Looking Ahead to 2022
I'll be honest, I didn't watch the game...some will know why, but it doesn't matter. Also, I know some will say "too soon" and others will post a snowflake emoji. Then of course there will be the sarcastic responses like "start cheating." Whatever, don't care, looking for honest thoughts.
And I share that I didn't watch the game only because I'm not qualified to have an opinion on something I didn't see. SO, I ask the board...where do we go from here? We made some major steps, where do we need to improve to continue forward? In your opinion, do we need any significant changes?
There isn't one (sane) person who will declare this season a disappointment, but I'm motivated and even partly excited...how do we get better? Where are the holes? Thoughts? Ideas?
January 1st, 2022 at 1:23 AM ^
And as always...here's a projected depth chart to destroy. I realize there will be transfers and draft entries beyond the obvious, but I was intentionally conservative.
Leaving in the body of the thread, because I'll be able to edit.
QB: Cade McNamara / J.J. McCarthy
3. Dan Villari
4. Jayden Denegal / Alex Orji
RB: Blake Corum
2. Donovan Edwards
3. Tavierre Dunlap
4. CJ Stokes
WR: Ronnie Bell
2. Roman Wilson
3. Amorion Walker
WR: Cornelius Johnson
2. Andrel Anthony
3. Darrius Clemons
4. Cristian Dixon
SLOT: Mike Sainristil
2. A.J. Henning
3. Tyler Morris
4. George Johnson
TE: Erick All / Luke Schoonmaker
3. Matthew Hibner / Carter Selzer
5. Louis Hansen
6. Colston Loveland
7. Marlin Klein
LT: Ryan Hayes
2. Karsen Barnhart
3. Andrew Gentry
4. Trevor Keegan
5. Tristan Bounds
LG: Trevor Keegan
2. Karsen Barnhart
3. Giovanni El-Hadi
4. Alessandro Lorenzetti
C: Olu Oluwatimi
2. Greg Crippen
3. Reece Atteberry
4. Raheem Anderson
RG: Zak Zinter
2. Karsen Barnhart
3. Reece Atteberry
RT: Trente Jones
2. Karsen Barnhart
3. Jeffrey Persi
4. Connor Jones
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NT: Mazi Smith
2. Kenneth Grant / Mason Graham
4. Jack Stewart / Ike Iwunnah
DT: Christopher Hinton
2. Kris Jenkins
3. Julius Welschof
3. Rayshaun Benny
4. George Rooks
5. Dominick Guidice
EDGE: Taylor Upshaw / Mike Morris
3. Braiden McGregor
4. TJ Guy / Derrick Moore
6. Gabe Newburg
ILB: Junior Colson
2. Michael Barrett
3. Kalel Mullings
4. Jaydon Hood
5. Anthony Solomon / Jimmy Rolder
7. Joey Velasquez / Deuce Spurlock
ILB: Nikhai Hill-Green
2. Michael Barrett
3. Kalel Mullings
4. Jaydon Hood
5. Anthony Solomon / Jimmy Rolder
7. Deuce Spurlock
OLB: Jaylen Harrell
2. Taylor Upshaw
3. Kechaun Bennett / Tyler McLaurin
5. Joey Velasquez / Micah Pollard
CB: Vincent Gray
2. Gemon Green
3. Ja'Den McBurrows / Will Johnson
5. Jalen Perry / Keshaun Harris
7. Myles Pollard
8. German Green / Darion Green-Warren
CB: DJ Turner
2. Gemon Green
3. Ja'Den McBurrows / Will Johnson
5. Jalen Perry / Keshaun Harris
7. Myles Pollard
8. German Green / Darion Green-Warren
NB: Daxton Hill
2. Rod Moore
3. Zeke Berry / Kody Jones
5. Andre Seldon
6. Eamonn Dennis
FS: Rod Moore
2. Makari Paige
3. Zeke Berry
4. Damani Dent
SS: R.J. Moten
2. Quinten Johnson / Keon Sabb
4. Jordan Morant
K: Jake Moody
2. Rhett Anderson
P: Brad Robbins
2. Tommy Doman
January 1st, 2022 at 1:58 AM ^
I’d be surprised, pleasantly, if Dax is back. Indeed, I think there’s a better chance Ojabo returns.
