AP #5 preseason.

[johnny2x2x]

https://mobile.twitter.com/AP_Top25

Seems about right. Not sure why we're behind Baylor, but if we beat Oregon I am sure we'll jump them.

A couple teams lose and we could be looking at 1 vs 2 when we play Ohio State.

 

[Sbee]

We should be favorites in every game up until osu, could be epic

 

[Spartan23MSU]

Oregon win will put as at a solid 5. Hard to imagine OSU not going undefeated but it is certainly possible. I wonder how we will fare at CB, I honestly dont know much about the other guys than Hicks being hot and cold. I think were going to be heavily tested there. If we dont play the "lets hold on and win" type football and aggressive from start to finish there is no reason we should not beat Oregon.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

I'm worried about the young backs when everyone else seems to be sold on whoever the guy ends up being. We haven't had a problem with backs fumbling the ball in many years, but with young guys back there that is always an issue.
I think that there is a lot of talent and speed at the CB position and I trust Barnett to get all the guys ready for the season.

Going to Ohio State undefeated would be pretty epic.

 

[johnny2x2x]

I'm worried about the young backs when everyone else seems to be sold on whoever the guy ends up being. We haven't had a problem with backs fumbling the ball in many years, but with young guys back there that is always an issue.
I think that there is a lot of talent and speed at the CB position and I trust Barnett to get all the guys ready for the season.

Going to Ohio State undefeated would be pretty epic.

I am more worried about pass protection. Williams has decent ball security, Holmes seems to secure the ball, not sure about London (he will be our starter), and Scott supposedly didn't fumble his last 2 years of high school. But London has reportedly struggled in pass pro in practice.

With the O line being what it is, I think we're going to have a great running game.

Think about this, we were up 27-18 at Oregon with Langford hobbled, Brian Allen starting as a true freshman, in 120 degree heat on the field, when we had Matriota sacked, he escaped an made a play and then we ran out of gas in the heat. We were that close, this team will be ready for Oregon at SS.

 

[Sbee]

I see us going 11-1 losing at osu by 10, out the the playoff, maybe 5-6 in final rankings.

I think last year was our chance to beat osu and make the playoffs, they were young and the game was in EL. That jack allen hold was a killer. I don't think we would have beaten Bama but we would have made the cfp.

 

[tomdalton22]

I'm worried about the young backs when everyone else seems to be sold on whoever the guy ends up being. We haven't had a problem with backs fumbling the ball in many years, but with young guys back there that is always an issue.
I think that there is a lot of talent and speed at the CB position and I trust Barnett to get all the guys ready for the season.

Going to Ohio State undefeated would be pretty epic.

With all of the hype for OSU this year...I have a feeling that neither team will be undefeated come Nov 21

 

[Spartanmack]

With all of the hype for OSU this year...I have a feeling that neither team will be undefeated come Nov 21

just curious who you think might beat OSU - or more likely, who they might lay an egg against? I think they'll be undefeated simply because of their schedule - they're head and shoulders above everyone else to that point. Don't think there's any way they don't crush VT so to me, that leaves PSU in columbus as the only real chance which I don't see happening. They did almost lose to Purdue at home a couple years ago but that was a different team.

 

[johnny2x2x]

just curious who you think might beat OSU - or more likely, who they might lay an egg against? I think they'll be undefeated simply because of their schedule - they're head and shoulders above everyone else to that point. Don't think there's any way they don't crush VT so to me, that leaves PSU in columbus as the only real chance which I don't see happening. They did almost lose to Purdue at home a couple years ago but that was a different team.

Well, VT beat them last year, and Ohio State is going to be down several players that game due to suspension including Bosa. But I still think Ohio State smokes them.

 

[Spartanmack]

Well, VT beat them last year, and Ohio State is going to be down several players that game due to suspension including Bosa. But I still think Ohio State smokes them.

Agreed. The fact that VT is their only blemish last year is why I think OSU crushes them. Their fortunes diverged dramatically since that game and had it been played in late October or November the outcome would have likely been very different - like MSU/nd in 2013. Even with the suspensions, I think OSU rolls - they could give the ball to Elliot every play and tell VT they're giving the ball to elliot on every play and still pound them. I think Bosa is good but overrated and it's goign to hurt to lose 3 guys on offense that touch the ball but Miller will be the best athlete on the field, they'll have a solid QB and as I mentioned, Elliot and their o-line should have a field day.

 

[tomdalton22]

just curious who you think might beat OSU - or more likely, who they might lay an egg against? I think they'll be undefeated simply because of their schedule - they're head and shoulders above everyone else to that point. Don't think there's any way they don't crush VT so to me, that leaves PSU in columbus as the only real chance which I don't see happening. They did almost lose to Purdue at home a couple years ago but that was a different team.

