THE NATIONAL PICTURE:
The Michigan Wolverines will enter the 2011 season as the nation’s #1 team.
After a dismal start to 2010, which saw them drop their first two games of the season in shocking upset fashion (first to Wyoming in the opener, and then a week later to New Mexico State, both at home), the Wolverines went on to win their next 11 games, including their first win over Ohio State since Undefeated took over as head coach, ending the Buckeye’s 18-game home winning-streak in the process, as well as the Rose Bowl over a favored USC, finishing the season ranked #2 at 11-2, and riding an 11-game winning streak.
This 11-game winning streak has surely a lot to do with the 34 coaches who have voted Michigan as the favorite to win the 2011 national championship. Announced today, the coaches’ preseason top 25:
1.Michigan (34)
2.USC (23)
3.Tennessee (1)
4.Florida State (2)
5.Oklahoma (1)
6.Clemson
7.Texas
8.Florida
9.Alabama
10.Notre Dame
11.Penn State
12.Auburn
13.Illinois
14.Pittsburgh
15.Miami (FL)
16.Virginia Tech
17.Ohio State
18.Georgia
19.West Virginia
20.North Carolina
21.Arkansas
22.LSU
23.Wisconsin
24.Arizona State
25.Missouri
TEAM FORECAST:
Returning Starters: 11 (5 offense, 6 defense).
The Good: Michigan’s OL, RB, CB and LB corps all rank among the nation’s best; all told there are as many as 12 All-America candidates here.
.
The Bad: Must replace two starters on DL, both S positions, and a 3-year starter at QB; inexperience at WR, TE, and FB.
They’ll win if ... : With the OL and RB corps among the nation’s best, and limitations with the passing game, Michigan is making it no secret that they’ll be running all game long. Success for this team is thusly tied to average yards per carry. If the team can manage a ypc above 4.0, thus turning the offense into a first down-making machine, you’re likely looking at the national champions.
They’ll lose if ... : A) Injuries are a concern for every team and can make or break a season for anyone, but defensive depth could be problematic for the Wolverines. B) Just the reverse of “Why they’ll win,” if the offense for whatever reason is put on the shoulders of the passing game, look out. The most experienced QB on the roster has 36 career pass attempts, and he’s not the starter.
Fun Facts: Michigan Stadium has moved up to #3 on ESPN’s “Toughest Places To Play” list, the highest in school history [i.e., literally the highest I’ve managed to get this since EA introduced the feature however long ago]. Head coach Undefeated is 14-4 against top 25 opponents and 8-2 against rivals.
THE SCHEDULE:
8/27 @ #10 Notre Dame
9/10 @ UCLA
9/17 Colorado
9/24 #13 Illinois
10/1 @ #11 Penn State
10/8 Purdue
10/22 @ Iowa
10/29 @ Michigan State
11/5 Minnesota
11/12 @ #23 Wisconsin
11/19 #17 Ohio State
11/26 @ Hawaii
COACHING QUOTABLES:
“Basically we want to run for 400 yards a game, dominate time of possession, and play nails defense. We want the final score of every game to be 55-0.” - Running Backs Coach
“We’re not too concerned about being the best defense in the nation; the ball-control style we’re going to run on the other side of the ball should be plenty of ‘defense’. What we really want right now is balance. We want to allow roughly the same amount of yards on the ground as through the air. I don’t care if we allow 400 yards of offense, if it’s 200 and 200, I’ll be happy.” - Defensive Backs Coach
“No, it’s not okay to allow 400 yards of offense. I think he just meant that this business of finishing #1 against the run and #120 against the pass is for the birds, and we’re taking steps to correct that problem.” - Defensive Coordinator
“Our goal is to have all five guys make first team All-Big Ten.” - Offensive Line Coach
“Plain and simple: I want the #1 rushing offense in the nation, the #1 scoring offense in the nation, the #1 total defense in the nation, and the #1 scoring defense in the nation. 55-0 final score for each game? Yeah, that’s about right.” - Undefeated
The Michigan Wolverines will enter the 2011 season as the nation’s #1 team.
