Hail Yes!
Cannot wait! When do the Countdown to Kickoff videos start?
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I think I remember them starting when players got to camp the day before first practice last year.
JH is limiting access to practices. Media will be limited to a few times a week. Highly unlikely that there will be open practice times for videos. Past traditions of an open practice for the public and donor invitations are lookng like they have been scrapped as well. It's going to be all work and focus during this camp.
Thats GOOD news! Meanwhile, osu has the B1G Network's version of Hardknocks at their fall camp.
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It looks like JH is cutting access to the players during this camp. It could be a brutal camp for some. I am envisioning a Bear Bryant type of camp this year where only the toughest are left standing. Let OSU do their thing. Let it go to their heads. I hope VT neats them right out of the gate.
So what's the upshot here? No daily CTC? Or just a poorer version using old
old clips from the spring and fluff interviews from players after practice?
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No distractions, all business and team building. Everything will be earned. No hotel this year for camp either. Players are moving into the South Quad on thursday.
I'm not making a comparison, but I think a new reboot always needs to weed out the garbage habits or thought processes. Players will learn to buy in if they haven't and they will be condintioned to partipicate with "enthusiasm unknown to mankind!"
This is where the "hard work" stories about JH when he was at San Fran come to play. He drove those guys hard, nothing new, and it will be result in something great.
I don't think it's going to be "brutal" in any way that'll get dudebros salivating. It's football, not SEAL training, and while Harbaugh is crazy, I don't think he's a sadist.
What I expect to see is expectation. One thing I thought Hoke was particularly wishy-washy about was what he expected from the players. At times he talked about toughness but then he treats QB more like a rite of passage than a competition.
Here's the thing -- Harbaugh wants to know who wants to play footbaww. He doesn't need to crack the whip to find that out. He just needs to make it clear that the players' effort will decide who plays, and from there it'll be clear enough who really wants to be out there. How? Well, for starters, he added like a half a dozen QBs to the roster. Harbaugh doesn't need to lift a finger to get Shane Morris to try. Starting this week, that's what Jake Rudock will be doing.
August 3rd, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
I appreciate this perspective. Fall camp won't be a new Junction Boys. But as we saw with Heitzman, no special status will be afforded to any player.
I am envisioning a Bo Schembechler type of camp this year where only the toughest are left standing.
Fixed it.
August 3rd, 2015 at 10:12 AM ^
Much better!
Holy crap I cannot wait.
Once it hits August, all the silliness stops.
It's time.
They should start tomorrow!
there are?... there is would imply 1 right?
There is 1 month
There are 31 days
So you speak Canadian, eh?
I believe he's referring to the poster's poor grammar: There is...
Edit: Never mind - I actually just saw the "Month" added after AC's picture. All is well.
my bad, didn't see the month behind it
August 3rd, 2015 at 11:19 AM ^
Well, it is a teeny "month" as compared to the rest if the image.
Can't wait to see a competently coached team take the field this year.
Something I am excited for is having competent special teams. That can really be a game-changer.
Almost a third of the game is Special Teams and Baxter will make a difference.
August 3rd, 2015 at 10:53 AM ^
people say special teams is a third of the game. Offense and defense get at least 3 plays to ST one. It's actually more like 5-15 to one. This is not a shot at you at all, a lot of people say it I've just never agreed. However I do believe ST is huge and Baxter will definitely improve the group drastically.
I'm just ready to see the offense move!! Watching them not even be able to score two TD's in a game just hurt. That's where Harbaugh vs Hoke is going to make the biggest difference. I wanted to smash my TV watching them take a knee with a minute and a half left in the 2nd, we're down, get the ball second half and you're taking a knee because you don't want DG to throw another pick6?! AGGHHHRRRR!!! That's when I knew he was gone. That's not coaching to win!
EDIT. I will acknowledge that ST can win or lose a game. If your offense and defense are good ST can be just okay. If you have a good ST and just okay offense or defense it's not going to be great.
August 3rd, 2015 at 11:48 AM ^
Out of curiosity, I counted up the number of special teams plays in last season's M-Maryland game. Michigan had 59 offensive plays, Maryland had 69 offensive plays, and there were 26 ST plays total (punts, kickoffs, FGs, extra points.) That's about 17%, or 1/6 of the total number of plays. I'm sure that varies considerably from game to game, but I'd guess it's closer to 1/6 than 1/3 over the course of a typical season.
