big john lives on 67

October 12th, 2017 at 9:49 PM ^

Harbaugh has performed beyond expectations. He inherited a 5-7 team that could not get out of its own way. He inherited a transition riddled roster that had not been completely repaired from the prior transition. QB recruiting was malpractice by Hoke regime as was OL recruiting. Harbaugh's first recruiting class was mostly inherited, and subpar at best. We are stuck with a young WR corps and secondary due to similar poor recruiting by the Hoke regime. There was some excellent inherited talent at some positions, particularly D line, but smoldering craters in key positions. Meyer faced virtually zero transition costs as he inherited a stacked roster and was allowed to recruit for three months without any coaching responsibilities. Dantonio was allowed copious time for his rebuild, and went 6-7 in his third year. Saban faced a similar rebuild to Harbaugh and their records from the first three years are very similar. Saban had SEC recruiting rules on his side that Harbaugh does not have access to. Year 3-4 are the most dangerous in any serious rebuild. Transition costs hit these years the hardest. Given all of the above, Harbaugh is ahead of schedule and is, in fact, a victim of his past high achievement.

Joined: 02/15/2009

MGoPoints: 3973

You Only Live Twice

October 13th, 2017 at 10:59 AM ^

and I can't believe you woke up this morning and went right back into the same rant.

Any time Michigan has a bad day (which we certainly did) MSU is probably going to get the W despite the talent differential.   This isn't a mystery.

What are you looking for here?  For people to join your rant?

Joined: 09/14/2013

MGoPoints: 9615

Maynard

October 13th, 2017 at 11:13 AM ^

I'm not ranting. There isn't a rant to be had. It's okay to be critical thinkers, no? I can't believe you woke up this morning being a lemming. See how that works? We can all do that. It's not a rant but since you're going to follow me around, answer my questions. Who specifically has called for JH's job? I haven't seen one. And what record is it that would be okay to question against rivals?

Joined: 02/19/2016

MGoPoints: 9888

ArmenHammer

October 12th, 2017 at 9:59 PM ^

Michigan's playing in the hardest division of the best conference in the country, with the hardest schedule of the best B1G teams, and doing so with the least time since their last head coaching change. That being said, no excuse for the offensive performance and playcalling last week, but they are without their three best offensive players (Speight, Black, Newsome) and are otherwise almost all new starters, and the defense's performance to this point in the season when considering the lost talent is not much short of miraculous, so it's unfair to expect the same level of the offense imo. So, it is not unreasonable to say Harbaugh isn't underperforming by not winning the B1G chamipnship in year 3 when considering the context, which is something UM fans have forgotten to do this past week. If we have the power to feel satisfied setting such high expectations on so many unknown factors like we did before this season started, then I have no doubt we'll have the same satisfaction in our expectations next year when the young team develops and another recruiting class manifests. All we're doing is watching anyways, so just appreciate what you have. It's Jim friggin Harbaugh, who else are you asking for?

Joined: 12/07/2016

MGoPoints: 2185

aiglick

October 12th, 2017 at 10:10 PM ^

At the end of the day if this team goes 9-3 that is pretty much in line with most expectations for this year. It stinks the offense has so many holes this year. Hoping they get better as year goes on and turn a corner next year. As others have said we've been competitive in pretty much every game except for DJ's egg. Yes, eventually I'll want championships but it's early yet. Edit: 8-4 would also be in line with many expectations given this was considered a rebuilding year.

Joined: 11/27/2010

MGoPoints: 21568

Don

October 12th, 2017 at 10:23 PM ^

I'm referring to Schembechler. 

After the 1974 season, when we'd failed to beat OSU for the fourth time in five years, graffiti started appearing on the walls over the urinals in the johns in downtown A2 bars.

"Fire Bo and hire Linda Lovelace—she doesn't choke on the big one."

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148557

Sllepy81

October 12th, 2017 at 10:32 PM ^

some fans is they think he can just make a Andrew Luck immediately. He sent a QB to the NFL at San Deigo, Stanford and Michigan. only 1 was Andrew Luck. I know our oline is an issue but really good QBs don't need a perfect oline. We don't have a really good QB. At least ready yet. Speight was a 3* and acceptable, Okorn is not comfortable at all and at this point I pin it on him peeking and just being so so. Its a down year at QB. Might take us time, might take us 10 years to get a Luck. But its not completely on him, some times QBs turn into duds. We don't have a play making QB who can improvise to a bad oline. Speight is good but good doesn't always win.

