Hurst coming back would make UM a very different team next

[Reality Man]

year. It would be a huge gain. Can't overstate how big of an impact having Hurst and Mone back plus Gary would offset so many losses on the line with Wormley, Charlton, Glasgow. UM will still have McCray back and losing Peppers off the linebacker core will hurt blitzing and perimeter stuff but probably will help out the run defense.

Cole coming back would also be huge but as mentioned before to move him to LT and then get a guy like Wilson plus Kugler/Dawson fighting it out at Ctr with Onwenu and Bredeson at guards. That is a pretty decent lineup. Probably selling Ulizio short but I think the weak link on the line is going to be at left tackle without Cole. Newsome isn't coming back next year.

Those two guys coming back would make this team a legit Big Ten title contender. In a strange way, I think this team may be overall a more balanced and complete team next year. Not a better defense but a team that can do everything well but not necessarily great.



RM

 

[ArrowheadBlue]

You've ignored exploring the loss of the entire secondary. Yes, there's a couple of sophomores that should step up and a tested safety but geez UM loses a lot from that group. I think the linebackers will be quicker overall and agree with the OL assumption.

Had such a great team this year it's a shame how things played out.

 

[anon_sg4bgyiuileo1]

We lost one game by 1 on a last second field goal. We lost the other in double OT.

I get the disappointment, but it has been a pretty remarkable year.

 

[DrCorona]

You've ignored exploring the loss of the entire secondary. Yes, there's a couple of sophomores that should step up and a tested safety but geez UM loses a lot from that group. I think the linebackers will be quicker overall and agree with the OL assumption.

Had such a great team this year it's a shame how things played out.

Excellent point. With today's game being soooo pass happy & spread out, an awesome secondary is so huge, and a average or less than average secondary gets exposed so often.

 

[GoBlue_since1985]

Im pretty stoked just thinking of next year and how it can be. Excited to see some newer faces on the field and see how well they do compared to those leaving this year.
But first, I wanna beat FSU. Send our seniors out on a good win.
Then Im excited about national signing day and then the draft. Which one comes first?

 

[detroitjohn]

year. It would be a huge gain. Can't overstate how big of an impact having Hurst and Mone back plus Gary would offset so many losses on the line with Wormley, Charlton, Glasgow. UM will still have McCray back and losing Peppers off the linebacker core will hurt blitzing and perimeter stuff but probably will help out the run defense.

Cole coming back would also be huge but as mentioned before to move him to LT and then get a guy like Wilson plus Kugler/Dawson fighting it out at Ctr with Onwenu and Bredeson at guards. That is a pretty decent lineup. Probably selling Ulizio short but I think the weak link on the line is going to be at left tackle without Cole. Newsome isn't coming back next year.

Those two guys coming back would make this team a legit Big Ten title contender. In a strange way, I think this team may be overall a more balanced and complete team next year. Not a better defense but a team that can do everything well but not necessarily great.



RM

Very much agreed, getting Hurst back would be huge and would give space to develop 2-3 freshmen that will step in the year after. I'm hopeful he returns, but we'll see.

I'm mostly concerned about cornerbacks next year. Kinnell and the FL freshmen have both looked very good especially vs the run. We lose experience, but may gain toughness and ability on the line. But at CB, I see no one behind Stribbling and Lewis and that really concerns me.

 

[Reality Man]

Very much agreed, getting Hurst back would be huge and would give space to develop 2-3 freshmen that will step in the year after. I'm hopeful he returns, but we'll see.

I'm mostly concerned about cornerbacks next year. Kinnell and the FL freshmen have both looked very good especially vs the run. We lose experience, but may gain toughness and ability on the line. But at CB, I see no one behind Stribbling and Lewis and that really concerns me.

I believe the secondary won't be as good but UM will have some guys back there at both safety and corner. Some young talent. Will be clearly a concern a learning curve but the talent will be there to at least compete and develop.



RM

 

[detroitjohn]

I have now idea who are cornerbacks will be, Kinnell and Metallus could be just fine at safety.

