What are your expectations now after last night?
Well after that shit show last night, I’d have to imagine many people’s expectations have changed a bit. I thought 10-2 coming into the year.
I’m gonna have to change from 10-2 to now 8-4. This team will not beat OSU/MSU on the road; and will probably lose to one of PSU/Wiscy..more likely Wiscy.
This is probably a mild overreaction, but I just can’t take it anymore. This team got out coached and outplayed. 0-17 against ranked opponents on the road, 9-9 in the 18 games and 1 win against rivals in the Harbaugh era.
So what are your expectations? Still optimistic? Severely pessimistic? Or just don’t care anymore because of the constant disappointment?
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:25 AM ^
ive been 9-3. i can see 8-4
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:27 AM ^
Same. Had 9-3 from the first prediction thread onward. Had us losing last night then splitting PSU-Wisconsin and MSU-OSU.
Could get talked into 8-4 though without too much work.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:50 AM ^
PSU seems very beatable at home. Just struggled with App State and the Nittany Lions are, besides Michigan, the team that plays the worst in big road games in the conference.
Each of the other three will be very tough. OSU is a "no way in hell" unless things drastically change.
MSU there's a chance, but in East Lansing it's definitely less than 50%.
Wisconsin's defense is just very likely going to be too much. Only way we can win that is with turnovers/special teams significantly going our way, or a literal rock fight, something like the 2012 MSU win where we won 12-10 without scoring a touchdown.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:56 AM ^
MSU and OSU are ranked teams on the road so there’s two automatic losses, Wisconsin is a loss, and they probably lose one out of @NW or PSU.
So there’s four losses and maybe a fifth. Prior to yesterday I was thinking 10 wins and maybe better, but what I saw last night is a repeat of the 2017 team.
September 2nd, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
You see 9-3 or 8-4, but look a little harder... can you seeeee 7-5?
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:25 AM ^
The Super Bowl, of course...
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:25 AM ^
My expectations are that we beat the shit out of the unranked teams, the tackle play gets a little better, we clean up the stupid mistakes, and then we go on to struggle with MSU, PSU, OSU, Wisconsin
I liked what I saw out of the QB position, given what they had to work with in terms of protection
I am going to say 9-3 or 8-4. We beat Penn State, and maybe MSU. Mark Wisconsin and OSU down as sure losses
Unless the tackle play gets figured out and Hudson or Mayfield take a GIANT leap forward, we just don't have the offensive horses to run with a good defense
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:28 AM ^
8-4, maybe 7-5. OL has to make giant strides if they are going to do any better.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:42 AM ^
The O-line was such a disappointment, especially after all the talk before the game. What the hey, why does it struggle so much!?
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:00 AM ^
Because ever since he got here, Harbaugh hasn’t recruited the position with any sort of urgency. Lifting this from TomVH’s Twitter last night:
2015:
Grant Newsome - medical retire
Nolan Ulizio - doesn't play
Jon Runyan Jr.
2016:
Ben Bredeson - plays guard
2017:
Chuck Filiaga
Joel Honigford
Andrew Steuber
As you can see this problem isn’t getting fixed this year and it’s not going to be fixed next year either. The Harbaugh era is flatlining because he can’t figure out how to recruit a tackle.
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:21 AM ^
He got close to Leatherwood who is a can't miss tackle. The guy went to Alabama.
At the running back spot, Harbaugh was close on Najee Harris. Another Tide commit.
I wonder if we are going "all in" on these big name recruits and telling them that we are not recruiting anyone else at their position. When they bail on us, we are left with a giant hole.
Or maybe solid 4 stars are looking at this and saying, "Michigan is recruiting Leatherwood. If Leatherwood goes there, I am not going to beat him out, so I will go elsewhere."
This is pure speculation on my part. It feels like we are perennially "just missing" the 5 star sure thing and then getting the 3 star.
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:35 AM ^
They also had the near miss on Isaiah Wilson. I don't know if they are putting all of their eggs in the 5-star baskets, but when you have such a glaring hole at tackle like they do, you better recruit some high floor prospects at tackle AND go after the 5-star types. They should have been signing 3-4 tackle prospects a year from the day they got here. And they haven't done that at all. Their backup options have all been MAC quality.
Their recruiting tactics have been like asking the homecoming queen to prom and when she shockingly decides to go with the star QB to the dance, you're left asking out Janice who sits in the back of your 1st hour math class.
September 2nd, 2018 at 11:02 AM ^
My greater fear is that in some parallel universe this projects out to marrying Janice
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:53 PM ^
My concern is we've been married to Janice for several years already and are too drunk to realize...
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:28 AM ^
8-4 if they can beat Penn State. Will lose to Michigan State, WI, and OSU. So glad they cancelled Arkansas for ND last night...
