The Wolverine Blog Ballot – Week 2

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Ohio St. Buckeyes	–
2	Boise St. Broncos	4
3	Oregon Ducks	–
4	Alabama Crimson Tide	–
5	Texas Longhorns	–
6	TCU Horned Frogs	3
7	Florida Gators	-5
8	Nebraska Cornhuskers	3
9	Wisconsin Badgers	1
10	Miami Hurricanes	2
11	Virginia Tech Hokies	-3
12	Iowa Hawkeyes	2
13	Utah Utes	–
14	Arkansas Razorbacks	2
15	Florida St. Seminoles	2
16	Penn St. Nittany Lions	4
17	Arizona Wildcats	–
18	Oklahoma Sooners	-11
19	USC Trojans	-6
20	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	1
21	West Virginia Mountaineers	4
22	Georgia Bulldogs	–
23	Auburn Tigers	–
24	LSU Tigers	-1
25	Michigan Wolverines	–
Dropouts: Pittsburgh Panthers, North Carolina Tar Heels, Missouri Tigers, Connecticut Huskies, Oregon St. Beavers

SB Nation BlogPoll College Football Top 25 Rankings »

I was tempted to throw in Notre Dame in the last spot for reverse jinxing purposes, but frankly their victory over Purdue was not as convincing as the Wolverines’ win over a UConn team that I believe is better than the Boilermakers.

Moving Down: Florida, as mentioned, moves down to No. 7 after finishing dead-even in total yards with the wrong Miami to have those type of stats against. If it wasn’t for four RedHawk turnovers, we could be talking about Florida exiting the poll entirely (in fairness, Florida coughed up three turnovers of their own, but that isn’t exactly a good thing either).

Virginia Tech drops down to No. 11 after their loss, but I still believe they’re one of the better teams in the country, which is why you see an 0-1 squad hanging just outside the top ten. Meanwhile, Oklahoma and USC both drop precipitously after very uninspiring Week 1 victories against Utah State and Hawaii, respectively. The Sooners outgained Utah State, a perennial WAC doormat who finished 4-8 last season, by a mere one yard. That’s better than what the Trojans can say after giving up 588 yards to Hawaii — USC finished with 524 yards themselves, but that defense does not look good.

LSU drops a spot, and nearly exits the poll entirely, after eking out a 30-24 win over No. 18 North Carolina, which would be impressive if (1) they weren’t outgained by over 100 yards and (2) UNC wasn’t missing over half their starting defense and a couple key starters on offense due to suspension.

Every team that dropped out of the poll lost except for Missouri, who had to rally from a ten-point halftime deficit to beat Ron Zook’s Illinois squad, 23-13. Rivalry game or not, that’s just not a good way to start the season.

As I said earlier, critiques and comments are welcome, but keep in mind that the poll locks in tomorrow morning — I’ll do by best to make major changes if needed before the poll goes official, but unless something is really off expect this to be my final poll this week.

J.T. Floyd came up with a huge play when he forced UConn's D.J. Shoemate to fumble near the goal line.

I still haven’t had the chance to re-watch the game in its entirety, but I have watched the highlights and most of the offensive plays, so here are my initial impressions from what I saw in Michigan Stadium on Saturday:

