Positive about 2022 despite a lot of unknowns
Some are disappointed with how the CFP game ended, but 2021 was a great year and 2022 can be viewed optimistically.
- The team is returning many great veteran players.
- The team is returning the same group of key coaches.
- We will have a QB contest but both of the top candidates have shown a capacity to improve; next year should be interesting in a positive way.
This is a whole new era for UM Football and the end of this season settled the uncertainty after Lloyd Carr’s retirement. There is a solid vision of who will be here and what the identity of the team will be. And it came at just the right moment. It is a good time to minimize uncertainty within the program given how chaotic things will be in CFB in general.
There will be unprecedented player mobility due to the Portal.
The era of NIL and what it means to recruiting is just beginning. The boundaries and limits remain to be defined and undoubtedly tested.
Assistant coaches are now becoming well known to even average fans, and coaching changes will occur probably more frequently than ever. The movement of Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly show that there are no givens even at places where there are huge commitments to their programs.
Finally, Jim Brandstatter and Dan Dierdorf are retired and it is hoped that the next set of announcers will be as good.
Go Blue, stay safe and well!
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:11 PM ^
I like the cut of your jib.
That being said if there are any stud DE’s that want to be all B1G TEN and transfer in, I’m all for it.
January 3rd, 2022 at 5:23 PM ^
THIS is the year we could use a Mike Danna-type transfer.
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:12 PM ^
In my humble opinion, approach each season with a totally blank slate in your mind.
I cannot count how many seasons everything lined up perfectly, and the team fell flat.
And there have been plenty of seasons when we didn't think much of the potential (ie, this season), and they went FAR beyond our expectations.
Generally speaking, it's impossible to try and figure out what will happen. People get hurt, people take steps forward, and people take steps back. I've done the whole mental gymnastics game where I tell myself, "Yeah! We got like 50 seniors (Henne, Manningham, Hart, Arrington, Jake Long) and there's NO way they'll be average!" Maybe it's just the impact of getting older- just my two cents.
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:19 PM ^
Case and point basketball last year and this year
January 2nd, 2022 at 5:25 PM ^
Yep. We should never take anything for granite.
January 2nd, 2022 at 5:41 PM ^
Was that on porpoise?
January 2nd, 2022 at 8:07 PM ^
Rick and Morty. In re “case and point”…
January 2nd, 2022 at 5:55 PM ^
I won't take things for granted either
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
I agree but easier said than done. This year we came from unranked with minimal expectations to a top 3 team. I have also seen us start the year ranked in the top 5 to then flop miserably. The most gratifying seasons are the ones like this year when expectations are blown out the water. Next year will come with a preseason ranking in the top 10 or even top 5 and predictions from the fans of 10-11 wins. I would prefer, as you say, to come into with a blank slate of mind, but I already have lofty expectations for 2022 for very obvious reasons.
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:32 PM ^
But that's exactly my point.
Most people went into the season with the range of emotions probably around cautiously optimistic to expecting average. And what we got was amazing.
I've had lofty expectations a LOT with this program, only to be let down time and time again. And it is REALLY hard to back up a Big Ten Championship again, regardless of how much they have coming back.
The arrow is definitely pointing up a little bit, but I just caution that we don't go insane like we have in the past- I've seen far too many people on this board get let down time and time again. That's why I try to approach each season as neutral as possible and hope to be surprised. There is just no possible way to predict who is going to be great, who will step up, and who may step back.
January 2nd, 2022 at 4:07 PM ^
I have to think a team with so many players that made it to the CFP, are not just going to mail it in next year and become 2007 all over again. There was no demoralizing game vs. OSU, we overcame demons this year, these guys will be hungry to overcome the next of defeating great teams in the playoffs. 2006, for as good as UM was, overcame no demons, they instead seemed to create a space for complacency, I don’t see that happening with the guys going into next years squad.
January 3rd, 2022 at 11:27 AM ^
2007 was mainly because of injuries to Henne and Hart. Injuries can derail any season.
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:55 PM ^
Case in point 2007 ??????
