MAILBAG: Submit your questions for Alex's piece
Haven't done a mailbag since January, so figured it's about time to do one again. Send in any questions you have on any topic you want answers to and I will do my best to answer as many as possible.
1. What does an offense that fully utilizes the talents of Blake Corum & Donovan Edwards look like?
2. If you were an opposing DC how would you scheme to stop Michigan this year?
What non-revenue sports are most interesting and exciting for the 23-24 year? Which ones have great fan experiences?
1) This year Michigan is in position to get to the super bowl. Next year, however, we are setup for quite a step down with how much quality attrition we will have at important positions. Barring picking up a huge piece or 2 from the transfer market, what can we expect next year as a win total? (i think 7/8).
2) What would happen to MGoBlog if they partnered with Dylan Mulvaney as their official spokesperson?
Or just make Bud Light the official MgoBlog beer.
Fully agree on No. 1. Obviously there's no need to talk about 2024 now, but it's kinda fun to look forward at this point, now that we have a pretty good sense of who's going to be on that team. Especially because, losing JJ, Blake, and maybe Donovan Edwards ... what sort of playing time do we expect their back-ups to get this year to step up next year? Who will those players be?
And on D, if we miss out on our big 2 CB's in recruiting this year (already missed on 1) and losing WIll Johnson, we are setup for deep shit barring a stud transfer.
We still have Will Johnson in 2024, right? I'm less concerned about the D next year because they'll still have some really good pieces to work with.
JJ has one more year and could stay. So he isn't definitely leaving.
I’d prefer John Mulaney
If you were a hot dog, would you eat yourself?
Is a hot dog really just a sandwich? Inquiring minds want to know.
Yes
Their original name was "weinerwurst sandwich".
I know I would. First I'd smother myself in brown mustard and relish. I'd be so delicious!
Follow up: Who wins in a fight? Ditka or a hurricane? But the hurricane is named Ditka.
mini-ditka or full-sized ditka? i go with the hurricane if it's fighting mini-ditka.
Koegel Frankfurt or not?
Are we going to beat OSU by 30 or by 40 this year?
The MGoBlog team has insisted, for quite a while now, that JJ's running ability is a game-changer. But the coaching staff doesn't always seem to agree -- they certainly didn't employ it much against TCU. How confident are you that the coaching staff will find the right balance between protecting JJ and letting him play?
Are we going to face issues like we did with the pitiful offense play calling in the 1st half of the semi-final last year where TCU sold against the run and we were completely unwilling to punish it on the fly? In other words, can Moore learn from his mistakes and prep the team and himself to make quick adjustments that don't wait until halftime or later?
Ironically it was our ability to punish OSU when they sold out against the run that allowed for all the big plays through the air. And when OSU adjusted to take that away, we counterpunched on the ground.
So we definitely can make adjustments on the fly - against TCU we chose not to unit it was too late for reasons unknown.
So we definitely can make adjustments on the fly - against TCU we chose not to unit it was too late for reasons unknown.
That 54-yard run by Edwards to start the game was essentially rat poison. It gave the coaches the false impression that we would be able to consistently run the ball. It was too late when they realized it wouldn't work.
I agree and that leads back to my question.
That was the gist of my question about JJ running as well. I feel like Michigan didn't use the weapons at its disposal against TCU out of a misplaced confidence that we'd be able to run the ball down their throat.
Obviously Harbaugh, et al, have a strong preference to establish a pounding running game, but what confidence do we have that they can recognize when that's not working and adjust, or even, when necessary, to start a game more aggressively to loosen up the defense?
(And yes, this exact same question could have been asked in 1975 or 1985 as well. Bo's impact on this program — which, of course, is now led by his favorite quarterback — remains hard to shake).
Recruiting question. A few weeks ago we were all giddy with our #1 overall class and finally seeing benefit from our recent on-field success. You couldn't go a day without a post about the ranking, the momentum, our efforts in Ohio, etc.
How do you feel things have played out since that time relative to expectations?
How do you feel about the class overall and how it will finish up?
Do you think this is a truly elite class or more of a "on the good side of what is typical?" (I'm asking because I like all of the good players we're getting but I don't see a Peppers, Gary, etc. elite guy who will be a sure game changer in it.
Did anyone on here actually think we would end up with the #1 class? I didn't but a top 7 yes but was hoping for more of a top 5. We just don't go after all the 5 stars others schools do and we don't have the pay to commit to our school going on like the others. To me Michigan seems to go for players who fit the program and recruits they like more then the sites. To me if a guy isn't a good fit to them then they won't offer or recruit no matter the talent do you seem to agree?
Why does the SEC always start their preseason and fall practices a week before the B1G? Probably anyone can answer this one.
