META: Submit your q's for a football mailbag

1) Any plans to take advantage of NIL regarding HTTV or other MGoBlog content?

2) How do you see the defensive scheme changing next year without Dax and Hutchinson? IMO, Michigan ran a pretty neutrally aggressive defense this year. To compensate for their loss, do we go conservative and become a "bend don't break" team? Or do we go ultra-aggressive because you may only need a few turnovers/3-and-outs every game to be able to win a shoot-out with the offense we're going to have.

"...and if I don't answer yours take it personally."

LOL

If you could cherry pick 1 player off of a B1G roster to be on Michigans team next year, who would you take?

If Michigan is truly going to compete with the Georgia and Alabamas - being amazing at what position group BEST enables that to happen? Keep QB out of it since that's easy.  I would have thought DL, but our DL was completely neutralized and we will likely not see another DE combo with 25 sacks in the near future. So if we were to recruit elite athletes and develop them to the max, where would we make up the most ground?

Between the firing talks last year, and the not yet denied NFL rumors this year, it seems there is a small (but still non-zero) chance that Harbaugh and Michigan split in the coming years.

If it were to happen, how do you envision that coaching search going? I feel that we've only made 1 'Michigan Man' hire (Brady Hoke), but in the 07/08 offseason, Rich Rod definitely faced some criticisms for not being a 'Michigan Man'. Has the 'Michigan Man' faction aged out of the University leadership?

It also depends on timing, but if it were to happen, have you heard rumors that current staff members are being prepped for an internal hire to HC? Or would the University try to poach a HC from another school?

Who do you foresee the top 3 WR's being next year, in terms of playing time and production?  We have a ton of depth there.  I wanted to see more Andrel Anthony this year; it seemed every time he was in the game he was making plays.  

Let’s say I have a lawn care business and I want to film a commercial of me cutting the grass on some random football field 5 seconds before Moody blasts a 50 yarder through the uprights. While he’s kicking there would be a caption that says “ University of Michigan placekicker Jake Moody” or something close to that.

I’ll pay Moody $10,000 for 5 seconds of screen time.

1. Is it allowed under the NIL?

2. How would someone reach out to Moody to see if he’d be interested?

Hypothetically speaking.

Would Brian be your starting QB or LB with his football knowledge and physical tools if you were starting a Mgoblog football team?? 

Could you give us a realistic assumption of how UM can/will make NIL work and how to compete with the Daddy Warbuxes of the CFB recruiting world other than out-spending them? I get this feeling the wild west of NIL is going to get some regulations soon or UM waits something 3-6-12 months from now and misses the boat. 

Are you aware of any discussions about improving the gameday experience? Not saying there's anything I particularly dislike about it right now, aside from the usual "packed in like sardines" complaints. It feels like there's a perpetual arms race in creating an enjoyable atmosphere, keeping people in the seats and not home on their couches.

I know OSU had "problems" (they still made a shit ton of $) filling their stadium this year and that ticket prices were brought up most frequently as The cause, but there are definitely other factors to consider that are not unique to OSU. 

Entering what looks to be a post pandemic year, according to experts, some discussions I'd like to see: Decent WiFi connection (this is a must imo), alcohol concessions, what is the University going to do with the old Fingerle lumberyard land, creating a more kid friendly/family friendly experience 

If you could put together an All-B1G coaching unit, what would it look like? Coaches are only allowed to fill positions that they currently coach (i.e., Ryan Day cannot be the OC, etc.). 

Did Michigan do anything differently this year to beat OSU (e.g. daily "OSU" drill, countdown clock, have an analyst full time analyze them weekly, bulletin board quotes...)?

In year 1 of Macdonald we saw how he played to the strengths of individual players to cause problems for opposing offenses. Now that we lose 3-4 athletic freaks on D, and our most athletic returning contributor plays the hardest role in the defense (Junior Colson), where do you anticipate Macdonald making adjustments based on personnel? More traditional 3-4 looks than 5-2? Heavy player rotation? More amoeba fronts?

