Recruiting Rant

Submitted by backusduo on

A week after talking a solid 3 star DB out of signing with us we follow that up with a marginal (as soon as we saw he was a white boy playing receiver we knew that) 3 star recruit that only has one other choice, Stanford? Really, that is the direction we want to go? Out of our 20 recruiting class we are going to have 4 good WR, and 4-5 marginal WR/RBs, 2 QB's, and a small assortment of others? Really? Again we have to remind Belein and Rodriguez that they are at a major university. Maybe even a top 5 University and penciling in just anyone who actually has their picture on Scout/Rivals is not satisfactory. Look at what those losers in Columbus are doing? They have a ton of kids begging for a scholarship offer right now, but they are going to make sure every 4-5 star they can wring out of this recruiting class signs first, and then give the 2nd string a chance. 150 scholarship offers out there, Really? What happens when all we have signed is the 130-150 of that list, and we don't have room for the top 130 that actually have people competing for them, so they can't make a decision yet. Someone call Torrian Wilson and ask if he has a little brother we can recruit in a couple years, because by the time he gets around to selecting a school, because he actually has alternatives, the best we are going to be able to do is preferred walk-on status. Really, Torrian, we can sign you as preferred and if you play your cards right you may get a scholarship by your Sophmore year, Really.

Comments

Tater

May 1st, 2009 at 12:04 AM ^

Uh, and JB, too.

I think their coaching records speak for themselves and they know what they are doing. I don't judge most head coaches until they have had a few years to bring their guys in. Ideally, you shouldn't judge until the fourth or fifth year when the coach actually has seniors that he brought into the program.

Of course, "ideally" doesn't always work.....

BigM

May 1st, 2009 at 12:21 AM ^

There is definite reason to question the recruiting system that RR is using, it isn't anything like previous seasons, minus last year. Just looking at the alternatives these early commits have it is not surprising they committed.

Best case the commits are the perfect fit to fill out the new system and are able to help the team regularly compete for the big ten title maybe in 2010.

Worst case, we get all these commits and they don't improve the team enough and after 2010 are looking for a new coach. Which leads to another new system without the right players.

That worst case has more far reaching consequences and there is definite reason to 2nd guess what is currently going on because its not what has been common for traditional Michigan football.

Starko

May 2nd, 2009 at 1:48 AM ^

the kids being recruited now are highly unlikely to make a significant impact on the outcome of the 2010 season. they will be true freshman. If we win or lose in 2010 it will be because of this year's and last year's classes. If you think 2010 is going to make or break RR's Michigan career, (a) you're probably wrong and (b) the dye has been cast and this year's recruiting has little or nothing to do with it.

jg2112

May 1st, 2009 at 12:33 AM ^

...has it ever occurred to everyone that in the context of the players they currently have on the roster, the kids that may be in the pipeline, and the kind of team that Rich Rod wants to assemble, that he's getting exactly what he wants right now?

Honestly, will anyone here care one bit about the current composition of the recruiting class if the remainder of the class contains 3 stud offensive linemen, Gholston, 2 defensive tackles, one more linebacker, Cullen Christian, Lo Wood, Ifill, one more stud running back, and another quarterback? That's eleven more kids. Add a surprise in there, and boom, you have a 22-member class. Add the 8 or so preferred walk-ons Rich Rod will bring in, and again, I'll ask everyone here why they're worried about a recruiting class with 10 verbal commits, after a 3-9 season, 9 months before Signing Day.

CALM DOWN EVERYONE.

jwfsouthpaw

May 1st, 2009 at 12:41 AM ^

This post actually angers me. "Again we have to remind Belein and Rodriguez that they are at a major university."

And apparently we have to remind you that RR has coached teams to BCS bowl wins, whereas you have not.

And are you seriously complaining about Belein? The man who finally brought Michigan back to the dance after a decade-long hiatus? Fail.

backusduo

May 1st, 2009 at 8:28 AM ^

I do like to stir the pot, so I'm glad you responded, but I hope I haven't caused you to boil. I was looking for more of a smirk. As for the boys being at a Major University, while I'm a complete Belein and really even Rich Rod fan, Belein did what he did with great coaching and two kids that probably wouldn't have been recruited by him. He isn't exactly racking up the 4 star talent out of Detroit right now. Having said that, I think the testimony of having Manny and Deshawn stay and brag so much about him may help open up that door.

