Grading Coach Harbaugh's First Two Seasons at Michigan
I know that the title and timing of this diary imply a hot-take. I truly don't mean for that to be the case. My intent here is to rationally weigh the pros and cons of the last two seasons in attempt to grade Harbaugh's tenure thus far.
2015
The Good:
- Immediately turned around a losing culture. Brought fight into a team coming off a 5-7 season, reignited the passion of the fanbase and righted the national perception of Michigan Football.
- The record overall; to double from 5 wins to 10 wins in one year is an INCREDIBLE coaching job.
- Dominating wins against three 9+ win teams in Florida, BYU and Northwestern. (I know that these teams were only fringe Top 25, but these were the types of teams that the only way Hoke could win would be in nailbiters).
- First road win in a hostile environment in 5 years, in a game we controlled (at Penn State in their White Out; last win in a non Northwestern/Indiana/Illinois-esque environment was Notre Dame in 2010).
- First bowl victory in 4 years.
- Overall, continuous player improvement and development throughout the season, something unseen in the previous decade of Michigan football.
- No "bad losses" to teams that were inferior to us (in terms of either record or overall capability).
The Bad:
- The Michigan State tragedy. Even though we had ample chances to be up by more than one score before the punt occurred, not sure that I can hold this against Harbaugh. MSU was a Top 10 team in 2015 that went on to win the Big Ten; while it will never not be excruciating that we lost, losing by 4 points on the biggest fluke in decades of football to a strong opponent can't be looked at too harshly. Especially with a team that was 5-7 the year before.
- Ohio State...yeah, this one there is no excuse for. It's not that we lost, it's how we lost. A beatdown of historic caliber, at home in The Big House. No Michigan team had lost that badly against OSU in Ann Arbor in more than half a century. And before people come to crucify DJ Durkin, the offense only scored 10 non-garbage time points. That would never be enough to beat Urban Meyer, even if DJ called a perfect game on the other side of the ball.
2015 Grade: A- (overall, incredible coaching job, but the magnitude of failure against the Buckeyes, especially at home, disqualifies a pure 'A' grade in my book)
2016
The Good:
- In the thick of contention for championships until the bitter end of the regular season; something no Michigan team had done in 10 years (since 2006).
- Three wins over Top 15 teams, one in absolutely dominating fashion (Wisconsin, Penn State, Colorado).
- Undefeated 8-0 record in The Big House, with 7 of the 8 victories being by more than one score and the other a game we statistically dominated. This was the first undefeated home record in 4 years (2012).
- Defeating Michigan State in East Lansing. Yes, the Spartans were trash this year, but winning a rivalry game on the road, comfortably, is an accomplishment; especially being the first win there in 9 years (2007) against a coach that has had our number.
The Bad:
- Huge waste of potential. Michigan had the most experienced team in the Big Ten, two of our three "tough road games" featured teams significantly and unexpectedly worse than they were a year prior, Ohio State had the youngest team Urban will have for a while and still we could not get over the hump and win a conference (or division) title.
- Harbaugh's first loss to an inferior team, at Iowa. Michigan was outcoached, outplayed and out-toughed by a team with significantly less talent (and a significantly lower paid coaching staff) than we do in a game that, with a win, likely would have delivered us into the playoff.
- Losing to Ohio State...again. Look, we got fucked over by the refs in a game that was close enough that bad calls made the difference. However, it shouldn't have been close enough for the refs to help them win. We had a senior team against a team full of sophomores and lost, for the billionth time in a row. At some point we have to win The Game, doesn't matter what the excuses are. Harbaugh joins Rich Rod as the only coach in history to start with back to back losses to the Buckeyes.
- Fourth quarter collapses become a trend. All three of our losses this were games in which we led in the final two minutes of regulation. Add in MSU 2015 and 2/3rds of Harbaugh's losses at UM have us losing a lead in the final minutes of regulation. This is a disturbing trend and the sample size is becoming large enough to be worrisome.
- Continual development was either non apparent or simply did not exist. I don't think anyone would say that this team was better in November than they were in September (wins/losses and opponents aside).
- Record stagnation. I understand that 10 wins does not constitute a bad season in any absolute terms. But given the potential, this team should've finished better than 10-3, the same record they had in 2015.
