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This is one of the “only…

This is one of the “only time will tell” hires.  Relatively young at 47 and some strong positives in his background, but questions.

These are the hires that go the way of Roy to KU or Mike to Duke for long runs by building excellent programs or it goes the way of so many mediocre hires.  I’m hopeful of the former.

Beilein was part of the…

Beilein was part of the selection committee. Maybe he voted NAY. but doubtful. 

Great mentor to navigate the A2 politics.

Tough loss. Reviews/refs…

Tough loss. Reviews/refs were brutal. Thanks, B1G.

Regardless, our guys had their chances in OT and couldn’t finish. So close. Great job by this squad to reach the championship and basically win it.

Watch out for this group in the NCAAs.

Let’s go!

He has 15+ year…

Let’s go!

He has 15+ year runway and high energy at this point.  It will take a year or two for a rebuild.

Great choice.

1. Recruiter - yeah, he hasn…

1. Recruiter - yeah, he hasn’t delivered strong WR classes and certainly not the raw talent. Terrible might be overly critical.

2. Coach - what is your basis for this assessment?  Roman showed significant improvement this past year, Cornelius elevated his game late in the season, and Semaj developed steadily throughout the year.

Yeah, glad the three-week…

Yeah, glad the three-week vetting process and initial guidelines were so effective.

No turmoil in hiring and…

No turmoil in hiring and retaining UM football coaches and staff.

Just so quiet and boring.

 

Ok. Now wait for Warde to…

Ok. Now wait for Warde to actually do his job by surveying the big boosters and other folks on the industry - I cannot conceive of a “keep” response.  The program is on life support and the cure isn’t arriving this offseason. If Warde won’t fix MBB, then Ono has to fix the AD.

That seems to presume Howard…

That seems to presume Howard wil be the coach next year. Hard to imagine a scenario with Howard making it until next year.

Ouch.  He has stardom…

Ouch.  He has stardom written all over him.  This seems like NIL-related from schools who see his stardom.  Hopefully a staffed defensive staff can pull him back from the portal.

Excellent hire - if it…

Excellent hire - if it happens.

His Cincinnati roots will hopefully boost UM recruiting in SW Ohio and overall Ohio.

Ok. Leadership change brings…

Ok. Leadership change brings other change.

Moore will need to rebuild the future roster with his guys. Given his recruiting track record, Moore and UM should be fine.

Niners have more talent and…

Niners have more talent and Chiefs have chemistry & 3 greats at key positions.

Last hurrah for Reid?  Chiefs by 4 pts.

This seals Juwan’s exit with…

This seals Juwan’s exit with no question.  Good grief, Nebraska mauled this UM group.  He was handed a top 10 program and turned it into a top 200 program with atrocious roster management and a team that quit on him. 

There should be very high interest in the role by a bunch of high-potential, rising coaches.

Umm, that might be the most…

Umm, that might be the most click-bait title in Mgoblog history.  The mild supporters vs the adamant objectors.  
Warde was handed a great coaching roster and it’s significantly worse at this point. Maybe the rebound will prove his competency.

The upside:  you’re honest.

The upside:  you’re honest.

The downside:  you’re an idiot.

Time will judge integrity vs IQ.

Should/could be a big…

Should/could be a big addition.  Wink understands the amoeba and variances so well with his experience.  Most importantly, his depth of experience in the NFL should enable him to download the offensive scheme & adjustments very quickly. If he adds assistants who can teach and motivate the guys, this defense can continue as elite.

Uh, Howard was on the hot…

Uh, Howard was on the hot seat 5 losses ago in combo with the Sanderson situation. He has turned a perennial top 10 and elite 8 contender with Beilein into the bottom half of the B1G.

I just don’t see a path to retaining him. None.

So who gets the job?

Hoke and Carr were both…

Hoke and Carr were both defensive minds, so they undoubtedly were passing along Moeller’s offense. On second thought, Hoke was definitely not using Moeller’s script based on some of those offenses. Thank goodness for Denard to erase the issues for 1+ season.

