Does a Winning Out Make Jim Harbaugh’s Third Season an Improvement?

Submitted by OaklandInPlay on
Alright, we’ve all seen the tie-breaker scenarios and it’s unlikely that we’re going to Indy. However, if we win out and OSU beats sparty, we would win a share of the Big Ten East. Would this season be an improvement over years 1 and 2?
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Doc Mango Gibbs

November 5th, 2017 at 12:58 PM ^

How is this even a question?  If Harbaugh goes 10-2 with the youngest team in the country after losing his starting QB and #1WR, he deserves coach of the year. 

Joined: 10/23/2017

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MGoCombs

November 5th, 2017 at 1:02 PM ^

In all seriousness, what are the tiebreaker scenarios? I’m sure it’s buried in a post-game thread and sure I️ could look it up/figure it out, but is there a remotely plausible scenario where we win a tiebreaker?

Joined: 08/13/2009

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Cali Wolverine

November 5th, 2017 at 1:03 PM ^

with a super young team, after losing your #1 WR and going through 3 QB’s is a step backwards...of course it is an improvement! Pointer - before posting read the question out loud after you type it.

Joined: 01/13/2013

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sportzfan81

November 5th, 2017 at 1:03 PM ^

Finishing 10-2 with road wins at MD & Camp Randall and home win against Buckeyes. That would guarantee them a major bowl appearance, which I assume you mean they would also win by "winning out". That would be a successful season in my opinion.

Joined: 05/20/2011

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bamf16

November 5th, 2017 at 1:07 PM ^

Define improvement.

 

Last year's team was superior to this year's team in almost every way, remained relatively healthy until the Bowl game, and with a chance to go to Indy and make the playoff, the QB fumbled a snap at the goaline, threw a pick 6, set up another TD with a pick, the play-calling was atrocious, and the defense couldn't get a stop in OT.

 

This year's team is the youngest in the Power 5, is on its 3rd QB, and lost its #1 wide receiver.

 

Last year's team failed to reach the expectations and with little "good" reason I think.

 

This year's team had lower expectations and has had to overcome things that last year's team did not. What's changed things in a lot of ways is that we expected the defense to struggle more than it has, but expected the offense to do better than it has, even when Speight was healthy.

 

What hasn't improved is the fucking idiots who are obsessed with finding areas of "improvement" as if we're still watching a team with question marks at head coach, and/or try to evaluate based on some broad set of parameters because they can't seem to grasp what's happening on the field.

 

How's this for an answer?

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Cw1lly33

November 5th, 2017 at 1:07 PM ^

Given the circumstances I think this team has done well and continue to improve for the future of the program. I am excited to see how next years offensive/defensive lines look next year. I think we continue to improve the run game this year and I think over the next couple weeks we see Brandon Peters start to grow and show what made him a highly touted 4 Star qb. I think we have a good chance to win out. Next year I think we see a amazing qb competition between McCaffrey and peters and whoever wins will lead Michigan to a great 2018 season. 2018 could be a year that propels is to the college football playoffs if they can excel in those big games and that starts off with Notre Dame.

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Zeke21

November 5th, 2017 at 1:08 PM ^

But more important is that 

The TEAM continues to show the Character, Integrity and Loyalty that reflect the M way. 

Go Blue.

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Eyzwidopn

November 5th, 2017 at 1:08 PM ^

would be an undeniable success considering the turnstyle at QB; the youth at virtually every position; O-line problems; and this young team not folding in the face of adversity... like say Florida. Win out or go 10-3, we've seen enough to know that next season should produce a B10 championship and in contention for a NC.

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LSAClassOf2000

November 5th, 2017 at 1:26 PM ^

I get a little frustrated with people who use the record as the sole (or one of the few) determination of what is improvement and what it is not. It is a dynamic question that isn't simple "W" and "L" and how many of them you get really. 

There are far too many ways you could define "improvement" for a college football team, but if in this case we're going to talk about - just as a really minor example - how this team has been able to cope with the personnel it lost and what it has been able to do despite that - then yeah, there's improvement and a lot of reason to think 2018 could be a really nice year. 