As for the "major university" comment, I refer you more to the end of my bloy. 150 scholarships, and right now all we are getting is the 150-100 recruits signing ASAP, because this is a better offer then they ever dreamed of, and their other options are the Division II teams that we are clamoring to put on our schedule. That is a problem. There is no reason to have half your class done with marginal 3 star guys, that haven't even taken the field for their senior year. Collect the studs, but wait to see if these players materialize in their senior year, before offering. I promise Dijion will be available still, or will switch if Michigan calls him out of Southern Louisianna Tech. Finally speed is the answer. Have you all seen the Raiders? Enough said.

jg2112

May 1st, 2009 at 11:19 AM ^

.....that Rich Rod will do the "push away" on these kids this year. Maybe he's getting the players he wants.

Or, maybe you're right. Maybe he's locking kids in now, and then Michigan goes 10-3, and then he can lock in Dunkley, Luc, and Henderson.

And I ask you, either way - so what? What does integrity have to do with college football? A system that decides its national champion based upon the open politicking of the coaches of the teams involved, and the journalists who cover them. A sport whose fans obsess about the star rankings that its 16 year old recruits obtain, and then whine when its team doesn't have enough five stars.

Set integrity aside. Just watch the games and enjoy the team, including all those three star and lower recruits which you seem to abhor.

jg2112

May 1st, 2009 at 9:12 AM ^

Why the reference to testimony?

What's a bloy?

Should we ask Ricardo Miller, Devin Gardner and Marvin Robinson how it feels to be a "150-100" recruit? Do you consider them to be "marginal 3 star guys"?

Who is Dijion?

Finally, I have no idea what you're saying about speed and the Raiders.

All in all, your post is incomprehensible. The parts I can comprehend are poorly thought out. If you don't think that these kids are worthy to play at Michigan because of their position/race (which is awful) or because some third-party didn't give them enough stars for your liking, go support USC or LSU instead. I'll support the players who Rich Rod brings to the school.

Seth9

May 1st, 2009 at 1:41 AM ^

These recruits have not even entered senior year. In many cases, we will see their stock rise and fall, depending on the individual. Furthermore, Rivals and Scout have not conducted any real analysis on many of these guys, which is why they don't have a rating.

Furthermore, RichRod only recruits players that fit his brand of the spread offense. I think it's fair to say that he evaluates players that fit his system well better than Rivals and Scout can or will. All the evidence I need for saying this can be found by looking at two-star dual threat QB Pat White. It's fairly safe that RichRod is getting offensive recruits early because he's extending offers to system players who aren't that highly rated in order to get much needed depth at those positions (particularly WR and RB). That way, he can concentrate more on major talents during the season and not have to worry about filling out a class.

Also, to preempt any comments about RichRod not having Travis Williams commit yet, note that he is a cornerback and thus not a role player. Filling out depth there is important, but I honestly don't think we really need him in particular if we can count on Wood and Christian. That said, if this is the case, we shouldn't have offered him, not because it's a poor strategic move, but because it is classless to extend an offer to a kid and then withdraw it because you wind up getting better. That is what you call the Nick Saban approach.

Starko

May 2nd, 2009 at 2:03 AM ^

is correct. Everyone please read his post and learn from it.

I find the arrogance of some who post on this site (as well as on scout and rivals boards) utterly astounding. Criticizing play calling or on-field performance is one thing, because on-field performance and winning is the end. Recruiting is not the end, but a means to an end, and it cannot be known until years down the road whether recruiting decisions were good or bad.

So, go ahead and second guess a third-down draw play that gets sniffed out for a loss. But to criticize the recruiting strategy of a coaching staff who has not only won BCS games and developed a revolutionary offensive system that utilizes unique types of players, but who has BROUGHT IN TOP 10 RECRUITING CLASSES the past two years is indefensible. You are ignorant and arrogant, and you should stop posting your brain diarrhea on the god damned internet.

PhillipFulmersPants

May 5th, 2009 at 10:03 PM ^

Thank you. I have read Seth9's post and indeed I feel edified.

Sorry to quibble but "winning" is the only end here. Like recruiting, on the field performance is yet another means.

