Obi this saturday
Opening day last year Obi had a pretty big day. He started off a little slow, but I seem to remember him having 13-15 tackles, and being a pretty significant reason why we held Utah to few points in the second half. If he has a similar performance in this opener without the slow start, how confident would you feel about a W?
September 2nd, 2009 at 2:53 PM ^
Last year we came in and really knew nothing. No matter who you talked to everyone had a different idea of what we were going to look like. Going into this year I think we can at least say we have some experience playing in the scheme and we have petter players at the most important positions. Going into last year I bet everyone would have felt better having either Forcier or Robinson on the team, let alone both. We are also playing a worse opponent IMO. This was a Utah team that essentially had a team of seniors, WMU not so much. They have one good player. As long as the defense isn't a total disaster, which I don't think it will be, I think we come out with a ton of emotion and try to prove a point. This team has been sitting around hearing about 3-9 all off season, hearing all the RR stuff and probably at this point just want to show the national something.
I wouldn't be surprised if the first play was a bomb for a TD.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:02 PM ^
seems to be a lot more excitement in the air right now. I think with the new suites built up on the outside it will be a little louder. If the first play is a deep ball that goes for a TD that place will explode. Sends chills up my spine just thinking about the band coming out and the players coming out of the tunnel in a couple days. I'm not too concerned about the offense they will make a couple mistakes, but we'll put points on the board as well. I think if our D can come out and make a couple stops early this could be a fantastic one to watch.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:04 PM ^
has a great start and i great year but i think Mouton is the one thats going to bust out this year. I cant wait to see the passion and emotion our guys play with after this offseason. Im imagining it being the meanest and nastiest football games a michigan team has ever played.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:22 PM ^
WMU has a QB that's poised to break all MAC passing records this year, 4 out of 5 returning starters on the O-line and a 1,000 yard back. They ARE going to put up points.
Last year, on paper at least, we had a little better defense. Hard to say anything about this defense except that we better pray to God the starters stay healthy.
I personally think this thing is going to be a close, high-scoring game. I actually like Western a lot and follow them when Michigan's not playing, but I'm really hoping we lay 35 on them at the half!
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:36 PM ^
..he seems poised and confident. They also have a freshman receiver who will see the field. He is fast. Ponder is the name. The defense only returns 3 starters. Hiller does not run much at all. Pretty stationery.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:15 PM ^
To me, the weird thing about going to the first game last year was that we did not have any one player that we could give the ball to and hope he could make a play.
the closest things we had were Greg Matthews and Sam McGuffie. the whole utah game i just remember wondering every play who was going to get the ball.
this year we have a few proven options in Minor and Odoms and a few other guys who have shown they can make a big play or two, so hopefully there won't be this ambiguity about who is going to get the ball every play.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:18 PM ^
they have a talented qb and good returninig players on the line and rb - new players at wr is good for our equally inexperienced secondary.
If we will it will because our defense plays ok, with a few huge third down plays and our offense carries the day.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:40 PM ^
We all need to remember that our recruits > their recruits. We have the better players. It's all about the system now. Appalachian State beat us through systematic execution, not talent (although Armanti Edwards is a freak). We could not make the adjustments.
This year, Barwis has nearly maxed out many of the players' physical capabilities. Now it's time for Michigan to execute. As we saw last year against Utah, the team came out very shaky and uncertain. It was visible. The sheer knowledge of the offense in the spring game was enough for me to believe that we'll see more second half Michigan-Wisconsin than first half Michigan-Wisconsin (which, mind you, was the worst showing of Michigan football I have ever witnessed).
This team now knows the offense/defense and is very, very pissed. We'll win.
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:54 PM ^
Didnt Appy state have the same number of Pros drafted in the first 2 rounds as Michigan? The reciever Jackson and the safety? Granted we had the number 1 overall pick in Long and Henne in the 2nd. And Edwards was flawless that game.