People are forgetting or at least not giving enough value to this being a Jim Harbaugh coached team. The defense won't be as deep as last year but if we escape a serious injury bug, it will be just as good as last year's by season end when we play our toughest games. The O will be better notwithstanding the youth of the receiving corps. They are that good and again will have time to develop through the first half of the season.
Most importantly, the culture shift and full transition to Harbaugh football will be completed this season. We lost two games last year, maybe three, we would not have lost if the same teams played this year. It takes a couple of seasons to wash away the lingering effects of the past. That's one reason why third years prove to be pivotal under top flight coaches; they now have their teams, not someone else's they are coaching. Yes, Hoke left some talent, a lot of talent. But he also left kids who did not win, lost confidence, and were not quite up to the task of closing on the road in tight games in challenging environments. That changes this year.
I see us losing one game, maybe two. But not three. And we beat Florida (by double digits due to the coaching differential alone and a defense that will surprise everyone but us) and Ohio State. I know most of you see Penn State as overrated, and I generally agree, but if they have any kind of success heading into our night game there, it's a game we could very well lose (like OSU did last year despite having a talented young team who clearly win on a neutral field). Just saying.
Bottom line is that Harbaugh makes his statement this year, not next year. That's the story most pundits are missing. And I can't wait for it to unfold, beginning on September 2nd.
Most importantly, the culture shift and full transition to Harbaugh football will be completed this season. We lost two games last year, maybe three, we would not have lost if the same teams played this year. It takes a couple of seasons to wash away the lingering effects of the past. That's one reason why third years prove to be pivotal under top flight coaches; they now have their teams, not someone else's they are coaching. Yes, Hoke left some talent, a lot of talent. But he also left kids who did not win, lost confidence, and were not quite up to the task of closing on the road in tight games in challenging environments. That changes this year.
I see us losing one game, maybe two. But not three. And we beat Florida (by double digits due to the coaching differential alone and a defense that will surprise everyone but us) and Ohio State. I know most of you see Penn State as overrated, and I generally agree, but if they have any kind of success heading into our night game there, it's a game we could very well lose (like OSU did last year despite having a talented young team who clearly win on a neutral field). Just saying.
Bottom line is that Harbaugh makes his statement this year, not next year. That's the story most pundits are missing. And I can't wait for it to unfold, beginning on September 2nd.