2016 Grade: B- (As much as it pains me, I can't go higher than this. No matter the margin, losing 3 out of your last 4 games is brutal).
Overall Grade: B+
I want to, but I can't give Harbaugh a grade in the A range due to the season that just finished. A 10-3 record in the context of 2015 was a great success, but a 10-3 record in the context of 2016 is a failure. If I included off field stuff (recruiting, academics, etc.) it'd be enough for an A-, but I want to focus on results from the playing field here.
I still believe in this staff and the direction we're going 110%. I just think it will take us a little longer to get there than we hoped.
To those who suffered through reading this diary (which I'm sure has plentiful typos, I am much too tired to proof-read), what do you think? How would you grade Harbaugh's tenure so far in its very young state? Did I miss any good or bad things in either season?
Forever and always, GO BLUE!
December 31st, 2016 at 11:28 AM ^
with a 12 game regular season. Way too small of a sample, so the overall record can be very fluky. Very far from accurately refecting the actual quality of any given team.
Play 120 games instead of 12 and the W-L records will accurately reflect the true quality of each team.
2015 Michigan got the long end of the stick several times, but was a couple of plays away from 7-5. Similar story for M in 2011 and MSU in 2015 (until exposed against Alabama).
2016 Michigan lost three games by a total of 5 points and lead in all three losses with 40 seconds or less remaining. Very much at the very far left tail of the probabilities curve.
January 3rd, 2017 at 12:09 PM ^
"2016 Michigan lost three games by a total of 5 points and lead in all three losses with 40 seconds or less remaining. "
Not that I didn't know that but seeing that in the written word sure is painful to see.
January 11th, 2017 at 4:53 PM ^
Would you say Urban Meyer doesn't get an "A" for this year, then?
December 31st, 2016 at 8:52 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 9:45 AM ^
Anyone who thinks we'd be better off with another coach is delusional.
Fact: Harbaugh is one of the top coaches in the game. Michigan is damn fortunate to have him as our head coach.
Fact: Harbaugh is recruiting very well, and he's recruiting atheticism and speed. Anyone who thinks it's easy getting top talent out of Texas, California, or the deep south to come to MIchigan is fooling themselves. But Harbaugh is starting to do just that.
College football is entering a perilous period where the field is going to separate into those schools that will compete, and those that will fade away forever. This separation started several years ago, and Michigan came within one more bad coaching hire of finding itself on the outside looking in. Programs that are teetering on the edge: Notre Dame, Texas, Oregon, USC, Florida, LSU.
The playoff structure is rapidly rendering non-playoff bowls meaningless. The risk of injury in these meaningless games will mean more and more NFL-bound players will opt out of playing, rendering the meaningless bowl games even more meaningless. The need to be seen as a program with playoff potential is more important now than ever. There's only a handful of active coaches that provides that. Harbaugh is one.
December 31st, 2016 at 4:09 PM ^
Nick Saban is an annoying unethical demon robot. He has also won 4 of the last 7 (soon 5 of 8?) national championships. But you think we'd be better off with Harbaugh than Saban?
I mean, I'm still kinda drinking the Harbaugh kool aid for the future but Saban and yes, unfortunately, Urban Meyer have superior resumes. Past that, maybe he's #3. Fisher, Swinney, Peterson and Stoops are probably in that conversation too and 2 of those 4 have won national championships.
I mean, Harbaugh's our coach. He's a Michigan guy and even a Pioneer guy which I like as a PiHi grad. He's one of the best. That's good enough for now. Hopefully he proves he can match the very top coaches by winning multiple national championships, as they have. But that remains to be seen for now.
December 31st, 2016 at 11:42 PM ^
Saban is Alabama's coach and will be until he retires.
Meyer is OSU's coach and will be until he retires, or the Notre Dame job opens and he feels like punishing himself for some past wrong.
So the question is not whether Harbaugh is better than those two, but whether Harbaugh is the best for Michigan. And the answer to that is: yes. Because seriously ... if not Harbaugh, then who? Dead serious question: who?
Now ... for Michigan to get to the level of play that Alabama or Clemson plays they do need a few more pieces to the puzzle -- (a) speed across the whole defense, (b) some playmakers on offense, and (c) I think Harbaugh will need to honestly look across the college landscape and see what works at places like 'Bama and Clemson and blend some of that into his game. Because man ... rewatch what Clemson did on offense today ... it was beautiful.
