Michigan Football up to #12 in ESPN 2013 Top 25

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February 11th, 2013 at 1:46 PM
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Raoul
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Michigan Football up to #12 in ESPN 2013 Top 25

ESPN updated their 2013 Way-Too-Early Preseason Top 25 to account for the impact of signing day and other recent developments. They moved Michigan up from 23 to 12 because of the Wolverines' strong class and Taylor Lewan's decision to return.

12. Michigan Wolverines

Previous rank: 23
With the way Michigan coach Brady Hoke and his staff have recruited the past two years, the Wolverines aren't just going to concede a Big Ten championship to hated rival Ohio State. Hoke landed a top-10 class for the second consecutive year, hauling in perhaps the country's best crop of offensive linemen. A few of the freshmen might have to provide immediate depth after the Wolverines lost three starting linemen. It would have been worse if star left tackle Taylor Lewan hadn't surprised many NFL scouts by deciding to return to school for his senior season. Michigan signed six offensive line prospects, including No. 2 guard David Dawson. They'll help pave the way for No. 5 running back Derrick Green, who might see early action, especially if Fitzgerald Toussaint is slow in recovering from a broken leg. Junior Devin Gardner takes over at quarterback after Denard Robinson departed. Gardner went 3-2 as a starter, completing 59.5 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns.

Other Big Ten teams:

3. OSU (previously 4)

23. Nebraska (20)

24. Northwestern (22)

Also:

Say good-bye to Wisconsin, which lost coach Bret Bielema to Arkansas and hired former Utah State coach Gary Andersen to replace him, and USC, which remains a mess under coach Lane Kiffin.

Twitter: @Raoul_000

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February 11th, 2013 at 1:49 PM | Fate: tempted. (Score:3 Normal)
Belisarius
Joined: 08/12/2010
MGoPoints: 1048

Fate: tempted.

Don't quote laws to us. We carry swords.

-Pompeius Magnus

February 11th, 2013 at 1:50 PM | It's February. (Score:2 Normal)
Drunk Uncle
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Joined: 01/14/2013
MGoPoints: 131

It's February.

Beer me 5:30

February 11th, 2013 at 2:03 PM | Yup.  I'd rather hear about (Score:5 Normal)
1484
Joined: 06/21/2010
MGoPoints: 14247

Yup.  I'd rather hear about the pope's reaction to how the Wisconsin players handled their win against us.  Then we could discuss which shoes they wore and how many disadvantaged Asian people were involved.

/Battlestar Galactica

Hail.

February 11th, 2013 at 1:53 PM | And it's never too early to (Score:5 Normal)
DrunkOnHiggins
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Joined: 06/16/2011
MGoPoints: 682

And it's never too early to start talking about football.

"And if that doesn't wet your appetite, you're watching the wrong channel."

You can usually find me bumping some Reggae, hammered on Higgins Lake with the goon squad. #HALOL

Go Blue!

February 11th, 2013 at 2:18 PM | Never (Score:3 Normal)
THISISMICHIGAN33
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Joined: 06/02/2012
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Never to early. It will be here before you know it.

THIS IS MICHIGAN

February 11th, 2013 at 1:55 PM | So essentially, Taylor Lewan (Score:3 Normal)
saveferris
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Joined: 07/02/2009
MGoPoints: 3089

So essentially, Taylor Lewan and Derrick Green equate to an 11 spot jump in the polls.  Whatever, it's February.

 

"...what do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?"

"Fix the cigarette lighter."

February 11th, 2013 at 2:31 PM | They seem to be giving a lot (Score:3 Normal)
RakeFight
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Joined: 02/21/2012
MGoPoints: 1370

They seem to be giving a lot of credit to our 2013 OL haul.  Odd, given that it's unlikely any of them will see the field in 2013... and if they do, I would think that would mean a lower ranking.

February 11th, 2013 at 2:46 PM | Worth one win (Score:5 Normal)
Ron Utah
Joined: 02/28/2012
MGoPoints: 497

Do you think Derrick Green and Taylor Lewan have enough talent to get us one more win?

