2018: I'll leave the board (not that anyone cares) if Michigan doesn't go at least 10-2 RS

Submitted by ScooterTooter on

I've had my time to vent. Now I want to bring some perspective back to the board. 

Regardless of what happened today (which was an abysmal loss), Michigan will be a more talented team next year than they were this year. 

On offense they return:

Bredeson, Onwenu, Ruiz, JBB, Gentry, McKeon, DPJ, Evans, Higdon, Black and numerous other contributors. They have three legitimate options at QB. Peters was not good today, but the offense was missing a number of players and he is only a RS Freshman. Patterson was a 5-star QB. McCaffery was also highly rated. 

On defense:

Gary, Bush, Hudson, Long, Hill, Metellus, Kinnel, Hudson, Furbush, Watson and possibly WInovich. While I think the defense was overhyped, they were certainly a very good and very young unit. They should improve despite losing Hurst and even if they lose Winovich. 

I will gladly take returning nearly the entire team + Jim Harbaugh's entire body of work and predict that this team wins at least ten regular season games. I have said I was not surprised when Michigan won 10 games in 2015 while many of you were shocked. I will make the same prediction today and to be frank, it doesn't even feel bold. 

The real question will be whether or not Michigan can take that 10 win baseline and turn it into a special season. If one of the QBs actually wins the job (and not just by default like the last couple of years) and if the offensive line can produce above average tackles among their half dozen bullets, I think its well within the realm of possibility. 

What say you? 

MGoBoard

charblue.

January 1st, 2018 at 7:19 PM ^

Really, based on what they did,  when? If that's so, why is PSU a 50/50 game after their season? I would rather face Wiscnsin at home than most any other opponent because they most closely resemble Michigan in style and play a qb who can't run. Not sure why MSU is an automatic loss given the fact that we beat them in E. Lansing last time.

Maybe you should start your own preview magazine since you've got all the answers. Extrapolating seasonal results on a bowl loss in January seems......a bit premature.

Joined: 05/25/2010

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readyourguard

January 1st, 2018 at 6:55 PM ^

What are guys like you and AntWright looking at that makes you think we're winning 10 games?

Aside from a bunch players that simply haven't made enough plays, they're not being coached well.. That's our biggest issue, imo. Our scheme is god awful.

Joined: 08/21/2008

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Don

January 1st, 2018 at 7:09 PM ^

This is the single most alarming thing to me about the state of the program. When JH was hired, virtually every Michigan fan immediately assumed that the days of notably inferior coaching were over. While I think it's silly to claim that things aren't better than under Hoke, when I compare Michigan to the programs we're aiming at, the separation seems huge and not getting smaller.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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ScooterTooter

January 1st, 2018 at 7:13 PM ^

What I just posted? 

Everyone considered Harbaugh this incredible genius because he won 10 games in 2015 after Michigan won 5 in 2014. It really wasn't that hard to predict. When you return a lot of starters, you are going to be better. 

Now we have a young team (similar to 2014) and we win 8 games and suddenly Harbaugh isn't the man for the job. I admit, I'm more skeptical than I was before today, but having a little time to think...yeah I'll take his whole body of work plus returning almost the whole damn team over a couple of terrible losses to MSU and SC this year. 

Joined: 06/01/2017

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SlickNick

January 1st, 2018 at 6:55 PM ^

I like the positivity, I agree with your take on the defense, but "three legitimate options at QB" is where I am pumping the breaks. Peters has done nothing against a good team, other than looking like he might have been getting in a groove against WI untill the injury. McCaffery is obviously a total mystery as he has not played, and Patterson still has to be cleared to play by the NCAA, learn the offense and get adjusted to his new teammates. Not to mention the winner of that competition has to hope the offensive line can keep him alive, and the coaching staff (hopefully with a few new faces) can design a game plan that gives the team a chance. As we stand today, and I hate to say this again but the team I saw today will not beat ND, WI, MSU, PSU or OSU. If we see some offensive staff changes, and I sober up...I will adjust those expectations. 

Joined: 09/28/2015

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ScooterTooter

January 1st, 2018 at 7:16 PM ^

TBH, I think our worst case scenario at QB next year is similar to Speight 2016.  Peters wins the job by default (Patterson ineligible, McCaffery still too young) and improves, but not enough to do what it takes in the big games to win 4 or 5 out of 5. 

I also think people are wayyyy down on our wide receivers, the most talented of which were true freshmen this year. 

Joined: 06/01/2017

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NateVolk

January 1st, 2018 at 6:56 PM ^

Doable if they find a top half of the conference quarterback and take on an aggressive identity on offense. 

I am a lot less worried about the offensive trenches then other people on here. Define who we are and what we do best and get really really good at it. Pedal to the metal regardless of score. Play to win every down.  That and a quarterback who can hang in there and execute throws. 

Joined: 07/19/2010

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Wolverine Devo…

January 1st, 2018 at 6:56 PM ^

Lol any of you guys remember that McFarlin post "Michigan could go 12-0 this season". That shit was hilarious.

