How confident are you that QB and RT will be fixed in 2018
Or does it depend on what if any changes happen to the coaching staff in the offseason. If the guys behind Ulizio and JBB can't beat them out now, why is it realistic to expect them to beat them out next year. Same question at QB, Speight hasn't had a good game since Maryland last year and Peters can't even beat out O'Korn right now. It's been a big disappointment watching guys who have been in the system for 3 years struggle so much and curious why I or anyone should expect it to get better for reasons other than "Harbaugh."
October 10th, 2017 at 3:45 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 3:50 PM ^
Everyone needs to breathe deep and step away from the cliff.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:33 PM ^
I'm actually EXTREMELY excited for 2021!
That 2019 class is shaping up to be a monster, and who knows what's coming in 2020?
We will have lost some monster talent in 2019-2020 as well.
As for this year's team, its early over-achievement made the 5 TO debacle on Saturday about twenty times as painful as otherwise, and it would have already been painful.
I didn't think there was a remote possibility of our losing to the leftover rubbish from thug-u. But we turned the ball over five times. And in addition to all of the expected growing pains, we did have a yuuuge playcalling problem.
It will get even more painful, as Sparty continues to show that they are a tire fire and in no way at all "back."
We would have lost to any team on the schedule so far if we were -5. The Sparty v.s. ND was the real Sparty, and now ND is also overrated b/c of that game.
We might end up losing 4 or even 5 this year. The 3-4 that many of us thought we would probably end up losing, plus now this unexpected one. And if we go -5 TO every game, we could lose 7.
I had hope for being undefeated National Champs before the season started. I really think we could win any game on any day. I still hope that we will be one loss National Champs, and I don't think it is irrational to hope it either (ESPN FPI probabilities notwithstanding).
But if we do lose 5 the sky will still not have fallen, and yes, I do expect improvement at both of those positions next year.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:41 PM ^
Love your optimism, but one loss this year? National Champs? What kool-aid are you drinking?
October 10th, 2017 at 10:23 PM ^
I pretty plainly said that 4 or 5 losses is more likely.
The program, on the whole, is advancing, not regressing.
The uniqure challenges of the current circumstance, however, means that we have a very high beta (volatility/likelihood of variance) from the most expected outcome.
There are only a couple games that we cannot lose this year. But none at all that we cannot win.
It's been a few days now. Embrace the suck, and enjoy being a Wolverines fan during the opening years of the new, great era of Michigan Wolverines football. It won't be long until 10 wins is considered on the poor side for us.
October 10th, 2017 at 5:23 PM ^
thought this was /s, until it wasn't.
October 10th, 2017 at 8:52 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:05 PM ^
"By your logic every starter ever replaced is a downgrade. We all know that ain't the case."
My logic is based on the fact that these young guys aren't stuck behind talented players. Last year Hudson played behind Peppers, Gary beind Taco, Hill behind Lewis, Chas behind Wormley, Mo behind Glasgow, Bush behind Gedeon, and on down the line. All those guys were NFL caliber players. But Ulizio, JBB, and JOK have been absolute liabilities this year and that's putting it nicely. I think the fact that the guys behind them aren't even sniffing the field right now says a lot and is worriesome.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:10 PM ^
By your logic it's Beilein's fault.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:19 PM ^
Wasn't going to dignify this with a response but have to say the internet grudges some people hold here are remarkable. But hey, if you want to hijack a perfectly reasonable thread then call me the troll because I hurt your feelings with a sports take then keep on keepin on.
October 10th, 2017 at 5:52 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 6:01 PM ^
Nah, you're definitely #madonline.
October 10th, 2017 at 6:11 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^
We are obviously suffering from Hoke's final class and the transition class in this regard, as this issue has been beaten to death on the blog. The players behind Ulizio, JBB, and JOK are too young and under-developed to 'sniff the field' at this point.
October 10th, 2017 at 6:05 PM ^
its all Hoke's fault! The bastard
October 11th, 2017 at 8:22 AM ^
I just find it interesting that at Michigan sophomore and redshirt sophomore OL are "too young" and "underdeveloped" to be any good - but plenty of other FBS programs can manage to churn out offenses significantly better with players of the same vintage.
Why is Michigan an outlier in this?
October 11th, 2017 at 10:33 AM ^
Never a good sign when you have to start blaming losses on a coach that's been gone for 3 years.
Year 3 of Harbaugh: "It's Brady Hoke's fault."
Year 3 of Brady Hoke: "It's Rich Rod's fault."
Year 3 of Rich Rod: "It's Lloyd Carr's fault."
....
Year 3 of Bennie Oosterbaan: "It's Fritz Crisler's fault."
