This Week’s Obsession: The 2018 Recruiting Roundtable
[Eric Upchurch]
THIS ARTICLE HAS A SPONSOR: It’s Nick Hopwood, our MGoFinancial Planner from Peak Wealth Management. That means things like retirement savings and life insurance. Yeah, you know, get that taken care of.
Anytime you’ve got a financial question, let Nick know. And when you’re ready to figure out how you’re going to plan your retirement and pay for your kids’ college when you just got done paying for your own, don’t wait to do something about that.
Legal disclosure in tiny font: Calling Nick our official financial planner is not intended as financial advice; Nick is an advertiser who financially supports MGoBlog. MGoBlog is not responsible for any advice or other communication provided to an investor by any financial advisor, and makes no representations or warranties as to the suitability of any particular financial advisor and/or investment for a specific investor.
-------------------------------
 |
| Art by Aaron Bills |
1. BEST RECRUIT
David: "If Reese commits today..." ??
Alex: Best recruit? Shea Patterson.
Seth: I guess he counts.
Ace: I really like IN LB Cam McGrone, who bounced back from a junior-year injury to put up a really impressive senior year. He’s a guided missile in the Devin Bush mold, and he’s got a little size on Bush. I could see him excelling at multiple linebacker spots.
David: I was super disappointed that he didn't play when we went down to see him play. I feel like I will mention McGrone later on in this list, as well.
Seth: He shot up the recruiting rankings between a little and "that's a five star" after the sites caught that tape.
Ace: Given track records with Midwest recruits, I’m glad it’s 247/Scout that loves him. It’s also worth noting that ESPN very much fired and forgot with McGrone. They don’t have a senior eval for him.
Seth: That brings me to another answer: the guy with a monster delta was Aidan Hutchinson, who went from RVB/Wormley range to breathing on the five-stars range.
David: Hutchinson is also intriguing. When @adam saw him, he played like 7 positions?
Ace: Nailed it:
By my count, Hutchinson lined up in seven different spots against East Lansing: NT (on a three-man line!), 3T, 5T, WR, TE, H-back, and long snapper. Yeah, he’s even their long snapper, and he’s good at that, too. Like his father, though, Hutchinson shines on defense.
Adam: Yeah, he was really impressive. he played just about everything and looked really athletic. they lined up at just about every receiver position. He was also their long snapper? That was one of my favorite scouting trips last season.
David: Because everyone else didn't play on our other trips?
Seth: ESPN still moved McGrone up their rankings. He went from an 80 (low 4-star) to an 82, 16th to 9th in OLB rankings, and went from out of the ESPN 300 to 206th overall.
Adam: Didn't see McGrone in person but from his film it certainly appears he's tailor-made for a Don Brown defense. A bunch of Very Professional Journalists went to see him before the Purdue game and were practically salivating in the press box the next day while relaying what they saw.
David: Missile-Blitzing linebackers under Don Brown's tutelage are definitely worth salivating over
Ace: I mean:
Downhill linebacker that closes ground and eats up grass really quickly. At the collision point, McGrone is a striker who knocks ball carriers backwards. He shows a great feel for angles as a tackler and is very effective and disrupting running lanes and sifting through trash. His ability to accelerate gives him a lot of upside as a blitzer from the second level. Can improve in man-to-man coverage but the athleticism is there and has a very good feel for zone drops as an inside linebacker. He can be an every down linebacker on the college level. - Barton Simmons
Yeah.
Brian: I'll put in a shout for Mustapha Muhammad, who's one of those guys who Rivals is relatively down on while everyone else is very in favor of. Since Wormley I am in favor of these gents. He, essentially alone in this class, is a big out of region get with a bunch of excellent offers. He's going to be the kind of seam-stretching tight end that Michigan's offense depends on heavily. And he's got a cool name.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundtable]
--------------------------------------
 |
| Tackle-shaped objects are most welcome. |
2. MOST IMPORTANT
Seth: Caveat Shea.
David: So, I'm going to say Jaylen Mayfield as he is the only true OL in the class.
