Michigan calling 2023 Big 10 championship already.
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Reading through that article and considering all the areas they have returning personnel… why wouldn't many people predict that?
Good. From my experience it can be difficult to sacrifice for something you thought was already yours.
I don't think it is much of a surprise that Michigan is the odds on favorite to win the Big Ten again. They lose a few people here and there but group by group, they could be better just about everywhere except maybe tight end.
The schedule is their biggest friend as they play absolutely nobody the first five games. Plenty of time to get everything worked out and to stay healthy and rested.
And the article keeps referring to ‘experienced players’ but doesn’t say how many starters are gone. Experience means they played, sometimes in blowouts. And if they are so talented whay did they take so many transfer players.…..players that usually transfer to get playing time.
No doubt they will be good. And having half a season to get up and running is a huge advantage. Weird how that schedule really benefits them. But they are beatable.
And the article keeps referring to ‘experienced players’ but doesn’t say how many starters are gone. Experience means they played, sometimes in blowouts. And if they are so talented whay did they take so many transfer players.…..players that usually transfer to get playing time.
No doubt they will be good. And having half a season to get up and running is a huge advantage. Weird how that schedule really benefits them. But they are beatable.
Where is the bye week? Oct 28th.
Impossible for this OL to be "better" theoretically. '21 starters returned for '22 and added the C from UVA. '23 is returning 2 true starters, a couple guys who have starts (due to injuries), and 3 transfers.
The biggest returns is Corum and JJ.
The article is also a Wolverine site being browsed though MSN, so not exactly fair and critical analysis.
Impossible for this OL to be "better" theoretically. '21 starters returned for '22 and added the C from UVA. '23 is returning 2 true starters, a couple guys who have starts (due to injuries), and 3 transfers.
The biggest returns is Corum and JJ.
The article is also a Wolverine site being browsed though MSN, so not exactly fair and critical analysis.
In a perfect world, both teams would be at 100% for that contest. That's one of the unique things about football....injuries are a major factor.
The schedule is the big one. It set's them up pretty well as far as working new comers into the team before they hit the meat of the schedule. We had the exact same situation this year where the early schedule was very soft prior to Michigan. They lose a few key contributors but the replacements for more than a couple are expected to be better. They added two transfer linemen from Stanford. The two Stanford players are expected to step in and upgrade both the center and left tackle spots on day one per the Michigan press. Everyone else are expected to contribute to depth. They lost Erick All and Cade McNamara to Iowa.
They return 3 true starters (both guards and right tackle) while losing their left tackle and center. The kids coming in were multi-year starters at Stanford in the same blocking scheme and were better than the players they are replacing. It is very likely the line is going to be better. Plus, as you noted, Corum and McCarthy are back. TE is the big question mark on that side of the ball.
Some wishful thinking in there...for instance Corum will be only nine months removed from ACL surgery at the start of the season.
Odd that the Article ignored the 6th reason. BIG headquarters in Indianapolis just announced that an additional crew of solely Michigan graduates has been added as referees. They have been assigned to all Wolverine games.
Very unlikely. If they were better than the kids they presumably are replacing, they would likely be in the April draft.
I think we will be a serious contender at both a conference level and national level, but until proven otherwise UM has to be considered the conference favorite.
Articles like this should be displayed in the PSU locker room. It represents the ultimate disrespect by assuming Michigan and Ohio State will once again determine who will win the BIG East and the BIG conference championship.
The author fails to take into account how much other teams will improve.
For example, PSU will have:
1. The best RB tandem in the country.
2. A solid defense with better depth.
3. Finally, a big time QB who can take PSU beyond pedestrian 3rd place Division finishes.
Without facing major negative backlash, let me slightly counter and offer some balance to your points:
1. Corum and Edwards is really good as well (granted we don't know how Corum will bounce back from injury). But, are they really demonstrably worse than our duo?
