A request for perspective and reason

Submitted by ssuarez on
We lost 10/11 starters from last years team - 8 are on NFL rosters, 2 are on practice squads. The defense is currently ranked 1st in yards allowed, and second in S&P plus. This is truly extraodinary. Next Topic.
 
On offense we lost 8 Starters. We've now also lost Speight so may as well say we lost 9 which include our QB, RB, basically the whole offensive line, TE, and 2 WRs. The one WR that did return had been kicked off the team and had to work himself back into the good graces of the coaching staff. Plus our most promising/electrifying skill position player (Black) is now out for the year after showing great promise early. Our only natural LT, Newsome, is also not here (inlcluded in the 9 starter number above.)
 
Additionally, we lost a co-offensive coordinator who was very successful and creative coach. We brought in two new coaches - Pep and Frey, and we were bound to have a bit of an adjustment period with a ton of young players picking up new concepts. Concepts that are new because we are changing scheme, but also because a lot of these guys are that are playing freshman that were either running the scout team or their high school's offenses.
 
Through 8 games in 2015, we were implementing a new offense and Rudock was averaging 180 ypg with 6 TDs and 7 picks. We thought that would never get better, then things clicked as the year went on and he tore it up. We finished the year more optimistic than ever.  I'm not saying that's going to happen with O'korn, but he could become a functional QB, and with that I think we'd be a completely different team. 
 
Who looks at this at this looks at this year team and can only see the faults? My Answer? The same miserable asshole that sat next to me in 2011 when we beat OSU, who early in the game was calling for Hoke to put in Gardner (just before denard had an absolutely masterful game). The same fans that hated Navarre. The same fans that hated Carr. The same fans that want us to sit down on 3rd downs and don't know anything about the team but just want something to happen on saturdays that makes them feel good. 

Sorry for the rant, but we've experienced down times here with Hoke and Rodriguez, and things were legitimately miserable. Let's keep some perspective and realize how lucky we are to have a team that is led by Harbaugh.
 
Whatever happens this weekend against PSU, late in the year against OSU, or in any game this year, just be happy that this team is coached by the one person in the world most suited to be Michigan's coach. Watch the team on Saturdays and regardless of the outcome, know that we're being put in the best position we can be to win, and just enjoy how hard these guys are fighting to make that happen. 
 
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LLG

October 20th, 2017 at 2:53 PM ^

So how does this work?  You ask for reason and persepctive?  What do you expect to happen in response?  I'm so confused.

Joined: 05/28/2017

MGoPoints: 2255

Goggles Paisano

October 20th, 2017 at 2:57 PM ^

I don't think the majority is down on the team.  I think we know the future is bright.  What happened was that our expectations were raised quite high after that beat down of Florida in the opener.  Since then, our expectations have not been met (mainly with the offense).

I think we have a great shot to win tomorrow.  I am expecting a really close and physical game.  We are due for a break on a call or two and perhaps a bounce or two.  

Joined: 07/30/2011

MGoPoints: 41232

lilpenny1316

October 20th, 2017 at 3:01 PM ^

Just be here tomorrow around 11PM if we win this thing.  There will be a mighty POSBANG with Muppets and a complete 180 on the perspective scale, which will bring us full circle to where we were after we beat Florida.

Sports and proper perspective never play nicely with each other.

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61741

jmblue

October 20th, 2017 at 3:03 PM ^

I haven't seen too much overreaction the last couple of days.  The week after MSU was bad but it seems like people have mostly gotten it out of their system.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102707

Reader71

October 20th, 2017 at 3:17 PM ^

I reject your call. Unacceptable. Predictable. Too complicated. Bubble screens. RPOs. Not enough heart. Too many penalties. Outschemed. 3-stars. Put backup in. Borges. I think that covers it.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

jabberwock

October 20th, 2017 at 3:29 PM ^

" If we play shitty, don't be down on the team"

Why the hell not?  

If the QB play is shitty I'll complain about it,

If the the coaching decisions seem shitty, I'll complain it.

If we pull out a win being the (apropriate) underdog , I'll be ecstatic!

Peddle your fandom rulebook elsewhere.

Joined: 07/04/2008

MGoPoints: 51146

Oregon Wolverine

October 20th, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^

So if we throw Harbaugh on the trash heap, who's next and who in their right mind would come to Michigan?

I think the point is, we were a dumpster fire in Hoke's last two years, a dumpster fire under Rodriguez, the laughing stock of college football when we lost to App St., horrified when Oregon schooled us in our house the next week, but now we're moving decidely in the right direction with the best damn coach any of us could imagine. 

We are getting great recruits and nearly all the way back.  Yes, I want a Natty now.  I'd also like a new Tesla and a retirement account that will pay me about 50% of my current salary.  Right now I'm 0-3, but I'm pretty sure Jim is working harder on the first than I am on the two that are in my control.  

Who in this blog community wasn't thrilled when Oakland was not in play and Jim came home to A2?

Get behind your team people.  

Joined: 09/30/2014

MGoPoints: 2627

Oregon Wolverine

October 20th, 2017 at 4:49 PM ^

We needed to get rid of Carr.  Besides being antiquated in his approach to the game, he couldn't help but hiring mediocre coordinators and assistant coaches, recruited based on stars alone (albet sometimes quite well), and in his retirement showed he was prepared to put his interests (and ego) above the team's. 

