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  • Coach's Corner: The Status of the Program

    Posted 6:00am -- 1/3/2016

    The Status of the Program -- In the Beginning (2015) -- Part I

    This is the first part of a three part series about Michigan football. At this time, it is only for the GBMWolverine Message Board. The first part will detail the time period from January of 2015, a couple of days after Coach Harbaugh was hired, to the January 1, 2016 Citrus Bowl game against Florida. It is fittingly designated as in the beginning. The second part will chronicle the current state of the program, and the third part will attempt the difficult task of prognosticating where the program might be down the slippery path of time.

    Coach Harbaugh took over the program to the glee of most Michigan followers. There were several reasons for the giddiness, reasons that still remain. First of all, Jim Harbaugh possessed clear and close association with the legendary Bo Schembechler.

    Secondly, as such, Harbaugh has, since the mid 1980’s, been anointed with favorite son status, the only stain on said status being his “unfortunate” denigration of Michigan’s academic level concerning athletes. An old saying to remember is that everything that originates in the brain does not necessarily need to exit through the mouth. As Myers- Briggs personality type research indicates, certain very smart, successful folks have a weakness in important communications like his perceived academic status firebomb. This is called tertiary function. Essentially, those with other types are more successful in such delicate communications. This does not mean that Harbaugh cannot communicate with proficiency, by type theory this phenomenon simple indicates more propensity for verbal “slips.” As we mentioned here upon the Harbaugh hiring, simply accept that this will happen, play ostrich for a day or two, and move forward.

    Third, Harbaugh has clear, obvious, and noteworthy success as a college quarterback and an NFL 15 year quarterback, and recently as a collegiate and professional level coach. His notables include knowing how to win, quarterback coaching, and offensive design. Harbaugh had the good fortune of being around Bo and Mike Ditka, two coaches who clearly contributed to Harbaugh’s foundational belief system, but one could deduce that Harbaugh was a very willing disciple in what some may term the old style belief system.

    However, even with his background, player success, and potential connections, Jim Harbaugh made his own success in the coaching sphere. He volunteered for his father, Jack, a legendary coach to anyone who has been a part of the coaching fraternity. He took a previously struggling University of San Diego program to unparalleled and quick success. In his third year as head Coach, Harbaugh led the team to a best ever 11-1 record. This success transferred to Stanford and the San Francisco 49’ers. Just a few years ago, he was the hottest commodity in coaching and his last quest at San Francisco only slightly tarnished his “value.” It is the third commodity, Harbaugh’s past and almost universal success, that most enthuses the Michigan fan base.

    The year 2015 started with the usual bold statements and pronouncements that new coaches seem almost obliged to make. But immediately Harbaugh’s attention turned to remolding Michigan into a better brand of football, albeit one that had some familiarity to old school followers. The above qualifier some is used because football always changes and Michigan is not running the base option from the I formation and relying on the defense to keep the opponents in single digits. That was a part of the 1970’s, but offenses have evolved to the point where it is difficult for any defense and coordinator to hold teams like Baylor or Ohio State under 35 points.

    Harbaugh’s first major task was to assemble a coaching staff that through collective knowledge, collective work, and effective technique, could spur the game performance of the Michigan players forward. He clearly succeeded in this mission, although some had misgivings about the eventual continuity of the staff due to the perceived path of professional coaches wanting to return to the NFL. The coaches Harbaugh hired had experience, demonstrated player success, and knew well the foundational scheme of football. Without a broad underlying knowledge of the game and clear efficiency at player performance within the designated position group assignment, coaches do not stay in the NFL.

    Then, on to Harbaugh’s specialty, creating an effective mechanistic system that must first possess the proper parts to execute the vision. The first group to receive scrutiny was the somewhat understaffed and unproven quarterback stable. Essentially, Harbaugh inherited a highly touted and loyal local product, Shane Morris, who was a back-up to Devin Gardner, as well as an early admission candidate in another local product, Alex Malzone, big-framed Wilton Speight, and finally Russell Bellomy. Bellomy exited the program gracefully, and smartly, as it is a near certainty he would have been buried on the depth chart as a 4th or lower choice. Bellomy and Morris had unfortunate, perhaps even traumatic, experiences, being thrown by necessity into bad game situations. Inexperience and little offensive line support contributed to bad outcomes (injuries and poor performance) that derailed any developmental progression.

