Don

February 10th, 2010 at 2:18 PM ^

Absolutely. The recruiting classes that RR has brought in have a large number of players that seem to have plenty of potential, and I obviously hope that they live up to it. However, based purely on what has transpired on the field the last two years, I don't think RR has proven beyond any doubt that he and his staff can get it done here—there's room for skepticism, especially defensively. Don't jump to the conclusion that I'm a RR hater; nothing could be further from the truth. There's nothing I want more than to see RR stuff a 10-win season up Rosenberg's ass. I just don't make predictions on hope, that's all. I've won lots of bets over the years betting against Michigan in the Rose Bowl, especially when we play USC. I hope we beat them as much as any other UM fan, but when it comes to making predictions and my money, hope is irrelevant. Obviously, if we win on the road, my prediction will be proven wrong, and I'll be ecstatic about it. It's just that going 1-8 and giving up over 38 pts per road game the last two seasons is not something I can ignore as simply the random bloody-mindedness of the universe.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148411

AKWolverine

February 10th, 2010 at 2:53 PM ^

...you're not a RR hater (you post on here enough for me know you weren't being an idiot or anything--I didn't neg you, btw). Its just that I have been accused in the past of being too coldly realistic (not making predictions based on hope and the like) and I would be pretty shocked if the team didn't win 7 games next year (barring major injuries or something). Its just tough for me to imagine the offense not improving significantly, and despite losing Graham and Warren, I honestly think the defense will be at least as good overall as it was last year (not great, I know, but they were good enough in a few games--MSU and IOWA come to mind--that if the offense had just been a little better--less turnover prone, etc--that those game will be Ws this next year). Like you, I hope you're wrong!

Joined: 10/02/2009

MGoPoints: 82

AKWolverine

February 10th, 2010 at 3:15 PM ^

...that we'd beat Iowa this year (although I think we'll have a pretty decent shot). I meant more: the games in which the defense plays not great, but probably good enough to win if the offense doesn't turn it over profusely, like the Iowa game from last year, will more likely be wins this year, because of offensive improvement. Maybe it will happen against Penn State this year (they're worse). Maybe it will be Illinois. Or Purdue. I just have a hard time seeing this team winning fewer than 7. Of course I could be wrong, but lets hope I'm not.

Joined: 10/02/2009

MGoPoints: 82

jmblue

February 10th, 2010 at 2:31 PM ^

A potentially big difference is that now we can go into next season with an experienced QB, whereas last year we were talking about whether our freshmen could beat out Nick Sheridan. At any rate, it's a sad state of affairs when predicting 7-8 wins qualifies as "sipping the Kool-Aid." Please let this be the last offseason we ever make statements like that.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102887

the_white_tiger

February 10th, 2010 at 2:35 PM ^

The OP: 8 wins in '10, 10 in '11, and 12 in '12. That's exactly what we were saying last year but this year was supposed to be the 10 win year. We are not that good, and we're in a good conference. Rodriguez has not proven anything here yet, we haven't done anything. There is not really much proof to say that we're going to be much better next year.

Joined: 02/07/2009

MGoPoints: 5224

AKWolverine

February 10th, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^

No, there's not proof. But a reason to think we might be markedly better? yeah. We have a lot of returning starters, finally some continuity in terms of the major coaches/coordinators, Rodriguez's recruits are not all true freshman and sophomores anymore. Does this team have a lot of problems and question marks? Yes. More than last year? No. (Do I like to pose questions to myself? Sometimes) I'm all about keeping a level head about things, but to say this team isn't much better than last year's team seems to be overstating the problems/question marks to me.

Joined: 10/02/2009

MGoPoints: 82

2014

February 10th, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^

I figured 7-5 this year, I was wrong (I'll always believe a healthy Molk would have gotten us those two extra wins, you think we wouldn't have pushed in from the 1 against the Illini w/ Molk?). There's plenty of proof to say we'll be better next year: -Real depth on D vs. white-guy walk-ons (albeit no Graham/Warren, but I'll take no holes over two stars anyday) -Two non-freshmen returning QB's -An experienced o-line -New luxury suites (don't those guarantee a win or two?) -26 ninja like RB's and WR's -Wes Welker returning punts

Joined: 12/11/2009

MGoPoints: 2359

Dientrous

February 10th, 2010 at 2:30 PM ^

most people were predicting 7 or 8 wins because they thought we would have minor (our best offensive player) playing more than half the season and didnt expect our safety and LBs to be nearly as bad as they were...we have more information about our defensive situation this year and obviously minor's injured ass wont be a factor

Joined: 02/09/2010

MGoPoints: 86

Dientrous

February 10th, 2010 at 2:50 PM ^

ezeh and mouton were returning starters and were expected to be pretty good...maybe not great or even good, but most people i remember talking about the team with were expecting them to be pretty good...and i'm sure most people expected our safeties to be at least average big ten players..instead we got kovacs' 4.7 speed and mike williams was just a mess...as much as people wanted to bash boubacar, if he didnt get kicked off the team our defense would have at least been bad instead of awful

Joined: 02/09/2010

MGoPoints: 86

jabberwock

February 10th, 2010 at 2:53 PM ^

by the negging, considering the last two seasons. I'm as cautiously optimistic as the next guy, but seeing as it took a last minute come from behind effort to beat the last place team in the conference (and give us our ONLY conference win) I'd cut anyone a little slack for being a bit gun shy. We'll be a very improved team over last year, but last year we kinda sucked. And while I understand what happened with Molk; if one lineman can be blamed for 7 losses, we've got more problems than his foot. Personally, I'm predicting a rose colored 8, then a nice bowl win. But hell, 6 wouldn't surprise me either.

