For Argument's Sake: Previewing the Michigan-Eastern Michigan game

Dave Birkett: I think we were both a little surprised at how things played out last week, not just Michigan beating Notre Dame but the poise Tate Forcier showed in leading Michigan's last-minute dramatics. He's playing above his head for a true freshman, and at 2-0 he has the Wolverines looking like a player in the Big Ten race. I'm not saying they're going to win the league, or even make a Jan. 1 bowl game, but they are a better team than I thought. Are you buying Michigan as a top-25 team yet?

Michael Rothstein: Yeah, I was surprised a bit, too. But you knew going in that Notre Dame's run defense was susceptible to big gains and Brandon Minor played so, so well. Everyone talks about Tate Forcier, but Minor was the key Saturday. They are much better than I thought. And yeah, I buy them as a Top 25 team if only that you look around the country and and there aren't a bunch of teams I think are better than them. In the Big Ten you've got two (Penn State and Ohio State), no one in the Big East except maybe Cincinnati, a few Big 12 teams, a couple ACC squads, USC and Cal in the Pac 10 and the BYU, Boise State, Houston trio from the non-BCS. That's about it as far as teams clearly better. This weekend, though, will be about style points at the end. Eastern Michigan isn't very good, despite the Northwestern score. You're going to see a lot of Denard Robinson, probably some Nick Sheridan and by the end of this one, it'll probably be clear which freshmen will be redshirting versus not.

DB: I don't think Michigan can play the style-point game yet. A blowout will help in the polls, but really what does that matter? They could win by seven or 70, they're still not competing for a national championship this year. What Rich Rodriguez needs to do this weekend is exactly what you said, play the freshmen and other backups and develop some depth. It's time to see Will Campbell on the defensive line, Vlad the Impaler at safety, Brandin Hawthorne at linebacker and Vincent Smith at running back. All four of those guys have played this year, but only Smith has taken a few token snaps outside of special teams. Michigan needs each to contribute at some point this year to reach its potential. As for this weekend, the potential is there for a blowout. Eastern is not a good team, never has been, and while I'm sure Ron English wants nothing more than to get one over on his old team, there's almost no way it's going to happen.

MR: I'd say, if it's a blowout, I'm most interested to see the combination of Denard Robinson and Smith in the backfield. That just seems like it could be so fast and they work together a lot in practice. I think Eastern Michigan can compete for a quarter as Michigan will have an inevitable letdown after an emotionally charged opener and a rivalry game. But it won't be for long and won't matter much because the talent level at EMU is just such a drop from Michigan. The one kid on EMU that I was really impressed with, though, is the running back Priest. He may not have breakaway speed, but he's really good with his feet. He'll be the guy, if Eastern stays in the game, that will be the main reason. If he gets going, it could open up the pass and then maybe the game stays close. But again, don't see too many ways Eastern could pull off an upset.

DB: Good call on Robinson. He's going to play more this week than he has the first two games combined. Rodriguez insists Robinson's a quarterback and will be "for several years to come," but I think he's too good of an athlete to keep on the bench. I understand it for now, when you don't have another viable backup, but playing Robinson as a slot guy/return man/every down wildcat option would be deadly long term. As for Saturday's game, I can see EMU quarterback Andy Schmitt throwing for 300 yards - Michigan ranks in the bottom nationally in pass defense - but Robinson, Smith, Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown will all get loose for rushing touchdown as Michigan wins, 37-13.

MR: I don't know if he'll throw for 300 yards, but the suspension of Jonas Mouton for a game changes the defense a little bit. It'll mean another new face out there and another young player fitting in to the defense in the first half. But, it could be a good thing for Michigan down the road, too. Mouton's availability won't matter Saturday. Michigan should roll behind a few touchdowns from Forcier and another throw to Junior Hemingway. Wolverines roll, 45-10.