    Clearly Harbaugh probably held out some hope for the future of Morris or Speight. But more so his high intensity quarterback recruiting divulged that hope was not the mainstay of his quarterback recruitment policy, instead, stacking the roster with high potential recruits would serve as the dominant methodology. And so, Harbaugh flipped the athletic, 6’ 7” Texas four-star commit Zach Gentry to the Michigan roster. He secured the transfer of gunslinger John O’Korn from Houston. Finally, in perhaps Harbaugh’s greatest achievement of the 2015 roster formation, Jake Rudock, placed on the back-up roster by Iowa, found his way to Ann Arbor as a graduate transfer. This was critical since Rudock was immediately eligible.

    Spring practice came and went as did a few of Michigan’s players. The Spring Game confirmed that the problems of the past still remained- offensive line inability to support a strong running game, so-so running back play, linebackers who did not play well against spread teams, and finding a quarterback who could reverse the trend of grievous turnovers, stay in the pocket, and show enough throwing accuracy to move the chains when needed. Rome was not built in a day and the problems listed above take coaching, time, and sufficient talent to eliminate.

    The season started on the road against Utah on the first day of the new season, also the first game of the Harbaugh Era. Utah was healthy, highly ranked, well coached, with a strong defense, and having the luxury of several returning difference makers on offense. Things got off to a rough start with a bad read route leading to an interception. The offense again looked impotent, to be expected as any common logic would dictate concerning the conditions and past history, but as the game wore on a few teasing sparks, most notably the last drive by Rudock, brought the game within a touchdown, providing some hope for the future.

    Coming home for three home games certainly helped. The Wolverines could simply focus on getting better. This fertile period yielded wins and clear improvement. Oregon State, UNLV, and a somewhat depleted BYU were easily dispatched and the offense averaged about 30 points a game against less than stellar defenses. The defense only gave up 14 points in a five game stretch. The running game slowly showed some life, mostly when DeVeon Smith was full speed, and the passing game still had trouble hitting the big play. Near misses plagued the newly melded quarterback and receivers. The wins over BYU and Northwestern were worthy of acknowledging Michigan’s overall team play. The offense was not overwhelming, but the days of plenty of three and outs, even against average opponents, appeared to be disappearing as the offense, having better balance and some running success, kept on the field. The defense had its best stretch of the year.

    And so, on to the Michigan State game went Michigan with a 5-1 record. Michigan toughness (lack of) had been an agreed upon difficulty in previous years against the Spartans. Michigan played well but Michigan State found a wrinkle play where a defender was not in position and the result was a long touchdown that put MSU back in the game. The final fumbled snap was a punch in every soft organ of the Michigan body.

    Harbaugh kept the air in the balloon and Michigan had an open week to attempt to heal physically and psychologically before traveling to Minnesota. The Minnesota team was inspired by the retirement of Coach Kill and played with intensity and toughness. Michigan had difficulty running or passing and the game seemed to follow the Nebraska disaster script of a few years ago with a Michigan quarterback being injured and a little known and inexperienced player being thrown into the mix. The running game was so-so and the offense continued to sputter. Then Wilton Speight hit a couple of big plays. Minnesota was in position for a likely win and then fumbled clock management. The defense stopped a quarterback sneak a foot short of the goal line and Michigan, instead of following the past recipe for turning victory into defeat in close games, found a way to win and skipped town.

    Rutgers was easy pickings at home, the running game picked up, still it was becoming obvious that to put up big points Michigan needed to rely on the passing game, regardless of program philosophy. The inconsistent, but physically talented Jehu Chesson started to catch the ball. His speed having increased the last two years, experience bringing improvement, the acrobatics on the long ball were always present but the eye-hand coordination or lack of soft hands resulted in major drops.

    Off to Indiana for the wildest game of the year went Michigan. The Hoosier spread and hurry up offense exposed Michigan’s defensive liabilities. But unlike Ohio State, Indiana’s defense could not hold serve. Back and forth went the game. Michigan never secured a safe lead and the game went into overtime and again the defense bailed the team out on a final play. Michigan was in trouble, but the passing game that created big plays and Jake Rudock’s scrambling proved to be enough to keep UM one touchdown ahead for much of the game.

    On the road again against a bowl eligible Penn State team that showed decent line play, Michigan’s run game again struggled and the passing game provided enough mass to earn a less than exiting 28-16 win.

    So, the up and down, give and take, Big Ten season with one improbable loss and two semi-improbable wins brought Michigan to the rivalry game against Ohio State owning a 9-2 record. The Wolverines played well for only about 20 minutes and every second half offensive option by Ohio State worked. Ohio State credited a change in who was up in the press box calling plays as a primary reason for the improvement in play calling success versus the now infamous Michigan State loss.