January 1st, 2022 at 7:23 AM ^
He won’t be. He runs a sub 4.4 and has a 46 in vertical and a ridiculous wingspan. Scouts will be salivating after his combine. He gone.
January 1st, 2022 at 2:08 AM ^
You really think Erick All is gone to the draft & Dax returns? Seems unlikely.
January 1st, 2022 at 2:37 AM ^
Dax is 100% gone. I won't be surprised to see Ojabo's stock drop a bit, he looked out of place a bunch of times
January 1st, 2022 at 7:34 AM ^
Ojabo doesn’t show up on the stats as making a single tackle and Hutchinson wasn’t much of a factor either. Georgia’s o line and gameplan was very well done. We didn’t record a single sack while our O line gave up 4.
January 1st, 2022 at 8:11 AM ^
Yeah the line got wrecked last night. I would put 1 or 2 of those sacks on Cade tho. He held onto the ball too long with decent protection in those cases
January 1st, 2022 at 10:54 AM ^
Four things led to sacks last night and three are on Cade. 1) Their front was better than our line. 2) Cade isn't very mobile so when the rush is anywhere close it’s most likely gonna hit because he has no wiggle to get away from a sack. 3) He doesn’t really go through post snap progressions and definitely doesn’t do it quickly. 4) He doesn’t throw the ball away, basically takes the loss. Some of that comes back to a lack of mobility. JJ will have to learn to do this as well, especially if he’s the starter, you can’t always make a play.
January 1st, 2022 at 7:11 PM ^
Sounds like All is leaning on coming back...so I've added him back.
January 1st, 2022 at 3:59 AM ^
I think you missed Michael Barrett at #2 CB, #2 FS, SS, kicker...
January 1st, 2022 at 10:45 AM ^
You strangely forgot Erick All.
January 1st, 2022 at 1:24 AM ^
Big question next year is can we rush the passer. If so we're in good shape to make it back to the semifinals and talent/experience wise only Alabama should be an absolute buzzsaw.
Long term, we just need more talent and depth everywhere but especially defensively and especially at the LB position.
January 1st, 2022 at 9:35 AM ^
Looking at just recruiting rankings, it seems to me that Bama, UGA, and OSU will be all be locked and loaded again
January 1st, 2022 at 1:38 AM ^
I don’t want to oversimplify, but it really seems like next year is a two game regular season: at Iowa and at Osu (Msu blah blah blah). You don’t need a pass rush to beat Iowa, but you will absolutely need one against Osu unless you’re planning on straight up outscoring them. I think we might have the talent on offense to do that, but that’s never been Harbaugh’s philosophy. Any other loss would be a humongous upset imo. If we make it to the CFP again, we better have speed and size everywhere on the defense or pray for some massive upsets to keep the most talented teams out. 10 win floor is my prediction, 14-1 ceiling because I don’t think they’ll have enough talent to win it all
January 1st, 2022 at 12:04 PM ^
Will put in for Iowa away tickets the first weekend of October, should be a great trip. Fans are supposed to be very friendly. We went to Nebraska this year and the fans were extremely friendly.
Beating Ohio in Columbus seems like a logical goal for next year and return to Indy. The offense looks like it will be loaded. Will need a couple of pass rushers to emerge along with another corner.
January 1st, 2022 at 1:39 AM ^
We go up. Up up and up. To go down would to be living in the past. The past doesn't exist which is why we should not look to it. Only see the long list of forgotten who felt foreboding and then became forlorn. We shall prevail. Not because we push and reach, but because we will. We will go up. That's where go from here. That's where you go from anywhere. Our holes are where we put them. I think we will put those holes at the line of scrimmage. We'll fuck Ohio again because WE GO UP.
January 1st, 2022 at 1:51 AM ^
The offensive talent could be impressive with JJ at QB, Edwards & Corum, all the WR back, plus Bell and some talented freshmen; most of the OL. Need a TE to step up assuming All leaves.
