Where has all the speculation and information gone?
When I joined the board a few years ago, it was overflowing with information. I was subscribed to 247 at the time and any "insider" info on that board was talked in depth on here.
Maybe it's just the off-season, but other than the few UMBIG11 posts, there is no real discussion on football speculation here. And I feel like it was that way during last season as well.
i find we are now an Ann Arbor city board(obviously from my username I don't live in Michigan anymore), a food board, and a drink-of-choice board. I enjoy those posts, but as filler between my football content. The football content now seems to be filler between those posts instead.
For instance, right now Sam Webb is talking about pre-camp position switches and I don't see any chatter here. That's just one of dozens of recent examples.
Were the majority of those detailed threads started by folks that don't post much anymore or has the general board interest just shifted a bit?
Last year's preview series the two weeks before the season was some of Brian's finest work, BISB absolutely killed it with his opponent watch series last season, the UFRs were as detailed as ever. I get people don't like the new site, but bitching about the guys' work in the depths of the offseason is ridiculous. It smacks of hipster I liked it before it was popularism.
Exactly. I am going to wait for the bugs to be worked out in the new site before I really commit to posting much (as much as I ever do, which isn't that much) because about half my posts get lost, but...
it's the slowest time of the year, and always has been. Brian isn't doing that much that is visible because there isn't that much to be done.
The levels of whining about lack of football content in July seem consistent with the past levels of whining about lack of football content in July, so all seems well.
I just hope the site looks better and works better by football season, or else the season will be a long bitch-fest.
*hit "save" not "reply!" hit "save" not "reply"! *
Agree, the HTTV preview magazine is still quality work. There's just not a whole lot to talk about right now, very few known unknowns as it were.
I'm sure Brian finally went through with the cost and work of "updating" the site to walk away in the near future. The only thing that sucks about this board these days is the incessant bitching about the site.
There's exactly five days before camp starts. Nothing really happens in July. There is no new information beyond what you've read in HTTV.
If you’re disappointed by the recent lack of speculation and information, you’re not going to pleased once everyone crowds into the submarine!
well, this is a free site...
there's not a ton of information in the off season anyways...even post bbq on the victor's board, there's not like there's been a lot of information that has been particularly surprising coming out of it...especially if you're a fan that keeps tabs on all the Michigan sites out there.
It is sad to see how this community has degraded lately. It does feel like the combination of the new site and the “wait and see” attitude has made this place boring and not worth checking out.
The lack of media day coverage was surprising and expected at the same time. I hope they produce an app that makes it easy to post again. That would be a big step forward.
I'm one of those people who eats lunch alone in the same restaurant just about every day, and typically read through the site on my mobile phone while doing so. Not having a mobile app any more makes this much more cumbersome. I'm sure there will be a new mobile app before too much longer, so I am not really worried or annoyed. But I can see how other people might just read something else entirely.
I feel you. I've already watched all of Last Chance U, and I'm starved for more football. I'd honestly watch middle schoolers play touch football at this point.
100% agree.
The website has declined.
Brian having a child probably has something to do with it. Understandable.
Ace had/has medical issues. Understandable.
The with move over to the new website has not helped anything.
Hell I am still waiting for my copy of HTTV. Feel like I usually have it by now.
That's bc this new site is bad and not user friendly so obviously people are either gonna leave or post less. I thought last season was fine. It was when this new site was created that it turned like this. Can we please go back the old mgoblog...
Does this really need answered? The answer is obvious.
Things will slowly heat up Aug 3. However, the first 5 practices are no contact. 2 in helmets only. Then helmets and shoulder pads for 2 and finally one last no contact practice in full pads. Keep in mind that the first 10-14 practices are full of experiments and finding the guys that can contribute. After that, things start to shake out.
". . . finally one last no contact practice in full pads."
Is this new? I was pretty sure once you got into full pads on Day 5, the hitting could be full go.
Since 2014 - the 5 day acclimation period.
Someone doesn't have their HTTV magazine...
but seriously, ehh, speculation is the same as assumption; there is enough bias and bs in the current college football culture. So, I don't mind an absence of it here, for the time being...
p.s. I am very hopeful for Daxton though, looking forward to more on that story.
Mostly, we would have been talking about the Spring game highlights and lowlights the past month but, we didn't have one. What do you really need to know at this point that would change anything? All I want to know starts with ND and ends with OSU
I think a large part of the lack of speculation is that there's not that much to speculate about. Last year, we had basically a whole new team. In 2015 & 2016, we were wondering how Harbuagh's arrival would change the team and how new players would sort out. This year, all of our returning starters means there's very few spots to guess who plays. The QB competition seems to have been settled as quickly as it started, and it's the middle of summer before camp starts, so there's little new developments.
However, I expect the news to pick up a week or so into camp.
I agree that there's not much to speculate about. Basically the single question about this season is the same one that we've known for the last nine months: Will the offensive line be better?
