Michigan Football, the 2020 Abbreviated COVID Season

[iam416]

Yeah, I thought Runyan was good against CY and Mayfield needed help. Whatever.

[THE_WIZARD_]

What does Nick Saban and a steering wheel have in common?

10 & 2

[AlabamAlum]

Yes, agreed, 10 wins is abysmal. I am embarrassed. Seriously, because any jerkwater school with a modicum of pride can win 10 games. Anything less and you should give up football and dedicate your life to being the best Thai LadyBoy you can be.

[hack]

Wiz is a phonetic speller, and I think radyboy is what he's used to hearing.

[Jeff Buchanan]

As the dust settles over the results of the osu/M game last weekend, there seems to be a consensus emerging on what problems face M football going forward and what the solutions to those problems are:

Problems/Solutions:

Not Jim Harbaugh or Don Brown. Both keepers.

The deciders recognizing stability has way more benefits than head coaching changes and the house cleaning that goes along with that. Too many downsides associated with that than upsides over the short term. The take is that the deciders will vote for stability over a HC change...... providing JH doesn't decide, like U-Dubs Chris Petersen, to step down. CFB takes a huge toll on the people involved in it, especially those in top tier programs according to multiple articles written about this. I don't think JH is satisfied he's done a good job at M and won't leave until he is..... that's just my gut feeling that also coincides with others who offer opinions on this subject.

Recruiting/retention/player development. Reams of data points are available on this problem for M. Coning down reveals misses on top DL targets, attrition and an apparent fishing expedition initiated right around the time of Don Brown's arrival at M to scout and recruit 3* talent that could be developed into All-BT level talent on defense. Hasn't worked when M faces elite offenses. The consensus solution is to retain assistants who are getting the job done on the recruiting trail/player development and show the door to those that aren't. Fans don't know the nitty-gritty here but JH does. Chances are good he'll get on this. If he doesn't his inaction in this regard will keep M right where they are ...... osu's bitch and a constant road block to the CFP.

The OL: So, as usual, the OL and DL come up as necessarily and fundamentally functional for a football team to excel. We've covered the DL. After I posed talent's comments on mgoboard about the OL within which he was skeptical of it's functionality going forward into 2020, a lot of responses were generated. talent was clear some gems might emerge form the typical 3/4* talent on M's current roster but there wan't anyone elite. Several mgoboard posters took issue with that. I don't think there is a consensus here that M's OL will be just good enough or very good in 2020. Could be a problem and most of the solution depends on how good Ed Warinner actually is. TBD.

Modern offenses that become elite are QB'ed by elite, once in more recruiting cycles than one, talent and athleticism. Harbaugh has tried to find and develop that; it hasn't worked out. It's a problem but solutions involve good luck and good QB development with an offensive system that is stable and has the flexibility to match the style to the QBs skill set. Keep Gattis around for as long as possible and start planning for his departure by grooming an assistant of like mind and capability. Fingers crossed that D-Mac is the next Tom Brady ....... or he gets beat out by dudes that will be.

[froot loops]

Alabama Alum is melting before out eyes. It will be OK, it could be worse, Nick can be handing out Program Win hats after barely beating a sorry Maryland team.

[iam416]

IMO, 2020 is entirely dependent on McCaffrey. I don't think M will be able to fall back on other areas of the team even though, apparently, M is super loaded almost everywhere. If DM is meh then you're looking at a bad year -- like 8-4 bad. If he's good then 10-2 is in range. So, to me his is it:

Modern offenses that become elite are QB'ed by elite, once in more recruiting cycles than one, talent and athleticism. Harbaugh has tried to find and develop that; it hasn't worked out. It's a problem but solutions involve good luck and good QB development with an offensive system that is stable and has the flexibility to match the style to the QBs skill set. Keep Gattis around for as long as possible and start planning for his departure by grooming an assistant of like mind and capability. Fingers crossed that D-Mac is the next Tom Brady ....... or he gets beat out by dudes that will be.

[lineygoblue]

McCaffery could bring some elements to the QB position next year that we haven't seen in a while. He has a strong arm. Question will be, can he also be accurate? He's now added some good weight, and his running ability has been demonstrated in some of the limited snaps he's gotten, so RPO's are in play. Joe Milton has an even stronger arm, and is faster than McCaffery. So the QB battle in the spring will be interesting.

My concern is whether Milton or McNamara get the itch to enter the portal. I doubt McCaffery would do so.

[UMStan White]

Harbaugh 3-1 odds to take Carolina job.

[lineygoblue]

If that's what he wants, bon voyage, and good luck.

[Dr. Strangelove]

He's tanned, rested, and ready...Head Coach John Navarre

[Tom W]

Well, he's got experience (this century, no less) in beating the Obsessive State University..

[lineygoblue]

Well, he's got experience (this century, no less) in beating the Obsessive State University..

He took the final snap in victory formation that clinched Michigan's last B1G Title. I was there. And the obsession is remarkable. You'd think that with their domination, they'd start to obsess about something else other than (another) soft spot on their schedule.

[hack]

Who would replace him? Is PJ Fleck ready and worthy? LOL/sigh but Fickell? Tom Brady in the role of ridiculous longshot that just might be crazy enough to work but almost certainly will not be?

[Hannibal]