouton. He has all the physical tools to be an All-Big Ten linebacker (faster than most, incredible burst to the ball carrier, aggressive) but has had way too many "GODDAMNIT" plays mixed in with his good plays. According to UFR, he's pretty damn good at coverage as well, he just has the bad habit of covering the wrong guy.  I'm optimistic because GERG has fairy dust in his pocket that he sprinkled over Stevie Brown. Hopefully he has some left.

HermosaBlue

June 5th, 2010 at 2:41 PM ^

Too much thinking, not enough downhill attacking last year.

Hopefully the continuity in coaching plus the change in responsibilities in the quasi 3-3-5 will more fully utilize his strengths (aggression, speed, tackling) and minimize his weaknesses (complex reads, sideline to sideline flow).  Simplifying the LB corps responsibilities should pay real dividends this year.

jamiemac

June 5th, 2010 at 2:09 PM ^

1.) Per Rivals, the average star rating is 3.05. One 5-star, 5 4-stars, 10 3-stars, 3 2-stars and a not rated. The 5-star was Illinois' Marquez Wilson. The not rated was Iowa's Brent Greenwood. Iowa and Ohio State had two 4-stars each. The remaining 4-star was Mike Martin.

2.) 14 of the top 20, and 10 of the top 13, are from OSU, Iowa and Wisco. Pretty much everyone says its a three team race. These are teams. No surprise they dominate this list and there is really not much room leftover for players from other schools. Hey, at least Michigan got one. When Michigan is ready to be called a preseason Big 10 contender is when we'll see a chuck of Maize and Blue on this list

3.) Penn State has one person on this list, four spots behind Michigan's lone rep.

4.) By my count 17 of the top 20 were class of 2006 or 2007 recruits. Right in the wheelhouse of the recruiting stretch of the decimated defense era for Michigan. Nobody should be surprised we have a lone rep on the top-20 list. But, hey, good news, he's one of the few on this list that has eligibility left after this season

5.) Speaking of the future.......Martin, Roh, Van Bergen, Campbell, Demens, Fitzgerald, Turner, Gordon, Gordon, Floyd, Kouvacs, and probably a few more all have as good as shot as most of the peer group in the Big 10 in their classes to impress this season and play their way onto any of these type of lists a year from now. But, thats what September, October, November and a bowl game or for. Martin is already on this list. I love Roh's chances, so I think we have 2 on the list next year. Can any of these others breakout and make a run for some honors?

Don

June 5th, 2010 at 2:32 PM ^

In his list of the best players in the country at the various offensive and defensive positions, I can't remember seeing as few UM players as this year. Sure, it doesn't really matter and I don't think Steele is necessarily out of line to pick so few Wolverines, but it's still strange, especially when he's also picking guys from such powerhouses as Buffalo and Middle Tennessee and Mount Union.