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Jim Harbaugh said that the Ohio State had hurt Michigan by many "speed games" and that "we were taking responsibility" for the debacle of 62-39, November 24, 2018.
Nick Baumgardner, press
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh reviewed his notes at a stop in the second half against the Ohio State Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday 24th. November 2018.(Photo: Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)
For Michigan football, it was a missed opportunity, a massive disappointment and another example of its inability to secure a place as a national competitor.
But 2018 has not been a lost year nor a bitter failure.
Jim Harbaugh's program is better today than it was a year ago. It's better today than when he entered the Junge Center on December 30, 2014, with an unprecedented amount of euphoria and fanfare driven by desperation.
More: Jim Harbaugh football in Michigan remains allergic to bright lights
The prospect is necessary, even if it offers little consolation after the humiliating performance of the Wolverines in Columbus on Saturday. This has been another chapter in the long-standing inability of this program to solve the biggest moment of the season – a persistent problem that Harbaugh has inherited but that he has not yet defeated.
By the way, this is not to take. It's a fact.
But given the arrival of things last season, it's impossible to ignore some of the notable advances Michigan has made through 12 matches in 2018. That was not enough, but the alternative would have been a disaster.
More: Jim Harbaugh of Michigan, first U-M coach debuting 0-4 against Ohio State
Michigan's offensive line was in shambles after sending two quarters to the hospital during a five-loss campaign a year ago. Harbaugh diagnosed this as a problem and hired Ed Warinner as an offline coach. Michigan's offensive line halved its bags and allowed 30 fewer attacks.
This comes from a group that started the year with strangers at the attack, a second – year center and a part – time starter and a full – time starter in the guard. The offensive line could have been a disaster all season. That was not it. And now, Wolverines may have a depth established for the first time since the Lloyd Carr era.
It was not enough Saturday. But it is not unimportant either.
The situation of the Michigan quarter is better than a year ago and certainly better than when Harbaugh took office after four years of Brady Hoke. Shea Patterson may or may not return for his senior season, but he is the highest-grossing passer of the program since Elvis Grbac in 1991 – six years before Patterson's birth.
Related: Jim Harbaugh hired to update Michigan football. He did not do enough.
Dylan McCaffrey and Joe Milton are just starting to play quarterback. We'll see what happens with Brandon Peters. But anyway, it's far from the mess Harbaugh has inherited. Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones could be two of the best receivers of the Big Ten next season. Tarik Black has still not been able to show his stuff for health reasons.
Still, none of this was enough on Saturday and we must remedy Harbaugh's inability to adapt and change when it matters most during a match. But this attack – after throwing just nine touchdowns last season – is better.
The defense has questions to answer, of course. Don Brown overestimated Michigan's ability to face big receivers in the state of Ohio State on Saturday and was the victim of the biggest shock he faced – by far – in three sparkling seasons.
This year could have been a nightmare, from start to finish, for Harbaugh had he refused to change. He could have kept the long-time assistant Tim Drevno, evolve without a coach-receiver, do nothing with his reinforcement program and find himself again on the losing side despite a surplus of talent. But he does not have it. Michigan met and found a way to compete for a Big Ten title for the second time in three years.
Overview: The program is as solid as it has been for years.
Overview: The program still has not found how to win the big one.
Michigan in the spotlight Saturday at Ohio State. There is no other way to turn it around. There were problems and incidents that simply did not happen in the previous 10 games. The big stage will do it if you are not prepared and, for various reasons, Michigan was not.
Harbaugh had tough questions to answer last season and he almost recognized them. He will have to do this again this season. The offensive can not continue to return to stubbornness in big matches. The Wolverines added layers to their attack this season, but barely used them when they needed them the most. It's up to Harbaugh to understand it. Michigan does not need many voices in charge of an offensive ploy. Harbaugh and a coach can understand that.
Defensively, you can not ignore 11 games of excellence in favor of a nightmarish performance. But it was a pretty nightmare. Brown must – and probably will – find some adjustments. Michigan can not stick to "Plan A" if it fails. All staff must be ready to become aware of themselves and make difficult decisions when the pressure rises. They will lose players after this season. But they reloaded before.
The expectation that nothing less than a championship is not an unrealistic notion advanced solely by fans, from elsewhere. This expectation comes from the head coach.
He came here before the 2015 season and went to work, instead of arguing a four year plan. He clearly explained that Michigan's mission is to be the best university football team. Win all the prizes. Win the Big Ten title. Win the national title.
The Wolverines will likely end this season in a six-year New Year bowl. Whether they win or lose, some will overreact. In any case, the situation will be the same.
There has been progress. But that's not enough.
Related: Ohio State has creativity and surprise, missing in Michigan football
Contact Nick Baumgardner: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
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