Definitely. I think the first 10 you listed will get drafted at the very least. Many, if not all of them will get picked up as UDFAs. Michigan is too good of an NFL development factory and the GMs take note. Let's Go Blue!
I agree with you. It's not only the play on the field but his leadership and willingness to do whatever is needed for the team's success are second to none. You can't list many position switches (or any) that led to the best player at the new position. The man was 3rd WR and became defensive field general. He will be missed but it's amazing to see the stories of these kids making it to the next level. It's going to be fun rooting for these players across the NFL!
I just want to say thank you for all of the great coverage and analysis. I learn a lot from all of your input on the site. Even more, I (we) appreciate that you respond in the comments for more elaboration. I'm sorry that this opens you up to some ridicule and trolling but please know that there is a lot more appreciative lurkers in the comments.
I don't know if it's just me but playing these games that late at night can have a major effect. The tip times are almost a joke. I can't imagine functioning at a high level at 11pm (and later). I thought it also played a factor in the tourney game against UCLA as well.
Definitely no excuse because the better team won tonight but they were all out of sorts. Lots of room for improvement fortunately but maybe our expectations were a little too high right out of the gate.
Agreed, I think they were in position to win that game and they dug deep and came up short. I guess I am more looking at OSU games, top 10 matchups, and bowl games as a whole. When you watch our OSU and bowl games, the other team always comes out of the gate better, makes the big plays, and keeps the foot on the gas. Our losses to Florida State and South Carolina immediately come to mind. I remember Carr's last game against Florida and thinking "where was that team all these years?" I think I am still waiting for that team to show up. I think Harbaugh is the right man for the job, I just hope these recurrent issues would go away. That takes us to the next level.
Great analysis and I agree with most of it. I, too, am in support of keeping Harbaugh because he's the best available option right now and he doesn't get credit for things that should matter (running a clean program and helping develop his kids into productive members of society). Overall, the program is trending up and I will happily take a 10-2 season this year and beyond. I don't think it's fair to judge someone on their inability to beat the incredible run of teams from OSU. However, I think there are a few weaknesses that we just can't seem to get over. I could be wrong in assigning blame to Harbaugh but he is the head coach after all.
1. It seems like we play "not to lose" rather than playing to win. Just like in the Carr era, we often take our feet off the gas in the third quarter and struggle to claw back into a game that we could have won.
2. I am unsure how much he meddles in the offense but it feels as if any creativity, speed in space, whatever-you-want-to-call-it gets neutered and leads to a similar offense each year that is easily scouted. He always seems to scheme some incredible games for OSU (the O'Korn game comes to mind) but imagine if that could be applied to the rest of the season. We're always waiting for our mundane plays to build into something that pays off later. Pepcat? Shae/Cade actually running a ZR?
3. Michigan never seems to rise above the occasion. In big games, players make plays. MSU and OSU players always seem ready, prepared, and come up with the big plays when called upon. We seem to shoot ourselves in the foot more often in these games. Corum/CJ dropped gimmes, Moten drops the INT, critical fumbles. You have to make plays. We won't even mention how pitiful we always present in bowl games, which are nearly unwatchable.
I'm not sure how or even IF he can change these things but he has never been averse to trying something new. I just hope this last loss can jump start some creativity, focus, and the desire to play to win. All it takes is one The Game to change the narrative. I hope they're all ready.
I never understand this, especially when we have a former WR (and good coach) on staff! I realize he coaches secondary but you would think he could spend a little time on routes and separation to help the young ones out.
Seth, thank you, as always, for your incredible hard work and detail. These UFRs are long because we can feel your passion for the X's and O's in your writing and we can feel that you want to pass on exciting things to us. That's awesome. Personally, I have learned SO much about football strategy and mechanics from your neck sharpies and now these UFRs. Keep up the good work, 99% of us appreciate anything you give us (for free no less!) It's not up to you to cater to the trolls, it is up to us as readers to take what we want from your writing and digest/use it how we choose. In the past, I would have the "bad feels" from a game but learning how and why Cade may be a limiting factor now gives a lot of clarity on why things look and feel like they do. That's what I take away from your explanation. Your contributions (and passion) have taken the analysis to another level.
On a side note, I really hope you and the MGoBlog team can take care of yourselves during these next few months. Enjoy the process as much as you can but we will all click on whatever you post when it is good and ready.
