Michigan Football, Team 139, 2018 Season

[Detroit Dan]

"rational view is that M is in a pretty good spot but it may be hard to get to the elite spot M fans so entitled to"

This...

Harbaugh brought M up to a top 5-10 program, that's where M belongs with an adult in charge. But it's another major step to get where Bama, Clemson and the Buckeyes are.

This (again).

Michigan is doing fine. Would like to see us in the playoff, but who wouldn't like to see his team in the playoff?

Can't blame the offense for our loss to OSU. So this is not like last year where there was an obvious culprit. Don Brown and Michigan's defense have definitely earned the right to an off-game. It sucks, but it happened and you don't throw out their tremendous defensive success on the basis of one game.

Speaking of coaches, Urban Meyer has done a great job throughout his career. I'm less of a fan of Saban, but have to admit his halftime adjustment in the championship game last year, putting in Tagovailoa, was inspired. Harbaugh seems also to be very sharp, if a bit conservative in his gametime moves.

It's been a strange year, with Michigan doing much better than forecast, yet facing widespread discontent at this juncture. Harbaugh's got his work cut out for him. I've gotta believe that Harbaugh's teams have another run or two at the top tier. Harbaugh seems to be a smooth operator who will persevere. This is in contrast to Dantonio (asshole) and Meyer (due to health reasons).

[WingsFan]

Well here it is Michael Spath and Deace basically repeated everything I posted. Including recruiting advantages at other schools - that triggered AA (without saying cheating).

And we are 10-2, 9-3, maybe 11-1 (once in a while) win program. How this is good, but also not fulfilling.

[UMStan White]

You think comparing yourself to that moron makes you look good?

[WingsFan]

Its not how you look its how you feel, and I feel great.

[UMStan White]

Delusional

[Jeff Buchanan]

I'll admit it ...... I speculated on locker room discord/JH losing the team after the osu loss and then a rash of departures. That was just stupid.

Anyway, this came in early today and should let you know that Devin Bush certainly didn't indicate there was some sort of bad juju going on in the locker room like Solomon's Mom's tweet did after he announced his transfer. As we should have realized, shit happens and there are usually good reasons for it. In Solomon's case he made his bed for good or bad and he'll be sleeping in it. Good luck to him.

On Bush:

https://mgoblog.com/content/exit-devin-bush-jr

Another late item on Kekoa Crawford - a surprise transfer - popped up today. He'll be playing for Cal next year. As noted in the mgoblog piece, Crawford's transfer tracks with other receiver transfers who left M and subsequently blew up at their new schools. The take (not Crawford's - at least publicly) is that the top HS receivers M attracts - lots of them - want to play and that they don't get targeted enough to suit their NFL aspirations, they make consicious, probably well advised decsions to transfer to somewhere where they will star. History demonstrates they do apparently.

Note to Harbaugh, PASS MORE!

on Kekoa Crawford:

https://247sports.com/college/michigan/Article/Former-Michigan-football-wide-receiver-commits-to-play-for-Cal-as-transfer-126562835/

[Kstat]

[hack]

Crawford transferred last year. Never played with Patterson. Dropped a bunch of balls and didn't do much else. DPJ though is a prime candidate for this kind of fristration.

[WM Wolverine]

Crawford also was known for running the wrong route.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Crawford most likely a result of Harbaugh's method of processing players. There's nothing wrong with that when you've got 4* depth like Saban who started this. Not sure JH has that ...... yet. Still, I like how things seem to be playing out with recruiting CFB wide. Programs are gaining the upper hand and new transfer rules seem to be helping that and the kids that get processed.

[Detroit Dan]

Another late item on Kekoa Crawford - a surprise transfer - popped up today. He'll be playing for Cal next year. As noted in the mgoblog piece, Crawford's transfer tracks with other receiver transfers who left M and subsequently blew up at their new schools.
https://247sports.com/college/michig...fer-126562835/

Which wide transfers during Harbaugh's tenure have blown up at their new schools??

Michigan was definitely better off in the receiving department this year after the transfers of Crawford and McDoom. Didn't miss them a bit. I don't remember Drake Harris, Maurice Ways, Ahmir Mitchell, or Freddy Canteen blowing up anywhere else. Michigan pre-Harbaugh, and with Darboh and Chesson in the Harbaugh years, has done a pretty good job of getting good wide receivers to the pros.

[Jeff Buchanan]

DD .... you obviously didn't go to the link and read it:

Ian Bunting, who had just one catch for six yards in 2017, totaled 17 catches for 191 yards in his one and only season for the Golden Bears.

"Blow-up" may have been a poor choice of words on my part - the article says burst out. But, Ways and Bunting both transferred to Cal and got targeted more than they did at M.

M wasn't "better off" with Crawford and McDoom leaving. They got processed because DPJ, Nico Collins, Ronnie Bell and to a lesser extent due to injuries but still, Tariq Black passed both Crawford and McDoom. I assume that's because they worked hard and earned it ....... apparently what Harbaugh rewards with playing time. Part of the new game if CFB I guess.

So, you don't think Harbaugh's offense needs to be a little more dynamic like, "PASS MORE?" Not sure you and I are watching the same Michigan football if you don't think the passing game could use some polish to it.

[Detroit Dan]

Right. No Michigan transfers have "blown up" at other colleges. A couple did ok (Bunting is a TE, not a WR) at other colleges less successful than Michigan. So agreed -- "poor choice of words".

Michigan's problem against Ohio State was on defense, not on offense. I'm always for "pass more", but the problem that prevented us from making the playoffs this year was on the other side of the ball.

Nothing against Cal, but they were 5th in the Pac 12 North, with a 4-5 conference record -- hardly on a par with Michigan. They took some Michigan transfers, who did pretty well for them, but not nearly as well as the comparable players at Michigan.

"PASS MORE" is probably good advice for Michigan, though. It's more risky, but higher reward if it works. Just look at Ohio State this past season.

[Jeff Buchanan]

........Michigan's problem against Ohio State was on defense, not on offense. I'm always for "pass more", but the problem that prevented us from making the playoffs this year was on the other side of the ball.......

Not really. The problem was the coaching staff's inability to prepare for a shoot out that they should have known ufm would try to force and did so very effectively. You will not convince me that Harbaugh wasn't still trying to force his game on ufm's well into the 4th quarter when already behind a bunch instead of unleashing a passing attack, eschewing his fear of turnovers and allowing Patterson to throw to great receivers short, medium and 50/50 long shots beginning with M's first possession in the 3rd. Instead that possession, predictably, went three and out.

[WingsFan]

No surprise here, Shea Patterson will return next year. This is a good thing.