Joined: 01/02/2013

MGoPoints: 8005

M-Dog

October 12th, 2017 at 10:43 PM ^

We don't even need a Luck.  With Don Brown's defense we just need a late-season Rudock and non-tire fire OL.

Not going to happen this year, but it's not like it can't happen here.

If you couple Don Brown's defense with any one of Michigan's offenses over the last 25 years except for a very small handful . . . you have a playoff team.


  

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257573

Sllepy81

October 12th, 2017 at 10:57 PM ^

basically. Speight and Okorn turn it over far to much. Griese was mediocre but he didn't turn it over and let the defense have their breaks. Turnovers are the reason we will lose games this season. I think our offense has set up or given up more TDs for opponents than the defense allowed on a normal drive. We need to dumb down the offense or somethings for the oline and the QBs.

Joined: 01/02/2013

MGoPoints: 8005

Don

October 12th, 2017 at 11:02 PM ^

Griese was indeed mediocre in his first two seasons, and did turn the ball over, but in 1997 he was a dramatically better QB. He ended up All Conference and Rose Bowl MVP. If we'd had the 1997 version this year, nobody's melting down on MGoBlog. Ifs and buts...

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148557

Sllepy81

October 13th, 2017 at 1:48 AM ^

I mean he had Chris Howard with a sprinkle of Anthony Thomas. Our Rushing stats have been pretty ok, Isaac had a great start and Higdon/Evans each had good games at times. We just have no true #1 right now, Isaac was but I think he got dinged up a little.

Joined: 01/02/2013

MGoPoints: 8005

stmccoy

October 12th, 2017 at 10:39 PM ^

The other question is, what is the alternative to Harbaugh anyway? The guy wins everywhere he's been. Any comparison to Hoke, like the BS they show at ESPN, is silly on its face and easily refutable by anyone who watched games under both coaches. But if you're one of the people howling, who would you replace Harbaugh with? Seriously think about that when you're bitching about a guy who is just getting started.

Joined: 10/07/2009

MGoPoints: 2146

M-Dog

October 12th, 2017 at 10:48 PM ^

Exactly.

If you are Florida, you have buyer's remorse.  You can think of a dozen guys that you'd rather have now than that shark guy.

But if you are us, who out there is a better fit?  Nobody.

There may be some petulant impatience, but there is no buyer's remorse.

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257573

Maynard

October 13th, 2017 at 10:59 AM ^

Nobody is talking about being without Harbaugh so why do we need to come up with an alternative? Arguing against something that hasn't been said. It's like this irrational fear of losing him is making people freak out and come to a stronger defense to make sure no one is criticizing him. Relax. He isn't going anywhere. He's not going to leave you like a jilted lover.

Joined: 02/19/2016

MGoPoints: 9888

The Mad Hatter

October 12th, 2017 at 11:09 PM ^

But I'd be ok with losing 4 more games, if we beat OSU. We're on the right track and we have the best man for the job in charge. Untwist your panties. We had a bad night, playing a team that hates us more than they like themselves. It happens.

Joined: 02/17/2015

MGoPoints: 112109

M-Dog

October 12th, 2017 at 11:28 PM ^

Against my better judgement, I'm sort of with you. Though maybe not quite four games.

But whatever.

We don't need yet another season where we beat up on the weak teams but lose to our rivals.

It's time to take it to Ohio State.  Give this program a shot in the arm it needs right now.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257573

wahooverine

October 13th, 2017 at 12:57 AM ^

"Program needs a shot in the arm?" Let me remind you...This program has been on a roll. First the hiring of Jim Harbaugh (best possible outcome), goes 10-3 in year one getting a top 5 statistical QB season from a one year transfer rental and a blowout bowl win over SEC power. Then a top 10 recruiting class, Signing with the stars, Nike, recruiting momentum, Rashan Gary, Don Brown, etc. Satellite camps, national attention, hype (recruiting).

