Looking ahead to 2017
Yeah we can still play in the Rose bowl and hopefully we somehow get into the playoff but with the season moslty over, it's interesting to look at what type of team we'll have next year.
I think we'll have one of the best RB combination in the country with Chris Evans and Karan Higdon with the possibility of Najee Harris if we can pull that recruitment off.
QB will be a strength also with Wilton Speight coming back and Brandon Peters coming on to battle Speight for the spot.
At tight end, we lose Jake Butt which will be a big loss but bring back Asiasi who looks like a star in the making and also bring back Wheatley and Bunting.
Wide receiver loses Chesson and Darboh but return Grant Perry and Drake Harris and return guys like Crawford and Mcdoom get some reps there with the possibilty of adding difference maker DPJ who will probably get some snaps. Also, Nate Johnson has been talked about as a difference maker.
The offensive line will probably be very thin but we return Bredeson and Cole and hopefully Newsome. Onwenu and one of the potential 4/5 star OL recruits Wilson, Leatherwood, Ruiz etc. look to start.
The defensive line will still be very good with guys like Hurst, Gary, Mone, Winovich coming back. We will be thiner but that line will be very good.
The linebackers should hopefully take a jump forward with McCray coming back and Bush getting some minutes already this year. Mbem-Bosse and Josh Ross could also contribute.
The secondary is another position with a lot of turnover. I feel pretty confident in Tyree Kinnel but hopefully we get some good play from Watson, Hudson, Long, Lavert Hill etc. and we're due a 6th year from Jeremy Clark after Ed Davis got one.
Overall, I think this is a lot of turnover to still be in the national championship picture. I think we probably go anywhere from 9-3 to 11-1 although we have a tough schedule. I think there's numerous positions that people will worry about like TE and WR just because you're losing players but Harbaugh has good talented players that are playing right now. The more worrisome positions are the secondary and OL where we will be thin. Hopefully guys like Hudson and Lavert Hill are the real deal and Newsome is able to play again.
November 26th, 2016 at 8:18 PM ^
in terms of how to view things last August.
But the D was so loaded and played so well this year that 10-2 ends up being disappointing.
And the offense was also the highest scoring Michigan offense in modern history. '
Therefore, by mid-season it became totally reasonable to reset the expectation as winning the Big Ten title and getting into the playoff.
But in the end the weak link in this team was a good but not great o-line.
M was two (maybe just one) really domiant o-line player from being a national championship team.
That was the missing piece.
It made the run game too limited against good defenses.
November 26th, 2016 at 8:19 PM ^
in terms of how to view things last August.
But the D was so loaded and played so well this year that 10-2 ends up being disappointing.
And the offense was also the highest scoring Michigan offense in modern history. '
Therefore, by mid-season it became totally reasonable to reset the expectation as winning the Big Ten title and getting into the playoff.
But in the end the weak link in this team was a good but not great o-line.
M was two (maybe just one) really domiant o-line player from being a national championship team.
That was the missing piece.
It made the run game too limited against good defenses.
November 26th, 2016 at 8:21 PM ^
in terms of how to view things last August.
But the D was so loaded and played so well this year that 10-2 ends up being disappointing.
And the offense was also the highest scoring Michigan offense in modern history. '
Therefore, by mid-season it became totally reasonable to reset the expectation as winning the Big Ten title and getting into the playoff.
But in the end the weak link in this team was a good but not great o-line.
M was two (maybe just one) really domiant o-line player from being a national championship team.
That was the missing piece.
It made the run game too limited against good defenses.
November 26th, 2016 at 8:22 PM ^
in terms of how to view things last August.
But the D was so loaded and played so well this year that 10-2 ends up being disappointing.
And the offense was also the highest scoring Michigan offense in modern history. '
Therefore, by mid-season it became totally reasonable to reset the expectation as winning the Big Ten title and getting into the playoff.
But in the end the weak link in this team was a good but not great o-line.
M was two (maybe just one) really domiant o-line player from being a national championship team.
That was the missing piece.
It made the run game too limited against good defenses.
November 26th, 2016 at 8:26 PM ^
in terms of how to view things last August.
But the D was so loaded and played so well this year that 10-2 ends up being disappointing.
And the offense was also the highest scoring Michigan offense in modern history. '
Therefore, by mid-season it became totally reasonable to reset the expectation as winning the Big Ten title and getting into the playoff.
But in the end the weak link in this team was a good but not great o-line.
M was two (maybe just one) really domiant o-line player from being a national championship team.
That was the missing piece.
It made the run game too limited against good defenses.
November 26th, 2016 at 9:34 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 1:05 AM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 6:10 PM ^
Our schedule worries me next year
We have an opening game in Arlington against Florida, a game against Air Force and their triple option, and three tough road games @ Indiana @ Penn State, and @ Wisconsin. We get MSU and OSU at home, but MSU should improve significantly, and OSU is going to be absolutely loaded next year and I fully expect them to be 11-0 heading into The Game.
Our young guys are going to have really step it up. Honestly, I think our ceiling is 10-2 and our floor is 7-5.
