Goodgers Take field in an unfamiliar position

QB Curtis Painter
QB Juice
RB Mike Hart
RB Albert Young
WR Dorien Bryant
WR Devin Thomas
WR Andy Brodell
K Taylor Mahlhaff

Thoughts from week 1

Michigan! Unbelievable. There is no excuse for this. Lloyd Carr should be fired. I don't care if this was the D2 champion -- no D2 champion should be able to hang with a top 20 D1 team much less a top 5 team. 1st game, 7 new starters on defense, who cares? You could mandate this on the schedule for the next 50 years, D2 champion vs. preseason #5 and it might happen once in that 50 year period. Once again, the talent of Mike Hart is demonstrated and the horrible play of Henne is on display. Hart nearly wins the game single handedly -- Michigan offense just is not the same with Brandon Minor as with Hart. Henne can't create any scores or 1st downs on his own.

Minnesota: Brace yourselves, it is going to be a long, bumpy ride. I can't believe that you guys talked me out of taking Clint. Weber looked horrible. As long as they were trying to play within the spreadcoast and throw the ball, they couldn't do anything. Kind of reminds me of NW last season before the arrival of someone who could throw the ball in CJ Bacher. In the second half, the team abandons the pass for the strength of Mason's teams, run blocking, and the offense produces. Weber adept at handing of to Pinnix, or faking hand off to Pinnix and getting 5 yards, if he has to throw, well, the result was pretty much random (I didn't see the 4th quarter but I'm guessing it wasn't as if Weber transformed himself in that period).

Pinnix is going to be a quality BTFFL player, Duane Bennett looks like a reach as does every other Gopher taken in the draft. They might still want to redshirt Clint, but it ain't going to be pretty against real defenses. Zero Big Ten wins looking more likely than 1 or 2.

Wisconsin: Donovan was impressive, PJ Hill, Lance Smith, Zach Brown and the defense not so much. John Clay does not play. He probably looked better than any of the other backs, all things considered. There was some positive things said about Lance Smith on the tubes, but I didn't see it. He looked like he was dancing out there to me. This gave me hopes for Brown to come in and do something. I guess at least he did not fumble. Washington State not a good team but not a complete push over either, so probably an ok start.

Ohio State: Not terribly impressive but since Michigan lost to AS the win is the win. Boeckmann looked pretty good. Shoencroft comes in early, which I think means that at least before this game the OSU coaching staff was not certain about TB. But shoencroft looked horrible so Boeckmann is probably safe -- Henton only in to mop up. Beanie looked surprisingly pedestrian. I am happier to have Brandon Saine today than I was on draft day. Robiski=good pick, Hartline=bad pick.

Iowa: Another meh performance. Christiansen adequate (in real football terms, bleh in fantasy terms)I like the combo of Young and Sims. Andy Brodell? Trey Stoss? I should just stop picking WRs entirely.

Illinois: The one guy I don’t want to back up is Juice! They aren’t going to be able to do anything without Juice. Juice walks on water. Eddie McGee won’t be able to make that offense run. Well, at least they say Juice’s injury is not serious. McGee didn’t look bad. Benn looked good from what I saw. Too bad for Illinois, I believe they win this with Juice, McGee filled in admirably but gave away the game with his fumbles.

Indiana: James Hardy was dropped. Where is Demetrius McCray?

Penn State: Really beat up on a bad team. Is this Morelli’s best outing of the season or will it be typical of the season. Spitfires want to know. Austin Scott can only get 46 yards in a game where state scores 50. I didn’t see much of the game but who has Evan Royster and Rodney Kinlaw?

Northwestern: Speaking of Kinlaw, CJ and the Northwestern offense looked like their typical selves. NW will push towards a Bowl berth this season.

Michigan State: I know there are believers among the Gopher 3. I’ll get flak for this but I think things look good for Ringer. I know Caulcrick had 4 TDs. That ain’t gonna happen every week.

Purdue: A boring 50 point performance. Everyone is going to score on that offense.