Prophetic Preseason Analytics
I read this article when it was originally published and thought, well, we have Harbaugh so I don't care what your numbers say about our team. Looking back now, these analytics have been proven somewhat prophetic.
I'm still disappointed the team hasn't played better and I expect more from our coaching staff, but at this point in the season, these numbers provide perspective.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/michigans-lineup-was-gutted-how-much-will-it-matter/
October 24th, 2017 at 10:32 AM ^
Although losing a bunch of players hurts, the single most damaging starter a team can wave goodbye to is its starting quarterback — and Michigan’s incumbent QB, Wilton Speight, is still around this season.
October 24th, 2017 at 11:49 AM ^
Yeah. That and this fun little chart was a good gut-punch.
This team is exceeding the curve for most programs and historical norms, but I guess that never was really the point for most complaints.
October 24th, 2017 at 7:14 PM ^
Do they have another line for when that returning QB was your worst starter and got worse instead of better over the offseason?
October 24th, 2017 at 10:34 AM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 11:04 AM ^
You probably prayed that Tom Brady was no longer eligible too, right?
October 24th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 11:42 AM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 12:15 PM ^
Children, children!! You're both cute, now go outside and play nice. Anymore bickering and you'll get no dinner! Straight to bed for you!!
October 24th, 2017 at 11:57 AM ^
sig pic. Well done.
October 24th, 2017 at 11:38 AM ^
Weird, same reason why I'm not a Liberal. Want to talk about that on this-here Michigan Football Blog, too?
October 24th, 2017 at 11:43 AM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 2:40 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 2:06 PM ^
Is it that or a complete lack of empathy?
October 24th, 2017 at 2:50 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 2:56 PM ^
Sea lion.
October 24th, 2017 at 3:14 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 3:20 PM ^
Right back at you! Now you know the difference between your pinnipeds. Remember, you're never too old to open your mind to new information. It can be scary, I know, because sometimes it challenges your beliefs and the way you live your life.
October 24th, 2017 at 2:12 PM ^
Meh, its all rooting for your team. I don't really see much difference.
October 24th, 2017 at 10:35 AM ^
I'm mad we're not better this year. 
October 24th, 2017 at 10:41 AM ^
Disturbing.
October 24th, 2017 at 10:45 AM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 10:51 AM ^
WebMD says its cancer.
October 24th, 2017 at 11:04 AM ^
I am reasonably certain that everyone that lives long enough gets cancer. Maybe rectal cancer is just my cancer?
October 24th, 2017 at 11:06 AM ^
We can only hope?
Edit: I apologize Faux - I'm letting my anger at Dudeness cloud my better judgement.
October 24th, 2017 at 11:16 AM ^
I hope you get testicular cancer. But I hope your doctor doesn't call it that. I hope he calls it "ball cancer." And then says it a bunch of times, just to make you feel bad. For example: "Hey Yo-Blue, when would you like to come in for the first radiation treatment for your stage 4 ball cancer? We have an opening with our ball cancer specialist next Thursday. How does that sound?"
October 24th, 2017 at 11:19 AM ^
cancer would be even better. "Sir, the result are in, and I regret to inform you that you have balls cancer."
October 24th, 2017 at 11:25 AM ^
Oh, I completely agree.
"Sir, I regret to inform you that you have stage 4 balls cancer. We need to treat this immediately before it spread to your blass. Because there taint nothin worse than blass cancer!"
October 24th, 2017 at 1:15 PM ^
As a survivor of testicular cancer, I don't find this particularly clever or funny. On the other hand, that time I spilled coffee on my pants right before my urology appointment was quite funny.
I'm generally more than fine with adolescent humor, and I will joke about amazingly inappropriate things, and if you've had "ball cancer," then my apologies--you have a right to joke. Otherwise, I suggest that if you're going to joke about cancer, child molestation, gun violence, natural tragedies, etc., you make sure it's very funny, very clever, or very thoughtful to those who may have suffered.
Sincerely,
Your local snowflake, "Lefty"
October 24th, 2017 at 2:14 PM ^
apologies. I did not think that comment through.
October 24th, 2017 at 3:18 PM ^
My dad died of throat cancer last year. He was my best friend. Is it OK if I still make jokes about the fact he likely got the disease from going down on a woman via HPV - and given his age and when he was most active, likely an early 70's woman with a full Diana Ross pube thing going on - or should I stop doing so? Because he loved those jokes before he passed...
October 24th, 2017 at 8:34 PM ^
October 25th, 2017 at 11:50 AM ^
I lost my father a while back, and I still think of him pretty much every day, but the memories get sweeter and less bitter with time.
You don't need anyone's permission to joke about your own pain or your loved ones. I say honor your father in any way you can, even if it's with every cunnilingus joke you can think of.
My father, an evangelical minister, loved to joke about sex, and I proudly carry on his legacy.
October 24th, 2017 at 5:34 PM ^
Testicular cancer is nothing to joke about but it is the most survivable cancer out there.
So I see you are here after departing the mlive Lions forum....
October 24th, 2017 at 11:13 AM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 11:24 AM ^
WebMD says everything is cancer.
When you have a mystery ache or pain, the internet is not your friend.
October 24th, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^
WebMD apparently watched too many episodes of House.
October 24th, 2017 at 2:39 PM ^
See:
"Sometimes science is a liar", above
October 24th, 2017 at 10:39 AM ^
Thanks for posting this. The conclusion seems right: "the odds are still high that the Wolverines take a step backward this season, but the drop might not be as steep as it could have been."
October 24th, 2017 at 10:40 AM ^
I just noticed we still have a open date next year, can we reschedule Florida?
October 24th, 2017 at 11:11 AM ^
Is it really open or is it just an extended calendar that has an extra bye week? I think that the twelve games are it. Two bye weeks will be the norm going forward.
October 24th, 2017 at 10:41 AM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 11:03 AM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 10:41 AM ^
A lot of pundits picked us 3 or 4 losses pre-season WITH Speight.
Because we are fans (and with the Gator crushing) we ignored the obvious flaws.
Turns out, pundits are right, you cannot lose all of your starters and be competitive.
Also turns out the Gators were a low-tier SEC team this year and we didn't slay any giant.
My hope is that the team plays lights out vs OSU for a major upset, rather than a repeat of the 2015 game.
October 24th, 2017 at 10:42 AM ^
Turns out, pundits are right, you cannot lose all of your starters and be competitive.
Unless you're OSU, apparently.
October 24th, 2017 at 10:54 AM ^
They and Bama significantly out recruit Michigan, That's why you can't just say top 5 class and call it a day. Top 50 and top 20 recruits hit higher and earlier, OSU and bama get more of those recruits more consistently.