TSUN News/Recruiting

[HailToMichigan]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

So is this your new M.O. now? Scouring for isolated quotations?

Admittedly, that one was kind of a low blow. Like picking off the sick and weak from the wildebeest herd.

Isolated quotations aren't really my specialty. Incorrect ones are. It's kind of liberating to not limit myself to responding to only the very latest posts. I suppose you would rather hear my take on what Pat White said, since that's what you're referring to. Incidentally, someone already said it: Pat White better have a damn good season now. He'd better blossom under Stewart's coaching. Because if he doesn't, and a bad season hurts his draft stock, then it's Stewart, not Rodriguez, who did him a disservice.

[Dryden]

I do find it humorous, especially after the Appalachian St embarrassment, that a lot of Wolverine fans seem to be so quick to dismiss the opener against Utah. The Utes will likely be in a handful of the top four or five non-BCS teams this year, and it's not as if the Wolverines are going to roll out the defense they had in 1997 by late August this year. Hell, U-M isn't even going to roll out the defense they had in 2007, and that one was already pretty awful!

[HailToMichigan]

Originally Posted by Dryden

I do find it humorous, especially after the Appalachian St embarrassment, that a lot of Wolverine fans seem to be so quick to dismiss the opener against Utah. The Utes will likely be in a handful of the top four or five non-BCS teams this year, and it's not as if the Wolverines are going to roll out the defense they had in 1997 by late August this year. Hell, U-M isn't even going to roll out the defense they had in 2007, and that one was already pretty awful!

I guess I just don't see what's got people excited about Utah. They do return most of their offense, except I think for two of their top three receivers. But that offense was ranked 69th in the country in scoring and 80th in YPG. I mean....they're a respectable opponent. Not a cupcake. But not a giant-killer, either.

[Dryden]

Originally Posted by HailToMichigan

I guess I just don't see what's got people excited about Utah. They do return most of their offense, except I think for two of their top three receivers. But that offense was ranked 69th in the country in scoring and 80th in YPG. I mean....they're a respectable opponent. Not a cupcake. But not a giant-killer, either.

Granted, their schedule wasn't exactly balanced since they played their BCS OOC opponents first then waxed the MWC over the back half up until BYU, but Utah went through some growing pains early last season which really hurt them in those early games. They played without starting RB Darrell Mack for the opener, and Mack only got 7 carries in the second game, both losses. They did not have starting QB Brian Johnson for either their second or third games as well. Once Mack and Johnson were both back in the lineup together, they went 8-2, scoring 27+ in seven of those wins.

[zincfinger]

Originally Posted by Dryden

it's not as if the Wolverines are going to roll out the defense they had in 1997 by late August this year. Hell, U-M isn't even going to roll out the defense they had in 2007, and that one was already pretty awful!

For whatever reason, there's an inordinate amount of optimism over this year's defense in parts of Wolverine-land. Over on GBW, I've seen comments - either given wide credence or broadly agreed to - that this year's UM defense will be the best since '97, that they'll have the best pair of corners in the conference if not the country (!), that the D-line will be at least as good as the '06 version, and that their new DC is going to bring a new, attacking philosophy that few will be able to contend with. Hope reigns eternal.

[BayBuck]

Originally Posted by HailToMichigan

I guess I just don't see what's got people excited about Utah. They do return most of their offense, except I think for two of their top three receivers. But that offense was ranked 69th in the country in scoring and 80th in YPG. I mean....they're a respectable opponent. Not a cupcake. But not a giant-killer, either.

But then we're really not talking about killing a giant here, either.

[Dryden]

Originally Posted by zincfinger

For whatever reason, there's an inordinate amount of optimism over this year's defense in parts of Wolverine-land. Over on GBW, I've seen comments - either given wide credence or broadly agreed to - that this year's UM defense will be the best since '97, that they'll have the best pair of corners in the conference if not the country (!), that the D-line will be at least as good as the '06 version, and that their new DC is going to bring a new, attacking philosophy that few will be able to contend with. Hope reigns eternal.

Morgan. Trent.