Confused, soft, maligned. These are adjectives that have been used to describe the University of Michigan's defense this season. I, like most, thought that the defense, which had a wealth of experience returning, would carry this team until the offense came alive. How wrong I was.
Much was made about how fast and athletic the defense was going to be. After all, they had been training with uber training guru Mike Barwis. They were going to be slimmer, stronger, faster. They were going to get to the ball as fast as anyone in the country. If you ran the ball, you were going to get knifed. If you threw the ball, you were going to be locked down. How wrong I was.
Flash-forward to Nov. 22. The RIVALRY—a game usually filled with marquee names for both teams on both sides of the ball. This year is no different—if you are the Ohio State Buckeyes. You have James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins, Curt Coleman, and Marcus Freeman.
Michigan has, um, Obie Ezeh? Terrance Taylor? Tim Jamison? Players we thought were going to be the marquee names. Instead, we have had to once again continually watch as the Jim Hermann incarnate (Scott Shafer) has ran a truly lifeless defense, save for Minnesota.
So, Saturday's game: the possible savior of Michigan's season. Is it in the realm of possibility that Michigan pulls the stunner of all stunners in this series?
With cold weather on the horizon, plus the Vest calling plays, you can best bet that Beanie Wells will see the ball more often then not. If this is the case, Tim Jamison, Terrance Taylor, and Will Johnson best be on alert. When Pryor decides to pull the ball down and run, Obie Ezeh, John Thompson, and Jonas Mouton best be ready. An upset like this, Shafer, keeps the house for one more season.
Michigan is now in a one-game playoff for their entire season. Rich Rodriguez has had it tough this year, there is no doubting that—some he has brought on himself, some unwarranted. There is no doubting that Saturday's game is a pure savior for the 2008 edition of the Michigan Wolverines.
As an aside, how goofy is Mark Dantonio? I understand his loyalty to Jim Tressel, but this is a guy who needs his new hated rival to win Saturday. Yet, to quote him, "GO BUCKS" was his sentiment when asked.
Now, you are trying to win a Big Ten title, and that is what you say? You need Michigan to win for you to have a chance. To say GO BUCKS is like saying, "Well, we put up a good fight, but this year is a wash." Dantonio has become notorious for running his mouth. This time something purely dumb has come out of it.
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