The Attitude of these New Michigan Recruits, etc....
So I felt like there was a major swing this spring with Michigan football. First of all, the idea when RichRod came to Michigan that we would have a bunch of fast thugs from the South. Of course, that is completely idiotic but I saw people thinking that and saying that everywhere. It was this idea of the quality of men Coach would bring into the school would not be as pious, etc...That is not the case, in fact, I would say that these recruiting classes, including just the handful of guys for the 2010 class seem like outstanding young men and I'm proud they are playing for us. Barring something crazy, that idea is dead.
Second of all, the guys who didn't "fit" or "buy into" the system are pretty much gone now. They have transferred out or quit the team and the players that have stayed have bought into the system and are ready to make this thing happen. In turn, I almost feel like you can see RichRod and the players look more upbeat and sound positive. Not all the pieces are there yet but they are getting there.
Third, the attention can now turn to football and getting better at it. No more drama. No more Lloyd leftovers. It is spread offense time. It is RichRod time. It is time to master this thing called the spread and work on filling out this defense (secondary/line).
I will be honest, for once as a Michigan fan it feels exciting to actually not just sit at the top all the time looking down at teams...but rebuild and restructure. It is a different time and although winning is nice, that will come. It did before us and it will after.
I think we will see some Lloyd-references still this year, as well as some "drama" as you call it. Not nearly as much as last, but it will be there. If RichRod starts winning, I doubt we'll hear about it, but in any case, next year will be HIS YEAR
Nice post, especially regarding your third point. How often was Rich Rodriguez attacked last year? Daily? Departures from the program (Boren, Mallet), his departure from WVU, lawsuits, bitter (read: maniacally moronic) WVU fans, national media, etc. etc. etc.
This year, the focus will be on the football field, which will be a welcome change. The shift in RR's attitude, excitement, and comfort level are almost palpable.
I remember questioning RR's understanding of the MSU/OSU rivalries last year; now, I think he saw the writing on the wall personnel-wise. I'm hoping that his upbeat attitude this spring will be a barometer for the team's success in the fall.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:34 PM ^
Agreed. Your post pretty much sums up my thoughts on this topic.
I agree with you whole heartedly! The number of participants at the spring scrimmage reflect the attitude of the Wolverine nation. I think everyone is upbeat and has faith that Coach Rod will get it done. I think that faith was rewarded by what we saw during the practice and I think the followers appreciated it. I agree with your thoughts on the recruits and thier attitudes; upon coach Rod's hiring and his thoughts on bringing southern speed onto the team, I had this vision that gold teeth would be in vogue at the big house.:) It was a happy revelation that they indeed have upstanding young gentlemen down south.
Go Blue!
I concur. There seems to be something special in the air at Michigan this year. Yesterday's pop and circumstance is the first step to creating a excitment for fans, players and recruits.
that something special in the air could be the lingering effects of the hash bash.
Dude, you so deserved a +1 for that.
I'm also impressed at the turnout yesterday. The fans busted RR's attendance goal by 10k--in spite of last years' "issues". That in itself says a lot about the direction of the program.
and it was easter weekend. probably could've had even more if it was this next saturday
I think that it's great that he brought back the alumni. It showed that he's definitely trying to understand the Michigan way and helped to ease over a couple of the mishaps from last year (tradition stuff, not game stuff).
April 12th, 2009 at 11:50 AM ^
It also doesn't hurt having 3 players from last year's Super Bowl there in front of all the recruits.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:04 AM ^
The only point I don't fully buy into is the first one. I am probably a lot more optimistic than most, but I didn't think for a moment that RR would bring in "thugs." For mlive and freep readers, I think the idea was "spread" by one or maybe two trolls masquerading as multiple posters, but I really didn't see that as a prevalent opinion among UM fans.
But I agree wholeheartedly on the speed thing. The standard of athleticism down here is a lot higher than it is up north. There are high school teams down here who I feel could compete for first place in the MIAA, despite the age difference.
Like you, I have noticed a lot of the players saying "everyone is buying in this year." That, of course, insinuates that not everyone bought in last year and that it was a problem.
I also agree with you that it is exciting to watch them rebuild. Under Lloyd Carr, the team had gotten stale. The game was passing him by, and he was utterly confused by the spread offense. Even in Carr's great final game, the defense really didn't stop Florida; the offense just outsocred them.
UM was well on its way to being a perennial 7-5 team last year before Carr "retired." UM needed someone to bring the program into the 21st century, and RR was a great choice. The only coach I have more respect for is Urban Meyer, and we really haven't seen what RR will be able to do now that he has access to elite talent. And RR didn't have a Chris Leak at QB to smooth his transition, either.
As long as there isn't another QB debacle this year, UM should go 8-4 or 9-3, with a chance to contend for the Big Ten Championship in 2010 and a chance for the NC game in 2011. These are great times to be a UM fan.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:06 AM ^
I agree.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:19 AM ^
We will not go 9 - 3 this year. I'm not trying to be a dick, and trust me, I'll eat crow for the entire winter if I'm wrong, but there are still some glaring weaknesses in this team. I think they make a bowl game, but thinking we'll go better than 7 - 5 falls into the same trap of thinking we would have an outstanding defense last year. Then again, predictions don't hurt anyone, so predict away.
Freshman QB + Oline is still a year away + Dline depth (it COULD be just fine) + Linebackers are, well, NOT up to snuff + Possibly starting a true freshman and a converted Cornerback at Safety
=
9-3?
