Harbaugh on Mone return: "It's possible"

Submitted by FreddieMercuryHayes on

Can't believe someone hasn't posted this yet, but in today's presser, when asked about Mone returning to play some time this season, Harbaugh didn't shoot it down and said "it's possible".  I don't know exactly how the question was framed as I ran across this on the Twitter, so context may be missing.  But, commence speculation!  And commence putting a Dumb and Dumber captioned picture in this thread. 

Personally, I think his return, even if physically able, probably would depend on how long the season runs, and what the stakes UM is playing for at that time.

Here's a link about it on 247:

http://michigan.247sports.com/Board/59424/Contents/Harbaugh-Mone-Return…

 

Doctor Wolverine

November 16th, 2015 at 5:48 PM ^

The rumor from the edge of the Internet was that Mone is healthy enough to play at this point and has even possibly been practicing for a couple of weeks. The question is, do we burn the medical redshirt that he is currently eligible for in order to play him in the last few games of the season? Obviously a lot of variables to consider, but the general consensus among fans has been that if he is healthy enough to play (and assuming that he is down with it as most think he would get a say) then you have to put him out there. There is way too much to play for still to bank him for a future fifth year that he may not even stay for anyway.

LSAClassOf2000

November 16th, 2015 at 2:40 PM ^

I can't think of anyone in the Rutgers game or this most recent game against Indiana that had their redshirt burned. Could you be thinking of Grant Newsome perhaps? He came in late in the Minnesota game, I believe, and I could be missing a player somewhere, but him and Karan Higdon are the most recent ones insofar as I know. 

funkywolve

November 16th, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^

based upon the dline performance Saturday, there's a huge need for Mone this year if he truly is close to 100%.  This isn't some 5-5/6-4 team playing for some crappy bowl game.  They are in the thick of the division race.  You do what you need to do to win these next two games.

ijohnb

November 16th, 2015 at 1:38 PM ^

this.  He will not play at Penn State.  If we beat Penn State and Ohio State beat MSU, and Mone is absolutely 100% he will play against OSU and beyond.  If we can't beat Penn State as is we have no business in the BIG title game or the playoff.  If the dominos fall right this weekend and it comes down the beating OSU and Iowa to go the playoff I think it is all hands on deck, his included.  And I don't think Mone would bat an eye, if he is full go he is probably dying to get on the field.

WichitanWolverine

November 16th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^

If I were Harbaugh it'd be an all-or-nothing decision. Either play him Saturday or not at all. With our defensive road woes, PSU will be very, very tough without Glasgow/Mone (assuming Mone is comparable to Glasgow).

EDIT: I guess the one exception would be if the coaches think an extra week of pratice/prep/rehab would be beneficial. Then maybe rest him now and evaluate if we beat PSU.

ijohnb

November 16th, 2015 at 2:00 PM ^

think it is an all or nothing decision though.  If Michigan State beat Ohio State this weekend than there is very little we could do to even make a New Years 6 game even if we did beat OSU.  State would probably go to the playoff and Iowa the Rose Bowl of State beat them.  Even if we beat OSU also, do we bring him back for the Peach Bowl? The Outback Bowl if we lost to OSU?  That would very truly be burning the year for him for no reason.

I think the stakes are very much a part of the decision.  I am not "overlooking" Penn State but it is still the team that beat Maryland by a point in OT.  We should beat them regarless in my opinion if we have any business in this conversation.  I think this weekend determines if Mone plays.

Hulk Henne

November 16th, 2015 at 3:20 PM ^

Even though they are undefeated at home (their best win is against Illinois) they've had a real easy schedule. Rutgers, Army, SDSU, Buffalo and Indiana without Sudfeld. The only time they played a team with a good QB, they got smacked by Temple and OSU.

ijohnb

November 16th, 2015 at 4:00 PM ^

the Game Notes on Mgoblue are out and it is going to be Witshusen and Huard again.  I think our chances just went down.  I just wasn't feeling it with that crew.  Can't we just get Patrick?  We are Mike Patrick-worthy in the noon slot aren't we?

