September 19th, 2021 at 10:33 AM ^
And oh yeah, Ohio State is #117 in total defense.
September 19th, 2021 at 2:39 PM ^
don't bury the lede
September 19th, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
Every stat is amazing. Michigan also number 4 in points per game at 47.
September 19th, 2021 at 12:33 PM ^
Give me another glass!
September 19th, 2021 at 2:15 PM ^
Do people know the origin of the phrase "Drink the Kool-Aid"? The actual story behind it is disturbing.
September 20th, 2021 at 9:34 AM ^
Yes, yes I do.
September 19th, 2021 at 10:43 AM ^
3-0, #1 in our hearts. Go blue!
September 19th, 2021 at 10:44 AM ^
Yeah, but they don't throw enough.
/s
September 19th, 2021 at 10:49 AM ^
Milton took all the throw with him.
September 19th, 2021 at 12:04 PM ^
And then proceeded to toss them out of the stadium…….
September 19th, 2021 at 10:55 AM ^
People will say "But we start this way every year under Harbaugh!" - but we don't, really. Usually we've had a clunker or two in our first three games:
2015 - lost at Utah (24-17), won a blah game vs UNLV (24-7)
2016 - fell behind by 2 TDs to Colorado before rallying (45-28), aided by their QB getting hurt
2017 - blah wins over Cincy (36-14) and Air Force (29-13)
2018 - lost at ND, shaky defensive outing against SMU (45-20)
2019 - blah win over MTSU (40-21), OT win over Army (24-21), pounded flat by Wisconsin (35-14)
2020 - eh, we know
What this means for the future, we'll see, but this is as dominant as we've looked to open a season in recent memory.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:02 AM ^
The 2016 team annihilated a ton of teams until Iowa. That Colorado team turned out to be their best in a long time, even made the Pac-12 title game vs Washington who made the playoff that year. Good W for us, Peppers finally got a punt return TD.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
Yeah, but that was not clear at the time the game was played. Colorado came in a big underdog and took it to us in the first half. Fans came out of that game wondering about our D and whether Speight was the guy (he didn't really hit his stride until midseason).
By the same token, we're now assuming Washington sucks because they're 1-2, but I think their D will keep them in most games, and their offense might get it together.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:14 AM ^
I agree, just making a comparison to the '16 team in terms of early domination.
Looks like our Oline will be as good as the '16 Dline.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:32 AM ^
I agree in general that 2016 is the closest comparison to this year, so far. While our WRs aren't as polished as Chesson/Darboh, our RBs are more talented.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:11 AM ^
That Colorado game was a rollercoaster of emotions. They jumped out to that big lead and it looked like we were going to get pounded before we turned it around.
What a great season that was though until the mugging in Columbus.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:39 AM ^
More of a robbery at gunpoint.
September 19th, 2021 at 12:03 PM ^
Committed by a police officer.
September 19th, 2021 at 6:47 PM ^
With respect to Colorado that year - Speight gave up a quick pick 6 and the defense gave up a couple very early big plays. There was little doubt Michigan was going to take control and win even before Colorado's QB got hurt as Michigan was closing fast. Offense was unstoppable (when not throwing pick sixes) and defense was beginning to lock down.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:11 AM ^
Honestly, for me, and I know I'm in the wide vast majority here- this stuff isn't moving the needle until they get a big win. That's where I'm at with the program.
It's been a nice start. They've done what they have needed to against 3 inferior opponents.
I'll be on board if they go into Wisconsin and win. I have seen this story 900000 times before. Beat Wisconsin, and I'll start buying into this squad.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:14 AM ^
gotta suck
September 19th, 2021 at 11:18 AM ^
Nah- I'm totally fine.
I've watched every second this season.
I'm not going to suddenly pretend the world is OK with this season so far. I hope they prove me wrong when the games actually start to matter a little bit and the conference gets difficult.
September 19th, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^
And if they beat Wisconsin convincingly then the narrative becomes Wisconsin must not be that good and the goal post gets moved again.
