Post-Spring Game Bold Predictions Thread

Submitted by dinsdale613 on

Now that we have all had time to over-react to the Spring Game,  Here is the chance to either make yourself look like a genius or a fool come next fall.  I'll get it started with a few of my own

- Fitz will have more yards, but Rawls will lead the team in rushing touchdowns

-  One of the freshmen wide receivers will start at least 5 games

- The defense will give up more rushing yards per game, but will increase their sack total from last year

- Chris Wormley will be Roh's primary back up

- Blake Countess will lead the team in picks.

(I know some of these aren't exactly bold,  but's its just a fun exercise to get some discussion going on a sunday morning)

Zone Left

April 15th, 2012 at 10:08 AM ^

Why not...

  1. This is Taylor Lewan's last season at Michigan.
  2. Pipkins and Kalis will be starting by the time Michigan State comes to Ann Arbor.
  3. Michigan is significantly better this season than last season, but finishes the season with more losses.
  4. Toussaint has more rushing yards than Denard and pretty much everyone agrees it's a good thing.
  5. Denard has a special Senior season.

RakeFight

April 15th, 2012 at 10:15 AM ^

Dantonio will make Hoke pay for saying that there is no "gentleman's agreement" by stealing second 2012 Michigan walk-on with a full-ride MSU scholarship.

go16blue

April 15th, 2012 at 10:25 AM ^

Russell Bellomy will be the 2nd string QB as Devin Gardner locks down a starting spot at WR.

Evidence:

  • We know the coaches are trying it
  • Bellomy looked good in the spring game (better at QB than Gardner imo)
  • Gardner looked very agile in the spring game, moreso than last year
  • Gardner looked like a poor passer in the spring game
  • We have no depth at WR, nor anybody as athletic as Gardner

Honestly I think it's more realistic that he only gets a few snaps at WR in some of Borges' weird packages, while preparing to be the starting QB next year, but you asked for bold.

NOLA Wolverine

April 15th, 2012 at 1:08 PM ^

Well you can either have Russell Bellomy or Russell Bellomy with legs. Option number 1 also includes having a receiver who can pose a downfield threat, which was the most critical component to the offense last year. Door #1 leads to a lot more success. 

mGrowOld

April 15th, 2012 at 10:22 AM ^

Based on the performance in yesterday's game I would say we are either a lock to go undefeated and unscored upon thereby erasing the memory of Yost's "Mad Hatters" and locking up modern football imortality OR we'll go winless and make the 2008 team look like the second coming of the 97 squad.

If we're going to over-react to a practice let's go all the way!

KAYSHIN15

April 15th, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^

Turns into the next Ryan Tannehill

-BWC never lives up to the hype (not bold)
-UM beats Bama by 2 TDs, but lose to ND
-Denard finally gets invited to New York
-Countess makes 1st team all B1G and switches jerseys numbers to #2 for his Junior year (his last)
-UM goes 11-1 and wins the BCS Championship

turd ferguson

April 15th, 2012 at 1:34 PM ^

Quick thought on the (#1 and) #2 jersey. I like that tradition / potential tradition, but if I were Hoke, I'd only make it available to guys in their fourth or fifth years at Michigan. I think that would keep guys pushing for it, prevent those numbers from being promised to freshmen or something, make the honor more prestigious (and legitimate to other players), and provide a nice incentive for star players to stick around for their fourth and/or fifth years.

denardogasm

April 15th, 2012 at 1:43 PM ^

I like that idea, but I think a guy like Countess could get it in his junior year since he presumably will have started his first two years.  I just think a guy has to earn it with consistent performance on the field as well as off the field, which precludes a freshman or sophomore from getting it.  I assume that's what Hoke is thinking as well.  He would probably limit it to a senior though like you're saying.

Perkis-Size Me

April 15th, 2012 at 5:43 PM ^

Beating Bama by 2 TDs is a little too idealistic. No one in SEC country will think we even have a chance. While I think we lose that game, I do believe its going to be a lot closer than people think. Bama hasn't had a passing threat since Julio Jones, and McCarron is more of a game manager than a quarterback. However, I think whoever is running the ball will gut us for at least 100-150 yds. We lose on a game-winning field goal kick with 15 seconds left. I hope I'm wrong, though.

That being said, I think the team will play with a chip on its shoulder the rest of the season. They will go into South Bend and manhandle Notre Dame, further putting Kelly's job in question. The MSU game will be hard-fought and physical, but in the end, Dantonio will get put in his place, 28-21. Gholston gets an in-game ejection, and Pip will be a starter by this point, sacking Maxwell twice.

If Denard is to get invited, he will have to play out of his mind the whole season. With the likes of Marcus Lattimore, Matt Barkley, Montee Ball, and the Honey Badger all posing as competition, Denard's got his work cut out for him in that department. I think he's got a great chance to get invited, but I'm not sure about his chances for winning.

Wouldn't they have to go 12-1 to get to the BCS Championship, with the Big Ten Title game? Either way, they're not title contenders yet, in my opinion. However, the Rose Bowl is a very real possibility. I would love nothing more than for Michigan to go to Pasadena and give Lane Kiffin and Matt Barkley a beatdown.

 

DanRareEgg

April 15th, 2012 at 10:26 AM ^

- Giveaways and takeaways both decrease.

- We all stop holding our breath when Denard drops back to pass.

- Devin Gardner has at least one rushing, passing, and receiving touchdown.

- Hoke takes Summer classes in scanning and causes Brian Kelly's head to explode.

- We beat Bama, but inexplicably lose to an inferior Nebraska team on the road.

- Denard makes the Heisman ceremony, but Marcus Lattimore takes home the trophy.

Brhino

April 15th, 2012 at 10:28 AM ^

Denard plays only the first series of each game, with the rest split evenly between Bellomy, Gardner, Kennedy, and Wait-Who-Was-That-Last-Guy.

WichitanWolverine

April 15th, 2012 at 10:37 AM ^

-Michigan wins the B1G, but ends up with 4 losses, including a Rose Bowl loss.

-At least 2 freshmen will start along the OL and DL by the end of the season.

-Jeremy Gallon will have at least 50% more receiving yards than Roy Roundtree.

Mr.Mario86

April 15th, 2012 at 10:34 AM ^

1. Fitz runs for 1400 yards & 17 TD's. 2. Fitz is a Heismen Finalist. 3. Michigan beats Ohio by 21 points against an undefeated Ohio team. 4. This is Fitz & Taylor Lewans final year. 5. Drob doubled his interceptions then pics. 5. JT Floyd Becomes a first round draft pic.

PhillipFulmersPants

April 15th, 2012 at 1:41 PM ^

but if Michigan is somehow in BCS title game hunt at season's end, and Fitz has good days against Bama, ND & OSU (i.e., spotlight games), those numbers are probably good enough to get invited. That's what we're talking about by "finalist" right?  Hell,  M. Ingram won with numbers that weren't a ton better - 1,658 and 17 TDs.  Nice, but not jaw dropping stats.

But if M is something like 8-4, yes you're right, Fitz likely won't be going to NY with 1,400 and 17. 

 

EDIT: Ingram not a good example. Doesn't account for his receiving yards (335) and TDs (3). Anyhoo, I'd be thrilled if Fitz gets 14K and 17 TDs.