Can Michigan Turn it Around Like Auburn Next Season?

Submitted by MGoVoldemort on

I'll spare you my position by position optimism; I'm just curious if anyone else believes that Michigan can duplicate Auburn's success this season.

 

I'll only add this: The interior o-line will be better, as will Green and Smith. Also, If I were a betting man, I'd bet on Devin Gardner showing what a Michigan QB is made out of next season. He won't leave this university with the legacy of being the starting QB for a team that lost at least 5 games three seasons in a row. As for the defense, like the offensive line, I believe they go into even the offseason conditoning pissed off, and with a larger than average chip on their shoulders. To me this is the recipe of a major bounce back season; whether it's as big of a turn around as Auburn's remains to be seen.

 

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Galapula

January 7th, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^

Malzhan is very talented offensive playcaller. I think you can see that in Auburn when he was the OC, the huge drop off when he was gone and then the crazy turnaround. We don't have a cogent offensive philosophy, let alone somebody on Malzhan's level.

Joined: 12/04/2009

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Reader71

January 7th, 2014 at 7:57 PM ^

Malzahn, yes. Also, their OL in 2012 went Fr, Sr, So, So, Fr. They were bad. Michigan's 2013 OL was younger (3 new starters to Auburn's 2) and worse. They broke in one new starter in 2013, RsFr Alex Kozan. We will presumably be breaking in one new starter in 2014, presumably RsSo Ben Braden. Their line was a lot better, not having to bleed new guys. Ours will be too. Auburn was 9 games better in 2013 than the previous season. Malzahn was probably worth 5 of those. That's not a knock. That's the difference between Ohio's season and ours. But that line improving was also worth a hell of a lot.

Joined: 08/30/2009

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TheNema

January 7th, 2014 at 7:25 PM ^

Auburn exists totally outside the program revamping argument because the of the coaching and philosophy change. If Michigan fired Borges and brought in a hot name for OC ... then maybe. As it is, I think we are looking at 9-3 at best. Hope I'm wrong but I just don't see enough indicators to think otherwise right now.

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michiganman01

January 7th, 2014 at 7:24 PM ^

If the O-line doest get better, and get better fast, we will have another mediocre season. Unfortunatly, I see 2015 as our year. It is unfortunate for Gardner because he is such a good QB but came in with the wrong circumstance. Maybe if he can put some great numbers, he can get conscideration for the B1G 10 Offensive POY on an 8-4 team. 

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Swazi

January 7th, 2014 at 7:27 PM ^

The team was very young and inexperienced last year. Now they're having another year in the system, another offseason of workouts to get stronger and faster.

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CLord

January 7th, 2014 at 7:28 PM ^

As much as we sucked under RichRod, I took great pleasure in the way our offense would occasionally clown a defense by faking run and then DR would pitch it over the top to a wide open Roundtree or Dileo without anyone within 15 yards of them.  Saw many glimpses of that last night by Auburn.

After 13 games this year where the greatest separation Borges schemed for one of his receivers was six inches, as opposed to most of the time when opposing DBs were literally wearing the same jersey our receivers were wearing, as they waltzed down the field together inside the same shirt, the answer I took from last night is that as long as my rotund avatar remains employed by this university, no, Michigan will never, ever be anything like Auburn was this year.

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jmblue

January 7th, 2014 at 8:18 PM ^

faking run and then DR would pitch it over the top to a wide open Roundtree or Dileo without anyone within 15 yards of them.

In 2010, Dileo caught one pass for three yards.  Roundtree was the only guy we ever ran that play to under RR.

We did, however, use Dileo in that play in 2011 and '12, under Borges. (Why it seemingly disappeared from the playbook this year, I don't know.)

 

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Reader71

January 7th, 2014 at 9:46 PM ^

There are a lot of valid complaints about Borges. The design of his passing plays is not one of them. We had wide open receivers many times in many games. Borges called the Indiana game, I think, in which our receiver was literally 10 yards from any defender on 6-9 plays. Indiana's defense stinks, sure. But that's just the most obvious example of truth running counter to your assertion. Is it so hard to live in this world?

Joined: 08/30/2009

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Ron Utah

January 7th, 2014 at 7:30 PM ^

I think we'll see a turnaround on the order of 10 wins next year, but I don't think an offensive live composed almost entirely of sophomores is going to be good enough to make AB's plans work every game.

