Attn: bluebloods, Harbaugh lovers...check out these stats
Stanford's defense, playing 9 upperclassmen and 2 sophomores on defense (compared to M playing 5 underclassmen, sometimes more and as many as 5 freshmen) gives up 626 yards and 52 points to a spread offense.
Oregon: 626 yards on 80 plays, 7.825 yd/play
Indiana: 568 yards on 98 plays, 5.8 yd/play
Michigan: 574 yards on 45 plays, 12.756 yd/play
Be careful what you wish for...
October 3rd, 2010 at 2:50 PM ^
I have a hard time putting Oregon that far above OSU considering the Rose Bowl game wasn't that far back. OSU shut down their offense last year when it was almost as impressive
October 3rd, 2010 at 3:20 AM ^
This thread is fucking retarded.
October 3rd, 2010 at 4:59 AM ^
I'm behind RR and hope for the best. I see an amazing team on offense. It is my right, and makes me no less a Michigan Man that I still worry about the defense non-improvement, the transfers, the uni's image.
I grew up watching Harbaugh play at Michigan. Loved him then, loved him now. I don't want RR gone, but if he does go, I'd be excited to have Harbaugh lead Michigan (not making an argument now on who would be better).
For you young puppies, it would be like Tate Forcier coming back to lead Michigan, or maybe Mike Hart, etc. (which I also think could be possible some day).
Drop the hating on us that love Harbaugh and what that would mean to have him coach Michigan. It doesn't mean I'm not pulling for UM to be 12-0, win a national title, and have RR named coach of the decade.
Oh, and Oregon's offense is a little better than Indiana's. Just sayin'.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:18 AM ^
The fact is, this team hasn't had a much of a defense in the 3 years RR's been here. That is more of an indictment on RR than Harbaugh's squad having one bad game against the #4 team in the country.
Michigan also needed a last second TD to defeat ND, while Stanford basically dominated ND the entire game. ND didn't score a TD till garbage time in the late 4th.
I'm not calling for RR's head or anything like that but sorry OP your conclusion is simply incorrect.
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:16 AM ^
...is that Harbaugh's team, 4 years in, isn't a great defensive team.
How exactly is that incorrect?
All these bluebloods think bringing in Harbaugh will radically improve Michigan, and I just don't see it.
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:25 AM ^
Michigan vs Notre Dame: Michigan defense allowed 535 yards and 24 points, despite the fact Nate Montana saw some serious playing time.
Stanford vs Notre Dame: Stanford defense allowed 351 yards and 14 points, with Crist playing the entire game. Notre Dame scored 1 TD (they went for 2, so 8 off the TD and 2 FGs for 14) in garbage time and was otherwise shut down.
I'm not saying we should run RR out of town, I like him and want him to stay, but if you want to compare teams, use a common baseline.
What killed Stanford's defense is it is built to stop the power run game. They have a lot of big boys out there, namely large LBs that aren't exactly the greatest at operating in space, but brutal in run support and blitzing. I'd love to see Stanford vs Wisconsin to see Harbaugh's D tested by a power run team, but against a spread team that kind of D is normally going to get torched (see also: Lloyd Carr era defenses vs the Oregon spread).
October 3rd, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^