Quick Turnaround for the Football Team?
Keeping in mind that I tend to skew optimistic when it comes to all of my favorite sports teams, I believe the Michigan Football team can be quickly turned around, assuming an effective coaching staff can be secured.
Looking first at the offense...
The team will return nine or ten (depending on what Funchess does) of its offensive starters. A quick review of the current depth chart also reveals that there is only one senior back-up (Joey B). So, we are returning 19 or 20 of the 22 players on the two-deep. Plus we get Ty Isaac on the field.
Has this team underperformed offensively? Yes. But, has there been improvement in certain areas (i.e., the line and the rushing game)? Yes. The reality is that next year's two-deep is going to be stocked with juniors and seniors who were 4* and 5* players coming out of high school. It is difficult to believe that these players, who were highly coveted by other top programs, are all busts.
With the right coaching and scheme, the offense should be able to put points on the board. QB is a major question mark, of course...
Turning to the defensive side of the line, the story is similar.
The team loses three starters...Beyer, Ryan and Taylor. Plus Hollowell off of the two-deep. So, including a fifth DB as part of the depth chart, the team loses four of 24 players on the entire two-deep. And we get Peppers and Morgan back from injury.
In summary, the team loses the following starters, with the replacements indicated...
Gardner (?), Beyer (Poggi or Charlton), Ryan (Morgan or Ross or McCray) and Taylor (Peppers or Stribling or Countess).
Other than Gardner, there are easily identifiable replacements for each of the four.
The entire 46-player two-deep will be packed with 4* and 5* players going in to their 3rd, 4th and 5th years. It is true that stars don't always translate in to success. But it just seems impossible that this staff missed the mark on so many players. With the dozens of highly ranked players who will be on the roster next year, there has to be 35 of them who can excel on gameday. There is talent there. It has to be an issue of coaching.
Plus, there will not have to be the type of roster rebuild that was necessary in 2011 and 2012.
With the right coaching, schemes, and motivation,I believe this can be a very successful (10-2 or so) team in the first year of the new regime.
November 24th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
I understand people being very skeptical of the QB position for next year based on what we've seen. I'm actually optimistic about it for several reasons:
- QB performance is linked to confidence. Better OL play and FIRST TEAM REPS will have a huge impact on Shane's (or whoever wins the job) confidence
- New coach / coordinator (likely) can make a big difference in player development
- Running game is improving...can take a lot of pressure off QB
- Another year with mostly the same OL together
- Again, FIRST TEAM REPS is huge for the newbie.
- IF Harbaugh comes, who better to develop QBs?
I think we're fine at QB with the right changes.
November 24th, 2014 at 11:29 AM ^
QB is the huge question mark, and I am not sure any "QB-Whisperer" can make that much difference with Morris/Bellomy/Speight with one spring and one fall. However, if we can get the right Grad Transfer (Kevin Hogan from Stanford?), our chances are that much better. Otherwise, starting Malzone from Day 1 may be the best option.
November 24th, 2014 at 12:09 PM ^
Most scholarship QBs in Big 5 conferences can come in, even as freshmen, and not completely shit the bed like Shane did against Minnesota or like Bellomy did against whoever he's ever played against. I'm talking just basic game management competence like not fumbling the snap, not throwing the ball directly into the chest of defenders, and making easy completions to wide open receivers. We've had such a weird voodoo situation surrounding QBs that it's hard to remember that under normal circumstances (i.e., not under Hoke's staff), a QB can come in and do okay right out of the gate.
November 24th, 2014 at 12:33 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 5:41 PM ^
And by the way: the 2x INTs/TOs to TDs ratio thing has stood here for seven years...we used to be QB U. Everyone from Elvis to Brady having some sort of pro career. But none since Henne.
Unlike OP, I'm usually a pessimist, so take this with the opposite grain of salt, but what I see is that without a QB, an otherwise talent-loaded seasoned squad will still struggle even to reach mediocrity, even if saint Jim does come home to coach (please do come home, tho!)
November 24th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^
He was hated and booed in 49'er-land before a certain head coach came, improved his game management and made him a gadzillion bucks with the Chiefs.
November 24th, 2014 at 11:46 AM ^
happen.
1. We must a passing game. I still do believe Morris will be the answer. He looks comfortable in the pocket but his accuracy and decision making are poor. But he has the arm talent to be the man. So if he dedicate his self to getting stronger and making smarter decisions on the field he will succeed.
2. Our O-line needs to continually improve and get stronger.
3. WRs and DBs need to hit the weight room. Canteen, Harris, Lewis, Stribling, Watson, Clark, Countess, Norfleet, and even Chesson.
4. Mario and Taco need to step up to fill the roles of Beyer and Clark.
5. Kicking needs to improve mightly.
November 24th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
this, seems to be--
The Emerging Consensus . . .
But Im sure the R2-nistas would Disagree . . . just Look At What The Spread-O has done at Arz
November 24th, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
We have an absurdly talented roster, going by recruiting profiles alone. I would be curious to see how the number of four/five stars we have on our roster for next season compares to other programs nationally. I would guess we're in the top ten.
We have the talent and the resources to win ten games next year. It's just a matter of finding somebody to lead.
November 24th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
coming back and the nice schedule, I can see a quick turn around if JH comes. Possibly a nice turnaround similar to what Hoke saw his first year...team full of upperclassman.
November 24th, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
Depending on the new coach, assuming there is a new one, and depending on attrition (some players might not like the change especially if the HC is a true disciplinarian ) and depending on what QB emerges, I doubt you are going to see a quick turn around. People keep talking about talent on the team. Do you mean talent defined by recruiting rankings? All I have seen is a lot of football mistakes and players not stepping up. That's not talent. There needs to be a huge attitude adjustment and that's not easy to do in one season. But let the team and coaches, who ever they may be next year, prove me wrong.
November 24th, 2014 at 1:35 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
This idea that attrition occurs if a disciplinarian is hired may seem logical, but I think it is a shallow assumption. These kids are craving discipline. They know when/if they are getting away with something, and deep down they resent it. I don't think you'll see any attrition should such a staff be in their future. I think you'd see a very positive reaction.
November 24th, 2014 at 3:13 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 3:18 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 3:37 PM ^
I expect a very quick turnaround if Harbaugh is the coach. He is set up the same way that Urban Meyer and Nick Saban were set up at their past couple of jobs. Year 1 might be an up-and-down affair with some frustrating moments and a mediocre record, but 2016 will be a wrecking crew.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^
This year's team, and I have made this analogy at least a dozen times, reminds me so much of the terrible 2002 MSU squad. Both teams were piss poorly coached. The 2003 MSU team improved by four wins when John L. Smith took over, and JLS wasn't even a good coach. I expect something on par with that next year if we make a good coaching hire.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:19 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 6:10 PM ^