I do.  And if you do, than a jump from 23 to 12 is about right.  If we're a 2-loss team instead of a 3-loss team, that equates to an 11-spot jump in the polls.

23 to 12 really isn't a big change.

Thank you, Coach Hoke, for bringing Michigan back.

February 11th, 2013 at 2:04 PM | I don't think that the (Score:1)
white_pony_rocks
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I don't think that the wisconsin hire was a bad hire, didn't get a big name, but its not a MAC coach

Soon to be the #1 fitness and training center in AA

http://www.annarbortrainer.com

February 11th, 2013 at 2:21 PM | You think there's that much (Score:4 Normal)
Belisarius
Joined: 08/12/2010
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You think there's that much difference between the MAC and the WAC?

Don't quote laws to us. We carry swords.

-Pompeius Magnus

February 11th, 2013 at 2:24 PM | Anderson will be better than (Score:2 Normal)
MJ14
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Anderson will be better than BB. I just wanted to throw that out there.

It's always nice to see Michigan in the top 15 for pre-season rankings. Even though they mean absolutely nothing. Hopefully we can finish the year somewhere around the #12 range.

February 11th, 2013 at 2:35 PM | I don't think (Score:1)
UMAFA08
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You've paid much attention to MAC coaches in the last 10 years.

February 11th, 2013 at 2:04 PM | I think we were preseason #12 (Score:5 Normal)
gustave ferbert
Joined: 06/21/2011
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in 1997.

February 11th, 2013 at 2:22 PM | I like the way you think. (Score:5 Normal)
Belisarius
Joined: 08/12/2010
MGoPoints: 1048

I like the way you think.

Don't quote laws to us. We carry swords.

-Pompeius Magnus

February 11th, 2013 at 2:28 PM | I thought #14... which, IIRC, (Score:2)
timtebro
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I thought #14... which, IIRC, was Michigan's preseason rank in '06

You're HIV-Aladeen.

February 11th, 2013 at 5:49 PM | Well then let's hope we don't start #14... (Score:2)
Bosch
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...since we open with Appalachian State in 2014.

All right Lemmings. Bring the heat.

February 11th, 2013 at 8:48 PM | I actually thought it was #13 (Score:2)
Gordon Berenson
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I thought we started preseason #13 in 1997 and 2006

February 11th, 2013 at 2:29 PM | Sounds about right, swapping (Score:5 Normal)
Soulfire21
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MGoPoints: 3135

Sounds about right, swapping Alabama for CMU and getting Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Ohio State at home should have us thinking 10-2 or better.

HAIL.

February 11th, 2013 at 2:34 PM | Plus we get road games (Score:4 Normal)
saveferris
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Joined: 07/02/2009
MGoPoints: 3089

Plus we get road games against a neutered Michigan State and Penn State.  I'd say we have lots to be optimistic about next season.

 

"...what do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?"

"Fix the cigarette lighter."

February 11th, 2013 at 3:17 PM | An 11-0 record is certainly (Score:4 Normal)
Soulfire21
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An 11-0 record is certainly possible and similar record for the Buckeyes when they visit Ann Arbor, potentially a Top 5 matchup this year.

HAIL.

February 11th, 2013 at 5:51 PM | An 11-0 record.... (Score:2)
Bosch
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Three Heisman candidates, Kate Upton joins the cheerleading squad, and Brandon cuts the ticket prices in half.

All right Lemmings. Bring the heat.

February 11th, 2013 at 2:35 PM | Gardner (Score:2 Normal)
M_Jason_M
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This catches my eye every time I see it. Whenever an article, poll, etc. talk about Michigan in 2013 they always say "junior Devin Gardner" and "senior...." for guys like Lewan and Schofield. They seem to assume (along with most of us) that Gardner will get his redshirt, so maybe we're not being too optimistic on that.