That said, if the defense takes a big step forward--which they should--that could put us in the conversation for the B1G East (NTBE) title.  MSU and Ohio on the road?  Tough to see either of those as victories, but every other game on the schedule is winnable.

FWIW, I believe a healthy Devin Gardner could break the single-season passing record next year.  But if he's injured, nine wins would be a great season.

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TheNema

January 7th, 2014 at 8:26 PM ^

Auburn had two true sophomores and a redshirt freshman on their O-Line this season. Look at their running game.

The problem is not O-Line youth. Rather it's the philosophies and schemes that demand the linemen be older or they cannot realistically succeed. 

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Ron Utah

January 7th, 2014 at 9:01 PM ^

It's not just about youth, but development--especially for the O-Line.  Auburn has clearly gotten more development from their players, and I believe coaching is a big part of that.

But if you watch Auburn's O-Line block, they're really good at it.  That has NOTHING to do with scheme, and everything to do with their ability to execute.  It's obvious they've been coached well, but their line could block Borges' scheme just fine.

You can argue that the coaching/teaching is better at Auburn, but it's not scheme that's making their O-Line good.  It's that their O-Line is good at blocking.

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ThadMattasagoblin

January 7th, 2014 at 7:33 PM ^

If it does happen, a lot of people on here will be pissed off because they'd hate Hoke even if he went 12-0. I'm not going to abandon the team and I will be there every Saturday in 105 degree weather or -15 degree weather.

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TheNema

January 7th, 2014 at 8:32 PM ^

Honestly, I didn't even think 2012 was that bad. The team was simply not good enough for such a schedule that year and did have some exciting flashes. But 2013 was so bad it is a truly decent reason to lose a lot of faith.

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Ron Utah

January 7th, 2014 at 9:04 PM ^

I'm afraid the RR era has created a schism that won't heal without sustained success.  There are so many spread zealots out there who won't feel good until they get their way or the program is so good they don't care about getting their way.

Even if Hoke wins 10 games next year and the offense has a strong season, there will be those who are calling for Borges' head, and Hoke's too.

The only way out of this mess is to have consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins.  Only then will everyone jump on board.

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bo_lives

January 7th, 2014 at 9:59 PM ^

If Hoke goes12-0 next year he will be immediately deified. At the end of the day, all the fans want is to win football games. We heard this same BS excuses with RR about how some mythical group of alumni had a vendetta against the guy and was trying to sabotage the program for unspecified reasons. It's just not the case.

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robmorren2

January 7th, 2014 at 7:38 PM ^

Sure, Michigan could mimic Auburn's success. Al Borges could also show up for fall camp in a 2-digit pants size that starts with a number lower than 4, 5, or 6. They are mutually exclusive, but they have a similar probability of happening.

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You Only Live Twice

January 7th, 2014 at 7:39 PM ^

Like Auburn... will we get every call, every break.... every SPOT!?  I didn't watch the game, but have it on excellent authority that's what happened.  Even more interestingly, Big 10 officials.

 

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Bambi

January 7th, 2014 at 7:39 PM ^

I see a lot of Borges comments here, and yes they're well deserved, but it wasn't Borges who let us down the last two games of the season. This whole team needs to improve, not just Borges

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aiglick

January 7th, 2014 at 7:45 PM ^

Interestingly we are in a similar position to when we were going into 2011. Also the defense will be as experienced as the 2006 defense. Anything is possible but our o line will have to take a massive step forward. Besides for o line, and even there too, I think we have a lot of talent on that side of the ball. Much of that talent has experience though obviously not on the same level as the defense will have. Like everybody else your guess is as good as mine. It could happen and we'll all get to see it soon enough.

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bluewave720

January 7th, 2014 at 8:29 PM ^

I think Countess is definitely a playmaker.  I also think Ramon Taylor is actually pretty good, and could make the jump next year.  IMO, there may be a few more that could cross that threshold as well.  

I totally agree with you that it is very unlikely that 2014 will be the return of the 2006 defense.  But besides '06, I think it will be the best defense we've had in quite a while. 

Despite ending the season in a poor fashion, I still have a high degree of faith in Mattison.  But as I think many of us are feeling for next year, he/Borges/the coaches in general will really be the "difference makers" as to whether or not 2014 is a successful season.

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