Then another 10-3 season ultimately disappointing but coulda been great and overall more clear progress. That with an unremarkable Borges recruit at QB. Peppers at the Heisman. Butt the Butkus's award winner. Another monster recruiting class, Aubrey Solomon, stud QB recruits, all time great WR class. 11 draft picks in NFL. All of that is fantastic in isolation, not even relative to the previous season or previous 10 years.. but it is that too.

Now this year, defense still looks unbelievable despite massive graduation loss. Talent blooming, pipeline good and getting better. All this with only two seniors. Offense clearly stepped back with poor Hoke Oline recruiting leaving only young undeveloped talent or meh transition year recruits. Compounded by super unlucky Newsome two year injury. Harbaugh's QB recruits are still RS freshmen and freshman. He can't turn water into wine (except for maybe Rudock?)

Now, we lose a game by 4 points in a weird 5 turnover, nothing goes our way type of game with some monsoon weather and bad reffing and this program needs a "shot in the arm?" Yes it was ugly, yes it was MSU at home and it feels very bad. But crazier things have happened right? (They can and they did two years ago).

This is a very small downward blip on a steep upward curve.

Joined: 11/14/2011

MGoPoints: 6799

JFW

October 13th, 2017 at 11:24 AM ^

Preach it brother!

People get sooooo bugged. Valenti was crowing. I'm kind of 'meh'. Yeah, its disappointing but saying this is the defining moment of the program under Harbaugh or comparing him to Hoke is just ignorant. 

I think that the internet took the normal Michigan fan insanity and cranked it up to 11 as we all griped in an echo chamber and had Spartan fans in our ear. 

You want to know what would really, REALLY drive Spartan fans nuts? Ignore them. Write off the loss as an unfortunate one and move on. Like we lost a close one to Wisci because we played bad. Oh well. They love to hate us more than they like their own team. I'm always astounded at the amount of information a Spartan fan can have on UM's program because I really don't know shit about their team until the pre game stuff comes online here. 

Joined: 10/20/2010

MGoPoints: 15285

You Only Live Twice

October 13th, 2017 at 9:27 PM ^

they are another game on our schedule... they're another Purdue... any time we don't show up they will get a W.

The only time Sparty was nationally relevant is coincidentally when Michigan was down.

Once that blip was off the radar...  last year, after Dantonio has been there for a decade and had a decade to reload.....  3-9.  He had no problem poking fun at outsider Rich Rod for 3-9.  Yet now, the board is supposed to hold back and not notice that a seasoned coach went 3-9 in his tenth year?  Keep beating that drum sparties...

So Dantonio does well during that time, he's a decent coach, they actually won a national championship (if memory serves it was a close game but yes they won)  and then.... in 2015, they ride a season of lucky breaks and face Alabama.

Would the Sparties like to comment on what happened there?  The 31-0?  

Joined: 09/14/2013

MGoPoints: 9615

DCGrad

October 13th, 2017 at 12:43 AM ^

To Maryland and Rutgers. RichRod lost to Toledo. Harbaugh lost to...MSU. One of these things is not like the other. Some of you need to get a grip on reality

Joined: 09/20/2014

MGoPoints: 9261

ghostofhoke

October 13th, 2017 at 2:03 AM ^

He lost to Ohio State too, he sucks /s. People on the board are pathetic. It’s crazy how terrible this place has become. It’s really embarrassing to our fan base. The content here is first rate as always but the boards have become a complete joke.

Joined: 11/21/2014

MGoPoints: 8562

Maynard

October 13th, 2017 at 11:06 AM ^

Both extremes are what is embarrassing as a fan base. The apologists are just as bad as the panic pros. Neither is living in reality. Harbaugh isn't going anywhere and Harbaugh isn't the Holy Football God. 

Hold us Ghost. Haha. Can we just kickoff at 11 instead of noon? This is place is scary.

Joined: 02/19/2016

MGoPoints: 9888

ghostofhoke

October 13th, 2017 at 6:17 PM ^

It’s true Maynard. There are even Bama fans who are still hesitant to think of Saban as a football God and as good a coach as Harbaugh is, he can’t sniff Saban’s jock at this point—accomplishments are the only things that count. Patriot fans considered Belicheck a football god pretty much immediately but they’re just as bad as folks around here, if not worse (just shorter history than M)

Joined: 11/21/2014

MGoPoints: 8562