The Skunk Bears would finish out the season at 5-7 after a loss at home to the Buckeyes that kept them at of a bowl game for the 2nd consecutive year. The burner under RRod's chair has been turned back up to high and you can tell he's starting to sweat(or are those tears?).
R-Fraud doing his best T.O. "that's my quarterback" impression.
On offense almost everyone is back, including Callista FIVEcier herself. She may not have the starting spot locked up as Velcro Robinson is competing hard in their after hours and beyond NCAA regulated time practices. To be honest, neither one of them scare me as a QB. They're not worthy to be compared to Pat White, the elusive "system player" Rodriguez supposedly needs to be successful. Both are turnover prone and aren't the best passers out there. When under the slightest pressure both make huge mistakes which cost wins. A lot of them. Unless RRod has some of that magic spray from the World Cup, these problems will not all be solved before the season starts. I think there will plenty "Hall of Shame" entries on Callista's own website. (Google it, I refuse to link to QBForce and drive web traffic there) Sure, Martavious Odoms and Roy Roundtree are back, but who's gonna throw to them?
More bad news for defense and special teams: Brandon Graham(aka the only great player on last year's team) now plays for the Philiadelphia Eagles, and 20th year senior Zoltan(makes Z sign with hands) Mesko is kicking balls in Eastern Europe again....or kicking for the Patriots practice squad/same thing. Add the fact that the Skunk Bears are switching to a base defensive formation of 3-3-5 which leads me to say: If it doesn't work in Madden, it doesn't work in real life.
More on the 3-3-5:
Teams that run the 3-3-5 generally use it because they are a relatively fast but smaller unit compared to the opposing offense, and they want to cause blocking assignment issues for that offense. Also, a 3-3-5 can be adjusted to a 4-3, 3-4, or 4-4 defense with the same starting players.When you think about what the 3-3-5 is, I guess it does make some sense. You're basically owning up to the fact that most of your defenders aren't the biggest or strongest and are more likely to be smaller and quicker, or players that would be at smaller schools. And If the free safety has to basically be a QB on defense they're really in trouble....To effectively play the 3-3-5, the "Front 8" (e.g. the eight defensive players closest to the line of scrimmage) must be physical and tough. The three down lineman must be able to control the running lanes, execute an effective pass rush, and be able to keep the opposing offensive line occupied so that the linebackers can make plays. The two outside or "Stud" linebackers must be effective at pressuring the offensive line and reading and reacting to the play as it develops. The middle linebacker (also known as the "Mike" linebacker) must be able to effectively move in the direction the play is going (also known as "flowing to the ball") while also being able to shed blockers and make plays.
The defensive secondary must be equally capable of pressuring the offensive lineman and dropping back into pass coverage. In particular, the free safety is the most versatile athlete on the field as on any given play he can drop in coverage, pressure the quarterback, or play a "Mike" linebacker if the defense switches to a 3-4 alignment. In this alignment the free safety is generally the best playmaker and smartest athlete on the defense.
"DERPPA DERPP THEY'RE OVER THERE IN THE WHITE SHIRTS!!! STOP THEM!!!"
(Author's note: no one should ever wear a shirt that yellow. No one.)
What do I see for this team in 2010? Obviously, not much since I have them rated 10th in the big ten. I actually seem them doing just a tad bit worse than they're 5-7 record last year. It's not that I can't put aside my hate and look at their schedule objectively, I did that. It's that they lost talent on defense and bring back an offense that could score points BUT also handed people some games last year with turnovers. Let's break down the schedule:
Connecticut (W): A lot of people are picking this as an early loss for the wolverines, but I'm actually giving them the benefit of the doubt. What this game will come down to is the UConn running attack vs the vaunt ed 3-3-5 defense of the wolverines. I'm calling a tight win for them here, but it's honestly a toss-up for me.
@Notre Dame (L): Brian Kelly will Cincinnati them to death and then sign a 10 year contract extension at the post-game press conference. Yet another loss for Michigan and a bone-headed move by Notre Dame.
UMass (W) : Only because they're not playing basketball. Honestly, I didn't even know that UMass played football....
Bowling Green State U (W): Could also be a tight one, but AGAIN giving them the benefit of the doubt over a MAC school. The catch is that I think BGSU runs some sort of spread, and that could be trouble for a 3-3-5 defense as there will be openings for short passes. (Note that they start out 3-1 and then.... here it comes BOHICA)
@Indiana (L): Yeah, I said LOSS. Last season the refs gift-wrapped this game and handed it to the Wolverines as an early Christmas present. Ben Chappell returns for another season and has tons of WR's to throw to, including a real player in the name on Tandon Doss. Indian wins, Michigan starts to skid.
Sparty (L): Last season the Spartans managed to squeeze out a 26-20 OT win over the skunk bears. This year they won't need overtime as veteran Kirk Cousins leads the Green and White to victory in the Big(Quiet) House. Michigan Girls tears will be sold in jars at your local Kroger. Please buy me some.
Iowa (L): Another game they lost last year by a few points and another game they'll drop in 2010 by more than a few. Iowas defense is tough, real tough. Ricky "USA Chant" Stanzi is back. Michigan Loses again.
BYE
@PSU (L): There will be another white-out, or maybe not, ABC will beat it to death and so on and so on. Daryl Clark is gone, but Royster isn't. He'll have a big game and PSU will win by 9.
Illinois (W): Honestly, I was torn between a UConn win and an Illinois win. This game will come down to pride and who wants it more. The opposite team will win and someone will run away with the worst record in the Big Ten. UM finds a way to not lose.(Initally I had this as a loss, but Illinois is really really bad)
@Purdue (L): Purdue does one thing every year besides beat that stupid giant drum and cheer that big-chinned mascot; play stingy defense. I think Purdue is improving. After narrowly beating scUM in Ann Arbor last year they beat the Wolverines at home by 10 or so points. Robert Marve is no Joey Elliot... in a good way.
Wisonsin (L): What does Wisconsin do well every year? Run the ball up the gut and pass to tight ends(and have a super-white QB). Sorry 3-3-5 :(
@OSU (LLLLLLLL): Jim Tressel in a big big way.
Final Record: 4-8, 10th place in the Big Ten. No Bowl Game, obviously. Does Rich Rod get fired? Probably. Who will take his place? That's a tough one. Les Miles didn't want the job 3 years ago, he sure as heck won't want it now. As history looks back on this era of Michigan football, it may pinpoint the hiring of one Richard Rodriguez as the worst moves in college football history and one that could take another decade to recover from.Forecast in Columbus: Sunny with a 100% chance of taunting.