Ace: I’ll also go with in-state OT Jalen Mayfield, especially in the likelihood that Michigan doesn’t land Nick Petit-Frere. We’re all well aware of the need to develop some offensive tackles in the near future and Mayfield is the only guy in the class as I write this who will start his college career there. (Ryan Hayes will play TE before potentially moving to OT.) Also there just weren’t a ton of glaring needs in this class.
Seth: Yeah the thing about bringing in 60 players/transfers over the last two classes is you've probably got a hot young somebody in each spot.
Adam: I have to agree with Jalen Mayfield. He's extraordinarily athletic and has the frame to add a little bit of weight and be a contributor at a position where need is evergreen. I also see Ryan Hayes sticking at TE, which makes Mayfield's development a little more important.
Seth: With two other TEs in the class?
Adam: I think he's another Gentry
Seth: That could sound like an indictment against his blocking.
David: Joe Milton also probably gets a nod...just in case Patterson isn't eligible and Speight does NOT return with no Patterson eligibility. Like...in that case, Milton walks in as #3 QB
Ace: If Milton sees the field any time in the next 2-3 years it’ll be a disaster. Like let’s not even discuss it.
Seth: If we're discounting Shea for "duh" and not transfers don't count, Calvin Anderson would be the big immediate thing.
Ace: Oh, most definitely. For all the Mayfield reasons except magnified a ton since he can start and possibly be quite good right away.
David: Yes, if he's in, he wins.
Adam:
Really like his film. Uses his hands well.
Ace: PFF loves him too.
Seth: It’s quite easy once you know the method. You can make a case here for Myles Sims. He can play any position in the secondary and is the only one of the Brown-types getting national press.
--------------------------------------
3. BEST GIFT TO UNWRAP IN THREE YEARS
Brian: Could be Joe Milton, whether that's because he pulls that accuracy way, way up--QBs with completion percentages that go nowhere during their careers are not usually collge successes--or because he becomes Zach Gentry 2.0. If I had to bet it would be on the latter, but either way he's a guy you want to take a shot on after a couple of years with McCaffrey and Peters.
David: My initial thought here was Luke Schoomaker First, he has the time. Michigan has their TEs for the next couple of seasons, most likely. Also, Schoon's size and athleticism combo are nice. He also played QB in HS, so his intelligence is going to be an asset. Let's let him get used to being in college, learn from solid options in front of him, and we could have another Unearthed Diamond.
Ace: He came to mind as well, but I have to go with Julius “Juice” Welschof because German lineman with crazy 80s-style workout videos. Competition makes it really tough to project the guy but he’s strong and explosive.
Another great workout today. Try to get better every day !!! #workfordreams pic.twitter.com/FNs3yeGJnV
— juliuswelschof (@JuliusWelschof) August 24, 2017
Also he was a youth champion moguls skier. I’m just fascinated to see how that dude develops.
“He’s really raw but his upside is tremendous,” said one of the coaches at another program that had him in camp last summer. “This is a really good get for Michigan. He’s a beautiful kid. He’s going to be 6'6", 280 pounds before too long. His athleticism is really legit.”
That school had Welschof measured at 6'6" and 242 pounds, with a 4.87 40, a 10-foot broad jump and an impressive 4.38-second 20-yard shuttle.
Seth: If Otis Reese commits it'll keep that Viper train rolling once Khaleke Hudson is baffling NFL scouts.
Ace: Yeah, we’ve avoided mentioning Reese because of the uncertainty but he could’ve been in either of the previous two categories. I was down to him and McGrone for best prospect and it’s close. Both are impressively physical players given their size and athleticism.
David: Yeah, I had him as Best Prospect...but, again, uncertainty, etc. Top 100 guy, though...you have to think he'll see the field at some point, next season, if he signs.
--------------------------------------
4. PICK A RUNNING BACK
Ace: BEN VANSUMEREN. HARBAUUUUUUUUUGH!!! But for real, that dude’s gonna be an impact fullback.