November 26th, 2016 at 6:54 PM ^
This team will be faster on D and O. Florida will fold and the B1G will not be a battle until games at PSU and at home vs OSU.
We need a great ending to the 2017 class, but the D next year could actually be almost as good if Hurst, Mone and McCray return and the O should actually be better. This OL was average and Smith was a basher at best - the O can be more lethal with better play form QB, RB, slot, WR and equiv in OL and TE.
November 26th, 2016 at 7:31 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 8:09 PM ^
I've had 6 servings so good luck with double.
Seriously: the DL could well be faster with Gary, Hurst, Winovich and Mone; LBs with McCray, Bush and Uche; secondaary with Long, Hill, Metellus and Kinnel. Not as stout but faster - that is critical vs the spread. Dwumfour or 2017 recruits make an impact.
Will it be as good? Probably not from a statistical perspective, but if the O can actually run the ball effectively then I will say yes.
Football is a game of attrition - the primary source of attrition is the front 7. A competent running game reduces the D from attrition. Give JH a dependable running game and the Brown can scheme an even better D.
November 26th, 2016 at 8:31 PM ^
need lock down man coverage corners (at least one with the second also pretty good). Will it work w/out Lewis?
Some of the very young corners are going to have to be very good early or the D will regress a lot.
November 26th, 2016 at 8:48 PM ^
I don't agree. I don't think Don Brown had AA DBs at Boston College and the defense was among the best in the nation. Again, no reason the defense here cannot continue to be Top 10 with the recuits here versus those at BC.
November 26th, 2016 at 9:38 PM ^
Brown is a great coordinator. He got great D out of low ranked guys at BC.
But his D does rely on man coverage that will not get beat very often. He is not going to play a ton of zone.
And the Big Ten East is harder than the ACC.
We really do not know whether the Lewis and Stribling replacements will be able to do that. Won't know until September. Might work out though, as 2016 recruits might be great.
November 27th, 2016 at 12:23 PM ^
at BC going to play in the NFL. It's not like he coached a bunch of scrub.
November 26th, 2016 at 8:09 PM ^
I've had 6 servings so good luck with double.
Seriously: the DL could well be faster with Gary, Hurst, Winovich and Mone; LBs with McCray, Bush and Uche; secondaary with Long, Hill, Metellus and Kinnel. Not as stout but faster - that is critical vs the spread. Dwumfour or 2017 recruits make an impact.
Will it be as good? Probably not from a statistical perspective, but if the O can actually run the ball effectively then I will say yes.
Football is a game of attrition - the primary source of attrition is the front 7. A competent running game reduces the D from attrition. Give JH a dependable running game and the Brown can scheme an even better D.
November 26th, 2016 at 6:55 PM ^
This team will be faster on D and O. Florida will fold and the B1G will not be a battle until games at PSU and at home vs OSU.
We need a great ending to the 2017 class, but the D next year could actually be almost as good if Hurst, Mone and McCray return and the O should actually be better. This OL was average and Smith was a basher at best - the O can be more lethal with better play form QB, RB, slot, WR and equiv in OL and TE.
November 27th, 2016 at 1:08 AM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 6:11 PM ^
Fuck dood I'm looking ahead to bed and trying to figure out how to get there sober...I don't want to deal with a hangover tomorrow but I need to numb this pain
November 26th, 2016 at 6:24 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 6:12 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 6:12 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 6:12 PM ^
Get those demons permanently exorcised
November 26th, 2016 at 6:13 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 6:28 PM ^
Three pass catchers that drop an AWFUL lot of passes? I think he will be fine. Gotta remember that Speight will only be a junior next season. LOTS of upside still.
November 26th, 2016 at 6:13 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 6:14 PM ^
I think we beat Florida. They aren't as good as their record suggests. We beat MSU at home. Then we're left with PSU, Wisconsin, and OSU. Those three I don't know.
November 26th, 2016 at 7:05 PM ^
OSU - big question mark. If we get homefield officiating like this year in Columbus, then UM will route OSU.
It is crucial to end this class with a class full of difference makers.
November 26th, 2016 at 9:54 PM ^
Our fans are far too civilized. As a result, referees do not feel the pressure to make calls in favor of the home team.
November 26th, 2016 at 6:15 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 6:16 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 6:45 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 6:16 PM ^
This team played like champions TODAY. Respect.
Thank you and Go Blue!
November 26th, 2016 at 6:24 PM ^
Those champions still lost. They've lost five fucking goddamn years in a row to these asswipes, and I believe 14 of the last 16.
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November 26th, 2016 at 8:22 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 6:24 PM ^
With regards to the players that will be leaving after his season, outside of Taco, I honestly don't recall anyone on either side of the ball having a real impact game. Peppers was kind of invisibile, Lewis was kind of invisible, McCray probably played the game of his life but he is replaceable. That left me encouraged for next season.
The skill players on offense were awful -- both this game and the last few. Just way too many drops out of the WRs and Butt. None of the Chesson-Darboh-Butt trio looks like a huge loss. Any player that's going to drop catchable balls can be replaced. Because honestly, with them all gone next year, what will you miss most about any of the three? We will fine with the WR and TE depth that we have.
