Revisiting Pre-Season Expectations

Submitted by swdodgimus on
With the Washington Post jerking it's knee towards our first year national championship in the wake of Mormon Destruction 2015, I wanted to step back, take a breath, and revisit my expectations for the year. I said 9-3 with Michigan stealing a win in Utah. Without that, I said 8-4. I saw losses to one of the rivals, Penn St, and Minnesota. With our dominant defense emerging with a sometimes competent offense, buoyed by a vastly improved line, I now say definitely 9-3, even with the Utah loss. We're not losing to the two YSU's (Yakeyy Sax Universities), but weird things happen in Happy Valley. What say you all? How are the recent results dictating your current expectations?
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MChem83

September 30th, 2015 at 9:06 PM ^

We're still underdogs to MSU and OSU, and our offense is not good enough to win all of the rest of the games we're supposed to.  Rudock has at least one more bad game in him, I'm afraid.  I'd put 9-3 as a bit more likely than 7-5 at this point, though.

Joined: 04/17/2014

MGoPoints: 414

LSAClassOf2000

September 30th, 2015 at 9:08 PM ^

Like numerous other people here, I was firmly in the 8-4 camp back in August, but like many guesses based on precious little data - merely tidbits about the improvement seen in practice - I was willing to change my projection and I think I might right now. If they can keep this up, especially on defense, 9-3 is definitely not out of the question. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130827

ThadMattasagoblin

September 30th, 2015 at 9:23 PM ^

I said 9-3 before the season. Now I think we'll go 10-2. I didn't really get the 6-6 or 7-5 people before the season when we brought back our entire defense and OL and brought in all star coaching and Peppers. I'm a little surprised at how good the WRs are. The run game being improved is about where I expected it. I expected Rudock to struggle but be servicable. I didn't expect the big ten to be so bad and Ohio and MSU to not be as good as last year.

Joined: 08/24/2011

MGoPoints: 64335

victors2000

September 30th, 2015 at 9:27 PM ^

a return to relevance. A return to good football, a return to Michigan football, in whatever scheme it may arrive. We got that. In spades. Sure, the team will be better as the Harbaugh regime draws on - Lord willing - but why pump the brakes?

What's the purpose? 

We got the coach for the job, we are already seeing results. We have some solid players. We get better each game. Do I have my maize colored glasses on because I don't see 4 losses. This team has some holes but one of them is not competence, from both the players and the coaches; I think we will out perform teams, make less mistakes, and gain winning advantages. This lands more squarely on the shoulders of Jake RuDock but I thihk he'll be up to the task.

Go Blue.

Joined: 03/21/2009

MGoPoints: 12972

The Mad Hatter

September 30th, 2015 at 9:29 PM ^

Mainly because I think the rest of our schedule is pretty easy, save for OSU. I'm betting MSU is way overrated and even Hoke played OSU down to the wire. 10-2 at worst if we lose a wtf game against Indiana or something.

Joined: 02/17/2015

MGoPoints: 112109

mgobleu

September 30th, 2015 at 9:36 PM ^

implanted this awful feeling in me that old tendencies will resurface and they'll cock up a game they shouldn't. Then again, I don't think this staff will let that happen. I still feel like we lose a close one to osu and sparty is a toss up. Either 9-3 or 10-2. If we're talking outside shots, I feel like I'd rather put my money on 11-1 than 8-4.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 38428

mi93

September 30th, 2015 at 10:14 PM ^

I like the (mostly) tempered enthusiasm of the board.  I too thought 8-4 was a successful year and am now only up to 9-3.

College football is so fun - mostly because the transitive property simply doesn't apply.  Let's face it, nobody gets his team up for one game quite like Mike D'Antoni in East Lansing.  (I'm not talking about one-game strategy like Satan, er, Saban, just the emotional, "nobody-respects-us" meme that gets Sparty frothing.)  That game isn't a lock.

I like our chances in every game the rest of the season far more than I did 5 weeks ago, but I'm on board with tempered enthusiasm.

Joined: 11/15/2008

MGoPoints: 30625

uminks

October 1st, 2015 at 12:06 AM ^

8-4 with a win against MSU at home and a 9-3 upside possible. Now I'm in the 10-2 camp with a tough loss against OSU. I thought MN and PSU would be better teams but I think Michigan can handle both on the road. We will throttle Northwestern at home. I can't really put it past Harbaugh winning out and beating OSU at home! It would be great to get into the playoffs at 11-1 or 12-1 after beating who ever wins the B1G west!

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32197

steve sharik

October 1st, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^

I had just heard Marcus Ray saying the running game would be "on point," and said if that were the case, we'd be a 10+ win team because Rudock would not turn it over and our special teams and defense would both be top ten units. Given that, I thought the only toss-up (i.e. 50% win probability) games would be Utah, Minnesota, Sparty, and Ohio.

Joined: 08/08/2009

MGoPoints: 13860

MichiganMAN47

October 1st, 2015 at 5:22 AM ^

This is definitely the best defense we have had since 2011, possibly 2006. That will keep us in every game, and allow us to win some by big margins. Before the season I thought we were an 8-4 team, now I sm thinking 10-2. We will either get upset or lose a close one to MSU or OSU. I wouldn't be terribly shocked if this team won out the rest of the way either. With a top 5 defense nationally, and a very good run game, anything is possible. This team is also on a fast learning curve so we will get much better by the time we play our rivals.

Joined: 02/24/2015

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Tuebor

October 1st, 2015 at 7:33 AM ^

BYU our season does not make.

 

The season rests on our record in the Northwestern, IU, Minnesota, and PSU game.  We have to go at least 3-1 in those games to have a successful year.  I still say we go 8-4.

Joined: 03/14/2011

MGoPoints: 17467

phork

October 1st, 2015 at 7:59 AM ^

From an outside fan's perspective I said 9-3.  Had Hoke still been here 8 wins was the ceiling.

L - Utah - Mainly first game, on a Thursday, on the road.

L - MSU - Because like it or not Dantonio is still a good coach.

L- OSU - Too much talent and Elliott.

Joined: 11/01/2009

MGoPoints: 4486

MichiganMan20

October 1st, 2015 at 6:11 PM ^

Was thinking 9-3 with losses to Utah, MSU and OSU but I'm thinking 10-2 is more likely now. Sparty isn't leaving AA with a victory and I'm not so sure OSU is either but 10-2 is my best guess if everything goes right.

Joined: 05/16/2010

MGoPoints: 4110

GoBlueBill

October 10th, 2015 at 5:22 PM ^

I had 7-5. No way we lose 5 games this year .

This Michigan team reminds me of the Michigan glory years . They are a good solid team.  But  could lose a winnable game or two yet .

Inuries could happen . Jake could have a very bad game when we dont need him to .

Now I dont think they do any worse than 9-3

Joined: 12/30/2014

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