how did the 2011 spring practice compare to 2008???

Submitted by GOBLUE4EVR on

i didn't find MGOBLOG until late into the 2008 season when the mcuffie rumors started flying, so i got all of my info from the papers about how the 2008 spring practice was going with richrod.

all i really remember was that the weather wasn't that great, boren running out the door, it was kind of a cluster fuck,  and a very lack luster spring game that was played on a HS field.

since the 2011 spring came to a close on saturday, my question is how did this spring practice compare to 2008???

willywill9

April 18th, 2011 at 7:30 AM ^

We have two legit returning qb's. One was BTPOY last year. New offense but still better; they looked more competent and less confused, or so i thought.

I guess the outlook is better. This team shouldnt go 3-8. I hope.

AMazinBlue

April 18th, 2011 at 8:02 AM ^

We all know they will be better than 2008 and really even better than 2009.  The question is will they be better than 2010.  The numbers, in terms of yardage and points will most certainly be different, but will the wins and losses be different.

From all I have read, everyone's Spring Game has been scary bad so I don't put a lot of stock in that.  The QB play is vital to both the offense's success as well as that of the team.  Short drives and 3-outs will put this defense in positions where success would be next to impossible.

I'm holding off judgement until the first game.

TrppWlbrnID

April 18th, 2011 at 8:26 AM ^

i remember my dad saying "we have no o-line, we have no WRs, we have no qb, we have no rbs, this could be an awful season" and me whose memory of worst year ever was the 7-5 alamo bowl year saying "but this is michigan, the guys on the bench aren't nobodies and you can expect freshmen to make some plays these days."

rationalization pwned

Mitch Cumstein

April 18th, 2011 at 8:50 AM ^

In hindsight, maybe i should have sent up some red flags that the offense looked so good.  I mean, looking around the country it seems like offenses tend to struggle in the spring game.  Maybe we should have seen the defensive collapse coming.  Now that this year things were more toward the norm, maybe thats a good sign.

bluebyyou

April 18th, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^

Everybody needs to take a deep breath and not lose sleep over the spring scrimmage - calling it a game would be a joke.  This is not 2008. We have talent and experience on our offense and coaches who seem willing to recognize how to best utilize that talent.

While we had great total yardage numbers last year, when you went beyond that, and Denard's insane rushing numbers, much of which was before the B1G season started, all was not perfect in paradise.  I'd reserve judgment until that first week in September.

On the other hand, I can't imagine how our defense won't be substantially improved.

Section 1

April 18th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^

At least I sure as hell didn't.  It wasn't in the Big House.  The Stadium was closed for renovations.  They played the spring game at -- where; Chelsea? -- I think.

uminks

April 18th, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^

In 2008, the big worry was the OL.  Most thought threet would play well enough for a good season in the new spread offense but we know what happened. The defense was descent that year with Graham, Trent and Waren. Ezeh was expected to have a big year at LB!

Our offense may not put up the big yards like last season but if we find a good FG kicker and perform better inside the 20, then we should play better against the top 6 teams in the conference!  The defense should improve this season as the young players have another year of playing experience under their belts, depth improves, and our defensive coaching staff all being on the same page. Overall, given the schedule, we should win 8 or 9 games.

 

 

Tater

April 18th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^

They had two QB's who are capable of being stars at the BCS level.  In 2008, they had none.

I certainly hope Borges and Hoke were keeping a lot of things under wraps on both sides of the ball.  I still have the fond hope that Bogres will tweak the WCO into a hybrid attack with pro set elements and spread formations.  The QB doesn't have to be in the gun or the pistol to benefit from a 4-wideout formation.

It would be nice to see Michigan ahead of the growth curve gain instead of imitating others or being twenty years behind the times.  The last time that happened was about 1949.  It's time for Michigan to stop talking about being leaders and best and start actually being leaders and best again.

It is still possible, and it's possible with this coaching staff.  But it's going to take some outside of the box thinking.

King Douche Ornery

April 18th, 2011 at 5:28 PM ^

What, exactly, IS "outside the box" thinking? Would you expect Borges and Hoke to come in here and invent some new, super secret offense, or use one they've not used before?

And Two: Unless UM plans to run Denard like Rodriguez did--I'm not seeing ANY BCS level "stars" at QB just yet.