February 11th, 2013 at 2:40 PM | We were #8 last preseason. (Score:4 Normal)
unWavering
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We were #8 last preseason.  

/DebbyDowner

February 11th, 2013 at 2:46 PM | That was for hype only for (Score:5 Normal)
NFG
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That was for hype only for the match up vs Bama.

February 11th, 2013 at 2:43 PM | LoL Schlabach (Score:5 Normal)
ann.arbor.lover
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Joined: 09/15/2010
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"the Wolverines aren't just going to concede a Big Ten championship to hated rival Ohio State"

WTH, we are never going to CONCEDE anything to Akron State U, let alone a B1G championship.

February 11th, 2013 at 3:34 PM | Too high. (Score:2 Normal)
His Dudeness
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MGoPoints: 13558

Too high.

or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.

February 11th, 2013 at 3:54 PM | Running game= at least 9 (Score:2)
MaizeRage82
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Running game= at least 9 wins, probably 10.

"I have seen the top of the mountain. And it is good."

February 11th, 2013 at 4:19 PM | It's obviously WAY too early (Score:2 Normal)
Ron Utah
Joined: 02/28/2012
MGoPoints: 497

It's obviously WAY too early, but I really don't think 12 is too far off.  We have a lot of unknowns this season, particularly along the O-line.  If the younger guys are as good as advertised, then we could easily be in the 10-11 win category.  If the O-line is faulty...we could easily find ourselves with a 9 win season.  If DG gets injured...well, let's just say 8 wins isn't out of the question.

The flip side is that if everything goes right and Kalis, Bryant, and Miller (or whoever) is as good as advertised and we get some breaks, then we are definitely BCS contenders, with the NCG as a outlying possibility.

Thank you, Coach Hoke, for bringing Michigan back.

February 11th, 2013 at 8:55 PM | I do not see us (Score:2)
Gobgoblue
Joined: 07/07/2012
MGoPoints: 787

as a NC contender.  I, for one, see us in the Rose Bowl against Stanford.  That will be an interesting matchup since we are very similar builds.  

Also, I wouldn't worry about Kalis.  He is/will be a mauler.  If there is any OL position of doubt, it is center.   Otherwise, I think the buffet busters are going to surprise people with their results.  

I love Greg Mattison

February 11th, 2013 at 6:52 PM | We were pre-season top ten (Score:1)
ia4goblue
Joined: 01/09/2011
MGoPoints: 56

We were pre-season top ten last year and how did that turn out. I want to see michigan win some big games for once before I start worrying about polls.

February 11th, 2013 at 8:58 PM | ^ (Score:2)
Gobgoblue
Joined: 07/07/2012
MGoPoints: 787

Alabama.

I love Greg Mattison

February 11th, 2013 at 8:44 PM | "No one remembers who is (Score:2 Normal)
mgobaran
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Joined: 09/12/2012
MGoPoints: 479

"No one remembers who is number 12 in February" - Brady "John Beilein, Jr." Hoke

Twitter

 

February 11th, 2013 at 9:45 PM | I think we're going into this (Score:1)
russale2012
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Joined: 11/30/2011
MGoPoints: 2659

I think we're going into this season with too many unknowns again like last year. I mean thankfully we got the QB situation solved, but our O-line is still going to largely be unproven. Extremely talented, but unproven. And young. Our wideouts outside of Gallon and maybe Dileo are going to be unproven. D-line situation will be better next year, but hopefully Pip starts to come into his own, and Q-Wash continues to progress. Still some unknowns there. Then the run game. Could be damn good especially if Fitz makes a recovery and Green lives up to his billing, but who knows? I'd love to have a two-headed monster attack in both of those guys like Wiscy or Bama usually has.



I know, I'm a Debbie Downer, but I just don't want to get my hopes up yet. We're definitely a ranked team, but I'm to sure if we should be this high.

It's been a lot. Its been a roller coaster that for some reason seemed like it would never get good. But you know what? We kept fighting. It's like that old saying goes, "Those Who Stay Will Be Champions." -David Molk

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