SI Top 25: Michigan at 15
Intro
- Here's a link to the rankings.
- Michigan is at 15
Summary
- Here's what they have to say about Michigan:
SI Top 100 players: Six: DT Rashan Gary (No. 9), LB Devin Bush (No. 25), DE Chase Winovich (No. 56), LB Khaleke Hudson (No. 62), CB Lavert Hill (No. 78), QB Shea Patterson (No. 80)
X-Factor: Officially, the Wolverines have no offensive coordinator, but they do have three coaches with a combined 25 years of experience as offensive coordinators at the college and NFL levels. After Tim Drevno left for USC, coach Jim Harbaugh brought in Ed Warinner (from Ohio State and Minnesota) to coach the line and Jim McElwain (from Florida) to lead the receivers. Pep Hamilton is the pass-game coordinator, in charge of QBs. The starter will be Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson. Last year’s NFL-style offense, populated with inexperienced players, ranked 91st in scoring. The offense will have a different look, but will it translate to better results? — Joan Niesen
- From the schedule: Wisconsin (3), PSU (7), OSU (9), MSU (11), ND (16)
Some Thoughts
These rankings are weird. I'm not sure how they have OSU below Penn State, for example. Maybe they think Meyer won't be back? I do like to see Wisconsin get some love.
Anyway, I'm fine with Michigan's ranking. 15 is plenty high enough, with this schedule, for the team to prove itself worthy of a higher ranking. It's also a bit generous, given last year's performance.
The Bowl games have a lot to do with these rankings. Wisconsin looked like an elite team and dominated another elite team in Miami on national TV. OSU and PSU also showed well in their bowls. MSU destroyed a depleted Wazzu, but it's still a win vs a top 20 team.
8-4 in the regular season last year was tough because we had 3 tough losses and then a blowout. But the bowl game was tough to explain away and it's the last thing people saw of us. That 2nd half doesn't happen and we're probably a top 10 team. But it happened and it's hard to explain.
This is by no means taking away how good I think the Buckeyes will be this year, but does anyone else find it odd that they only have 4 guys in this top 100 list (and I believe only had 2 or 3 in the top 50 list posted yesterday)? Granted all 4 are in the top 44, but Clemson has 9 and Bama has 7. With the loaded classes Urban has had the last 4-5 years, he hasn't even come close to staying with Clemson and Bama development wise IMO. Granted Bama and Clemson are always looked at as the top tier, but OSU is always put in that category as well and I am not so sure it is accurate.
Why would you ever like seeing Wisconsin get love? Eff the Cheeseheads and their inflated success in that soft division.
They're a non-blue blood program that doesn't get awesome recruits. Yet year after year, coach after coach, they manage to put out really good teams. I think that deserves some recognition and respect in pre-season polls.