Great points, I completely agree. I think/hope Juwan is trying to strike a unique balance in college basketball. I don't think we want to be a true "blue blood" like Kentucky, Duke, etc. because it brings too many egos, challenges against G-League (i.e. Todd), and necessitates a rebuild almost every year. I think a Juwan Blue Blood team can actually have a shot at the Diabates and Houstans of the world but will also balance the team with the underrated prospects that can be coached up. The most impactful Michigan players of the last decade-plus are almost always of the latter variety (Burke, Simpson, Eli). It's just incredible having a coach that you can faithfully trust to identify talent and coach it up. The potential blue blood aspect is like having a John Beilein who can take a swing at select 5-stars and be a threat to steal a few.
You're not the only one. However, it seems many decisions these days are not driven by science or medicine but simply a desire to do what we want and return to normal. The players, coaches, and many fans want football back so that's the end of it. I applaud the Big Ten for at least waiting for rapid testing to be available but with all the flak they've gotten (including from their own players and coaches) they get what they want...play foooootbawww.
I have enormous respect for the UM coaches and doctors and I think they will do what's best for their players but that is only at our university. Like Sam Webb said, if Michigan could play themselves every week we'd be fine but fingers crossed that Rutgers can figure this out. The South? Forget it. We can only hope that test results cannot be hidden by the coaches and are instead in the hands of doctors and training staff, necessitating a player to sit out with a positive test. At this point, it's play at all costs and we will know the outcome in 5-20 years after the dust has settled.
Distant afterthought? I think your judgment and expectations are way off course. Where else can you get consistent, quality, and in-depth coverage from such a highly respected Michigan writing team? (Or any team for that matter). All for free btw.
Let's also remember that there is no big ten football and very little report-worthy news right now. High school football and recruiting in general is a shadow of its usual self. I guarantee you will get a high quality recruiting profile on Monday and it will be better than you can get anywhere else.
With the season shut down and having just finished HTTV, I personally am glad Brian, Seth, and Ace can downshift during this insane time and still provide excellent content while taking care of themselves and their families. I know I wouldn't want to write a UFR while having my entire family in the house 24/7. We should be grateful that we get to feast on the meager bones of football news and can be part of a Michigan community that holds a higher standard of respect for one another than the rest of the world out there. If you can't, we will all be glad to have you on another site.
Definitely go in to your dentist to have it looked at to make sure it didn't pop off because there is a problem underneath (cavity, fracture, etc.). If the cement just gave way, sometimes it's an easy fix to re-cement it. The sooner you go in, the easier it is to put back on too.
Glad it's helpful. I would say that if it is hard to follow that advice, you definitely need to find a new dentist. The best dental offices will be successful and as such, they will have sufficient staff with excellent training. Be cautious of offices that seem to do everything (root canals, orthodontics, etc.) While there are some offices that have excellent training and results, we have specialists for a reason. I perform surgery every day, it's all that I do. For my health, I always want to go to the best-trained person in the field. Use your gut instinct. It's weird for a doctor to take payments or for a robot to schedule your visit. I am not in the dental industry serving people, I am in a people business providing dentistry. Customer service and communication should still be a top priority.
As long as the staining is not from tartar or cavities, it is pretty much purely cosmetic. A lot of teeth have internal staining or pitting for a variety of reasons, whether it be genetics, medication/fever as a child, or just plain old stained teeth. As long as people don't question if you're British, you're probably doing okay. Coffee, tea, red wine, smoking, etc. are the biggest culprits. As long as those 6-month checks are clean and you're happy/comfortable, I think you're good to go.
In general, offices should always be upfront about the fees for procedures and you should always feel that you have an awareness of what is involved. However, when dental "insurance" gets involved, it becomes a much trickier situation. As dentists, we do not have any control over what they pay or what procedures they cover. It is a good idea to be prepared to pay for the total fee in case your benefits are exhausted or the company plays games with their coverage. Insurance companies make their money by collecting premiums and paying out as little as necessary. However, you should feel that they communicated to you adequately and if there is a conflict, they at least made a good effort to do right by you.
I'm happy to chime in here, long-time lingerer and first-time poster (of all the topics, go figure!) As a periodontist, I specialize in gum surgery, gum recession, dental implants, etc but I can hopefully help with some of the questions in the thread.
