Bill Connelly ESPN B1G Previews
I like the FPI more than the S&P+ today.
FPI is nailing it this year. Don't go anywhere without some FPI.
B1G West might be nore fun to watch than East this year
You could seriously have a champion come out of that division with an 8-4 record. The top half of that division has teams with very obvious flaws. There are no worldbeaters unless Frost really works magic in Lincoln / Jonathan Taylor wills Wisconsin to the conference title.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a 3 way 6-3/5-4 type tie at the top.
Northwestern was 8-4 last year and came out of that division.
Yeah but they were 0-3 OOC and 7-1 in B1G with the only loss to Michigan. They beat Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, MSU...they clearly deserved to win the division, if you strictly look at their B1G games. The Akron loss though...
Michigan stuff was pretty bland. We all know the story.
However, I was entertained by this part of the MSU piece. I guess I knew that they just rearranged the offensive staff, but to see it all in print was eye-opening. In response to their offensive struggles:
Dantonio just gave everybody a different job.
Quarterbacks coach Brad Salem is now running backs coach and took over as offensive coordinator. Co-coordinator and RBs coach Dave Warner is now quarterbacks coach. Co-coordinator and tight ends coach Jim Bollman is now offensive line coach. Offensive line coach Mark Staten is now tight ends coach. Assistant DBs coach Don Treadwell is now receivers coach, and receivers coach Terrence Samuel is now assistant DBs coach.
Dantonio literally just gave everybody a different name plate! That's amazing!
And you'll still see Dantonio ranked above Harbaugh in CFBs best coaches. B1G championships don't lie, but how long can he ride the success of 2013-2015?
What are you talking about 2013-2015? Dantonio has been there since 2007, and aside from a couple clunker seasons (3-9 comes to mind) he has been competitive most years and won 3 Big 10 titles.
At State fergodsakes.
Give the grinch credit where it's due.
I saw that too. It's wonderful.
I hope they start calling plays by committee
You left off the last sentence...
And it was the most Dantonio move possible.
Connelly had me until he forgets to mention Turner, who will be our primary RB. That was a big gaffe.
He mentions staees elite run defense, and I wonder how they do it every year and we do not, when we can get better recruits.
Not a huge gaffe really. I agree Turner could be very good but he had a grand total of 95 yards last year. He could very well be RB 3 this year.
Obviously you missed Brian's first round RB selection in the new Draftageddon. I honestly don't think anybody knows how the RB job will shake out. I think it will be a lot of Tru Wilson to start the season as he knows and can execute the blocking assignments. Other than that, I think we will see more RB by committee until one or two distinguish themselves by mid-season.
You're right paisan... I did miss Brian's draftgeddon... but I am going on what I saw last year when he played. He flashed his cuts, much to my liking, and I think he is gonna be a stud RB for us. And as far as I am concerned, based on what I saw, he is in the pole position from the start. And unless he sputters, I don't see why it'll be by committee unless the other two do well enough to make it so. And Connelly should have mentioned him.
It could be Tru early in the season, Turner in the middle and Charbonnet late. I can see each one of them getting around 500 yards. If Shea throws for 3000+, that should make for a sporty offense.
"He is 32-3 in the regular season against teams not named Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State and Ohio State."
Uhhh, Harbaugh is 3-1 vs Penn State. So...they probably shouldn't be lumped in with others.
wait..isn't Harbaugh 2-2 vs dantini ? and first one was a fluke of a fluke, of a fluke.
2-2 vs msu
0-4 vs osu
3-1 vs psu
5-7 not that noteworthy after taking over the Hoke leftovers.
I already like FPI more than S&P+