Diaries

I am sick and tired of hearing about how Rich Rod has done us some great dis-service by installing the spread offense this year.  Anyone in the media will simply say Michigan is bad this year "because of the system."  This team was going to be terrible regardless of what offense we ran.  Would running a pro-style I-Formation make the O-Line block any better?  Its ridiculous to blame basic flaws in execution on an offensive system.  People have also been complaining about how Rich Rod has been calling too many running plays and refuses to play to the our strengths.  What QB have they been watching all year?  How can you have Threet throw more when he can't even throw a simple screen.  How does the offensive system matter when you a redshirt freshman QB who clearly needs to work on his mechanics.  McGuffie and Odoms have shown they will be stables of this offense for years to come.  We need Shaw and Stonum to see the field more so they can improve, and the O-line needs to establish some consistent play.

 As for the defense I think Shafer is not playing to the strengths of the defense.  Basically the only strong part of our defense is the D-line.  Our LBs are all terrible at reacting to plays.  They can be exploited in outsides runs and pass protection.  These players need to be given one assignment when possible, and players should not be passing off coverage.  Its become clear that reaction and communication on the field are simply not there.  Morgan Trent has not shown the confidence I expected of a 5th-year senior, and is bad in run support.  Warren has shown flashes, but is still a sophmore.  Brown has been bad early, but he have Harrison have shown to be more competent.  We really need out LBs to improve, because there is no depth there.  Its unbelieveable that our best LB was a low 3-star running back recruit from a small catholic school with no other big time offers except michigan state.  Whoever was in charge of recruiting LBs the past few years really dropped the ball.

Michigan's lineup has fluctuated throughout the year, and I expect that it will continue to change until Michigan plays with more consistency - which may not happen until 2009.  Note: Only players who have a viable backup will be chosen to lose their jobs. For example, Threet likely will not be chosen because Sheridan has been a complete disaster.

OFFENSIVE STARTER WHO SHOULD KEEP HIS JOB
Greg Mathews, WR.  I choose Mathews because...well...he's not horrible, despite an unnecessary unnecessary roughness call in the second half of Saturday's game.

OFFENSIVE STARTER WHO SHOULD LOSE HIS JOB
Tie: Sam McGuffie, RB and Toney Clemons, WR.  Before all the McGuffie lovers get their panties in a bunch, I think McGuffie should still be a starter - at slot receiver.  With Martavious Odoms out with an injury and Terrence Robinson seemingly headed for a redshirt, a shakeup is necessary.  Odoms has consistently been able to find soft spots in the defense from the slot position.  McGuffie has similar size and moves and would benefit from being put out into open space.  He has also shown good hands (zero drops this season) and the ability to make people miss.  When Odoms returns from his shoulder injury (presumably next week), he could move into the starting Y receiver position, forming a trio of Mathews, Odoms, and McGuffie as wide receivers.  Toney Clemons dropped two catchable balls on Saturday that led to two interceptions; on top of that, he doesn't have the speed or elusiveness to be effective in the slot.  Moving McGuffie to the slot would allow Brandon Minor (who either scores a TD or fumbles on every touch), Carlos Brown (when he returns from injury), Michael Shaw, and Kevin Grady to get touches out of the backfield.  McGuffie might be our best option at RB, but the backup RB's aren't nearly as bad as the backup slot receivers.

DEFENSIVE STARTER WHO SHOULD KEEP HIS JOB
Brandon Harrison, SS.  Harrison has been Michigan's most reliable defensive back in 2008.  And while no one seemed to play particularly well against Toledo, Harrison was a solid tackler and didn't get beaten in the passing game.  With the lack of push from the defensive line, the linebackers' inconsistency, and the cornerbacks' continued softness, there's not a lot to be excited about at this point.  But when I see #27 flash into the picture, I always feel somewhat relieved that he's going to make a solid tackle or use his sprinter's speed to chase someone down.

DEFENSIVE STARTER WHO SHOULD LOSE HIS JOB
Morgan Trent, CB.  I don't understand Morgan Trent's regression.  He had a promising season a year ago.  He supposedly put on a Barwis-fed 10 pounds and got faster.  He hits people hard.  But he continues to play really soft in coverage and he's been putting his shoulder into ballcarriers instead of wrapping them up and taking them to the ground.  The soft coverage could very well be a scheme of Scott Shafer's or it could be because Trent doesn't trust his safety help.  Either way, it's not working.  Boubacar Cissoko needs to teach Trent how to play physically.  Until Trent steps up his game, Cissoko and Donovan Warren (assuming he returns from injury next week) should be the starting corners.  Maybe a one-game benching would catch Trent's attention.