First of all, it is never necessary to use an ultrasonic scaling device. For heavy tartar/stain buildup, it makes it much easier and faster to remove. In the case of stain, it is much more effective. In the case of tartar, you can remove it with hand scalers but it does take longer. For an average patient, with normal buildup, my personal philosophy is hand scale as much as possible. For heavy tartar builders, we may use an ultrasonic on the back side of the lower front teeth and the outside of the upper molars, as those are the areas where the salivary glands are and the heaviest tartar as a result. Nobody should use the ultrasonic exclusively, it is only to supplement the hand scaling. You would never power wash your filthy car and just leave it without wiping it down with a towel to thoroughly clean it. However, we limit our ultrasonic use during Covid and we will not use it if a patient requests it or if a patient has a lot of recession or sensitivity. BTW, using the ultrasonic does not cost more money than a regular visit with hand scaling unless it is a different procedure completely but they should explain that to you.
Regarding 6-month visits: For the general population, visits every 6 months will help us in the prevention of gum disease and cavities. I assure you that is not a ploy for more money. Small cavities can become big enough to need root canals (or worse) within 6 months time. There are many other things we look at when we see patients for these visits that you may be unaware of such as oral cancer screening, checking your bite, looking for trauma from grinding, etc. Like most things in life, it is generally easier, faster, better, cheaper, etc to treat problems earlier than later. We would've avoided a few lost seasons, the current Covid situation, and a Shane Morris incident if we followed that.
My advice for patients when they move to a new city is to call a periodontist's office and ask them for 2-3 names of their recommended dentists. As a periodontist, I see everyone's work and hear lots of different stories. There are dentists that I would trust with my family and those I wouldn't let near me with a toothbrush. I am happy to help a patient find a good dental home, even if I never see that patient myself. After you get 2-3 names, spend some time on their website reading about the doctor, staff, and credentials. Then, call their office. If they are rude, instantly put you on hold, or don't give you a good vibe, hang up and move on to the next one. Feel free to ask if they use the ultrasonic on every patient. If they do, I wouldn't trust it, especially on kids (that's ridiculous and lazy). A good, conscientious office with excellent customer service should check all the boxes and leave you feeling good about their listening skills and seeing them again.
Recent Comments
Definitely. I think the first 10 you listed will get drafted at the very least. Many, if not all of them will get picked up as UDFAs. Michigan is too good of an NFL development factory and the GMs take note. Let's Go Blue!
I agree with you. It's not only the play on the field but his leadership and willingness to do whatever is needed for the team's success are second to none. You can't list many position switches (or any) that led to the best player at the new position. The man was 3rd WR and became defensive field general. He will be missed but it's amazing to see the stories of these kids making it to the next level. It's going to be fun rooting for these players across the NFL!
I just want to say…
Matt,
I just want to say thank you for all of the great coverage and analysis. I learn a lot from all of your input on the site. Even more, I (we) appreciate that you respond in the comments for more elaboration. I'm sorry that this opens you up to some ridicule and trolling but please know that there is a lot more appreciative lurkers in the comments.
Keep up the good work and Go Blue!
From Port Huron, MI so I am hoping Braiden McGregor blows up!
I don't know if it's just me but playing these games that late at night can have a major effect. The tip times are almost a joke. I can't imagine functioning at a high level at 11pm (and later). I thought it also played a factor in the tourney game against UCLA as well.
Definitely no excuse because the better team won tonight but they were all out of sorts. Lots of room for improvement fortunately but maybe our expectations were a little too high right out of the gate.
Agreed, I think they were in position to win that game and they dug deep and came up short. I guess I am more looking at OSU games, top 10 matchups, and bowl games as a whole. When you watch our OSU and bowl games, the other team always comes out of the gate better, makes the big plays, and keeps the foot on the gas. Our losses to Florida State and South Carolina immediately come to mind. I remember Carr's last game against Florida and thinking "where was that team all these years?" I think I am still waiting for that team to show up. I think Harbaugh is the right man for the job, I just hope these recurrent issues would go away. That takes us to the next level.
Great analysis and I agree with most of it. I, too, am in support of keeping Harbaugh because he's the best available option right now and he doesn't get credit for things that should matter (running a clean program and helping develop his kids into productive members of society). Overall, the program is trending up and I will happily take a 10-2 season this year and beyond. I don't think it's fair to judge someone on their inability to beat the incredible run of teams from OSU. However, I think there are a few weaknesses that we just can't seem to get over. I could be wrong in assigning blame to Harbaugh but he is the head coach after all.