• I was unbelievably impressed with the blocking for Michigan, especially down the field. Check out Vincent Smith’s second touchdown (at the 2:34 mark of this clip) and watch as Martavious Odoms seals off the corner on the outside, tackle Mark Huyge manages to get all the way around the safety and keep him stuck inside, and Stephen Schilling leads Smith down to the goal line in case anyone else needs to be blocked. It was like that all day — great blocking up front from the linemen, and critical blocks from receivers, running backs, and linemen on the second level to spring big plays. There were some issues with run plays getting blown up when the tackles got beat off the edge, but it’s tough to complain about the blocking with the day they had.
• Vincent Smith and Michael Shaw both looked good running the football — Shaw’s 10-yard loss notwithstanding — and they seem to complement each other well. Shaw brings the speed, while Smith is a more aggressive, north-south runner and a great receiver out of the backfield, and both block well. Even though Rich Rodriguez said the team would play 3-4 running backs, those two saw every meaningful snap, and I’m completely fine with that. Smith could become a major weapon in this offense with his ability to catch and run — we could see a lot of plays like his second touchdown on Saturday, where a screen opens up and all he has to do is secure the ball and make a beeline for the end zone.
• Even though nobody stood out as having a stellar day in the group, I liked what I saw out of the receivers — the quarterback doesn’t go 19-22 unless the guys he’s throwing it to are catching everything they can, and that’s what the Wolverine receivers did on a very windy day in Michigan Stadium. Seeing Darryl Stonum haul in five catches is a great sign, especially if he can start stretching the field in future weeks. Kevin Koger looked like the big-play tight end we expected him to be after the first half of 2009, finding holes in the UConn zone and catching three passes for 30 yards. Odoms and Terrence Robinson both had big plays in critical situations. Only Kelvin Grady somewhat disappointed me — he had three catches for 17 yards, but I think he missed some holes that could have turned a couple short catches into big yardage. He should bounce back, however, and he will need to with Roy Roundtree almost certainly out for the Notre Dame game.
• As for the defense, I was impressed with the play up front. Even though UConn tailback Jordan Todman broke 100 yards rushing, many of those came after the game was well in hand, and the team did a great job of limiting yards after contact. Although the team did not manage to record a sack, Craig Roh and Mike Martin both consistently beat their blockers and got into the backfield, and Jonas Mouton looked very good on the blitz. Ryan Van Bergen made his presence known by chasing down a screen and making a tackle on the sideline for a minimal gain, a play that shows off his versatility and athleticism. Obi Ezeh recovered a fumble (luck, I know, but it’s still a good play) and didn’t catch my attention for doing anything horribly wrong — after last year, I’m happy with that.
• The secondary may not have been tested too much by an inaccurate quarterback and some butter-fingered receivers, but they tackled very well and didn’t give up any big plays besides one very lucky 47-yard bobble-and-catch. It’s really tough to assess the play of the corners on a day where the team played mostly zone and the opposing quarterback struggled with his accuracy, but any day where I can’t single out a defensive back for poor play is a good one. I was really impressed by the tackling — Cam and Thomas Gordon both hit very hard, James Rogers had some nice tackles, and J.T. Floyd came through with possibly the biggest play of the game when he got his helmet on the football and forced a fumble near the goal line. We still don’t know how this unit will hold up in pass coverage against a good passing team, but if they can tackle like they did Saturday to keep yards gained after the catch to a minimum, that will be a very good sign.
• Special teams was a bit of an adventure, but I think those issues will be ironed out with game experience. Drew Dileo was forced into holding when Jared Van Slyke went down with an injury, and he had some issues that led to a missed extra point and possibly the missed field goal as well (though the wind certainly played a big factor in that as well) — with more practice, that shouldn’t be a problem going forward. Jeremy Gallon will be told to never again run 25 yards and lay out to try to field a punt. Terrence Robinson hopefully won’t lose his footing again on a kick return. Will Hagerup’s only punt didn’t look pretty, but it went 51 yards into the wind — he’ll be just fine. The jury is still out on kicker Brendan Gibbons, but at least he nailed his short field goal attempt and hit all the extra points he had a chance at.

In short, this was a great all-around performance from a team that was expected to have to simply out-gun teams in order to pull out victories. We’ll have to wait and see if UConn is as good a team as they were hyped up to be in the preseason, but I think it’s safe to say that this was much more impressive than waxing Western Michigan to kick off last season.

It’s also worth noting that Shoelace took home both the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week awards. From the school’s press release:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Fresh off his record-setting performance in U-M’s 30-10 season-opening victory over Connecticut on Saturday (Sept. 4), sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach HS) of the University of Michigan football team earned both national and conference Player of the Week. Robinson was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week Sunday (Sept. 5) and picked up Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Monday (Sept. 6).

Robinson played in all 12 games last season as a true freshman but earned the start against the Huskies and delivered some record-breaking results. He rushed for 197 yards on 29 carries and scored one rushing touchdown on a 32-yard scamper in the second quarter against the Huskies. His rushing total is the most ever by a Michigan quarterback and the sixth-most rushing yards by a signal caller in Big Ten history.

The dual-threat ability of Robinson showed in the opener, as he completed 19-of-22 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown. His completion percentage of 86.3 is the second-highest in school history, trailing only the 20-of-22 (90.9 percent) passing performance by Elvis Grbac against Notre Dame on Sept. 14, 1991.

Robinson racked up 383 total yards, giving him the school’s all-time record for total offense in a game. He broke the previous mark of 368 yards attained by John Navarre at Iowa on Oct. 4, 2003.

Not a bad start to the 2010 season, right?

