First off, for all the remarks we post about how terrible James Franklin is, well he has accomplished something Michigan has not in a decade, despite sanctions. He has won a BIG title fair and square. We can complain about their cupcake schedule, etc but the bottom line is they beat both OSU & Iowa when they needed to and ended up going 9-1 in the BIG. That is impressive. Major kudos to them. Now, on to Michigan and our challenges. PSU was a team that kept improving every week - we seem to have a knack of peaking at mid-season and then just fading away into oblivion. McSorley was money in the last 5-6 games. You have to have a stud QB in this league that can carry the load if you want to win. You also have to have a RB that is a threat which can open up a passing game. I think our enthusiasm in Michigan this year was slightly flawed:
Net net, I find it really impressive that Michigan won 10 games, and maybe 11 with the offense we have - that kudos should go to JH. He made the most of the team we had but our seniors just failed to deliver in big games. Was reading a stat about how we had ZERO passing yards in the 4th quarter against Iowa and OSU. We had 5 total yards in the 4th quarter against OSU. Darboh had 5 drops in the 2 losses. Butt had 4. Chesson had 4. These guys are freaking seniors - once again complete lack of mental toughness and I think it's a talent gap. JH got them to play at their peak but their peak is not that great and I expect neither will do great in the NFL. As for Peppers versus Woodson - well not even close anymore. Woodson single-handedly won us games - I have yet to see a game where Peppers really determined the outcome of a close game? Not a single one - he never showed up well in big games. His biggest moment was the 2 point try return against MSU when that game was already over. Talented dude, does not have the ability to carry a team on his shoulder.
I am personally very optimistic about next year actually - I think we will be better then this year - I think we will have better skilled players and the type of players that JH wants - it will be Year 3 in his system. I also think 2018 will be the year where it would not shock me to use being ranked #1 preseason.
Now for playoffs - I go on and off on this. I think you should win a conf championship to make the playoffs. Last year, OSU was clearly the best team in the BIG but MSU went. This year PSU may be the 3rd best team in the BIG but honestly they deserve a spot. I think the playoffs are a mess but all said and done, I expect Saban is going to stream roll through it.
- Our ability to score points was JH's play calling - he can run so many different plays in so many formations. We scored because of awesome play calling, not because of offensive talent.
- Our offensive talent is average at best. Let's put it this way - other then Butt, none of our offensive players would be starting in any of Carr's teams.
- Our seniors and players don't have the mental fortitude to sustain sudden change. Our seniors loved to talk a lot of shit but when it came time to deliver, they always failed. If you talk the talk, walk the walk.
Net net, I find it really impressive that Michigan won 10 games, and maybe 11 with the offense we have - that kudos should go to JH. He made the most of the team we had but our seniors just failed to deliver in big games. Was reading a stat about how we had ZERO passing yards in the 4th quarter against Iowa and OSU. We had 5 total yards in the 4th quarter against OSU. Darboh had 5 drops in the 2 losses. Butt had 4. Chesson had 4. These guys are freaking seniors - once again complete lack of mental toughness and I think it's a talent gap. JH got them to play at their peak but their peak is not that great and I expect neither will do great in the NFL. As for Peppers versus Woodson - well not even close anymore. Woodson single-handedly won us games - I have yet to see a game where Peppers really determined the outcome of a close game? Not a single one - he never showed up well in big games. His biggest moment was the 2 point try return against MSU when that game was already over. Talented dude, does not have the ability to carry a team on his shoulder.
I am personally very optimistic about next year actually - I think we will be better then this year - I think we will have better skilled players and the type of players that JH wants - it will be Year 3 in his system. I also think 2018 will be the year where it would not shock me to use being ranked #1 preseason.
Now for playoffs - I go on and off on this. I think you should win a conf championship to make the playoffs. Last year, OSU was clearly the best team in the BIG but MSU went. This year PSU may be the 3rd best team in the BIG but honestly they deserve a spot. I think the playoffs are a mess but all said and done, I expect Saban is going to stream roll through it.
