Les Miles’ Jayhawks Illustrate Reading Too Much Into One Game
Week 2: Kansas loses 12-7 to 0-1 powerhouse Coastal Carolina [Chaucer] Chanticleers. They looked as bad as Kansas and as bad as a Les Miles offense.
Week 3: Kansas goes on the road and throttles former UM commit AJ Dillon’s 2-0 Boston College 48-24.
The point: we can find amongst the 130 FBS programs the team performances that illustrate how UM is screwed and the offense is never going to work (MD, OSU) and we can find examples that rationalize that things can improve and we shouldn’t overreact (Oklahoma against Army last year; Kansas; OSU against Navy in 2016(?)).
The beauty of college football is that you have young men that are talented and imperfect, and an upset can happen to anyone at any time. It is sport.
That is why I love the game. Loved playing. Love watching on Saturdays. Hell, it is why I love the NCAA video game. I can make Florida International a national powerhouse, but the first win against a top program like Bama is not, even in the video game, going to make FIU the top team in the nation in the AP. Win week to week, that’s all one can do.
September 14th, 2019 at 9:06 AM ^
Adversity is what football is all about. It builds character and a will to win. Smashing weaklings doesn't build that grit. Strap it on and let's find out at Madison. Go Blue !!!
September 14th, 2019 at 11:39 AM ^
I fully embrace this...while at the same time being very intolerant of poor play.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:43 PM ^
I am less intolerant of poor play than I am about poor coaching - at least relative to what a program of Michigan's status should have, and as the years go on, I'm convinced that's what we have.
For the record, I love that Harbaugh considers academics and character important, but the game has passed him by. He's a walking anachronism, good enough to beat a lot of teams, but not good enough anymore to win the Big Ten.
September 15th, 2019 at 1:41 AM ^
Nuh uh
September 14th, 2019 at 9:07 AM ^
Get out of here with your common sense, we only want BPONE!
/s
September 14th, 2019 at 9:09 AM ^
KU was down 10-0 and proceeded to outscore BC 48-14 the rest of the way.
Next week they play West Virginia who looks to be terrible as well. KU could be 3-1 at the end of September for the first time since....?
Les would have allowed UM to tread water post RR but I'm glad we have Harbaugh now.
September 14th, 2019 at 9:17 AM ^
I'll agree. Les would have cleaned up the defense and established a consistent offense. He'd have been coaching to regular 9-10 win seasons, maybe a win or two against OSU, and not much more. Better than Hoke, for sure. But I do think the upside is better with Harbaugh. Whether it bears out this season, or not, at least JH brought in a new guy with the promise of a modern offense. That alone is something Les would not have done.
I'll take JH's 10 win consistency and shot at something better, any day. Strap on the helmets and see what the boys bring today (ahem, next week) - it will be a good chance to win every weekend. Something other coaches cannot say...
September 14th, 2019 at 12:12 PM ^
I'm confused.
He'd have [...] maybe a win or two against OSU, and not much more.
But I do think the upside is better with Harbaugh.
What has Harbaugh done in 4 years against OSU?
September 14th, 2019 at 2:04 PM ^
What Harbaugh has faced in an Urban Meyer led OSU is significantly more difficult to coach against than a Tressel/Fickell coached OSU that Miles would have gone up against.
Thats why the OSU comparison isn’t entirely fair. OSU is better now than they have been for any stretch before. Be honest with ourselves here. Look back, were any of Carr’s teams beating these OSU teams? Maybe one?
September 14th, 2019 at 3:13 PM ^
Miles went 3-3 against Meyer at UF, those UF teams were pretty talented as well. 9 or 10 wins with the occasional win vs OSU is better than what we have now and if Miles somehow was .500 against OSU, that is definitely better than what we now.
September 14th, 2019 at 3:40 PM ^
My point was, if the original poster expected Miles to beat OSU occasionally, but thinks Harbaugh has the better upside, where does that upside come from considering Harbaugh has an 0-4 record against OSU?
I think you're saying that a Tressel led OSU is lesser of a beast than a Meyer led OSU.
If so, that's silly. Would 2018 Meyer team trounce an older Tressell team? I'll concede that. But college football is constantly evolving so I don't think comparing teams from 10 years ago is apt.
The body of work counts. MoCarrBo has some interesting stats elsewhere in this thread too.
September 14th, 2019 at 11:52 PM ^
I love the equivocating about Miles and Harbaugh. The Harbaugh apologists act like 10-3 at Michigan is just darn fine and it's just a matter of time...