I have no idea...but it seems to happen almost every year. A team is supposed to be head and shoulders better than everyone else and they lay an egg somewhere.

 

[jwlcosu]

Agreed. The fact that VT is their only blemish last year is why I think OSU crushes them. Their fortunes diverged dramatically since that game and had it been played in late October or November the outcome would have likely been very different - like MSU/nd in 2013. Even with the suspensions, I think OSU rolls - they could give the ball to Elliot every play and tell VT they're giving the ball to elliot on every play and still pound them. I think Bosa is good but overrated and it's goign to hurt to lose 3 guys on offense that touch the ball but Miller will be the best athlete on the field, they'll have a solid QB and as I mentioned, Elliot and their o-line should have a field day.

We'll learn a lot about the Buckeyes on Sept 7. Pretty much unprecedented hype may be their greatest opponent this year. If they feel the pressure I can see them laying that egg against VT. If they come out and torch the Hokies, on the other hand, the hype is real. Playing Penn State in Columbus will not be a problem. PSU has a terrible record in The Shoe and that's not going to change this year. MSU battle will be tough but playing in front of the home crowd gives the edge to Bucks. Then it's on to Ann Arbor and while Bucks will be favored, that game will be brutal.

 

[Spartan23MSU]

We'll learn a lot about the Buckeyes on Sept 7. Pretty much unprecedented hype may be their greatest opponent this year. If they feel the pressure I can see them laying that egg against VT. If they come out and torch the Hokies, on the other hand, the hype is real. Playing Penn State in Columbus will not be a problem. PSU has a terrible record in The Shoe and that's not going to change this year. MSU battle will be tough but playing in front of the home crowd gives the edge to Bucks. Then it's on to Ann Arbor and while Bucks will be favored, that game will be brutal

Brutal for michigan

 

[Spartanmack]

We'll learn a lot about the Buckeyes on Sept 7. Pretty much unprecedented hype may be their greatest opponent this year. If they feel the pressure I can see them laying that egg against VT. If they come out and torch the Hokies, on the other hand, the hype is real. Playing Penn State in Columbus will not be a problem. PSU has a terrible record in The Shoe and that's not going to change this year. MSU battle will be tough but playing in front of the home crowd gives the edge to Bucks. Then it's on to Ann Arbor and while Bucks will be favored, that game will be brutal.

I agree that losing to VT would be telling but I don't think pimp slapping the Hokies will be a validation of anything - they're a bad football team. 3-5 in ACC play including a 6-3 double OT loss at Wake Forest. In order to lose that game the Buckeyes would have to do something unprecedentedly stupid - like a bunch of players see how stoned they can get and still beat them. Well, maybe that's not unprecedented but you get my drift...

 

[jwlcosu]

In order to lose that game the Buckeyes would have to do something unprecedentedly stupid - like a bunch of players see how stoned they can get and still beat them. Well, maybe that's not unprecedented but you get my drift...

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Are you saying that's happened before?

 

[Spartanmack]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Are you saying that's happened before?

Kinda seems like that what I'm saying, doesn't it?

 

[johnny2x2x]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Are you saying that's happened before?

He's referring to the UM-App State game where this is exactly what was reported to have happened.

 

[Spartanmack]

I was going to drag it out a little longer - slow day here - but Johnny is correct, I was referring to statements made by a former uofm football player involved in the scandal. I believe it was initially revealed in an article that was a preview for a book but I'm not sure if the book ever got published and I don't recall if the author's name (or other players involved) was ever made public. If I recall correctly, the preview indicated that the players involved saw significant playing time.

 

[Spartanmack]

Here's a good link:

http://www.chatsports.com/michigan-...-was-stoned-during-Appalachian-State-loss-614

 

[Michchamp]

Here's a good link:

http://www.chatsports.com/michigan-...-was-stoned-during-Appalachian-State-loss-614

We all read that story... a lot of people questioned it, and for good reason, but for what it's worth, the play on the field seemed to confirm it's authenticity.

I think this was either Mario Manningham or Adrian Arrington:

"The next day, (game day), one offensive player in particular was the ringleader and was messing around trying to convince all the other guys that we could beat these guys stoned and how crazy it would be to be all messed up and still 'drop 50 on these fools'"
​

I think this was Johnny Sears, who got smoked (no pun intended) repeatedly in coverage; Carr booted him from the team two weeks later:

From what I saw and was told afterwards, six defensive starters and three offensive starters smoked up that morning. One guy in particular who I know did is the one who made the biggest error of the game and cost us a chance to win. I wonder why..."
​

"the biggest error in the game" though could've also been the missed assignment on the final blocked kick. I forget who was to blame for that.