09 January 2010

2012 Season Preview

Michigan is coming off of a disappointing 10-3 season, but hope is very much alive in Ann Arbor. Michigan returns a ton of talent this year and should contend for a Big Ten title, and possibly a national title in only coach Jello's 4th season. Michigan lost some talent on offense in their top rusher, Mike Shaw, and 3 of their top 4 receivers, not to mention 2 starters on the offensive line. Defensively, they lost a studly DT (Mike Martin), 3 excellent LBs (including superstar MLB Kenny Demens), and the most prolific corner in the coach Jello era in Boubacar Cissoko.

The Offense:
None of this seems to matter, however, as the Wolverines are even better this year than they were last year. Everyone hopes that QB Forcier can remain healthy this year (he has 2 seasons where he threw fewer than 105 passes due to injuries) in his final campaign for the maize and blue. Michigan will miss Shaw at HB, but they have plenty of backs to step up and fill his shoes. While they lost 3 great WRs, they've replaced them with equally good, and much faster ones. @ TE, Michigan has a potential secret weapon in Brandon Moore if coach Jello chooses to utilize him (which he has yet to do in the past). Moore is 6'6 and is rated 94 OVR with 86 speed. Michigan's O-line should dominate as they boast 4 90+ rated guys with an 88 as their only "weak" link.

The Defense:
It would seem that Michigan's defense has nowhere to go but down. They were rated #1 in the country in several categories last year and on several occasions would completely dominate the opponents' offenses. Surprisingly enough, this years defense should be even better than last year! Their SO MLB is rated an 86 OVR and he is the only guy on the defense that's not rated in the 90s. Michigan's defensive line is surely the best in the country. DEs Lalota and Roh are rated 99 and 96 with 87 speed each. In the middle is Michigan's all time sack leader Big Will Campbell who is rated 99 and true SO DT A.J. Keller who comes in rated 93. Their LBs are rated 90, 86, and 96. The MLB is the only slow guy with 81 speed while the OLBs have 89 and 88 speed. Turner and Floyd are the starting corners and are rated 96 and 95. The safeties, Emilien and Bell (both returning starters) are rated 95 and 94. Michigan's defense is extremely talented, powerful, smart, and fast. They should dominate opposing offenses once again this year.

Here are the preseason all american and conference players from Michigan:

1st Team All-American

2nd Team All-American

1st Team All-Conference

2nd Team All-Conference

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