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:29 AM ^
I just dont care anymore, Michigan is basically the equivalent of Tennessee and Texas. Severely overrated teams and programs based solely on the uniforms they wear. Devin Bush wouldn't even make the All Mac team with how he played last night but somehow makes 1st team pre season All American. Were all being duped.
7-5.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:43 AM ^
Hang in there, my friend...
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:30 AM ^
I still have 9-3 with losses @ MSU and @ OSU. @ Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Penn State could all go either way though. I think we win the rest with relative ease.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:49 AM ^
We are 0-1
We have 2 more sure losses on the schedule
We have 3 more tossups games on the schedule
We will finish 9-3
Dude, you suck at math
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:19 AM ^
No, I still think we beat Wisco, PSU, and NW and lose to MSU/OSU. That's 9-3, chief. Just because I think those three games will be difficult, close games, doesn't mean I don't think we win. I actually would include MSU as a toss-up game as well, but I just have a feeling we don't win that one.
September 2nd, 2018 at 2:38 PM ^
What's our record in toss-up games?
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:31 AM ^
Win or play tight with every team until OSU, which is when we'll get trucked by Haskins, who is 10x better than Wimbush.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:44 AM ^
Haskins, he does seem like the real deal. I don't even want to think about Ohio State and the problems they will present; I will shelter myself with 'one game at a time'.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:54 AM ^
better than Patterson too.
September 2nd, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^
Yeah, he's easily the best QB in the conference. Now that I think about it, he's one of the top 2-3 QBs in the country just based on arm talent alone. Grier may be better all around. I've been telling people for years that we'll miss JT when he's gone because he sandbagged that offense
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:36 PM ^
Don't forget Lewerke is a running QB too and MSU always has a good DL. Those both appear to be severe roadblocks for this team based off what we saw vs. ND.
I mean hell...Maryland has a good running QB and seems awfully plucky. I'm not even super confident about that game anymore.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:33 AM ^
i expect i'll be watching less and, sadly, caring less. i'll still enjoy going to a couple of games but last night was an unfortunate 'game changer' for my fandom this year. still recoverable, but as many have noted in one fashion or another, that hurt.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:36 AM ^
Pro-tip my friend as I did the same a few years ago at the end of the Hoke regime.
You won't really miss it.
September 2nd, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^
I enjoy reading your comments (and MGrowOld) and find myself in agreement with you almost always. I'm in agreement with you now - losing interest. I've already purchased tickets (6) to a game this year which I've been eagerly anticipating for months - as it is an old friend and fellow alum's birthday, and the game is a birthday present.
Unfortunately, now my enthusiasm is much lower after yesterday's demonstration of little progress, combined with the other disappointments from Michigan football in the past 20 months or so. We will still go and likely have a good time, but this may be my last. Not worth the time and money for what we are getting from the program.
September 3rd, 2018 at 9:51 AM ^
just seeing this now. if the game you are going to is one of the last two please let me know. i have enjoyed meeting the mgobloggers in real life and would gladly add to that list. mgrowold, you too.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:33 AM ^
I think I'll hold my 9-3 for the time being. If we start looking, how to say this, like Cincinnati last year against Western and SMU, where we win but it gets interesting at points, then my estimate of conference success will likely shift downward significantly. One of those three I predicted was a game that - in my estimation - they really shouldn't lose, and this COULD be one of those games in my prediction (I have several iterations of this prediction). I will say, however, last night did not in any way leave me with a warm and fuzzy feeling.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:41 AM ^
Are we all in agreement that Harbaugh’s seat is at least getting warm? I mean if they go 10-2 and he beats one of osu/msu, maybe that changes. But if it’s another 8/9 win season with losses to all 3 rivals, then, imo, there needs to be some major discussions.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:55 AM ^
I want to believe 'No'. It was the first game, mistakes will be made in the first game, and it's Notre Dame. They have good players too. Reflecting back on the rivalry, games like this happen. I wouldn't give Coach Harbaugh high marks after last night but we don't need to start collecting wood for the bonfire. I don't want anything to do with that media drama show. If the team doesn't show improvement game to game, then maybe your right.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:58 AM ^
Warm as in evaluated after this season? Highly unlikely. We'd have to lose all the hard games and probably a Nebraska type of game for that to happen. 6-6 maybe, but honestly we'd probably have to be 5-7 or worse to fire him this year.
However, I think anything at 8-4 or worse (or, 9-3 if the 3 losses are ND, MSU, OSU) will leave him squarely on the hot seat for 2019.
The question for 2019 then becomes, what's enough? Does he have to win the Big Ten?
What if we go 10-2, beat ND and MSU at home, but lose @Wisconsin and to Ohio State again in Ann Arbor and fail to win the East? Is that enough in Year 5? 0-5 vs. OSU, 0-3 in The Big House?
Honestly, that feels like the most likely scenario to me and I don't know how I'd feel about it.
September 2nd, 2018 at 11:09 AM ^
Exactly. The evaluation should begin Nov. 25. There should be no hotseat, or even talk of a hotseat, until then. Let the season play out and and evaluate based on a full season of evidence.