    Harbaugh resisted the temptation to dwell on the rout and focused on recruiting and the Citrus Bowl match-up against defensive minded Florida. The line showed improved play and Smith and Johnson, being reasonably healthy, had a good day. The passing attack matched the running game in effectiveness. Florida, as has happened the last few years, was quarterback-challenged, much like the Michigan team of the previous two years. All in all, the Wolverines, team and fans both, had a day to remember. It can be discussed whether the result was more due to Michigan’s preparation and improvement, or Florida’s laying down; it matters not. As Belichick would say, “We’re on to the rest of 2016.”

    Michigan coaches are in the final flurry of finishing the 2016 recruiting class. It is hard to imagine that Michigan will strike out on all of the near dozen high profile targets remaining. The question to be answered soon is which recruits chose Michigan on signing day.

    One conclusion must be presented: the program improved in many regards, including program vision, game management, player development, and competitive edge. The Michigan team was not the toughest team in the nation, but much, much improved. This improvement led to a couple of close wins, wins that in the future the coaches would prefer to be clear cut and not contested wins. Rudock and Chesson were the best examples of player development and the needed coaching patience to see such efforts to fruition.

    Next up, what will be in store for the program the next several months?

    Written by GBMWolverine Message Board Staff — Doc4Blu

    Go Blue — Wear Maize!


    Twitter: @ErocWolverine
    Message Board: GBMW Message Board
    Site: GBMW Front Page

  • #2
    Posted at 10:00am -- 2/10/2016

    The Status of the Program --
    The Present -- Part II

    Leave No Wheel Not Turning

    Part two of the series on the status of the Michigan football program concerns the present, defined as moving forward to the 2016 season. Part one can be reviewed in the archives. This second segment is titled “Leave No Wheel Not Turning.” As discussed in previous articles, Harbaugh’s true worldviews can easily be identified as Mechanist in nature. Parts matter to him, and he will go after the parts he wants, including players, coaches, routine, recruiting technique, publicity, and, essentially, whatever else can be identified as a part that builds a winning machine. The ramifications and benefits are yet to be completely determined, and making judgments is premature. One can predict stock market like public fluctuation with his perceived media triumphs and tragedies.

    The current state of the program could not really be put forth for analysis until the final results of the 2016 class were complete. So, as a starting, and major, point of discussion the 2016 class results will be addressed. Predictive value, even assuming good analysis, is limited by unforeseen future results and bound to imperfection. Still, the present will affect the future.

    The 2016 recruiting class can be discussed collectively and also by discrete unit groups. The collective grade from this analyst/writer is an A-. The grade would have been dropped to a B without Gary joining in the fun. There are groups that came out strong and groups that came out mediocre- at least that is what can be judged on the surface. But it is not an extreme rarity, nor a normal happening, for a commit rated close to last in the class to rise up and grab some stardom. Who can do that is an educated guess, based solely on pre university athletic talent and upside.

    The group that gets the highest grade is the receiving corps. Michigan got a great haul. Now some of these guys may end up in the secondary or even at linebacker, so we will observe and eventually see the final results. But there is very good diversity in this group regarding size, quickness, and versatility- slot (number two’s) versus end of line type of guys (number ones). Like many, the author tends to like some of the so-called three stars (four stars on some sites) better than the earlier recruited four-star athletes. Dylan Crawford, from receiver rich California, could be very versatile, big enough to go outside, enough shiftiness to go inside. His yards after catch rating is decent, not a wow. Nathan Johnson is very similar in size and ability. His film looks better than Crawford’s, but Dylan played very good California competition. He may have just a little more big play potential. Eddie McDoom has big play possibility in big letters, but as always wait and see how the adaptation works out. No one in the Michigan sphere is not celebrating McDoom’s commitment. Who knows, the multi-talented Khaleke Hudson could get some action at slot. Ahmir Mitchell and Brad Hawkins are the big receivers. The hands and ability to get deep may be suspect, but big receivers with some dog tend to make the big plays and spring runners past the edge. Collectively and on upside this group rates a solid A grade.

    The tight end group gets an A- on potential upside. There is little else to discuss since Harbaugh tinkers so much with the position. Several years from now the grade may end up lower if injuries or position changes, or washouts occur. There is a lot of development to do with this group, but if everything pans out, look out. Devin Asiasi could be an absolute nightmare match-up, or he could end up at another position. The Michigan staff thought enough of Sean McKeon to take him as an early enrollee. His size, speed, and intellectual package are certainly promising. Nick Eubanks, a similar recruit, gives Michigan a nice trio of potential.

