Pick sheets have been updated. IMPORTANT NOTE: There is one game each on Thursday and Friday this week, so make sure you set those early. And now, the standings.
1st: Madison/Chuck, 35-22 (5-4)
2nd: Alexx/Pete, 34-23 (6-3)
3rd-tied: Mar/Dan, 31-26 (2-7)
3rd-tied: Mitch, 31-26 (5-4)
3rd-tied: Sue/Garry, 31-26 (4-5)
We're roughly halfway through the season, both pick'em wise and football wise. Time to open the box and see if the cat is alive.
How do I feel about the gauntlet that is Michigan's schedule? Better than I did at the start of the season, that's for sure. Sure, Michigan is not a perfect team, but none of the 4 highlighted opponents--Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, and Ohio State--are either. Some of them aren't even close. Wisconsin has NFL potential at QB and RB, but their defense is not what it was last year. Michigan State can't run the football, can't defend the pass, and doesn't even know who their 5 best offensive linemen are. Penn State lost its genius offensive coordinator (now head coach at Mississippi State) and has James Franklin making decisions in crunch time. James Franklin, the man who kicked a field when down 0-28, turning a four score game into...a four score game. Ohio State's defense is just OK, and I'm not totally sold on Dwayne Haskins. The knock on Haskins is he can't deal with pressure when he drops back to pass. Let's see what Winovich et. al can do with that. Also I heard Ohio State is weak to garlic, silver, and crucifixes.
As for the good guys, I see a team full of players I feel comfortable going to war with. This can be taken figuratively with some players, like Shea Patterson and Will Hart. It can be taken literally with other players, like Ben Mason and Tru Wilson. Just a quick listing of the talent on this team (Dudes are elite players that have the chance at being generational athletes at Michigan. Guys are solid. Dudeguys are either trending into or out of Dude status).
Dudes:
- Chase Winovich(DE): Chase started the season as a front-runner for All-American and is somehow exceeding expectations. With his current trajectory I'm struggling to remember a player that performed at this level in recent memory. Jabrill Peppers, I guess? Before that...Mike Hart in 2006? Mo Hurst, of course, was performing at this high a level but did not get national recognition.
- Devin Bush(LB): A true Junior voted captain and will be drafted highly this spring. Not much to be said other than the most atheltic linebacker we've had since...Jabrill Peppers, I guess? Jabrill, man. Jabrill.
- Karan Higdon(RB): We are going to miss this guy. It seems given that Karan will run over a guy, make a guy miss, or make a smart cut on each play. He's the complete back. Best running back we've had since Mike Hart.
Dudeguys:
- Shea Patterson(QB): Really wanted to put him in the Dude tier but he hasn't done quite enough yet.
- Zach Gentry(TE): Again, the potential is clearly there but he has not yet cemented his elite level.
- Donovan Peoples-Jones(WR): Finishes out the passing game trio that will rise and fall together.
- Rashan Gary(DE): Would be a Dude but has had injury troubles.
- Chris Evans(RB): Like Gary, injuries have prevented him from reaching full potential.
- Ben Mason(FB): God I wanted to put him in the Dude tier. If Michigan gets into the playoff race Ben Mason will become a college football meme when he murders someone on a block or tackle-break.
- Khaleke Hudson(VIPER): Not as good a player as Jabrill, but better at the Viper Position, I think. Khaleke will be crucial against the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions.
- Lavert Hill(CB): Was a Dude by all reports from last year, but hasn't improved much. This is hard to judge, since we don't often get to see him in coverage.
Guys:
- The entire O-Line: Yeah, I said it. I've seen progress and I can fight with these guys.
- D-Line backups: Will be crucial with the injuries we've had to this unit.
- Unmentioned secondary: As a unit, the secondary has performed well. Individual mistakes from time to time, but overall good.
- Will Hart (P) and Quinn Nordin (K): Its nice to have competent specialists. Evens out the edges of your game.
- Dylan McCaffery (QB): If it comes to it, I've seen enough to feel like we have a shot with our backup QB.
Not really any analysis there, but looking over the team we have gives me confidence. All of the Dudeguys are so close to becoming Dudes. If half did, that would be something like 7 All-Conference players on our team. That is incredible. I see a balanced team that can fight you anywhere on the field and can do so with depth. Sounds like a championship team to me. Penalties have been a nuisance and Harbaugh has yet to make his mark as a championship coach, but I see far greater weaknesses in our foes.
Good luck to you and the boys in blue.
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