The hell does Wiltfong know?
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:56 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:18 PM ^
Which line has the same inexperience or more and is better?
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:21 PM ^
Entire thread thus far has been Hot Take City
October 3rd, 2017 at 3:35 AM ^
This is a young offense, not just a young line. It takes time to jell. People have said OU and Clemson last year were younger. Well, they both looked like crap early too.
October 3rd, 2017 at 7:25 AM ^
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:30 AM ^
...has been substandard for the the last 7-8 years. Whether it's recruiting or coaching or both, that fact remains. There are a lot of excuses, but that's not acceptable for any top tier program, whether it's in sports, business, academics, or otherwise. The frustrations are being expressed because no significant progress is being seen and there appears to be little or no light at the end of the tunnel. It's on harbaugh. He's got to fix it.
October 3rd, 2017 at 8:09 AM ^
...and last year we were one of the most experienced teams int he country, and our line wasn't very good.
October 3rd, 2017 at 1:33 PM ^
Yeah, this is exactly right. Clemson looked like crap with a Heisman finalist quarterback after years of consistent and excellent coaching. OSU looked like crap early in the season they won the title as well. I'm not saying we'll win the title, since we've only had two years of good coaching over the last decade and have had some spectacular whiffs in OL recruiting over those years, but I'll start to be concerned if we don't get better and if the OL isn't better next year. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year and it looks exactly like that.
October 3rd, 2017 at 1:34 PM ^
Yeah, this is exactly right. Clemson looked like crap with a Heisman finalist quarterback after years of consistent and excellent coaching. OSU looked like crap early in the season they won the title as well. I'm not saying we'll win the title, since we've only had two years of good coaching over the last decade and have had some spectacular whiffs in OL recruiting over those years, but I'll start to be concerned if we don't get better and if the OL isn't better next year. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year and it looks exactly like that.
October 3rd, 2017 at 8:06 AM ^
Oregon has the #5 ranked offense in S&P and has pretty similar experience (SR, RS SO, RS SO, RS SR, RS SO) returning 51 starts (Michigan returning 55 starts).
Penn St. - #11 S&P Offense (SO, RS SO, SO, RS SR, RS JR), 69 returning starts
WVU - #14 S&P Offense (RS JR, RS SR, RS SO, RS FR, RS SO) 45 returning starts
October 3rd, 2017 at 8:12 AM ^
almost all our returning starts are ties up in one player
and we also lost both starting WR, TE, RB who was good at pass blocking
takes time for it all to gel
and despite all that and the rough QB play with pick 6's we have won every game by 16+ - developing on the fly - we are by no means where we want to be yet but the sky isn't falling (yet)
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^
Everyone that keeps making this comparison keeps ignoring the fact that outside of the offensive line THE WHOLE FUCKING OFFENSE IS NEW. ALL OF THEM EXCEPT QB.
And its really starting to piss me off.
Oregon returned Royce Freeman (pretty damn good RB), a good QB (Herbert) and their leader in receptions from 2016 (Charles Nelson).
Penn State returns...oh...I don't know...right on the tip of my tongue. Oh! I know. SAQUON FUCKING BARKLEY. And Trace McSorley, who is also a pretty solid QB. They also returned Mike Gesicki and DaeShaun Hamilton who are also pretty good.
West Virginia returned Justin Crawford, a 1100 yd 7.3 YPC RB, and brought in Will Grier who is a pretty solid QB. They did turnover most/all of their WR corp like Michigan, but a good RB goes a long way.
All of that is to say that you can have a young OL with returning experience and talent elsewhere, you can have a veteran OL with new skill position players, but if you have BOTH? That's gonna be a bad time.
Oh, and Michigan is still 4-0.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:43 AM ^
"THE WHOLE FUCKING OFFENSE IS NEW. ALL OF THEM EXCEPT QB."
...and the FB, and 2/5 the OL, and one of the TE, and a guy that averaged 7 yards a carry for over 600 yards total at RB...
Michigan is young.
Not young and inexperienced enough to account for the level of performance.
