PFF Michigan Season Preview
Some lunch time (((content))) for the board, again from PFF.
The gist is: Michigan gon be good. They do not give a record prediction, but say we can compete for the national championship.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/college-football-2016-season-preview-michigan-wolverines/
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^
Short but sweet. Thank you Dr. for the much needed football related post. September cannot come soon enough.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:08 PM ^
We are in great shape. JH will coach up whoever it is
well before the schedule gets dicy. The first 3 games are
tailor made for development.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:27 PM ^
Lest we forget, JH has been coaching up most of our QB corps for going on 18 months now. Whoever steps into the starters role will probably look a whole lot more polished than Rudock did when he first took the field against Utah last season.
It's fair to hedge on Michigan's future this season because of QB uncertainty, but I ultimately think we're going to be OK in that department.
As as Harbaugh is the coach I have no worries about QB play. We might not have Andrew Luck level play at the QB but the floor is much higher than it was under previous coaches. Plus with this defense we have returning I'd take a Griese type QB in a heartbeat. Just make good decisions with the football and limit turnovers as much as possible.
John O'K?
When in Singapore, always use the John O'K
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:10 PM ^
Always fun to read, but I also have a disdain for early hype of significant magnitude. That said, I'm fairly certain that Harbaugh will keep them hungry, grounded and playing with a chip on their collective shoulders.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:09 PM ^
Not a lot of (((content))) in this little piece of (((content))). Nothing new to anyone who follows the team.
Michigan will be good. Michigan will be breaking in a new QB. Michigan's linebackers graduated, but they were already bad. Michigan's D line is really good. So is Jabrill Peppers and Jourdan Lewis. Michigan will be good.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:38 PM ^
"While many schools may have just one true superstar, Michigan has at least six on the defensive side alone"
That's high praise coming from PFF.
It sounds like that list includes Charlton after the obvious ones: Lewis, Peppers, Wormley, Glasgow, and Hurst (who they are very high on despite limited snaps).
The "at least" part is interesting too. Other potential superstars:
- Thomas
- Gary
- Stribling
- Clark
- Gedeon
- Mone
All are physically gifted and with the supporting cast around them could break out big - or they could end up on the bench too.
The analysis is superficial for a super fan but it's still nice to hear an objective source confirm our very high hopes for our D.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:56 PM ^
Part of me wonders if he won't be the odd man out of the DL logjam, especially if Winovich or other speedier DEs end up getting a lot of snaps under Brown. Hurst's an excellent pass rusher and penetrator with real talent, and he's very fun to watch - but he didn't hold up against Indiana and Ohio State and didn't get as many snaps on the DL as a bunch of others last year. It makes me wonder if he won't get passed over now that Michigan adds Gary, Mone, and a healthy version of Godin. Talent is talent, but it doesn't always mean playing time. Hurst's breakout year might have to wait till next season. We'll see...
It wouldn't surprise me if Hurst became much more of a situational player, ie, an interior pass rush specialist that comes in for Glasgow or Mone on 3rd and 6 or more.
But PFF seems to think he warrants starting at DT (3-tech). He might, and we'll see if that's how it plays out. That does seem like his natural position. Or did - he's reportedly added a bunch of weight so that may have changed.
I'd flip Godin to SDE (where he seems better deployed as a run-stopper) and move Wormley around.
Standard Down Rotations plus (Obvious Passing Down)
NT: Glasgow 65%, Mone 35% + (Hurst)
3T: Wormley 55%, Hurst 45% + (Gary)
SDE: Gary 40%, Godin 40%, Wormley 10% + (Charlton)
WDE: Charlton 55%, Winovich 45% (Uche or some other speedy edge rusher/LB)
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
Well the other threads today are about Summer Olympics, Cars, and literally everything other than Michigan football so...
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:59 PM ^
But are you sure we should even be having this thread before we...
/nevermind.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:12 PM ^
Money quote
"The defensive side of the ball is absolutely loaded, and could be the best in the country."
Words cannot express how happy seeing that makes me. That's the Michigan football I grew up with.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:45 PM ^
That is the thing that I have missed the most over the past decade. Smothering defense. There is no substitute. Watching the game vs Illinois in RR's last year was painful and embarassing, and we won. Scoring lots of points is great, but isn't worth much if you can't stop the other team.
I want to see another defense like '97.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:51 PM ^
I don't really see it that way. Carr put a heavy emphasis on defense.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^
I know, one at a time, but I cannot imagine anything other than 7-0 rolling into E L.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:23 PM ^
We absolutely must start 7-0 to live up to expectations. And honestly, 7-1 would be a huge disappointment. We cannot lose to STAEE this year.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:32 PM ^
8-0 is a must! Then roll into Iowa unbeaten at night! Can't wait!