On defense, turn the young DBs loose.
Hopefully these guys can duplicate the little details and team-building that went into this season
January 1st, 2022 at 2:05 AM ^
Speed, speed & more speed - offense & defense.
January 1st, 2022 at 2:20 AM ^
We won't repeat as conference champs unless the defensive line and secondary, at bare minimum, play at this year's crew's level.
January 1st, 2022 at 2:32 AM ^
You’re not getting 25+ sacks next year from two guys, plain and simple. The secondary could be better but it’s dependent on how fast the young guys gel. We have the offense to outscore every team on the schedule next year save (and maybe including) Osu. We’re gonna need offensive improvement to outweigh the losses on defense
January 1st, 2022 at 9:32 AM ^
Blitz blitz and more blitz. Few teams load up and run power. We have the horses at db so use them
January 1st, 2022 at 10:10 AM ^
You don’t need 25 sacks from two guys, instead you get 5-7 from several. While we won’t have a two dominant ends like this year, I expect year 2 with McDonald will get some more exotic looks as the kids are more comfortable in the scheme and he can scheme some sacks.
January 1st, 2022 at 11:13 AM ^
This is key. Guys like Morris, mcGregor, Hill-Green, Colson, Harrell etc. should be better after another offseason with the same coordinator
January 1st, 2022 at 2:24 AM ^
Who will be our leaders next year? I firmly believe that the leadership of Hutchinson, Hawkins, Ross, Haskins, Vastardis et al is what made this team special. They were the heart and soul of this squad and it will be difficult to replace their passion and energy
January 1st, 2022 at 8:17 AM ^
Lots of leaders on offense. Corum, Ronnie Bell, Saintirstil, Hayes, Keegan, Cade/JJ, etc
Defense not a lot of senior starters besides Mazi and Hinton
January 1st, 2022 at 11:15 AM ^
The guy who should be the leader. The quarterback.
January 1st, 2022 at 11:53 PM ^
Someone posted a picture of Corum,JJ,Edwards and anthony watching Georgia celebrate after the rest of our team went into the locker room .They happen to be the same guys who get up at 5:00 am and out extra work. I think they will be key leaders.
January 1st, 2022 at 2:31 AM ^
I think All would be better served with 1 more year at M.
January 1st, 2022 at 2:51 AM ^
Hate to say it, but unless we get some surprise returners (like Hutch last year), then we could be lined up for a drop off like we saw in basketball from last year to this year. Big time talent leaving and being replaced by young, unproven talent. I think our best chance at maintaining is JJ becoming an actual game changing QB (which Harbaugh hasn't had at UM). I don't know if it will happen, but a star QB with a competent offensive line can bail out a young, inexperienced defense.
January 1st, 2022 at 3:05 AM ^
Look at the schedule next year. Home games vs Colorado State, UConn, Hawaii, MSU, Penn State, Maryland, Nebraska, Illinois
Road games vs Osu, Iowa, Indiana, Rutgers
A disaster of a season would be 9-3. We get almost the entire offense back. We lose the DEs and the safeties, but safety has talent to step in and I’m sure we can generate enough pressure with the d line. Have to imagine the linebackers and corners all improve. We’ll see if they can build on success or if they got insanely lucky for one year
January 1st, 2022 at 4:17 AM ^
We nearly lost to PSU and Nebraska this year, with Hutch/Ojabo/Dax, and we did lose to MSU. It's hard to imagine the defense not taking a step back. We know how it works, if you get to Ohio State with 0 losses or 1 loss, then the winner of that game goes to the B1G Championship regardless. With the loss of defensive talent, we'll probably need more from the offense next year -- maybe a lot more. JJ's the guy who makes or breaks us, IMO.
January 1st, 2022 at 9:14 AM ^
Agree. And OSU will be ready for us in Columbus this year. And with a new DC we won't be rushing for 300 yards against them. So in order to win, we'll need a fully functional downfield passing game. And that won't happen unless JJ is the starter. With our questions on defense next year, we're not winning down there with Cade as starter IMO.