$700m is an incredible price…

$700m is an incredible price tag.  Maybe PSU can afford someone with aesthetic sense for this project because their current stadium is a dreadful erector set.

Mahomes is simply the best…

Mahomes is simply the best in the game.  Romo slobbers over him because he is that good. Reid turtles in the 2nd half with his defense and knowing Mahomes could turn it on if necessary.

Agree on the Chiefs with a short window with Kelce. On the other hand, Mahomes has mediocre receivers and they’ve cycled thru RBs and OLs the last 5 years so who knows if they get 2 explosive guys who are not each on Kelce’s level but a significant threat as a pair.

Agree. His role is 90% to…

Agree. His role is 90% to select and retain excellent coaches, yet he did neither with Harbaugh, Hutchins, Bakich and Beilein. Warde did select Howard.

0-5 in the most important element of his role.

Program is not healthy in…

Program is not healthy in any way. This is Warde’s hire and rehire when Juwan gave him cause.

No ducking the situation at this point - must move on at the end of the season.

Mark me down for Trey Pierce…

Mark me down for Trey Pierce as the sleeper to step up. Excellent leverage and his strength should greatly increase with a first offseason with Herbert.

Also suspect Hill might get some run at nickel if Waller inches ahead at CB2; Hill has the athleticism and willing tackler similar to Sainristil.

This defense could be equal to 2023, although depth could erode their effectiveness with such a tough schedule.

”If you cannot develop them,…

”If you cannot develop them, buy them.”

- OSU AD

I think Harbaugh will exit…

I think Harbaugh will exit this process. How will he view the situation with 4-6 other candidates when he has one of the all-time highest win percentages?  He needs to feel wanted in Ann Arbor, but willing to go another round with 1/2 dozen candidates?

Falcons seem like the bigger threat.

Likely means he misses…

Likely means he misses spring ball. Hopefully delivery goes smoothly and he is able to participate by the start of fall ball.

College football is…

College football is absolutely devolving into fantasy league level with guys on the waivers for 24 hours before being picked up.

Guys just swapping one NIL deal for an apparently larger one in the portal.  Top ten NIL programs (OSU, Texas, UGA, Bama, Ole Miss, TAMU, USC) just rotating rosters.

UM 31

UGA 27

UM 31

UGA 27

Moore, Paige and Sabb are…

Moore, Paige and Sabb are the best safety trio in the country. Add Johnson at corner, McBurrows at nickel, Hill/Waller at the other CB, and don’t sleep on Hillman. That is a tremendous secondary behind an elite DL. 

 

Huge win for 2024. Moore is…

Huge win for 2024. Moore is so smart, great range and an excellent tackler - fantastic safety and Minter certainly trusts his capabilities.

LFG!  The Don has a lot more…

LFG!  The Don has a lot more TDs in him. 

Michigan vs Nobody.

All…

Michigan vs Nobody.

All competitors and haters have been vanquished.

Onward to next year and Team 145.

100% agree. We need 1-2 WRs…

100% agree. We need 1-2 WRs from the portal, probably a QB, and some extra depth at various positions on defense for rotations (DE, CB, DT).

Priebe and Barham are really good additions and this staff does an exceptional job with finding portal fits. The selling point of “NFL readiness” should be a huge factor with portal targets.

Edwards returning would be a…

Edwards returning would be a huge win. He adds a homerun threat at RB, depth to carry 15+ times per game, and excellent receiving skills. Just like he was huge in Corum’s absence last year, he is arguably even more important as RB 1 or 1b with Mullings.

Top teams have depth and playmakers at all spots.

Then it’s great to know…

Then it’s great to know Doman is returning - we need an excellent punter to match Iowa’s approach!

Excellent replacement for…

Excellent replacement for Worthy.  Texas will be loaded for next year and UM will be breaking in a new QB and reloading in other spots - it will take a great team effort to win that marquee matchup in September.

Texas, OSU and Georgia have fired the money cannons to land a lot of top transfers almost the first day of entry to the portal.  They are clearly committed to winning it this next season.

