College Football 2010: So it begins

[MRT144]

I'm not convinced he has had enough time to make it mediocre. When he arrived, there were something like 23 scholarship players on D (slightly over half what you'd expect). How can you expect a really young D like we have to reach mediocre? And some of the upperclassmen we do have haven't been so good. See Ezeh, especially. And Warren made the bad choice to go pro. Ezeh and Mouton are playing better than last year, but I thought they should have played like this last year, when they regressed. I was not impressed with former LB coach Hopson. And we've had 3 DCs in 4 yrs. (OK, I suppose you can say ultimately that responsibilty falls on Rich Rod, because he chose those guys.) On a thin D, we've also had a number of injuries in the secondary. End result: bad D.

I think U-M will make a bowl this year, and that next year will be better. Unless there's a coaching change, then I'm not sure. It might be better just because young players have more experience, and not so much to do with a new coaching staff.

Rich Rod is like a less lucky Les Miles.

[Guynemer]

I hope Sparty goes undefeated. I really do. Both for D'Antonio, but also because if the Buckeyes AND Sparty go undefeated in the final season it is possible to do so, that would just be so ****ing awesome.

[MRT144]

I hope Sparty goes undefeated. I really do. Both for D'Antonio, but also because if the Buckeyes AND Sparty go undefeated in the final season it is possible to do so, that would just be so ****ing awesome.

BIG 10 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

[Guynemer]

Rich Rod is like a less lucky Les Miles.

And to think Rich Rod and Les Miles were our two choices when Lloyd retired three years ago.

Christ on a crutch. Might as well hire Sarah Palin.

[Tupac Shakur]

And to think Rich Rod and Les Miles were our two choices when Lloyd retired three years ago.

Christ on a crutch. Might as well hire Sarah Palin.

Or Jim Harbaugh...

[Ben Kenobi]

Cocks win!

Boise number 1.

[Lord Avalon]

He arrived THREE YEARS AGO. The players he inherited aren't young anymore; the young ones are ones that he recruited.

You're shouting "THREE YEARS" but are you really looking at the details? Only a small number of the players he inherited are "good" enough to see PT on D, and I think only half the starting D is upperclassmen. If the cupboard hadn't been so bare, you'd hope that someone of at least mediocre talent would beat out Ezeh, and we'd have a more veteran secondary. And of those upperclassmen, who's good besides Mike Martin? Too bad Brandon Graham graduated - imagine if we had two good DL.

Indeed, the secondary has been banged up bad. But they sucked last year when they were healthy; I see no reason to think they'd be any better this year, since it seems like the defense, as a whole, is actually WORSE than last season, which is just ****ing amazing, because they were god awful last year.

We do have more picks this year. Haven't given up as many big plays. Have actually seen some (small amount better than none) competent safety play. A number of freshmen this year thrown into the deep end - hopefully they'll learn to swim.

Yeah, they should go 6-6 or 7-5. Not exactly a success, but an improvement. BUT: with this defense, no game (not even Purdue) is a gimme. They could very well lose all six of the next games. What would you do then? Especially given that the defense appears to get worse every year.

But the offense won't be this bad at executing all those games, so will win some.

I mean, honestly. The offense can't really get much better; if the defense keeps getting worse, why shouldn't he be fired?

I think the offense can get better. Denard is a true sophomore and can make better reads. He can improve on deep throws. Our TBs can be better. Would especially like to see biggest back Stephen Hopkins, who's a true freshman. And really, I don't see how the D could be worse.

[Solomwi]

Not going as far as to predict the upset, but the situation seems stacked against Alabama this week. #1 teams playing ranked teams on the road the week after beating a top 10 team at home are 1-5 historically, the lone win being Notre Dame squeaking by Michigan State 20-19 in 1990 (which is interesting, but really has **** all to do with an individual game in 2010). Throw in that South Carolina has had two weeks to prepare, and they may give the Tide some fits.

Wish I'd had the confidence to go all the way and predict the upset. Still can't believe Garcia's blackhole stupid safety play, though.

[Tuberski]

I told a guy at work the Gamecocks would win, but I was only talking ****.

ACK!

[SlowwHand]

South Carolina has now beat the number one in all 3 major colleges sports, as noted on Game Center.

A step closer to a Boise-TCU 1 & 2.

[Ben Kenobi]

Yep, LSU and Auburn are the only unbeaten SEC teams.

Forgot about Auburn.

[reismark]

Yep, LSU and Auburn are the only unbeaten SEC teams.

Forgot about Auburn.

Don't you dare forget Auburn. Being they're my team and I want Boise in the national title game, I'm positively giddy about Alabama losing. Someone please take out Ohio State next, thanks.

[Ben Kenobi]

Boise should already be in the title game.

[-Jrabbit]

I'd just like to state that Temple really ticked me off today. It's not even one of NIU's better teams.

And congracts to the Gamecocks. The way the second half started, I thought they were gonna puke on their shoes, but they made Bama their beyotch, bigtime. Gotta give Spurrier credit. Well done!

[Guynemer]

Lord Avalon, I appreciate your enthusiasm and optimism, but this is as good as Michigan is going to get under RichRod. The defense has gotten steadily worse every season--they gave up over 500 yards AGAIN. People used to ***** about Lloyd's teams, but they never gave up 500 yards in a game, let alone 3(? 4?) times in the first half of a season.

The offense might get a little bit better against better teams, but not nearly good enough to compensate for a steadily worsening defense. Expecting the defense to get better, at this point, is the definition of wishful thinking.


Michigan's defense is the equivalent of my mother-in-law's cooking.