What to Expect from Harbaugh in Year One?

Submitted by UFM on

Hello MGoBlog,

This is my first time creating a forum post.  Some of you have seen me comment here and there for the last three years.  You'll know from my other posts that:  a) I'm an Ohio State fan; and b) I'm not a troll--I visit here because I love college football and respect the writers and posters on this blog.  

With the introductions out of the way let me start out by saying that I (like many other Buckeye fans) hope you guys get Harbaugh.  The B1G needs Michigan to be its traditional self.  Ohio State is only as good as the strength of its conference in many respects.  And it benefits as much as Michigan if The Game is between two ranked powerhouses that will usually decide who goes to the B1G Championship Game.  

I think Harbaugh can get you guys there more so than anyone else available.  And, from reading this board, it appears that I am not alone.  Assuming this happens, what are reasonable expectations for the Wolverines in year one?  Transition usually takes time, but we have seen programs where the transition is seamless and the new coach has early success.  Oddly, Brady Hoke was one of them in 2011.  Would be interested to hear your thoughts.  Thanks.

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bluebyyou

December 26th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^

Our QB position appears to be a major weakness, although some of that MIGHT be past coaching.  Regardless of whom the new coach turns out to be, we need a good QB and more receiving depth than was shown last year.  Our O line needs to continue improving.

The other question that needs to be answered is whether our talent level and their star ratings were accurate.

So let's get JH first, and have this discussion next October.

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BlueHills

December 26th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^

I'd want to know a little more about how the roster will shake out, and whether any impactful recruits can be turned around again to make a prediction.

But I do think we'd be in for a fun season, and a much better Game.

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ThadMattasagoblin

December 26th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^

The rushing would go from 66th to about 25-30th. The passing would go from 110th to 65-70th kind of like rushing from last year to this year. The defense would go from meiocre to good to good to great.

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Mr. Yost

December 26th, 2014 at 4:45 PM ^

But...

8-4 or 9-3 sound about right depending on if you go 2-3 or 3-2 in the toss up games.

2015 Michigan Wolverines Football Schedule
Date   Opponent Time/TV
Thursday
Sept. 3		 Utes at Utah Utes 
Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT		 Toss
Saturday
Sept. 12		 Beavers Oregon State Beavers 
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI		 Win
Saturday
Sept. 19		 Rebels UNLV Rebels 
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI		 Win
Saturday
Sept. 26		 Cougars BYU Cougars 
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI		 Toss
Saturday
Oct. 3		 Terrapins at Maryland Terrapins 
Byrd Stadium, College Park, MD		 Toss
Saturday
Oct. 10		 Wildcats Northwestern Wildcats 
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI		 Toss
Saturday
Oct. 17		 Spartans Michigan State Spartans 
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI		 Toss
Saturday
Oct. 24		 --- Open Date ---
Saturday
Oct. 31		 Gophers at Minnesota Golden Gophers 
TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN		 Win
Saturday
Nov. 7		 Scarlet Knights Rutgers Scarlet Knights 
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI		 Win
Saturday
Nov. 14		 Hoosiers at Indiana Hoosiers 
Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN		 Win
Saturday
Nov. 21		 Nittany Lions at Penn State Nittany Lions 
Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA		 Win
Saturday
Nov. 28		 Buckeyes Ohio State Buckeyes 
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI		 Loss
Saturday
Dec. 5		 Big Ten Big Ten Championship Game
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN		 N/A

 

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Mr. Yost

December 26th, 2014 at 5:05 PM ^

thats the Michigan arrogance that has to go away... We've barely beaten NW the past 4 years, maybe more. There is nothing that says Harbaugh in year 1 is going to find whatever luck or "stuff" Hoke had. We LOST to a very young Maryland team. These all should be wins...but they should've been wins in the past.

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ThadMattasagoblin

December 26th, 2014 at 5:23 PM ^

There's nothing wrong with the Michigan arrogance. It got us Jim Harbaugh. Also Hoke beat NW 4 times. Harbaugh is the better coacha nd it's at home. Maryland is like Rutgers. If harbaugh is as good as he was at stanford, we'll win that one easily.

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jsquigg

December 26th, 2014 at 6:25 PM ^

What do you mean "stop?"  When you get a great coach I think you can expect bigger things, and great coaches don't need luck when they execute at a high level.  I honestly think people are low balling the win total under JH, and that's commendable, but Michigan will at the least compete for division titles the day JH steps into his office and we have our biggest games at home.

I'm not saying we're even going to win our conference, but the Big 10 is crap aside from MSU, OSU, Wisky and Nebraska, and none of the afore mentioned teams is invulnerable at all.  Being confident in a proven coach getting immediate results does not equate to arrogance, at least to me.

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GoBLUinTX

December 26th, 2014 at 7:39 PM ^

Just how soft Michigan became during the Hoke and RR eras.  It will take a few year to get back to 1990s toughness, but a lot can be done in just one season.  Toughness is mostly about attitude, something I have no doubt Jimmy will tap starting on day one.

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alum96

December 26th, 2014 at 5:33 PM ^

Boys boys

I did an order of difficult thread immediately after the season (too soon? Yes!) and I will repeat it here, although heck maybe my mind has changed some in the meantime.  Since this will be the same no matter who the coach is my cart is firmly behind my horse.