David: I wish we had known because he would have been fun to go see in person
Seth: The funny thing about trying to build up my old database of, like, '90s recruits, is the top fullbacks used to be five-stars and pursued by everybody. VanSumeren is the pick of the litter--we just call that a 3-star now.
If you're asking, Michigan's top-rated FB recruit is Jon Ritchie, 1993 class. #1 fullback to everybody, Michigan yoinked him from Penn State.
Ace: Also, my real answer is Michael Barrett from the three tailback-types. I really like the way he runs, and I like the high school QB’s potential to have good vision as a ballcarrier. If Georgia Tech wants you as a QB, I’m cool with you as a RB.
David: Good point. Would have taken Justin Thomas.
Adam: I absolutely love Barrett's game; I just went back and watched the other two backs' highlights and I'm very comfortable with this pick, and those guys are talented. The vision Ace mentioned was readily apparent in Barrett's film, and his athleticism is hard to match. I think he'll see the field soon.
Ace: For a group of three-stars I like this haul. Christian Turner has some Evans-like versatility and Hassan Haskins is a bowling ball.
Seth: Christian Turner, committed so long ago I think he was forgotten about. Kind of a Karan Higdon, which Harbaugh likes.
Ace: I’d take an Evans/Higdon hybrid.
--------------------------------------
5. GUY WHO GOT AWAY WHO WILL HAUNT YOU FOREVER
Ace: Emil Ekiyor is a house on wheels coveted as a guard by Alabama. That guy would’ve been real nice.
Seth: I thought Alabama all but promised him center, and his whole thing was Ruiz is going to lock that down here.
Ace: Center, guard, whatever. Alabama wanted him to play on the interior. That is usually a strong indication of being good. Also a future millionaire.
David: Nicholas Petit-Frere So many reasons.
David: Also Tyler Friday He will probably spend some time in Michigan's backfield in the next few years.
Ace: Oh man… Alim McNeill. I’ll spare you all the Hudl video. They really needed a DT and it’s not looking great at the moment. I guess “really needed” is an overstatement after last year’s haul but getting one would’ve been comforting.
David: Kinda like QBs, though, right? DT in every class?
Ace: Uh... several hundred highly touted offensive tackles who got away? I'm fine with Mayfield and Hayes but both guys are very much developmental and this is the third straight year where Michigan tries to get after some big-time instant impact types and gets shut out. I like Filiaga and Stueber and the guys in this class but really, the Most Important thing about this class is the big gaps in it, at OT and DT.
Seth: I get that they were after other guys but Daniel Faaele winding up at Minnesota was a...surprise.
Ace: I think Faalele winding up at Minnesota after all that exposure tells you something. It is not “instant-impact tackle.”
Brian: As mentioned, every high end OT.
Seth: Also every five-star. There was a time Michigan was in it for Eyabi Anoma.
Ace: Eh, kinda. You could say that every year about a dozen guys. They were “in it” for Isaac Taylor-Stuart, too.
Seth: Alright then Josh Jobe.
David: LOL. Amon-Ra St. Brown
Ace: I think it’s time to move on. The answer is high-end OT.
--------------------------------------
6. GUY YOU'RE MOST IRRATIONALLY ENTHUSED ABOUT
Ace: Ronnie Bell never camped and planned to play basketball in college and changed his mind late. Michigan got in on him quickly and his recruitment ended without any real change in his unranked three-star ranking, but look at the film and tell me he’s not Drake Harris With Functional Hamstrings.
Brian: Barrett. No idea how that guy plays at that level in Georgia and has that film and is not at least a generic four star. He's not a quarterback... so what? Dude is a bowling ball with knives sticking out everywhere.
Adam: I'm very comfortable putting all my eggs in the "Michael Barrett stan" basket.
David: Perhaps Sammy Faustin His size/length combo and being a late riser. Then, letting him sit for a while under Don Brown, after watching what he's done with DBs in the last couple of years...color me intrigued.
Ace: There are a number of DBs in this class who could qualify. Vincent Gray blew up late and his offers way outstrip his ranking, plus (like everyone else) he really fits the Don Brown DB mold.
