ESPN Way Too Early Top 25-Michigan #3
Title says it all. Brief write up about our recruiting class and how Rashan Gary and Devin Bush could step in right away.
I think this is the highest I've seen Michigan ranked in any of the "way too early" polls.
Personally, I don't get as excited as I used to about being highly ranked early on in the year but the there's no turning back the locomotive now!!
Thoughts?
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/14742276/alabama-crimson…
February 9th, 2016 at 12:03 PM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 12:38 PM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 11:12 AM ^
I don't think we've quite earned a top-3 ranking yet, but I'm not going to complain.
That being said, I still think this is the most accurately we've been ranked in a while. For most of the last decade, our early rankings have seemed pretty infalted by tradition and hope.
This time around, we finished off a solid 2015 with a very strong performance against a talented SEC team and just bolstered it with a great recruiting class.
/reason
15-0!
February 9th, 2016 at 11:12 AM ^
Hard to understand ranking any team that high while there are still serious questions at the most important spot on the field. I know we think we have our QB but the truth is we don't know. It's great to have faith but the hype train needs to slow down a little until our QB proves a little more.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:44 AM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 11:17 AM ^
Like others, I kind of look at the way-too-early polls through not very serious lenses because of recent history and also it is purely speculative and I am more of a data junkie that can't really look at a poll with a straight face until the middle of October anyway.
That being said, as we were able to see the floor of the Top 10 just above us in the final polls this time around, cracking the Top 10 is probably not an unreasonable expectation this coming season. I couldn't begin to guess where precisely because of the LB question in particular (the QB question doesn't have me as concerned right now), but it seems doable definitely.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^
As far as slowing things down... I'm usually in the same boat, but I'm starting to think a Harbaugh-led Michigan might thrive just as well (or better) by trying to live up to ridiculous expectations, both internal and external.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:17 AM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 11:22 AM ^
Totally agree with this. Polls are entirely pointless until the playoff rankings are first released.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 11:18 AM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 11:22 AM ^
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February 9th, 2016 at 11:24 AM ^
Whether you like it or not, the MM perception of our team being top 5 or 10ish will only help our chances of making it to the playoffs.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:31 AM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 11:43 AM ^
when he's sipping on a Red Balls.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^
3 seems like the upper end of what's a reasonable ranking for us. We're somewhere between solid and elite in every position group except LB and QB. LB looks like it could be an issue so hopefully we can get 2 more guys to emerge besides Gedeon. But our D-line and secondary are so good that they can hide subpar LBs so maybe it won't matter. The QB position, however, will be key in determining if 3 ends up being a good prediction or not. While, I fully believe in Harbaugh's ability to coach QBs, I'm worried it could take too long. It took Rudock 10 games before he really figured it out and maybe O'Korn or Morris or whoever doesn't figure it out until next season, you never know. That being said, I think O'Korn will be really good and the team will actually live up to expectations. I can't wait for the season to start!
February 9th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^
Difference is Rudock came in and started one offseason removed from Iowa. O'Korn has had a year + to learn the system under direct tutelage. While the gametime experience hasn't happened, he's already played and excelled at D1 ball. I am trying to taper my expectations for him, but I really think he has a shot to be terrific right away.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
Choo, choo.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
...but, meaningless.
However, it does keep us in the news.
Moar news!!
February 9th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
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February 9th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
You've convinced me.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:41 AM ^
So it's not so much how good next year's team (actually now, this year's team) will be, but how good we will be relative to how the other CFB teams are.
Given what we return, the pieces we have to fill the open positions and the competition we have at most, if not all, positions, I think a top 5 team is not unreasonable.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:41 AM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 11:47 AM ^
To those who think we are too high.... and while I admit I'm still trying to put away my, "Rich Rod/Brady Hoke, OMG we're F'ed because we're ranked too high, have Denard in the way way too early heisman talk we only win games in September" hat, just take a second and remember.. we have Jim MF'ing Harbaugh, an amazing recruiting class this year and a new badass D coordinator.
Long story short, F it - i'm buyin' the hype. FWIW, I think we'll end up around #5 but I'm digging it.
February 9th, 2016 at 12:17 PM ^
I'm still not sure why anyone is bothered by a high ranking - its the same mentality as always wearing your lucky socks to watch a game (superstition/jinxing the team). It seems like its only a positive - recruits like higher ranked teams, bragging rights, etc.
Some poeple always make comments about preferring to be ranked lower so players have a chip on their shoulders, but I don't think Harbaugh will ever have a problem with motivation.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:52 AM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 11:53 AM ^
Michigan went from unranked to #3 in one year. Lets just say I went from 6-12 much quicker after seeing this.
Go Blue!
February 9th, 2016 at 11:54 AM ^
and i went back to 6 :(
February 9th, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^
Putting them at 3 right now seems reasonable. The defense will probably be top 5 in the country and if they can get the QB position locked down, gonna be tough to beat.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:58 AM ^
If you predicted an 11 win season last year, you were one officiating screw job/miracle play away from being right.
We will win 2-3 more regular season games, will be favored to win the B1G championship game, and if we win that certainly get into the play-offs.
So if this way too early is meant to forecast rankings end of the year, it seems reasonable.
I would prefer if we start a little lower.
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February 9th, 2016 at 12:00 PM ^
and the new qb has Butt, Chesson, and Darboh to throw to
February 9th, 2016 at 12:05 PM ^
Has Harbaugh ever had a bad qb?
February 9th, 2016 at 12:13 PM ^
doesn't say it all.
February 9th, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^
The second year drop off from Hoke's 11-2 will not happen. Jim Freakin' Harbaugh will not try to force the round peg of a read-option QB into the square hole of a pro-set offense. O'Korn (or whoever beats him out) will be fine. I hope Bush and Mbem Bosse step in to upgrade the LB's to 'better-than-serviceable' status. That happens, the top 3 will be well within sight...
February 9th, 2016 at 12:37 PM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 12:47 PM ^
Yeah, I don't think the LB group is all that athletic, the way Brown seems to like them. But Bosse and Bush are. I can see Bosse getting in to plug holes, and doing it well. Not an every down LB, but he'd be my pick for under the radar contributor.
February 9th, 2016 at 3:38 PM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^
Did Don Brown leave already? They have Dan Brown as our DC.
February 9th, 2016 at 12:20 PM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 1:00 PM ^
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February 9th, 2016 at 12:19 PM ^
When these things come out, the first thing I do is open up two more tabs and pull up 11W and rcmb. It's interesting to study the different reactions. 11W is typically slower to react to this. On the other hand, RCMB goes into full meltdown almost immediately. They try to explain how it's just hype and how they have so many 10 win seasons in a row and yada yada yada. It really does make for a fun read. As an aside to that, if you just go to the main forum (Football for 11W) the number of UM threads on RCMB compared to 11W is shocking. 11W typically carries the occasional one with their own version of red colored glasses. RCMB though is probably 20 to 25% of posts are about UM. But don't worry, they don't have an inferiority complex at all.
February 9th, 2016 at 12:20 PM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 12:25 PM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 12:28 PM ^
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February 9th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 12:40 PM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 12:27 PM ^
I love seeing us at #3. Who know's where we will end up in the actual preseason poll, but the best thing is that we have Harbaugh and he's the perfect guy to keep this team where it belongs and not into the hype of us being a #3 ranked team. Harbaugh has this team focused on the prize and not the media which is why he's one of the best.
February 9th, 2016 at 12:27 PM ^