http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070731/UPDATE/707310410&imw=Y


Media pick U-M to win Big Ten

Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

CHICAGO -- Michigan is the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten as determined by media members attending the two-day league meetings that began Tuesday.

Wisconsin is projected to finish second, while defending Big Ten champion Ohio State was voted third. The Big Ten only releases a top-three preseason poll.

Mike Hart, Michigan's senior tailback, has been voted preseason offensive player of the year, while Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis, winner of theNagurski Trophy last year, was named preseason defensive player of the year.

Hart rushed for 1,562 yards last season and scored 14 touchdowns. Laurinaitis led the Buckeyes with 115 tackles, including four sacks, and five interceptions during his sophomore year.

The Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the nation's best defensive player, in voting by members of the media.

When do the coaches vote?

I don't know. In order to actually be the offensive POY, the coaches will have to feed him the ball too much, bringing criticism on the coaches for years to come.

I sure as hell hope they picked Michigan. The BT is going to suck this year. I see Michigan as the 5-8th best team in the country with questions on D. However, they have the best setup to breeze into the NC game. I really only see two even possible losses at Wisc. and Oregon at home.

Keys to UM success this year:

1 - don't overlook any opponent. Take very game seriously and put the nails in the respective coffins.

2 - Open up the offense to take full advantage of the talent and experience there. Don't go chicken crap and just roll out some vanilla crap thinking you can win simply because it says to on paper.

3 - Pressure the opposing QB. Guys like Jaimson, Taylor, Graham and Crable need to step up and make sure QB's don't have time to pick apart a secondary that will struggle. When Morgan Trent is your #1 CB, it could be a long season. Hopefully Donovan Warren can make a big impact early.

4 - Avoid the big play. UM has a history of allowing huge plays. Whether it's the sideline pass that goes for 70 or the untouched run up the middle that goes 50-60, these plays have killed the team before.

If the team can do those things they certainly have a shot to run the table. There is enough experienced talent on D that they can hopefully mask the few major holes. The offense simply needs to be the offense. Hang on to the ball, convert on 3rd down, hit the big play when it's there.

UM needs better safety play. They get that and they can run the schedule.

Keys to UM success this year:

1 - don't overlook any opponent. Take very game seriously and put the nails in the respective coffins.

2 - Open up the offense to take full advantage of the talent and experience there. Don't go chicken crap and just roll out some vanilla crap thinking you can win simply because it says to on paper.

3 - Pressure the opposing QB. Guys like Jaimson, Taylor, Graham and Crable need to step up and make sure QB's don't have time to pick apart a secondary that will struggle. When Morgan Trent is your #1 CB, it could be a long season. Hopefully Donovan Warren can make a big impact early.

4 - Avoid the big play. UM has a history of allowing huge plays. Whether it's the sideline pass that goes for 70 or the untouched run up the middle that goes 50-60, these plays have killed the team before.

If the team can do those things they certainly have a shot to run the table. There is enough experienced talent on D that they can hopefully mask the few major holes. The offense simply needs to be the offense. Hang on to the ball, convert on 3rd down, hit the big play when it's there.

Agree and DONT be pre-season favorites. They do better when they start the season about 10 or so.

Forget BT, let's throw some Jethro expectations out there. This team MUST win the NC and follow it with another under Mallet next year or they will be a huge disappointment. haha-sorry had to go there Jethro

Right, because they had three straight top 5 recruiting classes, right?

You already know I'll be pissed if they don't win every game, whether that's realistic or not. Who knows, given the talent on the 7-5 team, maybe that was Lloyd's "best coaching job ever". Touche.

By the way, according to rivals rankings UM has only had 1 top 5 class in the past 6 years, and that was the #5 class in 2004. For the players that didn't redshirt or leave early, this is the senior year for cats in that class. Henne was the lone 5 star of the group.

Right, because they had three straight top 5 recruiting classes, right?

You already know I'll be pissed if they don't win every game, whether that's realistic or not. Who knows, given the talent on the 7-5 team, maybe that was Lloyd's "best coaching job ever". Touche.

