2021 is FINALLY the Year
Harbaugh stays, readjusts the coaching staff and modernizes the offense by relinquishing offensive style preferences. O State loses a ton -
OFFENSIVE LOSSES
1. QB Justin Fields
2. RB Trey Sermon
3. WR Chris Olave (will leave early)
4. TE Luke Farrell
5. TE Jake Hausmann
6. OL Josh Myers (will leave early)
7. OL Wyatt Davis (will leave early)
8. OL Thayer Munford
DEFENSIVE LOSSES
1. DB Shaun Wade (will leave early)
2. DB Marcus Williamson
3. LB Tuf Borland
4. LB Pete Werner
5. LB Baron Browning
6. DL Jonathon Cooper
7. DL Haskell Garrett
8. DL Tyler Friday (may leave early)
9. DL Tommy Togiai (may leave early)
SPECIAL TEAMS LOSSES
1. P Drue Chrisman
2. K Blake Haubeil
3. KR Demario McCall
4. LS Bradley Robinson
For any team, that is a ton to overcome. There is a ton of production walking out of that door after Bama beats them. Staff members will also leave if Urban takes the Jacksonville job, including their strength coach who is highly regarded. Justin Fields 2.0 isn't anywhere to be found with their current QBs or incoming guys. Master Teague, Steele Chambers and Marcus Crowley aren't reliable as bell cow running backs. We saw what happens to Garrett Wilson without Chris Olave in the B1G Championship game.
On defense, there are no more Bosa brothers or Chase Young that will line up on the d-line. Their secondary outside of Wade is atrocious. They have to replace ALL of their starting LB's. None of their DT depth can put up the performances their current DT's have. There is no leadership left after this season on that side of the ball.
Add in what will be continuous whispers about Day going to the NFL, losing coaching staff and support staff to the NFL and elsewhere in the college football landscape, and we have the perfect recipe to defeat them once and for all in 2021. I firmly believe O State can lose a few games next year and the East will be up for grabs. THIS IS OUR YEAR.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:19 PM ^
Please be true, please be true, please be true...
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:22 PM ^
It will be. We get them in at home this next season. They play at Minnesota, at Indiana, at Nebraska, and play Oregon. That's a lot to overcome, especially early in the season with an unproven roster.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:43 PM ^
Right, because we’ve totally owned them in the Big House this last decade or so.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:52 PM ^
Looking over you posting history - I am smelling one of the most pathetic types of trolls: the fake Michigan fan who is on a sports blog as a closeted osu fan. To your defense, I can understand the shame of being associated with that university to some extent, though.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:00 PM ^
That's an odd claim. I guess you think I'm playing a long con here since I've been a member of this board for two years and a lurker for a bit longer? You say what you want to, I'll keep supporting this team.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:21 PM ^
Your lack of denial suggests there may still be a shred of integrity left - hold on to it! Just because your cheer for Ohio State does not mean that you have to assimilate with the values of Meyer and company!
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:29 PM ^
It appears you may be having some major personal issues which you are taking out on this board. Best of luck to you, your shrinking hairline, and your growing waistline.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:33 PM ^
? Boom!! Nailed another one - you guys are just so predictable, a failed attempt at a personal shot! It’s OK, I cannot expect an osu fan to appreciate some self-deprecating humor!
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:34 PM ^
Imagine giving yourself an internet high five. Male pattern baldness AND being alone? I'm so sorry, sir.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:51 PM ^
you know what, i think pete might have nailed it. you are officially 'outed'. did you go to ohio, or are just a fan?
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:11 PM ^
You’re a closet OSU troll. Eat shit, asshole.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:30 PM ^
No Bosa brother or Chase Young but there is a Zach Harrison and Jack Sawyer. Sermon is leaving but they’re bringing in one of the best running backs in the country. TreVeyon is a legit 5 star who could hit 1,000 his freshman year. They’re going to have as many NFL receivers are Alabama with the classes that they’ve brought in. You can make any QB look good with multiple number one receivers just ask Mac Jones, a 3 star.
Their defense won’t be great, but it’ll still be one of the better ones in the Big Ten. The thing is with the receivers they have they’ll still put up over 40 a game. Hartline has loaded them up. The defense I do believe will take a step back. But what cornerback does Michigan have that’s going to stop those WRs? Their biggest strength will be Michigan’s biggest weakness next season.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:20 PM ^
Just gonna assume this is parody
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:21 PM ^
Definitely not. I truly believe this. Maybe it's the newness of 2021 and hope that this year will be better, but when I actually look at their roster it is clear that the opportunity is there.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:23 PM ^
I remember 2019 when we had a ton of returning production and OSU was replacing a bunch of players including their record-setting quarterback. We proceeded to shit the bed and OSU spent most of the season looking like the best team in the country.
