A look at next year's schedule
I'm not looking past this year or giving up on it or whatever; just looking to get some discussion going. Put simply, the schedule looks pretty brutal next year. I see about 5 or so wins.
9-4 Connecticut
Not sure what to make of this one. All I know about UCONN is they are a middling Big East team with a killer bball team. We should be healthy, I'll put this one in the W column.
9-11 @ Notre Dame
A senior Clausen, junior Floyd, and possibly Tate on the road. We will get pwned.
9-18 Massachusetts
This has to be a win, right?
9-25 Bowling Green
Not the easiest MAC team out there, but should be a win.
10-2 @ Indiana
Good road game to draw, should be a win.
10-9 Michigan State
Really, the lone bright spot in our B10 schedule. Tossup.
10-16 Iowa
Depends on whether their luck runs out or not, I guess. Good to have em at home. Probably a loss.
10-30 @ Penn State
D'ohh. At least Clark is gone. Sucks to play at Happy Valley though. Loss.
11-6 Illinois
NO MORE JUICE. We can win this.
11-13 @ Purdue
Kinda scared of this one. Depends on what we see next week. Plus, we have to hear that stupid goddamn Boiler Up! cheer. I hate that.
11-20 Wisconsin
Hmm I dunno.
11-27 @ Ohio State
Junior Pryor, younger team getting better, on the road. We will get fucking raped.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:11 PM ^
Yeah, it's too early for me to start making these projections. We need to see our draft losses and other players lost first.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:16 PM ^
Feel free to discuss what our opponents will look like next year, how the schedule compares to years past, thoughts on our OOC schedule, etc
November 1st, 2009 at 5:32 PM ^
In that case, I find UCONN is incredibly consistent in their output, whether it be with or without Donald Brown at RB. With the loss of BG and our continued struggle at LB, I'm not confident in the outcome of this game whatsoever. UCONN also has experience with our offense from their yearly playing against WVU.
So yeah, shooting blindly this early, I don't feel all that confident in this game right now.
It'll be interesting to see if Clausen goes to the draft or not. He's having a great year statistically. If he stays, I'm not liking the chances, especially with Floyd still there. If he goes, I really don't know who the new starter is or how good he'll be. They do lose quite a bit on the OL, but their defense should be back and not as bad as this year.
Skipping Bowling Green and UMass because I just don't know enough. UMass is generally a really good FCS team. Bowling Green is meh.
I'm liking what Billy Lynch is doing, but I'm leaning Michigan here. IU returns Chappell and Doss, as well as Belcher. They lose the two DE's which is why I feel a little more confident.
MSU returns their QBs, their RBs, but loses Blair White, over half the OL, and half their secondary. Still don't know how confident I am right now. Toss up?
Iowa gets Hampton back. They'll be much better next year.
@Penn State should be interesting as Newsome or whoever takes over behind center. I don't think Royster is going to be drafted this season. I could be mistaken, but I want to say their OL is young, and most should return.
No idea about Illinois. All my current season thoughts on them were just shattered. No idea what to expect next season.
I think they'll be better next year. Lots of guys will return. Potential to be explosive if they can play consistently.
Wisconsin will be Wisconsin. No idea if that bodes well or not. We'll know about 4 games into the season what that might mean.
I'll not be confident about a game against OSU until we beat them again.
I'll get more pessimistic as the off season goes along.
November 1st, 2009 at 5:37 PM ^
Some useful bits of info in there, even when you take out the W/L projections. I know plenty about Michigan's personnel, but I don't have the time to study the personnel of other teams as much as I'd like.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:14 PM ^
I'm not a fan of "getting fucking raped." Both as a thing that happens and as a term to describe losing big.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:20 PM ^
how about "fucking raping" the opposition?
November 1st, 2009 at 4:23 PM ^
I've dallied in the experience. I can't say it is for everyone, but that is what they say of snuff as well! I believe all should give it the old college try.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:15 PM ^
A whole lot of stuff will happen between now and then. Is Clausen coming back? He seems like he'd be the first one to declare for the draft and hop in the limo for the green room. Penn State loses a lot, could we see Kevin Newsome in Happy Valley? Ohio State...there will be lots of learning and improving between now and then, who knows.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:19 PM ^
Paging Irish. Irish, you are needed in this thread.
