Brandon and Brandon! The odd couple

[bighousemike84]

Michigan has 2 senior starters next year, one on defense one on offense. Both named Brandon. Question: Who will have a bigger impact or roll as senior leader, Brandon Minor or Brandon Graham? Also, who will have a better season?

I believe that Brandon Graham is the answer to both questions. Considering the lack of upperclass talent going into the 09 season Graham has a large role to live up too. He proved last year that he is capable of being a game changer but can he be a defensive leader? Can he be the leader that all the underclassmen need him to be?

As far as his game. Minor if healthy should be a beast on offense, there is no doubt about that. Yet Minor wont be in on every play, he wont be asked to carry the offense on his back. Graham is going to be in a lonely place in 09. There are other playmakers on the defense but none as important to the stability of the D than Brandon Graham

[AlwaysBlue]

i have to be honest.. brandon minor with a QB who's even a MODERATE threat to complete a pass.. and with any semblance of an O-line.. would have been BETTER.

He ran on good defenses quite a bit with no other consistent offensive threat.

teams will double up on graham if nobody else on the line shows themself to be worthy of attention.

if campbell and mike martin are ready for prime time, its possible graham could be a beast.

graham, in my opinion doesn't come close to the guys we had on that 96 D.. (branch and woodley.. even harris). i just dont see the consistent scary threat to take over games... drives etc... i guess im just saying that i think he has a ceiling... i just hope he can take it to one level higher next year.

[tpilews]

Brandon Graham was the one of the only consistent defensive players UM had this past year. He had a hell of a season. Give him another year adding some bulk and speed with Barwis, and I think he'll have his best year yet next year. He's gonna see a bunch of double teams all year, so that should open some opportunities for other players to make some plays. The defense will need to get back to fundamentals, they can't afford to miss tackles.

B. Minor is going to be very important to this offense all year. Especially in the first few games when Tate is adjusting to the game. It's going to be important for him to step up. There are other options at RB with Brown and Shaw. I wonder what the roles will be for 2009 commits Toussaint, T. Jones, and V. Smith will be. Certainly they're going to compete and push the veterans, but will they end up redshirting?

[bighousemike84]

Maybe your right, maybe Graham does have a cieling. Graham saw plenty of double teams last year but no doubt having Johnson, Taylor, Jamison on the D-line helped take pressure off of him.

The thing about Minor is I cant get over all the times he has fumbled. We as fans became incredibly spoiled watching Mike Hart run. Now every time I see Minor run in my head im reciting a mantra, "Please dont fumble, please dont fumble". Towards the end of the season he ran like a man possessed and didnt fumble but I still cringe every time. Hopefully Minor is past the fumbilitis but I am not convinced yet

[tpilews]

You're right Mike. Minor did have some problems fumbling. When was his last fumble last year? I don't remember any in the second half of the season. I remember one in the Toledo game, but it was ruled a TD before he fumbled, so that wouldn't count. Minor carried the offense on his back this past year. Let's hope some other are up for sharing the load.