Nice MnB piece on the need for Michigan fans to have patience
Pretty well said, I think. I understand the hand-wringing about the offensive woes, but it does help to remember the age of these kids and the challenges they are dealing with.
As the Dad of two college kids, mistakes and growth from them are key parts of the experience. I have an unwavering confidence in this coaching staff - including the O staff.
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2017/9/18/16328516/open-letter-fans-michigan…
September 18th, 2017 at 3:19 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 3:17 PM ^
around here and on most pro Michigan sites & radio stations was very high..It was unrealistic (IMO) to expect this years team to be any where near as good as last years 10 win team given the high number of young players.The 'we should start 10-0' etc was wishful thinking.When expectations (even unrealistic ones) aren't met people often become upset.I would never boo any College player and hope it stops.Many of the same folks who created the unreasonable expectations are the same ones telling fans to remain patient.2018 and beyond should be great WHEN THE YOUNG PLAYERS HAVE DEVELOPED.Many great Mich players were just average as Fr & Sophs.
September 19th, 2017 at 9:32 AM ^
A) I think most people thought pre-season that we were a 9 win team. The hype only happened after we curb stomped Florida.
B) I still see no reason we can win 10-11 games this season. The floor of the B1G looks like it might have risen, but I see no reason that we should feel threatened by the way that PSU or OSU have looked, and Wisconsin has played no one.
Edit "I see no reason we CANT..."September 19th, 2017 at 1:50 AM ^
No what is urealistic is thinking this team would be as good as last years team by week 3 of the year. Moreover, it is also unrealistic to think a young team struggling to be consistant early means thinking they have a shot at 10-0 going into the game is wishful thinking.
Young teams typically struggle early and look much better late in the year.
September 18th, 2017 at 3:19 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 3:21 PM ^
by last year's early season beatdowns we put on what are likely turning out to be lesser teams that we are seeing so far this year. Pretty thoughtful piece, and if we can get the kinks out on offense the way we have on the ten-new-starter defense, we should be a tough out in November.
September 18th, 2017 at 3:22 PM ^
I have infinite patience because I learned a lesson during the RR/Hoke struggles, and that's to not let losses affect you afterwards. Life is way more enjoyable when you don't let a sportsball game ruin an evening/weekend/however long it takes you to stop moping. Me getting angry at the offense struggling literally does not impact anything the players or staff do.
September 18th, 2017 at 9:39 PM ^
Yea, me too - I used to let it ruin my whole week. But then something happened after the 4 ot loss to PSU (when I went ballistic). Now, I only let it get me only semi-down-in-the-dumps for that weekend.
I watched the UM/MSU punt debacle with my MSU-alum brother the day before I left for my honeymoon, in a house full of my wife's family. Happy to say I did not let it ruin that trip.
September 19th, 2017 at 5:26 AM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 4:32 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 3:32 PM ^
It is what it is. And what happens this year has zero impact on whether Michigan still wants Jim Harbaugh as head coach next year.
But the reality is that those who choose to downplay or deflect from the deficiencies of the team at the moment aren't doing the kids any favors because you're hyping up expectation levels that well might be unrealistic. I think it's fairer on the kids to say, hey, this team is a work in progress, in most other places you'd consider 8 wins with this inexperienced and untested a group a huge success. If we go 8-4, well that's not really a shocker, is it?
September 18th, 2017 at 3:38 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 4:56 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 5:32 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 5:22 PM ^
And we have a pretty good rushing attack (that did well against a good defense) which I don't feel like I've seen in a decade or so
September 18th, 2017 at 3:47 PM ^
Havent won a Big Ten title since 2004, havent beaten Ohio State since 2011, ect ect
I love these guys more than bacon but patience is wearing thin
September 18th, 2017 at 3:55 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 3:56 PM ^
I get it. I'm sick of that too, but that belies the point of this article. We still haven't even lost the opportunity to win those things this year.
September 18th, 2017 at 3:56 PM ^
because given the roster this year, it would be a miracle for this year to be the year that all of those streaks end. I feel like people here have fooled themselves into disregarding the hard evidence and just thinking "somehow Jimbo will have us compete for a NC with a roster that's got almost nothing back because you know..Harbaugh". And you know maybe he will just do that, so far we haven't lost..but you shouldn't expect it. Sometimes the magical and unexpected happens..but more often it doesn't. Far more often, what you see is what you get.