EDIT: OSU game - 29 ST plays out of 163 for 17.8%. Granted, 10 of those were XPs which should be automatic, but they are "scoring plays" so they are still important.
EDIT2: MOON game - 23 ST plays out of 166, or 13.9%. I thought that would have more with all the punting, but scoring plays give you two ST plays (XP and kickoff) and there was no scoring in that game. NU did run 84 plays to our 59. Let's just move on...
with your username, you just typed those from memory. True?
looked up "boxscore" and all my old boxscore diary links popped up. The MGoBlue.com website doesn't have the old boxscores in a prominent location, so it's a good thing (for me, at least, and everybody who cares about old boxscores) that I have links through this site.
I'm ready to see a staff with f'n headsets on, communicating with each other lol! Ya know? Like competent teams have. A HC and staff in constant communication, a HC that just goes in on refs instead of thinking they'll help you if you're nice, etc.
and given my lower than sky high expectations for the season I know I'll be fine but I'm a bit concerned that the atmosphere for the first home game under Harbaugh will rest a bit too much on the results in Utah. Many of us were there for the torrential beating (and downpour) against Utah last year so I don't like the thought/feeling that a loss could keep the first home game from being anything but nuts. The reverse is true, too, and what I obviously hope for. We come back home 1-0 and I don't care if it's a 9am game, the Big House will be rocking. We just have that kind of OOC schedule this year that could see us go 1-3, 4-0 or any combo in between. I think we only have one sure win in the first 4 games. I actually think we split them but I'd love to be ahead of my predicted record after Utah as I don't think we leave there with a win. I don't think we get spanked again but I don't see a win either. Maybe some practice info/footage can get the taste of last year out of my mouth? Haha
My feeling is that we are 3-1 coming out of non-conference play. I can see 4-0 with a win over Utah. If we get momentum, watch out!
1-3? I don't see any scenario where we lose to either UNLV or Oregon State
and I don't see us losing to UNLV. Oregon State is a team I won't overlook. I think we fall to Utah & BYU to go 2-2 but it could be too much carryover from last year (or not enough) to give me that feeling. We'll see.
Oregon State is pretty below average. While it's not as close to a guarantee as UNLV is, I'd be shocked if that game was super competitive.
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August 3rd, 2015 at 10:21 AM ^
I feel like Oregon State is closer to a push right now. Admittedly, I could be carrying over too much from last year. Yet, players are players and I think CFB programs truly turn around with new players along with a new staff as opposed to just a new staff. A new staff can only make so much of an impact even though I think winning in CFB is more on a staff than than other sport. That's to say that even though I think (and have said here many times) that no sport can equate winning directly to their HC/staff more than CFB, those coaches need "their players" to truly change what the program is beyond a couple more wins in the immediate. I hate saying it but I don't think most guys on this team are capable of creating a team that dominates the Oregon State types like they should. So. a loss last year may be a win this year but I'm not so confident as to say it's a sure thing. I think this team will essentially be what it was 8-9 months ago but with a few more wins due mostly to new leadership. It's not enough for me to say I think we'll definitely beat Oregon State this very moment. Yet, we'll see. Maybe they were just THAT poorly led, coached up, put in a position to win and held accountable? I hope so! I desperately hope so! I also hope this made sense as I'm typing in a hurry with one thumb lol.
August 3rd, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
Gus Malzahan took a 3-9 Auburn team to being a minute away from a national championship his first year. Not saying that's gonna happen here, but I am saying there is evidence that new coaching and the same players can still see a big turnaround in year 1.
August 3rd, 2015 at 12:43 PM ^
but those were mainly guys he recruited, correct? Didn't he leave and come back to Auburn in 3 years? I'm not scoffing at your point but it's not as if he had never met many of those guys. He recruited most of them, IIRC.
August 3rd, 2015 at 10:37 AM ^
Our first four opponents went 9-4, 5-7, 2-11, and 8-5 in 2014...against pretty weak competition (IMO). If Michigan is even marginally improved over last year, they should go 4-0. The question really is how quickly can they improve. It's unfortunate that the toughest game of this bunch is week 1, so they really need to hit the ground running. I see 3-1 as the floor in the OOC slate.