In reply to by ijohnb

ST3

November 16th, 2015 at 3:57 PM ^

MSU has given up 21+ points to everyone they've played except CMU and Maryland. If that game was @PSU, I'd favor penn state, but it's in EL so I think a Penn State win would be an upset, but I wouldn't be shocked by it. I have no idea if their pass defense is any good, but if their d-line can stop the run game, perhaps they can put some pressure on Cook and make him miss some balls. He is a <60% passer. If it's a windy day, or cold and rainy, who knows? If Maryland had a pulse, they could have made that a competitive game. I had to turn it off before halftime because Maryland's offense is just atrocious. Their QB was missing receivers by several feet, and the next spiral he throws will be his first.

In reply to by ijohnb

TrueBlue2003

November 16th, 2015 at 3:22 PM ^

is about as likely as MSU beating OSU.  Mich should be doing all they can to beat PSU, as long as the well-being of the players is first priority (i.e. wouldn't play Mone if he's not 100% or a risk to get worse).

WichitanWolverine

November 16th, 2015 at 2:05 PM ^

I think it's much more likely that OSU beats MSU than we beat PSU. And call me crazy, but with how awful we are on the road, I almost think us beating OSU is more likely than PSU.

We have to operate assuming OSU beats MSU, because we have no other choice. And that to me makes it all-or-nothing.

WichitanWolverine

November 16th, 2015 at 2:14 PM ^

Yep, respectfully disagree. We are very close to 1-3 on the road. And don't forget we were only up 6-0 at halftime against Maryland.

I think we would have blown out Minnesota and Indiana at home, and probably beaten Utah. This team has just been awful on the road for a long time, and the gap between home and away performance has never been more evident than this year.

berto714

November 16th, 2015 at 4:13 PM ^

Really? Never been more evident than this year? 1-4 on the road last year, with the only win being the M00N game. 2-3 the year before, with a narrow win over *UConn* and a 3OT win over NW. This year, we're 3-1 with a narrow loss in the first game with a brand new QB, so I'd say that's definite improvement. 

Also, show me a college team that isn't worse on the road. 

WichitanWolverine

November 16th, 2015 at 4:35 PM ^

We were a tire fire last year, with losses to Maryland, Minnesota, and Utah at home. The team just wasn't that good, home or away. We did destroy a similar Indiana team at home though.

We are one dropped punt away from being 6-0 at home right now, with all of them being blowouts aside from MSU. And nobody can deny that Minnesota and Indiana could have easily won those games this year. So I still think we can beat anyone at home, but be beaten by nearly anyone on the road.

Yes, all teams play worse on the road, but the contrast is huge for this team for some reason. Very bizarre.

In reply to by ijohnb

TrueBlue2003

November 16th, 2015 at 3:37 PM ^

disagree strongly.  OSU is a 13 point favorite, we are 5 point favorites, which means the market, consisting of the smartest sports predictors out there, believes OSU has about an 85% chance to win and we have about a 60% chance to win.  I'm not saying you're wrong or they're right, because who knows exactly, but just saying.

dipshit moron

November 16th, 2015 at 3:54 PM ^

how long is everyone going to hang on to the thought that michigan is awfull on the road? forget the last few years with horrible coaching and preparation. road games will be closer, thats the nature of the beast. and these are the same players that have looked terrible over the years on the road.

   but to say this  team with these coaches are horrible on the road is really an overstatement. and please dont start  with all the stats.  they win, they look prepared to take a teams best shot.  and best of all they fight to the end no matter what.  i dont know how much more you could ask of them.

M-Dog

November 16th, 2015 at 5:07 PM ^

We have not been great on the road this year either.  We have played only one really good half - the 2nd half against Maryland.

On the road at Penn State is going to be a challenge, plain and simple.