• Freshman spur Carvin Johnson is very doubtful with a sprained MCL, suffered on UConn’s goal-line touchdown run. Considering how bad the injury first looked, this isn’t terrible news, although it makes the Michigan secondary that much thinner. Thomas Gordon and Floyd Simmons will see the majority of Johnson’s snaps until he’s healthy.
• Slot receiver Roy Roundtree suffered “internal bruising” after taking a huge hit in the third quarter against the Huskies, and he is also doubtful for Saturday. Kelvin Grady and Terrence Robinson should both see more time if Roundtree can’t go this weekend.
• Outside receiver Junior Hemingway should be able to go after missing the UConn game with a hamstring injury, but the coaches won’t know for certain until later this week.
• Backup free safety Jared Van Slyke (clavicle) is out for the season. This also hurts the depth in the secondary, but may have a bigger effect on special teams, where Van Slyke was the starting holder on field goals and extra points. Drew Dileo had some issues holding in Van Slyke’s place on Saturday.
• Redshirt freshman running back Fitzgerald Toussaint may or may not be able to go this weekend with a lingering knee injury.

But, luckily, Dave Brandon’s evil genius only goes so far, and that really was Denard Robinson dismantling the UConn defense like he had accidentally left the difficulty on “Varsity” and could therefore do whatever the hell he pleased. At least, that’s what the papers keep telling me, and I’m inclined to believe them.

To watch a player go from connecting on just 14-of-31 passes for the entire 2009 season to systematically picking apart a Big East defense returning eight starters by not only out-running them, but accurately zinging passes downfield, is a sight to behold. There are no words to describe Denard Robinson’s performance on Saturday, because the English language doesn’t allow me to boil down “exceeded all expectations, both reasonable and unreasonable, while looking like evolutionary Pat White and leaving you standing agape at just how fast he plays, every time, even though you’ve already seen it 20+ times this game” into one word. In the future, we may refer to these type of performances as simply “Denard-like,” because even though it’s the first game and I’m trying my best not to get overly-optimistic, that’s just a dynamite football player unlike any we’ve ever seen don the Maize and Blue.

Of course, it wasn’t just Denard out there making plays. The offensive line gave an all-around stellar performance, giving Robinson time in the pocket and getting critical blocks up front and down the field to spring big run plays time and again. Vincent Smith and Michael Shaw did a nice job picking up yards when needed, and Smith especially looks like a solid threat both as a runner and receiver. The receivers caught everything that was catchable, which was practically everything, and they deserve credit for getting open and holding onto the ball — Denard, as far as we know, can’t throw the ball to himself.

And the defense? The unquestioned Achilles heel that was destined to turn every game into a shootout? They played a good, not great, game, which is better than anyone had hoped for and more than good enough with an offense that was moving the ball at will. Yes, there are some issues in the kicking game (namely, holding on field goals) that need to be worked out, and Notre Dame should be a more difficult test defensively, but for now, there’s no reason not to bask in a great victory and let some optimism creep in. There will certainly be bumps in the road, but it appears Michigan is on track to become Michigan again, under a coach whose system is finally being executed the way it was truly designed.

Get ready for Rich Rodriguez’s Virtual Reality Football, where quarterbacks warp downfield 15 yards at a time and crazy zone-read fake-screen passes turn into 43-yard gains when the entire opposing defense falls for the bluff. It should be a fun game.

Now, on to this Tate Forcier thing. AnnArbor.com’s Michael Rothstein quoted Forcier, who didn’t see a snap Saturday and spent much of the game sitting alone on the bench with a towel over his head, as saying the following as he left the field: “All you need to know is I’m out.” Rothstein goes on to essentially write a eulogy to Tate’s Michigan career, and boom — the transfer rumors that were debunked leading into the season are back, right?

Well, not exactly. MGoBlog’s TomVH, doing his due diligence as a reporter (yes, a reporter, and one who apparently has more inside connects than many who cover the team full-time), got on the phone with Mike Forcier, Tate’s father, who was adamant that his son got caught up in the heat of the moment and wasn’t going anywhere:

“As Tate’s father, and someone who would advise him, a transfer isn’t something I want to be a part of. Sometimes you think, man, do they want him there, but we don’t think that’s the situation. Rich Rodriguez has also been straight with us.”

“Tate knows Michigan is the biggest and best stage out there. I know he has mixed emotions, but this is in his blood.”

“He was feeling a little like a caged animal on the sidelines. He knew the cameras were on him, and that they were looking for an emotional reaction, so he was trying to hide his face with the towel. He was not pouting. The cameras kept prodding, and egging him on, so he got upset about it.”

