2017 defense concerns.....(youth)

Love the excitiement, but that comes from getting what you wanted. I will admit I became a UM fan at a very good time, but it wasn't without thought. MSU was the king of not only the state,  but the conference and that shit was coming to an end to be replaced by Woody and then to be countered by Bo. So as a fan, I probably felt much like those from OSU who became cfb fans in Urban's first year. I don't know it it's possible. I don't know if I would have listened to the advice of those who had been watching UM fb for almost 50 years. But I'm suggesting limit the worry. As good as we can be, Jim will get us there. I saw it play out before.

Hell, I think Bo, despite 3 losses his first season was like 58-7(oh hell yeah, that tie) and 1 after 6 years in largely 10 game seasons plus the bowl games which we could not participate in every year. So a few losses came at the bowl games, marring an otherwise perfect season. Yeah, we lost some bowl games, but we didn't see our dreams fade in the preseason, and I hadn't gone through the pain of mediocrity of the two previous decades. His record for those 6 years was fricking amazing. Yet, and it lasted much longer than 6 years, I wasted too damn much time pissed when we lost, worried about things only Bo and his staff had control over and thank the powers that be there was no internet then, because I probably would have not gotten married or would have been divorced soon thereafter.

I know this Michigan football is a powerful force. But don't let it consume you. It took me, and I had to actually admit  something to myself I didn't want to. Lloyd is not at his best in preseason. Just knowing that helped me relax expectations,  so it was near the 02-03 I wasn't going to waste any more than 10 minutes of anger after a loss, and then move on. M football can consume you. The only thing that brought me more excitement than a MI game was watching and teaching my son how to play ball. And now with Jim and 24/7 access, I'm worried for those just starting this journey.

But you wrote about replacing Darboh and Chesson and I recall talking to my son last year during half-time of the UT game and he asked, "Dad, who is no.82?"  I said, Oh that's Darboh. He's been around for awhile. "I'm more excited about  this Chesson kid." Hell, without Jim, we would not have realized we had one of the better wr cores in the conference.

And I can understand the concern about replacing them, and oh hell yeah, Perry will play a role. Jim saw  something he liked early, got him some minutes and has recruited the hell out of that position. Hell, two of the following will break through starting this year, despite some of them being injury riddled, etc. You probably forgot we've accumulated so many: Harris, Mitchell, Johnson, Hawkins, Crawford, McDoom, and I think Peppers did some time there. We've got Moe Ways than you know of hurting you  from there. These kids are good.

And despite your concerns, it's basically that way throughout the roster. This Harbaugh guy, and we first saw it at Stanford, knows how to put a team together. If he sees a young man can play well at more than one position, add another man to our roster. I didn't have daily reminders like those of you who were familiar with both  the net and M football. I didn't have the opportunity to screw around at work until around '98.'99, and by that time like I said, I wasn't consumed. I will admit though for awhile I checked the computer every day to see what our crazy coach did the night before. Then when MGOBLOG started this guy goes blue, that guy goes blue, hello to, bam, bam, bam, two days before and through LOI day, I said, we'll be ok.

What I'm saying is when  you have a great coach appreciate it. I had no roster access like I do  today. I had some buddies from ND that paid Steele and others and they knew more about what we had than I did. But other than the year Harbaubh broke his arm, where we finished right around .500, I enjoyed one hell of a ride and getting ready for the next one. And oh hell yeah, we'll taste some defeats we shouldn't(but that will be offset by those we win where they all say ain't gonna happen). So relax, for every  worry Jim will have the best answer availabe and we have to roll with that.

And one more thing I am so grateful for - and I don't mind MSU being good, actually like it - it's actually fans of every team just trollng, trying to start shit. It's distasteful. And yet, I wouldn't be surprised if someone who knew me then said to me, "you were as big an ass as any of those people." Scary shit. Go Blue!!!!

Just like the folks complaining about Beilein's 3 year tourney drought (last year, this year and next) before we beat Indiana. There are almost five months until this season starts and you're already writing off the last game of next season...get over yourself.

but hell the fan bases of every team in the country know we have one of the better ones and Jim doesn't get nervous and overreact. He just, because he is a great football mind, makes the best decisions daily and that is a big reason in why we were a much improved team before we took a snap last  year.

Despite his record, Urb proved last year he was mortal. He couldn't coach in many other conferences and get away with  sleepwalking the entire year and not even having the correct starting qb until the last month of the year. Judging by his recruiting, they should be formidable every year, but sometimes the season gets in the way of all your dreams.

Your part of the fan base, so am I. How would you react? Would you call for his job if we just happened to have between 30=32 wins for those three years and his first recruited QB with two years coming back?  Yes, I agree with you it's time to start the pay back and I'll be as disappointed as any other fan should that scenario unfold. And I really don't know what State is going to do between this year and next other than develop a little depth and gain experience, much like us to make them more dangerous than they will be this year. Too much time, too many variables and shit happens and someone takes your spot at the top. 

If I were you, or anyone that is pushing too hard, I'd just say relax, watch it unfold and do recall what post 2014 looked like and around pre 2018, take another look around and see how things are looking.  Enjoy the jouney Jablome.

 

Good grief: We're already worrying about JH starting 0-3 against OSU? While we're at it, why not fret about starting 0-4? I mean, the 2018 game is in Columbus, right?

Apparently people have either forgotten or are too young to remember what it's like to have a program like the one Harbaugh is building. You don't need the planets to be in perfect alignment to beat a good opponent. We'll have a formidable team too, one that will have an excellent chance to win every game it plays, regardless of opponent or venue.

La, La, LaVert

without 2 more that are at least trustworthy, the possibility for horror exists.

Well their piching hasnt been great so far this year.

Agreed. OSU is young this year but I highly doubt they consider it "scary" or "horrifying." Good programs don't develop players solely through four years of trial and error.

Also, with the exception of a few guys on that list, the players coming in are considered better prospects.

Wait, this blog has moms cleaning up? Can they make us some pizza rolls?

At least it's more than just a link to someone else's tweet. Then again, it's just regurgitating Brian's/alum96's assertions over the last eternity.

The gods giveth and the gods taketh away.

Mom the meatloaf!

The meatloaf!!

killer drop-in monty

No, he just needs to feed the ego.

The offensive talent level, though, just isn't the same. Butt is good, but there are a number of talented guys behind him. Those offensive linemen haven't been anything special. Our "top 2 RBs" might not be the top two if Isaac beats out Johnson, and even so, Smith/Johnson aren't that special, anyway. I do like Darboh and Chesson at receiver and haven't seen their heirs apparent yet, but with 5 guys in the 2016 class and more coming in the 2017 class, I think we can find some quality replacements.

We're not only losing bodies on defense, but we're losing true standouts whose size and/or athleticism might not be able to be replaced.