Recent Comments

As soon as I believe you are my attourney, giving me legal advice, there is power of attourney and you can't go to the police with what I've told you.  With that being said, I need some help, Saul.  My buddy Jesse and I have been working for this man named Gustavo, but I have a feeling he's going to kill me after my next few cooks.  We make crystal meth for him under a laundromat.  What should I do?  I have enough money to retire, but I feel he will be able to find me and my family if we leave.

-WW

Me too.  The resemblance is uncanny.  

Alex and his dad sent in another letter to Arkansas.

But wait...

His mom hired Johnnie Cochran's law firm.......

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/um-hurricanes/sfl-johnnie-cochran-firm-hired-by-alex-collins-family-20130207,0,6958.story

I feel this story isn't going to be one we're forgetting for a while.

Morris doesn't show the most consistency or the best accuracy.  What good is throwing the ball 70 yards if it's not anywhere near our receivers?

I am skeptical if Morris is the long term answer, but I am hopeful.  If he responds to coaching and can gets the timing down with his receivers the sky is the limit.  But if he doesn't adjust well to the college game in a couple years, we're going to rely on Bellomy which I'm not comfortable with, or a player not on the team yet.  I'm confident the coaches will figure it out.

INFINITE FAITH IN HOKE AND BORGES

A huge play?  He stole the ball and dunked it.  I agree with the excessive jawing, but I know that wont be a problem when he gets on campus.  If any player on our team does something like that I think Hoke would serve them up some humble pie.

There are recruits with 17/18 year old kids?  They're certainly ahead of their peers physically if that is their case.

edit: This was supposed to be in response to the poor grammar of the post ABOVE the post my reply replied to.

IIRC, Shane had Norfleet on his 7 on 7 team, and Shane went to him often. I thought that was one of the small reasons we could have recruited Norfleet.

Maybe Hoke is putting a little heat on Dawson?

Michigan - 41

Iowa - 6

Devin looks like he throws a better ball than Denard. Denard is not a very accurate passer. Even his completions often look off target. With Devin, I really like the way he went through his reads, and if nothing was there took off running, something I wish Denard did more. On designed runs Denard is great, but when he thinks "pass" he doesn't run. I think Devin is and will be a much better passing quarterback.

With that said, Denard's legs are too much of a weapon, and he should definitely stay at qb this year ESPECIALLY with our shaky line play. If Devin put up numbers like that against Bama, I think everyone might be singing a different tune, but It's Minnesota.

Mich 31. Minn 6. 215 rushing yards

Michigan 41, Nebraska 17.

Rushing yards - 271.  155 coming from Denard, 116 from the other backs combined.

I just asked my friend Steph on Diggs, this new recruit, and she said the 4th Forcier quarterback brother, Patrice, is making his way down.

but may is posting much higher
numbers than their season average. Can't happen this game.

Missed a week of school. Day I came back, track coach had me pole vaulting vs. the #2 and #7 pole vaulters in the state in a dual meet. I took 2nd that day. Broke my pr by over a foot. In conclusion, iron sharpens iron.

There were 4 5-stars and 4 2-stars in the first round of the last NFL draft, and ~50 other 2 stars scattered throughout the rest of the draft.  Stars mean the kid is probably a good athlete AND has gotten exposure.  I have faith this coaching staff knows what they want.

Brady Hoke

But Hart ran behind Jake Long for 4 years, was pretty undersized and doesn't have any speed.  Put up great numbers at Michigan, but I don't know if anyone was expecting him to be great, or even good in the NFL.

Just because another DT is 6'1" doesn't mean all 6'1" tackles are going to be awesome, it doesn't work that way.  That's just like saying because Denard Robinson is 6' and Drew Brees is 6' they'll both have successful careers in the NFL as quarterbacks.  Darren Sproles and Vincent Smith aren't destined to see the same sort of success in the NFL because they're both 5'6".  Just because one undersized player made it, not all undersized players make it.

With that being said, I still think Martin is going to be fine because hes a beast.

Hey, he's our new coach

And this is crazy

He might have a heisman winner

But he'd rather have accountability

At least it's not a cast.