January 2nd, 2022 at 4:04 PM ^
The three best seasons that I witnessed during my long tenure as a Michigan fan were all preceded by historically bad seasons:
1985 - beat Ohio State, won the Fiesta Bowl against Nebraska, AP #2 runner up. Preceded in 1984 by Bo's only team with a non-winning (6-6) record.
1997 - beat Ohio State, won the Rose Bowl against Washington State, AP #1 National Champion. Preceded in 1993 / 1994 / 1995 / 1996 by a stretch of 4 mediocre four loss seasons in a row.
2021 - beat Ohio State, won the Big Ten Championship against Iowa, likely a Top 3 final ranking. Preceded in 2020 by a shortened 2 - 4 losing season.
We all know what happened in 2007 after 2006 looked so promising.
You don't know what the future holds
January 2nd, 2022 at 4:12 PM ^
Let’s get rid of this mindset of expecting the pendulum to always swing back towards the program being mediocre/good but not great. I know this sounds crazy but I swear our collective negative energy as a fan base does not help this program, the least we can do is be positive and believe these guys. Do you think Alabama fans were ever scared of going back to pre-Saban mediocrity? Probably, but they got over it, we can overcome that too.
January 2nd, 2022 at 6:22 PM ^
I know this sounds crazy but I swear our collective negative energy as a fan base does not help this program
You're correct. That is crazy. If that were even remotely true, the team would have gone 0-12 this year.
D-line could make or break the season next year.
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:14 PM ^
JJ, a solid offensive line, a couple multi-purpose backs, Bell, All, Johnson, Anthony, Wilson, etc ...
It's time to open up the offense.
January 2nd, 2022 at 7:16 PM ^
Yes sir. Shoot out mode every week.
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:15 PM ^
It's always reasonable to be optimistic when you return most of your contributors and most of your coaches from a highly successful team, as Michigan football appears poised to do heading into next season. Go Blue. Beat Ohio.
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
One of the keys will be replacing the leadership of Hutchinson, Barrett, Ross, Vastardis, Hawkins and Haskins (I’m sure there are other key leaders but those are the guys who are apparent even from outside the program. Whose going to take their places?
Ronnie Bell is such an absolute guarantee that it feels silly to even mention him.
Some upperclassmen/quarterback candidates to me are Sainristil, Corum, All, Schoonmaker, Johnson, Zinter, Cade and/or JJ, Smith and Hinton.
So we have plenty of potential options with Ronnie Bell being the no doubter
January 2nd, 2022 at 5:58 PM ^
Michael Barrett still has two years of eligibility.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:45 PM ^
Oh I didn’t know that, thanks!
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:28 PM ^
I hope CFB improves in general though. The game has been trashy. The cfp needs to be expanded.
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:32 PM ^
For people like to refer to JH and Dabo, and how it took Dabo some years to finally break through, I will always remember this season for being an unranked team, picked behind Indy for 4th place in B1G East, and ended a 10-year Ohio drought, 17-year B1G title drought, 20 year drought at Wisconsin - whether this is the beginning of greatness or just a step forward followed by a few more bumps in the road, we'll know over the next two years.
Dabo didn't really win consistently until Year 8 - Year 6 ended with a top 10 rating and win over Ohio, but the next year was 10-3 ranked 15.
The biggest thing is the talent gap between Bama, UGA, and yes Ohio - it can't be overcome in one year. Clemson needed a few years to finally build those lines and get a superstar QB along with talented skill players before they went on an amazing 6 year run.
What I am most excited about for 2022:
1. JJ plus Donovan and Corum will be fun to watch us run the RPO.
2. Ronnie Bell and skilled WRs back along with two solid TEs.
3. Good to great CB play - Turner and either the Gray from the Ohio and Iowa games or Will.
4. A defense better suited to getting turnovers - if that's one disappointment in general from this year, we rarely got the key TOs (Nebraska game was the best moment).
5. Revenge vs. Sparty. No more overturned TDs.
6. We have a very favorable schedule next year - Iowa will need to replace their main offensive star and MSU will not get lucky twice in a row. Other than that, pretty nice set-up for potential 11-0 start.
7. LB play - hopefully it was inexperience and not talent that was exposed vs. Georgia. McDonald should have that unit playing a lot better next year.
