5-7 in 2018?

Submitted by Decatur Jack on

I was talking with a friend I trust on things related to Michigan football and he laid out what I thought was a fairly convincing scenario in which we go 5-7 this year, with losses to ND, Nebraska, Maryland, Wisconsin, MSU, Penn State, and OSU.

The crux of his argument boils down to the OL failing to develop significantly (they need to be a lot better), Shea is not ruled eligible and Peters continues his performance from the South Carolina game. An opening loss to Notre Dame makes the mgocommunity restless and there are calls for McCaffrey, who is pushed into the starting job and doesn't show to be demonstrably better than Peters. Our inability to pass protect puts all of our QBs in a bad spot, and we still can't run the ball when we need to. Wide receivers continue to drop key passes on third downs, failing to develop one iota under Pep/McElwain. We defense our way to 5 wins but against tougher teams we stumble, and we go 0-3 against the rivals.

I wanted to throw this up to the mgoboard and see what you all think, if this is just an outlier position or if it sounds realistic or plausible.

MGoBoard

billybrown

February 16th, 2018 at 3:57 PM ^

If it's bothering you that much just tune out and find something else to do in the fall on Saturdays. I don't understand people like you and Why you even bother watching? What joy does it bring you? Who knows what's gonna happen next year until it happens but if a team hiring a football coach has this much of an effect on your emotions just find something else to do.

Joined: 10/02/2010

MGoPoints: 112

goblue16

February 16th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^

If we go 5-7 only a monkey can justify keeping Harbaugh. With that said that’s not going to happen although I do wonder what the cut off point is for sane people to call for his job at the end of the season. Would going 8-5 but beating OSU and MSU offset going 11-2 and losing both. So many different combinations can happen. This will be one of the most interesting seasons for Michigan football in a long time

Joined: 03/28/2010

MGoPoints: 17468

Lucky Socks

February 16th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^

We could go 0-12 next year, or 12-0.  Yeah, 0-12 is highly unlikely and you could paint a scenario where 5-7 is a distinct possibility BUT -

Jim Harbaugh has had one bad season to offset a career of success.

We can reasonably expect improvement at literally every position except LT and QB.  We have three reasonable answers at QB, and you can point out dozens of team who can get by with average LT play.  So basically all we need is for awful to become average, but hopefully more.

You and your friend should relax and try to enjoy your summer.

Joined: 01/18/2012

MGoPoints: 2745

GRBluefan

February 16th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^

let's not forget that this information came from a friend HE TRUSTS ABOUT MICHIGAN FOOTBALL.  I mean, if it was just from a regular friend it would not be board worthy, but this is a friend HE TRUSTS ABOUT MICHIGAN FOOTBALL.  

Joined: 02/13/2009

MGoPoints: 18421

TNWolverine

February 16th, 2018 at 4:04 PM ^

I literally just scrolled through all the comments and looked for your name/picture so I could downvote you. I knew without reading your comments that they had to be just as bad, if not worse than the post.

Joined: 10/26/2010

MGoPoints: 5223

Wolvmarine

February 16th, 2018 at 4:05 PM ^

Wow, 59 downvotes and counting. The offense will improve. Drevno’s demotion I think will work out. Clearly being OC and OLine coach was too much for poor Timmy. And the defense, well it will be insanely good.

Joined: 08/28/2008

MGoPoints: 6156

Michifornia

February 16th, 2018 at 4:06 PM ^

I'm all for voicing your opinions but this is just plain stupid.  If you're trying to get a rise out of people, mission accomplished.  If this is a serious question, I'm left in disbelief.  Also, if this is a friend you trust on "things related to Michigan football" you should really reconsider your sources.  Wow.

Joined: 10/03/2013

MGoPoints: 13813

Charles_Howard_Brady

February 16th, 2018 at 4:06 PM ^

Do realize that basically the entire defense is coming back next year?  You do realize that the youngest college football team in America is going to be year older and more mature?  Do you understand the words that are coming out of your keyboard?   Just stop!

Joined: 01/03/2015

MGoPoints: 172

AZBlue

February 16th, 2018 at 4:09 PM ^

Have your friend explain how the OL and QB won’t be better than last year.

Worst case OL is Bredeson, Onwenu. Spanellis, Ruiz, and JBB. I’d say Spanellis v. Kugler is at worst a wash, Bredson v. Cole is a bit of a downgrade, and the other 3 are better if for no other reason than one year more experience. Best case is probably Newsome, Bredeson, Ruiz, Onwenu, and one of the Redshirt Frosh- with Spanellis and JBB as primary backups — better in every spot compared to last year.

At QB - I would take the winner of a year-older McCaffrey, Peters battle over every game starter last year except maybe Speight before injury.

WR and TE will be much better than last year, FB and RB a wash.

That Equals a better offense. The defense will be better than last year overall despite the loss of Hurst.

Finally - despite the all-time shitty offense last year we easily could have (should have) won every game last year except PSU and maybe Wisconsin.

If that sounds like 5-7 you may want to talk to a doctor about mood altering medications.

Joined: 09/14/2008

MGoPoints: 16837

SpilledMilk

February 16th, 2018 at 10:13 PM ^

I have plans to get those two words tattooed on my chest (in a sick font, of course) This masters tat will read "could've won" directly under "should've won".

Joined: 10/15/2017

MGoPoints: 2895

ramuk8891

February 16th, 2018 at 4:11 PM ^

I'm curious to know what the expectations truly are for Michigan fans? What if we lose against ND, MSU and OSU and go 9-3. Is that reasonable? Should we be satisfied?

I need to realign my expectations as well and like most other people here I tend to get my expectations up (Big ten championship and in the CFP) every year before the season starts. Not sure where I should be at now though. Thoughts?

Joined: 05/31/2013

MGoPoints: 171

Der Alte

February 16th, 2018 at 4:11 PM ^

based on everything going wrong at the worst possible time. Similarly, a utopic scenario sees Patterson connecting with receivers behind a rejuvenated O-line and Higdon and Evans both approaching 1000 yards in the season, the defense proving as good or better than last year, and the team going 10-2 or 11-1 or (what the hay) even undefeated.

 

Joined: 07/30/2010

MGoPoints: 1925

mgobaran

February 16th, 2018 at 4:15 PM ^

One bad year when we went a whopping 8-5. Eight and FIVE! Harbaugh and Drevno both were here to turn around a 5-7 team into back to back 10-3 teams. 

A bad season ending in 8-5 should be viewed as a sign of program stability. Worst possible outcome was and is 8-5. Chin up.

Joined: 09/12/2012

MGoPoints: 22811

Brendan71388

February 16th, 2018 at 4:15 PM ^

Well sure, this is possible. You could also write up a worst-case scenario for every other team in the country, one of which would include Ohio State losing to their archrival at home to lose their bid to the B1G title game. 

Joined: 10/28/2014

MGoPoints: 1994

ScruffyTheJanitor

February 16th, 2018 at 4:23 PM ^

is going to be gawd-awful, I think our defense should be good enough for at least 6 wins-- if not more. Remember, this is the Big 10, which always finds a way to put 2-3  games on your schedule which defies all logic.

So even if you think that everyone on offense will either plateau or get worse-- which, seriously?-- even 5-7 doesn't make sense tome. 

Joined: 02/03/2011

MGoPoints: 12197