Harrison Bailey to UT
November 29th, 2018 at 3:29 PM ^
But being the first overall pick in the NFL draft is...
November 29th, 2018 at 3:40 PM ^
I was going to say the same. Would a top flight QB want to go to Wisconsin? Probably not, they are an offense built around running the ball. Michigan has become the same thing. Michigan is 106th in the country in pass attempts per game (25.9). Shockingly, this was DOWN from last year's O'Korn/Peters/Speight debacle (26.6). I really wish Harbaugh would open things up for a change. Hell, in 2015 we were at least 67th at 31.9/game. I fear we are both wasting incredible WR talent (DPJ/Black/Collins) and scaring away top flight WRs and QBs.
I was honestly surprised we didn't see more frustration this year out of Patterson. We spent so much GD time running the ball against every opponent that he never got into a great rhythm.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:47 PM ^
Good point about the WR's. Yeah, everybody knows that DPJ isn't getting targeted enough but what about Oliver Martin? That guy has tons of potential and he's hardly showed up at all this year.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:49 PM ^
I want to see JH open up the Offense as much as the next guy but to be fair comparing 2017 passing stats (Mich behind in several games) vs 2018 (ahead in all but 3 games) is somewhat deceiving.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:54 PM ^
I concur. I think the O is good enough to win games and even games against osu. But if I was a top WR or QB recruit I would be concerned Um's O doesn't feature me enough. If Harbaugh isn't going to feature WRs and a passing game with the WR class he got 2 years ago I'd be skeptical he ever would and that would make me lean towards other schools.
I hope they find someone who can help with in game play calling because that seems to be where the problem is. It seems like the plays are in the O playbook. We saw slants, we saw Evans line up outside, we saw creative short passes, we saw RPOs. Problem is they would happen infrequently during games.
November 29th, 2018 at 4:03 PM ^
QB attempts were down as Michigan could actually run the ball. The year prior they were forced to pass more. One other often overlooked point, Patterson was in the Michigan system for how long? Not even a year. I think that's why McCaffrey looked so good when he stepped in, he had been in the system much longer. I agree, Harbaugh's system is not chuck and duck like OSU and Oklahoma. But how many National Championships has Bama won without the prolific passing game? I am not saying Michigan shouldn't open up the passing game more. What I am saying Michigan scored a lot more points this year with a ballanced attack. Also, kept the defense off the field. Why do you think Oklahoma is giving up so many points? There defense is gassed due to being on field so long. Michigan didn't lose to OSU due to lack of offense........
November 29th, 2018 at 4:18 PM ^
AAAAHHHH There it is, you were good until your last sentence. "Michigan didn't lose due to lack of offense"? Yes, they did, I'm tired of this 39 point bullshit. They, as an offense, manufactured only 13 points of their own through 3 quarters!! Gifted a TD on the 9 yard line. It was ground and pound for basically 2.5 quarters and it cost them. Opened it up and scored meaningless TD's when it was too late. Why cant people understand this?
November 29th, 2018 at 5:58 PM ^
But we DID lose to OSU and it was largely due to a lack of a consistently productive offense: 3 and out on the first drive, a couple of stalled drives that ended in FGs, only those 6 points until the final minutes of the 1st half (and one of those TDs gifted by OSU after a fumbled KO)
And do you have to be reminded of our scoreless stretch in the 2nd half while they scored 17 to essentially put it out of reach?
November 29th, 2018 at 7:26 PM ^
Michigan lost to OSU because Don Brown didn't have enough tools in the tool box. There is not one person on this or any other forum that thought the Michigan defense would look so inept. Of course, most of us thought OSU would score, but not pick apart the Michigan's defense at will. Everyone thought the Michigan Dline would put pressure on Haskins. The good news is Don Brown will take it personal as he did PSU and there will be an OSU beat down in the Big House in 2019.
Unfortunately, Michigan picked the worst time to play their worst game and OSU picked the best time to play their best game. Just like if Purdue played OSU the following week after they lost, is there anyone here that would think that score would be different?
November 29th, 2018 at 9:12 PM ^
It is all about exploiting match ups. Michigan's two starting corners are two of the best in the NCAA. So OSU ran plays to exploit the 3 other DB's and LB's. It's not rocket science. The fact that we couldn't generate any pass rush was the biggest issue in this game. Michigan ran plays to get our 6'7" TE on their smaller DB's, he just didn't catch anything. When they threw it up to Collins and DPJ, they made plays.
November 29th, 2018 at 4:18 PM ^
UM came into the season with a ton of questions about it's Oline and particularly its ability to pass block. It returned 2 pretty good running backs. After last year, it made perfect sense to establish a reliable running game and not get the starting QB killed mid-way through the season.
And for much of the season it worked. The O moved the ball, put up good numbers and kept the D fresh.
Even in the debacle it wasn't the O that significantly under-performed it was the D.
November 29th, 2018 at 9:14 PM ^
The bagmen paid better at Stanford I guess ...
November 29th, 2018 at 3:00 PM ^
He's had one QB not live up to his potential in Peters. McCaffrey and Milton look at least promising. Chill.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^
Peters looked to be living up to potential in his three meaningful snaps this year.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:31 PM ^
I think you're reaching on Milton a bit. He basically came in to run right or left. He throw the ball three times? He's a work in process. If I remember correctly, he had a 50% completion rate in HS....yeah, HS.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:38 PM ^
Milton is a great second "project" QB for a program like Michigan. The sort of guy you take in addition to a more sure-fire option.
Unfortunately, after Dylan, those sure-fire recruits haven't come here.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:37 PM ^
Maybe? Peters also looked just as promising last year. The whole point is that he's gone after some big fish and hasn't really gotten any. So far he's basically turned Michigan into what Stanfors would have been if he'd never signed Andrew Luck. Which is fine, but he needs a Luck to get to that level again.