If yes, then we're in business.
If yes, better to the point of being good, then playoffs are a possibility.
If no, then a year of frustration and misery awaits.
Because there's just not much going on right now besides some recruiting, but even then, our 2019 class is pretty full besides some of the big fish that we're still going after
There's no football right now. Like literally it's against the rules for the players and coaches to interact in any football related activity. When fall camp starts in a week, then reports will role out.
All I know is that if it weren't for this board, I would have had no idea that Nikolai Volkoff had died.
Neg him all you want, but at least Bluey/Maizen would talk about football. With him banned, the little football talk we did have seems to have disappeared.
Well .... coincidentally, bluey goes away and then there's a front page politics post... call me crazy, but an alter ego like that would give Brian his ability to be hyper critical of the program without burning his bridges. As last season progressed, the attitude here got worse and the posts of bluey/maizen increased. Im telling ya, Brian is bluey/maizen.
Everything comes to an end at some point.
Didn't you hear the new rules? Insider information threads shall be replaced by opinion pieces and W/L prediction threads.
Alum96 left. S’all you need to know. Sites been replaced with the multiple personailites of WD, SkyPisser and Mineral Queen
Did he actually "leave" or just hasn't posted lately. I did enjoy his content very much. Even Magnus seems to be MIA. Is he gone too or just taking a break?
Yet I'm here..
I think it’s just a lull in the off-season. It’s the weird time before preseason NFL and college practices starting again where we are all hungry for football. There isn’t any news other than recruiting, which just ended a dead period. The blog is fine, the team is fine, everything is just fine.
The point about not having a spring game that someone made is definitely valid. We haven’t seen the team in action in a long time and that makes it worse.
Since the site change, I wouldn’t say upgrade, this place is like Good Times after James died.
Saw Jimmie Walker turned 71 last month if you needed to feel old. 71!!! Holy shit, life goes fast.
The bulk of the current content on this message board is dumb dad jokes. Someone always thinks they are clever enough to reference counter strike. And peoole will be the 138th reply to a comment and use the most cliche joke that has already been used 128 times by unoriginal members who are probably laughing as they type.
The malaise that hit after the bowl game really dampened enthusiasm.
People are still getting used to the format switch of the site.
Not a whole lot out there, with the exception of the offensive tackles, it just doesn't feel like there's much "Up for grabs."
No Spring Game, so no hard data to really go by and with a significant amount of people on the board basically in "Prove it!" mode. Its hard to really get any talk going.
Recruiting had a huge burst but now has settled into a bit of a dead period as well.
Just my thoughts on why the discussion has been a bit muted this year.
Agree with the general sentiment - can we please just get a few diaries to knock the goddamned Herron de-commitment off of the front page??
I'm working on it.
Yes! You are the best!
Other than left tackle, I don't think there's much to speculate about. And as a few others have mentioned, the frequent losing of big games has ground everyone down.
Plus we've lost Mad Hatter, alum96, and FauxMo.
I think there are 5 key position battles in priority order: LT, LB, P, RG, SLOT, and one for good measure S.
I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but you have any info on the less obvious ones?
I think most people are aware of the players at LT, P, and RG.
Which guys you think are in the tightest race for the LB / Slot / and S spots?
Thanks umbig11
I don't have inside info like umBig11 but I don't think any of those position battles are really secret. McCray graduated so WLB is open and you've got Ross, Gil, and probably Furbush and Uche who will be competing for that spot. At slot receiver, Perry is back but you have guys like McDoom and Oliver Martin who are not going to just accept a backup role. Then safety seems like a total free-for-all. Kinnel and Metellus would have to be the favorites as they started last season, but neither guy seems totally safe. Kinnel could conceivably be displaced by a guy like JKP, who probably has better coverage chops. And Metellus probably has Woods and maybe Hawkins breathing down on him.
Isaiah Hole did a mailbag this morning praising JKP so he seems to be solidly in the mix still.
Do we know what happened to them? banned or just quit or?
I think they just got too busy with life.
Nothing groundbreaking, but TheWolverineWire (https://wolverineswire.com/2018/07/29/how-jim-harbaugh-changed-mike-morris-perception-of-him-and-michigan-at-the-bbq/) has some updates and BBQ reactions, including the hilarious quote by FSU soft commit DE Mike Morris, “The reporters always say Harbaugh is some douchebag but actually, he’s an amazing dude.”
I’ve seen this site mentioned a few times here lately and it is quickly becoming my go-to for actual football content.
Agreed
Mineral King has left to get ready for summer camp, so it looks like our insider source of info will be silent until after the season. Hopefully UMBig11 will post more often to keep us informed, unless he's one of the coaches and will have to get back to work as well.
I'm sure the content will pick up after all the important username detective work is concluded.
A few reasons:
1. A rough season last year.
2. New website which many do not like.
3. Peak offseason.