…

“I talked to him after the game briefly, and I think we’re ok. All I want to do is think positive of this. Tomorrow is a new day for him.”

The AP’s Larry Lage also talked to the Mike Forcier, who added that it was a “150-percent fact” that Tate would say in Ann Arbor. Even though this clearly is a tough position for Forcier to be in, it sounds like he’ll at least stick it out this year, especially if his father has any say in the matter (and I’d be shocked if he didn’t).

Unfortunately, there’s still the issue of Tate’s sideline demeanor. I understand that he’s very disappointed at being the third quarterback (apparently) on the depth chart, but he has no one to blame but himself — Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner outworked him this summer, and that clearly made a big difference in the quarterback race. During the game, Michigan was firing on all cylinders and the rest of the team was standing and cheering for their teammates; Forcier, meanwhile, seemed more preoccupied with how he would be portrayed on TV.

Tate Forcier is a tremendously talented quarterback, and I’m 100% certain he could help this team out this year — there’s no way Denard Robinson plays close to all of the snaps this season if he’s carrying the ball 29 times a game (not that I expect that will continue, but he’ll still need a breather every once in a while). But Rich Rodriguez wants more than talent, he wants a leader, and I haven’t seen or heard much in the past few months to suggest that Tate is the type of leader Rodriguez wants from his quarterback, first-, second-, or third-string. Yesterday’s display only added to that notion.

I don’t want to pile onto a college kid who is still working very hard to see the field — Forcier would never have been that frustrated and disappointed had he not felt he had put in a lot of time and effort to get playing time this fall. All I will say is this: During the game, I saw Tate Forcier, who assumed all summer that he would start this fall at quarterback, let his emotions get the best of him and, in the process, become a big part of the story in a game in which he did not participate. As I said, I understand the frustration he must be feeling, but at some point these acts grow tiresome and take away from the team. For Tate, it’s time to make every effort to show he’s really a part of this team, and he didn’t do that yesterday. There’s still 11 games to go in the regular season, and we may all look back on this as another overblown distraction, but it appears Tate Foricer’s Michigan career is at a crossroads, and only he can choose which path he wants to take.

Be loud.

Usually, I will go into some football analysis every week, listing the five specific things I want to see in the upcoming game. This week, though, that list is short and simple:

1. A raucous crowd.
2. A victory.
3. A victory.
4. Any way we can get it, an effing victory.
5. A smile on RichRod’s face after the game.

That’s it. If the secondary is a disaster, I’ll deal with it. If the passing game is shaky, I’ll deal with it. If the linebackers don’t know what they’re doing, I’ll deal with it. As long as Michigan wins.

I’m officially past the point where I can do any sort of real thinking  — MGoBlog luckily has us all covered with an insanely exhaustive season and game preview. All I can think about is two flyovers and Brock Mealer and record-breaking attendance figures and touching the banner and a Michigan football game in the newly-renovated Big House and really, if I try to think about it any more, my brain will explode. So, I just got off the golf course, and I’m going to watch TV or a movie or something to make the time go by because it’s the Night Before Michigan Football and I’m done stressing about the upcoming season.

Tomorrow, there will be a game, and many of our questions will be answered. For now, I’m going to enjoy the excitement of anticipation, because, ultimately, it’s just a game, and more than anything else I’m happy it’s football season once again. Have a great weekend, and Go Blue.

With just one day left before the season, it’s time to round out my game-by-game predictions for 2010. So far, I have Michigan going 4-4 overall (1-3 Big Ten) with victories over UConn, UMass, Bowling Green, and Indiana:

Game Nine — Nov. 6: Illinois
Blog of Note: Hail to the Orange
2009: 3-9 overall, 2-6 Big Ten
Returning Starters: 12 (5 offense, 7 defense)

Breakdown: If anyone is feeling the hot seat as much as Rich Rodriguez right now, it’s Ron Zook, whose team has won a combined eight games in two seasons since making a surprising Rose Bowl run in 2007. Illinois might have a tough time even matching last season’s three victories after losing six offensive starters, including quarterback Juice Williams, receivers Arrelious Benn and Chris Duvalt, tight end Michael Hoomanawanui, and left tackle Jon Asamoah. Taking over for Williams at QB will be redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase, and the Illini may have to rely on tailbacks Mikel Leshoure (734 yards on 108 carries in 2009) and Jason Ford (294 yards and eight touchdowns) while Scheelhaase gets accustomed to playing at the collegiate level. Three starters return along the offensive line for the Illini.

