Paly33

May 17th, 2014 at 7:16 PM ^

This season can't start soon enough. From what I've been reading on the Scout boards, negative recruiting has had an influence on Crawford.



Produce on the field this year and things will hopefully fall into place.

MGoStrength

May 17th, 2014 at 9:25 PM ^

UM already has top level talent.  Miami and UM have very similar recruiting profiles for as long as I can recall the internet tracking recruiting classes.  So, if we are going to argue that Miami always gets top level talent than you'd have to argue the same for UM.  UM may not have the same talent in-state, but they still get it.

bronxblue

May 17th, 2014 at 10:56 PM ^

Not crap on message boards, but they are long on reductive thinking and speculation and short on actual facts.

That said, this is why I try not to care too much about recruiting, especially months before the season, because everything is so fluid.

jcouz

May 17th, 2014 at 7:16 PM ^

On the one hand, teams have to make early offers to stay competitive. On the other hand, I can totally understand a kid wanting to take advantage of the process and all of the visits. I just wish guys wouldn't commit until they really mean it. Any guy that commits really early now makes me skeptical. If he doesn't want to be here...best of luck. Time to recruit someone who does.

SpinachAssassin

May 19th, 2014 at 5:29 AM ^

I get what you mean yet I just don't find it fair to hold anyone, much less a 16yo youth (whose life is blowing up in front of his very eyes), to stick with something if a better situation comes along.

Please don't take this as preachy (it's not meant that way), yet change happens everywhere.  He committed 100% because he meant it at that time 100%.  Now he's not feeling 100%.  He has new information that is altering his evaluation process.  If he sticks it out, we'll be glad to have him.  He looks like a terror on the field.  Yet if he goes somewhere else, he'll have done what is best for him.

The beat goes on.

Maizenblueball

May 17th, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^

Yep, sounds like negative recruiting might be working.  This season we need results on the field.  It's amazing how quickly momentum can swing back in your favor when you're winning.

SpinachAssassin

May 19th, 2014 at 5:41 AM ^

It was two unranked schools playing each other.  We lost.  We played well the game prior against a highly ranked osu, with a healthy-ish DG.

We'll be fine.  We have great talent on board already and as many have said, we'll be set up for excellence in 2015 for sure (with noticeable improvement in 2014).  Until then, we just need to ride this wave.

Franz Schubert

May 17th, 2014 at 7:21 PM ^

That he didn't bother to let the coaching staff know then good riddance. I can appreciate his desire to look around, but giving your word(committing), then not even having the decency to communicate your interest to visit elsewhere is childish.

In reply to by Franz Schubert

pearlw

May 17th, 2014 at 7:24 PM ^

TomVh had reported earlier that on Wednesday Crawford informed Mattison that he was going to take some visits so he has discussed this with someone at Michigan.

MGoStrength

May 17th, 2014 at 9:29 PM ^

That's a way of being honest, but in realty it's often a half truth.  The real truth is he's questioning his commitment.  This is the first step to an eventually decomittment IMHO. First, soften the blow, then check out other schools, eventually decommit, and comitt somewhere else.  Isn't that how it usually goes? 

Oscar

May 19th, 2014 at 12:50 AM ^

In addition, if we are using the relationship metaphor, wouldn't it be more like Crawford marrying into a polygamy?  So in that regard, I can't imagine the main spouse (Michigan) really having a strong moral argument against the other spouses (recruits) for looking for the best harem to choose from.

Disclaimer: I did about 5 minutes of wiki research on polygamy, so I don't know what i'm talking about.

BlueCube

May 18th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^

a few years with a couple more additions, if I were a recruit, I'd look at Michigan as a great place to play. Michigan should have a dominant defense soon. They are basically a dominant pass rusher away.

He may leave and not come back. He's a young kid but I think there is a good chance he will be back just as Damien Harris may recommit. This is going to be more and more common with the push to get to these kids sooner and sooner. Michigan isn't alone. Even Alabama has had flips.

MGoStrength

May 17th, 2014 at 9:34 PM ^

The reality is that they are going to continue to go through this process until the o-line finally matures and develops so they can have a balanced offense and can win on the road.  IMHO the team will improve this year, but they won't win 10 games.  They will still struggle at times. The only question is will they show enough promise and win enough games to recoup the recruiting momentum.  I don't think they need to win a ton of games personally.  But, I also don't think they can have a season like last year where it seems there is negativity after every game.  If they play the rivals close and win one or two and look good in the games they should win they should be fine.  Eventually the o-line will fix itself.  The talent is there.  I just don't see it happening next year.  What else can you say?  No one wants to hear it but it just takes time.

MFanWM

May 17th, 2014 at 11:26 PM ^

If there is a continous improvement throughout the year on offense with showing sings of continuity and execution, I think that things will go well.  The defense is going to need to really show up this season and show signs of the talent that is available, and in reality the offense should only need to show competence in the early part of the year (ie, basically look like MSU after the first 3-4 games, and show some developing confidence and ability) which should get them into striking distance for 9 wins and maybe more if they can grow or get a few good bounces.

I think that if the move is to combine offensive challenges with bend n dont break defense again this year, there are going to be the same level of challenges both on the field and in the locker room again.  I am not sure enough can be said for many of the challenges in chemistry last year as well.  When the comments around two of your senior leaders going into the year (an OT and QB for clarity) is that they finally seem to be serious about leadership, that does not bode very well for at least half the team which tends to bleed into the rest of the mental make up of the unit.  

The losses in the recruiting classes from 2010-2011 especially were not only missing bodies, but missing candidates for leadership.  If the oline suffers from strength/etc due to age, but builds some chemistry, they should still be an average/middle of the pack group if the scouting/rankings hold any weight at all.  

uminks

May 18th, 2014 at 1:25 AM ^

And win one big game on the road against MSU or OSU.  There comes a point where you run out of excuses for losing 4 or more games. Hell, even if they lose to ND, MSU and OSU these games have to be more competitive. I know this will be a tough year but we must see improvement through the season. If we play lousy all through the  year and lose 4 or 5 games then it's time for Hoke to get replaced. Brandon better not pick any more of his friends, just back up the money truck and get the best coach out there!

MGoStrength

May 18th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^

Yeah, I agree about being competitive against our rivals, but not that they have to beat them.  I think it's more about feeling than results.  If they show signs of improvement, the kids are having fun, the offensive line and running game is developing, and the defense is becoming more aggressive and they win 8 games but still lose to all the rivals I think that's OK.  The problem last year was that they seemed to have no idea of how to fix the problem and lacked an identity.  The problems got worse and worse all year.   I really don't think there needs to be results next year, but progress, an identity, and the kids having fun DOES need to happen. That will get the ball rolling and get everyone excited for what could happen in 2015.

rob f

May 18th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^

you posted, but have to disagree about losing to all three rivals being OK.  I don't think 9-3 with losses to ND, State, and OSU will be enough.  One of them has to get knocked off and it would be best if it were at least either State or OSU (preferably BOTH).

Continuing to lose those rivaly games will have a greater net negative effect on future recruiting than any positive momentum gained from winning the other 9 games.  

Overall, the greatest barometer of progress will be if we see markedly improved play (even if we lose a few), but the bleeding vs. State and OSU needs to be halted.

I am not one that is eager to call for Hoke to get fired over just an unsatisfactory W-L record.  But I do realize, on the other hand, that continued unrest among the fandom isn't good for the image of the program, which in turn hurts the ability to recruit.