8. JH will stay his new self - I think he's truly relieved but not overconfident after finally beating Ohio. He has nothing to prove right now other than sustain the progress and build on more 4 and 5 star guys.
Compared to 365 days ago, both UM football and I are in a lot better place. Go blue!
January 2nd, 2022 at 4:16 PM ^
On #6 - Iowa had an offensive star?
January 2nd, 2022 at 4:49 PM ^
Their center
January 2nd, 2022 at 5:03 PM ^
Their punter. Hey, you have the ball when you punt, right?
January 3rd, 2022 at 2:49 AM ^
'Iowa offense' is an oxymoron.
January 3rd, 2022 at 11:37 AM ^
With regards to Dabo what do you consider winning consistently? Not including the year he took over midseason, he's gone: 9-5, 6-7, 10-4, 11-2, 11-2, 10-3, 14-1, 14-1, 12-2, 15-0, 14-1, 10-2, 10-3.
I'd say he started winning consistently in year 3, worst case year 4.
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:32 PM ^
For people like to refer to JH and Dabo, and how it took Dabo some years to finally break through, I will always remember this season for being an unranked team, picked behind Indy for 4th place in B1G East, and ended a 10-year Ohio drought, 17-year B1G title drought, 20 year drought at Wisconsin - whether this is the beginning of greatness or just a step forward followed by a few more bumps in the road, we'll know over the next two years.
Dabo didn't really win consistently until Year 8 - Year 6 ended with a top 10 rating and win over Ohio, but the next year was 10-3 ranked 15.
The biggest thing is the talent gap between Bama, UGA, and yes Ohio - it can't be overcome in one year. Clemson needed a few years to finally build those lines and get a superstar QB along with talented skill players before they went on an amazing 6 year run.
What I am most excited about for 2022:
1. JJ plus Donovan and Corum will be fun to watch us run the RPO.
2. Ronnie Bell and skilled WRs back along with two solid TEs.
3. Good to great CB play - Turner and either the Gray from the Ohio and Iowa games or Will.
4. A defense better suited to getting turnovers - if that's one disappointment in general from this year, we rarely got the key TOs (Nebraska game was the best moment).
5. Revenge vs. Sparty. No more overturned TDs.
6. We have a very favorable schedule next year - Iowa will need to replace their main offensive star and MSU will not get lucky twice in a row. Other than that, pretty nice set-up for potential 11-0 start.
7. LB play - hopefully it was inexperience and not talent that was exposed vs. Georgia. McDonald should have that unit playing a lot better next year.
8. JH will stay his new self - I think he's truly relieved but not overconfident after finally beating Ohio. He has nothing to prove right now other than sustain the progress and build on more 4 and 5 star guys.
Compared to 365 days ago, both UM football and I are in a lot better place. Go blue!
January 2nd, 2022 at 4:14 PM ^
January 2nd, 2022 at 5:04 PM ^
If we beat Ohio State next year I'm going to be unbelievably obnoxious for a while
January 2nd, 2022 at 3:56 PM ^
Although I seldom listen to any games on the radio as I am always watching, I am looking forward to a new set of announcers. I really liked Brandy as a color guy, but he was a hard listen as the PBP guy. Always thought Beckman did a fantastic job which probably made it even more difficult to listen to Jim in that role. Hopefully Warde will really think this through and choose the best possible options.
January 2nd, 2022 at 4:09 PM ^
Has it been confirmed that Gattis and Macdonald are definitely coming back?
They are both hot commodities right now for other appealing jobs.
January 2nd, 2022 at 4:24 PM ^
I was going to comment something similar. Seems WAYYYY too early to assume all assistants are coming back.
January 2nd, 2022 at 5:49 PM ^
Don’t know that these two are the likeliest to jump, but some assistant shuffling seems likely to me, just based on numbers.
Gattis and Macdonald are important, and so losing them would be potentially disruptive. Can’t count on both staying.
But they’re both in spots where there are limited places to go that’s up. HC positions are already getting filled. I’d worry more about NFL spots for Mac. But it seems reasonable to at least have hope that the absence of movement so far bodes well.