September 19th, 2021 at 12:05 PM ^
I feel like living in a weird state of denial is probably more egregious, but w/e.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:24 AM ^
Really I think everyone is here in the sense that people know this doesn't really mean anything until big road wins, rivalry wins and especially OSU. People are just excited by what they see which is fine.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:51 AM ^
You know what we see that makes us like it? Rushing stats are great, but it's more than that...
We're seeing a team that knows what it's doing - in practice, in games, in execution, and in coaching. We're seeing a team that is organized when it takes the field. A team that wants to execute the play properly, and fight through whatever needs to be fought through. A team that's playing hard, with a purpose. A coaching staff that has its shit together and is on the same page with each other and with the players.
Keep this up and the wins will follow. Maybe not this year, but soon. You just can't have a team firing on all cylinders like this without getting a big win sooner than later. Its (almost) happening...
When Harbaugh was re-signed, I said that I didn't care about the W-L record but wanted to see a composed, competitive team. Well, I'm seeing it. I'm seeing it more than I ever thought I would, and I fucking like it!
September 19th, 2021 at 12:32 PM ^
Right on. Perfect summary of how I feel. It's not just just that they're winning, but that they look good doing it. There are very few boneheaded mistakes, flat-out missed assignments, hanging heads, WTF play calls on offense, etc. compared to what we've seen against even weaker opponents in previous seasons.
This team looks focused. The players and the coaching staff look aggressive. They are getting the ball to the playmakers. This was exactly what I said I wanted to see before the season started.
September 19th, 2021 at 1:01 PM ^
It is very encouraging to see a mistake or weakness in one game then the very next game said mistake is corrected or the weakness looks stronger. I could list examples if I knew what the hell I was talking about from a football X's and O's standpoint, but I don't. I go by what my eyes see and brain tells me as I watch each game. The team appears to be getting better. The coaches are doing a fantastic job. As we play better competition, there will be games where certain aspects of the O, D or ST get exposed. And that is normal. But I have confidence now that the coaches will tighten up those areas and be better the next game.
September 19th, 2021 at 6:35 PM ^
That’s how I see it. When was the last time we felt better about our team than OSU after 3 games?
September 19th, 2021 at 11:35 AM ^
I agree that this alone isn't enough to tell us how good of a team we are. But this...
I have seen this story 900000 times before.
isn't really true, unless you're going back to like, the Bo or Moeller era. For us to average 300+ rush ypg has not been a thing for a long, long time.
September 19th, 2021 at 12:02 PM ^
I'm not talking about the stats.
I'm talking about our fan base getting jacked up super early in the season before playing anybody of note
September 19th, 2021 at 1:14 PM ^
Damn...this is pathetic.
What the hell is the point of being a fan? This isn't about logic..its is about emotion. This isnt about making sense...we are jacked up and hell why shouldn't we be? The idea that we are always this way and that is a bad thing is ass backwards. If the team is doing well early then fuck we should be excited. If shit falls apart later then...well then we act like every other fanbase who's team falls apart after starting well...
In the meantime.... I LOVE what this team has done SO FAR...and I keep a positive attitude about the future prospects. The other way around is to keep moving the goal post right up to the end of the season with 'weve seen this before...' But its rare that a team goes undefeated so at some point you will probably rush back with your i told you so's...But I'll have LOVED every minute up to that point and watch w hope to see how the team responds.
This is a new team, each year is a new team with a clean slate...and I pull for this team with renewed enthusiasm until there is concrete reason to feel otherwise.
September 19th, 2021 at 1:26 PM ^
Why would I rush back with an "I told you so?" That does not make a lick of sense.
So, the only "true" fan is one that just blindly charges into every season without any sense of reservation? I have to wildly throw my emotions to the sky and hope for the best?
I used to do that. Michigan/Lions losing on the weekends would literally ruin my weekend. I didn't speak for an entire day with the Spartan Bob loss.