2017 will be where we see the mettle of Harbaugh. There'll be a lot of new, younger players. I do not forsee armageddon. In fact, I think we'll see some damn exciting football.
December 31st, 2016 at 8:16 PM ^
Harbaugh A+
Meyer D- I don't care how many games he wins. Ditto Saban.
I can't think of another coach who balances winning with ethics to this degree, Harbaugh is unique among coaches and it should say something to the doubters that MSU and OSU fans jump at every rumor he might leave for another NFL job. Harbaugh fears no one. He may not get Harris but Saban knows now that he might lose recruits in the future, which was previously unthinkable. The best players in Michigan will be coming to Michigan. And we'll do very well recruiting in Ohio.
Future looks good.
December 31st, 2016 at 8:44 PM ^
Why do you think we'll do well recruiting Ohio? Honestly, we haven't recruited Ohio well since we got Burgess/Crable in 2003. Well, I guess we got Manningham and Kalis but it's been slim pickings for a long time. Under Harbaugh, we've gotten a couple of guys from Ohio in Honigford, Ulizio, Kinnel and Hudson but honestly, those were not blue chip types. Maybe Kinnel. Harbaugh's recruiting is fine, we've probably turned the corner with MI kids against MSU, doing well in FL, doing superb in NJ. But there's nothing going on that suggests top Ohio kids are going to be coming here.
December 31st, 2016 at 11:55 PM ^
and I might be crazy.
And I'm not saying we would have beaten Clemson.
We sure as hell would not have left the field with a goose egg though.
December 31st, 2016 at 12:16 PM ^
1) Absolutely nothing in this post constitutes "bashing" of Harbaugh.
2) Absolutely nothing in this post suggests we'd be better off with a different coach or should even think about a change.
3) This post specifically points out that I still "110% believe" in the future trajectory of this program. I doubt that you actually read it. I'm sure you just scrolled down and reacted with a: "HE DIDN'T GIVE HARBAUGH AN A+ HE MUST WANT TO GO BACK TO HOKE WHAT A HEATHEN!"
4) I'd rather calmly critique a coach who is paid ten million dollars a year than bash unpaid players who have put blood, sweat and tears into this team, which you have so continually done tonight with our OLine.
This is why I wrote this post; half of this blog FREAKS OUT the second you say anything even mildly contrary to the "everything is absolutely perfect with Harbaugh's tenure" narrative.
It's one thing to freak out when people say "FIRE HARBAUGH, etc." because that is insane trolling, but no man is bigger than the program, including Jim Harbaugh, and we should be able to calmly discuss the good and bad.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:13 PM ^
You are evaluating the overall performance of a team of coaches and players and assigning it to one person.
While your assessment of the overall team performance may or may not be fair, I am not sure it is fair assessment of Coach Harbaugh's individual performance.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^
I agree with you.
However, there is only one person who is making 10 million dollars each year. Part of that paycheck means taking responsibility for the entirety of the team.
I am not going to criticize players on here.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^
Given:
- the state of the inherited program in 2014
- the inherited players
- lack of long-term recruiting relationships with recruits
- chance
- schedule
- chance
- Injuries
- etc
I don't know if there is a coach in America that coulda/woulda done a better job than Coach Harbaugh. Maybe I am wrong here. Using compensation as a rationale for questionable assessment methods is not, in my opinion, a useful argument.
December 31st, 2016 at 2:03 PM ^
Sorry, I really think you are wrong here.
- This whole narrative that Harbaugh had a bare cupboard is getting really old. Harbaugh walked into loads more talent than Franklin did at Penn State or Paul Chyrst did at Wisconsin, as two examples.
- All of our star players at this point were inherited. Why would you bash them?
- The schedule this year was not harder than average in any sense of the word. If anything, it was easy. We only had 4 road games and two of them were to 3-9 teams. The other was to an 8-4, unranked team that lost to an FCS school at home and was also much worse than expected in the preseason. The last was to a team that was replacing a record number of NFL players, more than they will for years to come.