 

[tarun262]

Don't forget guys - 3rd year is when a coach really has a chance to show what his recruits can do. Unlike Hoke who's teams got worse every year, even Rich Rod showed improvement in that department. JH went 11-1 at SD State his 3rd year. He went 8-5 (2nd in the PAC) his 2nd year. He went 12-4 in the Pros though that does not count since you don't really recruit. I think the 3rd year is really the money year when you see what resolve your players have.

While we lose some talented players we also had some average seniors that were at their ceiling. The biggest loss by far will be Lewis - more so then Peppers, Stribling, Butt, etc. He was the best CB we have had since Woodson. The dude is going to do very well in the Pros.

All other positions - we have talent that I think will rise up. If we get folks like Isiah Wilson and Harris, some of those kids will start Day 1 as well especially since most of these folks plan to enroll in January.

I expect 9+ wins next year.

 

[Reality Man]

I have now idea who are cornerbacks will be, Kinnell and Metallus could be just fine at safety.

Legit concern. Won't try and minimize but UM will have plenty of talent at corner. Let me show you the way .

St. Juste coming in. Very highly thought of now. Maybe Hicks (former ND commit? Love his film. Very physical and maybe Thomas. All young guys so that is a problem.

Here is what we have on the roster besides Watson. Long and Hill should be viable. Clearly UM is going to be talented but vulnerable.

K.Washington*
D. Long!
L. Hill!

 

[maelfan]

Football is like politics. Very simple. "It's the economy stupid" is replaced by "its the offensive line,stupid".

All great football teams start with the offensive line.Yes you need some skill. Yes you need defense.

Dozens and dozens of pro and college teams have proven this. UMs team in 1997, as great as the defense was had a killer O line and that is as much if not more of a reason why we won the NC than the great defense.

UMs best teams since Bo's arrival have had absolute top notch, not just great O Lines.
1980, 1985-1992, 1997, 1999 and 2000, 2006. Not all NC type teams but excellent, excellent teams that stumbled for reasons beyond the great O Lines.

From coaching, recruiting, line shuffling, etc., this has to be priority one as our lines have been subpar for almost 10 straight years with a couple exceptions.

I believe Harbaugh and staffs he will work with can be a top five type team every year once this gets fixed for good.

 

[GoBlue_since1985]

Legit concern. Won't try and minimize but UM will have plenty of talent at corner. Let me show you the way .

St. Juste coming in. Very highly thought of now. Maybe Hicks (former ND commit? Love his film. Very physical and maybe Thomas. All young guys so that is a problem.

Here is what we have on the roster besides Watson. Long and Hill should be viable. Clearly UM is going to be talented but vulnerable.

K.Washington*
D. Long!
L. Hill!

Glad you mentioned Washington .
He was a 3 star cb recruit from down here in bama who was originally committed to Cal, I believe. JH seemed to have high praise for him. So im excited to see how he does.

 

[Duo]

Any team with 41 seniors will undergo huge change the following year. The poster expecting a 9-3 season is realistic. Some things take time no matter what you do. That's part of the beauty of CFB.

Having said that things are a little different at Alabama where they go after players that aren't even teenagers yet and have various ways of influencing players and their families.

 

[scfanblue]

Harbaugh also talks to pre teens as well. All Major programs do that. Michigan will be good again next year and I doubt they lose 3 games. If they do then the bowl will be the 3rd loss. Losing over 40 seniors (ones who had an impact) will hurt some but don't forget that this group played for two years under Hoke and it was terrible and Harbaugh HAD to remove the country club work ethic and losing mentality out of the group. He did a great job no doubt BUT having the swagger in games in big games is taught on the field and to me they collapsed in the 4th quarter in Columbus after dominating 3 quarters of play. This was the mental game in a high stakes game like when the OL couldn't muster the importance of making that block to ensure we get a first down to run out the clock. Instead, they shit the bed. This next group has learned to carry the swagger and how to close out the big games. OSU lost a huge amount of talent last year and it didn't affect them one bit. Why? The swagger they learned under Meyer. They are back in the playoffs once again. Michigan will be good as these players now are Harbaugh recruits who have winning ingrained in their minds. In other words-They have the swagger and they will play like it.

