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This

Most accurate post of the day. What Hackett and Harbaugh started almost 3 years ago is in full motion now, and it's hard to see a giant floating oil tanker changing direction when you're standing at what you perceive is the same position.  

But from a retro lens 5-10 years from now, Michigan MGo Historians will see the seismic shifts that were going on starting in 2015 and resulted in restoring a permanent culture fix to what was rotten to the core during the DB/Hoke years.  Complete and utter mediocrity had to be exorcised, and it's still a work in progress. 

Compared to that state of rot, what we are experiencing right now is the giant tanker slowly but surely being turned to our true North,. Let it play out. There is no better human on planet Earth than Harbaugh to captain this ship.  So please less bitching on this blog, and more appreciating of the process.  It's working. 

Zaire

I cannot imagine McSharky keeping an inexperienced rattled non-mobile QB like Franks going past halftime if he's sacked and rushed at least 10 times.  Zaire at least stretches the field with his legs and gives them variety and some unpredictability.  Gary and Hurst might be fasting until game time when they plan to have dinner. 

Jabrill

As long as mouth breathing O-hio fans don't give Peppers crap the way Henson was abused when he played in the Cincinnati Reds farm system, then he will thrive.  He's just too strong both physically and mentally to let distractions throw him off. 

Hoke

Meant well for sure, but who wasn't tired of listening to how the coaches liked "hearing" the physicality of pads crashing?  Less "hearing" and more real "execution" is the difference between old and new regimes.  

Thank God every day we have Harbaugh leading this program, as I wouldn't trade him for any other single coach, including the win-at-any-cost sleaze masters in Columbus and Tuscaloosa. 

Garden

Quick, Rutgers - Fence that garden!

Franks

If Zaire does in fact announce a Florida transfer, it's because he's been told he is the de facto starter barring some unexpected uber-development of Franks.  Why else would someone with choices pick a place to be for a year unless they really had confidence they are the starter?  Plus look how "serendipity" has helped Florida allow for a transfer to play immediately.  There's too much smoke to not have a fire burning. 

OTOH with Rudock, I don't think he was promised to start in 2015, thoughj with the returning cast of QBs (Morris, and freshmen Gentry and Malzone).  But there's a difference between Harbaugh/meritocracy and Shark Fucker/SEC win-at-all-costs.  

 

Strict

Wisconsin and other schools need to chill out.  These are immature kids looking for as much attention as they can get, as this kid proved.  This is Hoke's policy in turbo mode.

Reminds me of classic scene in Blazing Saddles where Headley shoots the poor dude for chewing gum in line after not having more when asnwering "Did you bring enough for EVERYbody?" 

Hard Rock

Biggest impact at Hard Rock Stadium, where team gets:

- exposure to and from one of the strongest talent bases anywhere, pissing off the entire SEC and ACC (again)

- blessing of Ross and the implicit NFL aura that goes with it, along with exposure to everything associated with NFL; just reinforces what Jabrill said - that JH runs the team like an NFL franchise

- promised they can see bikinis this time

not an age issue

Exactly this, it's a system inflexibility issue, not age.  Plenty of older coaches doing just fine and succeeding at ages at or older than Beilein - Coach K, Boeheim, Williams at NC, and others. 

It's his insistence on running same type of plays, relying on long range perimeter shooting (thankfully Wilson and Wagner getting some post presence finally), and not being able to recruit the kids that the other guys can because their ADs look the other way when bagmen are in the room.

Love Beilein, but time for a coach who can make adjustments and really instill toughness that is sorely lacking now.  The incredible class of 2012 seems like a way distant memory right now, and even then, that final four team's talents masked many of the same game plan deficiencies that are way more obvious with lesser athletes we have now.  Nik isn't around to drain those 3's anymore.

tremendous talent lost

Wow 2016 continues to taketh away.  GM was just immensely talented, great artist.  One of the best music videos of all time - Freedom 90, put the original supermodels on the map.   Need to listen to it tonight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diYAc7gB-0A

RIP

common sense

If Harris were such a lock for Satan, er Saban, why wouldn't he just re-affirm his commitment like Leatherwood did when he was being courted by Michigan?

I don't buy the "he's just private"  and "he doesn't tweet" arguments.  As a #1 recruit wanted by every program in existence, he could milk this for all it's worth and push all undecideds to Alabama.  The fact that he's not re-affirming like Leatherwood did suggests he isn't as sold on their program as much as these other clowns claim he is.