- Every team has injuries. FSU was missing 3 secondary starters. Michigan had our fair share, but we did not have an abnormally large amount this year (for FSU it was a bit higher, but certainly not for Iowa).
2014 was a shit year, but that team was 5-7 mostly due to coaching collapses, not because of deficient talent. The team had been to a bowl game in 4 of the 5 years before his arrival, and the one year they didn't they missed it by 1 game with a bunch of one score losses.
This was not walking into a program like he did at Stanford.
December 31st, 2016 at 5:47 PM ^
I am not sure where I made all those statements. I merely stated that there are a lot of variables that make up a season. Your arbitrary grading is unremarkable and plebeian at best.
Michigan was 8 points from an undefeated season this year. I don't think I have enjoyed watching/following Michigan Football since probably Bo.
December 31st, 2016 at 6:44 PM ^
If you did not get at least some enjoyment out of 1991, 1992, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2006 etc then you should probably find a different hobby. I mean, 1997 national championship was not enjoyable to watch/follow?
January 1st, 2017 at 11:07 PM ^
However, there is only one person who is making 10 million dollars each year.
I don't understand why fans are so fixated on coaches' salaries, but FWIW, Harbaugh's annual salary is $7M. (He got a loan this year that bumped it up.)
December 31st, 2016 at 9:34 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 9:45 AM ^
You should know better than that.
December 31st, 2016 at 10:30 AM ^
He has the program in the best shape since probably the 1970s. The last two years have been memorable mostly for the painful losses, but we missed the playoff by the slimmest possible margin this year. With Harbaugh's track record in recruiting and player development I think we'll be in good shape to contend for the playoff more often than not. Probably not in 2017, though.
December 31st, 2016 at 7:48 PM ^
No. The program is not in better shape than it has been since the 1970s. Not sure if you are unaware of the history or just a little too eager about Harbaugh. The talent level, the quality of coaching, and true measures of success: W-L records during much of the period since the 70s is better than what we have seen the last 2 years. Look at 1985-1992 (or 1988-1992) and 1997-2004 as prime periods of sustained success at a higher level of performance than what we've seen. A #4 recruiting class is quite good, but no better than what we pulled in on average from the mid-80s to 2004ish. Not to say that we can't get there, I hope we can, but the program has been in better shape than where it is right now. This was a generic season compared with the 40 years (1968-2007) before the RRod/Hoke clusters. Actually, it was very much like any number of Bo seasons frankly.
December 31st, 2016 at 9:04 PM ^
This year's team would have beaten any of those teams at least 6 times out of 10, and probably all but the 2003 team 8 times out of 10.
December 31st, 2016 at 10:48 PM ^
lol. ok. We beat Hawaii, Central Florida, Rutgers, Maryland, Illinios, 1-8 MSU and Indiana. Then we went 3-3 against CO, WI, PSU, IA, OSU and FSU. So...you've got this team winning 80% of their games against past B1G championship teams like 2004 or the 1999 Orange Bowl winning team with senior Brady, or 60% against the B1G winning 2003 team. Impressive how they do much better against past championship teams in your hypothetical matchups than they did in games against competitive teams in actual matchups this year. Might be a sign that your sense of how good this team is is a wee bit inflated.
January 3rd, 2017 at 6:35 PM ^
Sure, we were 3-3 in those games, but the 3 wins were all decisive and the 3 losses all agonizingly close.
The 2004 team really was not that good. In addition to losing to ND, we lost miserably to OSU and pulled out home wins against mediocre Minnesota and MSU teams by the skin of our teeth. Our point differential was just +91 compared to +341 this year.
The 1999 team was not that special either. We got cuffed around by MSU in a game that wasn't as close as the score, and followed it up by losing at home to a mediocre Illinois team. We beat OSU, but they were terrible that year. Our point differential was +114.
January 4th, 2017 at 8:58 PM ^
I disagree with that, The 1998-2004 era was disappointing largely due to Lloyd Carr underachieivng. If you give Jim Harbaugh or Nick Saban the 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003 or 2004 Michigan football rosters, they may have won an NC, or at the very least contended a few times by losing 2 games or less with a Big Ten Title, something Lloyd Carr could never do with any of those teams despite haivng the talent relative to the teams on the scheudle those years.
