Too early prediction for next year

Submitted by massblue on

Here is the schedule and predictions

Aug. 30 APPALACHIAN STATE  (W)
Sept. 6 at Notre Dame  (L) Their QB is back
Sept. 13 MIAMI (Ohio)   (W)
Sept. 20 UTAH  (W)
Sept. 27 MINNESOTA* (W)
Oct. 4 at Rutgers*  (Toss Up) Hoke has not shown it can win on the road
Oct. 11 PENN STATE*  (Toss Up) Assuming O'Brien is back
Oct. 18 Bye
Oct. 25 at Michigan State* (L)
Nov. 1 INDIANA* (HC) (W)
Nov. 8 at Northwestern*  (W) Lose QB and key players
Nov. 15 Bye
Nov. 22 MARYLAND* (W) 
Nov. 29 at Ohio State* (L)
Dec. 6 Big Ten Championship Game

7 W

3  L

2 Toss Ups

 

With some good breaks we could be 9-3 and with some bad breaks we could be 7-5 again

MJ14

December 29th, 2013 at 6:29 PM ^

Michigan should have beaten PSU last year on the road. They lose their best offensive playmaker by far, and Michigan gets them at home. That game is a win to me.

MJ14

December 29th, 2013 at 7:35 PM ^

You're asking me? Honestly 9-3 should buy him another year. 2015 is when most seem to think the team will be much better. If he goes 9-3 next year and then gets a double digit win season in 2015, he'll get an extension. If he doesn't get 18 combined wins between 2014 and 2015 then he's almost certainly gone.

bronxblue

December 29th, 2013 at 6:46 PM ^

I am fairly certain Robinson is gone, and Hackenberg is a fine QB but without Robinson it will be interesting to see how he progresses.  Plus, O'Brien is gone by all accounts; there is no reason he would be actively talking to NFL teams if he expected to be back (recruiting and all).  Sso the PSU team that needed a couple of miracles to beat a crappy UM team at home, at night, isn't likely to be that much better next year.

MGoStrength

December 29th, 2013 at 6:52 PM ^

I don't see Robinson leaving.  He was great in the conference but he's not high on the draft boards from what I've seen and does not have great speed.  They lose DaQuan Jones who was really good this year.  They also lose an all conference guard in Urshel and their center. Hack will be improved but he doesn't have a lot of weapons around him.  I think UM was the more talented team last year and we barely lost on the road on homcoming in a tough place to play, especailly as it turns to night.  I don't see UM losing to PSU at home.

MGoStrength

December 29th, 2013 at 7:15 PM ^

Really?  I've heard second or third round pick from Kiper Jr.  Where are you seeing him project as a first rounder?

 

Edit: I was able to find some sources that project him as a first or second rounder.  I'd agree if he's a first rounder to go now, especially if O'Brien leaves.  But, if he's a thrid rounder I'd come back.

In reply to by MGoStrength

bronxblue

December 29th, 2013 at 8:22 PM ^

I've seen Robinson in the 1st/2nd round territory, and that will probably improve if he does well at the combines and such.  Especially if O'Brien leaves, I don't see why he'd want to stick around for another transition.

 

jethro34

December 29th, 2013 at 8:01 PM ^

Robinson is a borderline 1st round pick. His stock isn't going to get much higher. When OBrien leaves to coach the Texans, he'll be gone along with at least seven other starters. The guys in the two deep this year were very young, tons of freshmen. Those scholarship sanctions killed their depth.
That's a win. Rutgers is a win.
Can we talk about what MSU loses? Tons of defensive talent and more than half their OL. I'm still curious to see if a better HC job offer comes for Narduzzi.

TallyWolverine

December 30th, 2013 at 3:16 AM ^

The OL will get bigger, stronger, and meaner. There will be anger about how they were manhandled this year. Funchess won't drop key passes regularly, and Darboh will step in nicely. DG WILL improve, and thanks to the rage of the OL, will be a Heisman contender.
On defense, Pipkins will be back and be a rock with Poggi and Hurst contributing. Clark will finally emerge as a force and Taco will eat good. Peppers and countess will blanket people, while Dymonte and Wilson fly around like the new Sheriffs. I like our linebackers too.
Mark it down and have faith- 2014 will be a year to remember.

I was as angry last night as anybody, but after giving it some thought, I really believe this will be a great team next year. After the debacle against Nebraska at the end of the 2005 season, who would've thought the 2006 team would be that good? Our day to shine is coming......soon!

Muttley

December 30th, 2013 at 7:14 AM ^

w/ losing by 7 to ND, 3 @Wisc, 3 to Minny, 4 to tOSU, and 4 to Neb. Plus the losses were to Sagarin #3, #8, #14, #24 & #27.  Sagarin rated us #16.

http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigten/michigan/2005-2009_yearl…

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/2005/team/

THis year, we've lost to Sagarin #7 MSU (destroyed), #11 OSU, #26 KSU (destroyed), #28 Iowa, #50 Nebraska, and #53 PSU. Sagarin rated us #37 at the end of the regular season.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/2013/team/

 

bronxblue

December 29th, 2013 at 6:41 PM ^

ND does not scare me nearly as much even with Golston; he wasn't the reason the Irish played for the MNC, and he's already missed a year because of his academic issues.  To think he'll just blow people out of the water in his second game in 2 years isn't realistic. And they'll have a new DC, so who knows how the defense will respond.

