Development versus Talent - Michigan OL and OSU DL

The staff in its entirety has done an incredible job over the last several years in developing talent, getting the most out of each player they are bringing in and creating a culture that not only fits these players but lets them enhance it.

They've found the formula that works!

You think Zach Harrison is regretting his decision to go to OSU? Dude has just over 10 career sacks as a senior and has a losing record against Michigan while Michigan's DL is producing high draft picks annually

We need some elite recruits, but Michigan's talent development has been astonishing. The last two years we've seen it produce competent players to fill big holes and elite players at places where there appeared to be no such players in the pipeline.

The OL is the clearest example of that: The best running OL in the country. Good recruits, not great recruits, but you know they are excellent, and frankly we know they will be excellent in the coming years.

But it goes beyond that. Michigan has competency everywhere: look at the defensive backfield, which was hopeless two years ago. Gemon Green? Solid! The safeties? Solid! A pipeline of good TEs--our top two were out or limited, and so we pull out Colston Loveland.

And Michigan is producing *elite* players that are playing at high 4-star levels where none existed. Hassan Haskins. David Ojabo. Mike Sainristil. These are guys nobody saw being stars at their positions when they were recruited, and they're not just competent, they are elite-level difference makers. 

I think the shift to both a pro-style of play and player usage philosophy on the defensive side of the ball the past two years has made a huge difference. I'd love to hold onto Minter for a few more seasons... we'll see. On the offensive side of the ball, it's been a "return to basics" of a sort. It really all boils down to the OL, and being able to run about 7 deep there, with injuries inevitable. Whether you mash it, like Harbaugh wants, or pass 50 times a game, it's all made possible with a good OL... which it appears we now have the staff to recruit, develop, and maintain.  As a last hot take... the past few years have also highlighted to me the critical importance of a good center: smart, quick, powerful. Harbaugh's reinvented himself a couple of times here at Michigan, and right now, he's got himself in a great position!!!  Job's not done, of course!  GO BLUE!

Wow, thank you for the content.  This is great. 

I am too lazy to do the research but always felt this was the case.  Would love to see our DB's against their receivers. Same story I would imagine.

This really is an indictment of Day and his staff.  You look at GA and AL with similar talent to OSU and they produce year in and year out (GA more recently).

The more interesting comparison could be their DL and our DL. I think most would argue we have the better DL. With three-stars Mike Morris and Kris Jenkins, low four-star Jaylen Harrell, and high four-star Mazi Smith. That's pretty remarkable considering the insane talent OSU has on theirs. 

There's an interesting theory laying around in there somewhere. Something about whole and parts and chemistry and hard work. Not sure what the difference is.

Or it's because they're soft

Got downvoted for this take on reddit over a year ago. Larry Johnson is great at convincing NFL caliber players to come play for him, but he does nothing to develop them into guys who can succeed once they're in the league. His only success stories are the Bosas who came in basically NFL ready. 

Also, anyone else notice Zach Harrison talking a ton of shit all first half Saturday? Hilarious that he's 0-2 and likely leaving OSU without a win over us. And I'm confident he'd have been drafted higher if he came here. 

Great question - and, it seems to not only apply to the "Michigan OL vs Buckeyes DL", but also - the Michigan DL vs the Buckeyes OL.

So, what are the elements?

1. Talent - and, being talented, or with enough potential to compete at this level.  There is a difference between a four and five star prospect - but, that difference is not huge if sound fundamentals and effort are considered.  The Buckeyes have a "more talented" roster, according the the HIGH SCHOOL evaluation services - and, I don't contest that.

2. Development.  This is on the position coaches and S&C staff.  I'll go with Michigan's staff.  A strong focus on fundamentals - and, from a player perspective "passing on the knowledge" to those who younger than you.

3. Effort and desire.  This is on the players.  S&C at 6:00 am isn't easy or fun.  Their attention to detail and focus is critical.  Nothing can replace the drive a player brings to an S&C session, film study, or practice.

4. Scheme.  More complex and advance schemes are difficult to assess / diagnose in-game.  And, they are also more difficult to learn.  Michigan's staff has introduced "Sunday playing" concepts with a lot of nuance - it isn't just an IZ run, the blocking schemes are a bit more difficult to read and adjust to.

5. Culture.  What would you prefer?  A five star prospect / player who has some degree of entitlement - or a three / four star player who busts their butt at every opportunity.   I'll go with the hard worker - Blue Collar - Carhartt wearing - player.

There are a LOT of elements to it - and, essentially, it's everything.  Go Blue!

We not only develop the individual skills of the players on the OL, we teach them how to play together so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  OSU seems to be more of a “the whole is just the sum of the parts” kind of team.  While those individual parts are terrific, they seem to lack the cohesion that Michigan displays.

Any chance we get Darius Taylor??  

Well the obvious solution to that problem is they hire away our OL coach. Hoping they don't figure that one out.

As Urban said, winner of trenches wins the game.  (Referencing Urban made me feel dirty).

Btw, thought it was funny that Urban said OSU would win trenches but then acknowledged that they needed to put extra men in the box to stop Michigan.  That is not winning the trenches.

Herbert. Pay the man. Sherrone. Pay the man. Jesse. Pay the man.

I think Hart/Weiss/ElstonClink/Jaybaugh/Helow/Newsome all had significant but less heralded success improving their charges as well. Pay the men. Unfortunately, UM once again will likely lose Harbaugh acquired talent and good for them. Next man/woman up.

Hotline to John Harbaugh please. Who ya got?

This staff is also excellent at identifying talent that will work with the system and the culture. There is a lot to say about having players that are perfect for the team.

I've said this numerous times but I'll say it again.

In Football, you can build a program around 5* juniors and seniors.

Who gives a shit if most of them were a 3* when they arrived on campus. Most 5* guys aren't 5* guys on day one, they're projecting.

The key is to find the day one 5* guys (Will Johnson) and then find 20 other guys who will be 5*'s before they graduate (Mike Sainristil).

A better way to think about it is like this...if this version of Mike Sainristil was in this 2023 recruiting class...where would he rank? 

Okay, so now when Michigan gets a 3* kid this year. Don't look at him like a 3*. Just pretend he's a 5* in the 2025 class who is a 2 year early enrollee.

If he pans out and that is the case, who cares if he wasn't a '23 5* unless you are banking on him playing a major role next year?

But we don't need a 5* LB next year, we have Colson, Barrett, Hill-Green, Rolder, Mullings, (and even Pollard)...we need a 2024 or 2025, 5* LB.  Because when Colson, Barrett, and NHG are gone...the cupboard is bare.

So Semaj Bridgeman and Deuce Spurlock and potentially Jason Hewlett...those guys have a year or two to develop into 5*'s.

that defensive lines looked very average not just when they played against Michigan, I would've never known it was loaded with 5 stars by watching them play. It is more than just soft, it is lazy from the coaching staff all the way down. 

Some of it is coaching but I have also long believed it's hard to evaluate players coming out of HS especially along the lines because they tend to be so physically superior to their opponents that they can look otherworldly.  UM has a number of guys in their past who came in top-25/top-50 on the OL and DL who never quite panned out, and so a guy ranked 150 and another ranked 50th might be pretty close in actuality except one might have popped a bit more on tape. 

I hope our success helps the recruiting.