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| I’m glad these two guys became friends. |
Results should be taken with a grain of salt, since this is a site geared toward Michigan fans. But here are the results of the poll that ended this morning, which asked the question:
Who will win the Sugar Bowl?
Michigan by two more scores: 52%
Michigan by one score: 38%
Virginia Tech by one score: 5%
Virginia Tech by two or more scores: 3%
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| Brady Hoke |
1. Brady Hoke. The first year head coach has brought back a winning attitude and solid defensive play, things that were sorely missing for a few years.
2. Greg Mattison. The new defensive coordinator, brought back to Michigan after stints with the Florida Gators and Baltimore Ravens, took last season’s defensive players, added a few freshmen, and concocted the #17 defense in the country.
3. Denard Robinson. The quarterback looked shaky at the beginning of the season while adjusting to offensive coordinator Al Borges’s offense, but Robinson turned it on toward the end of the year. He’s one of the most electrifying players in the entire country.
4. Mike Martin. The nose tackle had an excellent year for Michigan, especially in the second half of the season. More so than creating havoc inside, it was exciting to see the 6’2″, 304-pounder chase down plays from sideline to sideline. Michigan hasn’t had a nose tackle this athletic in my memory.
5. David Molk. The four-year starter at center won the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation’s top snapper. It’s a well deserved award for a quick and intelligent lineman with an old-school attitude.
Thanks to all the Wolverines for working hard and giving us fans an exciting 2011 season. Hopefully even better things are to come in 2012, including a Sugar Bowl victory against Virginia Tech on Tuesday. Go Blue!
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| Logan Thomas |
MICHIGAN
Starter: Junior Denard Robinson (6’0″, 195 lbs.) is 133/237 (56.1%) passing for 2,056 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He has also rushed 208 times for 1,137 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and 16 touchdowns.
Backups: Sophomore Devin Gardner has played in 9 games, sometimes in a package with Robinson on the field. Gardner is 11/23 (47.8%) passing for 176 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. He also rushed 25 times for 53 yards and 1 touchdown. The next guy on the depth chart is true freshman Russell Bellomy, who has yet to play this season but has traveled to road games.
VIRGINIA TECH
Starter: Redshirt sophomore Logan Thomas (6’6″, 254 lbs.) has started all 13 games this season, going 215/363 (59.2%) for 2,799 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. He has also rushed 137 times for 416 yards (3.0 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns.
Backups: Redshirt freshman Mark Leal has played a backup role in 3 games this year. He is 9/13 (69.2%) for 153 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Redshirt junior Ju-Ju Clayton is the third quarterback but has yet to play this season.
THE TAKEAWAY
Thomas is capable of excellent play; against Miami he went 23/25 (92%) for 310 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, plus 2 more rushing scores. He played some great football throughout the year. But he’s coming off a game against Clemson in which he completed 50% of his passes, threw 2 interceptions, and rushed 12 times for only 2 yards. Meanwhile, Robinson is one of the most dynamic players in the country, capable of taking over a game at any given time. While he has been prone to interceptions and erratic passing, he’s coming off a three-game winning streak in which he completed 60% or more of his passes, scored 11 total touchdowns (5 passing with only 2 interceptions), and played arguably the best game of his career against Ohio State (14/17 for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns, plus 170 yards on the ground and 2 more touchdowns). Thomas is good, but Robinson has the ability to be unstoppable.
Advantage: Michigan