January 2nd, 2022 at 6:27 PM ^
I think MacDonald is very likely to stay. He’s too inexperienced for a major head coaching position, but he’s already a DC. Tough to see what realistic positions would be a vertical move for him.
January 2nd, 2022 at 8:46 PM ^
That and you would hope JH got some sort of handshake deal with him that he would stick around for a bit. Obv can’t guarantee it, but it had to be mentioned during the interview, you would think.
January 3rd, 2022 at 7:33 AM ^
Repeating anything close to this season will likely pull either coordinator job lateral offers.
Not alot of jobs better than UM.
Just don't see HC offers until 3 sustained high level seasons.
January 2nd, 2022 at 4:44 PM ^
The positives are the offense, despite losing 2 starters on the line and Haskins. The UVA center transfer and Trente Jones should solidify the line and Donovan Edwards should replace Haskins. With Bell returning at WR, the other WR and TE contributors are back and JJ has a full year in the system, this offense should be very good. Of course I’ve thought that before and been wrong, but on paper, the offense should be better.
That said, everything else will likely be worse. The defense is likely losing 3 high NFL draft picks in Hutch, Ojabo and Dax Hill, and the replacements will be ...? The rest of the talent on defense is also a question mark. Chris Hinton and Mazi Smith developed into good players, but neither is a lock for the NFL. Junior Colson showed flashes at LB, but besides him, talent at that position is lacking. DJ Turner improved greatly, but unless Will Johnson is ready to go from day 1, CB2 and Nickel will be concerns. Rod Moore and RJ Moten at safety are solid, but will either be as good as Hawkins?
I believe we also lose the reliable Jake Moody - when was the last time we had a FG kicker where it felt like he was automatic???
I think teams who have a great season tend to get overrated the following pre-season (see Michigan basketball), because people tend to undervalue the players leaving and think replacements will be just as good while all the returning players will be even better!
January 2nd, 2022 at 4:50 PM ^
Get JJ in the weight room and learn how to slide/dive. He had me stressing on some of those hits he took in the Orange Bowl
January 3rd, 2022 at 6:41 AM ^
That is just the way he plays. His style is more prone to injury than Cade and this is why it is a huge blessing to have both these dudes.
January 2nd, 2022 at 5:23 PM ^
If they can find at least one ready to go defensive end then we're in good shape
January 2nd, 2022 at 6:13 PM ^
Clearly you don’t lose Livers, Wagner, Smith, Brown, and of course Austin Davis, and improve. I think it is reasonable to assume you don’t lose Hutchinson and Ojabo and get better on the defensive end. Either way I’m on board for another fun season. Feels like the beginning.
January 2nd, 2022 at 6:23 PM ^
I think the same DC for a second season is going to be the biggest potential boost for the team. MacDonald exceeded expectations by a mile, but I think he was still pretty limited in what he was able to install. He had a lot of guys used to a very different system and part of his “deal” was giving lots of looks/disguises. You can’t run most of that without a ton of reps.
January 2nd, 2022 at 6:27 PM ^
“Some are disappointed” with how the CFP game ended? Some? Seriously? I think you meant to say “We are all . . .”
January 2nd, 2022 at 7:56 PM ^
All changes are good changes.
January 2nd, 2022 at 8:06 PM ^
It would be exceedingly difficult for anyone to do worse than Brandstatter at play-by-play. I'm sure he's a fine fellow, but he was out of his depth describing the action.
January 2nd, 2022 at 8:32 PM ^
Since next year all the stars seem to be aligning, we'll certainly go 8-4. Each season is its own thing. We might be undervaluing Hutchinson's impact . . . or overvaluing. CFB is pretty random when it comes to the teams who get primarily 3 and 4 star guys. We could have easily been 12-0. We also could have easily lost to Rutgers, Nebraska, Penn State, and MSU and gone 8-4 this year. All those games were in doubt late. The ball has to bounce right unless your fielding 5 stars at every position.
January 2nd, 2022 at 8:51 PM ^
There is no QB contest.
You want to be Elite, you tell Cade this week that this is JJ's team moving forward.
Why waste Cade's next 4 months?
The talent levels are night and day.
JJ has a chance to be the best QB to ever don the Maize and Blue.