I can tell you what the weather is not going to be today.  It's not going to snow, and be 20 degrees.  Just because I can tell you what the weather wont be, does not mean I can all of the sudden tell you what the weather will be.

Similiarly in this case, just because RDT said Mathis isn't going to Michigan, doesn't mean RDT knows where Mathis is going.

In 2007 USC had 6 5*'s, 10 4*'s, and 2 3*'s, which comes out to a 4.22 average star.  (Highest I've seen so far on rivals.)

In 2006 Florida had a 3.89 average.

In 2005 USC had a 3.95 average.

In 2004 USC had a 4.05 average.

In 2002 FSU had a 4.09

More Recent history

In 2008 ND, USC, and OSU's classes were higher averages, at 3.96, 3.89 and 3.85 respectively.

In 2010, USC had a 4.2 average.

I could keep going, there are a ton more.

could very well be better than Omameh and Mealer, but then the depth still comes into play.  We have 4 freshmen OL coming in this year, and we're losing 3 5th year OL.  To me, it doesn't matter if Kalis and Bryant come in and pwnzone.  The depth is still a major concerned, and I don't know if this is just my opinion, but I will only be comfortable around 2014.

2012 we'll have 11 scholarship OL, 4 of which are true freshmen.  Yikes

2013 we'll have a max of 13 scholarship OL, 5 of which are freshmen.  I say a max, because it's possible Lewan doesn't return for his 5th year.  Yikes

2014, barring any attrition, we'll have 11 scholarship OL who aren't true freshmen.  That is when I start to feel comfortable.

Depth can be scary.  

He could just be missing a few days of practice, and then when he comes back maybe he'll be limited or something.

STRENGTHS:This kid's balance is top notch.  He can be nudged and it doesn't affect him in the least bit.  He can make decent, but not fantastic cuts.  He's not going to be breaking anyone's ankles with what I've seen so far.  His speed is above average.  I did a quick google on what his track times are, and 2 years ago (his freshman year) he ran a 12 second 100m.  To give a comparrison, Denard hit 10.28.  Again, that was only his freshman year, he definitely could've grown since then, but I see a lot of DB's keeping up with him in his junior year highlights as well.  Vision looks ok.  Makes a lot of smart moves following blockers.

WEAKNESSES:  His tackle breaking ability is not great.  I have yet to see him churn through a weaker tackle.  If he's wrapped up he's probably going down.  He's not the biggest nor fastest running back.

OVERALL:  With his skill set, my TTB ranking would be ~63.  When he gets to whatever school he goes to, he'll work on his strength, and tackle breaking abilities with a college strength coach.  I think he could be a pleasant surprise.  I've seen a lot of tape of people ranked higher than him, and they don't look like they have as much upside.

With our offensive line recruits though, if that is taken into account, I give JoJo an 83.  The holes our OL is going to be opening up will make any running back look like a superstar.

Cuba Gooding Jr. from Radio?  Completely agree with you.

Pretty bold statement.  How about we hope he's destined to be a wolverine first?

Gardner is more familiar with Borges system by one spring practice.  And you're right, Gardner could shine if left to drive the team for a while.

But, I don't necessarily think we'll be more balanced with DG at WR.  DG does have great size, and he might even have great hands, but he doesn't have phenominal speed to be a game changer outside.  Even if Bellomy beats him out at QB, i would rather keep DG at QB.  If he was moved, next year we'll have DG and Bellomy at QB. The year after we'll have Bellomy, and true freshman Morris.  2 deep at QB with one being a freshman scares me a bit.  

I would really like a 3rd running back in this class, Isaac, but right now I don't feel we have that luxury.  We need interior d linemen and wide receivers.  With only ~ 19 left in the class without any attrition (which I know there's always some) I really feel our focus should be elsewhere.

I see nothing immature about that at all.  I really did enjoy when he played SDE and WDE.  

He really got some good penetration from either end.

Morgan, Ryan, RJS, Bolden, Ringer, Ross, Jones, Bell, Antonio Poole, Cam  Gordon, and the 2013 freshmen.  That's 10 already on the roster.  If we pull in 4 more this recruiting class, that's 14 on the roster for 2013.  That seems a little on the high side for me for 3 positions.  If we had 4.66 deep at every position, we'd need a scholarship limit of over 100, and that's not including kickers, punters, or longsnappers.

