Ok...I'm not sure where the OP is coming from. This discussion was warranted in 2010 with the players returning from an Orange Bowl win. That team really was close to being the caliber of team to pull off an undefeated B10 season. Oh, but what a foray into the desert, a fake punt, memorability/tattoo boy, and Dan Persa can do to you. You lose your will after that.
I'm of the mind that this 2012 team will be better than people think. The schedule, as MissouriHerk suggests is the weakest thing I've seen. I'm feeling like Wisconsin with the string of home games after the opener. Let's face it, we will have home field in Chicago also. I think JVB takes a big step forward this year...and I thought he was pretty good last year. Guys just flat out dropped balls...which I think hurt us more than people realize. In my opinion, if Reese can build a DL that surprises to the upside...this team can win 9 games and possibly more with this schedule. The blocks are there...C Davis, Bigach, Cooper, J. Johnson and maybe a few more that have potential that need to make the leap. Who knows, maybe an o-lineman makes a change to the DL and plugs a gap well to keep our LB's free to make plays. This is the key to our season.
I think the offense will be fine. There is a ton of talent and experience coming back in the o-line, and throw in a few young guys that have the potential to be first round picks (Blythe in particular)...I think this will be interesting. My guess is that Davis is going to build the team around JVB and say, this guys accuracy is going to keep the chains moving. He will use him like he did McCoy. Out patterns, crossing patterns...short stuff that gives receivers the chance to move the chains. I like his rhetoric about extending the play and not locking in on people. If JVB gets that right, he will have a big year.
Fixed!
