Next season
I really want to avoid having this tin in to a discussion of Hoke, Borges, Funk or coaching change. For purposes of that goal, lets just assume that next year we will be coached by hoke, mattison, and a middle of the road, manball-oriented, u exciting but fairy competent offensive staff. Basically, the best case Borges.
So, why are you positive on next season?
Here's my attempt:
1. The D has been pretty good this year. Given how many drives opponents have, you can argue that the d has been very good. There have been periods of inconsistency, but that is to be excepted of such a young team. The good news is that just about the entire D should be back. All a year older and stronger and more experiences. Also, next year some of our big 2011 / 2912 recruits should be ready to contribute significantly.
2. WR position. Yes we lose our best receiver in gallon, but man am I excited to see funchess as an Older, more refined received. He is going to be such a dominant force. Add in Chesson (who has steadily improved throughout the season and has a ton of upside), Darboh (who had a ton a preseason hype) and some f the incoming players and this skill group should be really strong for us.
3. TE. Butt is contributing well as a true freshman at a tough position for a true freshman to play. Given another year to grow and develop, he is going to be very good.
4. Devin, the run game and the OL. Here's my thinking. We lose Lewan and scoffield. So we should be worse, right. Guess what? That would be impossible. We literally cannot be worse on this front. At worst, we are the same, but if there is even a slight improvement in the line, we could be significantly better on offense.
Thoughts? Opinions?
November 10th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
I think I've discovered the problem. We think OL are like tires and we only use 4. We've got a 5th one in the trunk, but it is undersized and we don't use it often. When we do use the spare, we can't go full speed and take one of the original 4 and throw it in the trunk.
November 10th, 2013 at 2:53 PM ^
the coaching to be better. Whether that's with different coaches or with the same coaches taking some lessons over the summer, I just want the coaching to be better.
November 10th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 2:55 PM ^
Wrong answer, sir.
November 10th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^
Agreed, I don't even think Tom Brady would be able to do much with this offensive live and the play calling Borges is throwing out there.
I still think Devin is a pretty damn good quarterback, just that he got hit so many damn times that he gets nervous everytime he gets a bit of pressure which is kinda justified at this point.
And who knows how injured he actually is. He looks a lot slower out there, he's gotta be pretty banged up.
November 10th, 2013 at 8:44 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 3:46 PM ^
to this. So finally Devin Gardner traded in interceptions for pointlessly taking sacks and hits. I'd still prefer someone who understands throwing the ball away. Even if you wanna claim he is injured, alot of the hits he takes are his fault for not just throwing it away or scampering out of bounds.
He does not know how to brace himself for ground contact or how to nicely fall on the ground. Everytime he's tackled he looks like he's going to get injured. Devin Gardner has 0 confidence and 0 football sense. He does silly things like slow down to stiff arm a guy instead of just run past him. You can't teach someone not to do that. No football sense at all.
Get a real QB in there. END THIS DAMN transition from RR already and put in a pocket passer.
November 10th, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^
Yes, let's put in a less mobile freshman so he can die that much harder when dudes blow through our line and the two receivers in patterns are on the second of their 145-move routes.
Currently, there is literally no one worse on the blog than the "bench Gardner because everything is his fault" crowd. No one. I would take the trolls over you.
November 10th, 2013 at 5:24 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 6:02 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 2:55 PM ^
It wont matter. Our offense under Borges has gone from 44th to 79th to 84th. Borges will continue to call mid boggling plays in big games and the offense will be at the bottom of the big ten again. The defense this year is good. They have had some mishaps, especially the secondary but i think they will be good next year. The offense will be a letdown. I think we go 8-4 next year.
November 10th, 2013 at 2:59 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 4:15 PM ^
You are assuming Borges will be back. I would not assume that at this point.
November 10th, 2013 at 6:58 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 1:49 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 2:57 PM ^
I just hope we don't look pathetic enough to lose recruits at this point
November 10th, 2013 at 3:01 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 4:18 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 6:45 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 3:02 PM ^
... (crickets) ...
November 10th, 2013 at 3:03 PM ^
Oooh! I've got some things to look forward to!
No more Leaders and Legends!
And four team playoffs!