October 11th, 2017 at 10:50 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:20 PM ^
Sounds like you're the one who needs the Xanax internet tough guy.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:30 PM ^
October 11th, 2017 at 10:52 PM ^
October 11th, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^
now now kids... is there going to be another phone number exchange and fight?! Or is this a tickle fight?
October 10th, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:30 PM ^
who the fuck was Chelsea?
October 10th, 2017 at 4:35 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 5:04 PM ^
Exactly.
Nobody even knows who Chelsea was, so was Black a downgrade? I don't think so!
October 10th, 2017 at 10:47 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 7:06 PM ^
is a soccer thread. I was like did Chelsea get relegated or something? wtf.
October 11th, 2017 at 11:33 AM ^
Reigning EPL Champion Chelsea got relegated? 7 matches into the season? Man, there's been a lot of changes to the Premier League this year....
October 10th, 2017 at 5:20 PM ^
If you think someone other than Newsome is going to fill in at LT and be anything but a downgrade you're fooling yourself. At least one if not both tackles will be bad-to-disaster if Newsome isn't healthy.
October 10th, 2017 at 7:13 PM ^
out next year. Replacing Cole is as big an issue as who is gonna be RT.
I'm actually fairly confident that one of Filiaga, Hudson, Steuber or Honigford will emerge as a pretty good OT next year. Two of them? Hope so, but that's asking a lot.
As much as I'm rooting for him, it seems nearly impossible that Newsome could come back and be a high quality Big Ten tackle. No one should be counting on that.
October 11th, 2017 at 1:18 PM ^
outside of how bad Ulizio has been, but honestly Cole has been less then stellar. He's an interior lineman and has not played very well at tackle. We may not upgrade next year, but doubt it will be a disaster if Newsome doesn't play.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:20 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:29 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^
Yes it is concerning. In the top 10 alone Bama, Wisconsin and Penn State are all starting true sophomores at QB (and all started as freshman last year). Georgia and Va Tech are starting a true freshman. And the team that just beat us is starting a true sophomore. But I'm totally a concern troll for asking why Harbaugh's hand picked QB recruit isn't ready yet. Moron.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:44 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:49 PM ^
MAIZEN DOESN'T DO HIS HOMEWORK
October 10th, 2017 at 4:51 PM ^
Yeah no idea why I put the word true in there. Point still stands however.
October 10th, 2017 at 5:08 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^
McSorely was a Franklin recruit that's been in the pipeline for four years. Alex Hornibrook is a RS Sophomore that was recruited by Paul Chryst and been in their system for three years. Jalen Hurts was recruiting by Saban and is surrounded by upperclass talent.
Wilton Speight was recruited by Al Borges, inherited by Nussmeier, and then inherited by Harbaugh.
John O'Korn came in as a transfer candidate.
What difference do you see? Trace was recruited by his current head coach. So was Hornibrook. So was Hurts.
Wilton was not. O'Korn was not.
Here's another question for you. Did you assume McSorely was god awful because he couldn't beat out Hackenberg?
October 10th, 2017 at 6:13 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 5:13 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 5:13 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 5:06 PM ^
Ulizio and JBB wouldn't be playing if Newsome was healthy. That's the rub. As Brian has said numerous times Newsome was pretty much a back breaking injury in terms of depth. And JOK is playing cause Speight got his back broken pretty much.
And they'd like to try and get some long term depth on the OL so they're trying not to set Filiaga, Steubs, Honigford's RS on fire.
October 10th, 2017 at 5:30 PM ^
Or if Georgia hadn't "magically" flipped top-20 OT Isaiah Wilson at the last minute.
October 11th, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^
would we be playing Cole at RT? I'd be surprised if he was at his third position in three years, but maybe it's close enough to LT that we'd prefer him there over C.
October 10th, 2017 at 8:50 PM ^
may be more concerning that Peters hasn't made a push after a redshirt. Having said that, Andrew Luck redshirted, started and look at his stats:
Passing
Comp | Att | Yds | Pct | TD | Int |
---|
2009 | 162 | 288 | 2,575 | 56.3% | 13 | 4 | 143.5 |
2010 | 263 | 372 | 3,338 | 70.7% | 32 | 8 | 170.2 |
2011 | 288 | 404 | 3,517 | 71.3% | 37 | 10 | 169.7 |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Luck
Look at the difference in completion percentage between 09 to 10. Not saying Peters is the next Luck, but even a player as good as Luck took time to develop.
Also, it's rare for a freshman offensive lineman to play, let alone be good. So I don't think it's as concerning that a freshman hasn't taken over the starting job at RT. Honestly, I'm more worried about LT (hopefully Grant is fully recovered by next year, otherwise sh*t's probably going to hit the fan).