DairyQueen

August 29th, 2016 at 12:44 AM ^

I can't help but feel that a lot of this boards "don't burn the redshirt!"-worries are PTSD-like effects from the previous 2 head-coaches performance.

I distinctly remember people being upset at how true freshman on other college teams could somehow make an incredible impact during their freshman year, whilst our freshman players seemed lost, undersized, and out-paced. And how a significant amount of our roster somehow needed 2-3 years to do what other players on other college teams could do immediately or after 1 year.

And our worrying about redshirts are just remnants from the famine. Like when immigrant parents still patch up clothes of their American children despite the fact that they no longer live in poverty and political instability. (/terrbily weird analogy)

I don't think we have to worry so much any more. Yes, red-shirting is a great investment on the future. But with Harbaug (and it sounds cliche, I know), but, the future is now.

With Hoke and RR, we would have KILLED to have 5th year seniors at any position. With Harbaugh, it's, "decision must be mutual", implying, there's a good chance we have underclassman more valuable to the team.

That's night and day.

It's called "Coaching", and we clearly didn't have that before.

The gap between the new and the old staff, top to bottom, cannot be overstated.

The recruits will come, the talent will be nurtured, and over-worrying about a burned red-shirt will be a thing of the past.

Joined: 04/20/2014

MGoPoints: 6642

mGrowOld

August 28th, 2016 at 7:02 PM ^

Maybe I'm reading this wrong but couldn't "up to 10 freshmen on the two deep" mean that there are actually zero freshman on the two deep? That the max we have is 10?

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 213255

MichiganTeacher

August 28th, 2016 at 9:57 PM ^

That's what he had been saying. But earlier today on the Scout board ($) he said that Gary has been practicing with the 2s recently. Said that yesterday, Mone was in with the 1s at 3tech, possibly because Hurst was out.

I have no idea what "out" means. I am trying not to worry. It sounded like it just meant 'out yesterday for a very minor thing.'

Joined: 10/06/2011

MGoPoints: 9263

DairyQueen

August 28th, 2016 at 8:00 PM ^

There's some sort of crazy statistic about 2nd-year head coaches and winning National Championships.

As well as something about first and second-year recruiting classes being crazy talented and performing abnormally well.

I can't remember where, but there was this huge article with statistics on it. No one can figure out why, but believe it may have something to do with attracting game-ready freshman who value immediat playing-time, upper-classmen adapting to change (hence 2nd-year of Head-Coaching change, but not 1st), and some sort of social/psych momentum/excitement in the transistion.

If someone happens to remember the article I'd appreciate the link!

The most recent example is OSU.

Joined: 04/20/2014

MGoPoints: 6642

evenyoubrutus

August 28th, 2016 at 9:02 PM ^

I think the sample size is small enough that you shouldn't need stats. It seems to be extremely common for coaches to win in their 2nd or 3rd year, and Michigan seems to fit the pattern with Hoke's talented recruiting classes now upperclassmen. Stoops, Meyer (UF & OSU), Nick Saban (LSU & Bama), Les Miles, Pete Carroll (and should we include Gene Chizik?) all have won championships in their 2nd or 3rd seasons. Most of them won multiple championships, which means that since 2000 those guys have all won just about every one of the championships.

Joined: 11/04/2008

MGoPoints: 178339

turtleboy

August 28th, 2016 at 8:34 PM ^

Could easily be 10

1 offensive ninja (Evans,) 2 TEs (Asiasi, other) 1 LT (Bredeson,) 1 Destroyer of worlds (Onwenu,) 1 other Destroyer of worlds (Gary,) 1 linebacker (Bush,) 1 corner(Hill,) 1 safety (Metellus,) and 1 hybrid tweener to fill in Nickel/DB or WDE/SAM depth.

Joined: 04/22/2011

MGoPoints: 35130

swalburn

August 28th, 2016 at 8:33 PM ^

Part of the reason we will see a lot of Freshman on the two deep is because the 2 classes before the 2016 were pretty lowly ranked for Michigan and the 2015 class (Harbaugh's first class) was extremely small.  We already lost a couple guys from that 2015 class.  The 2016 and the 2017 class were critical for the program.  I have no doubt we continue to recruit well but will definitely feel those classes going forward.  The young kids will definitely see the field this and next year.

Joined: 11/24/2011

MGoPoints: 8025

7words

August 28th, 2016 at 8:42 PM ^

On another note, how many scrimmages have we had this Fall?  I know last years were publicized a bit more since one was at Ford Field.  But it seems like we at least got some video from last years scrimmages.  I haven't seen anythning about them this fall. 

Joined: 03/17/2013

MGoPoints: 2745

Esterhaus

August 28th, 2016 at 8:43 PM ^

 

A team with so many frosh on the two-deep must have significant problems.

Somebody actually posted that on another CFB board and not in jest. Less than a week to see :>)

Joined: 03/16/2015

MGoPoints: 7733

lilpenny1316

August 28th, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^

If you have a lot of freshmen on the two-deep, it normally makes you wonder about the upperclassmen.  If it was Rutgers, you wouldn't think twice about it because they've been pretty bad.  

But we have freshmen on the DT and WR two-deep and many people think we have top-10 units at both positions just by looking at the upperclassmen.  In our case, it's an embarrassment of riches.

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61836

CookieMonster77

August 28th, 2016 at 10:17 PM ^

Ultimately this is my worry. Where are the rest of the upper classmen? Particularly on the o-line. I'm glad to hear we are building up Newsome and Bredeson for next year but are we worried about the rest for next year?

Joined: 12/29/2014

MGoPoints: 328

bronxblue

August 28th, 2016 at 11:45 PM ^

My guess is this class has a lot of burned red shirts but going forward there won't be nearly as many true freshmen on the depth chart this early.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171793

Hotroute06

August 29th, 2016 at 4:31 AM ^

To put it simply, most of Hokes recruits were overrated coming out of highschool. Harbaughs 2016 recruiting class looks to be loaded with future NFL talent ( I'm just an arm chair scout but our 2016 class is the best ive seen Michigan get since I started following recruiting ). It's not surprising the young guys are outplaying some of the upperclassmen. This is great for the team especially as the year goes on and we need to keep guys fresh in practice.

Joined: 09/24/2011

MGoPoints: 1204

Kevin13

August 29th, 2016 at 9:42 AM ^

for what else we have on the team. The old saying is every Freshman that starts can cost you a game. Let's hope they are all second on the depth chart and upper classman are getting the playing time

Joined: 01/26/2016

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