- The Quarterback Play: I call the duo of Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson: FedEx. Because one can deliver through the air the other on the ground. These two true freshman have been outstanding in Michigan 3 wins this season. Tate was un-flabable in the high pressure ND game and Denard has looked un-stoppable running the ball at times against Western and Eastern Michigan. We know they are both still freshman and will make "freshman mistakes" but this is a huge upgrade from last year. Huge!
- The Half Time Adjustments: One of my biggest complaints against the Carr era was they never seemed to make any decent half time adjustments on either side of the ball. It was always about out executing your opponent and not making the proper adjustments to the game plan. Michigan's best examples of half time adjustments came against ND and EMU. The ND defense had a weakness against the run, Michigan played power football to get back in to the game in the third quarter. Also in the ND game, the Michigan D was not getting enough pressure on "Jimmy". After the half they blitzed and forced "Jimmy" into some bad throws. EMU was within 7 points of Michigan at half time due to a power running game against the Michigan defense (it looked like the Michigan D had a game plan to go against a spread team). Michigan secured up the D and shut out the Eagles in the second half.
- The Youth: Everywhere you look on the Michigan roster you see freshman and sophomores. When these guys become junior and seniors. Look out!
- The Running Backs: Many have wondered what Michigan was going to do at running back after seniors Minor and Brown leave after the season. How does this sound? Mike Shaw, Vincent Smith, Mike Cox, will be redshirt freshman Fitzgerald Toussaint, and true freshman in 2010 Austin White. Michigan looks to be in good shape. Brown = Shaw and Minor = Cox.
- The Team: This team is all on the same page and playing like a close knit unit. Insert your "overworked" joke here, but say what you will, during the off season this team worked hard and came together. I know RR and staff believe Michigan will play better in the second half of games because they have the better conditioned athletes. BTW: The Big House has been rocking this year. Whether it's the new luxury boxes keeping the sound in, the new music, or the new tradition of the players going to the student section after the game there is nothing but excitement and fun at the Big House these days.
Other News and Notes:
- Sad news for the EMU Eagles: Senior quarterback and offensive captain Andy Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns) will be lost for the remainder of the 2009 season with a knee injury that will require surgery.
- The Michigan staff is expecting 5-6 players from the 2010 class to enroll early.
- PITT changes from Nike to Adidas
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