Phil Steele Pre-Season Rank: Michigan 12th
Is anyone else fine with this? I mean, beyond the whole 'pre-season rankings are meaningless.' Top 15, with Michigan's schedule, is striking distance for top 4 when it counts, especially with the Game to end the season. It'll allow the young guys and QB to get settled in and generally reduce the pressure (though I'm not sure Harbaugh is a fan of that).
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
That is strange, because there is no site on the web more credible than Fanbuzz.
You forgot the 2008 Capital One Bowl.
I assume that his own rankings are for the end of the season.
will have to lose 3+ games to finish out of the top 10. yes, it could happen, but i doubt it.
I wanted to neg you for the 'easiest schedule' in the Big 10 comment, but given the five home game start (the first three against UCF, Hawaii, Colorado), you could maybe make that argument, even though Michigan plays home against Penn State and Wisconsin, and then at Michigan State, Iowa, and Ohio State. I would qualify that by saying 'easiest schedule' among potential contenders.
that are left off this list we should consider?
A&M is putting together a pretty strong ball club this year.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
For all of the color blind mgobloggers, I'd like to point out that last years so called maize is not mustard. I encourage you to look at the color of mustard out of a bottle or the actual plant if you have that over there in Michigan. You'll find that your maize color from last year is actually more resembling of a dandelion yellow. Thanks and go blue.
fuck him, he has OSU at 6, talk about a biased assed dickhead.
Steele was on the radio this morning with Sam Webb and he says U-M is a legit NC candidate.
He ain't the dickhead, pal.
/s
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
I'm ok with it. Both O'Korn and Speight impressed me to varying degrees in the spring game, but the fact still is we have an unknown at the most important position on the field. Our defense looks to be fantastic, but we do have to replace an entire position group that was already lackluster. As great as our line and secondary are, we're going to be in trouble again against spread to run teams if we can't seal the edge. People point to missing Glasgow as the main reason OSU ran all over us, but the real culprit was our complete inability to seal the edge against their power read, because of our unathletic linebackers.
I think that we will come together, find our QB, and get some decent play from more athletic linebackers than last year's starters, but we haven't yet, and #12 is reflective of that.
because it had an all time great defense allowed the offense to find itself and be a consistent part of the team with a solid run game and a great game manager at QB in Griese who was originally a walk on.
This offense should be more talented and I have a special feeling about the defense, the sky is the limit IMO.
I have mostly the same feelings, with some misgivings about our running game. I just want to hold off on annoiting them until they've proved it.
starting every game.
That's why our running game was good no matter who was carrying the ball.
in the coaches poll. I believe even lower than that in the AP.
So who ever Harbaugh names as the starter will get some games to improve before we play sparty, Iowa and OSU. I do hope the LB play will improve. Otherwise, the D should be great this season. 2017 we may need a more of a high power offense, since we lose so many D starters.
Definitely, our schedule sets up very nicely! 2017 should be interesting, with Harbaugh recruited guys entering their 2nd and 3rd years, it will be our first glimpse of whether Harbaugh is going to turn us into a program like Alabama or Ohio State that simply reloads every year.
I'm going to say it is nearly impossible to seal the edge against OSU without stacking the box and playing agressive against the run. We didn't even try those things, so not sure a more athletic linebacking group would have made a lot of difference. But I think I agree that #12 seems about right. Definitely not our ceiling, but a good starting point given the open questions.
we do have arguable the best secondary in the nation.
We might be able to stack the box and get away with it.
could have last year. I wonder if at any point Durkin left his email chain with the Maryland Athletic Department for long enough to watch how Michigan State defended Ohio State exactly ONE WEEK BEFORE!?!
ever and there was zero chance they would do it again? It was also played in a driving rain.
that one. I think you remember the one. It was played at Ohio Stadium, a 3:30 game I believe. It was right after we played Penn State. Michigan State won on a field goal. They played without their starting QB. Ohio State took the lead in the 3rd on a short touch down pass, but that lead would not hold as the Spartans answered on the next possession. It was Senior Day for the Buckeyes.
Any other details that could help clarify exactly when, where, and what the game was in case any confusion remains?
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
7 in the first two rounds BUT five (!) of the first twenty picks and 12 drafted overall. That's incredible. It's amazing that they dumped the MSU game.
he lost me with FSU 1. and Tennessee at 7.
While it's hard to put FSU ahead of Bama and Clemson, it's not totally ridiculous to think they could be the best team in the country. Tennessee at 7 is absurd.
...just ask Baghdad Butch. He doesn't lie.