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:40 PM ^
On paper I would be disappointed if we weren't 11-0 heading down to Columbus. We have more "ready talent" (if I can coin that phrase) than anyone on our schedule. We will have double digit players drafted next spring, no one else in the conference will be able to say that. Our guys have continuity in the system - finally!
Barring any major injuries, this year's squad is set up to finally return this program to the nation's contender tier.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:24 PM ^
Anyone know why the Fanatics thread was deleted?
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:29 PM ^
My guess = $$$ yo
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:31 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
EDIT: The code "FLASH" still works. Keep on buying...
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:33 PM ^
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:39 PM ^
Was one of my top 5 life moments.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:32 PM ^
-Must not let spread teams go up and down the field.
-Run blocking must improve.
-QB performance has an upward arc like Rudock last season. Although I'd like to see it happen sooner than the last of the season. I believe it will.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:33 PM ^
Honestly QB isn't the position I am most worried about its oline. The reason we didn't beat State last year is because their dline dominated us to the extent that their shit secondary didn't matter and kept it close enough for end of the game to mean anything.
De'veon Smith is good but not the sort of RB who is going to creat without the help of a good offensive line. And if we can't get the running game going we will need whoever our QB is to outperform end of season Ruddock if we want to beat MSU and OSU on the road and counting on that from a first year starter, seems pretty risky.
TL;DR if grant Newsome is good we are are really good, if he isn't I don't think we make the big ten title game.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:49 PM ^
OL is the biggest question - on that we agree. But...Smith spent all of last year creating yards on his own. Breaking tackles counts as manufacturing yards.
It is no slam dunk but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic:
- Pass-blocking has improved dramatically over the last 3 years. That should continue and we should start to see it in run-blocking too.
- By some measures - run blocking can't get worse (107th in opportunity rate)
- We had a massive scheme change to power blocking and Year 2 with Drevno should be much better
- Continuity is critical for run-blocking and we'll not only have 4 of 5 starters back but our OC returns for the first time in 3 years.
- Run-blocking takes time - a lot of players don't lock-in until they are seniors. That will be the case for Kalis, Braden, and Magnuson who have finally settled into a scheme and position. Cole is the only guy moving.
- At least in theory, Cole's skills are a much better fit at OC than OT (as Brian has argued many times)
- Newsome is a talented kid who the coaches thought enough of to play some meaningful downs last season.
- Newsome's spring performance made everyone worry but it's easy to read too much into the snapshot that is spring. And keep in mind he was going against what PFF is calling maybe the best DL in the country. Like with the QBs, he'll have till late october to get himself fully acclimated.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:57 PM ^
I agree OL is the biggest question mark, and seems like good OL play might be the lynchpin between a great and merely good year. That said, part of me feels like good pass blocking is more important than good run blocking. With the weapons we have at WR/TE, and assuming a competent QB, we should have a solid passing game which can open up the run.
Going back to the RR years, the formula to beat us has been to load the box and dare us to beat teams through the air. Denard typically wasn't accurate enough to do it, Devin might have been able to had he had some blocking (which he never did), and Rudock still hadn't gotten in synch with the receivers by the state game. With an accurate Rudock the whole year, we're probably undefeated going into The Game.
This year I'm cautiously optimistic that we'll have the QB play to take advantage of what I think will prove to be ridiculous weapons, given time to throw. If we get that, I think the running game will open up just fine and we'll be off to the races; if we can get solid run blocking on top of it, oh boy, watch out...
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:44 PM ^
Noted departed center Graham Glascow.
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:46 PM ^
With Harbaugh coaching our QBs, I think our "weakness" will provide a lot of surprises, especially with a solid run game. And, oh by the way, defense will be decent. GO BLUE!!
August 2nd, 2016 at 12:48 PM ^
We definitely have the team and coaches to do it, but having three tough road games is a huge barrier.
Sure, the main question is QB and probably OL. UM's lineup of John O'Korn, Wilton Speight, Shane Morris and true frosh Brandon Peters seems a bit rickety, but in great hands with Jedd Fisch and Jim Harbaugh.
Wolverines' LB crew can get by with being average because of attacking style of DC Don "Take 'em All Downtown!" Brown at DC.
Otherwise holy crap, probably this might be Michigan's most solid overall team since 2007, including special teams.
The one thing that could derail it all, as it did in 2007, is injuries. Let's face it, Michigan was fortunate last year not to have to have lost QB Jake Rudock to injury.
I think O'Korn wins the UM starting role decisively and improves upon his 2013 UH form of 3000 yards, 30 TDs and 10 INTs. But if Harbaugh's comments are to be believed, if O'Korn goes down or out, it's probably going to be Wilton Speight at QB.