Franz Schubert

August 21st, 2014 at 6:43 PM ^

Terrible defense, lost 4 starters on the O-line and Hyde, now have to play a rookie QB. OSU is getting every benefit of the doubt but Michigan is better than them in every area other than O-Line? And D-line. Is Michigan going to be worse this year than last? No way. We were evenly matched last year, and OSU has lost 100x more than Michigan.

B1G_Fan

August 21st, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^

 If someone had voted Auburn number 1-2 last year preseason they would be saying the same thing about him..... That's why we play the games

LSAClassOf2000

August 21st, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^

Other analysts that had us in the top 25:

 - Heather Dinich, #25

 - Mark Schlabach, #25

The complete lists of all 13 voters for ESPN are here - LINK

If the list continued formally, we would have been #31 overal at 22 points, if I read this right. Big Ten teams ahead of us - in order - Ohio State (6), Michigan State (7), Wisconsin (17), Nebraska (22) and Iowa (would be 26). 

Texagander

August 21st, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^

The weird thing is how so much of this us based on last year and not what has been shown this spring and fall. IIRC, ESPN's own FPI has UM as #1 defense in B1G, yet most of these analyst must be oblivious to that. They still see OSU so high despite all of their question marks. I'd contend now with Miller out, we have less question marks and concerns than the Buckeyes.

harperic

August 21st, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^

It's before the season, so technically every team is nothing but question marks, but OSU is REALLY nothing but question marks:

DG is a very good QB. Who knows about JT or Cardale. Could be a Manzeil/Winston, or could be a [Bauserman](http://www.cbssports.com/images/collegefootball/bauserman_passing_chart…)

Our OLine is definitely a question, but has to be improved. OSU's is compeltely unknown and completely green (they return 1 starter). Could be fine, could be as bad as ours from last year (no, that's pretty much impossible).

Their running back situation is competely up in the air. Their WRs should be OK, but that'll be dependent on the QB, and apparently JT isn't a deep baller, so cheat a bit by bringing Peppers up, and picks for days.

OSU had a pretty bad D last year, and it's supposed to be good, but no where near what we have. So really, other than the now injured Braxton, what other than "potential" and the Urbz got them such a high ranking and confidence?

wbpbrian

August 21st, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^

If Desmond believes then so should we, espically if our O-line comes back stronger than last year we have a chance to be a lot better on offense. Cut out the turnovers and execute better in the redzone and we can win the Big Ten this year.

Avon Barksdale

August 21st, 2014 at 2:36 PM ^

I don't think this is really that crazy. I really don't. This team has ONE question: can the offensive line block? 5th year senior QB, talented RB's, the best WR in the B1G, eight defensive linemen who have played significant snaps at Michigan, every LB that played a year ago is returning, four CB's who have played significant snaps, and a returning starter at the safety position all return.

There are a lot of teams that have more question marks than Michigan. The only problem is Michigan's issue could derail their entire season. If the offensive line cannot hold up, it stalls the entire offense which puts the defense on the field longer. But in reality, like I said, basically every team has more issues than Michigan. Michigan's issue is the most important - however - along with Ohio State's offensive line issues.

Michigan State has to replace their linebacking corps and their 1st round corner.

Ohio State has to worry about fixing their back seven on defense and replacing Miller, Hyde, and four offensive linemen.

Iowa has to replace their entire LB corps and they don't have a QB.

Nebraska has injury problems, their defense sucks (beside when they played U-M a year ago), and they have to replace Martinez.

Wisconsin must replace Borland and Abbredaris (no simple task). They, too, do not have a decent QB.

***So as you can see, I like Michigan. But then again, who doesn't on this board? Lol.

Danny Bonaduce

August 21st, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^

Love the optimism!  Not that fan reactions/predictions have any impact on the actual season but it is still nice to see someone (even a former UM player) in the media as optimistic about this season as I am.  Go Blue!

mGrowOld

August 21st, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^

I will always love Desmond for having the balls to go on national television and fucking filet Borges last year.  Back when he did it the pro-Borges crowd was still very strong and I was scared to death that pile of useless turds would be brought back by Hoke.  

Desmond's rant I think put Hoke & Brandon on notice that the sheer incompetence of Borges was noticed outside the fort and something had to be done.  I think the wheels of change started in earnest that very Saturday.

Thank you Desmond.  Thank you for helping free us from Borges.

grumbler

August 21st, 2014 at 5:08 PM ^

Agree.  And the entirely made-up supposition that he, and he alone, can correctly identify when Borges doom was sealed is pretty rich as well.  Nothing like childish venom combined with baseless speculation to make for an entertaining stew.