So whereas I was discouraged heading into this game thinking this was Michigan's best shot for the next few years against OSU due to their roster departures and OSU's very young roster. I think they might be OK next season. QB should be good, OL should be OK, RB will be fine (although no where near nation's best like OP suggests), and WR and TE can't get any worse. Defense will likely take a step back, but if the offense can take one forward that should even out.
November 26th, 2016 at 6:27 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 7:24 PM ^
OK then, what will you miss most about Butt, Chesson, or Darboh? Going into next season, what's at the top of your "how are we going to replace that" attribute list?
November 26th, 2016 at 6:32 PM ^
It's kind of hard to make an impact for Lewis unless he makes a big interception. His job is to bat away balls. Peppers has helped us with field position and other things like that kick return today. I think we see some growing pains but we will win 9-10 games with our young talent. People always overreact to these types of things like Ohio State returning 6 players.
November 26th, 2016 at 7:29 PM ^
I will say that we'll miss Stribling and Lewis. And some of the DL depth. Because you're right, its a good game if your CBs look invisible.
Peppers I'm not worried about as a returner because we likely have some other players that pick up 75-80% of his slack at that position.
And I agree that this is still a 10-win team next season. Think the offense takes a step forawrd and the defense takes a small one back. It'll still come down to the same three teams in the East next season. (Sorry Sparty).
November 26th, 2016 at 8:40 PM ^
takes a step forward in 2017?
Depends entirely on whether the 0-line can finally go from good to great.
Any evidence that the o-line next year will be better than this year?
November 26th, 2016 at 9:16 PM ^
Outside of just hoping they get better, no. They will be need to land a couple of these blue chip OL players they are in on. They'll also need some of those guys like Dawson and Kugler from the vaunted 2013 OL class to finally shine in their final season. Newsome coming back from injury would be a plus too.
Whole lot of "Ifs" there.
But Speight/Peters should be better, the RBs should be better, the TEs could be fun matchup nightmares, and the WRs will probably be about the same.
November 26th, 2016 at 9:45 PM ^
I mostly agree then.
The problem in 2017 won;t be replacing receivers, RBs, QB.
It all boils down to whether the o-line works out better than in 2016.
Defense for 2107 is a different question.
November 27th, 2016 at 12:13 PM ^
Not only was Lewis "invisible" yesterday, but so was Samuel for most of the game--thanks in large part to Lewis.
November 26th, 2016 at 6:32 PM ^
Come on, you make some ridiculous statements. WR and TE can't get any worse? That's just plain false. Our big trio will all be in the NFL, those are big losses. We have/will be bringing in some talented guys to replace them, hopefully they can do so right away. Lewis, Stribling, Peppers, Gedeon, Wormley, we will miss all of these guys on defense. Our defense will obviously be fine with Don Brown in charge, maybe not elite next year because of youth but I'm not worried about our defense and our offense will only continue to get more talented with each class Harbaugh brings in. Our future is bright, but we're losing some darn good players next year.
November 26th, 2016 at 8:14 PM ^
I had different thoughts going into the season but with the way it played out and with the way those three were used I now have a different opinion. I think Michigan will be the same or better, but not worse with regards to their receivers and TEs.
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November 26th, 2016 at 6:40 PM ^
Chesson, Darboh, Butt not huge losses? Are you out of your god damn mind? Those guys made ridiculous catches to make Speight look better than he actually is (not that he isn't that good, he is, but he has his limits. Just like Navarre and Henne). Rudock this year would have been scary. But at the same time our offensive line is just not there. Today we looked like we wanted to Lloydball it with all the runs to Deveon Smith, but just no consistency from the offensive line. And while Deveon is a decent back, he is just not someone you can rely on to make big runs.
Offensive line and running back is where we are still on the short end of the stick. Defense played pretty much as good of a game as you can ask against OSU. We finally figured out the plan to shut them down...which is sickening because mental mistakes, bad playcalling, and bad officiating made it all for nothing.
November 26th, 2016 at 7:10 PM ^
It might feel like it, but its honestly not that big of a loss. Especially if Michigan lands some of the talent they are recruiting. Between those three guys, its 1700 yards and 12 TDs. That's really not that hard to split up amongst some new players. Butt I'm the least worried about replacing considering the talent on the roster. I actually think we might be even better next season at TE with an older Asiasi and Wheatley.
And like I said, given the amount of drops those three have had lately its not like we're losing sure-handed possession receivers or solid red zone threats.
November 26th, 2016 at 9:01 PM ^
Darboh Chesson, Butt combo together was really good, at least as a combo. No single dominant receiver, but having all three at the same time made M's offense explosive.
The part I agree with is that there should be enough talent to replace them (assuming DPJ joins the 207 class) that the 2017 receiving class is far down the list of worries.
Bigger worries are (1) a better o-line, (2) d-line depth, (3) corners (really the entire back end).
Receiver corps and RB, QB situation are not the biggest concerns.
I put o-line at the top of the list because that was the weak link position group this year and there is not a lot of depth for 2017.