1. It seems like we play "not to lose" rather than playing to win. Just like in the Carr era, we often take our feet off the gas in the third quarter and struggle to claw back into a game that we could have won.
2. I am unsure how much he meddles in the offense but it feels as if any creativity, speed in space, whatever-you-want-to-call-it gets neutered and leads to a similar offense each year that is easily scouted. He always seems to scheme some incredible games for OSU (the O'Korn game comes to mind) but imagine if that could be applied to the rest of the season. We're always waiting for our mundane plays to build into something that pays off later. Pepcat? Shae/Cade actually running a ZR?
3. Michigan never seems to rise above the occasion. In big games, players make plays. MSU and OSU players always seem ready, prepared, and come up with the big plays when called upon. We seem to shoot ourselves in the foot more often in these games. Corum/CJ dropped gimmes, Moten drops the INT, critical fumbles. You have to make plays. We won't even mention how pitiful we always present in bowl games, which are nearly unwatchable.
I'm not sure how or even IF he can change these things but he has never been averse to trying something new. I just hope this last loss can jump start some creativity, focus, and the desire to play to win. All it takes is one The Game to change the narrative. I hope they're all ready.
Go Blue!
I never understand this, especially when we have a former WR (and good coach) on staff! I realize he coaches secondary but you would think he could spend a little time on routes and separation to help the young ones out.
Seth, thank you, as always, for your incredible hard work and detail. These UFRs are long because we can feel your passion for the X's and O's in your writing and we can feel that you want to pass on exciting things to us. That's awesome. Personally, I have learned SO much about football strategy and mechanics from your neck sharpies and now these UFRs. Keep up the good work, 99% of us appreciate anything you give us (for free no less!) It's not up to you to cater to the trolls, it is up to us as readers to take what we want from your writing and digest/use it how we choose. In the past, I would have the "bad feels" from a game but learning how and why Cade may be a limiting factor now gives a lot of clarity on why things look and feel like they do. That's what I take away from your explanation. Your contributions (and passion) have taken the analysis to another level.
On a side note, I really hope you and the MGoBlog team can take care of yourselves during these next few months. Enjoy the process as much as you can but we will all click on whatever you post when it is good and ready.
Great points, I completely agree. I think/hope Juwan is trying to strike a unique balance in college basketball. I don't think we want to be a true "blue blood" like Kentucky, Duke, etc. because it brings too many egos, challenges against G-League (i.e. Todd), and necessitates a rebuild almost every year. I think a Juwan Blue Blood team can actually have a shot at the Diabates and Houstans of the world but will also balance the team with the underrated prospects that can be coached up. The most impactful Michigan players of the last decade-plus are almost always of the latter variety (Burke, Simpson, Eli). It's just incredible having a coach that you can faithfully trust to identify talent and coach it up. The potential blue blood aspect is like having a John Beilein who can take a swing at select 5-stars and be a threat to steal a few.
I'm not sure everyone in the adjacent stadium knows that...
You're not the only one. However, it seems many decisions these days are not driven by science or medicine but simply a desire to do what we want and return to normal. The players, coaches, and many fans want football back so that's the end of it. I applaud the Big Ten for at least waiting for rapid testing to be available but with all the flak they've gotten (including from their own players and coaches) they get what they want...play foooootbawww.
I have enormous respect for the UM coaches and doctors and I think they will do what's best for their players but that is only at our university. Like Sam Webb said, if Michigan could play themselves every week we'd be fine but fingers crossed that Rutgers can figure this out. The South? Forget it. We can only hope that test results cannot be hidden by the coaches and are instead in the hands of doctors and training staff, necessitating a player to sit out with a positive test. At this point, it's play at all costs and we will know the outcome in 5-20 years after the dust has settled.
Distant afterthought? I think your judgment and expectations are way off course. Where else can you get consistent, quality, and in-depth coverage from such a highly respected Michigan writing team? (Or any team for that matter). All for free btw.
Let's also remember that there is no big ten football and very little report-worthy news right now. High school football and recruiting in general is a shadow of its usual self. I guarantee you will get a high quality recruiting profile on Monday and it will be better than you can get anywhere else.
With the season shut down and having just finished HTTV, I personally am glad Brian, Seth, and Ace can downshift during this insane time and still provide excellent content while taking care of themselves and their families. I know I wouldn't want to write a UFR while having my entire family in the house 24/7. We should be grateful that we get to feast on the meager bones of football news and can be part of a Michigan community that holds a higher standard of respect for one another than the rest of the world out there. If you can't, we will all be glad to have you on another site.
