What Happens to Michigan Football Next Year?

I am a prisoner of the moment after witnessing in person Michigans brutal beatdown of #8 (at the time) Notre Dame. I am so high on Michigan right now that I know i’ll get my heart broken but I don’t care. They will get beatdown by Ohio State but Ohio State is also arguably the best football team in America. I mean they have two top 10, maybe top 5 players in the upcoming draft on defense, with Chase Young and Jeff Okudah. Their offense is equally as terrifying with Heisman candidate Justin Fields at QB and that wagon J.K. Dobbins at running back. They simply out talent Michigan, and the majority of the country. So when Michigan losses, it’s not gonna be a classic Harbaugh can’t win big games blah blah blah, it’s a game that Ohio State should win handedly on route to another playoff berth. So unfortunately, Michigans season is over when it comes to the Playoffs, but they can still get to a big Bowl Game.

This leads us to next year. Ideally Michigan will be better, it mostly depends on the receiving core coming back. It’s hard to expect DPJ, who was the highest rated WR in his stacked class (Juedy, CeeDee Lamb, Tee Higgins, ect) to comeback when the previously listed players are projected for the 1st round in the draft. I believe the smart move is coming back with Dylan McCaffery as the Qb and putting up some numbers and potentially becoming a 1st round pick. Same goes for Nico Collins, and Tarik Black. Best case scenario is they all comeback and with Ronnie Bell, live up to their potential. Worst case scenario only one comes back, I don’t believe all three will leave because all three would be extremely lucky to be even 2nd round draft picks. So with only one coming back that would still be a pretty good receiving core with Ronnie Bell. I’d be happy with that.

Now for the quarterback fiasco that still looms over during Harbaughs 5th year. My biggest issue with Harbaugh is his unwavering loyalty to Shae Patterson. I get that he was a big name transfer and benching him could negatively affect the programs chances at other transfers, but we know what Patterson is. We’ve seen him last year stink it up , and somehow get worse this year. At least next year we will be able to see Dylan McCaffery for a whole season, which honestly is a lose lose situation for Harbaugh. Say McCaffery is awful, the narrative will be how come Harbaugh can’t develop these top recruit QB’s that come to Michigan, which is true and a deserved criticism. On the flip side, say McCaffery is as good or better than expected, why the fuck was Patterson playing for 2 years when he had McCaffery rotting on the bench. I don’t understand why Patterson was brought in through the transfer portal, but it’s in the past.

Running backs for Michigan has also been less than perfect since like Mike Hart. This true freshman Zach Charbonnet looks promising, he’s not the next Johnathan Taylor or Saquan, but he’s for sure a step up from past Michigan Running backs. Him and Hassan Haskins in the back field next year will bolster the run game and open up the passing lanes for McCaffery.

Defensively Michigan is already good, but next year i’m predicting dominance. Dax hill is already a fucking stud as a true freshman. Aidan Hutchinson, who I have had the pleasure of talking to and consider a friend (not sure if that friendship goes both ways), is a fucking wagon wheel of a human. He might be the best in the nation at patting down passes. No joke. I don’t think i’ve seen a defensive lineman have such an eye for where the Qb is going with the ball and throwing hands up to knock it out of the air. He’s a future 1st round pick as well as Dax Hill.

All in all this may have been a less than expected year for Michigan, but with a final record of 9-3 all three loses coming to high ranked teams ill take that. Michigan isn’t Alabama or Clemson. Stop expecting them to be. Harbaugh is a great coach. He isn’t Urban Myer. Ohio State is in the middle of unprecedented success. Michigan will get there. Hell even a few weeks ago I was calling for Harbaughs job, but i realized he has brought Michigan back to relevancy. Something they have not had in 15 years before he arrived. Next year they will be leaps and bounds above what they are this year. My prediction for them is 11-1, only loss coming to Ohio State and Justin Fields.

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Don’s 2019 College Football Preseason All-American Team

OFFENSE

QB: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

RB: Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

RB: Travis Etienne, Clemson

WR: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama

WR: CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma

TE: Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt

C: Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin

OT: Andrew Thomas, Georgia

OT: Prince Tega-Wanogho, Auburn

OG: Shane Lemieux, Oregon

OG: Ben Bredeson, Michigan

DEFENSE

DL: Chase Young, Ohio State

DL: AJ Epenesa, Iowa

DL: Kenny Willekes, Michigan State

DL: Derrick Brown, Auburn

LB: Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

LB: Paddy Fisher, Northwestern

LB: Joe Bachie, Michigan State

DB: Bryce Hall, Virginia

DB: Lavert Hill, Michigan

DB: Grant Delpit, LSU

DB: Paulson Abedo, Stanford

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia

P: Braden Mann, Texas A&M

All-Purpose: Rondale Moore, Purdue

All-Purpose: KJ Hamler, Penn State

TJ Hockenson is not Eric Ebron, it’s okay

Look, I know you’re upset. Hear me out, we did not draft another Eric Ebron. TJ Hockenson is a dynamic TE. He is the “Y” TE that we need, which Ebron was an “F” TE. For reference, a Y TE is on the line next to tackles, while a F TE lines up in the slot and can line up in the backfield. Ebron was being used in Detroit as a Y, when he wasn’t much of a blocker. Since he has moved to Indy, look at what he has done since having more of an F role, it’s crazy when you use your players correctly, huh? Well now that we have Jesse James that could be an efficient F TE, Hockenson will be a great addition to our line and being a security blanket for Stafford. Now let me tell you about TJ himself.

At 6’5, 251lbs, Hockenson played TE for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was drafted by your Lions with the 8th pick of the NFL Draft. Lots of players were available here, so it would be pretty hard to fuck this up. TE is a need for the Lions, as is a CB, an EDGE, an OG, and a LB. All of these positions had players available, but having a player like Hockenson fall into your lap, it’s hard to pass on him. In 2018, Hockenson, a redshirt sophomore, played in 13 games, had 49 receptions for 760 yards and 6 touchdowns. These numbers don’t really jump off the screen at you but don’t forget that Noah Fant was drafted by the Denver Broncos 20th overall and was Hockenson’s teammate who also played TE. Fant had 39 receptions for 519 yards and 7 touchdowns. You throw half those balls to Hockenson and that’s when you’ll see how elite this kid actually is on paper. He plays at a high-level, comes from a school that has put out NFL TE talent, most notably George Kittle and Dallas Clark, and busts his ass.

Player comparisons aren’t that favorable for people, but Hockenson’s player comparison is to Kelce/Gronkowski. That’s one hell of a comparison, huh? Hockenson’s scouting report resembles Travis Kelce’s. “Good but not great athlete, big frame, physical blocker, and has the ability to stretch the field. Lacks explosive speed.” Hock will lineup next to the bigboys and block for our backs. Hell, two TE sets with James and Hock will be a deadly combination. My point is, put your pitchforks down, this is actually a decent pick for the Lions. It’s one of those that isn’t too flashy, but you’ll be glad to have him for the next 5 years. With that said, hopefully I convinced you. I will be doing more of these on each player the Lion’s draft, and then maybe some film room on each player. Thank you for your time, keep sippin that kool-aid.

Don’s Final 2019 NFL Mock Draft

Today is the big day, where fans either cheer or cry. I’m not including any trades because I can not see the future to that extent. However, I hope that I do better this year than last year, shout out to me for getting Vander-Esch correct. Everyone is mocking Kyler at one, well I am here to bring some added chaos. Arizona should select the best player in the draft. Thank you again to the Draft Network for the template, HERE. WE. GO.