January 1st, 2022 at 3:32 PM ^
Living in the Delaware OH area, I can guarantee - 100% - that OSU will be ready and waiting on next year's game in Columbus. Right now, everyone associated with that program is just seething over the loss. Most of their fan base couldn't care less about the Rose Bowl later today with only the Playoffs as their only goal
January 1st, 2022 at 7:24 PM ^
I used to live just south of you and can confirm you're absolutely correct.
January 1st, 2022 at 9:56 AM ^
The offense will be better. Major losses: Haskins, Stueber, and Vastardis. We already have one of the best Centers in the country transferring in. Our tackle depth is pretty solid so we’ll be ok there. And as great as Haskins is, and we’ll obviously miss him, RB is one of our deeper positions on the team.
Everybody else is back plus the addition of Ronnie Bell. The offense should be really good.
January 1st, 2022 at 10:48 AM ^
The offense should be electric. The D is the question mark.
January 1st, 2022 at 10:31 AM ^
Not at all hard to imagine no defensive drop off. First, it'll be the 2nd year under MacDonald. DTs probably better and deeper. LB probably same. Will Johnson probably an immediate upgrade over Gray. Step back at DE and S. I'd say roughly similar to this year overall.
January 1st, 2022 at 10:44 AM ^
Did you really expect Hutch to be this big a loss at the beginning of the year? Did you expect Ojabo to be a loss at all (e.g. did you expect him to have a season that would be good enough that he would leave?). There are definitely players on this defense capable of taking big steps next year. Colson, Harrell, Hiill-Green and Jenkins to name a few.
This defense had a lot of question marks (that were exposed last night). By the time Ohio State roles around, I think next years defense could be better than this one.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:05 PM ^
While I do see us having to scheme/hope someone steps up to make up for losing pass rushers, I think our defense as a whole is better next year. A full year in the system that still has 7 starters coming back plus lots of other guys who have gotten plenty of snaps and been in the system for a year, I see an improvement overall. They will be more sound, not thinking as much and able to react quicker. I see the biggest improvement coming from the Colson and Hill-Green, also Moore and Moten should be very solid and improve at safety.
While Dax is a great player, I think the overall improvement of each guy will make up for a lot of what Dax could do all over the field, the 2 edge rushers will be the biggest hurdles to overcome.
January 1st, 2022 at 11:45 AM ^
Iowa is at Kinnick which is a house of horrors for UM and many other teams despite their boring competent low variance team out there.
So you roll out a not ready for primetime @Wisconsin and and putrid Northwestern for @Iowa and home v Illinois and I'd say in a normal year that's a wash but Wisconsin was down. Iowa never seems down just a steady state team.
The non conf is obviously a bit of a laugher.
January 1st, 2022 at 10:22 PM ^
MSU game is an away game.
January 1st, 2022 at 10:47 AM ^
That schedule is a breeze compared to this year. It’s a guaranteed 10 wins.
January 1st, 2022 at 1:55 PM ^
The offense will be stacked with mostly proven talent.
January 1st, 2022 at 3:12 AM ^
Side note: can someone refresh me why UM is playing back to back away games at Spartan stadium?
January 1st, 2022 at 4:03 AM ^
I believe it is just a delay in the athletic department updating the schedule on mgoblue.com and that MSU will be at home next year.
January 1st, 2022 at 10:36 AM ^
Is it? I think it was Kirk last night that even mentioned it was at MSU next year. It came up in conversation that they play away at their rivals on even years. Which is/was true prior to last year. I also checked numerous sites and it’s showing the msu game away
January 1st, 2022 at 10:48 AM ^
Supposedly the big ten is updating the schedule. We will play MSU at home and Iowa away.
January 1st, 2022 at 8:30 AM ^
There is a great nucleus in place with team for the players but the coaching staff as well. They'll remain hungry and they'll win more big game in '22. All that needs to be done is finish, which didn't happen last night. They won't forget this experience and will learn a good lesson.