The PAC-12 is actually in an okay position as long as one one-loss team wins out. USC and UCLA still have to play each other and the winner would face Oregon in the championship game. Those are currently top-10 matchups. Seems like if TCU stumbles a one-loss Pac-12 champ has a case.
There's an article in the Athletic today ($ LINK) that shows which teams would've made a 12-team playoff since 1999. Michigan makes it in seven times (1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2016, 2018, 2021), tied with Clemson, PSU and Texas. tOSU leads the way with 18 appearances, followed by Oklahoma (16), Alabama (13) and Florida (12).
Metrics supported Michigan's inclusion in the tournament and they'd be 18-14 if the IPFW game hadn't been canceled. Four games over .500 helps the optics, but that's about it.
Johnson, Bell and Sainristil are very good blockers for sure and the staff places a premium on that skill set. Seems like the offense's ceiling is raised with Wilson in there instead of Sainristil if Bell is healthy. Cojo over Anthony is likely, but maybe Anthony improves his blocking between now and September/October and they can't keep him off the field.
That's the most-likely scenario, just thinking Bell to the slot to make room for Wilson on the outside. Anthony probably has a higher ceiling than Cojo, although not as far along, but we have a nice dilemma and they'll both get snaps either way.
Nice work. It wouldn't surprise me to see Wilson and Anthony starting on the outside with Bell in the slot. Also seems like they need Dunlap/Stokes/transfer to soak up carries between the tackles. I'm so curious about the defensive side of the ball. Lots of young talent and big shoes to fill.
Not only does Alex Orji have the best name, but also the best Harbaugh comp: "It’s like looking at Herschel Walker playing quarterback who can really throw the ball." Somewhere, Fred Jackson is beaming.
From what I've read, Cunningham, Mobley, Green and Suggs are the clear top four. After that there's a drop-off. Who's the other guy included in your top five?
Would those guys come to Detroit knowing they're going to lose a lot of games these next few years and might not be around to see the fruits of their labor? Blashill might not be the answer to bring the team a Cup, but the team's not ready for that coach at this stage of the rebuild.
Hunter also compares favorably to more recent guys like Anthony Davis, KAT, Okafor and Sullinger. Those guys and an upperclassmen Kaminsky are probably the best college centers of the modern era and his stats next to theirs are impressive.
I was there with my younger sister, a last-minute addition after none of my friends wanted to brave the cold. We sat in the endzone for the first half, nearly froze to death, and moved under the press box after halftime. Definitely happy to have that memory, but would never want to do it again.
(edit: yours was also a very good post, one that was worthy of saving. I copied it so I could paste it here. --rob f.):
---------------
Nico appeared on Adam Schefter's podcast and spoke about a few things, most notably his decision to opt out and stay out. "Once I signed and got ready for the combine, that's when they came out with a statement to come back and they were going to have a season at the end of October to play Minnesota on the 24th. It was kind of late notice, 8 games stretch, I just didn't want to get injured or something bad to happen." Also says Milton is a NFL-caliber quarterback and reminds him of Cam Newton.
Don't be angry, don't be sad... Don't sit crying over good times you've had. There's a coach right next to you... And he's just waiting for something to do.
Love the one you're with, love the one you're with... Love the one you're with, love the one you're with.
Might be cool if they did two neutral sites for these games. One with two games Friday and the Championship game Saturday and the other with two Friday and two Saturday.
Almost positive Lovin' Spoonful closed because the owner was selling mass amounts of drugs. Which also reminds me to add DeLong's to the list. Walked over there from Commie and ordered the "special" a few times.
Del Rio was great. Their wall of tapes was legendary. But the Del Rio I know of closed 15-20 years ago. It was on the corner of Ashley and Washington, where Grizzly Peak is.
The upstairs Pinball Pete's on Williams...skipped so many classes in high school to come here and get yelled at by Wendall the manager for not actually spending any money.
Schoolkids Records. Actually almost any of the record stores that used to dot downtown streets.
I guess by "Carr letdown game" I meant that I always remember losing to at least one team we had no business losing to every season of his tenure (except for one). Defense imploding, bad play calling, lethargic team, whatever. I think Illinois would qualify.
That team was stacked and if not for the Henson-Brady QB rotation (MSU loss) and a Carr letdown game (Illinois loss) they play for the N.C. Brady, A-Train, Backus, Hutchinson, Terrell, Shea, Foote, Dhani, Gold, June just to name a few players.
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The PAC-12 is actually in an okay position as long as one one-loss team wins out. USC and UCLA still have to play each other and the winner would face Oregon in the championship game. Those are currently top-10 matchups. Seems like if TCU stumbles a one-loss Pac-12 champ has a case.
It’s not an unreasonable take, I just thought it interesting the guy says to never forget we trailed Rutgers at half.
Found it curious Hale is one of three (out of 15) ESPN writers who don't have Michigan as a playoff pick. He's got UGA, tOSU, Tennessee and TCU.
Shared title with Iowa in 2004. They were ranked 11th, we were 13th, so I think we would've just missed out.
There's an article in the Athletic today ($ LINK) that shows which teams would've made a 12-team playoff since 1999. Michigan makes it in seven times (1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2016, 2018, 2021), tied with Clemson, PSU and Texas. tOSU leads the way with 18 appearances, followed by Oklahoma (16), Alabama (13) and Florida (12).
The ceiling is the roof.
This makes FSU more appealing. I hate the race to 20, but FSU, UNC, Stanford and Washington seems like a good pull.
Defensive coach #2 clearly works for the Giants.
1997 vs. Ohio St. - Woodson with a punt return TD, end zone INT and fight with Boston.
1998 Rose Bowl vs. Washington State - -8 in Detroit. 75 in Pasadena. National Championship.
2021 vs. Ohio St. - I am inevitable.
2005 vs. Penn State - Henne to Manningham with no time left.
2000 Orange Bowl vs. Alabama - Brady's final game. Won 35-34 in OT on a missed PAT.
Pineda is also having visa issues according to the article.
"I'm just helping her conceive."
Metrics supported Michigan's inclusion in the tournament and they'd be 18-14 if the IPFW game hadn't been canceled. Four games over .500 helps the optics, but that's about it.
Harbaugh -…
Johnson, Bell and Sainristil are very good blockers for sure and the staff places a premium on that skill set. Seems like the offense's ceiling is raised with Wilson in there instead of Sainristil if Bell is healthy. Cojo over Anthony is likely, but maybe Anthony improves his blocking between now and September/October and they can't keep him off the field.
That's the most-likely scenario, just thinking Bell to the slot to make room for Wilson on the outside. Anthony probably has a higher ceiling than Cojo, although not as far along, but we have a nice dilemma and they'll both get snaps either way.
Not only does Alex Orji have the best name, but also the best Harbaugh comp: "It’s like looking at Herschel Walker playing quarterback who can really throw the ball." Somewhere, Fred Jackson is beaming.
Bang bang, that awful sound...
Bang bang, my baby shot me down...
On the door…
Bang bang...
On the door baby!
"Michigan goes in your bones."
In the best of ways.
Oh baby…
She bangs, she bangs
Oh baby when she moves, she moves
From what I've read, Cunningham, Mobley, Green and Suggs are the clear top four. After that there's a drop-off. Who's the other guy included in your top five?
Welcome Brendan. Nice job.
Sailgating at Husky Stadium is the best pre-game I've ever been to. Highly recommend.
That'd be interesting. I think his only coaching experience is the 2022 Russian Olympic team. You think that's enough?
Would those guys come to Detroit knowing they're going to lose a lot of games these next few years and might not be around to see the fruits of their labor? Blashill might not be the answer to bring the team a Cup, but the team's not ready for that coach at this stage of the rebuild.
Are we human or are we dancer?
Actually, Barf is pretty accurate.
Go Blue, beat Minny!
Hunter also compares favorably to more recent guys like Anthony Davis, KAT, Okafor and Sullinger. Those guys and an upperclassmen Kaminsky are probably the best college centers of the modern era and his stats next to theirs are impressive.
Haha I'll shoot him a text.
My prediction: 73-72 Michigan
Top Scorers: Wagner, Livers and Brooks
Based on the pros/cons listed for each lineup, maybe:
Eli Brooks - Chaundee Brown - Franz Wagner - Isaiah Livers - Hunter Dickinson
Good backcourt defense with solid help defenders in Franz and Livers.
That leaves Smith, Johns and Davis as the rest of an eight-man rotation.
I was there with my younger sister, a last-minute addition after none of my friends wanted to brave the cold. We sat in the endzone for the first half, nearly froze to death, and moved under the press box after halftime. Definitely happy to have that memory, but would never want to do it again.
You beat me to it man, good work!
(edit: yours was also a very good post, one that was worthy of saving. I copied it so I could paste it here. --rob f.):
---------------
Nico appeared on Adam Schefter's podcast and spoke about a few things, most notably his decision to opt out and stay out. "Once I signed and got ready for the combine, that's when they came out with a statement to come back and they were going to have a season at the end of October to play Minnesota on the 24th. It was kind of late notice, 8 games stretch, I just didn't want to get injured or something bad to happen." Also says Milton is a NFL-caliber quarterback and reminds him of Cam Newton.
Link
Pre-game week weekend!
Don't be angry, don't be sad...
Don't sit crying over good times you've had.
There's a coach right next to you...
And he's just waiting for something to do.
Love the one you're with, love the one you're with...
Love the one you're with, love the one you're with.
Might be cool if they did two neutral sites for these games. One with two games Friday and the Championship game Saturday and the other with two Friday and two Saturday.
Ha, I grew up in Ann Arbor but attended USC. Still can't rinse the blue from my blood though.
He was as exciting to watch in-person as any player I've seen live. Worth the downfall haha. Like Webber, I was happy he was on my team.
Almost positive Lovin' Spoonful closed because the owner was selling mass amounts of drugs. Which also reminds me to add DeLong's to the list. Walked over there from Commie and ordered the "special" a few times.
Wow, Double Focus, my brain is starting to crack the bong resin around my memory banks....
I still have a little yellow football Drake's gave to kids on their birthdays. That's about all I remember about it haha.
Del Rio was great. Their wall of tapes was legendary. But the Del Rio I know of closed 15-20 years ago. It was on the corner of Ashley and Washington, where Grizzly Peak is.
The upstairs Pinball Pete's on Williams...skipped so many classes in high school to come here and get yelled at by Wendall the manager for not actually spending any money.
Schoolkids Records. Actually almost any of the record stores that used to dot downtown streets.
Upper Deck (baseball card place on Washtenaw)
Man, Thano's was good, loved their crust. Sweet Lorraine's was great, just such a weird location, almost missed it unless you knew it was there.
We used to do birthday dinners there growing up. Still miss it.
I tried to name one of my kids Cato and the discussion did not go far.
I guess by "Carr letdown game" I meant that I always remember losing to at least one team we had no business losing to every season of his tenure (except for one). Defense imploding, bad play calling, lethargic team, whatever. I think Illinois would qualify.
That team was stacked and if not for the Henson-Brady QB rotation (MSU loss) and a Carr letdown game (Illinois loss) they play for the N.C. Brady, A-Train, Backus, Hutchinson, Terrell, Shea, Foote, Dhani, Gold, June just to name a few players.