Sept 1 2012 - Game 1 vs. Alabama

Based on the results of last nights NC game, this could very well be the biggest game on Brady Hoke's young career as HC of Michigan.  How do you see this game playing out?

Discuss!!!

Frankly, I think this game will be an ugly loss for Michigan. I know that Alabama will lose alot of key players, but the way they play defense is like no team that we played this year. They are very big, physical and aggressive. I think that Alabama is a MUCH better Michigan State team, a team that can beat us up on both the offensive and defensive lines, and these are positions that we will be very inexperienced at next year.

I just don't think that Alabama is a good matchup for Michigan.

Go blue.

I'd like UM's chances much better if this was 2014 when they would (presumably) have the bodies in the trenches to matchup with Bama's.

NFL and Coordinator Departures from UA give plenty of reasons for UM fans to eb hopeful though. If the team that clobbered Nebraska shows up, this will be a good game. If the team that plays MSU shows up, it'll get ugly.

Butn the plus side, Bama's offense doesn't instill fear in anyone.  not saying our Defense will be all that, but I like the match-up between our D and their O. 


Contrary to popular belief/opinion, Defense does not win championships.  Defense keeps other teams from winning them.   

Chief, with the exception of LSU (twice) Bama put up a ton of points this seasons.  Our defense improved a lot this year but the losses on the D-line will kill us against Bama.  Its is very early to speculate but Bama is head and shoulders above any team in the Big 10 and it will be a blow out.  I see a 3 touchdown loss at best.  Good news is that a loss like that can focus a team quickly for the rest of the season and could actual help us in the long term.  I am actually glad this game is up first and not in the middle of the season after we are 4 or 5 - 0 thinking we are a powerhouse.  I think a Big 10 title game is realistic next year (although Ball going pro would have been nice).  But we do not match up well against Bama and Denard will NOT be able to run effectively against their team speed and if he is forced to throw then God help us against that pass rush and their secondary.  Ugly, Ugly start for us next season.  Followed by a strong rebound. 

<p>It will truly be a test for this team no doubt about it but anything can happen, that is why they play the games.  Depending on the kids that come in this year and can contribute right away who knows how good the D can be.  Hopefully with a year under his belt in the new system DRob will get much better by next year and also maybe Gardner will be able to contribute more in the pro set.  While I am not confident Michigan can win will hold out hope until the final second ticks of that clock!!  <br /><br />I miss football already!!</p>

I think we have a punchers chance in the game but not a whole lot more than that, at this time.  All of this is subject to change based on who leaves and who stays on both teams.  One thing that should help the Wolverines is that Alabama will lose 2 of it's 4 linebackers in Upshaw and Harris to "graduation" (snicker) and Hightower should likely go pro as well.  Nico Johnson is also a jr, so they may end up losing all four.  Then again, the way Saban is able to get talent, for all we know the backups could be better than the starters.  The one thing that helps us, much like it helped LSU against Oregon, they will be new and in their first game of the season.

We are due for a massive a$$ kicking, it will come against Bama...  it won't stop us from contending for the Big 10 title though.

Bama loses half their defense to the NFL.  With the departed goes their top two DL (3-4 team), half their LB's (including a AA), an All American CB and 2/3rds of their sack production.

Offensively the Tide lose their AA tailback, their top 4 pass catchers and 2 of 5 offensive lineman.

The Alabama football program is one of the best in the nation but comparing nexts years team off of this years results is absurd.  Same in regards to Michigan.  There are a lot of question marks for both teams to answer before their Sept. 1 date in Dallas.  GO BLUE!!

Nick Saban has a recruiting machine up and running for years now at Bama.  They probably have more depth across their roster than any team in college football.  In addition, the backups for Alabama practce against future NFL players every day.  The backups at Alabama get more experience going up against their own starters in practice than what our starters do playing in the Big 10.  The addage that "they don't recruit, they reload" is more true at Alabama than anywhere else in the country.  Hoke just finished his FIRST season and by all of our expectations it was a HELL of a season.  But this is just his first true recruiting class and by all reports it is one HELL of a class.  But we are not ready to go up against Alabama in a competitive way for another couple of seasons.  And we also do not have the advantage against Alabama that we have had against the Big 10 this sesaon of a better coaching staff, especially on the defensive side of the ball.  Mattison was head and shoulders above the rest of the Big 10 staffs.  Saban showed in the BCS game that he will not get out coached and his personal focus has always been on the defensive side of the ball.  As much as I want to put on some rose colored glasses for this one but I just can't see Michigan even keeping this close for a half.  Denard will be bottled up by superior athletes on the opposite side of the ball, much like he has been for the better part of two seasons against the better defenses in the Big 10.  And if he is forced to throw, which he will be, it will get ugly quick.  Can't see from any angle how we win this one.

If we had Martin and RVB available for next years game against Alabama, we might have put up some sort of a struggle in a defensive game... what will our defensive line look like for that game?  Pipkins/BWC/Roh/Brink?  lets hope that Hoke/Mattison/Montgomery can work miracles because they will have to. 

With all due respect to your football knowledge dobb, what are you talking about?  This isn't youth or fantasy football.  You, me, nor the next guy doesn't have a clue how next year is going to play out.  The behind the scenes transition (physically as well as year two knowledge of the system) of these athletes from boys to men within a yearly progression is astounding (and I'm not talkng about the true freshmen; anything we get from them is gravy).