Given what we know about the 2022 roster at UM and Ohio, coaching changes at OSU, and assuming we keep the staff basically intact, where do you think we stand on a realistic chance of a Repeat in The Game?

What schematic or other changes can we expect from Mike MacDonald? I’d obviously expect at least some focus on countering tempo, but what else do you think could be a consideration?

Why can offensive linemen fully stand up and look at the sideline or at the QB after getting up to the line of scrimmage without getting called for a false start, but if their left nostril happens to flinch at all, a flag gets thrown?  I assume it has something to do with the concept of being 'set,' but it sure as heck looks like the line is set when they get up there are pretend that they are ready to snap before backing off and getting the playcall.

In 2021 we obviously saw the DL take a big step with Hutch and Ojabo. Basically want to understand if any of that was aided by scheme, and how much of an impact Nua had given struggles DL had in 2019 and 2020, to better understand if Elston coming in could offer improvement for guys on the roster.

TL;DR, controlling for the pure talent loss of Hutchinson and Ojabo, how much improvement do you expect to see on the DL next year with Elston coming in.

I believe the hype-to-reality ratio for the "Michigan money cannon" is completely out of whack. Do you agree? 

Could someone please write a good book about football theory?

Where do you think the 2022 secondary will be on a scale of "2018 crossing route nightmarish hellscape" to "No Fly Zone TM" (i.e. a range of ability)?

If Michigan doesn't land another RB (portal or '22 class), and with a workhorse like Haskins gone, who do you like emerging to spell Corum/Edwards? Relatedly, do you see UM going to more spread sets (maybe same # of TE's but empty backfield) to "save" Corum and Edwards from being overused?

Q1:  Which incoming freshmen should be expected to have an impact next year?

Q2:  Given the attrition on defense we can pencil in names to the open spots, but what systemic or structural differences should be expect to compensate for the losses?  

Q3:  We expect that in 2022 we'll need to rely more on our offense to overcome limitations on defense.  What would that look like given the success we had this year, the personnel we have coming back, the overall coaching philosophy of the staff, etc.?  (i.e. not expecting Air Raid just because we have a bunch of good WR)

Q4:  Obviously in 2021 all of our expectations were exceeded relative to performance and success.  But what was the biggest surprise for you schematically from what you thought before the season?  

Q5:  I don't know how much of this info is available, but would love to know if there is a name of an unsigned recruit or someone in the portal that you'd love to see the coaches recruit to help us on the field next year.  (Said another way.....is there a DE/OLB like Mike Danna out there we can aim the NIL cannon at?)

Do you guys have any data related to our per play success offensively by personnel groupings?  Ohio notwithstanding, I felt like we were abysmal when in heavy sets vs most teams. You’ve indicated on the pod that we were a somewhat poor short yardage team this year, and without any hard core data in front of me, my aging memory would agree (insert more 3rd & 3 split zone jokes here).

Who would win at arm wrestling between Seth and Brian?

Disregard, wrong thread…

We all know the moons not made of green cheese but if it was made of steak would Harbaugh coach an NFL expansion team there? Thanks.

Do you have any insight that you didn't before after doing a season of UFRs? Also, slightly related, how are you doing after all that content you put out this year?

What aren't more people talking about the fact that Michigan beat OSU 42-27?

As an entire program, does Michigan have what it takes to make the jump into the elite category e.g Alabama, Clemson, OSU and Georgia ?

Will THE KNOWLEDGE return to these very pages for the 2022 season review after a long absence?

.

yes

.

For starting QB going forward, the a lot of people like JJ McCarthy because of his arm strength and mobility.  Cade McNamara has an advantage in game experience.  Harbaugh is said to prefer a QB to be a good game manager.  In the past, the starting QB has not been named until the opening game.  What is your prediction for the QB situation?  Are there lessons to be learned from the Alex Smith/Colin Kaepernick situation in SF in 2012?

Do you, Brian, Alex, etc …feel like this ship is finally ready to run on all engines, consistently year in and year out? Do you believe Jim when he says this feels like a beginning?