"It just means more."
I don't think they start any earlier for fall practices. It is weird that their media day is in mid-July.
Is there any reason to fear (sorry for being paranoid) JJ regresses like prior QBs in year 2 starting under Harbaugh given recent history?
That's not quite fair, seems to me. McNamara didn't get the chance, and both Shea and Speight were injured (Shea on one of the very first plays of the year, if I remember).
I think it's a legitimate question whether Harbaugh is genuinely prepared to use JJ's many assets, when the team's offensive line and running backs are so good. But "regression"? That seems unlikely.
Of the three (and hopefully more) old Michigan games you watched with Craig, which one was your favorite?
What was that experience like? Did he call you things like "young whippersnapper" during the games?
How do you think defenses will approach Michigan's offense next year? Do you think it will be more of an Iowa approach (lots of zone coverages, light boxes), or an Illinois approach (stack the box, blitz, rely on corners to cover WRs and make the QB beat you)?
And if it is different, how will the offensive braintrust adjust? Will they still be as reticent to rely on JJ as they were last year?
The consensus of the MGoStaff seems to be that the football program is taking a “moneyball” approach to recruiting and player development, that has seemed to work out well the last few years. However, the last 25 years of college football seem to be dominated largely by programs who were able to hoard superior talent en route to national championships (Miami [YTM], Ohio State, USC, Texas, LSU, Alabama, Georgia). Is there any historical precedent for sustained success of the “moneyball” strategy on a national scale?
Question: Which one of the mgoblog staff is most different than their on-air/on-podcast persona?
Brian,
He actually skips to work singing he is one of the Lollipop Kids!
Why?
When's the last time expectations were this high? Even 2016 wasn't coming off what we've seen. Would you be disappointed if 2023 ends the same as 2022? If it ends slightly worse - say, it goes more like '21, with an in-conference loss but still a Championship and NYD playoff appearance? Is this truly a "Houston or bust" year?
Scary thought.
Expectations have not been this high since... 2007?
Last year? We had playoff hopes then, too.
If we make the playoff, I’m not sure how that could be construed as a disappointment.
agree on your latter point. On your former - i'd say we had hopes for the playoff last year, but I don't think I was as confident we could repeat. And the way we won far surpassed my expectations. I did not expect a 13-0 start.
Spring recap? Did I miss it?
Do we currently have an Alex Orji goal line package? If not, do you think there'd be any benefit to adding one?
Let's get some interesting trivia about the team: Who are the fastest and strongest players in each position group?
NIL is still a hurdle. Is there some efficiency that can be gained in the guys we go after? Perhaps some way the coaching can assess where they should spend their time and where they shouldn't? It seems like we get guys to 49% and then Florida or Miami or others swoop in. I don't lump Bama/Georgia in there, but.. teams that are total garbage just paying players to come go 5-7.
Somehow, even if we win a National Title (please?) I don't really see any of that changing.
So, accept that we are a Top 8-15 class yearly and get over it? Or are there other things UM can do to combat that specific aspect .. beyond "Academics, History, Stadium, Helmet, Culture, Winning"... which now appears to not be enough.
You seem to be implying that the only reason other schools get highly ranked recruits is because they pay them — which reflects the kind of arrogance other programs often accuse us of. After all, geographical proximity, personal contacts, or even personal/emotional rooting interests often play legitimate roles
More importantly, let's not forget Michigan's rigorous (compared to some schools) academic standards. You want more incredibly talented kids who are less interested in studying chemistry than preparing for the NFL to come to Michigan? Then stop requiring them to take real classes.
I, for one, love that Michigan is able to enforce more-or-less the same academic standards for its athletes that Stanford, Vanderbilt, Duke, Northwestern, etc., do — while absolutely kicking those schools' asses on the field. That is the Michigan difference, my friend, and I have no interest in lowering our standards just to get more NFL prospects.
What is the hockey team's ceiling now that Fantilli is gone to Columbus?
On the surface, I do not like that sentence.
I feel like there has been a lot of hype Penn State and a lot of that is based on the assumed rise of Drew Allar this offseason. I was left quite underwhelmed by his second half play against UM last year, but I can also recognize that he got thrown into a road game in which they were getting clobbered (on the stat sheet more than the scoreboard admittedly) and were putting a lot on his plate as a freshman.
Questions: As the opponent scout guy at MGo do you think Drew Allar is going to be really good this year (All BIG 2nd team at least), and if so (hot take question here) is our game in Happy Valley more likely to determine the Division Champ than THE Game? I'm worried I'm not scared enough about that Penn State game.
Alex, if you were a hot dog, would you eat yourself?
I know I would.
the ghost of Harry Caray keeps popping up in this thread somehow