In the wake
of the loss to Toledo, there are three
things I’ve read on the MGoBoard and the Diaries that I find offensive.  The first is some infusion of political rhetoric
into the boards.  It is the political
season and emotions are running high about both the presidential race and Michigan
football.  I’m sure this is especially
true if you perceive both to be headed in the wrong direction.  That said, posting about politics only adds
to our collective pain and creates unnecessary infighting.    

            The second
is the knee jerk stereotypical backlash against other regions of this country
as backwards backwaters.  Outside of West
Virginia, this is not a fair characterization.  After spending my first 24 years in the great
state of Michigan, I have spent a
decade an a half in the South.  I’m so
far in the South that I was able to go in my front yard and hear the final
score of the upset of Vanderbilt announced on the stadium PA system yesterday. The
Southern reputation is largely a holdover to times past and currently found
mainly in isolated rural pockets and some bigoted households.  The South is, on the whole, more integrated
than the North.  This has led to
increased tolerance.

            The third
thing that irks me is the calls for RichRod’s head.  The way I see it, this season is about
building the montage that will be used as a contrast to the future glory of the
program.  My wife attended a university
with a decent football tradition (something about rising water and elephants) which
underwent a recent coaching change.  Last
year, that team went 6-6 (3-5 in the conference).  After a late season loss to Louisiana-Monroe,
her friends were calling for the coach’s head. 
That team is performing better this year.  I see this as analogous to Michigan’s
situation.  These are/will be two
programs on the rise.

            Michigan
fans have been spoiled by sustained success. 
We have not had a significant transition since LBJ was President.  Transition is hard and takes time.  This is a time for patience and cohesion, not
division and derision.

            I’m
Sammylittle and I approve this message.

Ok, time to look back at... wait a second... What The?  AYIIIIIIEEEE!!!

WHUMP!

---We regret that, due to severe sky-related head injuries, your trusty LB/HO/LF reporter will be unable to complete this weeks edition of LB/HO/LF.  He may be reached in the ICU along side Mr. McGuffie, muttering about refusing to "look back, look forward, or take my goddamn hat off."  And now back to our regular scheduled delusion.---

<Cue filler music.> 

<Quietly and in the background>

Hail to the victors valiant.  Hail to the conquering heroes.  Hail.  Hail to Michigan.  The leaders and best.  Hail to the victors valiant.  Hail to the conquering heroes.  Hail.  Hail to Michigan.  The champions of the west.

Hail to the victors valiant.  Hail to the conquering heroes.  Hail.  Hail to Michigan.  The leaders and best.  Hail to the victors valiant.  Hail to the conquering heroes.  Hail.  Hail to Michigan.  The champions of the west.

Hail to the victors valiant.  Hail to the conquering heroes.  Hail.  Hail to Michigan.  The leaders and best.  Hail to the victors valiant.  Hail to the conquering heroes.  Hail.  Hail to Michigan.  The champions of the west.

Hail to the victors valiant.  Hail to the conquering heroes.  Hail.  Hail to Michigan.  The leaders and best.  Hail to the victors valiant.  Hail to the conquering heroes.  Hail.  Hail to Michigan.  The champions of the west.

Hail to the victors valiant.  Hail to the conquering heroes.  Hail.  Hail to Michigan.  The leaders and best.  Hail to the victors valiant.  Hail to the conquering heroes.  Hail.  Hail to Michigan.  The champions of the west.

Hail to the victors valiant.  Hail to the conquering heroes.  Hail.  Hail to Michigan.  The leaders and best.  Hail to the victors valiant.  Hail to the conquering heroes.  Hail.  Hail to Michigan.  The champions of the west.

Ok, so far I've been willing to go along with RichRod, crazy offense and all.  But Threet earned the job.  Despite being a classic pocket passer forced to learn a new system, despite having a walk-on elevated in front of him to start the season, and despite being surrounded by a sub-par offensive line and bunch of true freshmen, he managed to lead the team back against Wisco.

Now he wasn't great in the first half, but Sheridan is clearly lacking the basic talent to be a Big Ten QB.  He doesn't have an arm, he doesn't make good (or quick) decisions, and he doesn't belong back there right now.  RichRod, stop trying to show us all how smart you are.  Play the kid that gives Michigan the best chance to win.  Play the kid that actually has the physical talents to lead Big Ten offense. 

Maybe you'll even have to shift to a little more passing-focused attack, but please please give us a chance.  Threet is a freshman, he's going to make mistakes, throw picks, inexplicably drop balls, even make the wrong decision from time to time.  But, rarely has the QB yo-yo worked anywhere.  Either you make the change and stick with it, or you find a package that works for a unique talent (like Tebow when Leak was still there).  But inexperienced QBs living in fear of the bench don't develop, they try to survive.  And sometimes, they break.  Don't break this guy.

It was freakin' Toledo!