Who had any idea that in just one year the Michigan defense would go from being damn near the worst in football in 2010 to well above average in 2011?  Who would have figured guys like Heininger, Frank Clark, Des Morgan or Jake Ryan would beef up and become solid contributors this season?  And I'm not just speaking in regards to Michigan either.  The Alabama team will develop too.  But they lose far more experience that Michigan does.  And that is a huge plus for the Wolverines.  They have a new OC coming in.  That is a plus for the Wolverines.  They'll be the heavy favorite with a potential NC hangover.  Another plus.  Sure the Tide have more Blue Chippers on their roster than Michigan but for the first time in years, Michigan has the depth and experience to compete with the upper echelon of college football.

Anybody that knows me knows I'm not in the business of making predictions but to write the team off 9 months prior to the game and before practice even starts (especially after seeing the year one growth of this team under the direction of this staff) is baseless.  GO BLUE!!

I still say it's ahrd to gauge SEC teams. It's the same as 10 cousins all marrying each other.


When Alabama played Penn State OOC they won by 16 and I was not that impressed. They went on and had good games against North Texas, Vanderbuilt, and everyone in the SEC except LSU. When most of a conferences acclaim comes from beating each other it's hard to say how they did against other top programs.

I do put LSU as a exception as they beat some good OOC teams last year!


Now with that being said I think the B1G was down and not really in the conversation as best conference. Although I think Whisky showed well against Oregon, MSU vs UGA. The problem.... PSU had issues as well as OSU. NU was supposed to step in and dominate but I think the B1G schedule even suprised and wore them down. 


I think Alabama has the distractions this off season. Being the NC and having a good turnover on their squad I am guessing UofM can make this a much closer game than people want to give them credit. It's a long way from 01-2012 to kickoff UofM vs Alabama.  

what will our defensive line look like for that game?

No clue.  But I do know that Mattison and his guys place the best 11 on the field (outside of heavy, nickle, special packages, ex).  With Roh, Black, Clark and Ryan all having weakside rush abilities, I expect the most nature move to keep all of the playmakers on the field at the same time is to move a beefed up Roh to the strongside edge, leave Ryan at Sam LB and rotate Black and Clark at the weak edge.  That leaves Campbell, Washington, Brink and Rock inside.  The development of Pee Wee over the summer (Pipkins) is a massive question mark.  My gut says he's ready to play.  If he does, the Michigan dline is a lot deeper and stronger.  GO BLUE!!

 Going up against the defending national champions in Alabama is going to be a great challenge. It only helps Michigan to go up against the best competition. With having Denard back is a added bonus and Trouissant will be even better. Having Mattison control the defense we'll be ready. Our defense will be raw although loaded with freshman and sophomore playmakers. Yes we lose Martin and Rvb which hurts but Pipkins and Campbell should fill those voids nicely. This upcoming class coming has me excited watchout for maybe two or three freshman starters on defense. Joe Bolden lite up the Army All American game as did Pipkins. Now do I see Michigan winning this game... no... remember anything can happen. Oh yeah Jake Ryan is a beast and Go Blue!

With Roh, Black, Clark and Ryan all having weakside rush abilities, I expect the most nature move to keep all of the playmakers on the field at the same time is to move a beefed up Roh to the strongside edge, leave Ryan at Sam LB and rotate Black and Clark at the weak edge.  That leaves Campbell, Washington, Brink and Rock inside.  The development of Pee Wee over the summer (Pipkins) is a massive question mark.  My gut says he's ready to play.

I would like to see a d-line of Roh/Pipkins/BWC/Black or Clark instead of Black, but we shall see...  looking at the roster we might be better suited to run a 3-4 instead of a 4-3.

This is going to be a tough game that I don't see Michigan winning, but it's a game they can win if they play great defense and are able to move the ball on their D. We also couldn't turn the ball over or make any mistakes, but it could happen. Bama will be #1 most likely and Michigan will be in the top 15 somewhere and even with losses to guys like Molk and Martin were going to be better team with a great group of freshmen coming in. I don't see us winning, but I think it will be close and we could pull it out if we play a great game.

looking at the roster we might be better suited to run a 3-4 instead of a 4-3.

That's a possibility.  Mattison has been a 3-4 guy much of his career.

I don't see us winning

That's a fair statement to cps12.  It's hard for me to wrap my head around the upset at times too.  The point of my rant was simply, win or lose, there is a ton of time for Michigan to continue to develop and Bama will not be nearly as good next year as they were this year.  That middle ground (how big of a step back for the Tide, how big of a step forward for the Wolverines), will likely determine the winner but it will be the combination of those two factors that determines the outcome of the game.  If both teams stay the same, advantage Alabama.  Big picture though, Michigan's returns more guys and has more continuity within their offensive system.  That bridges the talent gap a bit.  The last factor is the "unknowns" for both teams and that's what will make the next 8 months a fun offseason to watch.  GO BLUE!!

America in general will view UM as an underdog, the SEC will view UM as an expanding universe sized underdog.   UM really has nothing to lose, Bama has everything to lose.  And likely, with SEC arrogance, will not see it.   I think it sets up as a perfect trap game.  UM has some players coming back - its not like the cupboard is going to be emptied - and with another off season of coaching (and its a pretty good set of coaches doing it) and growing and maturity, conceivably could field a better team overall.  

UM will be the underdog, and sometimes that helps.

  

looking at the roster we might be better suited to run a 3-4 instead of a 4-3.

That's a possibility.  Mattison has been a 3-4 guy much of his career.

This recruiting offseason (If the commits stay put) makes Michigan the new Linebacker U. If we can get one or two of them to earn the right to play and beat out our current LBs, then the 3-4 looks really good to me. I truly believe that this might be the way to go for this season if the kids pan out. Were deep at LB but young.