In 2013, the 2012 freshmen will be 2013 sophomores.  I feel very comfortable with Ryan/Gordon, Bolden/RJS, Morgon/Ross as the two deep.

Really?  My name is John Corbin.  I'm from Iowa, but I went to the University of Michigan, and graduated from the business school last year.  Working at AmEx right now.  Gotta get back to work before my boss notices!  Haha.

Top 10?  Cutler no doubt has the TALENT to be top 10, but he is not a great QB.  Off the top of my head I can name 10 better.

Brady, Rodgers, Brees, Stafford, Ryan, Manning (Eli), Roethlisberger, Romo, Rivers, and Flacco are all better quarterbacks.  That's not including a questionable Vick, or Peyton Manning, because of the possibility of him not coming back.  One might even throw Alex Smith into the discussion.

I would love to see what Henne could do in Cutler's situation, or just in a new setting in general.

Ba da ba ba baaaaa, I'm lovin' it.

If we extrapolate on the number of players who committed today, we're going to have a class well over 1000 by next signing day, and all of the rivals 250.  Saban would be proud.

More like, 3-4!  HAHA!!!

In all seriousness tough, I actually thought they were going to win 7-8 games last year.  Not because I'm an MSU hater, but because I looked at Dantonios coaching record.  In his first few years at MSU, any game decided by a score, he came up with the short straw more often than not (6-12).  2 years ago, he only had 3 games within a touchdown, won all of them.  Last year, he had 5 games within a touchdown, and the only one lost was the Big10 Championship game.  I thought he could possibly revert back to his first few years at MSU, but that hasn't been happening.  Next year I see a ceiling of 10, with a floor of 5 if they can't transititon well to a new QB, and their DL gets less pressure without potential 1st round draft pick Worthy, and of course, Dantonio loses the close ones. 

For me, I think of Brady Hoke as a '89 Ford Taurus SHO, with an aftermarket supercharger.

The internals on the yamaha engine are all overengineered to the point where a supercharger wouldn't harm anything.  It's a 4 door family sedan, with a 7000 rpm redline.  Upon first glance, you might look away.  But if you try to hammer down vs a supercharged SHO, you will lose, and you'll never look at it the same again.

HOWEVA!  I didn't like what you did with Bielema and Dantonio being scared.  If some sleezy BRO comes up to me at a party, and shits in my drink, I'm going to say something.  Not because I'm scared of him, but because that's a shitty (pun) thing to do.  Urban Meyer is that sleezy bro, and he took a big dump in Bielema and Dantonios drinks.  He even tried to shit in Hokes drink, but little did he know, Kalis popped out and pancaked him, and Corso hopped out from behind the curtain yelling NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND.  

To each his own.  I personally enjoy touch the banner's boob to football ratio a little better.  

If an enemy of your enemy is your friend, next year we're squaring off against Bama in the opener, so Bama will be our enemy.  If Bama is our enemy, and Ohio state is their enemy, wouldn't that make Ohio State our friend, being the enemy of our enemy?!

No no no, that doesn't add up at all. 

Edited for trolling: Glad my jokes are appreciated

Never.  Didn't know that tid bit.  Wasn't trying to be a dick with the comment, was genuinely curious, so thanks

... a receiving tight end..?

Dior Mathis?

I know he's not detroit area... but Athony Zettel still gets me.

Is there any way the Big East gets a BCS bid now?  How long are those contracts going?  There has to be an exclusion somewhere that says if your conference is down to 7 teams, you're not getting a BCS bid, or something to that effect.

The pen is mightier

and

An album cover

Weird for you?  Signing to schools is one thing.  When  you get to be my age, people you used to know signing with the boston bruins, or getting ready for the draft, that's when life becomes real and you realize things.

Things like, I'm never going to be the NFL quarterback I thought I would be at this point in my life.

