Smile, 19 starters returning to team
I was viewing the Rivals depth chart for Wisconsin week, and couldn't help but envision next years team. 19 Starters will back for the 2011 season! Schilling, Mouton and Rogers make up the only starters who are graduating after this season. You could also make the argument that with Troy Woolfolk returning from injury, it could be 20 returning starters. The number 19 is in reference to the starters on offense and defense, does include special team players, who all happen to be returning to team as well. May not translate into National Championship, but stll puts a smile on my face. GO BLUE
Depth Chart for Wisonsin Week
November 16th, 2010 at 5:17 PM ^
I am excited as the next guy to see the Dee Hart / Denard combo going but a couple questions:
1. How big of an impact can Dee Hart as a true freshman make? I know RB is one position where it's possible.
2. Do you think that Gardner will be competing for playing time? Will he move past Tate as #2 after Denard? I think Tate is a great player but curious to see Gardner after he gets more experience.
3. It's great to have so many starters but with such a terrible defense, why is it so exciting to have them returning? Can they really improve that much to care that they're coming back?
4. Roundtree and Hemingway are great wide receivers but is there any chance anyone might step up and be the next Manningham / Braylon?
I am excited and hopeful for next year but I am just curious to hear some opinions from someone more knowledgeable than I am. Thanks.
November 16th, 2010 at 5:49 PM ^
First of all, it's never a bad thing to have starters return, even if they are "bad" starters. Very rarely are your true freshmen better than even the worst returning starters. And isn't it always better to have the true freshmen and the "bad" returning starter? That way at least there's competition.
That said, yes our D is bad, but our individual players on defense are not untalented players. The defense as a whole is bad because so many of the players are young and inexperienced. Along with young also comes undersized, often. Who will be better at DE, 2010 Roh at 250 or 2011 Roh at 265? Who will be better, the 2010 versions of Avery, Gordons, Carvin, MRob, Vinopal who are all seeing the field for the first time, or the 2011 versions with an extra year of understanding, strength training and experience? Same goes for Demens and Kovacs, they are playing well, but of course more age, size and experience will only help them.
I guess what I'm trying to say is your point #3 is pretty ignorant, all in all.
November 16th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
I appreciate the response. Thanks for giving me some insight. I wasn't trying to make a point with #3 ... I was honestly asking because I was clueless, which is why I stated that I was hoping someone more knowledgeable could help me out.
What I was trying to say is "Hey, I have no clue, someone give me some more info to help an ignoramus out."
November 17th, 2010 at 1:09 AM ^
November 16th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
That's great and all, but we still have a lot to play for this season.
November 16th, 2010 at 5:51 PM ^
Not likely to happen, but an upset over Wisconsin and that's a lot of momentum for a tight group. You never know.
November 16th, 2010 at 5:33 PM ^
Future freshman should understand if they are good enough, they will have the chance to compete. Also, with 19 returning starters, Michigan will start graduating more starters in the coming two years making for plenty of opportunities during red shirt and red shirt sophomore years. The best scenario for a freshman is to come into a program where they are most likely to redshirt but still have a chance to play if they can earn it. As we have discussed many times on the Board here, great teams have more juniors and seniors playing. If you want guaranteed playing time as a freshman, go find a MAC team or other team with a losing record. If you want to come and compete, play in a program returning to greatness, and stay and become a champion, then come to Michigan.
November 16th, 2010 at 5:44 PM ^
This time next year the bandwagon will be in need of some restructuring to counter all of the added weight.
November 16th, 2010 at 6:30 PM ^
I'm going to work on kicking them off as they try to grab on. The first place I will look are in the hysterical/emo/idiotic posts following our losses this year.
November 16th, 2010 at 6:49 PM ^
We take a page from my dad's Naval training days* and all grab paddles and whack anyone that decides to try and grab a seat on the bandwagon next year that badmouthed the program so much. (run-on sentence much?)
(*I'm referring to the "exercise" where naval recruits have to tread water for a long period of time in a large pool, and if they come too close to the pool edge, a CO would be waiting with a paddle to whack them.)
November 16th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
Nice!! LOL!
November 16th, 2010 at 6:51 PM ^
His name is Troy Otto von Bisfork.
Edit: I should get it right too. That was to mtxgoblue.
November 16th, 2010 at 7:22 PM ^
How is Avery starting over Christian who played DB in high school and has phenominal size? I'm hoping its just because he had to transition his technique vs. Avery just starting fresh and both will be better next year.
November 16th, 2010 at 8:22 PM ^
Cullen is a bit slow for corner. Maybe he'll speed up when he gets better mentally. If not, I think he'd be a good FS with some time.
November 16th, 2010 at 7:59 PM ^
Who will be on the two-deep at NT/DT?
November 16th, 2010 at 10:58 PM ^
Martin, Washington, Talbott, Ash.
November 16th, 2010 at 9:03 PM ^
Brandon will point to this BIG TIME when explaining why he's decided to keep RR. Looking forward to next year, as well as the close of this year
November 16th, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^
There's no reason this offense shouldn't continue to improve and be a top-5 offense next year. There will be pressure next year to not just win the gimme games, but also beat some quality teams.
I'm looking at three things for next year:
(1) Fewer Turnovers on Off / More takeaways on Def.
(2) More production from runners not named Denard Robinson. Ideally, Denard doesn't have to put up the same production per game.
(3) Hoping that our Defense can give up a touchdown per game less. It's unrealistic to think we're going to go back being a good defense in just a year. If we could be average, and by average, I'm thinking 25 points/game allowed, that would place us solidly in the middle of the Big-Ten. With a more efficient offensive performance, I feel like we can at least split the games with OSU/Nebraska/Iowa/State.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:39 AM ^
That offense with a middle of the pack D will run train next year as long as we are not turn over proned (again). It will be amazing to watch Michigan strike fear into Big 10 teams next year, the way it should be. RR is the TRUTH. Better watch out for Denard n Hart co coming thru next year!
November 17th, 2010 at 2:50 AM ^
Before I start feeling excited about returning starters, I need the pervasive mind-body numbness caused by Wolverine player attrition and deity-inflicted injury to wear off.
Oh, and Michigan still has 2011 recruiting, offseason player attrition and....wait for it.....grades to all flesh out.
I agree that it's cool. I mean, 19 starters is fantastic - and a conservative estimate by the way.
But if fans have learned anything after the last 5 to 6 years, Michigan is the last football program on the god-damned planet that can start "counting its chickens before they hatch". Players will leave. We know it.
Let's reconvene on this question in August 2011.
November 17th, 2010 at 8:11 AM ^
Going to be real interesting next year, I can see special things happening in the future with this team......