Harbaugh isn't good enough to beat OSU, plain and simple.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:23 PM ^
or Heavy Drinking !
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:24 PM ^
as much as we'd all like this to be true, i present to you the shower of 5*'s coming into columbus to replace all those dudes...
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:47 PM ^
Yes, they don't rebuild they reload! Something that we USE to do.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:25 PM ^
Maybe they don’t roll through the regular season but it sure as hell won’t be a Harbaugh coached Michigan team that upsets them.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:01 PM ^
I think Harbaugh gets the message and the University hires excellent assistant coaches. The introduction of new schemes, returning starters, and new blood will be a good formula.
January 3rd, 2021 at 11:06 PM ^
One small problem there... the university doesn't hire the assistants, Harbaugh does.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:25 PM ^
"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all"
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:28 PM ^
Does this delusion ever get tiring?
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:49 PM ^
I’m not delusional, all three of us in our head agree. And I can prove this but since the moon told me not to tell, and it’s watching me right now, you’re going to have to take my word for it... I do get tired of hearing all the yelling in my isolated, padded square room.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:05 PM ^
User name/avatar checks out
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:31 PM ^
This post brought to you by crack cocaine
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:02 PM ^
It's better than meth.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:49 PM ^
Don’t vote for crack, vote for smack!!
~Chris rock
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:31 PM ^
Have you seen the holes in our roster? Have you looked at the schedule? Next year will be another down year. Roster won’t shape up until 2022.
What’s your honest assessment? 6-6 or 7-5 regular season?
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:35 PM ^
9-3. I think our defense gets better with the introduction of new schematics. Our first four games are all at home, and we have a real chance of going 4-0 or 3-1. We may lose to Wisky, but I think we beat IU and Penn State. I think it comes down to the O State game but it's there.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:39 PM ^
You're smoking the good stuff if you think they're going to win more than 7 games next year. Of course I could already tell that based on your OP.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:58 PM ^
I know people are traumatized by the strangest season in college football history, but don't you think that's a bit extreme? Harbaugh won 10, 10, 8, and 9 games in the four years before this one. This thing where we view 8 wins as virtually unattainable is just silly. Our team was not good at all in 2017 and it managed 8 wins.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:00 PM ^
That team had a top 10 defense and a strong power running game to lean on. 2021's team will have neither of those.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:03 PM ^
I can say with near certainty that our offense next year will be better than the one we put on the field in 2017. Higdon was good, but our quarterback situation was dire.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:15 PM ^
Wouldn't be so sure. Milton looked very O'Korn-esque, McNamara is only proven against Rutgers, and McCarthy is a true freshman. Our QB situation could be very bad next year and our running game has been a weak point under Gattis.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:02 PM ^
Past win total is irrelevant in determining future win total.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:08 PM ^
So you don't think it matters that over the course of Jim Harbaugh's entire head coaching career last year is an EXTREME outlier? That means nothing?
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:30 PM ^
No I don't because
A. It's not an extreme outlier, his last team in SF took a big dip as well
B. This 2020 team is his least talented by far and is losing some of it's best talent for next year.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:44 PM ^
We’ll be lucky to put up 7 wins next year
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:53 PM ^
The scheme isn't the main problem. We don't have a D line. The rest of the D looks pretty bad at this point too.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:46 PM ^
We need players who buy into the system, whatever that is.
November 12th, 2021 at 9:03 AM ^
Still standing by this prediction! GO BLUE!
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:42 PM ^
I feel like The talent is actually there. The proper coaching is what’s missing. The secondary has 4* everywhere. Hinton and Mazi need to take that next step. Hoping some new coaching on that side of the ball will help.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:03 PM ^
This is where I am, too. The talent is definitely there. I'm excited to see how the team manages the off season.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:09 PM ^
There is seriously one team in the entire conference that will have more talent than us next year. People act like we have MAC talent or something.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:38 PM ^
As if that's somehow different compared to any other year?
January 3rd, 2021 at 8:39 PM ^
I negated the downvote because this is absolutely true. Doing less with more is a rich Michigan tradition going back decades. Plenty of talent but very rarely the discipline, preparation and big plays at the right time to complement the talent.
January 4th, 2021 at 10:10 AM ^
Although the roster has some holes, I'm not convinced they are as significant as our 2-4 record might suggest, because I'm not convinced the best players at every position were actually the ones playing. I'm going to go with 8-4/9-3.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:33 PM ^
So your entire premise is based on OSU losing players/coaches to attrition? I fail to see how that alters recent UM football trajectory?