Kevin Newsome has looked bad in his limited time so far, right? Who else do they have at QB? Is their defense going to take some hits?
November 1st, 2009 at 4:22 PM ^
Lee, Bowman, both of their monster tackles graduate. Newsome, Bolden, or Jones (soph and two freshmen) will compete for the starting QB job.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:26 PM ^
will leave as well. That would put the offense in a pretty bad position. This salary cap issue could really decimate an entire year of talent in college football. Should be interesting.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:40 PM ^
Is Armando Allen returning? He can't be. He's been playing for ND for forever.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:46 PM ^
he reminds me of Sorgi and Stocco at Wisconsin - year after year he still is somehow there.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:48 AM ^
That's like Carl Tabb for me. I love you Carl but it seemed like you played for Michigan for about 7 years.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:21 PM ^
Agreed, I don't see Clausen or Tate coming back.
Floyd I think is more likely to come back just because he was hurt the majority of this season. But he may also jump to the pros if he doesn't have confidence in ND's backup QB.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:24 PM ^
I'm sure, but Floyd is a soph. He will be back for 1 more year at least.
November 1st, 2009 at 5:13 PM ^
My bad, I thought he was a redshirt soph.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:16 PM ^
its way too early to make predictions on next years games, especially the ones in the later part of the season. there's so much that can happen between now and then. let's just take it one week at a time and try not to get too excited when we win and too depressed when we lose.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:20 PM ^
Stop missing the point of the thread. It's not necessarily a predictions thread. Discuss any aspect of any of these opponents, schedule strength, etc.
Similarly, if you have nothing to add or ask, just don't post.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:41 PM ^
it may not have been the point of the thread, but by including predictions in each of the matchups you invited people to discuss the topic. i just wanted to point out that its way too early to really think about any of these matchups since any number of things could happen in the time between today and our first game next season.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:17 PM ^
Right now, looks like many losses 4-6 maybe. U Conn won't be a cupcake to any degree. Tough schedule, I do like UM over MSU just on principle, not three years in a row, just not gonna happen.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:23 PM ^
our schedule is actually pretty easy..
Clausen will leave because of the rookie cap..
We'll be favored in our first 6 games..
November 1st, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^
be favored @ ND, even if Tate and Clausen leave, IMO.
November 1st, 2009 at 5:39 PM ^
Based on what. Indiana all but beat us at home this year, we will not be favored against Notre Dame. If we lose out, we won't be favored against Conneticut. Are you gaging this on the team that we have or the team that you imagined? There is lots of work to do here. At Penn State, Ohio State, and Irish, that is not an easy schedule.
November 1st, 2009 at 7:55 PM ^
Notre Dame will be rebuilding next year. They lose half of their offensive line, their QB, and their MVP in Golden Tate.. They'll only have Floyd and only-God-knows what QB..
We will know how good Uconn really is once they play ND.. but something tells me it won't be a close game. They're not a good team this year and will lose quite a few players on offense.
As far as Indiana goes.. If you honestly think we'll be underdogs to them.. you're a sad sad man.
And it -IS- an easy schedule because our two longshot games are away, and all but one of our tossups are at home.
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:43 AM ^
Strong advocacy. 1 point in return.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:19 PM ^
I am going to go out on a limb here and say it's too early to make these predictions.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:20 PM ^
several times.
November 1st, 2009 at 7:12 PM ^
If you actually looked, I posted at about the same time as most of those posts.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:21 PM ^
Tate is gone. Floyd will obviously be back. But unless you're a completely and totally delusional Irish fan, which everyone knows there are absolutely none of, the Golden Taint is gone.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:22 PM ^
ND's OL will be gone next year. Aren't 4 of them seniors? We will still probably lose though. We might win 7. It's far harder than this year's and our team won't be much better, just a little more experience.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:23 PM ^
you are going to see a big push by the media to draft Jimmy Clausen as this year's Heisman winner (I'm pulling for Colt McCoy). If so he will enter the draft. I think Tate will leave too.
We need to fix what's wrong with our team way before we look at next year. We also need to put points up on the board on the road (like kick freaking field goals that extends our lead past one score).
November 1st, 2009 at 4:23 PM ^
Getting "fucking raped" by OSU assumes that Pryor develops into a decent QB. Which with the way that he has played so far this season, it is not looking like it is an absolute certainty.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:26 PM ^
against New Mexico State. If thats not a telling stat....