There you go, just calling them Sparty without even thinking about it!  I'll try my best to define sparty now.  Sparty is difficult to define, but I know when I see one.  They have a 'bro' mentality with a napolean-esque complex, feeling the need to build themselves up by any means necessary.  I remember high school, when kids started getting accepted to college, and there'd be the "spartan fan" who got into michigan, and ended up in ann arbor the next year.  They'd get razzed by their friends, "Why would you want to go to that liberal piece of shit school?!  Come Sparty in East Lansing!"  Sparty has every affiliation with that school, because who else would want to be a fan of Michigan State?  Doesn't matter what the argument is, they'll throw something out to make sure you know MSU reigns supreme.  "Yeah!  That's right, little sister!  4 years in a row whoooooo!!!!"  (Takes sip from natty light) "We historically own your ass!!".  Few sips later,  "I hate people saying we couldn't have beat Ohio State last year, did you see us reck them this year in the shoe?!  Whooooo!!!!!"  (Continued sip from natty light).  Like I said, Sparty is difficult to define, but I know one when I see one.

What a fantastic article, with no spelling errors.  (Just kidding, I found at least one)

Really though, I remember Rich Rod's first year, I was a student walking to a party with my roommate and our girlfriends, on the sidewalk the night before the U of M MSU game.  When all of the sudden, a group of 2 chicks and 5 bros, all rocking spartan gear, start yelling go green, go white, across the street.  Of course, being any reasonable michigan student on a friday night, you'll yell back, Go blue!  The spartan bros did not appreciate that, and took it upon themselves to cross the street, get in my face, and push me, repeating the words, Go Green!

That has been, and I think will always be my fondest memories of sparty.  Sure, there are some good spartan fans.  Some of my best friends went to MSU.  But, every experience I've ever had with sparty in public has been less than desireable.  

I know, cool story, bro.

The Diggs stuff was getting old, but now it's starting to be funny to me again.  I wish I had upvote powers.  When do I get those?

I looked back through all of them, and I didn't see any denard commitment post.  And I be like, Dang!

Is it that he lacks top end speed, or runs through his gears and hits redline in 6th in under 2 seconds?

He needs to hold off Ondre Pipkins for the starting spot, and he needs to blow up the OL like I've seen him do.  He himself as said effort is an issue.  If he goes 100%, he is a force to be reckoned with.

For me, if he holds his starting spot all season, and I notice him regularly in the backfield, he will not be a bust.

Craven and Thomas remind me a lot of eachother.  Both play running back and safety, and it looks like both would excel at either.

Alabama is losing a lot of their starters, with 9 of their players good enough to be invited to the combine.  1st game of the year, they wont be expecting D-Robs speed.  

This is what I tell myself to make me think we're going to smoke them, even though when they lose one 5* player, they have 2 more sitting behind him.  I hope we win, but Alabama has such a ridiculous amount of talent.

I'm really happy Hemmingway received an invite, but I have to say what everyone is thinking, about our TE that's missing the combine.

Steve Watson is a good guy, and should have been invited.

Maybe he lists his high school because it's the last school he graduated from?

Or maybe, Braylon Edwards was his idol while at Michigan, and he lists his high school to be different, like when Edwards would say, "Lloyd Carr's University of Michigan"

I don't approve of him not saying Michigan.  Let's get him on the board to explain himself.

I heard Pipkins is kind of like Woolfork, only with the speed of Julius Peppers, and Mike Martin's work ethic and motor, and if you lift his shirt, he's got Jesus' abs.

I saw Stafford at a comedy club in Royal Oak not too long ago, and he was with a different girl.

Millions of reasons to have hot girlfriends.

I have to say, that's quite untrue
DGB's LOI was sent to Mizzou
But come september, we wont be through
He'll still suit up in the maize and blue

Mike Martin's bench is at 505 lbs, and his squat is at 700 lbs.

Reference below

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Martin_(defensive_lineman)

Taylor Lewan; Denard Robinson?

Thanks.  By the time I saw it was on the board, it already had 15 comments.  I click, and access is denied.

With all the talk of "Big News" coming it got me all excited.  I thought maybe the 2x2 commits were coming back, and one of em was a 5* player at a position of need.

