The Fall of Troy

When it rains it pours. It seems like its been pouring in Ann Arbor since App State upset the Wolverines. I didn't think it would get any darker than that...but it sure has. I try to be an optimist, as you can see from an earlier post predicting a 8-4 regular season. And now I am really struggling to stay a glass half full kind of guy. For those of you who have not yet heard Troy Woolfolk has suffered a likely season ending dislocated ankle (insert Achilles and Battle of Troy references).

This is the 2nd big loss to the Michigan secondary in the last week and the season is still 2 1/2 weeks away. Lets recap what Michigan has lost in the defensive backfield in the last calendar year.

1. Boubacar Cissoko - highly recruited with big potential. Turns out he couldn't make the grade or do what was needed to stay on the team. Not an end of the world loss but still shrunk the depth chart in an already thin secondary.

2. Donovan Warren - decided not to stay for his senior season, which he probably should have since he was undrafted. Lucky for him he ended up signing with the Jets. This is probably the biggest loss to the secondary because not only was he their best player back there he would also lend some senior leadership and guidance to all the freshman we have coming in on that side of the ball.

3. Justin Turner - last week asked for and was granted a transfer. Looks like he will be heading to a Big East school at this point. Turner also like Cissoko good recruit with a lot of potential. Not sure if he was going to pan out as planned but I'd still rather have him back there with the hope that he was going to, instead of leaving.

4. Troy Woolfok - the latest and greatest one to fall. To Troy's credit at least he got injured and didn't have grade problems, discipline problems, or was a quitter. I feel for Troy, he has been the vocal leader this summer and I wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully a medical red shirt is in his future so we can see him next year...Rich Rod hopes he is around to see him as well.

So there you have it 4 players ranging from good to decent that are no longer playing for the Wolverines but should be.

This has brought me to amend my previous 8-4 regular season prediction. I now say a 7-5. I think with or without Turnder and Woolfolk the Wolverines have what it takes to get 7, the only problem is as a good friend put it, "the margin of error has decreased." My hope is the this latest blow to the Maize and Blue is used to rally the team. This team has been through so much in the last 2 years and I see Woolfolk continuing to be the vocal leader whether he is in pads or not. This team still has talent and potential to do good things this year.

So here is to the clouds over Ann Arbor finally breaking up and letting some sun shine through. It is darkest before the dawn and it has never been darker in my lifetime in Ann Arbor than it is now. September 4th will be the barometer of how the weather fairs this season.

Go Blue