MSU was picked to be the first team from the BT left out of the tourney in three different publications last year. They were picked to finish behind Michigan and Michigan was picked to make the tourney-finally. March came and MSU advanced to the second round while Michigan with more talent was ousted from the NIT. If you can't see a great coaching job, I can't help you. Izzo was praised for his effort by many sportwriters and many ESPN analysts. Mock all you want.

Which is more ridiculous? Best coaching effort or you must win 2 National Titles in a row or the class is a failure?

Some guys just can't take a joke when someone else is trying to play their game.

Here are some tidbits about UM's roster for the upcoming season.

Will he or won't he?

It has not yet been determined whether Michigan tight end Carson Butler , who has been cleared of assault charges against a university student stemming from an incident last March, will rejoin the team.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr dismissed Butler and teammate Chris Richards last spring after the incident. Richards was convicted of assault and was sentenced to six months probation earlier this week.

Carr said he's having a second meeting with Butler at the end of this week to determine his future. Carr said he wants to determine Butler's commitment to the team.

"Those are some of the issues we have to discuss, and I want to make sure that it's the right thing for our team, first of all, and for Carson, second of all," Carr said. "I've got to make sure of that, as sure as I can be, so part of that will be dependent upon what his responses are."

Butler has not been allowed to workout with the team.

U-M roster issues

Fullback Quintin Patilla is not on the current roster, but Carr said he's expected to report to training camp next week.

Defensive tackle James McKinney has a medical issue and is not on the fall roster.

"I can't really speak to that, other than to say we're hoping that he can get his health back to where it needs to be," Carr said.

Linebacker Cobrani Mixon has transferred to Kent State, according to a news release from that school early last month, and offensive lineman Justin Schifano has decided to no longer play football.

A noticeable appearance on the roster is defensive tackle Marques Slocum , who has battled academic issues to make the team. Slocum attended Milford (N.Y.) Academy prep school in 2005 and paid his way to attend Michigan last year.

"Marques has not had an easy road here," Carr said. "What he had to go through and pay his way I'm hoping he'll be able to realize the dreams he's been seeking."

Slocum, a redshirt freshman, has a class left. "So I can't say he's cleared, but I expect him to be," Carr said.

U-M personnel issues

Justin Boren essentially has secured the starting job at center, Carr said. And while the left side of the offensive line is set with tackle Jake Long and guard Adam Kraus , the right side still is undetermined.

"We've got to sort those out," Carr said.

Carr praised linebacker Obi Ezeh , who will play inside this fall after distinguishing himself during spring drills.

Meanwhile, receiver Mario Manningham had some physical "issues" early in the summer, Carr said, but he has conditioned well.

"He did some things late in the summer that our players -- he can make everybody stop and say, 'Wow,'" Carr said.


http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070801/SPORTS0202/708010397/1131

There is MSU stuff in that article as well, but I didn't paste it in there because I didn't bother reading it. Yeah, I'm a jerk. If a State fan reads it and finds it relevant to the thread, by all means post it.

Mallett solid No. 2

Freshman has all but locked up job as backup QB
Tuesday, August 07, 2007BY JOHN HEUSER
News Sports Reporter


As Michigan's three weeks of training camp practices begin today, there's no doubt senior Chad Henne will be the starting quarterback.
There also seems to be little question that Ryan Mallett will be Henne's backup.
A true freshman who arrived in Ann Arbor in January to jump-start his career, Mallett appears to have done just that. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said at Monday's media day that Mallett has all but locked up the No. 2 job.

"I hope that the opportunities will present themselves to get Ryan some (game) experience,'' Carr said. "I think it's good for his development. It puts us in a position as a team that if something happens (to Henne), he can call upon whatever experience he's been able to gain.
For his part, Mallett, a 6-foot-6-inch Texan, said he's not taking anything for granted as camp gets started.
"Just keeping working hard and never be satisfied,'' he said. "You can never be satisfied at our position.''
To win the No. 2 spot, Mallett beat out Jason Forcier, who has since transferred to Stanford, and David Cone, a redshirt freshman. Carr said that, on the whole, he feels good about the depth at the position.

So......does that mean he'll throw maybe 25 passes this season?

By the way, commenting on the quotes I posted previously, I really hope Carson Butler can get his head right and get back on this team. He has all the physical abilities to be a stud TE for this team and someone guys like Koger and Moore could learn a lot from (on the field - stay the hell away from them off the field)