 

[PharmD Blue]

Exactly. Should expect nothing worse than another double-digit win season next year.

 

[Duo]

Harbaugh also talks to pre teens as well. All Major programs do that. Michigan will be good again next year and I doubt they lose 3 games. If they do then the bowl will be the 3rd loss. Losing over 40 seniors (ones who had an impact) will hurt some but don't forget that this group played for two years under Hoke and it was terrible and Harbaugh HAD to remove the country club work ethic and losing mentality out of the group. He did a great job no doubt BUT having the swagger in games in big games is taught on the field and to me they collapsed in the 4th quarter in Columbus after dominating 3 quarters of play. This was the mental game in a high stakes game like when the OL couldn't muster the importance of making that block to ensure we get a first down to run out the clock. Instead, they shit the bed. This next group has learned to carry the swagger and how to close out the big games. OSU lost a huge amount of talent last year and it didn't affect them one bit. Why? The swagger they learned under Meyer. They are back in the playoffs once again. Michigan will be good as these players now are Harbaugh recruits who have winning ingrained in their minds. In other words-They have the swagger and they will play like it.

SCfan.......

When I hear you talk about "swagger" it takes me back to Miami in the day when they ran off 6 NC's. Of course, that all began to end when a rap star ran onto the field with a fist full of cash and was later found to be paying bounties for exceptionally hard hits (today's targeting+). The final nail in the coffin was when the infamous "booster" Nevin Shapiro went to the pokey for a whole laundry list of illegal activities. Ahh....hum, I digress. Best be careful with that whole "swagger" thing as it can sometimes be a 2 edge sword. CFB fans didn't call Miami "Thug U" for nothing.............just sayin.

 

[GoBlue_since1985]

SCfan.......

When I hear you talk about "swagger" it takes me back to Miami in the day when they ran off 6 NC's. Of course, that all began to end when a rap star ran onto the field with a fist full of cash and was later found to be paying bounties for exceptionally hard hits (today's targeting+). The final nail in the coffin was when the infamous "booster" Nevin Shapiro went to the pokey for a whole laundry list of illegal activities. Ahh....hum, I digress. Best be careful with that whole "swagger" thing as it can sometimes be a 2 edge sword. CFB fans didn't call Miami "Thug U" for nothing.............just sayin.

Michigan > Miami

 

[scfanblue]

I hated Miami in the 1980's and Jimmy Johnson is the one that allowed that environment to turn into the Thug crap which culminated in the stealing of federal Pell Grant money in the early 1990's. Harbaugh is not Jimmy Johnson and the university environment at Michigan would never allow that type of crap. In Columbus, however, they have embraced it to win at whatever cost it takes.

 

[detroitjohn]

Legit concern. Won't try and minimize but UM will have plenty of talent at corner. Let me show you the way .

St. Juste coming in. Very highly thought of now. Maybe Hicks (former ND commit? Love his film. Very physical and maybe Thomas. All young guys so that is a problem.

Here is what we have on the roster besides Watson. Long and Hill should be viable. Clearly UM is going to be talented but vulnerable.

K.Washington*
D. Long!
L. Hill!

Add Ambry Thomas to that list, a huge commitment and addition to our defense (and that's where I think he plays the most-also at return and probably some WR work).

 

[DrCorona]

Add Ambry Thomas to that list, a huge commitment and addition to our defense (and that's where I think he plays the most-also at return and probably some WR work).

I'm starting the Ambry for Heisman campaign!! Lockdown DB with #2 like impact on returns & TD receptions!

 

[GoBlue_since1985]

I'm starting the Ambry for Heisman campaign!! Lockdown DB with #2 like impact on returns & TD receptions!

The state of Michigan has some really awesome recruits coming out of it this year, like Ambry Thomas and DPJ.

 

[Sleeping Storm]

It sucks but I think Brady jokes last two seasons here killed any national championships hopes. Even big ten title hopes (but we have harbaugh so I'll believe this team can do anything)

I'll be fine with a big ten title for the next two years