Lighten up

Fergodsakes, it's the holidays and we all need a laugh.  Anyone taking this as "fake news" and getting upset needs to take a pill.  Isn't there enough stress and agonizing over every 17 year old recruit's tweets and tea leaves already on this blog? 

I laughed hysterically at this article and I would bet JMFH will when he sees it.  Exactly because it is the antithesis of everything he stands for.  He is OUR coach, and keep in mind where we all were exactly 2 years ago, agonizing over whether he was even an option to coach our team. 

He is here, keep appreciating it.  Virtually any team not in Tuscaloosa or Cbus-hellhole would kill to have him coach their team.

This

We have not had a Julio Jones type of long rangy receiver really since Braylon and Breaston were here 10+ years ago. 

Chesson is closest to it physically but has not had the same impact and consistency his whole career as Braylon. 

Julio Jones 2008 really was the start of Saban's recruiting bulleyes that hasn't stopped since.  Harbaugh can certainly do that with a DPJ, who has that same type of Julio potential impact.  We need serious difference makers for all these Harbauch QBs to throw bombs to,

Perspective

The optics and bad PR is a byproduct of a staff that was very anxious to raise the profile of M during a period when we had only a small handful of recruits.  Shirtless Harbaugh and everything else contributed to a "cool vibe" factor that other schools (esp SEC) could only whine (but secretly marvel) at.  Some of that urgency at the time now comes back to bite us a bit at a time when we should be only focusing on positives like a Long or Hudson commitment.

We all need to stop the hysteria like Orson Welles is reading War of the Worlds on radio.  This is the "new normal" of big boy college football, and Harbaugh will refine and learn from these initial hiccups.  As someone else said, this will long be forgotten when confetti is falling on our team next January. 

Remember, withTwitter these kids can instantly express their feelings (a la Weaver) and within 3 minutes it's on our blog, 11W, and others.  This didn't and couldn't happen even 5 years ago like this.  New normal, and like everything else that Harbaugh and staff have done RIGHT, they will make the corrections and act to never repeat mistakes they already made.  Have faith, this is a a staff of assasins who are singularly focused on the prize. 

 

Beast

The combo of Simmons with Hudson as safeties, with Jabrill at nickel/CB will be a mack truck impact on a receiver when they come across the middle.  Good God, this will almost be unfair.

Several

Besides the obvious Peppers pick (technically he hasn't "broken out" yet), I would go with:

OFFENSE

Isaac - makings of an Anthony Thomas kind of beast of size and speed

Braden and Kalis on OL - with Drevno coaching, these could be early NFL picks

Canteen - needed last year to get used to game speed, will be ideal slot man a la Avant

DEFENSE

Marshall - looks like he could be a real option at DE with size and speed, unless someone like FR Jones or Shelton show early promise

Thomas - super fast and could be good opposite Peppers at S

Mone - serious beast potential up the middle stuffing the run; what a tag team with Gary once he's on the DL next to him

 

UCLA

Excellent point.  I was at that UCLA game in 2000 in a roasting hot Rose Bowl stadium.  Besides dickhead Freddy Mitchell stepping out of bounds and then catching a critical pass, if we had someone more seasoned than Navarre to make basic throws, we win that game.  Epstein missing FGs didn't help either as I recall.  

refreshing

Considering the complete hype and insanely sky high expectations imposed on this dude that he knows he must live up to, he is incredibly gracious and humble, with his head screwed on right.  

Contrast him with the entitlement mentality of most of these Nike Opening type of coddled guys.  Or the "I didn't come to play SKOOL" attitudes of some well known rival players. 

Could not have asked for a better representative for this program.  Barring further major injury, he has the physical tools AND the brain to leave Michigan as an all-time great.  

Even better

Bobby Bouchet, playing that FOOZball with the Cajuns in the Bayou.  He was max 5'10" but did a good impression of JJ Watt.  

Staying

Means that he plans to stay awhile.  Sorry, Oakland and 24 other NFL franchises.  You can continue recycling the Andy Reids and Rex Ryans.  Leave our prodigal son the fuck alone.  

Incredible

Now we see the real reason Malzahn, Saban, and the rest of the SEC cabal were terrified.  Put a human ball of energy that is JMFH into a public forum like the sateliite camps and let him run around shirtless and be so different and charismatic, and you have the makings of 10 super solid commits in like 15 days, several of them from SEC country.

