MICHIGAN FOOTBALL WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2003:
Since the National Championship in 1997 Michigan has looked to the defense year in and year out to lead there team. Why wouldn't they? It has been there stronghold as it was for OSU last season as they took home the SEARS trophy going a perfect 14-0. WATCH THE WOLVES MAKE A RUN AT RUNNING THE TABLE THIS YEAR.
THE OFFENSE:
This season things have changed for the WOLVES. Not only do they bring in a new field surface, same as at Ford Field more about this later, but there strength will fall onto the offense. BIG BLUE returns a experienced O-LNE, lead by two big teners and top pro-prospect Tony Pape. RB Chris Perry, CP ran for over 1,100 yards last season and 14 touches. He has the speed and power to make defenses quiver. Wideout Braylon Edwards, The fastest man on the track team is the BIG play threat the Wolves need to stretch the field. Braylon will also be given the honor of wearing #1 this year following in the footsteps of former wr's Anthony Carter, Amoni Toomer, C.Calloway, D. Terrell. The other WR's are young but O-so talented. And at QB we have our favorite wiping buy John Navare, if experience is what you want John is the man. 4 years he has started the opener, 3 years he has started throughout. Last year John found himself throwing for 20 plus TD's and 7int's only. He is the KEY and he is ready to lead!
FB and TE will be positions of need, but with the Michigan system there the easiest to fill. With all of this the Offense will be also given a new surface to excel on, late in the season the old natural surface would FALL apart year in and year out. Michigan will now be able to rely on there speed at home LATE IN THE SEASON on this new field surface.
THE DEFENSE:
For the first time in a long time the defense is being overshadowed by the Offense. This suits the Wolves defenders just FINE! They want to earn the headlines as the class of 97' did instead of living up to someone elses expectations.
This defense is young, but it is FAST. So fast that the line seperating MICHIGAN form the SEC power schools has finally been matched by this POWER. Marlon Jackson has been moved to safety, a new position for him, due to senior graduation. This move alone has put the Wolves in a great spot were they can feature there 11 best defenders at on time. On defense the lb's feature Carl Diggs & Zack Kaufman, ala speilman in maize and blue. The one I will be watching will either be playing outside lb or d-end he goes by the name of LAMARR WOODLEY and he my friends CAN play. He is from up the road at Saginw high and was the TOP defensive recruit in the nation last year. If there was a ratings for the last five he may very well TOP that list as well.. Woodley stands 6'3 and weighs 265 and he's a SPEED rusher with a attitude...Put him at one end and the 6'5 268lbs 4.4 40 runner Kashama at the other and the WOLVES will surely improve on there league leading 42 sacks of a year ago.. These two should be fun to watch to say the least!
My insight on this defense is this, they have great cover corners, SOLID lb. A experienced tough D-line, THEY'LL dominate and ultimately lead this team by game 8.. (THERE SPEED IS THERE ADVANTAGE ON THE OUTSIDE!)
(SWARM AND TACKLE WELL IS WHAT THIS GROUP HAS BEEN TAUGHT.. WITH THERE SPEED AND TALENT AND THIS PHILOSPHY THEY WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST UNITS IN THE COUNTRY.)
KICKING:
UGHHHHHHHHHHHH! MISS-IGAN, errrrr I mean MICHIGAN ranked 11th last year in fg % last season in the BIG TEN and 8th in extrapoint accuracy. With that we have a freshman from FLORIDA named RIVAS. Rivas has been the star in the pre-season. Carr says, "When the ball comes off his foot it exlpodes - there's no hesitation in him. He is one of those guys that possesses the kind of poise and confidence that you need in a position like kicker."
THAK GOD, we need it! Punting is in great hands with Finley, but we'll need the freshman to step-up BIG!
THE SCHEDULE:
No PSU, Wisky.. Notre Dame at home as well as OSU. CMU, Houston as a warm up before ND and a trip to OREGON... If we get by OU and into the BIG TEN 4-0 watch-out! I see this team running the table.. Talent and experience to go along with OSU at home after 2 straight loses means BIG BLUE IN 2003 making a charge not only at the Championship Series BUT the SUGAR as well!!
GO BIG BLUE!!!!
[This message was edited by Kodiak7 on August 11, 2003 at 12:14 PM.]
