Team Expectations for 2017 vs. 2018

Submitted by Henry Arulingverder on

There is an almost universal consensus on this here blog that 2018 is "the year" due to almost the entire two-deep returning. We will return battle tested youngsters & will be loaded with depth across the board. 2018 will be the exact opposite of 2017, where instead of Mike McCray being the lone returner on Defense, he'll be the ONLY starter who won't be back. Perhaps not "CFP title or bust" but 2018 is definitely the year. Right?

I, too, feel this way. HOWEVER, why can't 2017 be the year? We know that there are four games on the schedule this year that matter (caveat about not taking teams lightly & the like). We just SHELLACKED the first of the four. Not smart to assume that because we handled PSU & Wisconsin with ease last year that 2017 will be the same - but I'm not convinced either of those teams can outplay us for 60 minutes, even on the road. OSU will be a revenge game at home

I've been bullish about 2018 being the year but after watching the Florida rout, I'm convinced 2017 is shaping up to be a special year. Any other glass half full peeps who feel this way?

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Wolfman

September 7th, 2017 at 8:34 AM ^

if breaks - stepping out from under center too quickly, questionable spot, OSU's conversion of 4th and long, shoulder injury to Speight, et. al., - go our way this season, I believe this team is equal to last year's squad and if it can play at that level (it can), it could easily happen. 

OL will improve. In fact the running game due to upgrade in line play and RBs being one year longer into system equals a +. We have better talent in the receiving corp and Eubanks and Gentry give us TE athleticism on par with that of the young wrs. We could evolve into an offense that is virtually impossible to stop. Most posters are correct in their assessment that Speight will have to play, not necessarily better than last season, but consistent and at a MD 2016 level, which he should do as he gets use to the new receivers. We will have the answers to the offense early and w/in three weeks should know if this is viable or pipe dream. 

I believe the D will be as good as it needs to be and although not all are returning starters, we have more experienced players in the Don Brown system than we did last season and they were the players that largely carried us in the opener. Gary, Bush, Hudson, Winovich were all introduced to system last year whereas we had none at this point last season. 

This could happen easily, imo, but ?s that, as stated, can be answered early, lie in para 1 much more so than in last para. 

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Mongo

September 7th, 2017 at 9:34 AM ^

2017 - damn close, but Alabama is just too stout for the youngsters in round one of the CFP. Michigan however beats OSU at home and takes down Wisconsin in a rematch in Indy. So there - B1G champ with an 11-2 record 2018 - undefeated, B1G and National Champion

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PapabearBlue

September 7th, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^

Every year in CFB has a chance to be special and it has very little to do with National Championships. Sports is about the pursuit of success and at michigan it's about the "VALIANT" pursuit of success. Every year that the boys and staff come out and have obviously given it their all, from the start of practice until the clock reads 00:00 is a good year because we know that those young men have been taught the attitude and many of the skills necessary to be a great human.

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bluepdx

September 7th, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^

We have the talent, but the Gator-game version of Speight isn't winning a NC any year. If he improves accuracy under pressure, he's plenty good enough to win one.

Other big concern is that, in a few positions, we're a few key injuries away from looking pretty different as a team. In this sense, we're just not fully past Hoke.

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