Those teams all had way more talent on he offensive side of the ball than the 2016 team and as much talent on defense in 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2004.
December 31st, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^
I love people who get upset that Harbaugh didn't meet expectations this year, as if those expectations weren't about 80% based on him doubling the team's win total the year prior. If Michigan wins 8 games in 2015, very few people would express much disappointment with 10 wins this year.
December 31st, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^
20 wins in the first two season is really good. But matching last year's 10-3 mark was pretty much the floor for the season. They are close. I think the defense is at least one season ahead of the offense, unfortunately. I'd consider us one of the six best teams in the country right now but the offense needs to develop more to start competing with Abalama.
December 31st, 2016 at 11:33 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^
It can be argued that Hoke's first two years are better than Harbaugh's. But then we all know what happened after that! Hoke went 3-3 vs Ohio, ND, and Sparty. Harbaugh 1-3. Hoke had 11 win season and a major bowl win. Harbaugh had 10-3 and a minor bowl win. Hoke was undefeated at home, but Harbaugh has lost 2. Hoke used RichRod players and Harbaugh used Hoke players in their first two years. Certainly Harbaugh's teams give us much hope for the future, but when are we going to get even an average OL? Harbaugh is the best coach for our program and we will need to be patient.
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December 31st, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 12:18 PM ^
i think you also should look at Saban's tenure at Alabama.
Definitely a B+ coach over there.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
ohio made perfect halftime adjustments.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
The crux of the glass half full/half empty divergence in perspectives is that the quality of football was A- and the record is a B- record given the talent and schedule. S & P+ and FEI will confirm the former and the final AP standings will confirm the latter. If you want to take the long view of 2016 and say that this year confirmed we can be very competitive with top teams with good talent and sound coaching that is true. If you want to take the narrower perspective that this year was a wasted major opportunity, the type that only comes around every 5 to 10 years and that we failed too often in key moments in close games that is also true. There is no getting around the fact that the talent and seniority on this team merits a better record than 10-3. 11-2 would be about right. 12-1 would be fantastic and is maybe a bit much to hope for but 10-3 with OSU and bowl losses is nothing more than just ok.
Nothing major happened to imperil the future under Harbaugh. But high level college football is just a series of seasons where you make the most of the good opportunities you have when talent, experience and coaching come together. 2016 was one of those opportunities, but we did not take advantage.
All of that is why you are reading a lot of restlessness. Maybe that's just a steaming pile or bad luck or refereeing if you want get into that. But it's probably also indicative of some late game management issues that are not being acknowledged. Also, the defense, as good as it was, failed to stop opponents at key moments of the season.
It would be interesting to see how viewpoints break down by experience. I suspect that the happy with Harbaugh types are probably those who were in school from 2008-2014 and have a lower set of expectations than those who've been following Michigan football for much longer.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:53 PM ^
I think this gets it just right. And half full half empty is a good metaphor.
December 31st, 2016 at 2:07 PM ^
I think this is a fantastic analysis. I agree wholeheartedly.
You put it into better words than I did.
January 1st, 2017 at 11:25 PM ^
If you want to take the narrower perspective that this year was a wasted major opportunity, the type that only comes around every 5 to 10 years and that we failed too often in key moments in close games that is also true. There is no getting around the fact that the talent and seniority on this team merits a better record than 10-3.
I think you overstate our 2016 talent and understate our future. We had a defense that could play with anyone, and it kept us in every game. But our offense wasn't particularly talented by our historical standards. I think that side of the ball is only going to get better as the years go on. Defense will most likely take a step back in '17 but I like its outlook in '18. I think it's very likely that two years from now we'll be talking about having another major opportunity on our hands, and maybe 2019 as well.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:46 PM ^
[Just lost a long comment when the blog timmed out but going to try and recreate it]
I think you have to count losing three huge games with the lead late in the tfourth quarter against Harbaugh. If he gets the credit for the good he has to bear responsibility for the bad.
Does this mean he is a bad coach? Of course not. Would I want anyone else coaching Michigan? No. But this doesn't erase some bitter loses the last two years. And three games that Michigan should have won this year. With the game on the line the team did not make the plays they needed to (special teams, offense and defenses).