 

 

This is the dam breaker for Cali

Hail to Victor, he's the first of many that will flood us from California.  Too many connections there by this staff to not have that happen.  

Flood away, CA, FL, TX, AL, NJ!

This level of recruiting smart and fast athletes who can fit multiple roles on the team is HUGE.  We will reap untold benefits from it because it involves FORETHOUGHT, planning for when the right situation calls for versatility.  This coach is a strategic genius.  

Don't know

But if you look carefully, the khakis are plain to see with the naked eye.  

Did I read "Miami Vice" at the end of the piece?  Ahh, white pants anytime of year.  That's how Miami Maize rolls.  

I have an idea

If by some chance this psycho crystal meth taking dude is not in jail or on trial for murder, someone can take out Urbz and swap this guy into the first game vs VaTech just like they did with Mel Brooks' piss-boy with the King in History of the World.   No one would see a difference.  The faux Meyer dude can just keep saying "It's good to be the Urbz" over and over again to not let others know.  

Our very own Dirk

May Moritz prove to be our own version of a Dirk Nowitski.  If he's even half that good being maybe 4 inches shorter, then we got ourselves a serious German.  

Frank Clark context

We all recall the universal meltdown on this board last fall when Frank Clark was arrested for domestic assault.  That's because it was OUT of the norm, not something this fanbase is used to.  I don't care which recent coach we talk about - even Rich Rod - didn't purposely tilt his head the other way to invite thugs.  Even Demar Dorsey. 

Enter Urbz and stick him in that same scenario at Florida, and Clark's arrest would have been just another day at the office for him.  The only reason this MF hasn't yet been cited and busted at Toilet U is because (1) he is savvier about finding ways to mask Carlos Hyde kind of incidents to make them less "severe" and (2) the AD and admin staff there are just better than their peers at Florida in manipulating the NCAA in seeing things their way.

It's a matter of time before Urbz is exposed for the bottom feeding grime he actually is.  I take nothing away from his abilty to coach and recruit.  He's among the best.  But would I want my kid learning life lessons from him? Fuck no. 

good list

What is most concerning is that especially since the 2008 class when Rich Rod started, through now, there is such a dropoff in serious draft prospects.  

We should reserve judgment on the guys who are juniors and seniors now, like Morris, Bosch, Kalis, and Green, because I think piss poor coaching by Hoke's regime has left them totally under-developed (especially on offensive side), but anyone not wearing maize and blue glasses has to look at this list and say WTF?  

We used to churn out NFL keepers like clockwork, and since Carr left, both recruiting and coaching up those recruits have been just abysmal.  It would be interesting to compare the same period of 4 and 5 * recruits from Bama and OSU and see what % of those guys got drafted.  

Their absolute numbers of recruits will be higher for sure, but it's the % of the guys we recruited who got drafted that really would be the tell all of how far we went off the plantation. I would bet both OSU and Bama (and Auburn, LSU, USC, etc) have significantly higher % of those top recruits drafted.   

This is exactly why HARBAUGH is here.  May God bless him.

Yes

I totally thought the same thing.  Given JMFH's status as King of all CFB news, it was logical to assume his Dockers-loving wife would be the designated First Lady.  

Chatman's nightmare

If Chatman had shown more in his freshman season to correspond with his high ranking (like Winslow and Jones at Duke, for example), then getting Brown or Williams wouldn't be such a high priority.  

With the returning LeVert, Irvin and Walton, Chatman would be an obvious 3/4 hybrid add.  Brown or Williams coming in would take serious minutes away from Chatman.  

It can only

Be a great thing for the highest visibility, high expectations player to be that much of an example to his teammates.  How many high school rock stars coast through and rely on their natural talents rather than putting in the work to be their best? This kid will be All American before he leaves for the NFL.  

Isn't it time to bring on the Fem-BAAAATs?

Another example of what a parody that regime really is.  Such a joke that it isn't a stretch to think Austin Powers has a role in removing this dude from his fantasy world.  Dr Evil has nothing on this guy.  

The single best sighting

Will be Harbaugh pacing up and down the sideline yelling smack at various players who missed an assignment.  There will be no clapclapclap and butt smack to a player coming off the field, as we painfully witnessed in years past.  

This coach and this regime will not coddle and make everyone feel good about themselves if they don't earn it.  