Joined: 11/20/2017

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MarcusRay97

January 1st, 2018 at 6:57 PM ^

Why do other teams players look so much faster than ours ?? mayfield looks like he could outrun our RBs and Receivers

Joined: 11/25/2017

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maize-blue

January 1st, 2018 at 6:58 PM ^

There's no evidence to suggest they can improve past their 8-4 mark of this season. All we can do is hope.

Joined: 01/10/2013

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BornInAA

January 1st, 2018 at 6:57 PM ^

I dislike all the "these guys are all returning so we will be better" arguement.

MSU is returning everyone. OSU is returning nearly everyone except QB and MLB.

To think our rivals are just going to stay at current year level and not improve is folly.

We need a leap in improvement, not just because our guys are a year older.

Joined: 11/21/2009

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ScooterTooter

January 1st, 2018 at 7:23 PM ^

Except its generally the case isn't it? 

Michigan went 11-2 in 2011 when they finally had some experience in the secondary, a returning QB, etc. 

10-3 in 2015 (and really, a fluke away from 11-2) when they returned damn near everyone from a 5-7 team. That team improved again in 2016, but lost 3 games by 5 points, mainly because they still hadn't solved their QB problem. 

If they get to that 2016 QB baseline (which I think is likely) next year, 10 wins is the baseline. 

Joined: 06/01/2017

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ST3

January 1st, 2018 at 7:00 PM ^

Or you could say he could be ~1/2 way through his career here. If that is the best he can do, it might be getting late early for him. A RS freshman in January is a lot different than a true freshman in September.

Joined: 09/11/2010

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ThadMattasagoblin

January 1st, 2018 at 7:02 PM ^

I'd be happy with Mark Helfrich. Sounds like he might be going to Texas though. He could be our Joe Morehead with a dual threat guy in Patterson. I don't want another NFL guy on staff.

Joined: 08/24/2011

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Uper73

January 1st, 2018 at 7:02 PM ^

Unless we find an offense that can stay with the big boys, think 7-5, 8-4.

The defense is fine, the offense is no threat to any opponent as it currently stands.

Defense was on field in bad situations way too many times this year.

Joined: 10/12/2013

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BlueSteinInAZ

January 1st, 2018 at 7:03 PM ^

7-5 next year...I just don't see the will to bury teams either. No way SC should've came back. The turning point was Higdon fumble near goal line. Also, you never win with FGs...They needed TDs. If Shea gets the waiver...assuming he beats Peters out...then I would give him another win or two. I'm just not confident with our incompetence. I really hope I am wrong.

Joined: 08/21/2010

MGoPoints: 431

Muttley

January 1st, 2018 at 7:40 PM ^

The defense forced a three-and-out, DJP returned the punt to the SC 32, and then the offense gained a whole two yards before Nordin kicked a 48 yard FG.

In the sense that the Higdon fumble was roughly coincident with when the Gamecocks stopped giving us FGs from turnovers and we were about to give up a TD after a turnover, then yes.

Joined: 07/07/2009

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Perkis-Size Me

January 1st, 2018 at 7:03 PM ^

This team hasn’t shown it can win a big road game in over a decade. We have three huge road games next season against all three of our rivals, not to mention three games against Penn State, Wisconsin, and what could be a decent to good Nebraska team. The team we saw play today would not beat any of those teams, whether home or away.

You say we should win at least 10 games next season. If the offense doesn’t improve, it’s completely reasonable to assume we’d lose at least five of those games. If not all of them.

Joined: 11/30/2011

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Don

January 1st, 2018 at 7:04 PM ^

It's looking more like he's our Johnny Majors.

Or for another comparison closer to home, he might be a replay of Bennie Oosterbaan. Former UM legend takes the HC reins, starts out with a bang, and then it's a gradual descent downhill.

 

Joined: 06/30/2008

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Jamezz23

January 1st, 2018 at 7:05 PM ^

I’m hoping for the best, but I don’t see how we improve our offense that much next year... We have issues at QB, WR, OL... Some might be an experience issue, but how much better do these position groups get next year?? We need more creativity on the offensive side of the ball, not good enough to show our hand and impose our will. I swear it seemed like we ran about 5 different pass plays all year. Every team we played, their DB’s ran the route for our receivers. I have no idea what to think about next year

Joined: 04/21/2011

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wildbackdunesman

January 1st, 2018 at 7:06 PM ^

I hope you are right, but next year is tough...

All 3 rivalry games are on the road -

@ Notre Dame
@ MSU
@ OSU

All 3 crossover games will be tough -

Wisconsin
@ Northwestern (They just won 10 games)
Nebraska (now with Frost)

Plus Penn State...and even Indiana has given us close games the past 3 years...

If our Oline doesn't develop and our QB situation isn't much improved.....it will be a long season.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 30282

BlueHills

January 1st, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^

Will they be at least two games better next year? Yes. With any luck, they’ll do better than that. This board overreacts when we win, and also when we lose. Folks should settle down. 2018 will be a terrific season.

Joined: 10/31/2010

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