Which position group is the key to our success this year?

QB

/thread

In this offense, I think the answer to this is QB almost every single year--and definitely this year, since the position is such an unknown.

The OL is the key I think. If there able to open holes for the RB's they are going to to take pressure off of the QB's. UM can't lead the nation in plays going for less than a yard and I think that starts up front.

The offensive line is the single most important group on a football team every year, but especially this year with a young QB. Establishing a running game is essential to take the pressure off the QB. When the running game is working, it softens the D up and allows the QB to capitalize on opportunities downfield. If we go old school and run over everybody for 300-400 yards a game and never have to throw it, fine by me because that will equal a lot of wins.

And from everything I'm reading, it seems likely that much improved OL play can be expected.

They are in most years with most teams, and I think this Michigan team is no exception, the most under appreciated and most important unit on a team. With a good to great offensive line, a poor running back or poor qb can still have success, but not the other way around. Taking it further, with a good offense, a poor defense can be hidden and protected. Therefore, I think its the o line.

I am a firm believer that a game is either won, or lost in the trenches. If you don't have a serviceable O-Line, or a solid D-Line, you more than likely will not have a successful season.

It's gotta be safeties. We haven't had good safeties... in... years? Not only that but there was a walk-on in the two deep.

So on D for me it goes:

S
LB
CB
DL (no worries here unless injuries *knock on wood*)

Being a O-line lover it is hard for me to say the D-line is the most important this year.(The heavies on offense are always the key but here is why I say D for this year)

If our D-line can create pressure consistantly, there will be less for our d-backs/linbeackers to deal with. The less big plays they have to make, the more the offense will be on the field. So in order for the offense to throw up 50/game, which I think they will be capable of, the D will have to be off the field.

kjydmd is right on. No matter how good your QB, WR and RBs are, if they don't have time to throw or get open or don't have any space to run, they will not be very successful. Same goes on D. If you have lock-down DBs, but the DL cannot get pressure, someone will come open eventually. Every season, the lines are the most important part of the team.

For us to be successful this season, I would say DL, OL, QB and DB in that order.

is safety play first and foremost. We have no depth there, and it has been our achilles heel for a long, long time. We need them to step it up if we want to avoid getting gouged on D.

QB and OL are obviously more important positions in the grand scheme of things, but I have a higher comfort level in Tate/Denard and our existing OL than I do in our safety play.

dropped the ball elevnty brazillion times last year.

to me is the most important position as Rich Rod's offense needs to have the right type of QB to run the offense effectively. I personally am excited by the fact that Forcier is an accurate passer. He might not be very big and he might not have the strongest arm, but he can hit receivers and RBs in stride. To me this will be a huge difference as Threet might have had a big arm, but he was wildly inaccurate. I would love to see what our little slot ninjas can do when someone actually gives them a pass that hits them on the numbers in stride. That way they can come out of their break and head straight up field. I really think the improved accuracy will help the offense.

I think the more important question is which group is the biggest question mark - that is qb and safety. Below replacement level performances there will not cut it.

I think OL is more important than QB. Sure, if we have TERRIBLE QB play, we won't win, but the same can be said for the OL. We could have Mike Vick at QB, but if no one blocks, he'll be no good. That said, with our receiving and RB corps that we have this year, if our QB play is adequate but our OL is fantastic, we will win. If our QB play is fantastic but our OL is just adequate, I don't think we'd be as good.

Armchair coaches. If Rodrguez doesn't start listening to me, he'll end up coaching the 6th grade rodeo team in Farthing's Wench, Wyoming.

Another vote for the defensive backfield. We need safeties that don't regularly give up big plays. CB is also important since we don't have much depth (back-ups with playing experience).

for the first time I can ever remember, I find some bit of mystery regarding ALL the groups on our team. I'd say RB clearly has the least mystery, but look everywhere else. The DL is being completely replaced, the LBs were all young, and the DBs were awful last year, but have a lot in the area of guru ratings. The entire offense intrigues me just to see what improvements were made. It's just...a very mysterious team to be sure.

other than QBs, i think the LBs will be the key to our success or our achilles heal. Our defense would have been dramatically improved had we been able to stop teams on 3rd and long, the majority of which were converted b/c of poor linebacker play. Also Ezeh needs to make quicker reads on the run and plug the holes quickly. If we can slow the run game and prevent 3rd and long conversions, I think our defense will be dramatically improved from last yr despite how our line or secondary play: the db's really couldnt possibly have played worse in 2008 and the Dline underachieved so terrifically that the same can almost be said for our line this yr...almost.

given more thought, i think special teams is both the group that I will be watching most closely and potentially one of the major keys to our improvement