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:28 AM ^
(Bredeson)
Evans wasn't the best pass block RB we had
other than QB and FB, we have:
WR - Perry (Jr), DPJ (Fr), Crawford (So) and had Black (Fr) as the main guys
TE - Gentry (RS So), McKeon (So), Wheatley (RS So)
OL - 2 true Soph, 1 5th year Sr starting for the first time, RS So starting for the first time
plus we have turned it over twice in 3 of our 4 games
control the turnovers and gain experience - things will be fine
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:38 PM ^
October 3rd, 2017 at 1:44 PM ^
You forgot to mention the new coaching on the offensive side of the ball too.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:56 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:21 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:52 PM ^
I'd join you for a brew right now if I wasn't substituting chocolates. Same amount of calories, I figure. so unfair I can't have both. #nothingfunaboutgettingolder
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:56 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:05 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:07 PM ^
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:39 AM ^
October 3rd, 2017 at 1:07 AM ^
October 4th, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^
I agree with you but why bother physically posting that coaches know more than fans? It is so blatantly obvious and always a constant. It being said is pointless and usually comes off as snarky and adds nothing to good football discussion. I have seen exactly zero instances when someone on here said, "I know more than Harbaugh and this is what has to happen."
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:43 PM ^
...."Damn you RR and the small, fleet of foot, zone read blockers UofM started to recruit upon your arrival, thank you Hoke for starting to recruit road grading maulers again, even if your judgement on competitive nature is weak; and mostly, thank you Coach for quickly helping these older guys taste some success.
I look forward to the day he has all his pieces in place.
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:25 PM ^
This. Not anything Harbaugh can do about the fact that Hoke took six O-linemen in '13 and ONE is still with the program as a fifth-year senior. Then Hoke had to compensate for the huge classes he took in '12 and '13 with a small class in '14, which included only two OL. Then '15 was a transition class. I know it sucks but this is something that can't be fixed overnight and people are just going to have to wait.
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:02 PM ^
So if we lose Reese, should we ship Don Brown also?. Wiltfong does not know shit. He changes his picks the day the recruits are committing. Anyone can do that bullshit. Eykiyor is from Indiana which is a lot closer to AA than Tuscalosa. The number one city in America compared to some oppresive heat podunk shit hole in the south. Why are there so many on here who want to jump ship at any fake ass news. I am sure Emil told wilt slong something.......uh not.
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:47 PM ^
October 3rd, 2017 at 3:43 PM ^
Even Ace.
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:55 PM ^
Ace switching over seals the deal. I think Brian said that they wont make any crystal ball picks unless they get word from their most trusted sources.
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:53 PM ^
I see Lorenz just changed his also. I just heard a interveiw where he said Michigan still leads and he expects him to stick with Michigan. These guys are fucking clowns and I think some of these kids like playing games with these weirdo's. They frickin change there picks like the wind. They get interveiwed like there something special with some insider info. and three days later they throw in a different CB. Ekiyor is a top flight o-lineman and Michigan needs to match Alabama with whatever there offering. I am sure it is just playing time. Alabama is as foul as Louisville and probably worse. Smart took that shit to Georgia. Georgia is luring Reese the same way. Throw him a little cash and some snatch and there you go. I will tell you this if these kids do flip it has very little to do with football. If they stick with there committment I have to say I have a lot of respect for them because they are being lured by a lot of illegal insentives and that is something everyone should be sure of.
October 3rd, 2017 at 8:45 AM ^
"Michigan needs to match Alabama with whatever there offering"...... Thanks Pitino.
October 3rd, 2017 at 8:58 AM ^
October 3rd, 2017 at 3:49 PM ^
I don't think most people expect a top 5 class this year, especially given the size. 2019 is already looking good.
October 3rd, 2017 at 3:49 PM ^
I don't think most people expect a top 5 class this year, especially given the size. 2019 is already looking good.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:07 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 7:57 PM ^
Bama is definitely providing some bagmen incentives. I guess Michigan is losing out on another battle... again.
October 2nd, 2017 at 8:13 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 8:35 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:05 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 8:29 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 8:33 PM ^
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:09 AM ^
if any of these kids are smart they stay away from that school after multiple scouts and gms came out this year and said the reason they are passing on the guys from alabama is they are run down and broken by the time they get to the league. Of the top flight guys from bama drafted in the last 5 years give me one who is excelling in the NFL. Most of their offensive linemen especially have been backups, bounced from team to team and been dumped to the practice squad.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:23 AM ^
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:20 AM ^
I'd love to see this story because that doesn't make any sense. There are limited practice times, and every serious football player pretty much does football 24/7 outside of those time periods. Why would Alabama be more "worn down and broken" when they are better athletes doing no more work than anyone else? Or are they doing more work and what are they trading to get the extra time? Class? Sleep?
October 2nd, 2017 at 7:58 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 8:07 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:52 PM ^