Regarding the latter, I know that Rodriguez is not well-liked on this blog and I concur in almost all regards too.  However, he was named Michigan's coach and deserved a fair shot, which included having Carr's support, an adequate budget for quality assistant salary, and to have the Michigan base not start digging his grave prematurely -- as so many are inexplicably willing to do with Harbaugh too.

Three and Out is a pretty plain indictment of Carr's mideeds which, IMO, paints Rodriguez as a obviously doomed experiement from day one, with the charge being facilitated by, if not led by, Carr, undermining Rodriguez inside "Fort Michigan" because Rodriguez was an "outsider" who did not understand Michigan's culture or fit the Michigan mold.  I came away from Three with empathy for Rodriguez, which was a tall order considering I previously was quite upset over the misdeeds that led to our probation in the Rodruguez era -- even though the infractions appear laughable compared to the miscreants at Louisville and UNC.  The Rodriguez era losses were painful yes, but some blame should be placed on the back of Carr.  His reputation will forever be tarnished, again, IMO.  

 

Joined: 09/30/2014

MGoPoints: 2627

rob f

October 20th, 2017 at 3:37 PM ^

almost 7 years ago, expecting nothing but daily "_ _ _ _ _ _ appreciation thread(s)". So what do I get? I just signed in now hoping to find appreciation, only to experience yet another disappointment, with admonishment piled on for good measure. F*** perspective . Screw reason. I want appreciation threads. And nothing but blowout wins.

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 193760

SpinachAssassin

October 20th, 2017 at 3:52 PM ^

This was better placed after Staee, yet would have been lost with all the other #hottake essays about feelings. On a Friday before a game when everyone is getting jacked seems a bit... off

Joined: 05/23/2013

MGoPoints: 4869

andidklein

October 20th, 2017 at 3:58 PM ^

To expect Michigan to win every week. I don’t see Bama or OSU use the excuses that everyone went to the NFL. Seems like they are doing that on a yearly basis. How about we just beat the shit out of everyone.

Joined: 11/18/2015

MGoPoints: 10599

CLord

October 20th, 2017 at 4:05 PM ^

I don't buy any of this, especially the talk of losing experienced players.  Every single team has to reload with fresh faces every year.  OSU won the NC in a year they were very young.  That excuse is tired and should be retired from this blog.

Any Michigan fan worth anything is very pleased with Harbaugh as our coach and don't want him replaced even if we lose out this year.  Harbaugh is a proven commodity and more Michigan than anyone on the planet to coach this team.  Brown is proven as well.  The neck that will be requested will be that of Drevno.

Drevno has little substantive proof of success as an offensive coordinator aside from a D2 school.  He has proven himself as a good OL coach, but not an OC.  If Michigan flounders this year, the educated fanbase will not be panicking, they will just hope to see Harbaugh move Drevno back to OL coach, and seek out the Don Brown counterpoint for OC.  As for the lunatics in every fanbase, no point in making a plea to them, ever.

Drevno's metaphor about pumping a well and keeping the faith fails because with a well you are blind to the results of each pump, whereas with an offense, you can literally see the progression or regression with each play, so it is less about faith, and more about palpable, day-to-day results.  His well analogy excuses all the worst OC decisions.  He could put all the walk-ons on the field and then say he's just pumping away waiting for the lights to turn on.  Sorry Tim, you have two eyes, more is expected of you with the level of talent we have relative to places like  MSU littered with 3 stars.

Joined: 09/11/2011

MGoPoints: -6344

ssuarez

October 20th, 2017 at 4:27 PM ^

Because it seems like you didn't.

Here's a quick recap.

We are 9-0, ranked number two in the nation playing on the road at Iowa, winning.  

Then we can't rush for a single first down (our offensive line couldn't close it out), Darboh couldn't catch a well thrown ball, and a penalty that shouldn't have been called gives iowa field position to kick a game winning field goal. Plus like 10 other plays that would have allowed us to walk away with a win. The best teams struggle in a game or two every season. 

Then, we learn that our starting quarterback broke his collarbone in that Iowa game. So we had to go on the road against OSU, expecting to do it with a guy that couldn't do anything against Iowa. But our QB (Speight) comes back and leads his team (Michigan) to what should have been a win at Ohio State if not for a very controversial call on 4th down (Look it up on the internet)...Throw insome incredibly unlucky/inonsistent officiating, maybe give us a call we deserved, or take away one of our unfortunate turnovers and, yeah - we're undefeated and in the B1G championship game...

Joined: 11/03/2008

MGoPoints: 1124

UM Griff

October 20th, 2017 at 4:19 PM ^

Everyone is entitled to be a little crabby sometimes - just not on the Friday before a big game when we are in POSBANG mode. Edit: admonishment is for Mondays :)

Joined: 12/03/2016

MGoPoints: 9833

ChiBlueBoy

October 20th, 2017 at 4:34 PM ^

There is a watch party tomorrow that I will not be attending because the last time I went, one UM fan started screaming about how terrible McCray is and how he isn't a D-1 athlete. Then a completely different fan called Rashan Gary a P**sy. Seriously. If I wanted to be surrounded by idiots, I'd have gone to MSU.

I totally get being worked up over the game. I've had week-long depressions over a bad loss. I get it. Still, I'd rather watch at home than put up with idiots who forget that these are 18-22 year olds playing a game.

If you're going to a bar to watch the game, be kind to your neighbors and kind to the team. They are killing themselves for your entertainment. And remember the similarity between opinions and assholes. Keep your idiocy and stench to yourselves.

Joined: 10/11/2011

MGoPoints: 7811