Preseason Coach's Poll released

[cubuffsman78]

1. USC
2. LSU
3. Florida
4. Texas
5. Michigan
6. West Virginia
7. Wisconsin
8. Oklahoma
9. Virginia Tech
10. Ohio St.
11. Louisville
12. Cal
13. Georgia
14. Auburn
15. Tennessee
16. Rutgers
17. UCLA
18. Penn St.
19. Nebraska
20. Arkansas
21. Florida St.
22. TCU
23. Boise St.
24. Hawaii
25. Texas A&M

Others Receiving Votes: Ga. Tech 150, Boston College 150, Miami (FL) 91, South Carolina 90, Notre Dame 90, Wake Forest 71, Missouri 58, Oregon St. 52, BYU 47, Oregon 30, Clemson 30, USF 26, Texas Tech 20, Alabama 16, Oklahoma St. 15, Southern Miss 14, Iowa 12, Kansas St. 8, Memphis 5, Houston 4, Arizona 1, Kentucky 1, Duke 1, Washington St. 1

Too High: Texas, Michigan, Georgia

Too Low: Virginia Tech, TCU, Texas A&M

I personally like Wisconsin more than Michigan this year. It bothers me that Michigan lost nearly its entire defense. Their front-7 is gone. Leon Hall is gone. I know the offense will be great, but I'm a defensive guy. I think Wisconsin is better defensively and also have P.J. Hill. The Badgers will be more athletic at QB this year as well.

I don't get Texas' high ranking at all. They lost their entire secondary, which could turn out to be okay given how bad they were at that position last season. However, that's a lot to replace. They also lost both of their DEs. The LB corp should be one of the best in the country though. Texas has abandoned running the ball with it's backs the last two seasons. It worked great with Vince back there, but I think McCoy could use more carries going to the backs for the offense to be more successful.

Va. Tech is loaded to me. I think they're a National Championship contender.

TCU is the top bracket buster this year in my mind. Especially if they sneak past Texas early in the season.

[bdc02]

I think Michigan will suprise you with the D... the O we all know will be great but Terrance Taylor and Shawn Crable will be coming back on the front 7 which you said had none coming back... We just need to find a MLB and sure up our secondary and will will be in the running for National Championship.

Ohio State had the same problem as Michigan coming into last year...returning O and very few returning D... I think Michigan will be just fine.

[cubuffsman78]

Originally Posted by bdc02 I think Michigan will suprise you with the D... the O we all know will be great but Terrance Taylor and Shawn Crable will be coming back on the front 7 which you said had none coming back... We just need to find a MLB and sure up our secondary and will will be in the running for National Championship. Ohio State had the same problem as Michigan coming into last year...returning O and very few returning D... I think Michigan will be just fine.

There's a big difference between the difference Troy Smith had on the Buckeyes last season to what Chad Henne, Mike Hart or anyone else will have individually.

BTW, when I said the front-7 was gone I meant most of their impact players. Call it exagerration if you will, but Crable's impact, while solid, is not going to compare to what the losses of Woodley, Harris and Branch will mean. Even Prescott Burgess will be missed heavily.

[bdc02]

Originally Posted by cubuffsman78 Originally Posted by bdc02 I think Michigan will suprise you with the D... the O we all know will be great but Terrance Taylor and Shawn Crable will be coming back on the front 7 which you said had none coming back... We just need to find a MLB and sure up our secondary and will will be in the running for National Championship. Ohio State had the same problem as Michigan coming into last year...returning O and very few returning D... I think Michigan will be just fine. There's a big difference between the difference Troy Smith had on the Buckeyes last season to what Chad Henne, Mike Hart or anyone else will have individually. BTW, when I said the front-7 was gone I meant most of their impact players. Call it exagerration if you will, but Crable's impact, while solid, is not going to compare to what the losses of Woodley, Harris and Branch will mean. Even Prescott Burgess will be missed heavily.

your right about Smith's impact... the starters will be missed and I dont expect the #1 rush D again this year but it will still be good...Shawn Crable said Brandon Graham is Lamarr Woodley but faster so he is 1 player you should keep your eyes out for, he ran a 10.9 in the 100 in HS...I think the strengths of the team will be size, speed and athleticism. The weakness will be proven depth and the secondary. I'll bet anyone that we will beat Wisconsin though, Michigan's speed will be the real difference maker in most games. Here is my projected lineup as of now.

