Teams Michigan beats this season because of better talent
I watched the Big Ten Network's broadcast from practice recently. It pretty much blew, since it was mainly boring commentary, occasionally while there was actual practice footage on the screen. I had hoped for more practice footage, with commentary directed toward practice footage. I would have preferred no commentary and just practice footage.
In any case, Gary Dinardo said that the difference this year is that "Michigan will beat the teams it has more talent than." Or something very close to that. He went on to predict that Michigan will win 5 games. Unfortunately, he did not say which teams he thought we had more talent than. I suppose that would have required looking at the schedule, which can be difficult.
I don't see how the first statement yields leads to the second statement. Taking the first statement as true, "Michigan beats teams with less talent." How many games does Michigan win? And which teams do we beat/lose to?
Measuring talent is difficult. Does this mean average talent of all players? Talent level of players at key skill positions? I think he probably meant the latter. If so, I see loses to Iowa, Penn State, Illinois, and Ohio State.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:23 AM ^
He didn't use the word talent, but he said "better players". There's a subtle difference between the two, since talent implies just raw ability and upside potential, but "better players" says where they are now. Penn State and Iowa, for example, have better players than Michigan right now, but not more talent. Michigan State is probably even with us in terms of quality of players, but we have more talent. I kind of agree with Dinardo's general assertion. If there are early lines on all of our games, I would expect for us to be underdogs in seven of them. He said that we will win the games in which we are favorites and then win one on top of that. I think he's probably not too far off.
Am I the only person who liked the Big Ten Network's coverage? Nice interview with Greg Robinson and Rich Rodriguez and some good discussions about the weaknesses of last year's team.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:43 AM ^
I am with the OP on this one. I wanted to see more than just a couple of plays for the stars of the team. The questions they asked the coaches were the generic questions like "What are you doing differently this year?".
I am glad that you pointed out that he didn't predict 5 wins but he said that we had 5 games that we should win based on better players alone.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:44 AM ^
Apparently I misremembered Dinardo's words. That subtle difference does have implications as you and others have stated.
It is really hard to feel confident about any record prediction this year. I don't think using last year as a baseline is appropriate. It was a perfect storm of a season. Using Dinardo's metric of "better players" is an interesting way to look at our prospects for the coming season.
The interviews with the coaches were some of the brighter spots of the commentary, but they were really short - on content and in duration.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:14 PM ^
that talks about us but I thought there would be more video of practice so I was disappointed by that. Overall, I've really warmed up to the BTN since it's inception, it's starting to 'fit' for me in terms of, well, Big Ten coverage.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:25 AM ^
I would say Michigan's talent level is easily superior to the following teams:
Western, Eastern, Indiana, Delaware State, Purdue.
Better players, though, DiNardo may be right.
In regards to other teams, well, I think we're going to surprise Iowa because of team speed. Iowa didn't play us last year and they will be initially surprised at the speed at which Michigan will play this year. If M can rotate the 5 RBs, and win the time of possession battle, Michigan can win that game.
Regarding Notre Dame and State, I think if our schemes were executed properly last year, we'd have beaten those teams. They are significantly advanced this year. I think those games can be won.
Wisconsin is a fat tubby lard of goo. That game is winnable.
Penn State, Illinois and Ohio State are tough looking games.
But I think 6-9 wins is the range this year. So, DiNardo isn't far off.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:09 AM ^
6-9 wins huh? So basically what everybody else has been saying on these boards for a while? Sorry for my negative approach to your risky pick of 6-9 wins, but I just want September 5 to come asap.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:33 AM ^
means nothing. Zero. Whatsoever. Just like everyone else's.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:11 AM ^
Michigan has BETTER talent than everyone in the Big 10, with the only comparable being OSU. I've been saying this for years.
There was NO EXCUSE for the muskrat-boning exercise in futility that was last year. When is RR going to start WINNING?
It's ashame we're all about finding players that fit the Super Secret Ninja Spread instead of finding good players. Godriguez is a flaming Spaniard fraud and I saw him molest children in the back of my van.
That being said, I fully support him and think he will be awesome.
Fire Godriguez.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:23 AM ^
Dantonio? Is that you??
Better run along now and get back to practice.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:41 AM ^
please run along now.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:47 AM ^
shoo, go away troll
August 20th, 2009 at 10:58 AM ^
Ok, why?
I see you signed up today just to post insanely stupid things.
If it were funny, I could understand. It's not.
If you were a troll, I could understand. Maybe you are, but if so, then you're the most assinine troll I've ever seen.
If your goal is just to see how many points you can possibly get negged in one day, then congrats on your success.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:06 AM ^
It's not dex. Not chitown. Not BGH. Probably not ChrisGo Whoever could this satirist be?