Five years in and Harbaugh is, well, pretty good I guess
I believe Miles to UM at that point in time was a marriage made in football Valhalla--returning to his Alma Mater, still quite triumphant and at the top of his game, a national name, and....no, somehow Miles going 10-3 or better and beating OSU occasionally is something Harbaugh apologists scoff at.
There's not telling how Miles would have done, but the absolute passion, joy, and personality he would have brought here would have been much better off than anything we've seen around Ann Arbor for every year except 2011
September 14th, 2019 at 9:18 AM ^
You edited your post!
September 14th, 2019 at 9:20 AM ^
You did it again! WTH???
Or maybe there is inconsistency on my refreshes? Oy!!
September 14th, 2019 at 9:22 AM ^
Ha. I thought twice about starting a RR/Les/Hoke flame war but you had a civil response so I put it back.
September 14th, 2019 at 9:24 AM ^
The last time KU beat a P5 team on the road was in 2008.
Les is more baby!
September 14th, 2019 at 10:23 AM ^
Les wouldn’t have had a 3 win season like rr did and would have done wonders for Michigan recruiting if he had taken over directly from Lloyd though. We wouldn’t have had a dark decade of football
September 14th, 2019 at 11:57 AM ^
I agree. I believe Rich Rod recruiting may have been the key component of RR failure. So many of his recruits were not on the team after one year. Some never made it on campus. Not only did he recruit speed with small, he also didn't grasp B1G academic life. If RR had left Hoke a freshman QB I can image a better end for Hoke. Denard was an RB and Devin was a receiver.
September 14th, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^
Devin was the #5 ranked QB in the country coming out of HS.
Multiple coaching and position changes effed Devin up. Not that he was playing the wrong spot.
September 14th, 2019 at 12:30 PM ^
To support your point, Devin's stats got worse every year. A good part of that is the OL going off the cliff but it's also because he never got decent coaching.
Hoke had Brian Sipe at San Diego State, who I don't think would have hurt Devin's career.
September 14th, 2019 at 9:14 AM ^
So you're saying there's a chance.
September 14th, 2019 at 9:25 AM ^
Yeah, but that loss to Coastal Carolina is still going to look bad to the playoff committee.
September 14th, 2019 at 9:19 AM ^
I believe it was somebody here who said that the transitive property does not apply to sports games.
September 14th, 2019 at 9:45 AM ^
True enough.
But I would still like to see an impressive road victory against a good team. The kind of game where the outcome is really never in doubt.
I suppose PSU in 2015 and MSU last year are technically his best road wins, but neither of those opponents were ultimately very good.
Wisconsin is very good. Beat them. Soundly.
September 14th, 2019 at 11:28 AM ^
Even if we win next weekend, people will find a reason by the end of the year why it won’t be a good road win. I know it wasn’t on the road, but at the end of 2016, people were completely writing off the victory against Colorado. This is the Michigan fan base-they are the BPONEist bunch of BPONEs around. Shit, you’ve already forgotten about Notthwestern just last year, who was 9-5, was in the B10 championship game, and ended the year ranked 21st
September 14th, 2019 at 12:00 PM ^
I don’t see it that way at all. There are realists here and then there are homers. The homers will stick up for Michigan every year despite playing for one title in the last 50+ years. The realists know that Michigan can contend for titles and are upset at the lackluster play. Harbaugh is supposed to be the QB whisperer and yet his QB’s haven’t really performed to where you would expect. The guy is making enormous money and his coaching and his teams have left much to be desired.
September 14th, 2019 at 12:19 PM ^
people will find a reason by the end of the year why it won’t be a good road win.
I won't.
Promise.
Because for M to win next Saturday, they'll have to have fixed a lot of the problems from the first 2 games.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:14 PM ^
The standard many here set for a big win is OSU or a big name team that finishes at least 10-2 after losing to us. The opportunities to get a big road win are few and far between.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:18 PM ^
“people were completely writing off the victory against Colorado.”
What “people?” How many “people?” The majority of the fan base or a few rando knuckleheads on the internet?
September 14th, 2019 at 1:47 PM ^
I'm as BPONE as it gets, but if they beat Wisconsin on the road next week, I will assume that we are starting to turn the corner and can beat anyone on the schedule.
Except for OSU - I have to see that once to believe it.
My opinion of JH will start to change, especially with good QB play.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:08 PM ^
You're right. I had absolutely forgotten about Northwestern's record last year. That was a good win, especially how they gutted it out in the second half.