November 1st, 2009 at 6:46 PM ^
Pryor can shred our sucky D even though he's not very good.
November 1st, 2009 at 7:02 PM ^
his running ability and the Vest running a lot of plays similar to what Juice and Co. gashed us with.
I would be happy if he tried to air it out.
November 1st, 2009 at 9:06 PM ^
It assumes that he'll be as good as Juice Williams is this year, which is pretty shitty.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:24 PM ^
Cannot afford to lose to Sparty three times in a row, with 2 of the losses in the Big House.
RE: ND I wouldn't be surprised if Tate and Clausen went pro, I think The Emu will see how Bradford hurt is draft stock and will come out if he is projected in the first round. If Clausen leaves so does Tate.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:30 PM ^
QB depth? I'd imagine the emupresence has kept away some decent QBs in recent years.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:34 PM ^
Dayne Christ(sp)
Who IIRC was OMG shirtless.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:36 PM ^
I think the back up is capable, but won't make amazing plays. I don't think that he makes bad decisions, but he won't WIN games.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:59 PM ^
+1 for "The Emu"...it makes me giggle each time I think of Clausen as an emu...it fits. :)
November 1st, 2009 at 4:29 PM ^
Our guys are going to bang OSU's pussy out next year. It will be consensual and the buckeyes will love it.
November 1st, 2009 at 6:40 PM ^
and then you can buy the "sex" tape at the Mden the following year. It will be a classic on youtube with the unedited versions available for PPV.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:30 PM ^
this is a prime example of a knee-jerk post.
I do enjoy your in-depth analysis of the ND and OSU games though, which include mentioning what year each team starting QB will be, (i guess that's why they call you captain obvious?) as well as predicting "we will get pwnd" & "we will get fucking raped".
Show a little bit of fortitude as a fan and wait to see if this team improves before you just make baseless predictions about a game that will be played over a year from now... please.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:36 PM ^
of a post that adds nothing to the board. The whole point of this thread is to GET analysis of our opponents next year. I never claimed to be providing the analysis myself. There are a number of decent fans from other teams that post here and could give their 2 cents on their teams' development and losses heading into next year.
tl;dr: stfu.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:35 PM ^
Jimmy is going pro after this year. You really think he will come back with a brand new offensive line? No way. his best option is to leave.
One thing that i can see being better is our offense. Looking forward to seeing a new line because this current one has been a huge bust IMO.
Minor and Brown are gonna be gone and to be honest with you im glad. Im tired of every week having to hear about one or both of these guys injured. These guys have been big busts and see you later.
Our best chance of being successful is hoping that our best defense will be our offense. I really think that this offense is gonna look so much better next year. If they can kill some clock and score points we dont have to rely on our defense, which is going to be replacing our best players on defense with young talent, to step up. I really hope our offense gets to a point where it looked like Oregon's last night. Man ole man was that a fun offense or what.
Im always optimistic every year and this will be a deciding year in RichRods career at Michigan. With the melt down at the end of season i really think he is gonna have to pull off 10 wins to show that it will work. I know the defense will struggle but we can only hope that we get some players in and can make some plays. The offense will be the key for our future.
November 1st, 2009 at 5:21 PM ^
"Jimmah". Seems to work better.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:38 PM ^
our best chance for a win in the next three games is against OSU.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:41 PM ^
I wouldnt call it brutal, at all.
It's set up for us to go 4-1, the same as this year through five games.
Then, three of four at home to close October. I like the sound of three of four at home in October in Big 10 play with a good QB in his second year as opposed to three of four big 10 games in October with a true freshmen QB like we had this year.
I think we'll be ahead of this year's win total going into the final three games.
We went from 3 to a likely 6 this year; next year, the leap is from six to eight......with a chance at doing better, if having an experienced, year 2 starter behind center for the first time in the RR era means anything. And, I'd like to think it would mean something less than 11 TOs in five Big 10 games and more than 5 TDs accounted for.
It's a fine line between disatrous and pretty good season. michigan is walking right in the middle right now, and, as bad as other things have been, if we had a veteran play making QB the record would already be approaching the 8-win mark. I think, with that in tow next season, we can do that.
But, until the defensive woes are ironed out, that's the, ugh, ceiling for now whenever contemplating 2009.