Seth: There hasn't been a mention of Taylor Upshaw but he's been very quietly ticking UP on recruiting rankings, which is rare. Son of an NFL player who weirdly just started playing football, and Greg Mattison was super-high on him, while a bunch of power programs were sniffing around.
Ace: That’s a good one. I also feel obligated to mention VanSumeren again.
Seth: Ol' Young Murderface
Ace: A true runner/receiver/blocker at fullback with some wheels—yeah, that could work out.
--------------------------------------
7. FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE CLASS
David: DBs for dayyyyyyyyyys
Brian: The 2019 class is already better than it?
Ace: The blocky/catchy haul. As you can probably tell, I’m in on VanSumeren. I really like the tight end class, too. Muhammad is the obvious standout; Schoonmaker looks like another Sean McKeon; Hayes could be a matchup nightmare and serious people-mover if he sticks at TE.
Brian: Let's not mince words: this isn't going to be enough if it continues like this. Not to beat OSU.
Ace: It’s also seriously unlikely to continue like this. As the ’19 start shows. But yeah, this was a letdown. I just cited TEs/FBs as the bright spot.
Brian: Yeah buddy.
David: This is getting into the presumed next section, haha.
Seth: I think this was to be expected. There wasn't really a spot other than tackle where a guy could come in and play immediately, and the returning starters are juniors and sophomores. Also it was an expected down year after graduating everybody.
Ace: On one hand, yeah, it was a small class after a couple huge, talented classes. On the other hand, Ohio State and Alabama manage to pull this off.
Seth: They won national championships before doing so.
Ace: This class still could’ve been better in a few very obvious ways.
--------------------------------------
8. LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS CLASS
Seth: Just continue we're already here.
Ace: Lack of star power.
David: Whoa, that's a lot of DBs
Ace: Other than McGrone and (hopefully) Reese, this class lacks a guy I feel comfortable saying is going to be an eventual shoe-in for all-conference. (Except VanSumeren.) There are a lot of really intriguing three-stars?
Brian: The 100% flier rate on skill position players outside of TE. I guess Turner was an ND prospect as well. The 67% flier rate.
Seth: It's disappointing how hard everything got. Michigan a year ago had a Georgia pipeline, got first pick of guys coming out of New Jersey, was cutting into Ohio State's class, and had guys from California planning officials. Other than the catchy/blocky types, did they get their #5 guy anywhere?
David: There are a lot of unique 3-stars. I guess if there is a class to do that with...maybe this is it?
Alex: This is depressing. Michigan is currently #17 in the composite, would drop a spot if Reese goes elsewhere. Ohio State is #1, Penn State is #4. Can't afford too much more of this.
Ace: Turner still ended up well off four-star pace, too.
Brian: Although, thank God they didn't get a five star RB, amirite?
Adam: I'd feel a lot better about this class if one of the two tackles was actually a tackle. And yeah, my new favorite thing about the class is that they didn't land a five-star RB.
--------------------------------------
9. RANDOM THING YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BRING UP YET
Ace: This doesn’t help the happy fun times feel of this post but I’m disappointed, especially after the Doyle decommitment, that Michigan ended up with only Milton in the class if they really picked him over Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Sushi-raw high-upside guy in a two-QB class? Awesome. In a one-QB class? I get a little nervous.
I’m also a bit skeptical of the party line that the coaches really favored Milton over DTR unless they had a sense he was going to UCLA regardless, but that’s the party line.
Seth: I may as well end with my graph:
Closest comp is…2007? Mallett headliner, with Molk, RVB, Hemingway, Huyge, Woolfolk and some guys who didn’t play our shouldn’t have been. Huyge got the fourth-most playing time from that class. James Rogers was seventh. The difference being if this class produces just five solid contributors that’s something Michigan might be able to get away with now if 2019 is more like 2016-2017.
Alex: Thing I want to bring up: DeJulius-Nunez-Iggy-Johns-Castleton is a Big Ten title type class(?) At least we have that going for us, which is nice.
