Was John Baxter overrated?

Submitted by ThadMattasagoblin on
Last January, Brian and others were worried about losing Baxter to USC. I'm wondering if people still think this way after we have blocked 6 kicks and returned a punt for a touchdown in just three games.
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M Ascending

September 19th, 2016 at 7:10 AM ^

All the good Baxter did went out the window with the Play. Why were we not in Max Protect? Obviously, we are performing well this year, except for Kenny Allen, who's punting and FG kicking are both way off from last year.

Joined: 09/14/2016

MGoPoints: 21417

Alumnus93

September 19th, 2016 at 8:03 AM ^

I argued with Brian on this. thought he was underestimating partridge, and underestimating the ding.baxter gets for the msu game

Joined: 09/10/2009

MGoPoints: 9684

mickblue

September 19th, 2016 at 8:07 AM ^

Is that we snapped the ball on 2nd down with 10 seconds left and on 3rd down with 11 seconds left. If had burned a total of 11 more seconds total, between those 2 downs, we'd have been shaking hands instead of even snapping for a 4th down.

 

Joined: 04/02/2010

MGoPoints: -7468

Evil Empire

September 19th, 2016 at 8:37 AM ^

Did not know that.

Of course, almost anything would have been better than what happened, so playing "what if" with that end of game situation could go on forever.

For instance, in the 1996 Colorado game I wanted Dreisbach to take the fourth down snap and run out of the endzone for a safety, using as much time as possible.  Even that approach (which would have tied the game) would have been better than what transpired.

Joined: 07/29/2008

MGoPoints: 9077

blueblueblue

September 19th, 2016 at 8:53 AM ^

I don't think it's an issue of Baxter being overrated. That speaks to an average assessment over a body of work. Baxter majorly f*cked up the MSU game. He was gone after that - whether an outright decision by Harbaugh or a mutual parting. The question is, Was Baxter ever going to overcome that huge mistake here at Michigan? The answer is No. 

Joined: 12/28/2008

MGoPoints: 6630

Ali G Bomaye

September 19th, 2016 at 9:34 AM ^

It depends how you think he was "rated." I think he deserves a lot of credit for, in one year, moving our special teams from completely horrible to middle-of-the-pack. But really, the ST under Baxter pretty much just did what they were supposed to. He didn't seem like some kind of Frank Beamer-level innovator.

But for a lot of Michigan fans, I think the idea that we could actually not suck at special teams was such a revelation that they saw Baxter as some kind of special teams god. And that, he ain't.

Joined: 07/08/2008

MGoPoints: 17699