Changes in the Lineup Next Week?
Where do you think (if any) changes in the lineup next week?
I think Pipkins is going to be the starter over Quinton Washington next week. I liked what I saw from him, getting through that alabama o-line and stuffing a run.
At tight end, I think we may see some freshmen. Michigan played all 4 scholarship tight ends in this game. Brandon Moore left the game with a hurt knee.
Obviously we will see a change at RB with Fitz. I hope Fitz runs like a madman.
September 2nd, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
Let's play coach from the chair in our living room even though we have no control over who plays and doesn't.
September 2nd, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
somebody needs a nap
September 2nd, 2012 at 12:56 PM ^
right?
September 2nd, 2012 at 2:17 PM ^
no need to get mad just because my opinion differs from yours. It seems silly to discuss lineup changes after one game against Bama, that's all.
September 2nd, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
Was Demens hurt? I was surprised to see Ross playing MIKE, (if that is indeed what he was playing), also surprised to see Ross get snaps over Bolden.
I too think it won't be long before Pipkins is in ahead of Washington, though I'm not sure it means Pipkins will be starting, especially against Air Force and UMass
If Countess is out for an extended period; possible Terry Richardson could start at some point, much like Countess last season. I was surprised to see Richardson out there against Alabama. I think it's a pretty clear sign they like him alot
September 2nd, 2012 at 2:48 PM ^
Morgan moved to MIKE instead of Bolden coming in...
September 2nd, 2012 at 2:49 PM ^
FWIW, WILL and MIKE are very similar in this defense. Just like SLB and WDE...also SDE/DT.
September 2nd, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^
Most important line up change: AF in for BAMA
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:10 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:55 PM ^
Ohio.
September 2nd, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
but I don't think his, mad-but-momentum losing jump cuts would have been at all effective. There would have been another Alabama defender there to tackle him.
Denard's and Fitz's effectiveness is proportional to the square of the space they operate in. When there is none, they aren't that effective.
September 2nd, 2012 at 12:48 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:01 PM ^
I don't get how DG is your bright spot at WR over Gallon.
The only passes Gallon couldn't catch are when Denard through something drastically over his head.
Yes, DG gives us a sick deep threat - but he could have caught more balls than just 1. He has a lot of work to do as a route runner.
Dennis Norfleet - how could you not love this guy? So much for needing Stonum on kickoff returns. Norfleet = beast.
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:29 PM ^
Denard missed him on the long ball because Denard threw it to where DG was currently running, but for whatever reason DG cut a little bit inside (even though the defender was inside) - which leads me to make the obvious conclusion he ran a poor route.
He's got huge upside and is a freak athlete - let's agree on that. But he's still got a ways to go as a WR. Still, what else could you expect?
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
as a bright spot. He looked more like his old self last night with no horrible punts thrown in.
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 12:55 PM ^
They should pull denard after the first quarter (assuming a decent lead) so he can heal. He is going to be sore for a while, and it seems that bellomy is next in the hole. He needs the experience. There is no telling how much garbage time he will get this season with our schedule.
Remember remember the first of september.
September 2nd, 2012 at 12:56 PM ^
norfleet was such a beast, i would love to see him in a sproles role. He needs to get in our offense
September 2nd, 2012 at 12:58 PM ^
love your profile pic
September 2nd, 2012 at 3:43 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:02 PM ^
No one looked particularly good, but I was keying on Morgan most of the second half, and he was getting blown out pretty much every single play.
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:02 PM ^
I'll be interested in seeing how well we run next week and whether a change at guard is due.
Masochists can watch the replay on ESPNU right now.
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:04 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:07 PM ^
yea who would we replace floyd with? Avery? he got burned so many times! Floyd is solid and here to stay
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:06 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:12 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:23 PM ^
I agree, but the talent is lacking at certain positions, and I maintain that once freshmen like Ross get acclimated to the speed of the college game we'll see a change or two. Not wholesale changes, but changes nonetheless.