But, I got older. I don't feel like getting my hopes up as this current coach has let me down over and over again in big spots.
That's why I'm approaching this with a wait and see. If he proves he can beat a better opponent, I'll start to be cautiously optimistic.
They've looked good against inferior opponents. When Harbaugh gets a big win, I'll be MORE THAN HAPPY to say I was wrong about him.
September 19th, 2021 at 4:37 PM ^
I basically agree with Uncle Leo's take here -- it's where I am at right down to the last sentence.
I would change that to " They've looked better this year against inferior opponents than they have in previous years. When Harbaugh starts getting big wins this year, I will be happy to say I was wrong about him needing to be fired."
That's pretty much where I'm at -- I am very happy with how Michigan has played, but previous years' results have given me some pause. That said, the team seems crisper in execution, playing to their strengths, and mentally stronger. If we keep that up, it'll be a fine season.
September 19th, 2021 at 5:57 PM ^
You may have grown older but haven't grown up if you let this game played by strangers ruin your weekend and make you stop talking to people.
I mean what exactly do you lose if the team loses? A chip off your ego? Man the fuck up.
Harbaugh didn't let you down. He has done far more for this program than any of us. You know losing must absolutely kill him and those young men. When they lose they have to deal directly w it. I'm sure it ruins a lot more than a weekend for them. Harbaugh came to UM when the program needed him far more than he needed the program. Respect.
I don't hold back on giving the little I can to the team because they are giving so much more in return.
THIS TEAM has far exceeded expectations to this point. That's fantastic and feels great. The day will come when that will not be the case and ill feel like shit for a minute and then pull for them to turn it around. Not that complicated.
September 19th, 2021 at 12:16 PM ^
That is my thinking also. I wouldn't overlook Rutgers, as they have had much better recruiting since Schiano arrived, although that may take some time to show itself. I've been crushed too many times before to get on the bandwagon until much later in the season.
The schedule has been terrific in that it has allowed players to deal with new systems at home, in good weather and against inferior opponents. Let's see how they do when they get punched in the mouth a few times at hostile stadiums. If they do well in Madison in two weeks, I will start revising my pre-season W-L expectations.
September 19th, 2021 at 1:26 PM ^
Rutgers is 3-0 right now. Saturday's not a gimme.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:17 AM ^
Not to throw too much cold water, because I am as delighted as the next fan. But it just may mean--watching some other teams yesterday--that we ARE a top 10-15 team, totally great under the circumstances, but destined, still, to lose a couple of games. How do we react then? Like the sky has fallen? Usually, we fail these tests of character. Let's not this year.
September 19th, 2021 at 12:08 PM ^
I hope as much as anyone that we win every game this year, and it looks like there is a small possibility that could actually happen, and I will be as bummed inside about a loss as any as well, but what you said couldn’t be truer!
Can we, as a fan base, keep our collective cool with a loss in Madison, Happy Valley, and against OSU because they might just all be a little better than us at the moment and 2 of those games are away? Can we go 9-3, 8-4, even 10-2, 11-1 with a loss to OSU or Sparty, or have some outlier loss to IU, Maryland…can we have any of these scenarios and not go plant ourselves in the “FIRE HARBAUGH!” Camp? I will say this till blue in the face about us, we do not want to become another Tennessee, Nebraska, USC, Texas and be a constant revolving door of coaches and systems with no solid foundation, because frankly, we are just 6 years from being pulled out of that kind of mess, by Jim Harbaugh. Can we be okay with having to build a culture of consistent winning seasons with a few really special years, and maybe, we will be lucky enough to breakthrough and become the next Clemson, Bama or OSU for a decade or so. Can we not shame a coach out of Ann Arbor even when he is mostly successful (I can’t help but think of how Carr was almsot forced to retire because of fans upset about his conservatism as a football coach , and I was stupidly in that camp too) Can we just be happy we are a solid program who is playing well and competitive and looks to be a real contender in the East each year (sans 2020).