What's most impressive about

What's most impressive about these comments is that they are coming from current players, who have the most insight into how the other players look and are getting stronger, faster.  It feels like the opening sequence of the old Six Million Dollar Man, with all the players getting way faster and stronger.

We are so blessed to have Jim Harbaugh running the show.  While we all endured an anxious December, the wait was so well worth it.  

 

What's cool about Drevno's

What's cool about Drevno's responses is that he is aware (but not fully aware) of how he doesn't have all the answers, and that this is a true staff-wide effort.  They defer to each other's expertise and don't seem to have the "my dick is bigger than your dick" ego issues.  

Bodes well for cohesion and I think good things will rub off on the team.  This group just wants to win.  The rest is details.

 

Seriously?

I make valid points about the post with relevant information that is contributing to the blog, and you key in on the use of "his woman?"

You either have WAY too much time on your hands or are looking for reasons to be offended.  Would "his lady friend" have been more suited to your politically correct tastes? I wasn't trying to denigrate women. If I had meant to do that, I could have said "his hoe" or "his bitch" but obviously did not.  

Go get some fresh air.  

Spot on

And that's exactly why he'll be drafted by a team needing an edge rusher.  With the NFL being punch drunk with bombs away QBs and an overall pass-centric league, quality DE's are at a premium.  

None of this excuses punching or slapping his woman, but we all know the NFL is a business, and very few of these dudes are (or ever were) choir boys.  In 1996, when RB's were much more a part of NFL offenses, the Rams were elated to draft Lawrence Phillips, maybe the biggest thug of all of them, making Frank Clark look almost delicate next to him.  

Clark will be drafted, especially with him showing so well at the Combine. 

Someone else might have replied....

WEHHHHHHHHHL......

Who's laughing hardest?

Not only is he a total fucking genius for negotiating payment of $30 million to NOT coach 3 FBS teams, but as Shrute points out, Jabba the Weis is also a fashion genius for targeting the morbidly obese in this country with a new twist on pants and slacks.  

Fashion Week in NY and LA will never be the same again once Weis hits the circuit.  Move over, Tommy Hilfiger.  Jabba Jeans and Slacks a comin'

Smart move for Fisch to have

Smart move for Fisch to have visibility with a winning crew. Assuming of course we in fact are a winning crew this fall. New energy, new results.

Agreed. This little Alford

Agreed. This little Alford for Drayton swap didn't just get planned this week. Urbz really must think everyone is an idiot and "we all just need to move forward." I think only Petrino might be a lower form of human than Urbz.

The difference in coaching

The difference in coaching philosophy between this regime and the last one is mind boggling.  JMFH embraces and lives off of competition to make everyone better and identify the absolute best of the best, whereas it seemed Hoke was all about making the kids feel good and wanted.  Performance was secondary, and it showed on the field.

Bring em all on.

 

I have no horse in the race

I have no horse in the race for or against the Browns.  But if what GrowOld said is true and they deliberately ignored a Bridgewater choice (and I believe he was still available before Manziel was picked), then the entire organization needs an enema and cleaned out.  

QB as has been shown over and over again is by far a team's most critical position, both at pro and college levels.  To take a flier on a known attention whore (even if caused by alcoholism, which is a very sad disease) caused all 31 other teams to stop and think.  But not the Browns.  Losing is in this team's DNA, and this is another manifestation of it.  

Exactly.  This was an obvious

Exactly.  This was an obvious case of extorting Kentucky.

I think Marshall is the only

I think Marshall is the only one with no previous commitment.  Correct me, but might be Roquan Smith also.  He is the one heavily favored to home state Georgia. 

Good luck to the young man,

Good luck to the young man, God speed.  

That 2012 Nebraska game was the beginning of Hoke's end.  By showing how thoroughly unprepared we were to replace Denard at the game's most critical position, Hoke was totally exposed.  While Nebraska was decent that year, having a deer in the headlights Bellomy was a killer, and Nebraska pounced.  Enough so that a starting WR took over the next week and for the next 2 years.

Contrast that with Urbz who swapped out one Heisman caliber QB for another, and then for another in comparable situations.  

THAT is why Hoke is no longer at his dream job.  

Do you honestly believe that

Do you honestly believe that any random new coach walking into the shit storm of a situation we have been in for 2+ years could have attracted the attention (and visits both on and off campus) as JMFH these past 4 weeks?  

In a comparable situation 4 years ago, amidst a nasty split with RR, I didn't see Hoke generate this kind of buzz and attention from 4 and 5 stars.  What Harbaugh has done in 4 weeks is literally unprecedented.  