Henderson and Sawyer make…

Henderson and Sawyer make sense for very different reasons.  JT and Burke are very questionable - they are mocked above Colson.  Then toss in two high-profile transfers like Howard and Judkins who surely required top NIL.  

OSU has made no qualms about spending heavily with NIL (Day: “we need $13m”) so this outcome shouldn’t be a surprise.

Rich Rod years, final Hoke…

Rich Rod years, final Hoke year, Covid season …all while the Buckeyes took the dominant spot in the Big Ten. It’s been tough.

The last 3 years are almost surreal and now it culminates in these final two games. Thank you to all the players and staff for working so hard and building a tight, winning culture.

It’s Michigan vs Nobody. Only 1 team left. National Champs!

Hell, yes. Champs.

Hell, yes. Champs.

Muppets, baby, muppets.

Muppets, baby, muppets.

UM needs to think 34+ points…

UM needs to think 34+ points. It will get wild late and conservative offense might not work against the UW firepower.

McCarthy had a dog shit…

McCarthy had a dog shit first half.

If he gets into rhythm in the 2nd half, not sure how UW stops them. 

Zero JJ runs. No reason to…

Zero JJ runs. No reason to leave the QB runs in the playbook at this point - especially with Theo LBs and Safeties flowing downhill. 

Rose Bowl Blake had some of…

Rose Bowl Blake had some of the cuts and burst from 2022 - let’s hope the full package is a go tomorrow night.

Excellent work throughout…

Excellent work throughout the season. Thorough, solid analysis that is enjoyable reading.

Glad you had to write extra pieces with the B1G Championship and the National Championship. Here’s to your conclusion - the UM offense needs to beat up the UW defense to win a national championship.

Unfortunately, far from…

Unfortunately, far from Houston.  Rose Bowl trip was fantastic but now flying to Vegas for CES show.  UM crowd should be incredible tomorrow and throughout the game.

Go Blue.

They’ve reached the peak…

They’ve reached a peak level of entitlement. Urban’s run and elite recruiting have created the belief that B1G championships and top 5 rankings are the floor.

It’s not just a near miss or 1-2 unlucky events. Three straight losses to UM was unthinkable a few years ago, two were multi-TD losses, one loss had an interim HC, an unprecedented B1G punishment didn’t slow UM, and UM has dominated the line of scrimmage. Plus, UM looks like they’re having fun as a team and relishing this run despite the external BS.

OSU knows this won’t suddenly flip. Stroud was a superstar QB who couldn’t beat UM; MHJ was the whole offense this year; OSU has 4/5 stars losing to 3/4 stars; Day appears lost in building a tough culture. 

Stars matter in a…

Stars matter in a statistical sense. However, teams are a collection of talent that rely on athleticism and grit - that combination creates culture.

Bryce is extremely talented and his abilities would boost the upside for UM’s roster, but maybe not UM’s culture. Trevor elevated Clemson’s talent and culture; Tua had a great half to win a critical game, but he didn’t elevate Bama’s culture; Fields and Bryce were great talents who never lifted supreme rosters to championships.

“Talent matters.”  Are you…

“Talent matters.”  Are you referring to site rankings to decide talent? It matters for collective roster quality and it matters for positions largely dependent on athleticism (WR, CB, DL) but less so for skill/nuance roles (OL, QB, Safety),

2021 QB Rankings:  1) Ewers - semifinal loss; 2) Williams 8-5; 3) Huard - did not play; 4) Vandagriff - did not play; 5) JJ - national final; 6) McCord - NY6 bowl. 

2024 QB Rankings: 7) Jadyn Davis

2025 QB Rankings: 9) Carter Smith

The rankings for the next 2 QBs are relatively similar to JJ, especially with the variability of a given year and 11 months until Smith gets a final ranking. Reminder that Stetson Bennett won the previous 2 titles as a nothing recruit. Do you want the 4 QBs ranked ahead of JJ in 2021 to lead the UM program?  Of course not.

Why do you assume Bryce is a better leader and fit for the UM program than Jadyn or Carter?