The Blue Board

Reconfiguring the playoffs I have come across an interesting problem and solution. It seems that there is a 3-way tie for 3rd place, making it tough to cut out Braintrust (the 5th place team). I see two plausible solutions:

1) I could leave Braintrust out anyway and proceed with a 4 team playoff.

2) I could use a multi-matchup per week feature and give seeds 2 and 4 a game, give seeds 3 and 5 a game, and give seed 1 a game versus the winner of seeds 3 vs 5.

What say you SteelBlue, Braintrust, copemoney, Jandy, steveschneider, CMXI, and SimplyComplex?

The only question mark we have next year is offensive line. You won't call me crazy when it happens. Our hardest games are at home. The rest of the schedue is a joke.

I say just take the top 4 teams. We should stick to the original rules. Points scored is the tie breaker.

Yea, he consistently trolls. Like the subtle jab that winning in Spartan Stadium is "a joke" after they win by 2 points at home? They get bragging rights for a year, but I don't think either fanbase can call a road game a "gimmee" in this rivalry.

i actually had to rewind that when i saw McGary miss.

thats what i thought, but the way he was holding it it looked like he wanted to finger roll it in, just stuck it on the rim .

Playoffs are set up. I got a solid 6th place.

I don't think they start out 11-0, but the schedule is nice to make a run. I was thinking 7-8 wins with Morris or Bellomy at QB. With Gardner at QB, that bar is raised.

Sidenote: I think the odd years '11, '13, '15... Setup the best for Michigan. The 2 traditionally toughest teams will be home games those years, Nebraska and tOSU.

Well this is my first post in this new thread. Just wanted to leave my mark here.

I think Gardner has potentially answered the QB question for next year, but I would still wonder about both lines, RB, and WR.

Lewan would help definitely, but it'll be an overall inexperienced group even with him. Without him, the group could really struggle.

If all of this holds water, then the team will be asking Gardner to do a lot, and potentially with bad protection. That's a recipe for injury, so how comfortable are you with Morris/Bellamy?

Ultimately, I think Gardner's size will help, along with him having been able to get on the field this year. But I still wonder who he will be throwing/handing the ball to.

Only RB leaving is 3rd down back Smith. Hayes and Norfleet will step into that role. Toussaint and Rawls will return with highly toutes Smith also coming in. There is the outside shot of Michigan also picking up one of the top backs in the nation, Green.

As for WR, Roundtree is the only senior, everyone else returns. Michigan also has a shot signing Treadwell, he could make an instant impact like Burbridge. Regardless, I like the WRs that are coming back.

TE, Moore is the only senior, and he is buried on the depth chart.

I noticed you mentioned both lines. Roh will be a loss, not so much with Campbell. Michigan has plenty of guys with experience that should step into place here, not a concern for me.

LB, Demens is the only loss. I am thinking more and more that Morgan will move over to Mike and Ross will step into the WLB position. I am sure that Bolden will have plenty to say about that, as will the freshmen coming in. Michigan is all set for 2 more years with Ryan at SLB.

Floyd is the only loss at CB, but he is also the CB that teams target the most. Michigan should be looking good with Taylor and Countess returning from his injury. Avery returns once again to man Nickel position.

FS is set with Gordon the returning starter for the 3rd year in a row. He may move over to the position vacated by Kovacs if Wilson looks good at FS. There is also Robinson waiting for his chance at SS, and highly touted Thomas coming in.

Overall, my only concerns now are at oline as stated.

This seems like a pretty good analysis of where we should be next year. I think Lewan will have to leave after being graded out as a top-10 pick because it's far too much money to risk losing due to an injury.

I think the offensive line will look something like this.

LT: Schofield, Magnuson/Braden
LG: Bryant, Bars
C: Miller, Kugler
RG: Kalis, Burzynski
RT: Magunson/Braden, Gunderson

It could be an absolute train wreck if Lewan doesn't return.

I'm holding out hope for Lewan to stay until he says he's going. Yes - he's probably gone.

I just keep telling myself Jake Long stuck around for his senior year even though he won Big Ten Lineman of the Year ahead of Joe Thomas, who eventually went 3rd in the draft that year.

Sooooo....yeah, stick around Lewan.