The defense returns seven starters, but the unit will have to dramatically raise their level of play after the Illini allowed over 30 points and 400 yards per game last year. The linebackers should get a boost from the return of highly-touted junior Martez Wilson, who missed almost all of the 2009 season with a neck injury. Corey Liuget is a strong presence on the interior of the defensive line, but the loss of DT Josh Brent leaves a hole in the middle after entering the NFL supplemental draft when he faced academic issues. In the secondary, Illinois has two young staters returning at cornerback, but they’ll have to break in two new starters at safety.

At kicker, junior Derek Dimke returns after hitting 5-of-5 field goals when returning starter Matt Eller was benched for ineffectiveness. Eller is back as well, but Dimke remains at the top of the depth chart. Anthony Santella is back for his fourth season as the starting punter after averaging 41.3 yards per punt in 2009.

Key Matchup: Michigan’s ends & linebackers vs. Nathan Scheelhaase — Scheelhaase doesn’t have a game of collegiate experience under his belt, but he is a decent athlete who can move the sticks with his running ability. Facing an unproven quarterback and a depleted receiving corps, Michigan should look to contain Scheelhaase and force him to make the right decision with the football. Yes, Michigan’s secondary is a weak spot, but so is the Illini’s passing game — the last thing the Wolverines need is for the quarterback to run wild on them like Juice Williams has done the last two years.

Prediction: This should be Zook’s final year as Illinois coach as the team bottoms out without some of the top-level talent that kept them remotely competitive the last two seasons. Even against Michigan, this team looks very green and overmatched — Michigan 37, Illinois 17

Game Ten — Nov. 13: at Purdue
Blogs of Note: Boiled Sports, Hammer & Rails
2009: 5-7 overall, 4-4 Big Ten
Returning Starters: 12 (6 offense, 6 defense)

Breakdown: Purdue will feature their third starting quarterback in three years as Miami (FL) transfer Robert Marve, a former blue-chip prospect om 2007, takes over for Danny Hope’s squad. He will be missing one of the team’s top weapons, however, as running back Ralph Bolden will be out with a torn ACL suffered in the spring, leaving Purdue without a running back who carried the ball more than ten times in 2009. Marve does have one of the Big Ten’s top receivers returning in senior Keith Smith, who caught 91 passes for 1,100 yards and six touchdowns last fall, but he will have to throw from behind three new starters on the O-line.

On defense, the Boilermakers return six of their front seven, which will have to improve after Purdue finished 94th in the nation in rushing defense last year. They’ll be led by outside linebacker Joe Holland, who finished second on the team with 81 tackles last season, and defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, who tallied 13 sacks in 2009. The secondary is extremely inexperienced, however, with no starters returning and underclassmen dominating the two-deep. There could be a major dropoff after finishing 32nd in the country in pass efficiency defense last fall.

Kicker Carson Wiggs has a huge leg, which he displayed in hitting a 59-yard field goal in last year’s season opener, but he connected on just 14-of-21 attempts last season. Purdue will have to improve on their coverage units — they ranked 112th in the nation in kickoff return defense last season.

Key Matchup: Michigan’s passing game vs. Purdue’s secondary — We all expect that Michigan will be able to run the ball, but the real weakness for this Purdue squad is in the defensive backfield. No matter who is playing at quarterback by this point in the season, he should be able to pick apart this defense if the line gives him time to throw. If Michigan is moving the ball well through the air, this could be a blowout.

Prediction: Marve is an extremely talented player and a guy the Wolverine defense must respect, but Purdue is very thin at running back and their defense doesn’t look strong. Once again, Michigan should put enough points on the board to keep the defense from having the chance to blow the game — Michigan 34, Purdue 21

Game Eleven — Nov. 20: Wisconsin
Blogs of Note: Bucky’s 5th Quarter, On Wisconsin!
2009: 10-3 overall, 5-3 Big Ten, defeated Miami (FL) 20-14 in Champs Sports Bowl
Returning Starters: 16 (10 offense, 6 defense)

Breakdown: If Ohio State falters, Wisconsin could be next in line to win the Big Ten, especially with the return of ten starters from the conference’s top total, scoring, and rushing offense in 2009. Leading the way will be the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year  in  tailback John Clay, who will run behind one of the country’s best run-blocking offensive lines. Quarterback Scott Tolzien led the Big Ten in passing efficiency last season, and he has a lot of options when he drops back to pass — wideouts Nick Toon, Isaac Anderson, David Gilreath and Kyle Jefferson all return, and Lance Kendricks looked great when filling in for the departed Garrett Graham at tight end last season. This should be the best and most well-rounded offense in the Big Ten in 2010.