2. Solid defense is not debatable...but will PSU finally be a physical, rough shot D that they NEED to be vs the big boys....we have speed and athletes for days (which is the JF usual). But, we have lacked the brute force up front.
3. Allar is a big time QB *prospect*...we don't know how he will be yet. And, JJ has loads more big-game experience at this point.
Not sure how this article is ultimate disrespect to PSU. But, yes bulletin board material. Michigan is back to back B1G champs and playoff reps. Not that outlandish of a piece.
Exactly...the Frogs shredded that all-everything OL...
More immediate concern for UM might have been their BB game on 1/29/23........ That wasn't Magic Johnson's MSU team that embarrassed them by pounding them and getting up by 30+ midway through the 2nd half, it was good old Penn State University!!!
And won't it be that much more fun seeing how they react, the excuses they make, when oh-high-ya and PSU both beat them?
And won't it be that much more fun seeing how they react, the excuses they make, when oh-high-ya and PSU both beat them?
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How much better do you think PSU running back tandem will be compared to Michigans. Both will be good IMO
Here's the sad thing. The BiG will probably have 3 teams in the preseason top 7 and they will all be in the same division.
It will be extremely difficult for any of those three to go undefeated. They can't afford a single slip against their other opponents and they have to win at least 1 vs their top 7 opponents. Then hope for a tiebreaker because 3 BiG teams won't be voted in the top 4.
It will be extremely difficult for any of those three to go undefeated. They can't afford a single slip against their other opponents and they have to win at least 1 vs their top 7 opponents. Then hope for a tiebreaker because 3 BiG teams won't be voted in the top 4.
Not even close to the same situation, but you know that.
Of course they are beatable…sorry a$$ TCU just beat them!
Like I said, not very smart. You are one of a handful of emotionally sensitive posters on this board that can't handle any criticism that counters your beliefs. Once you (and the others like you) show, any reasonable discussion tends to end.
Unfortunately it will still be
1. Michigan
2. Ohio State
3. Penn State
PSU will have a better chance beating the buckeyes in Columbus than scUM at the Beav. What Harbaugh has done at Michigan is what Franklion didn’t do after 2016. Harbaugh has gotten Michigan into that elite conversation. Oh what could have been 5 yrs ago.
1. Michigan
2. Ohio State
3. Penn State
PSU will have a better chance beating the buckeyes in Columbus than scUM at the Beav. What Harbaugh has done at Michigan is what Franklion didn’t do after 2016. Harbaugh has gotten Michigan into that elite conversation. Oh what could have been 5 yrs ago.
It ends because posters like you can’t defend your ridiculous posts and you run away. And I’m not emotionally sensitive at all….you’re the one who allows your hatred of Franklin to drive you to post outlandish garbage. You don’t even think about what you’re posting, you just take the anti-Franklin side of everything even if you’re clearly wrong. That’s not only emotionally sensitive, that’s seventh grade girl emotional sensitivity.
I guarantee if PSU would have gotten into the CFP two years in a row and lost (once to TCU), posters on this board would not be saying Franklin got us into the elite conversation.
I do find it interesting that Harbaugh is now recruiting over his 2nd team o line... might not hurt them this year but it's going to hurt them down the line...those guys have been patiently waiting and Harbaugh shows them how little they matter.
Perhaps. If they keep winning, it won't matter. He'll keep getting top transfers and develop the better kids, run off the lesser ones. I'm far from a believer that Stanford has 2 transfers who will improve the OL to the point they are better than the last 2, but they probably don't have to be for them to win 11+ either.
I doubt Stanford had a big NIL program. Thru have huge endowments and are tied to Silicone Valley but they don’t seem serious about being a consistent top ten football team.
These may have transferred as much for the pay day.
Michigan rotates a lot of guys on the OL during the season that gives many players good playing time. I think PSU does the same thing with their DL and it allows a lot of guys to get important playing time. I think that showed in PSU bowl game. Just my opinion.