I feel the same way about a lot of things.  U of M is a no smoking campus?!  I can't smoke on public ground outside?!  That wasn't in the rulebook when I applied to Michigan.

You can't smoke in bars anymore?!  WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!  Unamerican is what that is.

I can't buy a pack of Camel Signature blends anymore?!  WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!

I mean, I quit smoking....

BUT I WOULD STILL LIKE THE AMERICAN FREEDOM TO CHOOSE

Center:  I'm trying to stay confident regarding Jack Miller.  He's going to be a redshirt freshman next year.  After seeing him around campus, I can tell he needs to put on a little more weight, but he could come in and be great next year.  Khoury could do well if he and Denard get their chemistry right.

QB:  I'm not too worried.  We only will have 3 on the roster the next two years.  But how often do two starting quarterbacks go down, and you have to play the 3rd stringer?  (Besides the colts?)

Running Back:  After Fitz I'm not super confident about the backs as well.  But then I guess it's a good thing we have Fitz back next year.  Running back is a position a freshman can come in and make an impact right away, so hopefully we pick one up in 2013.

Cornerback is a bigger concern for me than it is for you I feel.  We have, what I feel is an elite corner in Countess.  After him, I feel Avery is our number 2, and Floyd is 3rd, just my opinion.  I haven't seen Richardson play a down in college yet, so the verdict is out on him.  But again, that's another position I feel a freshman can come in and make an impact, so hopefully we snag an elite one in 2013, or Richardson lights it up.

I don't know if we'll have that many spots.  If we sign a full class this year, we only have 16 graduating next year, and this hypothetical class is 23 (With question marks, 25).

I like where your head is at.  But with this 2012 class, I'm really hoping for no attrition.

They moved Miller from WR to TE because he wasn't the fastest WR.  Now, after having him throw on 20+ pounds, I don't think moving him back to WR would be the best move.

I think our WR depth will be fine next year, but 2013 we need to pull a couple blue chip prospects.

Tree, Gallon, Dileo, Jackson, Robinson, with Darboh and Chesson coming in.  We should be alright.  Jump Balls?  Chesson and Jackson I hope.

I don't question anything Hoke and Co. do anymore, I have faith.

No lie, couple months ago I did throw a few questions out, especially regarding interior DL depth.  But, if Hoke and Co. think Q, BWC, Wilkins, Ash, and PeeWee can handle the situation, then I wont question it.

(Perhaps a move to a 3-4 coming in a couple years with all the LB recruiting?)  Is a question I wont ask, because Hoke and Co. know better than I do.

I don't say that.  I usually say, "Best of luck to you at Rival U"

Just my two cents, but I think Luck will be a detrimental loss to their team, and they don't have Harbaugh.

When Jim Caldwell stepped in at Indianapolis, he had Peyton for two years.  Their win loss went from 14-2, to 10-6, to 2-14.

That 14-2 kind of reminds me of Stanford's season this year.  They have a different head coach, but still had a stellar quarterback, and they did well because of it.  But then, after Caldwell lost his stellar quarterback, his team flopped.  So, maybe the success of their team was really on their quarterback more than the coach.

Harbaugh steps in to a 6-10 team, takes them to 13-3 and makes it to the NFC championship game, with essentially the SAME TEAM.  Now, that SAME TEAM had 1 pro bowler during their 6-10 season, but in their 13-3 season, they had 9 pro bowlers.  Is it that those players got so much better during an NFL off season that now they're pro bowlers?  No.  You make the pro bowl based off the season you have.  So, those 10 all conference players returning doesn't mean a ton to me.  Without Harbaugh and Luck, I don't see Stanford being great.

Before I start to ramble, the point I'm trying to get at is head coaches and star quarterbacks matter.  Who knows, maybe David Shaw is going to be a phenominal coach, and as soon as I see it I'll eat my words, but I don't know how bright the future in Palo Alto is.

Either way, best of luck to Garnett.  

I am going to have to disagree.

Williams gave up 7 points off his first turnover, and then 3 points off his second turn over, ultimately losing them the game.  You take him out of the equation, 49ers won.

