UConn #20 in Rivals countdown
Should be an interesting opening game. With this high of a preseason ranking a Michigan win would definitely open some eyes and get the ball rolling toward a good season. I would love to see a 5-0 start and a swarm of Florida kids come up with Dee for the MSU or Iowa game.
They were a very successful team last year and return a lot of starters. It will make victory that much sweeter.
...does this mean that if UConn wins it will not be considered an upset?
In the eyes of average Joe Michigan fan, if we loose to UConn it is an upset. That is certainly how it will be spun in the MSM as well. (Same as Utah.)
So, we simply just have to beat them.
Go Blue!
The MSM considers it to be an upset if an unranked team loses to the #20 team in the country?
There is no better way to start a season 1-0 then to beat a team who's biggest strength on offense was your defense's biggest weakness - running between the tackles. Reading more and more about UCONN excites me. The Wolverines are gonna be ready come September 4. Barwis and his wolf-owning instincts helped this team get prepared in the weight room. August awaits. I want to see some good ol' tackling drills on the countdown to kickoff on mgoblue. 8:00am Saturday morning. 5 weeks until kickoff. Loud Noise alert. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Running between the tackles was not biggest weakness last year. Almost everything else on defense could have a argument made for it as the biggest weakness.
I stand corrected, sir.
I know UCONN is a solid team and had a pretty good season last year. But, didn't they lose their leading rusher, top 2 receivers and having their QB come off ACL surgery?
I mean I agree with the first comment on how a win would be even sweeter b/c they are ranked so high.
Random fact, my buddy facebook chatted with Ricardo Miller the other day and he said that the team is really gelling and in his words are "gonna tear shit up this year". I dunno if there were any rumors to this but also said no way he moves to TE b/c he has grown a lil bit.
GO BLUE
they did lose their top two receivers but they return their top runner. They lost their # 2 runner and their tackles but return the middle of their offensive line, both qbs that saw time last year and a few receivers who got significant playing time. Also, they picked up a DJ Shoemate from USC. They will be a good team, and it would not be an upset if they beat us. They are ranked higher and vegas has us -3, which means essentially we are even and giving points because we are at home.
their 2nd leading runner but it's really a situation where they lost 1b.
They used the two guys almost exactly the same amount last year which leaves question marks as to whether J. Todman will be able to shoulder a bigger load this year or if someone else will emerge.
From front page post by Tim (2010 Opponents: UConn) on July 28th.
Last year's stats are presented with projected starters in bold and departed players in italics.
|
Jordan Todman |
235 |
1188 |
5.06 |
14 |
|
Andre Dixon |
239 |
1093 |
4.57 |
14 |
I like that UConn is rated a top 25 team. I think the entire Michigan team is motivated to win this game regardless of the opponent. That the opponent just happens to be a ranked team is just a big bonus. There are a lot of guys that are waiting to open up a can of whoop ass, and I really can't wait to see it when it starts happening. I don't know if it will be this season or next, but listening to what the players and recruits are saying points to a VERY unified team. Anyone who believes the "family" atmosphere of the Michigan Football team is gone must be living in a cave.
pre-season and early season polls are foolish bandwagon or popularity based on last season guesses. I am hoping UConn won't sit at #20 for long!
I like hearing the team is gelling. These guys have been through hell, and fighting your way out together is a winner.
Go Blue!
I'm sure Ricardo used the term "gellin'",because anyone who says "gelling" simply isn't gellin', and we know that this team is, in fact, gellin'.
I was at the UConn v ND game last year (yeah, I know....we were playing Ohio State at home that day. BUT, I had no way out).
Anyway, I was less impressed with UConn than I was with how poorly ND played on defense. ND jumped out to a lead but they could never hold on because their D sucked.
That said, obviously UConn has a program moving in the right direction. You don't win 8 games in each of the last 3 years without a solid foundation. Edsall can coach and his players have bought in.
This is a fantastic test for our first game. Not a cupcake. Not a gimme. We have everything to prove and I think it will be a real glimpse into how much we have or have not improved. Let's Go Blue!
that Coach Rod has been quite successful against Coach Edsall; this appears to be a bad match up for Coach Edsall. I don't think our program has reached 'reload' phase where the team has reached it's zenith and the replacement starters continue the competence, but I do feel we have enough talent to duplicate the effectiveness of Coach Rod's squad vs. the Huskies.
Fellas, September is right around the corner, I am so hyped! When Brock walks across the field I'm going to scream so loud I'll probably have an aneurysm and die! It would be a great portrait though -similar to Nelson's death at Trafalgar, me thinks- me collapsed in the arms of my worried wife, fans around us concerned as I lay there, while in the background most of the rabid fans are still cheering Brock on his epic walk as the team begins to shoot out of the tunnel towards the banner...
melodrama. gotta love it.
Going undefeated into the MSU game would be awesome. We could be 6-0 after that game.
unfortunately that was not such a good thing last year.
...it would be horrible to start 6-0 since last year we started 4-0 and ended up 5-7.
Wait, what?
Boy, will they be in for a surprise on Sept. 4th
I may have to bring ear plugs to the opener!
... and wins the Big East. And then goes on to win their BCS bowl game. We won't get any credit for beating a mediocre UConn.
you don't need to get credit for beating teams, you just have to beat them
How could I have been so stupid? In fact, they should get rid of win-loss records altogether and have every team be considered the equal of every other team. Just so long as we get to beat them.
The best defense in this game will be a good offense. UConn has trouble with mobile quarterbacks and spread offense. If Michigan wins the toss, take the ball. Take the ball and then score like woah. Rodriguez has faced similar UConn teams in the past, so I think scheming will come naturally to him. And now, finally, he has the pieces in place to exploit some known weaknesses.
If we get UConn out of their grinding run game, and prevent an exchange of big plays, they'll be forced to go to the air. Normally that would be terrifying with our defensive backfield, but it will allow us the chance to expose their pass blocking, and their inexperienced new OT's (who I don't know, but they're not as good as Van Bergen, Roh, or Martin).
The best defense in this game will be a good offense.
I feel like we will need to score a lot of points in each game we play this year. You can still have a great season as long as your defense is just "good enough" (See 2009 Cincinnati Bearcats).
It seems that their strength is in the running game. If our D-line can hold them off and we torch their secondary, I think we got a really good shot against them.
We will roll uconn.
after MSU, just because of where it falls in the season and them being a good team. A win there and you get confidence to play at ND, always a tough place for UM to win (save 2006). A loss and now you have ND on the road and doubts start coming up, it won't be good. For some reason I see the team starting out either 2-0 or 0-2 and the tone of the season being set there.
Aren't we glad this isn't Boise State, or Georgia or some "elite" program that everyone wanted?
August 1st, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
Agreed. UConn is big enough to get us national recognition, but weak enough that we have a good shot at beating them. It will send a good message if we win.
August 1st, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
I think if we beat UConn we go into the MSU game 5-0 and with a lot of confidence. This game is the perfect opener for us. UConn is a good team, however they are by no means unbeatable. If we have a good showing against a decent ranked team to start the season I will have a good feeling going forward.