In reality, all this focus on individual players is meaningless when the real problem is with the coaching, play calling, player substitution insanity, and overall lack of anything marginally resembling a coherent scheme on offense. We could have Saquan Barkley back there and the coaches from the last few years still wouldn't have utilized him properly within the offense. Actually, he probably would've transferred after a couple years.
Now, things are TECHNICALLY different this year because almost all the coaching staff is new...except for Harbaugh and Gattis. So we COULD see some different, and hopefully competent results from the offense and the running backs MIGHT actually look like they know what they're doing. BUT, that's IF the offense can get their heads out from where the sun don't shine. I'll believe it when I see it.
Just compare the recruiting profiles of Ibrahim and Haskins on 247. They're both basically a wash with neither impressing very many scouts or programs. Yet one is having success and the other isn't. Do you really think Ibrahim would be getting all the love he currently is if he had come to Michigan and Haskins had gone to MN? LOL no way! Instead we'd be talking about how Haskins is getting pre-season All Big Ten love while Ibrahim is getting "overlooked". It's not the players, but the mentality/lunacy behind the offense. And until that gets fixed, it really doesn't matter who the RB is.
Also, I'd just like to say that I appreciate the new endeavour Ace. I may come (and be) rather cynical about the current future of Michigan football, but darn it all if I don't absorb all the content I can. And I love the new site...things just work lol
I agree that the productivity of Haskins doesn't matter as much if the team isn't successful, though I'll add a couple things:
(1) I still very much enjoy watching him run. I think it's worth separating appreciation for players from the almost constant focus on how it translates to wins. One player can only impact so much, particularly non-quarterbacks.
(2) Haskins has still had plenty of success. The difference between him and Ibrahim hasn't so much been team success (Minnesota had a lot of their own problems last year) as pure usage, and the Gophers have fewer talented backs to keep happy. I'd like to see Haskins get the ball more often this year but his success compared to Ibrahim shouldn't be defined by raw yardage totals.
Well done. This take is spot on. Haskins is always overlooked, but every time he gets the ball he is both a bucket and a problem. I hope they ride him this year. If the o-line takes a step forward and he gets enough carries, he could have a special year.
💯 ... I'm hearing so much hype around Corum's size (which is impressive) and Warren's ranking ... But the lunchbox guy who just goes out and gets it done is Hassan Haskins. I honestly can't get enough of him and every time they took him off the field (except one, that stupid wildcat) I screamed bloody murder. Feed the man.
It honestly drives me nuts - and I hope it does the same to him - that he's basically not even mentioned except in passing. Thanks for giving him some love here, Ace ... That 6.1 YPC within the offensive year from hell is the perfect encapsulation of what he does, which is just get it done.
In reality, all this focus on individual players is meaningless when the real problem is with the coaching, play calling, player substitution insanity, and overall lack of anything marginally resembling a coherent scheme on offense. We could have Saquan Barkley back there and the coaches from the last few years still wouldn't have utilized him properly within the offense. Actually, he probably would've transferred after a couple years.
Now, things are TECHNICALLY different this year because almost all the coaching staff is new...except for Harbaugh and Gattis. So we COULD see some different, and hopefully competent results from the offense and the running backs MIGHT actually look like they know what they're doing. BUT, that's IF the offense can get their heads out from where the sun don't shine. I'll believe it when I see it.
Just compare the recruiting profiles of Ibrahim and Haskins on 247. They're both basically a wash with neither impressing very many scouts or programs. Yet one is having success and the other isn't. Do you really think Ibrahim would be getting all the love he currently is if he had come to Michigan and Haskins had gone to MN? LOL no way! Instead we'd be talking about how Haskins is getting pre-season All Big Ten love while Ibrahim is getting "overlooked". It's not the players, but the mentality/lunacy behind the offense. And until that gets fixed, it really doesn't matter who the RB is.
Also, I'd just like to say that I appreciate the new endeavour Ace. I may come (and be) rather cynical about the current future of Michigan football, but darn it all if I don't absorb all the content I can. And I love the new site...things just work lol
Thank you! The cynicism is understandable and I appreciate the support.
You're welcome. Keep up the good work!
I agree that the productivity of Haskins doesn't matter as much if the team isn't successful, though I'll add a couple things:
(1) I still very much enjoy watching him run. I think it's worth separating appreciation for players from the almost constant focus on how it translates to wins. One player can only impact so much, particularly non-quarterbacks.
(2) Haskins has still had plenty of success. The difference between him and Ibrahim hasn't so much been team success (Minnesota had a lot of their own problems last year) as pure usage, and the Gophers have fewer talented backs to keep happy. I'd like to see Haskins get the ball more often this year but his success compared to Ibrahim shouldn't be defined by raw yardage totals.
Well done. This take is spot on. Haskins is always overlooked, but every time he gets the ball he is both a bucket and a problem. I hope they ride him this year. If the o-line takes a step forward and he gets enough carries, he could have a special year.
💯 ... I'm hearing so much hype around Corum's size (which is impressive) and Warren's ranking ... But the lunchbox guy who just goes out and gets it done is Hassan Haskins. I honestly can't get enough of him and every time they took him off the field (except one, that stupid wildcat) I screamed bloody murder. Feed the man.
It honestly drives me nuts - and I hope it does the same to him - that he's basically not even mentioned except in passing. Thanks for giving him some love here, Ace ... That 6.1 YPC within the offensive year from hell is the perfect encapsulation of what he does, which is just get it done.