Michigan Football Going Forward

Submitted by Wolv54 on

Thank god this season is over. It has been a long season and very disappointing for those of us who have become spoiled by the 9-3 seasons we took for granted. I'm sure some are still angry about the game and the season, but just like the team and the coaches, we as fans need to put it behind us and start asking the questions about what is going to happen as this program moves forward.

For those who like to blame the coaches for everything under the sun, I really think they were frustrated all year as well. They could never take advantage of their system because the QBs did not offfer a true running threat and when they were called upon to pass, they were less than effective even on the simplest of routes. Multiply that problem with the number of true freshman playing (and fumbling) on offense and it's not hard to see why we were 3-9 this year and it's not that the coaches are idiots and can't teach guys not to fumble or to teach guys not to chuck the ball to tacopants. There were instances were the coaches made tactical errors (3-3-5 against Purdue) but ultimately the games were always won or lost on execution of the plays being called.

Going forward, we'll need to address the problems of this years season through recruiting and coaching. Unless we have a rash of injuries, Mr. Sheridan has seen his last snaps at QB for Michigan and that's not being negative, but the truth is that the kid does not possess the physical tools to be an effective Div 1 QB. I would bet that Threet gets some more snaps, but he'll be on a very short leash if either of the true freshman can show the coaches they can handle the job and make the reads and make the throws. The hardest part for a freshman or young QB is the ability to make good decisions quickly in the pass game. I think we've got a couple new tackles on the O-line next year and more depth to do something at the LG spot. The RBs are fine; even if we lose one or two in the offseason, we'll still have enough depth there. The receivers are not the focal point of this offense and as long as we can have some guys that can offer a vertical threat and guys that can be good blokers on the perimeter, we'll be fine there too.

On defense, we've got a lot of work to do. We lose MFT, Harrison, TT, WJ, Jamo, and Charles Stewart from starting positions and maybe BG if he leaves early, which I hope he does not happen as he has been the best player on this team at any position. The defense has been suprisingly porous this year and part of it is because they lacked confidence in each other and did not operate as a cohesive unit. You have great individual efforts at times, but then the unit would have a breakdown and they'd give up a big play. The schemes and play-calling was sound most of the time, but the poor tackling and poor play of the LBs and the DBs really has me concerned. I think, as a coach, you cannot put in any sophisticated packages or blitzes until you can tackle effectively and that is one area we never improved upon over the course of the year. The safeties have gotten a ton of blame this year; some they earned and some they did not; but they will need to be better next year. I think Micheal Williams and Brandon Smith see a large amount of time next year. Cissoko is going to be better next year and he'll make a nice compliment to Donovan Warren who had a rough Sophmore campaign. The defensive line is going to be a major question mark even if BG stays. We have seen good things from some of the backups this year, but they weill need to be able to perform on a consistent basis. If Campbell commits to Moichigan, expect him to get significant playing time along side Mike Martin. The Lbs need to be better next year. Mouton has shown that he is a playmaker on defense. Ezeh has shown that he's got a lot of work to do to get better IMO. I think Ezeh reacts too slowly and let himself get blocked too easily. I would like to see Fitzgerald or even Demens push for some starting time next year. The problem is that we need a true Middle LB and righ now, Ezeh is that guy.

I never think that a true freshman will have a huge impact on your team in a positive manner, but next year we'll need one of these two freshman to really make an impact on this team. I think it is going to be Forcier just because he's the more polished passer at this time, but Beaver has some intagibles that you can't coach when it comes to having a dual threat QB. For next year, I think the reasonable expectation for the team is going to be somewhere around .500; maybe plus or minus a game. You're almost in year 1.5 of the transition insomuch as the coaches have to start over again in teaching the system to true freshman and the freshman who played this year are going to be sophmores.

I think the offseason is going to be interesting insomuch as we'll lose some guys we didn't anticipate losing, but I think we'll gain a few guys that weren't on the radar. I think we might get a little shuffle in the coaches, but nothing major. I think RR will understand the Big Ten a little better and he'll have an entire off season to work on this team, his offense, and his staff. I think that means we're more competitve in 09, but we're really looking at '10 or '11 before we can talk about being at the top of the big ten.