MSU will probably be a loss, but it is an older team losing some key players, and who knows how they'll handle that transition.  They did go 7-6 after losing a large portion of their offense, so one never knows.

Rutgers isn't scary by any means, and while Hoke has struggled on the road let's not presume he's going o-for-the-year on the road.  OSU is almost assuredly a loss, and I figure Maryland or NW will surprise them.  I actually think Utah will be scary because that is a team with some athletes who have played big-name teams and won't be bothered by the travel. 

bo_lives

December 29th, 2013 at 6:56 PM ^

You are a sucker if you haven't penciled that "L" in already. Remember the beginning of this year, when everything was laughing about MSU's offense and lauding the fact that we had squeaked out a miracle 12-10 win against them at home in 2012? Remember how certain we were that we'd be the ones competing for a Big Ten championship?

And Hoke has yet to beat a team on the road that finished above .500. As much as I would love to believe that we will be competitive, this coaching staff had doing absolutely nothing in three years to prove that that will happen.

bronxblue

December 29th, 2013 at 8:25 PM ^

This year MSU's defense was so dominant it gave their offense time to get into a groove and play adequately.  Next year they are going to be breaking in a new LB, two new corners, I think a safety, and at least 1 lineman.  They will be worse next year, probably not immensely, but they will take a step back, and while that offense should improve somewhat I'm not sold that Cook or Terry is going to set the world on fire with their middling collection of WRs.  

People freak out about the road record and for good-ish reasons, but I find it hard to believe that he is pathologically unable to win games on the road against good teams.  

Hi Gang

December 30th, 2013 at 2:35 AM ^

but better would be playing for the national title.

Losing Max Bullough will sting, and the backup MLB is a Sr.

Byron Bullough or Jon Reschke are the likely competition.  Bullough (Max's brother) was slated as the #2 MLB, but he played some RB/FB.  He was moved back to MLB late in the season, but not as #2.  He'll be a RS soph next year, but missed out on game-time and practice experience.  Reschke will be a RS freshman.  So yeah, it's concerning.  Whoever plays there can expect to get picked on early as a potential weak link. Ed Davis and Taiwan Jones are back on the outside, and are very good.

CB Waynes is a soph.  He's back.

There are some older guys in the system, but Darian Hicks is really impressing the coaches at CB.  Apparently considered pulling his redshirt, but there was hardly a need for that - outside of experience for next year.

Lewis (safety) is gone.  Williamson had a great game when Lewis sat out with a minor injury.  Saw a lot of experience in other games too.  Cox (RS soph S) is apparently, and consistently pushing, but being held off by Drummond - for two years.  So he must be a pretty good safety.

Reynolds and Hoover are off the DT rotation.  Both saw plenty of action, although Hoover was out for a good part of the season.  DT's Knox and Scarpinato (Jr's next year) both played well and saw a lot of action this year.  Jr DT Kittridge was listed as a start before the season, but didn't play because of an injury.  But he's back.  MSU fans are waiting for Lawrence Thomas to blow it up on the DL. Talk of him moving outside to DE.

Both DE's are back, and Heath (backup) saw a lot of action.  Lewan/Schofield were a tough matchup for Calhoun/Rush.  My guess is next year they will both will make some noise vs UofM.

Lose 3-starters from the OL, sort of.  One OT, and two guards.  Allen (starter) and Jackson both played a lot with the interior OL.  Both are good interior guys, and are back.  Conklin was a steal OT.  Unranked (zero stars) RS freshman and played way ahead of schedule. OT Fonoti will be hard to replace.  Lots of contenders, including a JUCO from this current class. Talk of Brandon Clemons (DT) moving to OG - his natural position (4*OG, FWIW).  Clark is a natural OG, but may have to play OT, as he did as a backup this year.  OL should not drop of much, if at all. Likely not much better.

The skill players on O are all returing, except for WR Fowler.  WR Arnett redshirted this year, and has apparently improved his play and attitude significantly.  WR Burbridge was injured for much of the season, but he'll be back.  Kings turned into a playmaker, and Mumphrey turned into a very reliable WR.  Lippet went from Featherstone to Mr. Reliable - all back.  The massive improvement of those last three guys mentions, along with Cook, and Langford too, turned the O from horrible to better than average.  And that was enough.  And now there's some chemistry.  The OL improved too - not fair not to mention them.

Geiger is back (K), and he's good.  Losing Sadler (P) will hurt a bit.  Great punter, and MSU plays a D control/field position kind of game.

Cook appears to have found his game.  Scares me somtimes. Takes a lot of chances with covered WR's.  But no doubt he improved dramatically.  No idea where his peak is, or if he already hit it.    

Long post, I know.

AMazinBlue

December 29th, 2013 at 6:43 PM ^

it.  Seriously though, based on how this year went  with everyone thinking 9-3 or 8-4 and the both sides of the ball struggling, if Hoke doesn't make some changes, I don't see much different than this year.  Not trying to be negative, but there isn't much evidence that anything will be markedly better than it was this year.  No studs on the O line, the secondary still slow and weak, the Dline gets no push...

If Borges calls games the same way and the defense is swiss chees like it was this year, then I say 7-5.  Minnesota is getting better and Indiana can push our defense.  I just don't see a lot of change from this year.

If Hoke goes 0-3 against the rivals in 2014, then by DB's standards he should be gone after next year because he is no better than RR was.  This program has been losing ground to MSU and OSU for the last three years at least and the gap is wider now than any time in the last 20 years.