February 1st, 2009 at 12:08 PM ^
It's definitely not the BEST first game for a previously 3-9 team...
They should play a service academy for the open game or a non-spread 1-AA team.
February 1st, 2009 at 12:15 PM ^
WMU should be very good for a MAC team. a loss wouldn't be surprising
February 1st, 2009 at 1:52 PM ^
Not this year. RR was 3-8 his first year at WVU and 9-4 his second. Although the opponents are much more familiar with the spread than they were when he started at WVU, I still think a turnaround is probable.
First, they redshirted an entire offensive line. This will provide depth and possibly a starter or two. Of all positions, linemen need the redshirt year the most to spend in the conditioning program, grow, and get stronger.
Second, all of the players now have a year of experience in the system and the conditioning program. This has made a big difference everywhere he has been.
Third, barring injury to Forcier and failure to sign another QB on signing day, they should have a real QB this time. At an ideal UM, Threet should be playing back home at Adrian. Sheridan should be on the fast track to grad assistant. Neither should be at the helm of a major college offense. Hopefully, neither will ever take another snap at UM. There is also the hope that Threet is, as rumored, "much improved." But I'm not holding my breath on that one.
Fourth, they should be supremely motivated this year. They lost so many that almost every game is going to be a revenge game. The players know they made a lot of teams' seasons last year and know the sting of watching other teams celebrate like they just won the national championship at their expense. I am guessing there isn't a player on the roster who wouldn't chew and swallow a shot glass to keep from losing to lower level teams again.
It will all come down to QB. An average QB would have gotten seven wins last season. A decent one could get nine this season. And if Pryor gets injured, they could be good enough to beat OSU by the end of the season.
I know this sounds optimistic, but it is in UM's pattern and in RR's pattern. Last year was an aberration, but a neccessary one. I would have preferred to see a real QB in the cupboard, but he only would have been a caretaker anyway.
If they don't beat OSU, the season is a failure in my book anyway. 3-9 was agony, but there really isn't much difference between 3-9 and 7-5 if they lose to OSU; they are just differing degrees of failure.
Ultimately, though, only the NC is a successful year. Carr wasn't going to win another one. RR has the potential to win many. So, I will remain happy with the hire and optimistically await success. Hopefully, the team makes great strides toward that goal and this year is a lot easier on all of us.
February 1st, 2009 at 2:56 PM ^
So if we don't beat OSU, the season is a failure. Okay, then why would you care if won or lost to Western Michigan? Wow, winning a MNC is the only way to have a successful season? Man, you must be a depressed Michigan fan for the last 12 years.
February 1st, 2009 at 3:08 PM ^
WMU has a nice offense coming back. Most of their offensive production including qb, 3 of top 4 receivers, etc will be back... That good wmu offense will be going up against an unproven, very young, defense in UM.
The only good that I can see is that UM should be able to move the ball and put some points on the board against that WMU defense. But, all that depends on how a true freshman plays in his first game at the Big House. Tate has other experience around him, but he still needs to make plays.
February 1st, 2009 at 2:05 PM ^
Well obviously their offense couldn't be worse, but I think that their defense may be worse. I still don't see them winning too many games because their offense can't singlehandedly win games and neither can their defense. They will both need to play well to win games. This past season, that didn't happen too often.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:14 PM ^
They return their QB, their #3 WR (#3 isn't a knock here, as their WRs last year were VERY good), and most of the OL. They have ample experience at WR who may be able to step up.
Their defense is what won them big games (Illinois) last year and I believe they only return 2 starters. We really won't know enough about them until they step on the field to start the season.
I think its a winable game for Michigan, but if you were to tell me you were a time traveler here to tell me Western Michigan beat us in week one, to spin a quote from Brian, I would have punched you and stolen your time machine. But on the way towards a nondescript house in Mentor, Ohio, where Jim Tressel would conceived in approximately an hour, I would think to myself "wow, that's[...] less than surprising."
February 1st, 2009 at 3:20 PM ^
WMU will need to replace 3 or 4 started in the secondary. They aren't real big in the d-line or linebackers.
The offense has QB Hiller returning. WMU has a very efficient passing game. The running game is secondary.
If Michigan loses to Western, THE FIRE RR watch is on!!!!And deservedly so. Michigan's offense should be able to push Western around, and out "speed" them. If they don't, there's major problems in Ann Arbor
February 1st, 2009 at 3:48 PM ^
a loss to WMU is not even remotely out of the question and WMU could beat half the teams in the big ten on a given saturday.
Certainly having one of the other directional schools would have been better - but who could have anticipated events when this was scheduled several years ago. I think that we will still be favored and should still beat WMU. The defense should be a little better this year.
I predict a win, a narrow one, but a win nonetheless.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:03 PM ^
WTB wrote:
"So if we don't beat OSU, the season is a failure."
I guess it all depends on what a team's goals are. If, as the AD stated, the goal is to "compete for the NC most years and win every few years," then losing to OSU is a failure because there is no NC if you don't beat OSU.
" Wow, winning a MNC is the only way to have a successful season? Man, you must be a depressed Michigan fan for the last 12 years."
AFAIC, sports is a life-affirming experience and therefore antithetical to depression. In other words, it's not worth getting depressed about. Most people watch sports to get away from things that may depress them.
February 1st, 2009 at 5:30 PM ^
The team's first and foremost goal is to win the Big Ten. Rod has stated this multiple times, and Bo always stated that. Anything after that, hope that all the chips fall into place and we play for and win the MNC. We lost to OSU in 2004 and still won the Big Ten, so no, losing to OSU doesn't doom our season to failure. I'd love to see the quote where Bill Martin said that our goal is "to win a NC every few years." No AD is going to come out and state that the team better be winning a NC every few years because the odds are very, very high and the AD would be establishing unrealistic expectations. Considering Bo never won a NC, I sure would like to know how he lasted so long at Michigan.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:51 PM ^
I live in Kalamazoo, and if Western wins I will never hear the end of it. So we better win.