September 18th, 2017 at 4:35 PM ^
Completely disagree. This is a top 5 NCAA defense. We have talent at receiver and a decent ish line. Basically all we are missing is a QB.
There is no team in this conference that is out and out better than we are.
Big Ten title is an achievable goal. The team and staff have to dig deep and take it.
September 18th, 2017 at 4:54 PM ^
was a top 3 D in NCAA and still gave up a lot of points vs OSU and FSU and we still ended up losing 3 games, didn't win the Big Ten or beat OSU.
And to boot, last year's offense was significantly better. Our offensive line is anything but 'decent-ish', it's actually a pile of crap and the biggest problem on the team right now.
September 18th, 2017 at 5:02 PM ^
The D gave up very little in regulation against Ohio State. 1 touchdown as a result of Spieght throwing an interception on their end.
The D played near perfect and provided the blueprint for shutting Ohio States O down.
It was the offense who couldnt get a 1st down in the 4th and bad officiating that lost the game. There is very little you can come at the defense for in that loss. Even against FSU the defense had 2 blunders but mostly kept us in the game.
September 18th, 2017 at 5:10 PM ^
I'm saying that D alone isn't enough to win championships because even a great D in this day and age won't just concede 10-14 points max every game.
By pointing out that last year's offense wasn't good enough to win those games you make the point for me - because this year's offense is worse than that one. If great D with passable offense wasn't enough then why on earth would you think 'still great but perhaps slightly worse' D and significantly worse offense are more likely to be enough?
Here's the point I'm making. Go in and expect nothing. If we go out and win it all, be happy. Don't poison your mind with arbitrary expectations based on wishful thinking.
September 18th, 2017 at 6:11 PM ^
OK. Sure. I'll have patience.
Someone let me know when it's OK to lose patience with a returning starting QB that overthrows five yard passes and throws fades into the stands, though. Because I didn't realize a lack of patience for that was unreasonable.
September 18th, 2017 at 4:03 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 4:33 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 4:11 PM ^
The team as a whole i have patience because of youth. Speight not so much.
September 18th, 2017 at 4:37 PM ^
Speight's performance and the performance of the rest of the youthful offense are connected. One impacts the other.
September 18th, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 5:13 PM ^
even if he was a very good QB, which he isn't. But I think he'd do a lot better behind a good offensive line. Not just because of protection..but also because a reliable running game would put him into a lot better situations.
September 18th, 2017 at 10:26 PM ^
September 19th, 2017 at 12:17 AM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 6:13 PM ^
So which receivers/o-line were at fault for Speight overthrowing five yard passes and lobbing fades out of bounds?
September 18th, 2017 at 8:08 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 10:39 PM ^
No, seriously... what could either the WRs or the OL do to cause Speight to consistently throw fades out of bounds and overthrow wide open receivers not five yards away?
September 18th, 2017 at 4:23 PM ^
I've lost patience with all of the people telling me to have more patience.
September 18th, 2017 at 4:29 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 4:31 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^
it's football. It isn't this important . . . . . . I'll watch them if they go 4-7 for 10 years straight. Big effin deal.
September 18th, 2017 at 4:34 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 6:20 PM ^
just won this thread!
September 18th, 2017 at 6:22 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 4:38 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 5:04 PM ^
why would you still be watching them after years of being bad? Losing football isn't fun, so if it's not important to you, there should be other more fun things to do.
Most people who take football pretty lightly blow off games even when the team is doing okay..never mind when it's a total disaster (just ask current students who aren't especially into football).
September 18th, 2017 at 6:21 PM ^
September 19th, 2017 at 2:09 AM ^
You, sir, don't possess the correct level of ANGAR and entitlement to be a real Michigan fan.
September 18th, 2017 at 4:41 PM ^
Loss margins:
7, 4, 29, 1, 3, 1
Hopefully 24-6 after Saturday giving JH an .800 winning %.
Obviously we want titles and rivalry wins but winning 80% and only really suffering one bad loss out of 30 games has my feelings generally engorged with pride.
September 18th, 2017 at 4:48 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 5:27 PM ^