Ace: Yes, let’s go with this.
Brian: Seconded.
Ace: The 2018 class is killer, guys.
Brian: Or thirded. Whatever!
February 7th, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^
What stars lol.
February 7th, 2018 at 1:23 PM ^
Ah, Jon Ritchie. I was in West Quad at the same time as him. Here are the things I remember about his time at Michigan:
- He was a stud FB/HB recruit in an era when we liked those
- He did very little at all at Michigan, then had a solid career at Stanford
- He once shit in a cup and left it in the middle of the stairwell so he and his buddies could laugh at everyone who had to step around it or knock it over.
February 7th, 2018 at 1:24 PM ^
I think one of the best things I've seen in the 2019 class so far is a focus on pushing for Michigan guys. Michigan needs an easy get place where it's likely we're the #1 option for every big time recruit in the area. It's been frustrating that we've been basically pushed out of Georgia because of Georgia (understandable though) and pushed out of NJ because of Penn State and OSU. Those two teams are basically the top option for every major recruit in the northeast up to Maryland. Getting a strong footing there would be a major plus. But making sure Michigan is fenced off from other schools is good start.
February 7th, 2018 at 1:44 PM ^
For Michigan to compete on a national level, they have to recruit areas which will be a tough pull. There simply is not enough talent in Michigan to build a nationally competitive team. Fencing off the state is great, but since Harbaugh has arrived there has only been one or two guys (if that) Michigan wanted who ended up going out of state (or even to MSU).
February 7th, 2018 at 4:58 PM ^
February 7th, 2018 at 1:25 PM ^
Question - Why are we losing recruits to Notre Dame at this point? I get the schools like Georgia/Alabama/Clemson with great success. I get the "close to home" losses. And I get that certain schools will play dirty. But how is ND a better landing spot than Michigan?
February 7th, 2018 at 1:42 PM ^
February 7th, 2018 at 1:46 PM ^
Wouldn't all of that apply to Michigan?
February 7th, 2018 at 5:32 PM ^
there's almost no difference between the programs at this point.
So to complain about losing recruits to them is absurd.
February 7th, 2018 at 10:40 PM ^
Why would they choose to go to school 1 when they could choose to go to school 1a?
February 7th, 2018 at 2:16 PM ^
Michigan didn't really go head-to-head with Notre Dame much this cycle. Correct me if I'm wrong but the ND/Mich battles were:
- The Ademilola Twins
- OLB Shayne Simon
- TE/OT Ryan Hayes
- OLB Cam McGrone
- RB Christian Turner
- TE Mustapha Muhammad
Michigan was in on the Ademilolas early but that interest seemed to peter out after they came for The Game in 2015. They were visiting everybody and that became an OSU/ND battle. I don't know what happened.
Simon was always a heavy ND lean that Michigan was poking around at. I mean, you could include Jarrett Patterson too by that metric (I didn't because his top two were UCLA/ND).
On the flipside, we beat them for Turner, McGrone, and Hayes, and then in the TE sweepstakes Ohio State took Ruckert, Michigan got Muhammad, and then ND wound up losing a couple of guys to Penn State then offering former Michigan target Tommy Tremble.
I'd expect Michigan and Notre Dame to be going after a lot of the same kids more often than we have. It might just be one of those things like with Michigan/Michigan State hockey in the 90s where both schools were recruiting everywhere but seldom overlapped because they had such substantially different personalities.
February 7th, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^
The lack of top-end talent is the biggest concern with this class. But lying beneath the surface is my concern about roster management. This was going to be a small class and the on-field results didn't make it easy on the coaches, but I am confused by their roster management.
The positions you'd most want to see filled with recruits are OL, DT, and QB this year. We barely did anything to address those three positions. Instead, we stockpiled TEs and DBs even though we don't really need them. We used 8 scholarships on TE/DB this year and it will be a suprise if any of those players see meaningful snaps. That's.....odd? Concerning? Signs of an inability to get the guys you want?