I based this on opponent AND location of game

  1. OSU - super young offense going to be ridiculous next year.  Defense improved a lot this year with Ash.  Does lose some on the DL.
  2. MSU - Cook is returning, I think Waynes is gone and Calhoun on the fence.  Lose star WR and Langford but have a lot of balance behind those guys.  Hoping for some coaching turmoil if Narduzzi takes Barnett and Tressel.
  3. @tah - excellent coach, lose star D player but they always have a good D.  First game, on road, 2 time zones away, and a solid program.
  4. @Minnesota - Kill has changed the complexion of that team and they may even have a good WR next year to try to throw to. Maybe.
  5. @PSU - one of the better Dcoordinators in the conf so if they can repeat this year's D with an OL that is like ours this year and Hack back as a functional being could be a surprise team next year.
  6. BYU - Hill is the type of QB giving UM nightmares for 25 years. They will be battled tested as they play three P5 teams before coming here.
  7. @Indiana - we will need to score points as they will.  Will we?  I don't know until I see our QB.
  8. Northwestern - last 4 years every game is so very close.  We have more talent but dont act like it.
  9. @Maryland - will be breaking in a new QB next year
  10. Rutgers - Nova killed us, will be gone next year but they get their stud RB back.
  11. Oregon State - I know I know, Pac 12 team - how could I have them this low?  Well they were very very mediocre this year and lost their NFL QB to graduation.  Andersen will improve Oregon State but just will take him time.
  12. UNLV - the only no brain win.

 

IMO schedule is a lot trickier than most presume.

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Go Blue in MN

December 26th, 2014 at 6:27 PM ^

I'd say we should be favorites against all of the bottom 7, but will probably lose 1 of those games just based on the law of averages.  We should go 3-2 or 2-3 against the top 5, for an 8-4 or 9-3 regular season.

Remember our company this year in the BIG was Northwestern, PSU, Rutgers, and Maryland.  Expecting us to decisively jump out of that tier is realistic, but expecting us to be at OSU/MSU's level in one year is probably not, especially with the huge question mark at QB.  If we have strong QB play, look out, but that appears unlikely in 2015 no matter who our coach is.

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GoBLUinTX

December 26th, 2014 at 7:34 PM ^

over the last four seasons, yes, even 2014 was a close run thing until late.  So how can you say OSU at home is a loss?  I wouldn't say win, but Michigan will be competetive and will be quite capable of doing a 2011 repeat.  I think you are correct in that a couple of the early games, Utah and BYU, are toss ups.

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MgoDlu

December 26th, 2014 at 5:41 PM ^

Honestly if there is a Coach that can work wonders with QBs it's probably Harbaugh. He seems like the type of coach that can simplify the game for a young player. I mean he even made Kaepernick look good one year, that's impressive



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KennyGfanLMAO

December 26th, 2014 at 4:46 PM ^

I believe Harbaugh (if he accepts the job) would win at least 9 games. Looking at the schedule, it sets up pretty well. MSU and OSU at home will help, Utah and Oregon state will be dealing with new head coaches as well (With less talent and lesser coaches IMO), BYU might be a tough test with Taysom Hill, and Minnesota should give us a good game. 

Obviously it is way too soon to make any predictions since we don't know if he will be our coach, the rest of the staff isn't determined yet, and our recruiting class has yet to be finalized. I believe we will get one or two blue chip recruits if Harbaugh comes, and they could make an early impact.

I'll make some bold predictions because Harbaugh:

UM wins 11 games 

QB won't be great, but will not be an issue

Jabrill Peppers has a stellar year. I can see him thriving under Harbaugh's coaching

Michigan beats OSU at home. Brady Hoke has had extremely competitive games against OSU, all of which could have been won. Harbaugh knows just as much, if not more, as Brady does about the importance of The Game, and he is also Harbaugh. 

There is a reason we are throwing big bucks at the man. He is one of the best coaches in football right now, and could only bring good things to the program.

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Perkis-Size Me

December 26th, 2014 at 4:48 PM ^

IF Harbaugh comes, and IF we don't have any significant injuries, I really don't think 9-10 wins in the first year, maybe even 11, are out of the question. Hoke did a great job of reeling in talent, but he couldn't coach and develop it to save his life. With Harbaugh we'd be getting the player development we've been so sorely lacking. The team would get better and better as the year goes along.

If you made me guess, barring any major in rise, I'd predict a 9-10 win season where we're in the divisional race well into November, and grab at least 1 win over MSU/OSU.

Also, the Brown Jug would immediately come back to Ann Arbor and stay there for the foreseeable future. Teams like Rutgers and Maryland would immediately be put in their place when they play us.



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Bb011

December 26th, 2014 at 4:54 PM ^

All he needs is 8-4 and people will be happy. Anything over that is obviously great. People will be neutral at 7-5, and probably unhappy at 6-6.

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Greeks for Harbaugh

December 26th, 2014 at 4:57 PM ^

With our roster, Harbaugh should be able to go 8-4. However, if we can find one decent QB out of the people we have, it's possible we can make the playoff.

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