I agree for the most part. It is clear there is scheme, buy in and grit, and that is exciting.
On the other hand, I'm not sure they are lacking (thin up front) so much as they are still very green and working with a (new) scheme for the first time. Red was good at letting guys play to their strength and gave everyone a lot of leash to create. Mel will allow that to an extent but also make them accountable and expect them to work within a framework. Watching MTU for the last couple of years indicates this. Give em time, I think it will bear this out.
I made the yearly pilgrimage from Cali to attend the Minnesota game. I think Peters has the ability to succeed under Harbaugh but thus far, with admittedly few data points, I have not been overly impressed with his throws.
He shows the obvious ability to put touch on the ball. Nearly every throw he made/attempted against Minny the ball was either low or behind. Even on the McEown touchdown, which was well executed, the ball was caught in the gut. There were a couple passes with zip on them but he seems to be taking either too much off the ball or not leading enough on the majority of his throws. You don't necessarilly get that watching YouTube highlights.
I think it will get better and he so far seems at least as good an option as Speight and way ahead of OKorn. Not sure we need a lot of deep balls but moving the receptions out to the 8-12 yard range are going to be important going forward.
Necessary caveat; I'm a hockey guy so take my observations with a grain of salt.
One premier goalie, in the last six years, who didn't pan out. Rutledge flamed out in his freshman year because there was no one else to go with and no chance at development. There was no one in the hopper. He should have been a freshman challenging the incumbent for ice time but there was none. You are making my point here.
Zach might be having an off year. I actually like the kid and he could work out but has definitely not proven himself a true starter. Racine on the other hand is clearly no starter and never was. He got hot, or lucky, a couple of times over the last two years. Hardly what you should hang your hat on.
One in six - this is a lack of forward planning. There should be a premier goalie every other year to develop. This plus a prefered walk on who can work up to a scholarship every other year puts a Tiny Jesus type in your pocket or at least the chance to roll the dice on him.
You clearly didn't read the post end to end. I addressed a number of issues other than Gibson.
As stated, it wasn't Gibson alone. It was that loss plus another premier goalie, the name escapes me at the moment right now, and no attempts to secure anything that remotely looks like a starter in the ensuing years. It is a goaltending problem, not a Gibson problem. Though a decommit like that will make him a douche for the rest of his life in my book.
The goal of this program should be to have two starters vying for the start. Not two backups hoping they haven't screwed up enough to let the other guy step into the paint.
While not solely on their shoulders, it should be mentioned that our goalies suck. The defense in front of them is still a little youngish and making plenty of mistakes on their own, possibly due to scheme, but the goalies do, in fact, suck. Gibson and that other turd left this team without workable goalie plans two years in row by jumping ship in the tenth and eleventh hour. It directly coincides with our current misfortunes.
While I do think it is time for Red to go, and I love the guy, it should be on his terms. I'll give him that due to his legacy - taking over from the absolute disaster that was Giordano and creating the behemoth we were for twenty years. I also think he should have pulled the trigger two years ago. Maybe it was the plan to get Pearson some HC experience because they knew at the time Michigan (Brandon?) wouldn't hire him without it.
I don't buy the Babcock thing for a minute. I had a glimmer of hope the last time around but seriously doubt it is anything other than wishful thinking at this point. I'm too lazy to look it up but when does Mel's contract end? He's doing good work over there, probably having a ball, has too much loyalty to skip out on a current contract, and frankly I'd be ashamed of both parties if they closed a deal under those circumstances. Doesn't seem like Hackett's style either.
The biggest problem is the goalies and the lack of having two true starters. We essentially have two backups in net. That worked out with Tiny Jesus but you can't operate that way on a yearly basis. Both current goalies have opportunities to steal games but can't be counted on to do it consistently or even be counted on to win the common games. How does the equivalent of Appy State beat us in hockey so consistently? How do you not get angry and hyped on the ice to avoid this embarassment? It's infuriating.
Some of that is on recruiting. Not sure why goalies weren't the absolute highest priority for every year after the above two misses. If the D can tighten up this is still a viable team. If the Goalies could stand up this is would be a viable team. I don't see the latter happening as the talent just isn't there. If the trend continues as is, this won't be a viable team for a while.
FTR, I'm a ten year season ticket holder from California. I make four or six games a year. My father held tickets for twenty years before that while we lived in A2. This has been in jeopardy for the last two years on my end now. My wife beats me up every year at renewal time. It wasn't that way when there was more passion on the ice and we were making a fraction of the money we are now.
Recent Comments
I agree for the most part. It is clear there is scheme, buy in and grit, and that is exciting.