OFFENSE:

QB - Chad Henne
HB - Mike Hart
FB - Vince Helmuth/Brandon Minor
WR - Mario Manningham
WR- Adrian Arrington
TE - Mike Massey
RT - Steve Schilling
RG - Alex Mitchell
C - Justin Boren
LG - Adam Kraus
LT - Jake Long

DEFENSE:

DE - Tim Jamison
DT - Will Johnson
NT - Terrance Taylor
DE - Brandon Graham
OLB - Shawn Crable
MLB - John Thompson/Austin Panter
OLB - Chris Graham
CB - Morgan Trent
CB - Johnny Sears/Donovan Warren
SS - Jamar Adams
FS - Stevie Brown

SPECIAL TEAMS:

K - Bryan Wright
P - Zoltan Mesko
PR - Carlos Brown
KR - Carlos Brown/Brandon Minor

[murtyle1]

Worrying about Michigan's front 7 is like worrying about their O-line... They don't rebuild, they reload... So theres no need...

With that said our secondary is going to be BAD... Morgan Trent is HORRIBLE and he's probably our best CB right now...

[bdc02]

Originally Posted by murtyle1 Worrying about Michigan's front 7 is like worrying about their O-line... They don't rebuild, they reload... So theres no need... With that said our secondary is going to be BAD... Morgan Trent is HORRIBLE and he's probably our best CB right now...

I hope Morgan Trent has improved... if not then he wont be a starter, the true freshman Donovan Warren will come in. "Worrying about Michigan's front 7 is like worrying about their O-line... They don't rebuild, they reload" AMEN to that.

[murtyle1]

Originally Posted by bdc02 Originally Posted by murtyle1 Worrying about Michigan's front 7 is like worrying about their O-line... They don't rebuild, they reload... So theres no need... With that said our secondary is going to be BAD... Morgan Trent is HORRIBLE and he's probably our best CB right now... I hope Morgan Trent has improved... if not then he wont be a starter, the true freshman Donovan Warren will come in. "Worrying about Michigan's front 7 is like worrying about their O-line... They don't rebuild, they reload" AMEN to that.

That guy needs a minor miracle to be effective... I noticed it during the OSU game last year, they threw right at him and he was hopeless...

When we played USC I was at BW3's in Ann Arbor with some friends who don't pay as much attention to football as I do... I told them, watch USC, they are going to throw at #14 90% of the time... He sucks and sure enough, go back and watch that game... My friends were like why don't they do anything?... It was frustrating on top of that, just plain being flat out out-coached... I can't wait for Carr to retire...

[bdc02]

Originally Posted by murtyle1 Originally Posted by bdc02 Originally Posted by murtyle1 Worrying about Michigan's front 7 is like worrying about their O-line... They don't rebuild, they reload... So theres no need... With that said our secondary is going to be BAD... Morgan Trent is HORRIBLE and he's probably our best CB right now... I hope Morgan Trent has improved... if not then he wont be a starter, the true freshman Donovan Warren will come in. "Worrying about Michigan's front 7 is like worrying about their O-line... They don't rebuild, they reload" AMEN to that. That guy needs a minor miracle to be effective... I noticed it during the OSU game last year, they threw right at him and he was hopeless... When we played USC I was at BW3's in Ann Arbor with some friends who don't pay as much attention to football as I do... I told them, watch USC, they are going to throw at #14 90% of the time... He sucks and sure enough, go back and watch that game... My friends were like why don't they do anything?... It was frustrating on top of that, just plain being flat out out-coached... I can't wait for Carr to retire...

yeah I think Carr is gunna retire soon too... either Ron English or Les Miles is my guess who will be the next HC.

[porky88]

I think Michigan will lose 2 games this year at the most. They'll contend for a BCS Bowl as will Wisconsin. I don't think one is clearly better than the other. I don't like Chad Henne at all an he still hasn't stepped it up in big games. I'd be more concern with that than anything. Before I hear that he looks great so far, remember you heard the same thing last year.

Wisconsin has to replace John Stocco and Joe Thomas on offense. I think their o-line will be solid but Tyler Donovan is going to need to prove he can play well over a entire season. Should be an interesting race.

[porky88]

Originally Posted by bdc02 I'll bet anyone that we will beat Wisconsin though, Michigan's speed will be the real difference maker in most games.

Wisconsin beat Arkansas and Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in the Capital One Bowl. They held them to 13 points. I don't know if speed is going to make that big of a difference when they play. Plus last year Wisconsin held with the mighty michigan in the big house for most of the game until you guys put it away in the 4th. This year it's at Camp Randal. The game isn't going to be one sided. It'll be one or two plays that decides the game.