Even if this turns out to be a disappointing 8-4 type season, there still shouldn't be a hotseat but it definitely would be getting warm.
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
But 2019 looks like another drop off year. 2018 was supposed to be the year, but that ain't happening.
So if 2018 pans out like we now think it will, Harbaugh will still have an absolutely wretched record against the rivals, and on the road, with a line of sight where 2019 won't be any better.
That going to bring out the torches and pitchforks.
We like Harbaugh because he's a cultural fit at Michigan. But you know what else is a cultural fit at Michigan? Beating OSU, MSU, PSU, WISC.
Harbaugh was brought in here to beat Ohio State and win the Big Ten. This is year 4. Do we look any closer to that than we did in year 1?
If things stay the way they are and there is no line of sight for it getting any better, People are going to start mentally shopping . . .
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:03 PM ^
The only way I see that being enough in Year 5 is if everything falls to have Year 6 REALLY look like the year. This means Patterson likely goes after this year and DCaf looks like the real deal in 19, the O-line finally starts to exist, and the D doesn't miss a beat.
There would have to be significant and semi-proven building blocks to move forward with.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:35 AM ^
I said 5-7 before the season started and I am sticking with it, crazy schedule, crazily pressure packed year, can't find their own ass in road games with two hands, a flashlight and a map, O-line can't pass block to save their lives. Worst part is Harbaugh COULD have opened this game against Arkansas at home in his fourth year and booked a victory against an SEC opponent, BUT he insisted we play Notre Dame again and has now sewn the seeds of his own fucking hotseat. Brilliant!!!
You could tell in the first half they'd mindfucked themselves and they're going to continue mindfucking themselves through a hard schedule. You thought THIS offseason sucked, it's going to seem like a stroll through the park compared to next year.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:58 AM ^
5-7 is very much a worst case scenario, but I can kind of see it. OSU, MSU, UW, PSU, are all looking like losses. I don't think Michigan is any better than the Texas team that just lost to Maryland. Then you don't have to squint too hard to see one more road loss at Northwestern or Nebraska.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:37 AM ^
Should probably hand in your Mcards with all the garbage i'm reading in this thread..
"no way we beat MSU"
MSU ALMOST LOST AT HOME TO a 6-6 MWC team yesterday. We lost to a team that on ESPN this morning 3/4 of the analyst have ND as the #4 team in the playoffs. and we lost the game in the first quarter then beat them for 3 quarters. a bad targeting took out our safety which led to a jump ball TD followed by a roughing the passer giving them 4.. we missed a FG later (thats the 7 we lost by)
The Playcalling was garbage the line play was garbage and were not gonna beat Bama/Clemson. But to say we won't beat a PSU that almost lost to mother fucking app state or a MSU that almost lost to WHOTAH st?
Ill stick with 9-3 with 10-2 as top end. This team will only play a team with as good of Defense as Notre dame 2 more times this year.. vs Wisc and @OSU and we got a long ways to go untill both.
Were gonna beat WMU by 60 next week and maybe then people will see this team has talents they just were clueless last night.
And MSU ILL CALL THAT BITCH RIGHT NOW 38-10 Michigan quote me
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:43 AM ^
i hear ya
but msu always starts slow and they've won 8/10 against us and its on the road. so its not that ridiculous to see that as an L
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:57 AM ^
Not to mention State has us lurking in the tall weeds in their minds...
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:43 AM ^
This might be too far the other way, but I agree I don't understand the panic right now. People are reacting with emotion more than logic here.
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:49 AM ^
Holy shit there have been some dumb things written but this make take the cake; did you just predict us to beat msu on the road, 38-10? Hahahhahaa
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:54 AM ^
I am not sure we score more than 38 points against any opponent this year, much less one with a capable defense.
Is hard to put up points when you don’t attempt many passes longer than 10 yards
September 2nd, 2018 at 4:31 PM ^
vs the S&P #5 Overall Defense in the Nation ND.
Shea had a 250 yard passing game the second most by any Michigan qb in the last 17 starts.
Maybe the reason he couldn't pass in ND is a legit NC contender which no one else outside OSU and maybe Wisc can claim to be
September 3rd, 2018 at 2:27 PM ^
To be fair, the last 17 starts haven't exactly set a high bar for the QB's
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:38 AM ^
8-4/7-5. Maryland and Northwestern are decent and both games will be dogfights.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:40 AM ^
I'm still holding out hope that we can salvage a one loss season. Offensively it was a shit show, but you have to give ND credit. The Defense, unbelievably, lost the game for us; the silly penalties, the poor play of the secondary. I know he just got in the game but that botched effort by Hawkins was huge. As poorly as things went we still had a chance to put this one into O.T. at the end.
The team will have time to sort things out the next couple games before things amp up slowly but surely. Apart from undefeated, all our goals are still ahead of us.