The Game- 2005

[HoldenesqueAlex]

Of course this will be a great matchup, that is why the rivalry is so amazing. Every year is a great matchup, it seems that the team that is having the "down" year (by our standards) is actually the more dangerous one.

I think Michigan's offense will at the last tread water from last year, considering they had a couple of true freshmen in the backfield. Even with the loss of their star receiever, the improvement by those two should offset that.

 

[SilkyIsBanned]

I think Michigan's offense will at the last tread water from last year, considering they had a couple of true freshmen in the backfield. Even with the loss of their star receiever, the improvement by those two should offset that.

Yeah, that is what people also don't understand. Henne had a true freshman backfield partner he had to rely on while Navarre had another 5th year senior in Chris Perry. I think both of them show improvement, and I figure that either Martin or Grady will be at the very least a great counter-punch to Hart. I am not like all the other Michigan fans handing Grady the keys to the offense- he defintlely has to prove himself this spring if he wants to take some carries away from Mike Hart.

 

[Misanthrope]

Why do OSU fans hate Michigan so much? I'd really like to know? I don't think Michigan really hates OSU as much as OSU hates Michigan.

Because Michigan has Michigan State - an in-state Big Ten rival. If Ohio University was a Big Ten program I'm pretty sure we'd hate them, too, but they're not, so we hate scUM.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I'll just add one thing to this. You guys don't win the MSU game without Braylon.

When you lose a top ten talent in the NFL draft it is going to hurt no matter how you spin it.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Braylon Edwards was key to Michigan's passing success. Both Avant and Breaston are good receivers, but neither are world-class. Michigan no longer has the top WR corps in the conference. That honor clearly goes to us, with Holmes, Ginn, and Gonzalez.

 

[jwinslow]

The nice thing is that hopefully by The Game 2005 we will have a jump ball receiver to go to as well. I'm hoping that Lyons breaks out by midseason. That would make our WR corps even sicker.

 

[TheMile]

Because Michigan has Michigan State - an in-state Big Ten rival. If Ohio University was a Big Ten program I'm pretty sure we'd hate them, too, but they're not, so we hate scUM.

We have Notre Dame, too. I grew up near Lansing; half my family is from there, and the other half is from South Bend. For me, OSU-Michigan was the #3 rivalry most of my life due to circumstances (that's changed with MSU's and ND's decent into mediocrity). It's rather counterproductive to be consumed by hate for your rivals when you've got three of them, all with very rich tradition and success. And that's ignoring Minnesota, who have a serious chip on their shoulder now.

When you lose a top ten talent in the NFL draft it is going to hurt no matter how you spin it.

I'd like to point out that no one has denied this. However, we still expect to have a superb offense, and I think that expectation is justified with the all the returning talent and health of Breaston.

Braylon Edwards was key to Michigan's passing success. Both Avant and Breaston are good receivers, but neither are world-class. Michigan no longer has the top WR corps in the conference. That honor clearly goes to us, with Holmes, Ginn, and Gonzalez.

You'll see on Michigan boards a lot of people claiming we're better at WR. Our starters aren't. Ginn is clearly better than Breaston (Ginn hasn't yet proven he has better hands, but it doesn't matter in light of Ginn's athleticism), Holmes is clearly better than Avant, and Gonzalez will likely be better than our third, especially since a clear third hasn't even stepped up yet.

When Michigan fans say we have a better receiving corp, it's because they think we're deeper at the position, which I do agree with. Also, while OSU's WR starters are almost undeniably top 3 in the nation or better, I think ours will still be in the top 10.