August 3rd, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
I'm sure someone' here is going to take this the wrong way, but they may not be improved from last year. Not for any reason other than the coaches are flipping the whole team upside down and rattling them like a bag of shake n' bake. Baxter in particular is on record saying he's completely breaking down ST and re-building from the ground up. Which, mind you, is a VERY BADLY NEEDED overhaul, but FFS he didn't even let the kickers kick field goals during spring practice. Drevno is probably ditching IZ and converting to a gap-blocking scheme which throws the OL back a couple years. We're doubling down on press coverage but with Peppers' move to FS (which is -- to reiterate -- a great move) there's like one proven guy on the roster who can execute that (though I'm hoping Watson gives us two). We're recruiting CBs like crazy but they won't be available this season.
The pattern I'm emphasizing here is that I'm ecstatic about all the changes the coaches are making, even as I'm aware most of them will set the team back until it adjusts. I think this team will be more fun to watch than last season's. That said, I expect it to start out raw.
I mean, if they win 10+ games I'll be right there with everyone dancing in the street (or more likely posting here with a silly grin on my face), but my excitement for this team isn't in the results but the changes. I'm willing to put up with some ARGH ARGH moments in September, but at least they'll be playing to win instead of looking like they're trying.
August 3rd, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^
^THIS^ a bajillion times over.
August 3rd, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^
feeling and sentiment. We get worked up every year no matter what do this year should be no different. I see that but I always try to remain level headed and this year is no different. The "Summer of Harbaugh" is almost "football season" and I'd really like it if people didn't completely deflate should we not win 10+ this year. Its a much tougher situation than many think, IMO.
August 3rd, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^
Well said. There will be gaffes, mistakes, blown plays, etc., this season. I just think that the difference will be attitude and week-by-week improvement. I said this before: back-up QB ready to go in (with helmet on) on five seconds notice; the right 11 men on the field at all times; no stupid penalties -- these are improvements I expect to see immediately. The rest of the things, missed blocks, a blown coverage, are going to happen.
As long as Harbaugh and co. are safely between "clap clap clap" and Brian Kelly's purpling, with kids responding and helping each other, we will develop into a dangerous team by year end.
I don't think there's a team on the schedule that can afford to overlook Michigan or Harbaugh will make them pay.
But in terms of what will do Michigan in, I'm not quite sure what to expect. The coaches said they're trying not to overwhelm the players, so it's not like they'll have their own 300-play playbook to start the season. But simplicity means predictability, so it'll be tough to balance growth with consistency.
So all bets are off, but I'd guess what we'll see in this team is growing pains. Some days it'll look like they're executing but there aren't enough weapons. Other days they'll botch the play. Overall, the team just won't be able to do it all right away.
The one thing I expect WON'T happen is for Michigan State to just march into Ann Arbor and punch this team in the mouth. Goddamn I'm so sick of seeing that. They're still the heavy favorite, but this is what Harbaugh does to teams that overlook his players:
August 3rd, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
One of those teams kicked our ass last year and the other has a heisman candidate at quarterback.
August 3rd, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^
That Utah game was a beating in person. The tsunami was coming but it delayed long enough for them to just much our di**s into the dirt lol. The saddest part was Hoke (who I try not to talk about like he was evil) win his first ever game at UM in a similar weathered game after the opponent realized the rain wasn't stopping and they weren't coming back if it did. They called it. Yet, By the time we left, walked a half hour to the car and got out of a jam packed A2 the sports radio guys were still talking about Hoke refusing to call the game. I get it if the team looked halfway competent that day but Utah was in absolute control. The rain was terrible but the best part of the day lol.
So begins the longest month of the year.
August 3rd, 2015 at 10:51 AM ^
Eh. Not for me. August goes pretty quickly, I think. We finally have at least summer practice to talk/read about and NFL fake season starts on Sunday.
August 3rd, 2015 at 11:00 AM ^
NFL fake season is the worst thing in all of sports, just meaningless play disguised as pro football. Just a money grab by the NFL, wish they would cut it to 2 games max.
It seems like we've waited for to get to even this point forever, but in reality it hasn't been all that long. I actually like the idea of media access to the practices being limited - they really don't need that distraction right now. It will make the speculation that much more rampant, but personally I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised by who gets the most playing time and where in some instances.
You can almost see football from here, folks. Not much longer now.