Michigan 2010 Season

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Tinkertrain

Senior Member

407 posts
Apr 4, 2010 1:04 PM
Spring ball is well under way in Ann Arbor and some interesting developments have taken place.

1. It appears that the QB order as of right now is Denard, Devin and then Tate. Word has it that Denard has improved his ability to read defenses dramatically while Gardner is improving every practice and will eventually be the guy at Michigan. Its not that Tate has done anything wrong but these two are just simply better at this point.


2. The defense has improved by leaps and bounds especially at the safety position where Cameron Gordon appears to have locked up a safety spot. As a whole this defense will be bigger, deeper and stronger than last year. ( Not that it would be hard not to be)

3. The offensive tackles ( Hyuge and Doresstein) are facing a serious push from RS Fr Taylor Lewan and Michael Shofield who are both now over 285 pounds with both turning sub 5.0 fourty times. A major problem for the michigan offense has been the tackles inability to get to the outside on sweeps and seal it off. If these two can add a little more weight before the season begins I expect them to both eventually displace Hyuge and Dorrestein.
Apr 4, 2010 1:04pm
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devil1197

Senior Member

6,220 posts
Apr 4, 2010 1:38 PM
UM's defense has to improve a lot from last year for them to be competitive against the top teams in the B10. Overall, the top of the B10 will be very good next year with OSU, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

RRod needs to select a QB by the end of the 1st game and stick with him for more than one half of football.
Apr 4, 2010 1:38pm
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Tinkertrain

Senior Member

407 posts
Apr 4, 2010 1:48 PM
A large part of the defenses problem last season was horrid play by the safety's and a lack of depth that led to the defense wearing down in the 2nd half. The depth issue barring a rash of injuries SHOULD be taken care of and lets face it Cam Gordon, Vlad Emilien and Jt Turner (most likely will move after spring) cannot possibly be any worse than last years safety's.

One of the biggest problems with Forcier last season was that he refused to carry the ball correctly and was horrible at properly executing the zone read decision to keep or give the ball off. Word from practices is that he still has not changed the way he carries the ball and still struggles with the read. Unlike last year however if he doesnt improve he will not play because their are now options.
Apr 4, 2010 1:48pm
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Big Gain

Senior Member

2,073 posts
Apr 4, 2010 8:29 PM
Tinkertrain wrote: A large part of the defenses problem last season was horrid play by the safety's and a lack of depth that led to the defense wearing down in the 2nd half. The depth issue barring a rash of injuries SHOULD be taken care of and lets face it Cam Gordon, Vlad Emilien and Jt Turner (most likely will move after spring) cannot possibly be any worse than last years safety's.

One of the biggest problems with Forcier last season was that he refused to carry the ball correctly and was horrible at properly executing the zone read decision to keep or give the ball off. Word from practices is that he still has not changed the way he carries the ball and still struggles with the read. Unlike last year however if he doesnt improve he will not play because their are now options.
Even after Forcier had TWO YEARS of personal coaching by Todd Marinovich and his father???
Apr 4, 2010 8:29pm
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OldDanTucker

Senior Member

283 posts
Apr 4, 2010 9:30 PM
I wouldnt put to much into these first few practices at the QB spot. Denard's problem has been lack of reps and they have been mostly running him with the first team for that reason. Tate just needs to study film. Devin should not play this year and I hope he doesn't that would be 3 straight years with a fresh/first year starter at the qb position. I agree though Devin will eventualy take over (2011 maybe?) but if he ends up starting this year that is bad news for us Michigan fans. If Denard's improves his passing game then he could be scary good.

The OL/DL will be the best groups for UM this year and that is GREAT news....it all starts up front. The secondary still scares me and so does the rb position....untill we see them in a game situation they will both have me worried for the season.
Apr 4, 2010 9:30pm
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Tinkertrain

Senior Member

407 posts
Apr 4, 2010 9:43 PM
There is more too Denard getting the reps with the ones than just wanting to get him extra rep's. You dont take reps away from a young qb who needs them just as badly unless the other young qb is excelling and earning them.

As far as Devin goes I too wish he would red shirt but that is just not going to happen. He will play this season but how much is anyones guess.
Apr 4, 2010 9:43pm
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WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
Apr 5, 2010 12:10 AM
I'd be shocked if Tate was not the starter in Ann Arbor this season, regardless of your report. With the short clips of practive I've seen, I sure hope Devin is not in the mix this year. His throws were terrible.
Apr 5, 2010 12:10am
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OldDanTucker

Senior Member

283 posts
Apr 5, 2010 9:15 AM
It's basicly a 2 man competition between Denard and Tate for this season. Devin will get some mop up duty
Apr 5, 2010 9:15am
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Tinkertrain

Senior Member

407 posts
Apr 5, 2010 12:43 PM
Watching the latest highlights from spring ball on mgoblue Denard looks VERY good and brings something to the table that Tate does not. Denard is a true dual threat QB where as Tate is more of a athletic qb whos strong suit is throwing the ball. Alot of people forget that tate had the advantage of having a full spring last year to learn the offense. Denard showed up in August and did not get the extra time to learn the offense like Tate did. If Denard can improve his understanding of the offense and his ability to read a defense he will almost certainly be the starter this season. Simply put the offense is much more dynamic with Denard in the game because of his ability to run the ball.

Do not write Devin off for this year either he will play and as his understanding of the offense and the game in general grow he will make it harder and harder for RR to not play him.
Apr 5, 2010 12:43pm
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bigkahuna

Senior Member

4,454 posts
Apr 5, 2010 12:54 PM
Who looks to be the main rb this year?