On the other hand, I'm not sure they are lacking (thin up front) so much as they are still very green and working with a (new) scheme for the first time. Red was good at letting guys play to their strength and gave everyone a lot of leash to create. Mel will allow that to an extent but also make them accountable and expect them to work within a framework. Watching MTU for the last couple of years indicates this. Give em time, I think it will bear this out.
I take solace in the fact I have 1600 on the IL2 Sturmovik forums.
I made the yearly pilgrimage from Cali to attend the Minnesota game. I think Peters has the ability to succeed under Harbaugh but thus far, with admittedly few data points, I have not been overly impressed with his throws.
He shows the obvious ability to put touch on the ball. Nearly every throw he made/attempted against Minny the ball was either low or behind. Even on the McEown touchdown, which was well executed, the ball was caught in the gut. There were a couple passes with zip on them but he seems to be taking either too much off the ball or not leading enough on the majority of his throws. You don't necessarilly get that watching YouTube highlights.
I think it will get better and he so far seems at least as good an option as Speight and way ahead of OKorn. Not sure we need a lot of deep balls but moving the receptions out to the 8-12 yard range are going to be important going forward.
Necessary caveat; I'm a hockey guy so take my observations with a grain of salt.
In Harbaugh QB whispering we trust.
Gonna have to learn how to yell Vagg-naahhh,
like that announcer now.
One premier goalie, in the last six years, who didn't pan out. Rutledge flamed out in his freshman year because there was no one else to go with and no chance at development. There was no one in the hopper. He should have been a freshman challenging the incumbent for ice time but there was none. You are making my point here.
Zach might be having an off year. I actually like the kid and he could work out but has definitely not proven himself a true starter. Racine on the other hand is clearly no starter and never was. He got hot, or lucky, a couple of times over the last two years. Hardly what you should hang your hat on.
One in six - this is a lack of forward planning. There should be a premier goalie every other year to develop. This plus a prefered walk on who can work up to a scholarship every other year puts a Tiny Jesus type in your pocket or at least the chance to roll the dice on him.
You clearly didn't read the post end to end. I addressed a number of issues other than Gibson.
As stated, it wasn't Gibson alone. It was that loss plus another premier goalie, the name escapes me at the moment right now, and no attempts to secure anything that remotely looks like a starter in the ensuing years. It is a goaltending problem, not a Gibson problem. Though a decommit like that will make him a douche for the rest of his life in my book.
The goal of this program should be to have two starters vying for the start. Not two backups hoping they haven't screwed up enough to let the other guy step into the paint.
While not solely on their shoulders, it should be mentioned that our goalies suck. The defense in front of them is still a little youngish and making plenty of mistakes on their own, possibly due to scheme, but the goalies do, in fact, suck. Gibson and that other turd left this team without workable goalie plans two years in row by jumping ship in the tenth and eleventh hour. It directly coincides with our current misfortunes.
While I do think it is time for Red to go, and I love the guy, it should be on his terms. I'll give him that due to his legacy - taking over from the absolute disaster that was Giordano and creating the behemoth we were for twenty years. I also think he should have pulled the trigger two years ago. Maybe it was the plan to get Pearson some HC experience because they knew at the time Michigan (Brandon?) wouldn't hire him without it.
I don't buy the Babcock thing for a minute. I had a glimmer of hope the last time around but seriously doubt it is anything other than wishful thinking at this point. I'm too lazy to look it up but when does Mel's contract end? He's doing good work over there, probably having a ball, has too much loyalty to skip out on a current contract, and frankly I'd be ashamed of both parties if they closed a deal under those circumstances. Doesn't seem like Hackett's style either.
The biggest problem is the goalies and the lack of having two true starters. We essentially have two backups in net. That worked out with Tiny Jesus but you can't operate that way on a yearly basis. Both current goalies have opportunities to steal games but can't be counted on to do it consistently or even be counted on to win the common games. How does the equivalent of Appy State beat us in hockey so consistently? How do you not get angry and hyped on the ice to avoid this embarassment? It's infuriating.
Some of that is on recruiting. Not sure why goalies weren't the absolute highest priority for every year after the above two misses. If the D can tighten up this is still a viable team. If the Goalies could stand up this is would be a viable team. I don't see the latter happening as the talent just isn't there. If the trend continues as is, this won't be a viable team for a while.
FTR, I'm a ten year season ticket holder from California. I make four or six games a year. My father held tickets for twenty years before that while we lived in A2. This has been in jeopardy for the last two years on my end now. My wife beats me up every year at renewal time. It wasn't that way when there was more passion on the ice and we were making a fraction of the money we are now.