Phil Steele: Michigan 2nd to last in Legends division

I would rather be picked like that and exceed expectations this year than be picked to win it all and fail ala Iowa

I agree that Nebraska will probably win the division.  The rest I am not so sure about.

We've got a pretty easy Big Ten schedule.  No Penn State, no Wisconsin.  Iowa is rebuilding.  Nebraska and OSU at home.  Northwestern?  They had the same record as us in the Big Ten last year, and they didn't play Ohio State.  I'll be very disappointed with 4-4 this year.  With as many returning starters (in addition to lots of second stringers) as we have and our mostly easy schedule, we need to at least be 5-3.

and kicks B1G balls, but I don't see it that way. Iowa, Neb, MSU, and NW all vie for the top, with it coming down to a dice roll. Meanwhile, we are going to take our lumps; low expectations could leave fans happier to just have an improving team. 

I wouldn't be surprised to see Michigan end the season at 4th place in the division.  It's going to be a tougher year for them.   This doesn't necessarily mean we will be 2nd to last in the conference as a whole, just in the division.  I think the fans feel like Phil Steele isn't giving the team a chance this year but can you blame him?  The past two seasons he had Michigan on his top 10 most improved teams list.  They end up going 5-7 and 7-6 both times on the list.  He's probably given up on us. 

I predict UM finishes anywhere between 0-12 and 12-0 with 100% certainty. That's the best I can do.

 

...but it won't happen.  

I can see, though, how someone could make that prediction.  Even with Mattison's coaching, the defense will be mediocre at best.  The offense looked terrible in the spring game.  It's all on Borges this year.  Last year, the offense had to bail out a terrible defense.  This year, the defense could have to bail out the offense, and if they have to, they probably won't be good enough against better teams.

I think the offense will struggle early, but they will out-talent everyone out of conference except ND.  By the time they get to the MSU game, they should be clicking.  I am guessing that, even if they aren't, in a "turnabout is fair play" secnario, Michigan will beat MSU on sheer hatred.  I still think they lose to Iowa and Nebraska, with one "upset" loss to another BT opponent.  TSIO appears to be in such a state of disrepair that Michigan should start the turnaround against them this year.  

That all works out to 8-4, and 5-3 in the conference.  I hope I am wrong and get pleasantly surprised.  If Borges turns out to be a "mad scientist" and the defense has more talent than it appears, it could be a double-digit year.  I can always hope.

I'm still sticking with 9-3.

On The Victors Message Board, someone said that Nebraska loses 7 defensive starters from last year and the secondary's entire two-deep.  They lose 8 offensive starters, including the entire starting offensive line and the entire two-deep at wide receiver. 

They fired their OC/QB coach and replaced him with a guy who has never played nor coached QB.  And apparently they want this guy to improve Taylor Martinez's passing game. 

Is all that true?  If it is and they are STILL picked to win the division, this must be one bad division.    

Every god forsaken year pundits pros and experts say these things. I allow it to rattle me for about two minutes. They are always full of shit. I don't understand how they keep their jobs. If I was wrong that often, I'd be fired in a minute. They are almost always wrong...

Which one is "Legends" again?  Isn't Brad Pitt in that one?

Remember that running game we had a few yrs. ago! Prediction: It's back! If our RB's run the ball effectively in the first 5-6 gms and gain some confidence, watch out! Feature back, by committee, manball, whatever just run the damn ball with someone besides Denard and all will be fine.
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<br>Prediction:9-3
<br>Hoke "steals" a couple of games.
<br>(see what I did there) =]