Joined: 07/04/2008

MGoPoints: 51146

jmblue

February 10th, 2010 at 3:03 PM ^

Yes, our only conference win was a nail-biter. But we played three other nail-biters (MSU, Iowa, Purdue), as well as a very competitive game against OSU, and dropped all of them. It did not help that we played the second half of the season without probably our two best offensive players. Basically, we didn't catch a break after the IU game. We were not a good team by any means, but we were very close to having a few more wins. From that we return most of our team (minus a few good starters, admittedly), and should actually have an 85-man roster, instead of 70 last year. Perhaps most importantly, we don't have to start a freshman (or walk-on) at QB for the first time in the RR era. It would be surprising if we did not have a somewhat better season in 2010.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102887

Dientrous

February 10th, 2010 at 1:52 PM ^

the only game i REALLY don't feel confident that we can win is @OSU. PSU won't be as good as they were last year, and I thought we played well enough on offense against wisky last year to give me some confidence we can compete with them this year. I think we'll win one of the games against PSU, Iowa, or Wisky this year.

Joined: 02/09/2010

MGoPoints: 86

MaizeNBlue

February 10th, 2010 at 2:51 PM ^

I feel like being afraid of OSU probably isn't the way we'll turn the rivalry around. I'm looking forward to this November and hopefully punching their lights out in Columbus. PS - I can't stand the idea of being afraid of Ohio State. All due respect, but every time someone lets off any kind of "fear" of them or The Game, I get the image of Sheridan getting crushed in the 08 game and just sitting there on the ground while an OSU player stands over him. That's disgusting. Losing the "bring it on" attitude makes rivalries suck.

Joined: 07/29/2008

MGoPoints: 490

MaizeNBlue

February 10th, 2010 at 5:52 PM ^

rtyler paraphrased it really well. But, to put it in perspective, what do you consider our alternative? You either take an aggressive attitude to your rival, or in our case lately, you take the Sheridan-Fetal-Position-on-Ground stance as they roll you. Fuck that, it may not have an outcome on the game but what's the fun in being a fan of anything if you're going to be mentally weak (not saying you are, but just in general)? Also, in a psychological sense, if a fan base takes on a more aggressive (as opposed to being that passive dude who gets knocked to the ground) mentality, who knows, maybe it WOULD benefit the players. There's a reason that there is a distinction between Death Valley and the Big House, and while LSU fans may not always be the classiest of people, I'd guess you'd be far more nervous to have your team playing there than @ Michigan, even when we're a 9-win team.

Joined: 07/29/2008

MGoPoints: 490

Vapour

February 10th, 2010 at 1:52 PM ^

So not to overlook this coming season, but however the team does doesn't the below schedule look REALLY favorable for 2011? 10/8/2011 Wisconsin 10/15/2011 Indiana 10/22/2011 MSU 10/29/2011 Iowa 11/5/2011 Minnesota 11/12/2011 Illinois 11/19/2011 Northwestern 11/26/2011 OSU

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 30

Jon Benke

February 10th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^

Wisconsin and Ohio State are the only two games I feel, as of right now, that will end with a loss, though every other game is a very winnable game. I think Iowa is going to be a good test, though we get them at home this year, which helps. With a young team, having the two toughest games at the end of the season, that should help, and give the young guys some games under their belt before hosting Wisconsin and heading down to Columbus.

Joined: 01/04/2010

MGoPoints: 1453

Slinginsam

February 10th, 2010 at 2:28 PM ^

If any of the young DBs play where they show an inkling like the above-mentioned, we are going to be in fine shape. If not this season, then 2011 for sure.

Joined: 06/17/2009

MGoPoints: 16

aaamichfan

February 10th, 2010 at 2:29 PM ^

I would prefer to be "overlooked" until we demolish a couple teams that nobody expected us to. Hopefully ESPN refrains from having a huge greedy orgasm if we start out 4-0 again this year.

Joined: 10/23/2009

MGoPoints: 14362

HAIL 2 VICTORS

February 10th, 2010 at 2:55 PM ^

The only brightspot of last season was the absolute euphoria of beating ND in dramatic fashion and being 4-0. As high as that hig was it will not be as low as the low could be losing to UConn and ND. To lose those games, being Michigans first in the new Big House and Brian Kelly being in his first year of implementing his spread, will leave the M fan base in a McKenzie Phillips visits Dr.Drew like despair.

Joined: 12/01/2009

MGoPoints: 21245

maznbluwolverine

February 10th, 2010 at 5:54 PM ^

But I think starting 2011, we'll be on our way to domination again. The question is, if 2010 goes bad, does RR get another year, in which I think he should. By going bad, I mean 5 or 6 wins, what's your opinion on that?

Joined: 02/09/2009

MGoPoints: 887

HAIL 2 VICTORS

February 10th, 2010 at 7:06 PM ^

If RR wins 7 games (including bowl) and the investigation goes as we expect, there are no off the field incidents that are tantamount, with a noticeable on the field improvement of play (as displayed in 7 wins I would imagine) I can’t see a scenario RR is not back in 2011. 6 wins or less (this would mean a Champs Sports Bowl loss or something as humiliating) and although unfair I think RR is done. Of course if that 6th win is against the vest...that’s different. I want RR to get that 2011 opportunity.

Joined: 12/01/2009

MGoPoints: 21245