Also, with all due respect to your humility, omniscience and tip-top brain stools, if you take away a man's right to argue about the hypothetical future performance of high school juniors who have yet to sign a LOI, you take away his sustenance, my friend--his very life blood (at least until fall camp rolls around). Let them live, I say. Let them live.

Starko

May 8th, 2009 at 12:31 PM ^

not so. winning by another means besides on-field performance would be entirely unsatisfying, so I would argue that the two are inseparable. If we win without recruiting the top players, great.

also, noting another's arrogance or ignorance does not imply my own humility or state of being well-informed, much less omniscience.

Magnus

May 1st, 2009 at 1:48 AM ^

a) Dileo had more offers than just Stanford.

b) Wes Welker and Tim Dwight want to have a word with you. Also, if Drew Dileo ends up having a career like Eric Peterman, I don't think any of us will be complaining. Let's leave race out of the equation and talk about, you know, football.

allezbleu

May 1st, 2009 at 3:01 AM ^

i'll only begin to be disappointed if we start offering guys like Dileo on the defense or the o-line. other than that, let RR do his thang

cfaller96

May 1st, 2009 at 10:43 AM ^

Shithead pie

Ingredients:
Pie Crust (homemade or store-bought)
Animal Feces (dog, cat, chicken, bull, etc.)
The head of Backusduo

Instructions:
Evenly stir animal feces into the pie crust. Place backusduo's head into the middle of animal feces. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes, or until Backusduo quits being a whiny bitch.

Serve by throwing entire pie, along with this "diary," into the trash can.

The Nicker

May 1st, 2009 at 12:00 PM ^

"And I ask you, either way - so what? What does integrity have to do with college football?"

Well, to many U of M alums, a lot. And I'm not even that old!

We don't want to be a school that offers kids and then turns them away at the end of the process. Sure it's not as bad as overstocking classes and cutting kids on scholarship at the school, but it's still a shady practice with which the University shouldn't be associated.

I mean, Christ, OHIO STATE DOESN'T EVEN DO IT. And if they're not doing it, yet, we need to stay the hell away from it.

sharkhunter

May 1st, 2009 at 12:01 PM ^

Let's wait and see. I was a little surprised at the commit but RR seems to be getting depth at slot and a return guy, hopefully this kid is the last of the WRs type class and the recruiters move on, its OK to wait and see, plenty of time, but hopefully other WRs won't start to decommit.

dundee

May 2nd, 2009 at 12:14 PM ^

i agree we'd all love to get mostly 5 stars just cause we're Mich. but that can't be expected. so for all the whiners out there about RR recruits i just have a question. 1. how much film have you guys seen on the recruit? 2. were you there for the Mich. camps that some of the recruits went to. 3. why do you give Rivals ,Scouts, and even Espn recruiting stars so much love and respect? they had Mr. Ezeh ranked as a 3 star rb on one of those site not the linebacker he is now. let's wait til the end of their respective senior years in school before you start whining like lil school girls about RR's recruits.

MC Hammer

May 2nd, 2009 at 7:19 PM ^

Other than Dileo, everyone who committed was at least 3*. If there are 10 3* in the class, I can live with it. That's par for the course for Michigan recruiting.

Stop romanticizing recruiting under Lloyd Carr. His classes contained just as many 3* as Rodriguez' have. And we also know that recruiting sites tend to devalue his type of recruits because they don't fit the mold.

Relax. It's May.

michiganfanforlife

May 6th, 2009 at 12:04 AM ^

The fact is that Michigan will have a top ten class again this year. RR is the first coach we have had in a long time that has a specific vision for every position on the field. If you don't fit the mold, he doesn't want you in the system. I really like that he has a concrete idea, and that he goes after it aggressively. A major factor in the success of a football player at any level is whether the coach uses the skills that particular player has to his schematic advantage. Just because RR's tactics aren't "the norm" doesn't mean anything. In fact, his innovative ideas and style is what got him to a top Div. 1 program in the first place. Why don't you worry-warts un-bunch your little panties and take a deep breath? Just sit back and watch this guy build a dynasty. We get the pleasure of watching the process take place. In year two things click for RR's teams, and this year is the year of Tate. Hail to the Victors, baby. Go Blue!!!!!