If you thought last year's offseason was intersting, I think this year's offseason will be just as interesting insomuch as the program is at an interesting crossroads. Either we get this issues resolved with personnel and we move towards becoming a top 10 team, or we move towards becoming Northwestern. History has old us that year one of RR is ugly, but that year 2 is respectable, but year 3+ is something special. So for those of you who are writing diaries or posting on message boards comdemning the coaching staff please start working on your retractions for the next few seasons.

Comments

caveman.lawyer

November 22nd, 2008 at 4:39 PM ^

You think that we'll have two new tackles next year? Who would they be? I know there's been talk of moving Schilling to guard, but of the true freshmen this season, I thought that Barnum was further along than the rest and that he projects to be a guard. It sounds like O'Neill will be a tackle, but I think that TomVH just posted something indicating that O'Neill wasn't going to be ready next year. The offensive linemen are the guys that I would really like to hear more about and who projects to play where because we haven't seen any of them on the field.

Wolv54

November 22nd, 2008 at 7:52 PM ^

If you an WVU guy just go find a WVU blog as we don't give a shit about what your agenda is and if you could post something based upon fact rather than just you personal beef with RR people might take some of what you say seriously.

You have yet to point out what it is that the coaches have done wrong this season. If you think another coach was going to win with 15 brand new starters and no proven QB, then you really don't understand the game. If you hate RR, fine, keep it to yourself. Nobody is blaming players for being inexperienced, but they are the ones who have to go out and play the game and execute the gameplans. I don't care if RR makes millions or not, it is not germain to the conversation. What is germain is that implementing a new offense with newbies is difficult for any coach.

We'll see how good WVU is next year when Bill Stewart breaks in a new QB.

mth822

November 22nd, 2008 at 8:26 PM ^

Well we saw some 5 star recruits play like freshmen this year. McGuffie had moments this season and Stonum a few today. Or one catch today I think. But you see know that these guys were not equalizers in any way. They added but did not single handidly win a game for MI. So going forwards don't delusional think Forcier or Beaver will be this all mighty savior for RR and Michigan. Thats my only add to your article. Growth needs to continue, you just do not arrive.

wlvrine

November 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 PM ^

hoopie, I don't know if you are truly a WVU fan or if you are a clever creation by a Michigan fan who is trying to portray all West Virginians as knuckle-dragging trolls. But I will say your signature line sounds just like Washington. When earlier this year they said "we are not in a recession" I am not convinced. But even if I were, or if....."the curse is real" I would like to remind you that you can also bless someone. And blessings contain more power than curses. This is because the power of curses comes from below while the power of blessings comes from above.
To the rest of the fans on this board: Keep the faith!

jim48315

November 23rd, 2008 at 1:22 AM ^

If RR had wanted to win as many games as the talent could win, he would not have used the spread. I feel sorry for poor Sheridan, who doesn't deserve to be scorned for "moonballs" or called =DEATH. He is a young man who certainly busted his back to try to overcome a shortfall of natural gifts and fell short of being a dual threat QB. Any "true blue" who abused him while attacking anyone who dared say RR isn't The Greatest Coach Who Ever Lived is a hypocrite.

IMO RR did want the McGuffies and Shaws and Odoms to get some full speed experience with the spread so they would be that much better in subsequent seasons. Not to mention the OL getting some experience in the blocks to be made so they would know what to do when they have the 2-3 years more physical maturation to go with that. He also wanted freshmen learning to handle being on the stage. He just didn't think things would be as bad as they were, and by the time he found out how bad it was, it was too late. Look at the preseason predictions made in this Blog.

As far as defense, pass defense is hard to find anywhere in college football. It is apparently also hard to get today's athlete to pay attention to sound fundamentals, even something as basic as keeping one's feet moving. Maybe the pain of losing will impress the ones who come back.

It has been reported that the '97 success was in no small part a product of disgust with previous losses. The most recent losing team ('67) was disgusted with itself and became an 8-2 team the next year with substantially the same players.

We'll find out soon enough how well lessons are learned.