PFF prediction - Michigan in the CFP next season

Submitted by AlCzerviksRide on

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/01/12/college-our-picks-for-the-2017-college-football-playoff/

They have Michigan slated in a 4.  Mentions of "Harbaugh magic" on offense, and the D-line, Lewis and Peppers on D.  Weakness at LB is mentioned as well.

On Peppers:

 

Spending time at safety and in the slot, Peppers is a dynamic weapon who can turn defense into offense in the blink of an eye, and does the basic things really well too. If he can continue to progress, he has a chance to be the best defensive player in the country next year, and he gets snaps on offense and as a returner too, such is his explosiveness.

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Brown Bear

January 12th, 2016 at 9:53 AM ^

My belief is that in year two Harbaugh will have this team as the entire Top 4 in the CFP. I see Michigan taking down Michigan in the first semifinal and Michigan prevailing over Michigan in the other semifinal. I then see Michigan winning it all by beating another hard-nosed Michigan squad in the championship game.



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coachdad

January 12th, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^

it is hard to put us that high without knowing who our QB is for sure. I personally would like to start off a little lower in the rankings, but it shows the respect Harbaugh has regained for us.

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FauxMo

January 12th, 2016 at 12:18 PM ^

Two things: First, look at the last 15 national champions. I would say, off the top of my head, that between 1/3 to 1/2 had very suspect QB play. Second, look at those same NCs, and be amazed at how many were coached by coaches in their 2nd season on the job for that school. Saban at LSU and Alabama, Miles at LSU, Tressel at OSU, Fisher at FSU, Stoops at Oklahoma, and so on. There is a lot of precedent for Harbaugh taking us to the promised land next year...

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JZ

January 12th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^

I just think it's so hard to predict our ceiling (such as reaching the CFP) without knowing how O'Korn (or any other QB) will play next season. I thnk all of the hype is once again predicated on the #HarbaughEffect. We have returning talent, but a question mark at the most crucial position leaves considerable doubt. 

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AZBlue

January 12th, 2016 at 10:18 AM ^

If the team is legit, they will have to win "big" games along the way. Yes it would be nice if DB had prevented the scheduling of MSU/OSU away on the same years but it is what it is.

I for one am tired of saying "next year will be OK but X year is the year we will be REALLY good". Live for the day!

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westwardwolverine

January 12th, 2016 at 10:31 AM ^

We should (SHOULD) have the best team in the conference next year. Given who OSU and MSU lose, there's no way this team should not at the very least win the division and play in the conference championship game. Of course anything can happen in a one-off scenario, but I can't imagine the East champ not being the favorite. 

I would be stunned if Michigan went into the conference championship game with more than one loss. 

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CoachBP6

January 12th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^

I agree that on paper were better than MSU next year, but OSU just reloads. I know those bastards in Columbus will be real good again, likely undefeated when they play us, which is in ohio.

We need O'Korn to be as good as Jake Rudock was at the end of the season, for an entire season. We need the OL to take a step toward becoming the big nasty maulers that Harbaugh is known for. We need a quicker RB to spell Smith as an epic 1-2 punch. We need a Fullback that can execute the way Kerridge and Houma did.

On defense we need at least two linebackers to step up and be serviceable in a consistent manner. We need Willie Henry to come back to lead the best DL in football. We need to create more turnovers.

We need to make sure we don't drop off in special teams with the loss of Baxter. Special teams won the national title last night.

If most of the things I have listed come to pass, Michigan has a real shot at the playoffs. A brutal road schedule and cross division schedule has me thinking a very similar result to this year except we beat MSU for sure.



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socalwolverine1

January 12th, 2016 at 10:36 AM ^

  • O'Korn needs to live up to the practice team hype, nobody else will be ready to lead us to the playoffs.
  • Someone not named Deveon Smith needs to have a break out year at RB.  Smith is good but simply not fast enough to survive the beating he takes with his running style.
  • We need two LBs to step up who play like Reggie Ragland and Reuben Foster: fundamentally sound, with speed and power.  
  • We need to master the "no huddle/hurry up" offense, on both sides of the ball.  We need to be able to run it on demand on offense; and we damn sure need to know how to defend it in our sleep, which is why, after the OSU beat-down, I'm happy we exchanged D.J. Durkin for Don Brown.

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champswest

January 12th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^

but not winning it. To get there, you just need to win the B1G and if you win the big (with no more than 1 loss) you will be in the playoffs. You can't point to any other B1G team and say that they will be way better than us next season, so we have as good of a chance as anybody. Plus, we are hungrier.

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Wolverine4545

January 12th, 2016 at 11:21 AM ^

I will believe it when I see it. Winning in the Shoe? Pinch me. 

Love this team as much as the next guy, but c'mon. At home we lost by four TDs to the B1G standard. Question marks at important spots on the field, including QB. Road games to ELansing and Columbus. We will lose one of those, likely in Columbus. So 11-1, lose to the team likely 12-0

I can see being selected for the rose, or equivalent as the replacement for tOSU. But until the day comes where we beat tOSU. I'll remain realistic.

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erald01

January 12th, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^

Call me the Debbie Downer but i see playoffs in a couple of years or maybe year 3. Jim needs 2-3 good recruiting classes to build depth. You cant go from shutouts to horrible defense after loosing a couple of DLs. IMO the goal for next year is make it to B1G/Indianapolis, mening beat both rivals or at least one. Everything needs to be take in steps.
Lets start and learn how to beat msu and osu again, then go from there.



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erald01

January 12th, 2016 at 2:07 PM ^

True but what do you expect him to say lets beat our rivals first? Dont get me wrong Jim is here to try and win the big one every year, he is not Hoke who all he cared about was winning big ten. After watching last night's game, where both teams looked like semi pro teams, its hard not to sit back and realize that we are a bit far from being there yet.



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AA2Denver

January 12th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^

Michigan - talent, coaching and experience. 

LSU - absolutely stacked everywhere, Aranda, QB transfer coming in, Alabama/Ole Miss at home.

Baylor - by default in a weak BIG 12

FSU - as much talent as Clemson, all tough games at home.

 

I think the PAC12 gets left out again. It's probably the best conference top to bottom, but I don't see a jugernaut. Standford looses too much, Oregon is a year or two away, USC isn't good.

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gasbro

January 12th, 2016 at 12:12 PM ^

Our chances of beating MSU seem very good Our chances of beating OSU are ?even It could be very magical - beat our rivals, the best teams on our schedule, and go to CFP

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TU_DB_8

January 12th, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^

It's time for Peppers to become Reggie Bush.  He would vastly improve the offense if he moved to RB.  Not only bringing game breaking ability to the RB position but he would also open up the passing game.  The drop off from him not being on D 100% of the time would be barely noticable IMO.  He takes the offense to a new level and would more than make up for his absences on D.  

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Perkis-Size Me

January 12th, 2016 at 2:13 PM ^

If things break just right, and we get some key contributions from younger players, then maybe we could sneak into the playoff. But getting there is one thing. Winning it is something else.

No way on this planet we would've lasted more than 2, maybe 3 quarters against Alabama or Clemson with the way those teams played last night. It would've been a bloodbath, IMO.

I think we're a year from having the talent to get to the playoffs, but 2-3 years from having a real shot of winning it. simply put, we need more talent and more importantly, more depth.



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