UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[Rocky Bleier]

What has Harbaugh done since coming to Michigan that makes you feel he can't do the same?

There are plenty of kids on the current roster that are talented enough to win a lot of ballgames.

Here's a good indication:

https://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1783643

[iam416]

Interesting list. Probably correct in the omission of M players, but by the end of the season I think that will likely change. I think you'll see M players emerge with some obvious candidates to be in the top 20 B10 players by the end of the season. If that doesn't happen, then, woof. Tough year.

As it relates to OSU, I'd have "OSU QB" instead of both Jones and Barrett -- if you go individually, how can Braxton not make top 25? And I'd have Darron Lee way above Josh Perry. I also think Adolphus Washington and Vonn Bell make the list, but that's me.

[Rocky Bleier]

That list is a testament to the reigns of Rodriguez and Hoke. Hard to see Zettel on there. That one's on Rodriguez. Zettel was a strong Michigan lean until he saw where the program was headed under RR.

[iam416]

Yeah, there's no real basis for putting any seemingly talented M player in the top 25 because they just haven't shown it, yet. That's on Hoke. By the end of the year you'd think players like Jake Butt and Peppers would be candidates to be amongst the 25 best in the conference.

In any event, I thought, think and will continue to think the "lack of talent" concern is really manifested in game-breaker skill position players. I mean, I think Jake Butt may be their biggest offensive weapon. I don't see them being able to force defenses out of press coverage or from cheating a man to the box. That's going to be problematic.

[WM Wolverine]

M doesn't have much NFL caliber talent and they don't have much of anything in terms of a senior class. M is relatively deep in 'good' talent from the '12/'13 recruiting classes that should be coming into their own as 3rd/4th year players...

Every position group should be near or above B10 average but no position do I see one M should be one of the B10's best. Skill positions are the major question marks, RB, WR and QB. I think M is solid to good everywhere else.

[iam416]

Heh. My post snuck in right before yours. So, correct!

[Rocky Bleier]

I don't see them being able to force defenses out of press coverage or from cheating a man to the box. That's going to be problematic.

The O-line is going to be under a lot of pressure. Rudock will win the QB spot mainly because he shouldn't be as INT prone as the guys behind him. Going to need a solid punter and some defensive turnovers.

[Da Geezer]

I don't know. Phil Steele is not the final authority on anything, but here are his first, second, third, and fourth predicted all B10 teams

http://www.philsteele.com/All_Conference/2015/2015%20Preseason/BigTen.html

If you give one point for a 4th team player, and 4 points for a first team player, UM ends up tied for 12th. That is the hole Harbaugh starts in. Who is Michigan's best player? Peppers? Right now Lyons has the highest draft prediction. I just don't agree that UM's talent is much above B10 average.

[WM Wolverine]

It's not that much above B10 average, which is why teams like Minnesota, Penn State, Utah, Northwestern and BYU will give M some issues.

[iam416]

In summary:

Upside: HARBAUGH!!!

Downside: Available talent

[iam416]

I also don't think playing MSU and OSU at home helps them all that much this year. From a "safe play" perspective, I think they'd be better off flipping OSU/MSU with Minnesota and Penn State. T'd feel much better about 2-2. As it is, 0-4 is a distinct possibility.

[hack]

The players on that list have all benefited from being coached up and from playing in sensible schemes. Our players haven't gotten that yet. Some of the faster learners and harder workers are going to take quantum leaps. Not clear to me if that will be enough to get to a 10-2 season, but 9-3 yes. 8-4 is worst-case scenario.

[Mike]

That's where I'm at. 9-3 or bust.

[Hannibal]

If you give one point for a 4th team player, and 4 points for a first team player, UM ends up tied for 12th. That is the hole Harbaugh starts in. Who is Michigan's best player? Peppers? Right now Lyons has the highest draft prediction. I just don't agree that UM's talent is much above B10 average.

They are talented but extremely underachieving. Steele is just extrapolating from last year's performance. It's an absolute worst case. Nobody on the team outside of Desmond Morgan and the Glasgow brothers have hit their ceiling.

[hack]

There's Homer Hannibal with the crazy blue-skies optimism again...