BBA, I agree. I have very high hopes for Bryce Underwood but I can't look past how Michigan has played football for decades: it essentially deemphasizes QB play.
Posted on September 9, 2026 at 10:11:20 AM by Rose Bowl Champion
(edited September 9, 2026 at 10:27:54 AM)
In my reply to Cincywolve, I pointed out that Coach Jim Harbaugh's approach to football (which was reminiscent of risk-averse Schembechler football) didn't accumulate impressive stats for a variety of reasons.
Coach Harbaugh's strategy worked because he was reinforced by a generational defense. We can't expect to have a generational defense every season. Even Nick Saban in the pre-NIL and pre-Transfer Portal era had only 2 ultra elite defenses: 2011 and 2016 Alabama. And the latter learned even a generational defense wasn't enough to beat a high-powered Clemson offense led by an electric, playmaking QB.
Ohio State adapted
USC adapted
Texas adapted
Oklahoma adapted (and was known for powerful rushing attack out of wishbone)
Alabama adapted (in fact Saban changed mid-dynasty in 2014 by hiring Lane Kiffin)
But somehow UM altering its approach screws with UM's precious "tradition" for the worse?
We keep squandering incredible talents at QB and relegating them to game managers. I'm repulsed by it.
Back to the board
Thread:
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on Bryce, the absurdity of considering Tommy, and the Knucklehead A.D.
- By jonpc
September 9, 2026 at 09:31:29 AM
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The Oklahoma and Texas ganes were first announced in 2014 shortly after the Notre Dame series ended ...
- By Cutter
September 9, 2026 at 10:50:25 AM
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What's your level of certainty about your most important assertion?
- By weebay
September 9, 2026 at 10:48:20 AM
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Bryce is being paid as if he were elite. We need to shed him from the payroll somehow or adjust his pay to market value. He could want a fresh start after this szn*
- By hambone
September 9, 2026 at 10:21:15 AM
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"Bryce will never be the quarterback we hoped for" - jonpc / I'm tired of reading comments like this from fans who expect highly rated QBs to perform like seasoned upperclassmen when the young QBs haven't had enough time to climb the developmental learning curve.*
- By Rose Bowl Champion
September 9, 2026 at 09:35:43 AM
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You'll continue to hear them if said young QB is getting paid like a seasoned upperclassman*
- By mtb
September 9, 2026 at 12:07:43 PM
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Hope you are right. Really, I hope to say that I was absolutely wrong. I love Bryce's attitude. I love his physical traits.
- By jonpc
September 9, 2026 at 10:10:02 AM
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What if stress is on the word "we"? As in Bryce may need to, and probably will, go somewhere else to be the QB he can be?*
- By ftb
September 9, 2026 at 10:09:35 AM
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Sounded like coaches expected him to perform that way too, no?*
- By BBA
September 9, 2026 at 09:58:13 AM
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BBA, I agree. I have very high hopes for Bryce Underwood but I can't look past how Michigan has played football for decades: it essentially deemphasizes QB play.
- By Rose Bowl Champion
September 9, 2026 at 10:11:20 AM
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That ignores the reality of todays college game and transfer portal. It is like Dabo saying we aint doing things like LSU...and getting whooped*
- By Cincywolve
September 9, 2026 at 09:44:50 AM
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