Phil Steele on 247sports radio
Offseason, so what the hell. I like his magazine, which should come out in a few weeks. He was on Bill King's show on SiriusXM (used to have a RivalsRadio show). Love me some BK
He says M's defense will be much improved, maybe the most improved in the country. Talent returning on that side of the ball, and the Spread won't be there to keep them on the field. Offensively, he thinks we'll go MANBALL vs. the weaker competition early or if we have leads, but revert back to Denard/Spread if it doesn't work (which kind of contradicts what he just said about the D, NTITAI). Anyway, I believe he may be right about that. He actually pointed to the Spring game as encouraging, in terms of Denard still breaking runs. But he thinks the O will be less potent than last year. Overall, a much improved team.
He then shat upon an ND caller's claimed "impressive" defensive performance in their last 4 games, saying, variously: Utah was deflated after being obliterated by TCU the week before, Army's offense is terrible, USC was missing their starting QB, and Miami shrinks in cold weather (it was freezing at UTEP, almost literally). Likes their recruits tho.
A Sparty mouth-breather phoned in but didn't speak up, so no breakdown, but Steele did mention he's got them at #28.
I couldn't listen any longer for any other B1G or opponent breakdowns. Dee Hart will get 25% of 'Bama's carries as the #2 to Richardson, FWIW
Actually I think he's banking on us playing them in the championship game.
This is as true of a statement as any. This D can only go up from the last 3 years. However, I don't like to term surpirse, after the first few games and the team gets the oppurtunity to pound a few teams into the ground, the confidence will grow. With the confidence will come dominance, there will be no surprise when this team wins alot of games. Everyone will know who they were just dealt an asswiping from hell from.
I remember listening to Phil on the DP show last year about this time, and at the time he had said OU was going to win the National Championship and Michigan would win 9 or 10 games and be the most improved team in the nation...He looked brilliant about 5 weeks in. Kind of fell apart after that. All the same I do like the evidence he pulls when making his predictions and have nothing but respect for the guy, especially when he says nice things about the Wolverines.
Now do I tink they will be perefect, by no means, but a much improved squad they will surely be. I do think we will give up a few 3rd and longs, but those should be early in the season. They will make the stops needed later on against much tougher competition.
I'm having a problem following these posts by the love child of Yoda and Zsa Zsa Gabor . . . .
Translation, your a Jackwagon! Do you think I care if you can't follow my posts? Not one bit, do think I care if you are insulting me? Again, not one bit.
I like the commentary but... man I'm so sick of hearing about how the spread supposedly makes your defense worse somehow, and that scoring fast is worse than not scoring or something.