distinguished track record probably dating back longer than I've been watching football, you'd think he'd be a little more intuitive here. He's predicting us to flop and Sparty to ride high on a wave made of pure win. I think someone needs to sit him down and tell him to look twice. Sparty was way overrated last year, technically didn't beat ND, and Wisco thought they were another cupcake and fell asleep on them like they did at the Rose Bowl. (I thnik TCU is great, but Wisco did fail to show up) Sparty had a cake schedule and their record didn't indicate how good the team was, the Capital One Bowl did. This year they have the tougher schedule, lose their offensive line and all their tackles on defense, they play the buckeyes, and ND and Wisco are looking for revenge. Yet Phil Steele thinks they have a shot at winning the Big 10 again. Michigan had a team who were majority underclassmen playing a defensive scheme that was doomed to fail, undercoached, disgruntled, injured, yet were predicted to soon turn the corner. Now we have the best coaches we could get our hands on with a track record of quick turnarounds, the kids are a year older, the schedule is easier and our opponents are all a step down from last year with the exception of PSU, yet Phil Steel is predicting next season is worse than last season. Every season in review except for Steele's says Michigan is the Wild Card of the B1G this year. Consensus says we'll do as well or better than last year.

this year to improve the D.  Jake Ryan for example.  Maybe Furman or Robinson.  I fully expect an improvement from last year.  I believe even Hoke said as much.  You can't expect or plan for failure.

Why is he wrong?

I watched a lot of their games last year and they aren't that good. They lost to crap ass Washington, they gave up over 40 points twice, and their offence stinks. To say they are the favorites is a bit ridiculous. They have to prepare for a team they have never faced for every big ten team. Look for Michigan's defense to be a lot better this year. They will be more physical up front with a 4 man front, and their secondary will be able to play more fluidly, they were so inexperienced they were to busy thinking of were they should be on the field they weren't able to properly react to the play. Look for Michigan compete for the conference title. They just need to be able to win the close games like msu was able to do last year.

Phil Steele also picked TP for 3rd team all-B10. Enough said.

I expect drastic improvement on defense this year, and fast.  We will have much better coaching, some injured players returning, and lots of freshman and sophomores gaining a year of experience and weight training.  I think that people are not realizing just how poorly coached our defense has been for a few years.  It has the athletes to be at least average. 

From 1994 to 1995, the defense improved 105 yards a game.  Despite losing Ty Law and Steve Morrison

From 2000 to 2001, the defense improved by 81 yards a game.

From 2005 to 2006, the defense improved by 77 yards per game.

Here's a good extreme example.  From 2005 to 2006, Wisconsin improved by a whopping 190 yards per game.

This year, our defense is set up to improve more than that '95, '01, and '06 squads were.  I'll be both disappointed and shocked if, yardage-wise, we do not improve by at least 70 yards per game and get back on par with the 2008 defense. 

Well, given what just came out of Columbus, I don't think this prediction is worth the paper it's printed on, even if it's just over the internet.

If he's dismissing M b/c we're changing O's, he should have applied that same filter to Nebraska.  No one seems to even be sure what they're going to be running, though quotes from the Spring game indicate the change will be significant.

The Huskers ran an attack that featured between-the-tackle running and a mix of options and sweep plays.

Offensive packages ranged from the pistol to the basic I-formation as the Huskers ran their way to 301 yards between the two teams.

http://www.dailynebraskan.com/sports/nebraska-spring-game-displays-classic-offensive-physicality-1.2545061

Sounds like they'll run everything. May work, may not, but you can't assume one team will struggle with change and another will run with it.

The division must be amazing for 5 teams to finish 9-3 or better.

I may be a biased Michigan fan, but I believe that we can win our division. Here's why:

Coach Hoke coached nobodies at San Diego St. to 9 wins and almost beat TCU.

We are simply better than Iowa, Minnesota, and Northwestern, however, Iowa and Northwestern will be tough.

That leaves Nebraska and Michigan St. Michigan will beat Nebraska because Denard Robinson will want to show the world that he is better than Taylor Martinez. Plus I don't see Nebraska going through the Big Ten like a hot knife through butter. Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn St, Michigan, and Michigan St. aren't exactly Iowa State, Baylor, Colorado, Kansas, Kansas St., and Texas Tech.

Michigan will beat Michigan St. because they will be fired and ready to put Little Brother in his place. I know it sounds like I have Michigan going undefeated, but realistically I see anywhere from 8-4-10-2 and I believe a 9-3 will be good enough to reach the Big Ten championship.