The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/729750
OCTOBER 2016 THE WOLVERINE 5 FROM OUR READERS game at Rutgers. The losses of Connor Cook, Shilique Calhoun, Aaron Bur- bridge and Jack Allen from the team make it too much to expect for MSU to overcome for a win. Mark Dantonio is a good coach, and he has proven that the Spartans re- spond to his coaching. MSU has the advantage of home field this year, and the defense will be more than respect- able, but one has to figure that Michi- gan should prevail with the memory of the debacle ending last year. Maryland should prove interesting because of the coaching matchup of D.J. Durkin versus Jim Harbaugh, but Maryland will be a couple years in the rebuilding mode. Chalk up an easy win for Michigan on that one. Many feel that the real test for Michi- gan begins, not with Michigan State, but with Iowa in the night game in Iowa City. Over the years, I have al- ways dreaded Michigan playing Iowa at Kinnick Stadium, and this year will be no exception. However, as a Blue blood, I have to lean towards a win at Iowa. Indiana scares me somewhat be- cause someday they are going to win in Ann Arbor. It just isn't going to be this year. That leaves us with the game of the year for Michigan in Columbus. I am sad to say that Ohio State has 11 games to replace all those players that entered the NFL. The quarterback situation is in the hands of a player that more than rose to the occasion in Ann Arbor last year. The offensive line will be veteran by Nov. 26. There is too much talent on that team that has waited for players to get out of the way so they could play. They will be ready for Michigan, and they will be in the Horseshoe. In the closing days of summer 2016, I do not see Michigan beating Ohio State. BUT, that IS why they play the game. If Michigan lost to Iowa, but ran the table on everyone else, we could pos- tulate a rematch of the Iowa game for the championship with Michigan win- ning. Needless to say, I would take that scenario. The hype by the media for Michigan this year is more than I can recall. I have enjoyed it, and I am ready for the reality to play out according to the script. J. Richard Jaconette, M.D. Battle Creek, Mich. Most would gladly accept your final sce- nario, Dr. J., with a loss to Iowa but a win in the rematch. It's that showdown in Co- lumbus that has Michigan fans concerned … but first things first. • When I'm wrong I'll say I'm wrong. Speight appears to be the real deal. Not only has he played exceptionally well, his trajectory is frighteningly high. Through two games he was 35-of-50 for 457 yards with seven touchdowns and and one pick. He's throwing the long ball well, touch passes — check, standing in the pocket (calmly); I just don't know how to express how gosh darn happy I am to be wrong. I'm going to slow my roll with what I've written, but the sky is the limit for this kid. Again, I am happy to admit I was wrong. Very happy. The next three weeks will tell us a bunch more. WOLFIE • When the commentator on the broad- cast made a Big Ben [Roethlisberger] reference on his pocket awareness and difficulty of being brought down (also shifting the pocket), I was immediately hit in the face with how accurate of an assessment that is. I was thinking he would be more like John Navarre, but in reality it is much closer to Big Ben. I know, I know … he has a long way to go. The BiggerHouse • Wilton has been outstanding. We are very fortunate to have the best QB coach on the planet on our sideline. GWBlue • I assume the thing that people don't like is the fact that he doesn't have that golden boy throwing motion that looks so smooth every time the ball comes out of his hand, but he gets the job done. jrcrock10 • I just laugh when the media brushes off any success a team shows against lesser opponents, as if it doesn't count for something. I get it to a certain extent, but obviously you can see good things within a team even against the lesser opponent. detroitslopster • I think what people overlook with the blowouts is the depth that it reveals. Good teams have depth and they need it. So when your second- and third-string guys are in there sticking it to the other team's starters, that's way different than a team going up by 30 and then the other team outscores the scrubs 13-7. It's a blowout either way but … TDFever • Travel rosters are limited to 70 play- ers, including (obviously) long snappers, backup kickers, etc. So getting the travel team down to 70, this year in particular, might not be as easy as you might think. With 85 scholarship players, and at least two or three walk-ons who have a role in the two-deep on special teams, which 17 or so scholarship players get left back home? Most of the true freshmen played some already. So the easy answer includes the ones certain to redshirt: Quinn Nordin for now, Brandon Peters, Stephen Spanellis, a few others, the injured guys, then probably a few OL. Would be curious to know who would be the best player — who wasn't hurt — that got left back. Speculating without totally studying the roster, maybe Nolan Ulizio, Kingston Davis, Lavert Hill or Keith Washington? Do you bring three quarterbacks? Or just two, and "break glass in case of emergency" with Jabrill Peppers at QB? How many tight ends? Would Sean McKeon and Nick Eu- banks travel? Food for thought. GrapeApe From Our Website After the way redshirt sophomore Wilton Speight has opened the campaign, he looks like the next quarterback to find great suc- cess under head coach Jim Harbaugh. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN