The Game, The Bowl, The Future
The Game
I am not going to sit here and pretend to say that I knew Michigan was going to lose The Game. I actually walked around Ann Arbor on a very crisp Saturday morning filled with enthusiasm, but there was something in the air that day that left me not feeling entirely comfortable. Even though Michigan was 9-2, I knew that there were holes on the team that could be exploited by Ohio State. I hated being right.
What we learned on Saturday is that the 2015 Wolverines are vastly improved over the 2014 team. There were fewer mistakes in the fundamentals, the tackling was crisp, players were in a better position to make a play, and the quarterback play was undeniably better. What we also learned is that there is still a large talent gap between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines. The good news on that front is that Jim Harbaugh has been a recruiting machine since returning the college game and that gap should shrink as early as next season.
Ohio State, in particular Ezekiel Elliot, exposed Michigan's run defense en route to a 42-13 thrashing of the Wolverines. The offense was unable to gain any traction in the second half and the Buckeyes offense could not be stopped. The margin of the loss was indicative of the margin of the talent that separates the two teams.
The Bowl
On Sunday, Michigan earned a bowl bid to the Citrus Bowl. Given that last year, Michigan was a 5-7 football team, was not participating in a post-season bowl game, and was expected to be roughly a .500 team this year, playing on a New Year's Day bowl game is one of those "moral victories" that Michigan fans aren't too fond of. It is a testament of the hard work by the players and the talents of the new coaching staff.
The Future
Where do the Wolverines go from here? It feels as though so much has changed in the week since Michigan's defeat to the Buckeyes. Michigan lost defensive coordinator DJ Durkin who is now the head coach of Maryland. Although keeping Durkin would have been preferable, it should be expected that as Michigan continues to improve, the poaching of it's coordinators is going to follow. Michigan will fill the void appropriately.
Michigan also saw it's in-state rival, Michigan State, advance to the College Football Playoff. The Big Ten East could become a three-headed monster featuring Ohio State-Michigan State-Michigan. The competition has and will continue to extend off the field and into recruiting battles. The days of the "Big 2 Little 8" are long gone.
But there is reason for continued optimism in Ann Arbor. If Jim Harbaugh can turn a 5-7 team into a 9-3 team, if he can transform an offensive line which struggled mightily last year, and if he can get production from an average quarterback like Jake Rudock like he did this year, then what will happen when Harbaugh gets his pieces into place? Ohio State will see massive turnovers next year and Michigan State will enter a post-Connor Cook world. Can Michigan take advantage? It will be a daunting task considering both rivalry games are on the road.
For now, Michigan will look to finish this season with double-digit wins against Florida. Remember the last time Michigan and Florida hooked up in the Citrus Bowl?
I am not going to sit here and pretend to say that I knew Michigan was going to lose The Game. I actually walked around Ann Arbor on a very crisp Saturday morning filled with enthusiasm, but there was something in the air that day that left me not feeling entirely comfortable. Even though Michigan was 9-2, I knew that there were holes on the team that could be exploited by Ohio State. I hated being right.
What we learned on Saturday is that the 2015 Wolverines are vastly improved over the 2014 team. There were fewer mistakes in the fundamentals, the tackling was crisp, players were in a better position to make a play, and the quarterback play was undeniably better. What we also learned is that there is still a large talent gap between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines. The good news on that front is that Jim Harbaugh has been a recruiting machine since returning the college game and that gap should shrink as early as next season.
Ohio State, in particular Ezekiel Elliot, exposed Michigan's run defense en route to a 42-13 thrashing of the Wolverines. The offense was unable to gain any traction in the second half and the Buckeyes offense could not be stopped. The margin of the loss was indicative of the margin of the talent that separates the two teams.
The Bowl
On Sunday, Michigan earned a bowl bid to the Citrus Bowl. Given that last year, Michigan was a 5-7 football team, was not participating in a post-season bowl game, and was expected to be roughly a .500 team this year, playing on a New Year's Day bowl game is one of those "moral victories" that Michigan fans aren't too fond of. It is a testament of the hard work by the players and the talents of the new coaching staff.
The Future
Where do the Wolverines go from here? It feels as though so much has changed in the week since Michigan's defeat to the Buckeyes. Michigan lost defensive coordinator DJ Durkin who is now the head coach of Maryland. Although keeping Durkin would have been preferable, it should be expected that as Michigan continues to improve, the poaching of it's coordinators is going to follow. Michigan will fill the void appropriately.
Michigan also saw it's in-state rival, Michigan State, advance to the College Football Playoff. The Big Ten East could become a three-headed monster featuring Ohio State-Michigan State-Michigan. The competition has and will continue to extend off the field and into recruiting battles. The days of the "Big 2 Little 8" are long gone.
But there is reason for continued optimism in Ann Arbor. If Jim Harbaugh can turn a 5-7 team into a 9-3 team, if he can transform an offensive line which struggled mightily last year, and if he can get production from an average quarterback like Jake Rudock like he did this year, then what will happen when Harbaugh gets his pieces into place? Ohio State will see massive turnovers next year and Michigan State will enter a post-Connor Cook world. Can Michigan take advantage? It will be a daunting task considering both rivalry games are on the road.
For now, Michigan will look to finish this season with double-digit wins against Florida. Remember the last time Michigan and Florida hooked up in the Citrus Bowl?
(Photo courtesy of Mlive.com)
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