So I have been invested in Michigan football since the early 1970s. One of the themes I have seen play out over and over is Michigan playing to the level of competition and other teams dreaming of playing them tough all year. So I can't wait to see this week if that happens vs Rutger.
My gut says no way, not this group. They have too much experience losing for that. Still, it's another challenge this team has to prove themselves against on the way to bigger things. Over my time following the team, that has been the single greatest killer of great seasons.
I seriously get this is way too early to think about but I can't help it. Would love to make it to the playoffs and be able to hold a sign that reads "Sorry Alabama but you are in the way of us taking our revenge on Notre Dame, nothin personal..."
"Wearing on 'em. Michigan got stronger in the second half as MSU's defense gradually faded" "Don't know if that's Ben Herbert or just the natural consequence of being a defense opposite an offense that isn't going to score by itself no matter how long the teams played."
I think it is Herbert. Michigan seems to get stronger as the game progresses in every contest. I think this is more about other teams looking weaker as the game progresses in relation to our strength. So may of the these players added 10-15 lbs of muscle over the past year. I think our players have had an endurance advantage (that has been there since Harbaugh arrived) in past years and it showed down the stretch of many games but when we add a strength advantage along with the endurance we see players start getting pushed all over the field the longer we play. Northwestern was a closer game late and we really saw the O-line start to take over.
When Harbsugh was hired and shortly after, I like many of you, looked ahead and thought, this year would be the season. We had success the first couple seasons (more then I thought we would) then the huge let down last year. I'll be honest, I didn't think this o-line had it in them especially given the recruiting misses and the injuries.
With every game I am starting to believe this IS the year (and by "IS", I mean this is the year we are able to compete realistically with anyone.) If this really IS it, I believed recruiting would get somewhat on par with OSU and Bama and we could at least be in the mix for the foreseeable future. After last year and what I saw with Notre Dame, I had all but given up on that dream. And now I am starting to wonder again, could this really be IT?
I know our line is trying mightily but so glad Peter's isn't subject to this kind of pressure. We need to give these kids time to grow up (hopefully they don't just learn how to play badly as the group of seniors did). I know PP is sometimes good but there is enough times it isn't that it would fry a young QB's ability. Hate to seem like I don't care about Speight but no sense messing up the new kid as well.
Hopefully the pressure will die down after a couple loses as all the fair weather fans will disappear and the team can concentrate on getting better without the distractions and expectations of idiots. These kids are playing their hearts out so let's try to support them as best we can (me included).
I get the unhappiness with Speight. I cringe every time he goes back for a pass. However, we have a young line and I don't want Peters messed with while this line gets better at pass protection. I'm not knocking the O-line, they just need a little more time. Actually, I am happier than I have been in years with them. Let's give these guys the rest of the year with Speight and I'll take my lumps. Wilton is getting better each week even if the improvements are marginal.
Now, I could see a scerio where the O-line improves enough in pass protection for Harbaugh to make the switch and get Peters some XP for next year, especially after a couple loses. As it stands now, no way Okorn or Peters plays without at least a couple loses.
Loving the D. Props to the O-line especially in pass coverage. I couldn't help but think what a guy like Peters could do with that kind of time to pass. I know it's a dead horse but Speight keeps bringing up the topic when he plays like this.
I hate anything remotely resembling a two QB system. Messes with both QBs heads. They spend more time worrying about getting replaced then they do getting better. Jim is a very smart guy. Hopefully he waits until the last possible second then whole heartedly jumps behind one guy.
Linbacker's situation is interesting but it doesn't make or break the season. O-line, that is the stuff nighmares are made of. Let's look at the reality of that group.
- With the exception of Cole there is no one in that group that has played consistanly good for long periods. Problem for Cole s that he is playing a new position we can't even be sure he will be fully adjusted. Still, if there is one player on the line I trust, it is him.
- Newsome is new and will have lapses at the very least. In reality he will likely spend much of the year getting pawned. Maybe next year is more realistic to expect a dominant and conistent performances from Grant.
- I really wish Keugler would have taken the Center spot. Would have meant Newsome could have been the 6th man and been eased in a little better.
- Kalis and Magnason have had exactly one excellent game in their 3 year carrer. In all fairlness they had quite a few good games when it comes to pass protection. This past year they can be considered downright reable. However when creating running creases and lanes, They have had one meaningful game. Last time i looked 1 data point cannot show a pattern.
- The position group is exremeely shallow where a couple injuries could cripple it. We have all learned that if this poision group falls apart so goes the season.
----- Going to watch and hold my breath hoping nothing terrible happens. If that goes well, I might just open one eye to see if they get some holes in the right places. And then, If noone seriously gets injusred we could call it a success.
They can get as pissed as they want but they can't change this one law of nature, ADAPT OR DIE or in the case of state, Apapt or be completely irrelevant again.