After a dismal start to 2010, which saw them drop their first two games of the season in shocking upset fashion (first to Wyoming in the opener, and then a week later to New Mexico State, both at home), the Wolverines went on to win their next 11 games, including their first win over Ohio State since Undefeated took over as head coach, ending the Buckeye’s 18-game home winning-streak in the process, as well as the Rose Bowl over a favored USC, finishing the season ranked #2 at 11-2, and riding an 11-game winning streak.
This 11-game winning streak has surely a lot to do with the 34 coaches who have voted Michigan as the favorite to win the 2011 national championship. Announced today, the coaches’ preseason top 25:
1.Michigan (34)
2.USC (23)
3.Tennessee (1)
4.Florida State (2)
5.Oklahoma (1)
6.Clemson
7.Texas
8.Florida
9.Alabama
10.Notre Dame
11.Penn State
12.Auburn
13.Illinois
14.Pittsburgh
15.Miami (FL)
16.Virginia Tech
17.Ohio State
18.Georgia
19.West Virginia
20.North Carolina
21.Arkansas
22.LSU
23.Wisconsin
24.Arizona State
25.Missouri
TEAM FORECAST:
Returning Starters: 11 (5 offense, 6 defense).
The Good: Michigan’s OL, RB, CB and LB corps all rank among the nation’s best; all told there are as many as 12 All-America candidates here.
.
The Bad: Must replace two starters on DL, both S positions, and a 3-year starter at QB; inexperience at WR, TE, and FB.
They’ll win if ... : With the OL and RB corps among the nation’s best, and limitations with the passing game, Michigan is making it no secret that they’ll be running all game long. Success for this team is thusly tied to average yards per carry. If the team can manage a ypc above 4.0, thus turning the offense into a first down-making machine, you’re likely looking at the national champions.
They’ll lose if ... : A) Injuries are a concern for every team and can make or break a season for anyone, but defensive depth could be problematic for the Wolverines. B) Just the reverse of “Why they’ll win,” if the offense for whatever reason is put on the shoulders of the passing game, look out. The most experienced QB on the roster has 36 career pass attempts, and he’s not the starter.
Fun Facts: Michigan Stadium has moved up to #3 on ESPN’s “Toughest Places To Play” list, the highest in school history [i.e., literally the highest I’ve managed to get this since EA introduced the feature however long ago]. Head coach Undefeated is 14-4 against top 25 opponents and 8-2 against rivals.
THE SCHEDULE:
8/27 @ #10 Notre Dame
9/10 @ UCLA
9/17 Colorado
9/24 #13 Illinois
10/1 @ #11 Penn State
10/8 Purdue
10/22 @ Iowa
10/29 @ Michigan State
11/5 Minnesota
11/12 @ #23 Wisconsin
11/19 #17 Ohio State
11/26 @ Hawaii
COACHING QUOTABLES:
“Basically we want to run for 400 yards a game, dominate time of possession, and play nails defense. We want the final score of every game to be 55-0.” - Running Backs Coach
“We’re not too concerned about being the best defense in the nation; the ball-control style we’re going to run on the other side of the ball should be plenty of ‘defense’. What we really want right now is balance. We want to allow roughly the same amount of yards on the ground as through the air. I don’t care if we allow 400 yards of offense, if it’s 200 and 200, I’ll be happy.” - Defensive Backs Coach
“No, it’s not okay to allow 400 yards of offense. I think he just meant that this business of finishing #1 against the run and #120 against the pass is for the birds, and we’re taking steps to correct that problem.” - Defensive Coordinator
“Our goal is to have all five guys make first team All-Big Ten.” - Offensive Line Coach
“Plain and simple: I want the #1 rushing offense in the nation, the #1 scoring offense in the nation, the #1 total defense in the nation, and the #1 scoring defense in the nation. 55-0 final score for each game? Yeah, that’s about right.” - Undefeated
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