November 10th, 2013 at 3:13 PM ^
Unless they come up with a four team playoff for the B1G East next year, I don't think a four team playoff is of much relevance to us.
November 10th, 2013 at 3:18 PM ^
Looking for the silver lining, M-Dog. Desperately looking for the silver lining.
November 10th, 2013 at 3:08 PM ^
Is it just me or does strength and conditioning need to improve before next season? I know this team is trying hard but they seem to be a step behind and unable to match the strength of other B1G teams.
November 10th, 2013 at 5:54 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 3:12 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 3:45 PM ^
Agreed about Hoke.
It sounds trivial, but his public demeanor comes across as complacent and even a little bit confused. He comes across a just another spectator, wondering like the rest of us what's going to happen next.
I want to hear that there is a coherent workable plan and a real sense of urgency to implement it.
November 10th, 2013 at 3:12 PM ^
RB: Mike Hart
OL: Stenavich or Joe Tripodi from N. Illinois
OC: Tyrone Wheatley
DL: (get rid of Ferrigno) Anybody but Mattison and Hoke.
November 10th, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^
More insular thinking by hiring only Michigan Men. How do we square hiring only alumni (or homers from Ann Arbor) with being an elite program?
November 10th, 2013 at 3:27 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 3:35 PM ^
My hope is that Brandon is the difference maker if Hoke fails to shake up his staff. Ask Tennessee what happens when your team goes into decline for more than a couple of years. A formerly loyal fanbase stops showing up at games. Florida, with the exception of big games, has the same issue.
This program has been very fortunate that fans have supported it through thick and thin, but there will come a time where people will start questioning the cost of attedance and Michigan Stadium not selling out will become a painful reality.
I happen to believe that the problem with the shrinking student section is partof a a trend that is happening nationwide and doesn't bode well for future NCAA football attendance which is in decline. Never before in the history of this or any other program has there been 65 or 70 inch HD displays so affordable with virtually all games available on TV.
So yeah, I think Brandon is painfully aware that the fans are upset. I suspect he heard the boos yesterday. At some point, lasers and blue wristbands and all the cutesy stuff won't be enough. If they haven't already talked, Brandon and Hoke are going to have a serious tete a tete in the not too distant future. Brandon can't afford not to.
November 10th, 2013 at 4:18 PM ^
Agree with everything you said. It is already happening.
November 10th, 2013 at 3:31 PM ^
Way too early for that. Wait until after the spring game to make a real prediction.
November 10th, 2013 at 3:32 PM ^
I don't like speculating. At the beginning of the season the receiving corps was a major cause of concern on the offense. We should have worried about every other position instead because our receinving corps is actually pretty solid especially with Funchess in at WR.
November 10th, 2013 at 3:37 PM ^
Regarding #2 anyway, if we're just talking about personnel on the field, then I think something that might help as well is a healthy and recovered Amara Darboh. I believe that injury hurt us when it came to receiving options this year, and it will be nice to see what he can contribute next season. As for tight end, I would agree with the OP as well - I do think the future here is pretty bright as well. At several positions, I think the future really is bright.
November 10th, 2013 at 3:39 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 3:46 PM ^
I just hope we can beat Rutgers, I would truly be embarrassed if we lose that game seeing as how it will most likely be my first Michigan game ever.
November 10th, 2013 at 3:50 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 4:06 PM ^
To me it looks like the biggest issue is that the game has sped up for DG, instead of slowing down. This is probably due to working on not throwing picks. He was reluctant to throw into some tighter windows that he needs to hit, and was late some too. Also as Nebraska walked a 8th guy into the box we never made an adjustment.
If DG can get his confidence back, and if Borges will give DG the ability to check out of bad plays, he can be great.
The first year guards (in the 2nd and 3rd starts) should be MUCH improved at targeting people. With those 2 improvements, the offense should be far more consistent next year, as long as the tackles are at least serviceable.
November 10th, 2013 at 6:43 PM ^
Seven sacks allowed and 29 yards on 22 carries if you remove the sacks. This was against a Nebraska team who has allowed 5+ yards a carry to pretty much everybody.