November 29th, 2018 at 4:02 PM ^
Shea threw it 25 or more times in 6 games. That's half the season.
You don't have to throw it that many times against Western, Nebraska, or SMU.
November 29th, 2018 at 2:58 PM ^
Honestly not surprised here and I had a gut feeling the night before that would be the case. Why? He'll be facing a stacked QB room where if Dylan Mccafrey, Joe Milton, and Cade Mcnamara all pan out talent wise, he could be facing at least 3-4 years until he starts. Plus the fact that our offense is so run centric and doesn't center around throwing the ball like today's NFL and collegiate offenses do, must have played a role. I hope this sends an added signal to Harbaugh that he needs to be creative with his offense next year and open it up to more passing. Go Blue.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:04 PM ^
You nailed it 0007, a full QB room and an offense that doesn't throw the ball much.
We desperately need to update our offense. Receivers aren't flocking here and now this.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:14 PM ^
I think it's obvious that our offense is being updated. Aside from how Patterson was given more options during the season and the plays that were called for McCaffrey and Milton, look at this recruiting class. Posters keep talking about how we lack a big WR, fair enough. I think we want and and could use one. But look at all the emphasis on slots and APBs. Harbaugh is recruiting for a different offense. You can't put it out on the field until you get the personnel. Well not too successfully, just look at 2008. And with a couple of classes like this one, he can't keep running his old offense.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:40 PM ^
I truly believe OL is the reason we aren't passing as much as we expected Harbaugh to. Sure, they are going to be a run-based offense, but with that said, I think we all expected to be dropping PA-dimes all over. I think OL is the reason we aren't. Do I think we'll get there? Sure hope so with development, but recruiting needs to hit more on the more "polished" OL (Specifically T) prospects.
November 29th, 2018 at 4:01 PM ^
Our line is not below average. In fact, it's probably a decent amount above average. In any case, it's possible to pass with a shit OL. You just need to quick reads and quickly developing passing plays.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:06 PM ^
Yeah, Harbaugh is known for his flexibility!
/s
November 29th, 2018 at 3:23 PM ^
Actually, I was thinking back to when MSU used to have CBs that always grabbed and held on every play and got away with it.
WE now those CBs.
Maybe it's just an adjustment. Maybe next year we will run pick plays extraordinaire. Maybe.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:32 PM ^
Noted that you left out Peters............gentleman's wager that he lights it up at either Purdue or IU after a transfer. Needs to be in a system where they know how, and want to, throw the ball down the field, and where that carries more importance than 'presence' in the huddle.
November 29th, 2018 at 2:59 PM ^
Well, between Bailey and Gray, I guess the Vols have their backfield of the future.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:01 PM ^
Good luck to him, I hope he has a successful career.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:08 PM ^
haha...who negged this man?
Bitter much?
November 29th, 2018 at 3:02 PM ^
This is fine, my balls prefer to keep being kicked when it comes to football news.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:02 PM ^
Tennessee has no QB/0c coach hopefully this is a sign that Jim has decided to make a change,
November 29th, 2018 at 3:02 PM ^
I figured he was going to UT since he has a teammate committed to them as well. Plus, Sam didn't even bring him up on the recruiting round up.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:03 PM ^
Heard from reliable sources here in GA yesterday he was picking UT. UT will pull a few more in the next month. One is a 5 star committed to Auburn.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:03 PM ^
So this wasn't the "commit watch" we were put on earlier in the week.
Are we still on commit watch? Or do those eventually expire like a severe thunderstorm watch?
November 29th, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^
We are eternally on commit watch lol
November 29th, 2018 at 3:03 PM ^
Guess we don't need to worry about him in the next few years, then... Good luck, young man - you're going to need it at UTenn!
November 29th, 2018 at 3:09 PM ^
I know I'm sounding like one of those bitter fans that say I didn't want him anyway, but I was always skeptical of how Bailey fit for Michigan. I think Michigan's offense works best with a dual threat/mobile guy, and Bailey isn't that type of player. Patterson, McCaffrey, and even Milton have some mobility, and I hope we recruit more QBs with that element to their game.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:50 PM ^
Well, you're not going to like the Plan B guys now that Bailey is gone. Jay Butterfield and Parker McQuarrie are both tall pocket passers.
November 29th, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
Your take is interesting and something I noticed as well. The kid is obviously a huge talent but runs 5 something 40 yard dash and shows zero scrambles to move the chains in his HUDL.
Our offense changed when we opened up the RPO plays and it seems like an important dimension to keep on the table.
Unless you want to run short pick play crossing routes all day but who would ever do that?
November 29th, 2018 at 3:10 PM ^
If Bailey wanted reassurance that Pep was staying and didn't get it, does that mean Pep is a goner?
November 29th, 2018 at 3:13 PM ^
I like the way you think.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:18 PM ^
Probably.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:13 PM ^
I mean as of right now Michigan has 4 high profile Qbs on the roster not including Cade. I am not shocked he went somewhere else honestly
November 29th, 2018 at 3:18 PM ^
The problem is Shea could leave after this year and Peters could transfer. We're kind of thinning out at QB if that happens.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:32 PM ^
The thing is Harrison is 2020. Michigan has an entire year to sign a QB.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:34 PM ^
The point is the QB position wont be as deep as he was leading on.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^
IF that were to happen, you'd still have Mccaffrey, Milton, and McNamara. 3 scholarship QBs, in a worst case scenario, isn't the end of the world.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:42 PM ^
#2017
November 29th, 2018 at 3:14 PM ^
That's what happens when you keep losing big games. Recruits go away.
November 29th, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
Of only something similar worked with certain types of board posters...like a WB filter