Yes, the oline is the most obvious culprit but it is also frustrating that the special teams could give up a 66 yard kick return with the game on the line. I can't believe the game winning TD came against Lewis but it did. In each of the heartbrakin losses Michigan couldn't find a way to win. This team did not live up to its potential. That is the bottom line.
Much of my bitterness may come from living in Columbus. Ohio State has had 9 eleven win seasons since 2006 and 14 since 1995. Michigan has 2 and 3 respectively. (FYI, FSU has 3 in the last six seasons.) I have seen OSU win close game after close game; often when they looked like the inferior team for most of the game. They find ways to win these games
I wanted Michigan to prove that they were a top five program this year and they just didn't. You can argue all you want about 3 losess by 5 points and this or that call. But at the end of the day they did not win those games.
I can't give a team or a coach an A when it doesn't beat its hated rival, doesn't win the conference and doesn't win its bowl game. If Michigan wants to be a title contender it will have to prove it can win big games in adverse conditions away from the Big House.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:48 PM ^
January 1st, 2017 at 11:13 PM ^
Urban Meyer lost two games he was favored in and didn't pull any upsets, either. That tends to happen when your team is favored all the time.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:52 PM ^
January 4th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
Although I'd probably go with the B+ rather than the B-, that's really a quibble. MSU was 'nuthin last fall, and M beat up on Penn State before they came to Jesus.The fact is in the past two seasons, M had no real upset victory. Wisconsin played very much to M's strengths: a mediocre offense against an all-conference defense. That combination will win games most of the time.
The other combination, M's O-line and its stable of running backs, proved a drag on offensive production against good teams and against mediocre teams with a solid game plan (Iowa). When was the last time M had a truly elite RB? A-Train? In more recent history Denard Robinson, the RB/slot receiver disguised as a QB, probably comes closest. We saw in the Orange Bowl game what a truly elite RB looks like.
And yeah, this spring and summer Brandon Peters should and will get every opportunity to compete against Speight for the starting QB job. Speight isn't bad, but he doesn't appear to be the guy who can take the team on his shoulders and march to victory in a rivalry game against a big-time opponent, such as the team down south. M loses a lot on both sides of the ball next year. Harbaugh might be more willing to make a switch and give his own recruit a shot at leading the team in what can be best described as a rebuilding rather than a reloading year.
December 31st, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^
you guys are easy graders....I give him a C...no div title, no BIG titel no playoff and no bowl win and losing 3 of last 4 with late game collapses...C
December 31st, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^
IMHO, Michigan football is light years ahead of where it was two years ago. Yes it is a storied program, but we have one major bowl win the ten years prior. Sure MSU game loss last year was avoidable. Not everything went perfect down the stretch this year, so I would give each year an A. Had we made the college playoff this year it would be A+. Room for improvement ? Always, but our coaching staff is a great staff that gets the team well prepared to play hard for 60 minutes every week. I have great appreciation and respect for that.
December 31st, 2016 at 3:14 PM ^
A- and B-, too. My point is not that Hoke is as good as Harbaugh by any stretch, only that this season really was a disappointment as it dragged '15-'16 back into the territory of Hoke's start: 19-7 with a BCS win and a victory over Ohio State. Harbaugh was 20-6 but had neither of those key wins, and their overall records in bowls and against MSU were a push.
There's no chance we're going 7-6 and 5-7 but we will regress a bit next year because of youth ... at best a third straight 10-3 season. Even starting in 2018 and 2019 when Harbaugh's system, program and recruits are in full flesh, we'll be staring up at Ohio State in the conference and Alabama nationally in terms of recruiting and NFL-level athleticism, and we'll be constantly fending off peers like Clemson, Oklahoma, Florida State, and resurgent Washington, USC and Penn State for playoff berths.
This isn't going to be easy. I plan to stick around, though. Love this program. Go Blue.
December 31st, 2016 at 3:15 PM ^
I would generally give the same grades. Thanks for being realistic and not a homer in your "work". It gives it much more credence.
Next year will be a good one to judge - I agree the in season improvement wasn't really there this year but they came out barn storming that's for sure. Next year there will be a lot of youth and as we saw down in Columbus when they went into Oklahoma and punched a top 10 team in the mouth that was no excuse. Let's see if there are excuses here.
December 31st, 2016 at 3:32 PM ^
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