RR Recruiting Question.

William Campbell. 5 star. 2009.

A lot of these guys that RichRod recruits are not that fast. Stokes, Robinson, Forcier, Turner, Jones, Toussaint and maybe a couple others are actually fast. Most are just sub par and are leftovers.

don't ever change

Are we really having this discussion?

The fact is, the majority of 5 star prospects are located in the South and in California. Considering the most successful teams of late (LSU, Florida, Texas, USC) are all located in these areas, they'll be getting the pick of the litter. Michigan has a poor in-state recruiting base, so we have to go nationally and battle alot of these powerhouse programs for the top programs. It will be very difficult for Michigan to pull in multiple 5 stars every year. OSU has a very fertile recruting base in-state, so their classes will always be strong.

3 of Alabama's 5 star recruits were in-state, with the other 5 star being from Florida (Trent Richardson). Saban has the state locked down; Alabama also produces good talent every year.

Well if we stopped getting owned by OSU every year then more ohio recruits would get to Michigan.

I dont really ever post on these threads but I had to say something here. So this Mcfarlin retard is the resident retard? Does he always make stupid and irrational comments just for the sake of pissing you guys off?

The reason RR offers the players that he offers is that they fit his system. Ricardo Miller, for example, does not fit as a slot receiver, which we were completely lacking at first. Hence, RR went after slot-type players right away. Then came a big steal in Terrence Robinson and Martavious Odoms, plus some snake-oil trickeration in Roy Roundtree and Mike Shaw. This year guys like Jeremy Gallon and Je'Ron Stokes and probably Teric Jones were added to get the necessary depth and competition.

Bigger receivers weren't a priority. We have Heminway and Mathews, plus Stonum was already locked up when RR was hired. With Mathews on his way out and a couple of departures, more bigger receivers are needed to play the outside.

As far as running backs, some smaller backs in the Noel Devine/Jock Sanders mold are common in the RR scheme, but bigger physical backs are needed too. I can't recall the 5* big back WVU had, but for academic/disciplinary/health reasons he never really panned out for WVU; but he would have had a role. When RR came to Ann Arbor, he had Minor and Grady already in the fold, so he didn't go after bigger backs when there were needs elsewhere. Those guys are leaving and the only guy left will be Mike Cox, so replacements are needed.

Basically, RR understands his system and the type of players it needs. He doesn't give half a shit what Scout or Rivals thinks about a player. Steve Slaton and Pat White were both 3* recruits, and those two players proceeded to terrorize the Big East and bowl opponents for years.

Maybe you should give Rodriguez and his incredible track record the benefit of the doubt.

PS: Southern schools, Texas, and California have numerous 5* recruits in their backyards. Michigan doesn't. Hence, we get fewer 5* recruits. How many 5* recruits were there in the state of Michigan last year? And how many did we get? Exactly.

Do you know more than the coaching staff? No? Then STFU.

If in 3-4 years, the class hasn't panned out then by all means criticize RR and the coaches for not going after guys who did perform.

But the fact is, you have no idea how these recruits are going to work, but RR decided they needed to be offered, and I'll take his credibility over yours. For that matter I'd take a deaf, dumb and blind midget's opinion over yours.

You're pissed because osu can get more 5 stars and better classes than us.. And acknowledge that that's probably cuz they've beat us 5 times in a row...

How is this rr fault? You probably bitched about beileins recruiting too... Seriously rr knows more about football than I will ever know stop being an arm chair coach and have faith if not find another team cuz I think I speak for the group when I say "shut the fuck up"

Brian: You're two weeks late with your April Fool's joke. Posting with this "McFarlin" fake name might have been funny at first, but now it's just annoying people.

...is McFarlin a troll? I'm really starting to think that's the case. Every topic he brings up is just flat-out incorrect or misguided. If he's not a troll, he must be a ninth grader. I'm not even saying these things to be mean. I'm just baffled about why someone would say the things he says.

I fucking love this guy. Don't ever change.

i like mcfarlin. he says how he feels, regardless if you guys think its wrong or not. and can we drop this meme that "RR knows more about football than any of us so we cant question anything he does"

the fact of the matter is everyone in the business knows more about football than any of us. thats why they re professional coaches, but what fun would it be if we didnt disagree with them over some of their choices??? charlie weis knows more about football than all of us too. that doesnt mean hes f-ed up at nd. d'antonio knows more about football than all of us. that doesnt mean he's a little deuch. etc. etc.

yes, rr knows more about football. that doesnt mean we cant discuss some of his decisions or moves.

You have to switch up your recruiting. Not everyone will play their freshman year, some will redshirt. recruiting the same players every year really leaves you in a world of hurt when they become Jr/Sr and then you have spaces to fill. If we only have 6ft+ receivers this year, expect smirfs next year. Flip flopping every other year is a great way to add depth. Unfortunately our depth is low so you have to take that into effect too. But imagine 3 years down the road, do you want 8-10 slot receivers on the team?