Recent Comments
So I have been invested in Michigan football since the early 1970s. One of the themes I have seen play out over and over is Michigan playing to the level of competition and other teams dreaming of playing them tough all year. So I can't wait to see this week if that happens vs Rutger.
My gut says no way, not this group. They have too much experience losing for that. Still, it's another challenge this team has to prove themselves against on the way to bigger things. Over my time following the team, that has been the single greatest killer of great seasons.
I seriously get this is way too early to think about but I can't help it. Would love to make it to the playoffs and be able to hold a sign that reads "Sorry Alabama but you are in the way of us taking our revenge on Notre Dame, nothin personal..."
"Wearing on 'em. Michigan got stronger in the second half as MSU's defense gradually faded" "Don't know if that's Ben Herbert or just the natural consequence of being a defense opposite an offense that isn't going to score by itself no matter how long the teams played."
I think it is Herbert. Michigan seems to get stronger as the game progresses in every contest. I think this is more about other teams looking weaker as the game progresses in relation to our strength. So may of the these players added 10-15 lbs of muscle over the past year. I think our players have had an endurance advantage (that has been there since Harbaugh arrived) in past years and it showed down the stretch of many games but when we add a strength advantage along with the endurance we see players start getting pushed all over the field the longer we play. Northwestern was a closer game late and we really saw the O-line start to take over.
When Harbsugh was hired and shortly after, I like many of you, looked ahead and thought, this year would be the season. We had success the first couple seasons (more then I thought we would) then the huge let down last year. I'll be honest, I didn't think this o-line had it in them especially given the recruiting misses and the injuries.
With every game I am starting to believe this IS the year (and by "IS", I mean this is the year we are able to compete realistically with anyone.) If this really IS it, I believed recruiting would get somewhat on par with OSU and Bama and we could at least be in the mix for the foreseeable future. After last year and what I saw with Notre Dame, I had all but given up on that dream. And now I am starting to wonder again, could this really be IT?
I know our line is trying mightily but so glad Peter's isn't subject to this kind of pressure. We need to give these kids time to grow up (hopefully they don't just learn how to play badly as the group of seniors did). I know PP is sometimes good but there is enough times it isn't that it would fry a young QB's ability. Hate to seem like I don't care about Speight but no sense messing up the new kid as well.
Hopefully the pressure will die down after a couple loses as all the fair weather fans will disappear and the team can concentrate on getting better without the distractions and expectations of idiots. These kids are playing their hearts out so let's try to support them as best we can (me included).
Right on! well said. Man, I needed to hear that.
I get the unhappiness with Speight. I cringe every time he goes back for a pass. However, we have a young line and I don't want Peters messed with while this line gets better at pass protection. I'm not knocking the O-line, they just need a little more time. Actually, I am happier than I have been in years with them. Let's give these guys the rest of the year with Speight and I'll take my lumps. Wilton is getting better each week even if the improvements are marginal.
Now, I could see a scerio where the O-line improves enough in pass protection for Harbaugh to make the switch and get Peters some XP for next year, especially after a couple loses. As it stands now, no way Okorn or Peters plays without at least a couple loses.
Loving the D. Props to the O-line especially in pass coverage. I couldn't help but think what a guy like Peters could do with that kind of time to pass. I know it's a dead horse but Speight keeps bringing up the topic when he plays like this.
I hate anything remotely resembling a two QB system. Messes with both QBs heads. They spend more time worrying about getting replaced then they do getting better. Jim is a very smart guy. Hopefully he waits until the last possible second then whole heartedly jumps behind one guy.
Linbacker's situation is interesting but it doesn't make or break the season. O-line, that is the stuff nighmares are made of. Let's look at the reality of that group.
- With the exception of Cole there is no one in that group that has played consistanly good for long periods. Problem for Cole s that he is playing a new position we can't even be sure he will be fully adjusted. Still, if there is one player on the line I trust, it is him.
- Newsome is new and will have lapses at the very least. In reality he will likely spend much of the year getting pawned. Maybe next year is more realistic to expect a dominant and conistent performances from Grant.
- I really wish Keugler would have taken the Center spot. Would have meant Newsome could have been the 6th man and been eased in a little better.
- Kalis and Magnason have had exactly one excellent game in their 3 year carrer. In all fairlness they had quite a few good games when it comes to pass protection. This past year they can be considered downright reable. However when creating running creases and lanes, They have had one meaningful game. Last time i looked 1 data point cannot show a pattern.
- The position group is exremeely shallow where a couple injuries could cripple it. We have all learned that if this poision group falls apart so goes the season.
----- Going to watch and hold my breath hoping nothing terrible happens. If that goes well, I might just open one eye to see if they get some holes in the right places. And then, If noone seriously gets injusred we could call it a success.
They can get as pissed as they want but they can't change this one law of nature, ADAPT OR DIE or in the case of state, Apapt or be completely irrelevant again.