The Ravens team could have done something to score a touchdown, or score more points earlier, or hold off the pats.  But, you don't blame one person for one missed shot, it will happen, and it wouldn't have won them the game.  Sure, at the end of the game, the Ravens COULD have tied it up with a field goal, and then went on to POSSIBLY win in overtime, but Williams straight up lost the 49ers the game by allowing the giants to go to overtime in the first place, and then giving them the field position in OT to win.

Hoke tells all the recruits the best eleven will see the field, and there's no doubt when a freshman comes in, and works hard, they can work their way onto the field to be one of the eleven.  Look at Countess, Morgan, Clark, and Beyer from last year, just to name a few.  So, Reeves could believe he's going to see the field because he knows he's going to come in and work hard.  

When Mattison was at Florida, he was the one who recruited Tim Tebow.

... but Meyer told Snead Tebow was being recruited as a linebacker..

It was my understanding that Urban Meyer's new contract makes him the highest paid college coach.

And if they go off salaries this year, I think Mack Brown was making 5.25M/yr while at Texas.

As mentioned above, Clemson, but also Florida State.  Those two schools do the least with the most talent, IMO.

We don't know how good alabama is going to be next year?  Did you mean you?  Their defense is ridiculous.  They're losing Richardson... probably.... but their defense is just too stout.  They're graduating 5 senior starters on defense, but will replace them with 2 seniors, a junior, and two redshirt sophomores.  They have depth, they have talent, they'll be great.

I'm doing my part, rallying the troops and heading down.  It's only a 17 hour drive from Ann Arbor.

Hey Cousins, I sat on my couch, but I'm still going to the sugar bowl!

Yeah, Fitzkrieg The Toose is Loose Toussaint  is the only running back I've heard Jackson talk up, ever.

I agree, kind of.  He was splitting carries with Smith and really had to emerge as the #1 tailback.  That 50 yarder vs bowling green (I think it was a 60 yarder?  But I could be wrong) he was caught from behind, where this year I don't feel that would have happened.

And who knows.... maybe Gibbons would've made his next 9 kicks last year and had been 10/14 too!
/s

Gorgeous Al Borges deserves credit.

Why can't we have playoffs AND a bcs?!

BCS pros - provides a lot of revenue during bowl season.  Tons of bowl games = tons of cash!  Teams like houston aren't playing for the national championship.

BCS cons - potentially Miami, LSU, and U of M are all undefeated.  Who gets left out for the national championship?

Playoff pros - we get to definitively decide who is number 1

Playoff cons - we wouldn't get bowl season, and it would take up too much of the athletes time during december - january.

I would propose to keep the BCS, and have an 8 team playoff.  That way we could have the definitive champion, and still keep bowl season.

"8 team playoff, how would that work?!"

There would be the championship game weekend, where we are left with our champions of the B1G, ACC, SEC, Pac12, Big12, and big East (althought let's be honest, the big east doesn't deserve a bid most years) and then we could have two at large bids with teams who are either undefeated in terrible conferences (Houston, usually Boise, etc.)  or an at large bid (Like Alabama this year).  Then we're left with 8 teams, that would only take 3 rounds to decide a winner.

Case Keenum - I think he has two medical redshirts..

Like everyone said about, 25 is the limit, with an additional 3 could be early enrollees.

My question would then be, what if we take 28 this year, the fullest a class can be.  HYPOTHETICALLY, if next year we had room to take 28 kids in the 85 scholarship cap, would we be able to?  Would early enrolling put our scholarship numbers the year before at 31?  Or would we only be able to take 25?

Would we be able to take 28 if 3 members of the 2012 class leave the program during the year?

I think what you meant to say was, Tremendous.

How do you stop a fade with a 6-4 receiver?

"You're first offensive drive takes 30 minutes.  When the second half starts, you onside kick, and your second drive takes 30 minutes."

You are right!  I wonder what happened to the kid.  I didn't hear about him leaving.

I thought he was going to be a big surprise.  Now I am pretty pissed off.

I want 10 Jake Long's on the field, and one Denard.  We would only attempt ~5 passes a game because I don't know about Jake Long's hands yet, but can you imagine the downfield blocking?!  Jake Long would be pancaking everybody.  I imagine Denard would average 600yrds rushing/game, with a 30 yards/rush average.