 

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MGB

November 5th, 2017 at 1:29 PM ^

For all of the over the top bitching about the coaching staff this season, Michigan the youngest team in the country.. has the same exact record as veteran Ohio State and Penn State teams that were the media darlings all year long. Go Blue!

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Qmatic

November 5th, 2017 at 1:30 PM ^

10-2 with a victory over OSU with this young team makes this season a lot more acceptable than last year's 10-2. Another 10-3 season with a bowl win puts this season right at about expectation

Joined: 01/09/2013

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B-Nut-GoBlue

November 5th, 2017 at 1:31 PM ^

I'm not sure. I do know not having a 2nd QB ready to go (or even a first...not sure how Speight was truly going to be this year) was an issue and one that I think Harbaugh would admit to and one I even think is weighing on him this year. It's been a baaaad passing offense and I'm still not sure Peters is ready yet. Beating Ohio St. makes it all a moot point cuz we're desperate as fuck...but it's sketchy right now.

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Hard-Baughlls

November 5th, 2017 at 1:56 PM ^

Youngest team in the country.

Breaking in a new QB and replacing the entire defense.

Will be returning all this talent with some experience next year.

O-line finally showing signs of clicking.

Next year:

Returning a top 5 defense

Returning a much better and more experienced O-line

Returning a young but highly rated QB with real time game experience

Returning 4 highly rated recievers - Black, Jones, Collins with game experience

Returning 2 game breaking running backs - Higdon, Evans

 

Not sure what else people would want from this staff given the youth, but the trajectory and future is very very bright.

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Blue_Bull_Run

November 5th, 2017 at 2:24 PM ^

Winning out would put us at 10-2, same as last year's regular season record. Except this scenario would include a win over OSU (not to mention on the road at Wisconsin). Beating OSU is without a doubt an improvement over losing in OT like last year

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Blue_Bull_Run

November 5th, 2017 at 2:24 PM ^

Winning out would put us at 10-2, same as last year's regular season record. Except this scenario would include a win over OSU (not to mention on the road at Wisconsin). Beating OSU is without a doubt an improvement over losing in OT like last year

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Durham Blue

November 5th, 2017 at 2:30 PM ^

If we win out through the bowl game then we will be 11-2 and will have beaten OSU.  Yes, that is an improvement over losses to OSU and 10-3 and I do believe most Michigan fans will be OK with that.

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UMfan21

November 5th, 2017 at 2:41 PM ^

yes. most had Michigan at 3-4 losses this year. if we win out, defeating two top 10 teams in the process that is definitely exceeding expectations. even if we lose 2 of the last 3, that puts us at 4 losses where some of the less optimistic people such as myself pegged the team.

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loucreekmur

November 5th, 2017 at 2:42 PM ^

Since 2009, only one SEC team, Alabama, has won the mythical national championship.  It seems to echo an old description of the Big !0, the Big Two and the Little Eight. It seems that the following is now applicable to the SEC: The Big One and the Tiny Thirteen.  Don't believe Georgia is capable of changing this narrative  

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loucreekmur

November 5th, 2017 at 2:42 PM ^

Since 2009, only one SEC team, Alabama, has won the mythical national championship.  It seems to echo an old description of the Big !0, the Big Two and the Little Eight. It seems that the following is now applicable to the SEC: The Big One and the Tiny Thirteen.  Don't believe Georgia is capable of changing this narrative  

Joined: 10/18/2013

MGoPoints: 406

NateVolk

November 5th, 2017 at 2:58 PM ^

Already a success. Look around at these other top teams in the Big Ten East and ask yourself how they'd be doing if they lost their quarterback for all but 3 games. 2 of those teams struggle mightily as it is to run the ball. And Michigan currently has identical season records with all three of those top teams.

9 wins plus would be worthy of national coach of the year discussion in a year where MSU wasn't rising from the ruins. 

Go ask Jimbo Fisher how hard it is to do what Jim is doing.

Beating Wisconsin and OSU would be sizzle but not the steak.

 

 

Joined: 07/19/2010

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jaysvw

November 5th, 2017 at 3:17 PM ^

Easy turbo.  We got curb stomped by the one ligitimately good team we played so far this year.  I'd say simply not embarrassing ourselves against Wisconsin and OSU along with showing some improvment out of the O-Line/QB would be a big win.  Bonus points for a bowl victory.  

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