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Posted on Wed, Aug 19, 2009 : 2:20 p.m.

Andre Ware: University of Michigan is good for "maybe 5 wins" this year

By Dave Birkett

Former Lions quarterback and current ESPN analyst Andre Ware remembers how difficult it was to start as a freshman, something he did at the University of Houston back in the 1980s.

"Some Saturdays everything just seems clouded," Ware said in a teleconference Wednesday. "It’s going so fast. You can’t really slow the game down."

With Michigan expected to start a true freshman under center this year in Tate Forcier or Denard Robinson, Ware said the Wolverines are headed for another season like last year's 3-9 debacle.

“I look at the schedule and find maybe five wins," he said. “If indeed they decide to go with Tate Forcier, it could be a rude awakening in allowing a young quarterback to play through some mistakes and that might cause you to play from behind the eight ball in a lot of these early games."

Fellow ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer is decidedly higher on the Wolverines. Palmer said he "easily" envisions Michigan going to a bowl game this year precisely because of the new quarterback.

“The beauty of the spread offense in my opinion as a quarterback, I think it’s easier for a young quarterback to come in and execute," Palmer said. "If they’re a good athlete and they can run and they can execute zone-read, they can execute the read-option, I think the offense sets itself up for a younger, inexperienced quarterback to have more success than say a prototypical pro-style offense.

"In that sense, I really think this offense will take on a completely new look than it did last year."

Palmer said new defensive coordinator Greg Robinson also will make a difference.

"He may not have had tremendous success as a head coach at Syracuse, but he is a proven defensive mind," Palmer said. "So I think in the grand scheme, in the big picture, I think this Michigan Wolverines team makes a huge hurdle forward."

Comments

bigblue

Thu, Aug 20, 2009 : 9:29 a.m.

Michigan will beat those four teams plus purdue pretty easily. thats 5 wins right there. the only 2 games where michigan will a clear underdog are the penn st and ohio st. games. the rest of those games michigan has a very good chance of winning. michigan could easily be one of the top 3 teams in the big 10 this year. iowa, sparty, wisc, illini, also have questions they have to answer this year and im not sold on any of them being clear cut better than michigan this year. as far as denard getting more playing time than tate i doubt it. tate was here in the spring and he more than likely will be the starter. actually this year and next year might be denards only year at QB depending on how things turn out this year and if devin gardner redshirts next year. denard probally has NFL aspirations and im not sure he has the size for NFL teams to give him a look at that position. he could be a percy harvin like threat at receiver or RB.

bigblue

Thu, Aug 20, 2009 : 1:28 a.m.

that would be about as many wins as ware had as the lions QB. last year was a fluke and it seems to be clouding peoples judgement of what this yeam could be capable of doing this year. i predict that michigan will have at least 5 wins.....in the big 10. western should be a win. notre lame, i'll give them a little credit and say that game is a coin flip. eastern is a win. dela(andre)ware st. should just save everybody the time and forfeit. so lets say michigan goes 3-1 in non-conference. there is no way they only win 2 big ten games again this year. so 8 to 10 wins is more realistic than 5 wins this year.

Maise_n_Blu

Wed, Aug 19, 2009 : 9:34 p.m.

Way off on this one. If MI can put together a streak and play like they did against Wisconsin we will be bowling.

aarox

Wed, Aug 19, 2009 : 9:21 p.m.

Hey we are Michigan. It doesn't matter that most of us predicted a 9-3 season last year. That's why they invented 'last year.' This is this year and we have every right to diss anyone that thinks we will be less than 9-3 again. So take that Andre!

Kubrick66

Wed, Aug 19, 2009 : 8:55 p.m.

Though "expert" predictions are for the most part useless, what's frustrating about them is that when they're wrong they usually never take responsibility, they simply reshuffle the deck and start anew.

tater

Wed, Aug 19, 2009 : 8:43 p.m.

realist wrote: "Why do U-M fans have to get so defensive whenever someone predicts less than greatness for its "mighty" football team?" You mean THE WINNIGEST PROGRAM IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL? "Five wins is a realistic prediction, they may win more or less." During every game week for the last two years, you have "predicted" that UM would lose, usually by scores around 35-0. So, pardon me if I am somewhat skeptical of your "realism." "I remember last year that millions of people had a cow with the preseason predictions, which were mostly unmet by the 3-9 Wolverines." Wow. You must have a great memory. All I remember is a lot of spirited discussion by mostly passionate fans and one main troll who used multiple identities. "A woman who wrote to Sports Illustrated pretty much summed up the pompous U-M attitude responding to the magazine's prediction of 5-7, saying 'c'mon, this is Michigan.'" So, what is so "pompous" about giving history its due? This is Michigan, and it IS the winningest program in college football. There is a great post at mgoblog in which the poster dug up an old article with a 5-7 prediction for RR's second year at WVU. The reasoning and situation almost eerily paralell RR's current situation. To put it simply: UM's pattern is to win at least eight games most years. RR's pattern is to have a terrible first year and turn things around his second year. RR also has a pattern of improving every team he coaches. So, excuse me and other UM fans for having an opinion that doesn't agree with yours, but please don't refer to those opinions or those who hold them as "pompous" simply because they disagree with you. At least provide some backup or evidence when making such presumptions. It is really a matter of simple patterns and simple math. And, of course, UM fans exercising their freedom of speech. Go Blue.

miatamich

Wed, Aug 19, 2009 : 7:37 p.m.

Why do U-M fans have to get so defensive whenever someone predicts less than greatness for its "mighty" football team? Five wins is a realistic prediction, they may win more or less. I remember last year that millions of people had a cow with the preseason predictions, which were mostly unmet by the 3-9 Wolverines. A woman who wrote to Sports Illustrated pretty much summed up the pompous U-M attitude responding to the magazine's prediction of 5-7, saying "c'mon, this is Michigan."

KenCooper

Wed, Aug 19, 2009 : 6:05 p.m.

It must be obvious to people who even casually tune into ESPN that they have a formula for every discussion. One jock analyst chooses one position and the other disputes it, followed by the non-jock moderator sucking up to both. The country seems to embrace this, though it can often resemble "The McLaughlin Group" with a fraction of the intellect. The good news is that UM is a mighty tough team to pick this year, and the below-radar status can only help Coach Rodriguez and his staff with motivation. They'll be very enjoyable to watch at times, and probably equally frustrating at other times. But the overall trend will almost surely be upward, so GO BLUE!

UMthicknthin

Wed, Aug 19, 2009 : 5:45 p.m.

We're far better off than at the start of last season. We have an O-line that has year under their belt with the system that should be fit enough to run it, a "hopefully" healthy Minor, and from what I read a passer that can actually hit open receivers. Tate may have some growing pains at game speed, but I foresee a lot less 3 and outs to keep the D from tiring out by the half. Every aspect should be improved. That's worth at least 6 wins.

Chris

Wed, Aug 19, 2009 : 3:19 p.m.

Andre Ware, bad in the NFL; bad as an analyst.