February 7th, 2018 at 1:58 PM ^
February 7th, 2018 at 2:01 PM ^
We needed Cornerback/Safety depth and did not take a Tight End last year and Asiasi transferred.
Just because something doesn't feel like a need, doesn't mean it isn't one. Agree DT and OT are HUGE misses in this class, but they did have needs elsewhere no matter how much everyone wants to see red over the football team/recruiting this year.
February 7th, 2018 at 3:03 PM ^
How much depth do they need? On MGoBlue the players listed below are all DBs:
Thomas
Hudson
Metellus
JKP
Hawkins
Long
Davis
Kinnel
Hill
BSJ
Woods
Reynolds
Glasgow
Cochran
Goodman
West
McCurry
February 7th, 2018 at 7:27 PM ^
You realize a lot of those guys are walk-ons you never want playing, right?
Free Safety:
- Kinnel (2018)
- Woods (2020)
- Hawkins (2020)
Rover:
- Metellus (2019)
- Kelly-Powell (2020)
- Glasgow (2019)
Cornerback:
- Hill (2019)
- Long (2019)
- Thomas (2020)
- Watson (2018)
- St-Juste (2020)
Nobody redshirted last year or the year before so the team when the 2018 class are juniors/RS sophomores will have at most five guys ahead of them (Woods, Hawkins, JKP, Thomas, and St-Juste), and attrition is bound to whittle that down to two or three. The last few classes were about building immediate depth because it was needed, but you don't want to be trying to do that all the time.
February 8th, 2018 at 1:20 AM ^
especially since we essentially play 5 of them and we like interchangeable parts in the defensive backfield. Also, there's no telling if Long or Hill will even be here past this year as they could be early entries.
But TE...we didn't need more than one. We have two more years of McKeon and Gentry, and three (maybe four?) more of Eubanks. Take Muhammed for sure, but unless they see some potential to turn Schoonmaker into an OT, there's no reason to take him, especially when Hayes and/or Milton could end up there.
February 7th, 2018 at 2:22 PM ^
Agreed. If you look at damn near every program that competes to win their conference, and make a playoff run, NY6 bowl game...sure they are good in every area, but they have dominate offensive and defensive lines just about every year. Regardless of roster depth OL and DL is a spot you can't afford to miss out on in any year. We took 0 DT and 1 true offensive lineman. Looking at Hayes I would say 2-3 years before he can hit the field at OL.
Replacing our best guy on Oline, and having 2 gaping holes at OT, and an interior OL that played average this year....and somehow we only take 1 guy in this class. This feels similar to the 2014 situation when Hoke only took 2 OL after a big 2013 haul...and we all know how that worked out.
February 7th, 2018 at 2:07 PM ^
I came to UM after a successful career in the NFL. Made it to Superbowl. Before that I coached Stanford and moved them from 1-11 to 11-1 in no time. I am in the news all the time. Took my team to Italy and met with the Pope. I am the coach at a school with great football tradition and academic reputation. I am interviewed on sport channels all the time and have a great weekly podcast. I met the first lady and members of the Supreme Court. I had two great recruiting classes. Kids just love me. They are going to line up to come to play for me. It is going to be even easier for me than Saban to recruit. I really do not have to push my coaches or myself to go out there and recuit our asses off because kids just love me.
Then 2017 on-field performance and 2018 recruiting happened.
Jim, should stop drinking his own Kool Aid.
February 7th, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^
It pains me to say I agree with the tone & tenor of this kool-aid post completely, at least til it goes off the rails saying JH should have an easier time crootin than Saban...
My concerns actually began with the use of Pepcat in '16. It just got more and more predictable as the season wore on, no wrinkles, no variety in usage. It looked (here's the last word any of us thought we'd be using about JH 3 years ago) LAZY!
And then that same sense began to manifest itself throughout the offense in '17. And the relative lack of success in '18 crootin.
For lack of any other way to phrase this - THIS ain't #Winning
February 7th, 2018 at 2:26 PM ^
More like:
February 7th, 2018 at 2:38 PM ^
anyway, move on, FREAKIN WIN, and 2019 class will be bonkers.
