Effing Pumped About Michigan Football Right Now
Is anyone else wildly optimistic? I look at the secondary, the linebackers, the d-line--and I'm pumped. I look at our QB, our newly-dedicated (and highly touted) RBs, and I'm pumped. I see wide receivers with big time talent, and I'm nearly bursting. I see a schedule that should be relatively easy on the O-line (ND's line is pretty young), giving them time to mature until things get nasty, and I just can't wait anymore. I'm thinking 9 wins, at least. I'm thinking this year Michigan beats Ohio. I'm thinking that if we had State at home, I'd guarantee a win.
I am pumped up.
Wish I could get pumped, but not really. After the ND game last year, something went inexplicably and horribly wrong with our team. I don't know if it was something that happened just then, or if it was there all along and everyone after ND exposed it. Last year's team was a train wreck that was barely kept out of the abyss by an easy schedule and the heroics of Gardner, Gallon, and Lewan. Last year's Michigan team had so many problems. So many programs have experienced years like last year, expecting to bounce back, only to find that they had yet to hit bottom. I have seen nothing to lead me believe that we won't be one of those. We had better hope that Borges was a legitimate scapegoat,. or that the team had major leadership&chemistry problems that are now resolved. If not, then we are in for a miserable time.
From my perspective, the view on UM's season comes down to the OL and nothing else. If they don't improve, any offensive talent won't matter. And UM's D is not overpowering enough to win 10+ games on their own. Also, replacing what UM lost on the OL is going to be difficult.
How many teams did you overpower with your defense last year?
Enough to go 12-2.
Therefore, we shouldn't be as concerned about our defense.
You know what....I'm hopping on the PUMPED train too! I have been mostly indfferent all summer (maybe because I was prepaing for our newborn), but I woke up today feeling pumped and excited about the football season too. Leggooooo!
I wish I could get optimistic, but I'm playing the "believe it when I see it" card. This is, once again, a very young team all around. Lots of talent, that's for sure, but young, and grossly inexperienced on the O-Line. Exactly the place where we need the most help. Nuss could make them better, but there's nothing suggesting, as of right now, that they won't get shoved around like rag dolls against the MSU's and OSU's of the world. And at that point, you could have Tom Brady and Calvin Johnson on your offense and it wouldn't matter.
Until Hoke proves otherwise, I'm left to assume 7-8 wins and losing, again, to MSU and OSU.
This is the time of year when I convince myself we're going to the Rose Bowl without regard for any facts about anything.
...Mike Cox was still around.
/boom, Magnus'd
True optimism would mean a Big 10 Title and, sadly, i don't see that in 2014. For the record, I'm sticking with my July 9th summary of a 10-2 regular season, as previously posted, i believe MSU goes down under a smothering D...but, tOhio makes it 2 in a row. So sad, that part.
July 9th 9:42 p.m.Season Predictions...
MSU's going down. Book it. JMFR will NOT allow Staee's running game to breathe and Ross, Clark and Co. will rain down Blue Thunder on Mr. Cook. ohio, with Braxton, at the shoe, we lose. South Bend will find itself awash in purple rain when blowhard's head explodes to yet another miracle UM comeback victory. We remind Franklin that Penn State is not Alabama and put a sound thumpin' on em. Sorry to say it, but Northwestern returns the favor and steals one from the Wolves. ohio beats the Skers in the Big 10 Championship and Michigan wins its January bowl game. 10-2 conference. 11-2 overall.