September 19th, 2021 at 1:02 PM ^
Well said....let's get behind this team when the adversity hits and not make it more difficult for them to win the next one!
Go blue!
September 19th, 2021 at 11:38 AM ^
I also have to wonder when the last time was that we gained almost 1,200 yards rushing through the first three games. I have to believe that's a record.
And that's with a pocket QB
September 19th, 2021 at 11:42 AM ^
How dare you bring facts and data to a blog. Don't you know this is a fan base where emotion and passion rule and logic and data are ignored!!!! /s
I did see the points below about 2016, but if that is the indicator I'll take it. The season ending game against OSU was not a pounding as someone noted, but "The Spot". And I would contend that "The Spot" was only a subjective call and was only the tip of the iceberg of the lopsided officiating in that game. To me the BS PI on the 4th quarter that bailed out OSU on a 3rd and 24 with about 7 minutes left was the biggest BS call that bail them out....
Sorry digressed..... I am in between here, I look at this team through 3 games and see that they are efficient, organized, even dominate. This has NOT been the case before. How will the rest of the season play out? I believe that each game is its own data point. Rutgers will be interesting, but I do expect a win.... even a relatively easy win. If the offense imposes its will again, that will be great.
I will even go out here and state that WMU will win 9-10 games (they are 2-1 and now enter the MAC season..... 6-7 wins in the MAC is very likely). Washington seems the be our 2007 team (shocked by a FCS team in week 1, then pounded by a very good team the next week). They will recover and have a winning record by the end of the year. And NIU is not the celler dweller in the MAC, they are not a MAC power, but will end up with ~6 wins.
But I do believe that we can agree that the game that will determine is the vast majority of the fanbase starts going bonkers is the game @ Wisconsin. Particularly if they do beat ND (Which I think they will)
September 19th, 2021 at 12:14 PM ^
Yeah, if we're using 2016 as some sort of counter-example, I don't really follow. That was a very good team that lost three games by five total points. Darboh dropped a pass that would have clinched the Iowa game. We missed a tackle at the beginning of the long kickoff return by FSU at the end of the game. And the OSU game was, well, we know.
That year ended in an extremely bitter fashion. But in the big picture, if you're in a position to win every single game of the season, you've done pretty well.
September 19th, 2021 at 1:17 PM ^
This looks like the team that can get those two or three first downs late in the game to ice it.
September 19th, 2021 at 12:51 PM ^
I posted elsewhere about Harbaughs non conference record after the commentators during the UW game said he’s undefeated in home non conference games, and when you add in the Florida opener in Arlington it makes the Finebaums of the world look all the more goofy. Makes the hope that soon enough they will all be muted if the next 3 years are 9-11 wins and we get a win over osu somewhere in there. I know we all feel less like that is impossible the way this season is trending. Seems more likely than not with our o line recruiting and if the DB class we could end up with all show their potential.
Fire him now since you’re going to fire him anyway after the season is what that good said a month ago. Don’t think we’ll be firing our coach, in fact some of the coaches that have jobs in jeopardy may get us more better players. Penn St beating Auburn has to stick in that guys crawl. Can’t wait for his excuses all year and hopefully we give him some more rough shows where he has to come on and say how wrong he was, but he’ll probably just blame the ineptitude of the opposition rather than admit he’s full of hot air
September 19th, 2021 at 11:04 AM ^
The 27th in defense should be HIGHER RANKED.... MacDonald is putting in second and third teamers and very early. Brown kept his starters in until the final few plays.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
I was about to reply "don't you mean they should be higher" but then it struck me that the actual number should be lower (smaller). The ranking should be higher. Is that what you mean?
September 19th, 2021 at 11:55 AM ^
Yes. I should have been clearer. I'm gonna edit it.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:06 AM ^
Finally it feels like this team could succeed with a game manager at QB. Though the Ronnie Bell injury has completely upended the passing game.