    The running back group is somewhat small, unless adding in the possibility of Khaleke Hudson. This group gets a B+ on film and how well Kareem Walker, Kingston Davis, and perhaps even Chris Evans fit into the power running scheme. There certainly are worse collective groups of running back commits from power five conferences. The biggest question is can one of these backs be the home run hitter Michigan could use to solidify the offense with what should be a strong passing attack.

    Offensive line was an area of clear need going into 2016. The results while not dismal were indeed disappointing. Every indication is that Ben Bredeson should be a keeper. But Spanellis and a couple of the walk-ons are rough, project material, but at least nasty and big bully types. A true question is what do the semi-clumsy bully-types do when high level college players like Mone, Gary, and Hurst throw them around from the get-go? Michael Onwenu is very tough to judge. He is heavy, but a pure mauler. Strength, conditioning, and technique development will be critical: he is not nearly yet plug and play. Michael needs to have the attitude that nothing will hold him back from being the best, and then provide the work to make this expectation happen. The grade: a B- may or may not be too generous.

    The defensive line, like the offensive line, lost a big commitment, with a big time offer sheet, in Jordan Elliott, who signed with Texas. Rashan Gary certainly will help Michigan’s defensive front. He is versatile and hard to block with his strength and quickness. But Gary is one person, not a posse. Michael Dwumfour is a decent athlete that is a little undersized for the interior line. It is difficult to project whether Devin Bush and Carlo Kemp will be hybrids, linebackers, or defensive linemen. That presents a grade projection problem. Assuming Kemp will see time at d-line and Bush only some, the next projection is the shot out of a cannon, Joshua Uche. He has played the line and certainly has the speed to play linebacker. Finally add in likely defensive end, Ron Johnson, who also may figure as a hybrid type, due to his speed, future strength, and athletic ability.

    So, the final verdict becomes the defensive line and the linebacker recruits are mere guesses as to eventual impact on the present state of UM football. The best guess is a collective B for both groups. There are plenty of options and potential; sometimes that is a good thing.

    The defensive backfield may be immediately strengthened by the addition of David Long and LaVert Hill, two prospects possessing the speed and athletic ability to work into the two-deep and also help on special teams. Both have Sunday potential; although size is of some concern, speed is not. The safety spots are like some of the other groups, that is, very difficult to assess how this group will contribute due to the flexibility of some of the candidates. Josh Mettelus is listed as a safety prospect. Devin Gil, once was so listed, but now it seems the fast linebacker groove is where Michigan seeks his development. Some of the offensive players, most notably all-around athlete Khaleke Hudson, have sufficient skills sets to become good safeties. The collective grade is a guess and becomes: B+

    The quarterback position has one commit, Brandon Peters. One commit is fine if other options are already available. Certainly that is the case with Michigan’s roster. High-level potential types like Gentry and O’Korn are front and center, while seasoned Shane Morris will be in on what should be an epic battle, albeit too early to state his journey is uphill. Others on the roster, Speight and Malzone, have talent, but are long shots and need superior practices daily to move up the ladder past the three returning quarterbacks mentioned and Brandon Peters. There certainly is a need this year, like last year, for a quarterback to manage the offense enough to protect the ball and protect the defense. To go even further and dominate is Coach Drevno and Harbaugh’s goal. And at least one guy needs to step up and become somewhere between above adequate and accomplished. Peters is a solid prospect, probably third or so on Harbaugh’s initial national chart. He needs to develop and has the luxury of not being forced into a frying pan soon after hitting campus. The grade will depend on whether Peter’s emerges a star or a backup during the next few years of competition. His potential is an A, and almost every Division 1 School would gladly accept his commitment.

    Point two of the article involves Harbaugh’s flurry of media attention. If the media’s perception is negative, Jim Harbaugh is not going to stay up at night with high anxiety. If the attention garnered is popular/widespread, and not necessarily negative or positive, but helpful in recruiting, then great. Time will tell whether or not the drama plays out with happy endings. But one thing is clearly certain; Harbaugh is the scriptwriter.

    Part three of the article involves spring practice. This entity is in the present linked to progress in winter strength and conditioning. Michigan must find a quarterback; this should happen. Michigan must find adequate linebacker rotation and cover guys with sufficient quality. This is very problematic; the answer may be a much improved pass rush and good secondary play. The new defensive coordinator, Don Brown, will be exceptionally busy teaching schemes, filling holes, and trying out copious combinations to see who can play and how the personnel falls into schematic options.

    There are miles to go in Michigan’s assent to top-ten level consideration. The parts are not all there yet, but the jackhammer is in flank speed mode, you see, top speed is not enough for Harbaugh. Borrowing from an old speech- Michigan is on to 2016, a date that is now the present more so than the future.

    Written by GBMWolverine Message Board Staff — Doc4Blu

    Go Blue — Wear Maize!


    Twitter: @ErocWolverine
    Message Board: GBMW Message Board
    Site: GBMW Front Page

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    • #3
      Posted 5:00pm -- 2/28/2016

      The Status of the Program --
      Things To Come -- Part III

      The Dangerous Venture Of Forecasting

      Part One of GBMWolverine’s State of the Program Series detailed the 2015 football season. Part Two discussed where the program currently stands and focused on the recruits and position groups. The final entry, Part Three, will elaborate on long-term prognostication of the Michigan football program. Long-term will be given an operational definition of three to five years.

      Before starting the task, a short discussion about future forecasting may be appropriate and helpful. Forecasting, by its very nature, is purely predictive and relies on variables, both known and sometimes even unknown for accuracy. Unknown variables (the effect) can be lessened and better dealt with if identified before the venture begins, but that is a tough task, and even good thinker/planner types may be at the mercy of chaos that pops out of the unknown. Energy forecasters are pleased if their predictions are within ten percent from year to year. Percentages do not equate to football forecasting, so one place to start is to identify and analyze the variables affecting football success. But, Nostradamus would need more than one quatrain to pull off a good prediction of UM’s football future, there remain unknowns and potential pitfalls. Most programs are in such positions, the exceptions perhaps being Alabama and Ohio State.

      One way to approach this task is to sort out the certainties and uncertainties. While the certainties may or may not be program strengths, as trite as it sounds, certainties are easier to deal with in program planning compared to uncertainties. This is why sports teams desire continuity in as many domains as possible. Continuity does not guarantee success, but programs that are constantly in flux rarely achieve at a high level.

      The Michigan program will continue to make a climb up the tough slope to the plateau of excellence if one variable remains constant: the status of Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, that in itself is the biggest, most visible, and most important variable in predicting program success five years out. Harbaugh is one of the few coaches that assuming he possesses the resources commonly thought to be linked to program achievement (coaching staff, institutional support, finances, recruiting mechanism, and the football talent gathered) can almost provide a money-back guarantee of winning.

      Coach Harbaugh is said to be volatile and one who has a limited lifespan at any singular location. Now that description was applicable at San Francisco, with the help of the 49er front office, but perhaps not so much in the landscape of Ann Arbor. Within his childhood environs, Harbaugh is more likely to be seen as Caesar Augustus, more than the rumored to be quite mad Nero or the later Emperors. By all accounts, Coach and his family are very pleased with the first year of homecoming. He is more revered by the supporting community than the vast majority of coaches, giving him house money in the court of local opinion.. It is Harbaugh’s alma mater, Michigan, where he is working, the same place his father coached; the same place his legendary coach made home, even after retirement.

      It will be up to Coach Harbaugh as to his intent to provide stability and longevity by staying around, and baring some unforeseen extraneous condition, say perhaps a major blow-up, program probation, or dislike from the very few on campus who truly have any say in moving a coach out of town, he has far more free reign, wiggle room, and a longer leash than most Division 1 program heads.

      If Harbaugh remains a certainty, then the quality of assistant coaches should also remain a program asset, and therefore be a near certainty. Clearly, good coaches will enter and leave the program, this has already happened and will continue, assuming Michigan keeps landing high-level assistants and continues to win. Harbaugh’s overlying knowledge of the coaching landscape, his prestige, and his connections will pay dividends in luring coaches to Ann Arbor. Sometimes, whether or not a coach takes a position is about more than numbers on the contract.

      For the future to unfold in the manner envisioned by Michigan followers, the talent must first be recruited and then developed to a level where improvement of individuals and position groups is the norm, not the exception. The make-up of the linebacker and offensive line groups is far off any definition of excellence. That is the certainty the staff most wishes to go away. Good linebackers are like a destroyer shield: there must be versatility, agility, smarts, and toughness. The offensive line group must be expanded in number and quality in the future, but first improved for the present; that also is a certainty. The other position groups are starting to fall into place.

      Michigan will need to land multiple impact players to ascend into contention for a playoff spot, or conference championship. This is an uncertainty, but at least Michigan has pulled in two highly predictive impact players in Jabrill Peppers and Rashan Gary. There are other candidates not yet on campus that should shock no one if they climb the heights and dominate.

