Harbaugh’s challenge? Put bite back into Wolverines offence
ANN ARBOR, MICH. For the first time since he arrived at Michigan, it feels like Jim Harbaugh is at a bit of a crossroads.
The team’s upward trajectory under Harbaugh ended with a thud this season, and although it wasn’t a shock to see the Wolverines take a step back from their 2016 showing, the lack of progress at quarterback was startling.
Michigan will have plenty of talent returning on defence next season, but Harbaugh’s offence will be under a microscope as he enters his fourth year at the helm.
The Wolverines came into this season ranked 11th but that turned out to be way too optimistic. They beat Florida in their opener, but the season took a turn for the worse when they lost at home to Michigan State in October — Michigan’s eighth loss in the past 10 games against the Spartans.
The Wolverines finished 8-5, closing the season with losses to Wisconsin, Ohio State and South Carolina. The last defeat came in Monday’s Outback Bowl. Michigan turned the ball over five times in a second-half meltdown that essentially handed the Gamecocks a 26-19 win.
“We didn’t get the knockout punch when we needed it,” Harbaugh said after the game. “We didn’t take advantage of the opportunities that were there.”
It was about as sour an ending as possible for Michigan’s season.
When Harbaugh took over at Michigan, there was talk that the
Wolverines were finally getting their version of Nick Saban or Urban Meyer.
The Wolverines did make real progress in Harbaugh’s first two seasons, winning 10 games each in 2015 and 2016. His 2016 team was in the national title hunt until a double-overtime loss at Ohio State.
If Michigan can return to that level in 2018 and beyond, the Wolverines will probably win their share of big games eventually.
The schedule won’t do them any favours next season. Michigan has to face Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State on the road — a tough task for a program that’s shown signs of growth under Harbaugh but is still struggling to beat its biggest rivals.