I appreciate people trying to look for silver linings, but there is no sugercoating how awful the o-line has been this year and most notably the last two weeks. None of the RB's (Fitz or Green) missed multiple holes, because they did not exist.
November 10th, 2013 at 7:42 PM ^
Put all of that together and the line was nowhere near as bad as most here would say. (Note, I am not suggesting they were good) The defense loaded up and blitzed all day. At some point the coaches have to help them out and/or the QB and WRs needs to make plays
November 10th, 2013 at 9:26 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 10:45 PM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 4:09 PM ^
I am excited about a number of things for next year, but I am trying to keep my excitement in check because I was this year too. That being said, here’s what I’m excited about on defense. I am excited about a full year with a healthy JMFR. I am excited about Ross. I am excited about Peppers and fully believe he steps in as our best DB. I am excited about Stribling. I think Peppers, Countess, Stribling, Taylor, and Lewis will be a pretty good set of DBs. I am hopeful that Thomas and Wilson will be ready at safety, but also a little nervous about that too. I am still excited about Pipkins if he is healthy and I think Mone is good enough to step in and play as a freshman. I think Henry is coming along and those three will be enough in the trenches next year. I am still nervous about our pass rush but hope Ojemudia or Taco make a big jump and overtake Clark. I thinnk Hand like Peppers starts from day one if he decides to come aboard, but I’m not all that optimistic he will any longer. I am really excited about Ferns and think he may break into the lineup the same way Ross did. I think he takes Bolden’s role.
On the offensive side I am still nervous about Braden. I don’t believe practice hype. I am also nervous about Glasgow. I am excited about the potential of the young guys…Bosch, Kugler, Kalis, Dawson, etc. I know they will still be young, but I am hopeful with another year under their belt that Kalis in particular will be better. With just an average offensive line I think we can do a lot with our other weapons. I am excited about Butt and Funchess and think with Butt’s success we can keep Funchess at WR permanently. I think Funchess, Darboh, and Chesson should be just fine next year. I think Norfleet can be a weapon if we decide to use him. I am still excited about Green if he gets some space from the guys up front. I still believe Gardner can be a great weapon if we can get a running game going with the backs and he's not constantly worried about getting drilled. I am excited about Speight and Harris, although I think Harris needs some time to develop physically.
Overall I think our team will be very similar to this year’s team, only with a little more experience, and a little more talent which will again be really young. I really think Peppers ability and confidence will be a difference maker for our team eventually if not next year. I am really confident in Ryan. We just need to develop a leader on the line. I hope Ojemudia or Taco and Wormley make a big jump because I am not confident in the other DEs. There's no reason to beleive if they stay healthy they can't in year 3. But, overall our defense should be good enough albeit not great if we can just get a running game going. Here’s to hoping a year of experience, maturity, and time in the weight room will do wonders. I think the peices are there it's really just a matter of coaching them up, putting them in positions to be successful, and gaining some confidence. We need a big road win thought to get that confidence going. Few guys on the team will have been around for a big road win. We are gonna have to earn it to change the culture. It won't happen by accident.
November 10th, 2013 at 4:32 PM ^
Other than that we either have people back or 'normal' turnover with experienced backups stepping in.
I disagree about all of those freshman stepping into starting roles. We won't need that anymore!!! Those who do should be stars (Peppers). On the dline, Poggi and/or Hurst should be next guys in instead of Mone
November 10th, 2013 at 5:53 PM ^
I think Mone is a star. On Michigan's current roster, which is probably based off summer numbers Hurst is 6'2" 270 and Poggi is 6'4" 260. Mone is 6'4" 315 in high school still. Mone is a top 5 DT in the country in high school. Poggi was the #22 DT and Hurst was the #54 DT coming out of high school. Nothing against either kid because they both have potential, but they both are not in the same talent pool as Mone. I wouldn't expect Hurst or Poggi be ready to contribute until year 3. Mone already has the size to play big time college football and he's acutally leaner than the other two. Both Hurst and Poggi need time to develop and gain strength.
November 10th, 2013 at 11:01 PM ^
Poggi was ranked much higher than that on Rivals.
November 11th, 2013 at 9:22 AM ^
How much higher? I'm still guessing he is nowhere near a top 5 guy, right?