Whether Clark, Marshall, Weber et al actually commit is beyond any staffer's control.  We are talking about 17 and 18 year old kids whose attention span is less than long.  The fact that we have a legit shot at all of them come NSD is testament to the abilities of this staff, led by someone EVERY recruit will at least listen to.  

The future is very bright, amigos.  

 

Well done, Ace.  
Interesting

Well done, Ace.  

Interesting comment on Speight, and how you thought he was the least likely to be in the Harbaugh "mold" of QBs.  He's basically the same size as Gentry, but if he is more of a Navarre statue mold and less than mobile, then I can see Gentry being more the choice with his mobility.  

Gentry will have the "in" regardless because he was handpicked by Harbaugh.  I agree that Morris should have the inside track with even half decent coaching, but by middle of fall camp, Harbaugh the QB-whisperer will know who's his choice to start at Utah.  

I totally love the kid and

I totally love the kid and what he can bring to upgrade (big time) the secondary, but had a Bo recruit done something 80's equivalent like this (like an old fashioned film reel or cassette?) Bo's face would have melted instantly like the Nazi dude's staring into the Ark of the Covenant.

The glory of narcissistic social media. We can all be Kim Kardashian. Minus Kanye.

But you read them anyway.

But you read them anyway.

Points taken. You talk about

Points taken. You talk about perspective, so let's put ourselves in the mind of a kid who's rated the top QB in the country in his class. You have sugar plum images of walking out on stage on draft day in 4 years and shaking Goodell's hand as he announces you as the #1 pick in the NFL draft. You're about to sign a contract that sets you for life as a 22 year old. Everyone is telling you that if you work hard, this is all possible.

Now bring yourself back to today. Every D1 coach and their uncle is calling and sending letters that you start showing on Instagram because it's what kids do today. However, of all the coaches chasing you, there is just one proven one that isn't just really good at the X's and O's of winning games, but has literally lived and breathed the path that is driving you to be the best QB. One coach who has played at a top program, excelled and won games (some with guarantees) there, voted an All-American and even been a Heisman finalist for good measure.

And, for even better measure, a first round pick in the same draft you envision being in.

And the other coaches chasing you? Waiting, waiting....crickets chirping.

Here's the point. No one is dismissing the records of Saban, Urbz, Fisher, and many other proven coaches. They all know how to win football games. They are great game managers and make X's and O's adjustments. What NONE of them has that makes Harbaugh the single most unique coach at this level for an aspiring #1 draft pick is that he has walked and lived the path that an Eason, Gentry, Costello and any other top QB wants to follow.

Make no mistake - for these kids, it's all about the Benjamin's. The lure of being a top NFL pick a la Luck, Stafford, Bradford, Newton, or the Mannings is huge. It's a BUSINESS decision. The guiding question for them is "who and where is the best preparation possible for me to get there?" Boosters, hot cheerleaders, etc all play some role (in cases like Newton, a big role), but for most guys, the coach who has walked and breathed the path, and with a competitive fire second to none, gets my vote. These kids know there are no guarantees they will make it as a top draft pick, but damn straight I want to ensure I have the best preparation I can get to make it happen.

Using a non-football analogy - if I'm an MBA (like I was at UM) and I aspire to be a Fortune 500 CEO, if I have the choice of being mentored by a Jack Welch or some random McKinsey consultant who has advised CEO's but never actually been a CEO, whom do I want coaching me? I want the guy that has walked and lived the path I desire and can prepare me for what I'm about to experience. It's no different for an 18 year old kid who wants to walk on stage and shake Goodell's hand in 3-4 years, albeit at a teenager mentality. It's more of a business today than ever before.

Lastly, as far as your example of Roethlisberger - the dude is as dumb as a box of rocks, and if he weren't an NFL QB, the best he likely would do is bouncer at a nightclub. Rape allegations and riding your motorcycle at super high speeds don't make for a good coaching resume.

A better analogy might be if Peyton Manning retires this year, decides to coach 3-4 years at some Podunk Mississippi small college, then becomes head coach at Tennessee. If I'm the same 18 year old QB considering where to go to college, then when both Peyton and Jimmy come calling, then I have a real decision to make.

Until that happens, notwithstanding the Newton type of booster/bagmen theatrics, there is simply no way any sane HS QB can make his business decision anything other than playing for Jim Harbaugh.