Since the National Championship in 1997 Michigan has looked to the defense year in and year out to lead there team. Why wouldn't they? It has been there stronghold as it was for OSU last season as they took home the SEARS trophy going a perfect 14-0. WATCH THE WOLVES MAKE A RUN AT RUNNING THE TABLE THIS YEAR.
THE OFFENSE:
This season things have changed for the WOLVES. Not only do they bring in a new field surface, same as at Ford Field more about this later, but there strength will fall onto the offense. BIG BLUE returns a experienced O-LNE, lead by two big teners and top pro-prospect Tony Pape. RB Chris Perry, CP ran for over 1,100 yards last season and 14 touches. He has the speed and power to make defenses quiver. Wideout Braylon Edwards, The fastest man on the track team is the BIG play threat the Wolves need to stretch the field. Braylon will also be given the honor of wearing #1 this year following in the footsteps of former wr's Anthony Carter, Amoni Toomer, C.Calloway, D. Terrell. The other WR's are young but O-so talented. And at QB we have our favorite wiping buy John Navare, if experience is what you want John is the man. 4 years he has started the opener, 3 years he has started throughout. Last year John found himself throwing for 20 plus TD's and 7int's only. He is the KEY and he is ready to lead!
FB and TE will be positions of need, but with the Michigan system there the easiest to fill. With all of this the Offense will be also given a new surface to excel on, late in the season the old natural surface would FALL apart year in and year out. Michigan will now be able to rely on there speed at home LATE IN THE SEASON on this new field surface.
THE DEFENSE:
For the first time in a long time the defense is being overshadowed by the Offense. This suits the Wolves defenders just FINE! They want to earn the headlines as the class of 97' did instead of living up to someone elses expectations.
This defense is young, but it is FAST. So fast that the line seperating MICHIGAN form the SEC power schools has finally been matched by this POWER. Marlon Jackson has been moved to safety, a new position for him, due to senior graduation. This move alone has put the Wolves in a great spot were they can feature there 11 best defenders at on time. On defense the lb's feature Carl Diggs & Zack Kaufman, ala speilman in maize and blue. The one I will be watching will either be playing outside lb or d-end he goes by the name of LAMARR WOODLEY and he my friends CAN play. He is from up the road at Saginw high and was the TOP defensive recruit in the nation last year. If there was a ratings for the last five he may very well TOP that list as well.. Woodley stands 6'3 and weighs 265 and he's a SPEED rusher with a attitude...Put him at one end and the 6'5 268lbs 4.4 40 runner Kashama at the other and the WOLVES will surely improve on there league leading 42 sacks of a year ago.. These two should be fun to watch to say the least!
My insight on this defense is this, they have great cover corners, SOLID lb. A experienced tough D-line, THEY'LL dominate and ultimately lead this team by game 8.. (THERE SPEED IS THERE ADVANTAGE ON THE OUTSIDE!)
(SWARM AND TACKLE WELL IS WHAT THIS GROUP HAS BEEN TAUGHT.. WITH THERE SPEED AND TALENT AND THIS PHILOSPHY THEY WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST UNITS IN THE COUNTRY.)
KICKING:
UGHHHHHHHHHHHH! MISS-IGAN, errrrr I mean MICHIGAN ranked 11th last year in fg % last season in the BIG TEN and 8th in extrapoint accuracy. With that we have a freshman from FLORIDA named RIVAS. Rivas has been the star in the pre-season. Carr says, "When the ball comes off his foot it exlpodes - there's no hesitation in him. He is one of those guys that possesses the kind of poise and confidence that you need in a position like kicker."
THAK GOD, we need it! Punting is in great hands with Finley, but we'll need the freshman to step-up BIG!
THE SCHEDULE:
No PSU, Wisky.. Notre Dame at home as well as OSU. CMU, Houston as a warm up before ND and a trip to OREGON... If we get by OU and into the BIG TEN 4-0 watch-out! I see this team running the table.. Talent and experience to go along with OSU at home after 2 straight loses means BIG BLUE IN 2003 making a charge not only at the Championship Series BUT the SUGAR as well!!
GO BIG BLUE!!!!
[This message was edited by Kodiak7 on August 11, 2003 at 12:14 PM.]