I don't see how a receiver would want to go to ND after watching Kelly react with his WRs.  I'm hoping we're in a good position on Tuesday!

I think you're giving Dantonio too much credit.  I feel he's going to suspend Gholston for the first drive, if they are receiving the football.  Otherwise, HE'LL BE SUSPENDED FOR AT LEAST 2 OR 3....

                                   ..... practices.

I agree with you, it's not like our D line is getting such crazy penetration this year that next year we are doomed without them.  But at the same time, I don't feel comfortable with our D line next year at all.

Maybe it's because Mattison doens't really like running a 4-3 under?  Maybe he feels much more comfortable with a 3-4 and that switch is coming.  3 Linemen are supposed to eat up the blocks and leave room for the outside linebackers to turn into quarterback seeking missiles.

Past 2 years, true DTs recruited looks like it'll stay with just Pipkins.  (I'm still hopping for Shittu, but we'll see)

Past 2 years, linebackers recruited are at 9, with us losing Kellen Jones, and Frank Clark kind of being a DE-LB hybrid.

This leaves us with 7 linebackers, 1 DT.  Seems like a switch to a 3-4 to me.

"But John, what about all the DE's we have, some of them are probably going to turn into tackles!"

They very well could, we have 5 recruited this year and 3 recruited last year.  However, a ton of players would be great for a 3-4 OLB, like Beyer, Clark, or Ojemudia.  

I think that's true to a certain extent.  People who doesn't appreciate their team will come out of the woodwork when their team starts owning.  

But if you look at a team like the Lions, we were still having sold out crowds when we went 0-16.  U of M fans were still packing in over 100,000 during 2008.  Jets fans are of a bit of a different breed.  They lose any sense of reality with every win or loss on their schedule.  A loss against the Ravens, and like ^ said it's 2-14 and all hope is lost.  A win against the pats, and they're right back in the runnings for AFC north champs.  They don't stop takling regardless.

I live with a new yorker.  He is the worst.

We've been 5-0 two straight years.  2009 we were 4-0, then lost to State.  We won our 5th game vs Delaware state a little later in the  season.

I really hope Persa is healthy.  I want to see how this defense can handle a quarterback like that, because right now, we are 2nd in scoring defense with 10.2 ppg.  I want to see some great competition for our defenders, and Persa can definitely provide that.

I remember when everyone was predicting, "How much can Mattison really improve the defense?"  Oh... This predictor says we can only move up 40 spots.  Oh... I think we're going to be somewhere in the 60's.  Right now, we're at number 2 behind bama.  I think the difference is with what Roh said in how they trust their defenders, and how they've completely bought into the new system.

Continuing your totally off, but right now running a 4-3 with Cam Gordon at linebacker is almost like running a 4-2 with a 3rd safety playing on, or close to the line.  Also, I believe they're going to run a few 4-2 packages on long 3rds with a Nickel Corner.  Has already  been said, but Thomas Gordon is great for that position, Reeves looks too much like a full time lockdown corner to just come in on 3rd downs IMO.

Still, continuing your off, I was wondering if Mattison might've wanted to eventually put out some 3-4 packages with the way linebackers have been recruited the last two years.  If we still had Jones, that'd be 8 in the past two years..  If they really only want one interior lineman in this class, instead of rotating a lineman out with a lineman in, maybe they'll send in a linebacker for 3rd down or just a change of pace.  Thinking about it, last class, 0 DT.  This class, only 1?  Ravens run a 3-4....

Either way, staying on topic, I was really excited for Reeves before there was the "falling out".  He'd be a great pick-up.  If we wanted to take only 5 OL in this class, I feel the reallocation of the scholarship to Reeves would be awesome.   

Some food for thought.  Godin, Strobel, and Wormley are all 250+ right now as juniors in high school.  They still have 13 months before they suit up in maize and blue, it's quite possible one of them could outgrow the DE position and be moved inside.

If they really only want 1 DT + the way they've recruited linebackers, maybe Mattison was thinking of a switch to a 3-4?  Ojemudia would be a great OLB in a 3-4... plus 4 other studs in the 2012 class.