Onto the off season
February 7th, 2018 at 3:01 PM ^
One more thing about 2017. They made a documentary about it.
February 7th, 2018 at 4:57 PM ^
February 7th, 2018 at 3:01 PM ^
Where are all the fucking assholes on here who get upset every time someone rightfully points out that our recruits this cycle are not up to par? I have gotten various comments telling me I am "insulting" our current class by pointing out that its not as good as it needs to be.
February 7th, 2018 at 6:22 PM ^
Maybe you’re right, maybe you’re not. But if you save this post for 4 years we can all come back and pat you on the ass and tell you how smart you are. Maybe they will hire you to be in charge of recruiting if you aren’t too busy patting yourself on the back. Either way, what makes you think anyone gives a rats fuck about your precious opinion? It is what it is, deal with it and support the team or shut the fuck up. I grow weary of the bitching around here, it’s a fucking game people, it’s all gonna be ok.
February 7th, 2018 at 3:02 PM ^
Wow! For three knowledgeable and sophisticated evaluatiors, they lost me when they started complaining about how low the rankings were. They had just demonstrated numerous times why rankings are intereting and not irrational, they are deeply flawed. Then one of them goes on to say that clases like this means Michigan will never beat OSU. Hmm, somebody unmentionable does on a regular basis. I realize M aspires to more than a sophisticated defensive system and a bad weather to beat OSU, but a few all pros have emerged from you know where too despite their rankings. Be realistic but not disapppointed. Let's wait two more years before calling out the dogs.
February 7th, 2018 at 3:12 PM ^
You REALLY want to let this go on for another two years!?
I personally can't take two more years of 8-5, losing to all rivals, losing all major road games, and losing the bowl game in pathethic fashion.
Either JH gets his crap together in 2018 or he needs to go.
February 7th, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^
Ok, you get rid of Harbaugh. If Harbaugh leaves, Don Brown is most likely gone, and he's been saving Jimmy's bacon the last two years. Mattison most likely retires. Bush and Partridge most likely leave. You've blown up all the best things about about this staff. Who do you bring in to replace him? Lincoln Riley? Dabo? Saban? Urbz? Maybe Carr can come out of retirement...
I think it's a bit irrational to say Harbaugh should leave after another 8-5 year. Harbaugh has been stock piling talent for two years. He's has a new, rather unispiring, class to coach up. The 2019 class is looking really solid. Let's wait and see. Every coach should be given 5 years. After that, it's open season on a dud for a coach.
February 7th, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
February 7th, 2018 at 4:48 PM ^
February 7th, 2018 at 6:30 PM ^
Texas A&M and UCLA? They both signed national championship caliber coaches out of the blue, and neither has the prestige that Michigan does. Do you really think if they dangled what they're paying Harbaugh out there that nobody would be interested enough to leave another good job?
February 7th, 2018 at 11:06 PM ^
February 7th, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^
Can someone explain for me the inside-jokey-sounding thing about not wanting a 5-star running back? Was there a five-star RB who did something bad? I for one would like to have a five-star running back.
On a different note, we need to get Dobbs in 2019. If he goes to OSU, then, well... that might be something that happens. Or else.
February 7th, 2018 at 3:09 PM ^
I believe it's mostly due to the fact that the last two 5* running backs Michigan has gotten have turned out to be major busts.
I mean, obviously a 5* player at any position is better than a 3* player. They're saying it more tounge-in-cheek than anything else.
February 7th, 2018 at 3:28 PM ^
Only the last two?
Seems like more...
February 7th, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^
Kelly baraka
Seems like there’s more. Didn’t Hart emerge from a pile of hyped up Freshman RBs? Fargas, Max Martin, I can’t remember..... fuck I’m old.
Go Blue
February 8th, 2018 at 2:34 PM ^
Kareem Walker WAS a 5* when he committed - subsequently dropped to 4*, and would prob have even been considered more like a 3* if rating services ever dropped anyone that far.
They never would, because it would call their own judgement into question as much as anything else!