      Harbaugh’s foundations provide certainty of purpose, but future program success depends on certainty of translating foundational concepts into reality. Clearly, Harbaugh wants premium quarterback talent and play. He has achieved the talent level depth long missing within the program. The stable is still developing with John O’Korn the only veteran with true game experience. But as the spring and fall practice seasons tick away, each of the talented youngsters should further develop enough skills to contribute if needed. Only really bad luck with injury, or perhaps Harbaugh leaving, should prevent prominent production out of this group.

      Harbaugh wants a pounding ground game that is physical and game controlling. This is a foundation that at the present time has not been met. Forecasting here is not a very useful vehicle since no running back is dominant, the offensive line had at best an average year, and fullback is unsettled. There are no certainties on the line and only a few backs can come close to dominating without a solid offensive line. Whoever is the Head Coach two or three years down the line, Michigan has planted an old flag on the field: one that indicates old school, tight end and fullback oriented football. Michigan cannot just pull this flag up if Harbaugh leaves the reservation; the genre is set at least for the foreseeable future, although the flexibility level is rigid as steel, but more like a tough, but bendable, aluminum.

      Harbaugh’s offensive line coach and recruits will have much to say about the ultimate success of the program. One certainty of the running game is that in many previous situations, including under the wing of Jim Harbaugh, Coach Drevno has succeeded in making the foundational vision a reality. The predictability of the running game success is still in short-term ambiguity; the desire to make this goal a reality is set.

      Harbaugh’ s recruiting style may be in question by some; however, it is becoming obvious that he wants a certain type of athlete. The athlete should be versatile, having had success playing on both sides of the ball, or at least playing multiple positions if not a two-way high school player. Harbaugh seems to have collected recruits who are success oriented, willing to pay the price for success, and able to overcome some hardship. He wants tough kids that have no problem playing tough. If fast, that is a bonus, although the past 2016 class likely was an uptick in team speed, it was no where near the speed level spread teams are collecting.

      Harbaugh has gathered a very nice collection of offensive weapons at tight end, slot, and wide receiver. The talent is there for physical mismatches, another intended Harbaugh recruiting outcome, and it is not bogus to predict this can only help the running game. If the rising talent at the skilled positions equates potential into performance, Michigan’s offense could be a two-headed monster, and a two-headed monster is not defined as having an offense that has a 50-50 mix of running and passing. Instead, a two-headed monster is defined as an enterprise that can easily score by relying on the run, the pass, or mixing it up; whatever is needed or simply wanted within an offense.

      Program management is always under scrutiny. But the uptick over the last eight years has to be obvious. There will be second-guessing, but the second guessers are not running the program and it is clear who is. The certainty is Harbaugh’s program and game management skills can be observed and are clearly well above average, at a minimum.

      Defining success for the Michigan football program may not have universal agreement. Reality and context need to be applied, at least as thin stratums separating the realms of wishfulness and preventing the process of forecasting from overcooking sane expectations. Those who say the program is a failure if Ohio State is not defeated need to understand the brutal reality that the nuts are in a stretch similar to the great Bud Wilkinson’s Oklahoma teams, where losses were few and scheme and talent formed a wrenching monopoly, stopped only by Wilkinson’s retirement. If the younger high talent level of the last few years replaces the mass exodus to the NF early on, Ohio State may face few opponents in the immediate future who can prevail. In Columbus, the competition is considered Alabama, and that ends the list. Michigan State has done a superior job of identifying and developing talent, and has been rewarded the last two years with high level recruiting classes. By the very nature of what Michigan is attempting to build, Michigan over the longer term of time has a fair probability of hanging with, and perhaps passing, Michigan State. But the truth is that Ohio State and Michigan State were top five programs the better part of the last two years. Expect Michigan to play Ohio State very tough and close as the future unfolds, but forecasting victory over the two major foes is not supported by current conditions.

      And so, on to spring practice and the bounty of work football players must put into the program before Hawaii exits the tunnel for the field. It is a time of conjecture, waiting, and patience for dedicated fans. But there are archives of past games readily available to view as July heat and football withdrawal merge. For the fans, it is about waiting. For the players, in this and most programs, it is all about serious work.

      Written by GBMWolverine Message Board Staff — Doc4Blu

      Go Blue — Wear Maize!


      Twitter: @ErocWolverine
      Message Board: GBMW Message Board
      Site: GBMW Front Page

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