The biggest question mark surrounding Wisconsin will be how they replace three starters along the defensive line, especially first-team All-Big Ten defensive end O’Brien Schofield. The onus will fall on DE J.J. Watt, who posted 15.5 tackles for loss in ’09, to become the team’s top pass-rusher and anchor the line while the three new starters get their feet wet. The linebackers are led by sophomore Mike Taylor, who totaled a team-high 46 tackles in the first seven games last year before missing the rest of the year with an injury, and senior Culmer St. Jean, who tallied 63 tackles last year. Two proven starters return in the secondary in corner Devin Smith and strong safety Jay Valai, but the team will have to break in two new starters as well. If there’s a major weakness on this team, it will likely be the pass defense, especially if the pass rush drops off in the absence of Schofield.

Wisconsin boasts two of the best specialists in the league in kicker Philip Welch and punter Brad Nortman, both juniors, but the return game needs to step it up after a disappointing ’09 performance.

Key Matchup: Mike Martin vs. center Peter Konz and guard John Moffit — Even though Wisconsin can move the ball through the air, their break-and-butter is still smashmouth, run-it-down-your-throat football. Mike Martin will have to hold the point of attack at nose guard against Moffit, one of the best guards in the country, and Konz, a sophomore. Stopping John Clay is priority number one, and Michigan won’t be able to do that if Martin doesn’t have one of his better days as a Wolverine.

Prediction: Despite some concerns in the secondary, Wisconsin is still one of the most complete teams Michigan will play this year. I don’t see how this defense finds a way to stop the run game without opening it up for Tolzien and his stable of wideouts — Wisconsin 31, Michigan 20

Game Twelve — Nov. 27: at Ohio State
Blogs of Note: Eleven Warriors, Men of the Scarlet and Gray, Our Honor Defend
2009: 11-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten, defeated Oregon 26-17 in Rose Bowl
Returning Starters: 15 (10 offense, 5 defense)

Breakdown: Ohio State is loaded up this year for a run at the national title, and their offense could be one of the best in the country if Terrelle Pryor breaks out as a junior. Pryor, a preseason Heisman candidate, will be surrounded by experienced weapons. Running backs Brandon Saine and Boom Herron return, and they’ll be helped by the presence of highly-touted freshman Jamaal Berry, giving the Buckeyes a three-headed monster in the backfield. Receivers DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher return, as does tight end Jake Stoneburner, and four starters return on a talent-laded offensive line. This should be an explosive unit for the Buckeyes.

On defense, Ohio State has some big-time talent to replace, as defensive end Thaddeus Gibson, tackle Doug Worthington, and safeties Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell are all gone from the nation’s fifth-ranked scoring and total defense. There’s still a ton of talent, though, especially in defensive end Cameron Heyward, linebackers Ross Homan and Brian Rolle (the team’s top two tacklers last year), and cornerback Chimdi Chekwa. The defense could be susceptible at the back end, as they will have two new starters at safety, but expect the Buckeyes to once again boast a very strong defensive unit.

The Buckeyes must replace kicker Aaron Pettrey, but senior Devin Barclay appears very capable of taking over as the next Buckeye kicker who seemingly never misses, and sophomore Ben Buchanan takes over for Jon Thoma at punter.

Key Matchup: Michigan vs. pressure/expectations — The Wolverines may very well be playing for their head coach’s job in this game, and they’ll be facing a team that should be one of the very best in the country. Last year saw an overmatched squad hang in there against the Buckeyes, only to be done in by untimely turnovers. In a rivalry game this big, anything can happen (see: 1995 and 1996, for instance) — in a game where it appears OSU has the advantage in nearly every facet, much of this game will come down to the maturity of the team. If they can hang in there and believe, this could be a lot closer than people expect.

Prediction: Having said that, um, have you looked at Ohio State’s roster? Any expectations that Michigan will be able to go into the ‘Shoe and knock off the Buckeyes are, at this point, entirely unrealistic (though we can all dream, right?) — Ohio State 27, Michigan 13

Final Season Record: 6-6 overall, 3-5 Big Ten — hello, Little Caesars Pizza Bowl!

3:30 pm tomorrow simply can’t come soon enough.