new QB's (freshman) & D Co-ordinator (3rd in three years)are most likely the same reasons observers are predicting 6-6. To them, two new starting safeties and no depth at any defensive positions (and not much depth on offense) on the worst U-M defense ever are good reasons to doubt any more than 6 wins. I do agree that doubling last year's win total would be "far better". Regarding Coach Rod's past second years, past performance never guarantees today's results. That probably goes double in football.
Clausen completed 56.3% of his passes for 1,254 yards, with 7 touchdowns (plus two rushing TDs) and 6 interceptions in 2007. He was sacked 34 times in 9 starts. His two year stats compare quite well against those of Stafford & McCoy after their first years.
was how ND took nearly every mistake into the endzone. Many times it was on a short field. The difference in talent & depth may show up even more this year.
exactly, just let them beat themselves. That's what I saw in stadium. There was never a feeling that U-M could possibly win the game. It was under control. IMO.
How good can Zach Frazer be if Clausen beat him out with a bad throwing arm (bone chips)? The book on Clausen will be written starting this year. We will see what was forged during the beating in 2007 & the learning how to win in 2008. I will predict most of the D Co-ordinators won't be LOL as they prep to defend him as a junior and senior (if he stays).
You believe the MSU will lose to ND but, they have owned them in South Bend. You believe the Wolverines will beat ND but they have a VERY good secondary and experienced LB corp. Those are the reasons you state that MSU may win. They also have the ability to "blow anyone out of the water" with a junior QB of 20+ starts and the nation's best receiving corp (Sporting News). Please tell me why you think we will win. The back who was successful (McGuffie) last year against ND is no longer here. I'm a realist, are you just hoping or can U-M control the ball for 30 + minutes and keep the defense off the field. Can we catch a punt or kickoff yet? Punting the ball 50 yds after 3 & out is not an offense. I need to see U-M smash the Broncos before I count any wins.
Kids see a great opportunity to play at a big time football power that's down and has room on the depth chart. ND was #2 at this time last year after 3-9. Rich Rod will have to follow up with another great class after a .500-.600 season in '09.
with a freshman QB, LOL, at least ND has J Claw & no.1 recruiting class, we're doomed to 6-6 next season & maybe up to Lloyd's 8-4 or 9-3 in 2010. I can't wait. This is so much worse than we all thought. No bowl, ND will beat us again in September, OSU will keep rolling, even MSU will roll us next week. Waiting, after winning 8/9 per year minimum, ain't in our vocabulary. This thing isn't getting that much better in one or two seasons. I wish I had your patience.
I believe this is a flawed view. Last year's team would have lost this game (5 losses at home last year) and we should expect improvement from them in their second game. If we expect U-M to be much improved next year why not ND? I would conclude ND is a year ahead of our program offensively (probably 2 years on the O-line) and we can expect them to have decent success at home Saturday. It will be up to U-M defense to keep Jimmah from making enough plays for them to win, else U-M gets rolled.
no one here wants to admit it, but I will. They have alot of young talent that will get better & better. They are at least one year ahead of UM, two at the QB position and when Crist plays in couple of years he'll have two years in the system. A decent season will yield another good recruiting class (thanks, Corwin). I, for one will fear them for the foreseeable future.
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Nice