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:24 PM ^
Do you understand the purpose of a message board on a sports blog is for?
September 2nd, 2012 at 3:41 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:21 PM ^
Relax, people. It wasn't so much that our players played especially poorly. They were just facing a vastly more talented, strong, and experienced team. Nobody on the rest of our schedule is on Bama's level.
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:23 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:37 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^
If you think Bellomy is going to come in and be instantly better than senior Denard at QB, you're crazy. Compared to how other QB's have performed against Alabama's defense recently, he actually wasn't too bad. Denard will most definitely be our best asset under center, and has a much stronger arm than Bellomy.
September 2nd, 2012 at 9:09 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:24 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:35 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 1:51 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 2:14 PM ^
Nebraska annihilation and an 11-2 season with a bcs bowl victory in the first year under a new coach is mediocre? Please, set the standard higher. Will you be saying the same thing if we lose one more game this year, win the Big Ten title, and make the Rose Bowl?
September 2nd, 2012 at 2:57 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 4:05 PM ^
Anytime we play a good team Denard plays awful.
Although I am not going to sit here an argue with you, I think you're taking a rather short sighted view, or one that is overly critical of Denard. Look at the best "read option" teams in the nation and you'll see something they all have in common: 1) they have excellent OL's; 2) they have a equally dangerous RB; and 3) they have outside play makers.
Did you notice how much better Denard's game got when Fitz emerged as a legit threat that opposing DC's had to account for? I don't think that Fitz would have made too much of difference last night because Bama was bascially giving Denard the give read then collapsing on the give -- they're that good and well coached. But, it couldn't have really been any worse as he might have popped a couple.
Last night while watching Bama's OL grind our DL into dust, I couldn't help but harken back to the days of old when Michigan's OL would do the same thing. Michigan has one elite OLineman, not 5 like Bama. Everything starts up front, on both sides of the ball. I love watching BTN and seeing those old game where Michigan's OL looked like giants and opened gaping holes of A Train, Biakabatuka, Perry, Hart, et. al. We've not had that for a long time. Unfortunately, RR didn't give us a deep stable of top OLinemen to rely upon. They coming, but it's going to take some time. No matter how fast and elusive Denard is, he cannot run effectively when there aren't holes, and they're aren't going to be holes if the OL cannot get into the second level, simple as that.
When Michigan plays a good team, they beat us in the trenches. When you cannot win the trenches, you lose the game typically. It's not Denard.
September 2nd, 2012 at 4:10 PM ^
So what have you seen from Bellomy or Gardner that makes you want to play Denard elsewhere? Even if you think Denard can't play QB, the other issue is that you would need a replacement. If you go with Bellomy, then we are back to a freshman QB that might be more accurate, but definitely doesn't have the playmaking ability with his feet or nearly as strong of an arm. If you go with Gardner, then you lose our biggest outside WR threat. Just face it, Denard is our QB, and gives us our best option to win football games this year.
September 2nd, 2012 at 4:25 PM ^
Denard doesn't have a great career record are things completely out of his control. He should have been redshirted in 2009, but with the QB scholarship situation he was forced into action. In 2010 he finished sixth in Heisman voting, and the offense certainly didn't lose five games. In 2011 he won eleven games, and we're one game into the 2012 season.
Citing Denard as any type of reason Michigan has struggled the past few years is pretty ridiculous, IMO.
September 2nd, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 2:21 PM ^
Schofield isn't horrible. He was facing possibly the best 3-4 in college football and they were just worn down. I think it's easy to say that the Michigan LOS was in for a long night. As a player has the size and technique to play well in the big 10 and compete for all conference honors.
September 2nd, 2012 at 4:09 PM ^
September 2nd, 2012 at 2:17 PM ^
I think he is a playmaker with speed. I know Avery will get the reps with Blake out but I would like to see if Taylor can step up and compete for that position. I saw him try and strip the ball on a tackle last night that makes me think with more chances he could help the D make some turnovers.
At this point we need young guys stepping up and taking on bigger roles the same way blake did last year.