I know there is a stable of young talent back there, but is anyone standing out yet?
Apr 5, 2010 12:54pm
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OldDanTucker

Senior Member

283 posts
Apr 5, 2010 7:51 PM
bigkahuna wrote: Who looks to be the main rb this year?

I know there is a stable of young talent back there, but is anyone standing out yet?
They all have looked solid but no1 is breaking away.....its basicly Vincent Smiths job to lose but we wont know until the start of the season if he will be ready to go
Apr 5, 2010 7:51pm
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bigkahuna

Senior Member

4,454 posts
Apr 5, 2010 10:19 PM
That is kind of what I figured, but I haven't been keeping as close an eye as some of you have.
Apr 5, 2010 10:19pm
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devil1197

Senior Member

6,220 posts
Apr 6, 2010 12:39 PM
Honestly think that Gardner should be given a RS this season.

Although UM will be improved, I am not sure their defense will be that good to keep them in games while a young FR QB is leading the offense. I'd much rather take my chances with Tate or Denard running the offense with at least some B10 experience.

Similar to OSU when Pryor was thrown into the fire. OSU had a good defense to keep them in games while Pryor and the offense struggled at times.
Apr 6, 2010 12:39pm
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ksig489

Senior Member

943 posts
Apr 6, 2010 1:15 PM
As much as I love Michigan football and cant wait to see Denard get more time...if I hear the "shoelace" story one more time I will shoot my 50 inch TV!
Apr 6, 2010 1:15pm
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se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Apr 6, 2010 2:50 PM
Denard will have to improve drastically to be the starting QB when the season opens. He didn't show the ability to be a QB at all last year. He was a terrible passer, and couldn't even run the zone read offense. I thing UM will be better off to put it in the hands of Forcier.
Apr 6, 2010 2:50pm
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darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
Apr 7, 2010 8:58 AM
and Michigan Stilll Sucks.
Apr 7, 2010 8:58am
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Tinkertrain

Senior Member

407 posts
Apr 7, 2010 1:46 PM
se-alum wrote: Denard will have to improve drastically to be the starting QB when the season opens. He didn't show the ability to be a QB at all last year. He was a terrible passer, and couldn't even run the zone read offense. I thing UM will be better off to put it in the hands of Forcier.
Tate wasnt any better at the zone read and a sizeable portion of Denard's int's and poor throws were the fault of the WR's. For example at the end of the Iowa game the INT was not Denard's fault. The wr cut off his route and left Denard out to dry. Denard put the ball exactly where he was supposed too but the WR did not run the right route.

It's kind of comical to watch people just assume that a sophmore qb with elite athletic ability, a rocket arm and a strong desire to improve cannot radically improve over the course of the offseason. This is a kid who didnt get the benefit of spring ball last year and was given a limited offensive package to learn last season so that they could get him and his incredible ability on the field.

Make no mistake about it Denard is getting more snaps than tate with the 1's than tate for a reason. He's out performing Forcier both on and off the practice field. If Tate wants to keep his starting job he's going to have to learn to play within the offense and bust his butt in the film room. Truthfully the best thing that could happen for Tate is that he does get beaten out by Denard or Devin because it will get that attitude of his under check.
Apr 7, 2010 1:46pm
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ksig489

Senior Member

943 posts
Apr 8, 2010 11:58 AM
Forcier's biggest problem was that he started to believe in the hype was getting early on. He then became his biggest fan and the wheels fell off from there.
Apr 8, 2010 11:58am
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derek bomar

Senior Member

3,722 posts
Apr 8, 2010 2:34 PM
darbypitcher22 wrote: and Michigan Stilll Sucks.
+1
Apr 8, 2010 2:34pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Apr 8, 2010 5:42 PM
ksig489 wrote: Forcier's biggest problem was that he started to believe in the hype was getting early on. He then became his biggest fan and the wheels fell off from there.
thats a good point. mostly because they beat notre dame, who is overrated in the opening season polls every year. hell, i even heard michigan fans claim they would win the big 10 after the beat them..we all know how that turned out.
Apr 8, 2010 5:42pm
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ksig489

Senior Member

943 posts
Apr 9, 2010 11:47 AM
As much as OSU fans refuse to admit it...Michigan didnt play too bad against them and actually may have been in the game had it not been for Forcier throwing beautiful passes right to OSU defenders. Didnt he have like 5 giveaways that game? 5 INTs and a fumble?
Apr 9, 2010 11:47am
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bigkahuna

Senior Member

4,454 posts
Apr 9, 2010 1:32 PM
Yes and If I remember correctly, 2 happened well into OSU territory. I think one (if not both) was even in the redzone.
Apr 9, 2010 1:32pm
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Thunder70

Senior Member

748 posts
Apr 9, 2010 2:17 PM
And i'm sure OSU's defense had nothing to do with those...
Apr 9, 2010 2:17pm
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devil1197

Senior Member

6,220 posts
Apr 9, 2010 3:01 PM
ksig489 wrote: As much as OSU fans refuse to admit it...Michigan didnt play too bad against them and actually may have been in the game had it not been for Forcier throwing beautiful passes right to OSU defenders. Didnt he have like 5 giveaways that game? 5 INTs and a fumble?
Who do you think caused all those turnovers?

Torrence baited Forcier for one INT, Coleman had a great INT down field, our DL blew up UM to create the fumble etc.
Apr 9, 2010 3:01pm