Stay well and Go Blue!
Definitely go in to your dentist to have it looked at to make sure it didn't pop off because there is a problem underneath (cavity, fracture, etc.). If the cement just gave way, sometimes it's an easy fix to re-cement it. The sooner you go in, the easier it is to put back on too.
Yep I am...graduated UM Dental School 2008 and UW Perio 2011.
Glad it's helpful. I would say that if it is hard to follow that advice, you definitely need to find a new dentist. The best dental offices will be successful and as such, they will have sufficient staff with excellent training. Be cautious of offices that seem to do everything (root canals, orthodontics, etc.) While there are some offices that have excellent training and results, we have specialists for a reason. I perform surgery every day, it's all that I do. For my health, I always want to go to the best-trained person in the field. Use your gut instinct. It's weird for a doctor to take payments or for a robot to schedule your visit. I am not in the dental industry serving people, I am in a people business providing dentistry. Customer service and communication should still be a top priority.
As long as the staining is not from tartar or cavities, it is pretty much purely cosmetic. A lot of teeth have internal staining or pitting for a variety of reasons, whether it be genetics, medication/fever as a child, or just plain old stained teeth. As long as people don't question if you're British, you're probably doing okay. Coffee, tea, red wine, smoking, etc. are the biggest culprits. As long as those 6-month checks are clean and you're happy/comfortable, I think you're good to go.
In general, offices should always be upfront about the fees for procedures and you should always feel that you have an awareness of what is involved. However, when dental "insurance" gets involved, it becomes a much trickier situation. As dentists, we do not have any control over what they pay or what procedures they cover. It is a good idea to be prepared to pay for the total fee in case your benefits are exhausted or the company plays games with their coverage. Insurance companies make their money by collecting premiums and paying out as little as necessary. However, you should feel that they communicated to you adequately and if there is a conflict, they at least made a good effort to do right by you.
I'm happy to chime in here, long-time lingerer and first-time poster (of all the topics, go figure!) As a periodontist, I specialize in gum surgery, gum recession, dental implants, etc but I can hopefully help with some of the questions in the thread.
First of all, it is never necessary to use an ultrasonic scaling device. For heavy tartar/stain buildup, it makes it much easier and faster to remove. In the case of stain, it is much more effective. In the case of tartar, you can remove it with hand scalers but it does take longer. For an average patient, with normal buildup, my personal philosophy is hand scale as much as possible. For heavy tartar builders, we may use an ultrasonic on the back side of the lower front teeth and the outside of the upper molars, as those are the areas where the salivary glands are and the heaviest tartar as a result. Nobody should use the ultrasonic exclusively, it is only to supplement the hand scaling. You would never power wash your filthy car and just leave it without wiping it down with a towel to thoroughly clean it. However, we limit our ultrasonic use during Covid and we will not use it if a patient requests it or if a patient has a lot of recession or sensitivity. BTW, using the ultrasonic does not cost more money than a regular visit with hand scaling unless it is a different procedure completely but they should explain that to you.
Regarding 6-month visits: For the general population, visits every 6 months will help us in the prevention of gum disease and cavities. I assure you that is not a ploy for more money. Small cavities can become big enough to need root canals (or worse) within 6 months time. There are many other things we look at when we see patients for these visits that you may be unaware of such as oral cancer screening, checking your bite, looking for trauma from grinding, etc. Like most things in life, it is generally easier, faster, better, cheaper, etc to treat problems earlier than later. We would've avoided a few lost seasons, the current Covid situation, and a Shane Morris incident if we followed that.
My advice for patients when they move to a new city is to call a periodontist's office and ask them for 2-3 names of their recommended dentists. As a periodontist, I see everyone's work and hear lots of different stories. There are dentists that I would trust with my family and those I wouldn't let near me with a toothbrush. I am happy to help a patient find a good dental home, even if I never see that patient myself. After you get 2-3 names, spend some time on their website reading about the doctor, staff, and credentials. Then, call their office. If they are rude, instantly put you on hold, or don't give you a good vibe, hang up and move on to the next one. Feel free to ask if they use the ultrasonic on every patient. If they do, I wouldn't trust it, especially on kids (that's ridiculous and lazy). A good, conscientious office with excellent customer service should check all the boxes and leave you feeling good about their listening skills and seeing them again.