August 20th, 2009 at 11:15 AM ^
One of the doctors or lawyers.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:19 AM ^
eurybody get your troll on.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:23 AM ^
So now standing up for truth, justice, and the Constitution is a troll? I'm just exercising my right to free speech. Trust me, when you go to jail as often as I do (because I'm a manly man) you learn to know and appreciate your rights. For instance, when you are a middle aged pale doughy guy in jail for touching a child, you might get touched yourself unless you have a special talent with your tongue.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:26 AM ^
If thats your serious opinion then I respect it. The godriguez and what not leads me to belive otherwise. Don't drop the soap.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:30 AM ^
You people don't see the resemblence to a certain poster who...like to burp a lot? That refers to beer in their signature?
August 20th, 2009 at 11:33 AM ^
WLA Kidz, always snooping around in the Treefort trying to harass innocent posters. How about you just go back to the lite-brite snd etcha-sketch before mommy comes to pick you from daycare and sees you on the computer? I'm the Real Man around here, so deal with it. I have hair on my testicles, unlike you bitches.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:31 AM ^
On second thought, any mention to Spaniard automatically makes me suspect OPS.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:24 AM ^
If I had to rank talent/players on the schedule this year:
OSU
PSU
Iowa
Illinois
ND
--Michigan
WIsconsin
MSU
WMU
Purdue
Indiana
EMU
Del. St.
That's 7-5. The problem is that the two teams immediately below Michigan are away games, which might be enough to make up for the talent difference. Similarly, Michigan may be able to overtake ND's talent at the Big House.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:00 AM ^
I agree with who's above and below us talent-wise, but I might switch a couple adjacent teams, like Wisco and MSU or ND and Illinois.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:13 AM ^
Like the rest of you, I can't wait until Sept 5th. Right now, recruiting is quiet, no new info on players, schemes, coaches and we are all just Jonesing for some real football. I like what you say about rankings, but just remember, any team on any given day can beat another team. That's why they play the game.
What Michigan lacked last year was a combination of skilled players who were comfortable with the new system. These,are, after all, just kids. Granted, they are a lot bigger, stronger, and meaner than I was when I was their age, but they're still just kids.
Any one of them can make a bonehead decision and cause us to lose, and any one of them can make some phenomenal plays and allow us to win. Some have said we weren't very lucky last year. Ref's missed calls, etc. I say you make your own luck.
The attitude is very different this year already. The swagger isn't there yet, but given time, it will be and even if it's not I will still be there to support them.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:14 AM ^
If you believe rivals.com's rankings, the only team that has recruited better players than us over the last 5 years is OSU beating us in 2006, 2008 and 2009. Notre Dame had better recruiting classes in 2006 and 2007. PSU only beat us in recruiting in 2006 and noone else on our schedule had a better recruiting class than us even once in 5 years. OSU is the only team on our schedule that has more talent. We need to show that on the field this year. If we lose to anybody this year, it won't be because our players don't have talent, it will be because of inexperience and changing defensive coordinators three times in three years.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:17 AM ^
We have NO excuse to be worse than 11-1 this year. Even if the Super Secret Ninja Spread of Doom takes Special Players that only Godriguez can identify with his all-seeing-all-knowing eye, we have BETTER players than everyone according to Scout and Rivals.
It is just excuse making if we don't win every game and be competitive against OSU.
If we don't beat 3 of the 4 big rivals, Godriguez needs to be strongly looked at in the off-season and perhaps beaten with a hose, much like I beat the illegitimate children that I have fathered with several underage girls who may or may not be tied up in the crawlspace right now.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:22 AM ^
Blasphemy
August 20th, 2009 at 11:26 AM ^
you already admitted you have no affiliation with the University of Michigan (although, your incoherent ramblings are another dead giveaway).
August 20th, 2009 at 11:30 AM ^
I was just going to write a nearly identical post.
Michigan has TONS of talent, they just need a little more experience. I believe most of our players are now confident with the new system, and that confidence will show when they play WMU on Sept. 5.
I think Michigan will surprise a lot of people this year, and this time in a good way.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:37 AM ^
Agree completly, players that think =slow, players that react=fast. I really don't think alot of people understand how hard a transition it was for the players last year. I can't wait to see this team hit the field. Can't wait for the season opener, first trip to the bighouse in person, HAIL, HAIL!!!!
August 20th, 2009 at 1:42 PM ^
You're right about the rankings, but the attrition at Michigan has been unspeakably brutal. Think of the stars that we have lost in the last five years -- Zirbel, Boren, McGuffie, Bass, Germany, Slocum, Mallett, Witherspoon, and so on. The list is huge. This has hit our talent pool horribly. I would like to see some revised recruiting rankings based upon which recruits played out their eligibility. By my count, we have lost 16 four or five-star players to injury or transfer since 2005.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:23 PM ^
As has been discussed here already I think Michigan has as much raw talent as any team in the country. I think we lack experience though and that will lose us some games this year. Overall I expect 6 to 8 maybe even 9 wins this year.