Still, I feel like a lot is riding on next week's outcome for the vast majority of the fanbase.
September 14th, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^
Might be too early to call Wisconsin a very good team. They started off strong last year as well but ended up getting trounced by every semi-decent team they played.
September 14th, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
I agree with the need for more road wins.
However, for my entire Wolverine life, any Michigan win is NOT a big win by some definition of fandom. Go undefeated and beat WSU in the Rose Bowl and that is NOT a big win because Nebraska beat Tennessee and WSU previously lost to Washington so somehow it is not a big win. Hell, whenever Michigan beat OSU after Woody it was well OSU doesn't have Woody and now OSU has a couple of losses so that doesn't count. Oh and once OSU lost to Oklahoma so handing OSU a loss was meaningless. Good grief. Play well, develop character, and move on. Life is good.
Oh and kudos to comment in 2018, as Putingrad was first to note that ND strength of schedule had collapsed.
September 14th, 2019 at 9:53 AM ^
Even if we go undefeated, we're all going to die one day.
September 14th, 2019 at 10:19 AM ^
Eat at Arby's.
September 14th, 2019 at 9:54 AM ^
After looking at the graphic of total wins over the last 4 years, I've come to the realization that one of the only head coaches I want at Michigan other than Harbaugh is Mike Leach.
That's it.
No coach comes with instant guaranteed success or will win every game. (As Nebraska is soon to find out)
Your acceptable level of success and what it takes to get there is yours to define. I put the most value in at least being entertained while being in the hunt.
**Or Best answer ...Offer him 4 mil a year (makes 3.5 now) to be OC. Him and Coach Brown doing tandem interviews...Yes, absolutely yes.
September 14th, 2019 at 9:54 AM ^
Good call, especially how it unfolded.
Two weeks of struggling offense, 5 turnovers, a QB not getting it done; but Richmond showed that BC was susceptible to the run and Kansas beat them at their own game at they house ...dang.
September 14th, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^
Good post. Their QB was a disaster last week, looked shaky to start last night, finished the game looking like a champ. Their playcalling looked excellent as well.
Michigan has very good players and very good coaches and they'll be a very good team.
September 14th, 2019 at 10:44 AM ^
All it illustrates to me is how easy Clemson's schedule really is.
September 14th, 2019 at 10:53 AM ^
Addazio is the most 7-5ish coach at the most 7-5ish school. They always say that they are ready for a breakthrough but doesnt ever actually materialize.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:29 PM ^
I think I understand what that feels like.
September 14th, 2019 at 11:28 AM ^
they looked like crap versus CC because they are the Kansas football team... and it was game one in year one for Les Miles.
Next week will tell us a lot about this team and where this offense is going and whether the Army game reaction was warranted imo
September 14th, 2019 at 11:36 AM ^
**Game 2
September 14th, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^
oops right game 2.
thanks
September 14th, 2019 at 11:29 AM ^
Here come the cult of Harbaugh telling everyone everythings ok because Kansas beat Boston College.
You cant make this up.
September 14th, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
AKA, the people who have learned from watching 40 years of college football that the first month of season means exactly jack shit; especially if it's a struggling offense, specifically turnovers.
But some how the reactionaries keep falling for it.
September 14th, 2019 at 12:00 PM ^
0-4 vs OSU, 2-7 vs rivals, 1-9 vs top 10 teams. 1-3 in bowl games. 7.5 million dollars per year.
Facts for the cult of Harbaugh
September 14th, 2019 at 12:32 PM ^
Ah thanks for pointing it out. You’re right the rest of us are all thrilled with his record vs OSU and the way the seasons have been ending. Thank goodness you are a brave voice that speaks truth to straw men.
Urban or Saban aren’t waking through the door so buckle up cuz you are in for a world of disappointment until the seas change in college football. If you want Harbaugh to do better, I agree. If you think someone else is going to get dramatically different results, you are shouting in the wind.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:03 PM ^
Mark Dantonio has beaten Urban twice and won the big ten 3 times, with a bunch of 3 stars.
James Franklin has won a big ten title and beaten Urban.
I think youre in denial that Harbaugh may not be able to get it done so it must mean it cant be done.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:56 PM ^
If Sparty doesn't get the block,1of Toni's is denied, and if they make one more play, or get a better spot in Columbus, Harbaugh takes it from Frankie.
That's twice in his first two years showing he can get it done.
Those teams were peaking and this year's is too.