Tate loves M and ran our office so his height isn't a question, Gardiner be 6'4 and quick is a dream so you don't' pass him up either.

Because there are so many great players in states like Florida and Texas and stars, though they are supposed to be given equally, are given regionally in a de facto sense due to the structure of rating services, I think a three star in either state would be as good as or better than a four star in Ohio or PA. Sorry for the long-winded sentence, but the gist is that there are plenty of great players in Florida and Texas, and their "leftovers" are better than a lot of the "prime meat" in midwestern and northern states.

Smith and Gallon are both gamebreakers and both would have both been given another star if they were taller. Gallon is both quick and fast, and knows the game well from having been a QB, while Smith is sneaky-fast and is one of the smartest running backs I have seen on the field.

I felt sorry for McFarlin until he started running down good recruits, but undervaluing Smith and Gallon because of star ratings is stupid at worst and naive at best. McFarlin seems to be saying, "you can trust your car to the man who gives the stars," to paraphrase on old Texaco commercial.

UM has put together two classes in a row that are better than they "should" have been. RR is remaking the roster to fit his scheme, and is doing it well. He got a bunch of fast little guys and is now getting some bigger guys to compliment them. That sounds intelligent to me.

9-3: coming to a Big House near you.

McFarlin makes a decent point that I've thought of myself. These two classes thus far seem to be composed of near-opposite players, at least physically speaking -- most of the players are markedly bigger.

Admit it -- most of you have at least thought of that in passing.

Of course, then he goes on to say, "This is dumb and we should just get 5-star guys." I decided to ignore that part. The problem with McFarlin's posts is that he doesn't know how to make a point without coming across as a whiny tool.

I'll respond in seriousness just in case you really do want answers. First, RR is not purposefully recruiting in any year based upon size. What he recruits for is the type of player that he believes best fits his system and the position, be they large or small. It's true that the shifty, quick type of player he recruits for slot back often tends to be small. At the outside WR he does go for larger guys, as do most in the country, but that again is by looking for skill rather than having size as the first criteria. Bottom line: this year's players (so far) have larger size because of position and availability, not because its a grand plan to go one way or the other. Second, he and other coaches are choosing to offer players earlier and earlier in the year because of increased competition, and often this early in the year players do not have a Rivals or Scout grade. If they do, after going through summer camps their grades often increase once more scouts get a close look at them. And sometimes increase again after going through their senior year of HS. Also, one other fact of recruiting is that if a player commits early, often he gets less attention because he may not attend an important camp, because he's not "auditioning" any more. So his grade stagnates. Lastly, the guy you mentioned are not "leftovers", mostly because of the reasons I just sited. and the recruiting services disagree with you, they all think RR is doing an excellent job of recruiting, particularly given last year.

bucknut troll....

atleast he learned how to use periods. Granted, there are too many and it's still confusing to read.

The question: "In 2008...recruits... were smaller guys... ...The 2009 class... all the guys are way taller... Why are we pretty much recruiting the reverse type of guy that we recruited in 2008?"

The answer: Because Rodriguez, after reviewing his 3-9 record last year, realized that he had it all wrong the first time.

McFarlin, I take back everything bad I ever said about you. I no longer want you to take a shot of bleach rimmed with glass chips. I want you to stay exactly the same.

This thread is all kinds of awesome!

Dude, you're a fucking idiot. Here's why:

Last years class: 2 outside WRs - one 6'1, the other 6'2.
This year's class: 4 outside WRs - one 6'1, two 6'2, another one 6'3

Last year's class: 2 DEs - one 6'6, the other 6'4
This year's class: 1 DE (kinnard is a DE) - 6'4

Last year's class: a bunch of undersized slot ninjas.
This year's class: 1 slot ninja (it's only fucking april).

So you're saying you're all kinds of confused and worried because we took a wide receiver who was an inch taller than our tallest receiver last year? Or is it because we took a DE the same height as one we took last year.

Oh, what about Devin Gardner? He's 6'4. Tate and Denard are midgets so clearly RichRod is sniffing the same glue you are! Newsome and Beaver were both about that tall according to your beloved recruiting numbers.

So what in the world were you complaining about again? I don't have the cranial capacity of some of the others here to cut through your insanity. You somehow transitioned from talking about height to star ranking and being "high profile" (as you clearly are). Are height and being "high profile" equitable or something?

they redid after AA game. Turner and Will.

McFarlin is an unhappy individual who likely would not be happy regardless and obviously it is easier to whine for him since he does not have to answer to anyone for his performance.

And just the same, RR cannot really make the second season get here sooner. If this year and next suck, then so be it. McFarlin can go somewhere else or do something to make the change. But till then, well...we can only hope..