February 7th, 2018 at 3:29 PM ^
I couldn't have picked a better picture for this post. Harbaugh's facial expression sums up this season, recruiting class and general outlook on the future. Nicely done!
I know it's been beaten to death on the Blog, but 2018 is YUUUUGE year for Harbaugh and his staff. Success on the field will lead to success on the recruiting trail. Harbaugh feels the heat. He know's what's at stake here.
There's a lot of people who think we're on course. Another 8-4 season with no wins over rivals may change things. Here's to hoping Harbaugh gets this team on track and saves us all from jumping off the cliff.
Go Blue!
February 7th, 2018 at 3:51 PM ^
February 7th, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^
February 7th, 2018 at 4:49 PM ^
I see everyone clamoring for Harbaugh to be on the hot seat if he doesn't go 13-0 this year and start putting up #1 recruiting classes year after year.
Okay, geniuses, tell me: who do you want as the Head Coach?
Seriously, throw out some names.
Because, what I saw in 2015 was a 5-7 team that magically transformed into a 10-3 team and the only significant addition was Jake Rudock. Was that magic? Did I dream it?
What I saw in 2016 team was a program that sent 11 starters to the NFL and had a few more undrafted. And, yes, that team also went 10-3. It also lost those 3 games by 5 combined points through a combination of shit luck and shady officiating. I know we'd all feel better if Michigan went 13-0 and made the playoffs, but it didn't happen. They were still the best team in the Big Ten in 2016.
What I saw in 2017 was a team replacing 17 starters, had their starting QB go down for the season in the fourth game of the season and still manage to go to 8-5. Yes, the performance against South Carolina was a little concerning, but they didn't get blown out. They blew a lead. Does Michigan beat Michigan State, Wisconsin and Ohio State with Wilton Speight (even 2017 Speight) instead of John O'Korn? It's certainly possible, even likely! How does a 11-2 season make you feel? Because I saw a coach who somehow managed to get a team led by fucking John O'Korn to nearly beat Ohio State. Oh, noted super coach Jimbo Fisher lost his starting QB and promptly went 6-7. So, yeah, it happens.
Stop. I get it. It's been a frustrating, what, 15 years at this point. I'm not happy either. But, unless you have somebody in mind who can exceed those results, then don't advocate for replacing Harbaugh.
February 7th, 2018 at 6:07 PM ^
February 7th, 2018 at 6:11 PM ^
February 7th, 2018 at 6:43 PM ^
was a 3-9 Michigan State team improve to 10-3 (with one of those losses in triple OT) with NOTHING. After big losses due to suspensions. Playing walk-ons. Winning two games against top 10 opponents, plus a dominating bowl win. With NOTHING.
So please stop with the baloney about how many starters we lost after 2016. Please stop with the baloney about injuries, and the weather, and bad "luck" and other teams paying the refs to throw games, and the schedule makers and the Big Ten, and the NCAA, and the media, blah blah blah. Put the blame for one third place finish after another where it belongs. On the coaches.
February 7th, 2018 at 7:47 PM ^
With the same QB who played in 2016 and in 2017. Unlike the platoon Michigan ran out.
Carry on.
February 7th, 2018 at 8:01 PM ^
February 8th, 2018 at 7:11 AM ^
to call everyone who criticzes Great Leader as a "Sparty troll", but it really makes you look like a blind Harbaugh cultist.
Point out one thing I've said that isn't absolutely true.
February 7th, 2018 at 7:03 PM ^
That is, the "who you gonna get?" Seriously? How do up and coming coaches make a name for themselves? Where did Scott Frost come from?
There isn't only one coach who could do what Harbaugh as done to this point. Plenty of coaches could have led this team to its current position. It's silly to have to list them off.
Furthermore, if M tanks next year, the howls will get louder and all the "Who can do better?" posts will be like white noise.
Harbaugh is a good coach. There are plenty of good coaches. And many of them are just waiting for opportunities, doing work in their respective positions.
And no, I don't have a list. But they exist outside the bubble.
Comments