That math doesn't work for me, I know it doesn't work for you with Musket.
There's maybe a 2% chance we hit 9-3. More likely we go 6-6 or 7-5.
Key point for everyone, while the offense will be a lot better than last year, the defense will more than likely be worse. They may not give up as many points because the offense won't be a 3 and out machine (I hope), but they are likely worse overall.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:38 AM ^
While he looked wonderful yesterday, Tate is still a freshman and he will make mistakes. The defense is under it's 3rd DC in three years, mistakes will be made. We've had some pretty good teams end up with 8-4/9-4 records in a Big Ten that wasn't so good as this one is expected to be. I count 6 games that will be a challenge, at least; for me, 7-5 is the worst record that I would accept as 'rebuilding'. We might go 9-3, hell we might even do better, but I think we should temper our expectations so that if we don't roar through the season we aren't going to be up in arms about it.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:52 AM ^
correction, tate will not make mistakes.
April 12th, 2009 at 11:42 AM ^
Tate doesn't make mistakes -- he prefers to call them "happy accidents," 'cuz that's when the play breaks down and he can improvise.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:20 PM ^
we will go 10-3 and compete for a big ten title this year and compete for a national title 2010 when RR pretty much has all his players. michigan schedule is weak so the only teams that we will have problems with is penn st OSU & wisconsin on the road
April 12th, 2009 at 12:28 PM ^
I hope you right, but I think you should lower your expectations just a bit. Maybe 6-6.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:37 PM ^
Anyone else buying wisky as the easiest road game this year?
Michigan state, Iowa and Illinois all on the road.
Wisconsin is horrible, bad recruiting, played terribly last year and don't have much to revamp with.
I'm pretty concerned about our first two games personally, Western has a ton of experience and a good team coming back, and ND might be decent this year with all of that talent. Not a good stretch to break in a new defense/qb.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:55 PM ^
There is no such thing as an easy road game, especially coming off of a 3-9 season. It will be extremely difficult to go into Madison and come out victorious with a true freshman QB as our starter. Don't forget that we've lost our last two games up there.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:59 PM ^
The thing that makes Wisconsin tough is their stadium, its a tough place to play a road game even if Wisconsin doesn't have a great team.
western will be a good barometer for how the rest of the season will be. talent wise, we should destroy them. western may be good for the mac, but they should not come in and beat michigan. i know i know 3-9 and all that, but this should be a much much hungrier michigan team than what we've fielded before. if we lose that game then its going to be a long season. if we can win and get some confidence going into notre dame, then this could be a fun team to watch. 8 home games is exactly what a young team needs. i think we win at least 6 of those games alone...9-3 might not be too much of a long shot. 8-4 is what we should expect.
Toledo?
Western beat Illinois.. and they aren't really bad considering the MAC is well, on its way up. So I wouldn't count that one..
the mac had a down year by all accounts, so i dont know where you seem to think its on its way up. and i said we still have a more talented team. to say that we're not favored to win that game doesnt make much sense.
let me clarify that i know there are upsets, things happen etc. but western 2009 DOES NOT equal utah 2008. and if you say toledo, then well, by that account you could say that to every team we play since with the exception of deleware state, every team we face this year will be much better than toledo was last year.
How exactly did the MAC have a down year, let alone by all accounts? Ball State went undefeated through their entire season and was actually ranked until the MAC championship, Western played Illinois to the wire, Toledo beat us and played Fresno State to the wire (and they were one of the worst teams in the conference; imagine if we'd played Ball State), Ohio gave Ohio State fits until the fourth quarter. Central was decent as usual.
I'd say the MAC had a pretty good year by all accounts.
And for the record, Western doesn't have to play like Utah did to win. The close score is a better reflection of how poorly Utah hung onto the ball in the second half than it was of our ability.
ball state went undefeated through the mac, that doesnt necessarily mean the mac was a good conference.
western actually beat illinois.
all the other games you listed(toeldo vs fsu, ohio vs osu), the team still lost.
and, even though i hate this type of stat, its pretty telling in this case: in bowl games the mac was 0-5.
Central Michigan lost to FAU
Northern Illinois lost to La Tech
Western Michigan lost to Rrice
Buffalo lost to UCOnn
Ball State lost to tulsa
you'll also notice that with the excpetion of an 18 pt lost to uconn, the other MAC loses were to other midmajors.
so yeah, i think you can say they had a down year.
Not expect.
i think we're all letting last year cloud our judgment. the fact of the matter is michigan is still michigan, and, overall, is fielding one of the more "talented" teams in the big10. one bad year does not change that fact.
8-4 might be very realistic. i think if last year's team had this years schedule, it MIGHT have been able to scrap together 5 wins. wmu is no utah. nd and purdue would be at home. indiana is a bottom feeder, much worse than northwestern. deleware st/toledo...ehhhh....
all im saying is this year's team has a plethora of more positives going into the season than last years. just naming a few: more solid oline, richrod year 2, denard + tate likely more competent than sheridan + threet, easier schedule, including 8 home games and a down year in the big10 (speaking of which, is any big10 team going into the year better off than last year. PSU, OSU, MSU, and even iowa lose alot of contributors)...
8-4 is where ill be setting my bar.
Is always a tough road game. Tough stadium.
Anyone who has been up there for a game can attest to this. Madison is a very loud place filled with alot of very drunk and very loud bratwurst eating fanatics. I've been to every stadium in the big ten, and Wisconsin is definitely one of the toughest venues (OSU, PSU up there as well).
I'm new to this board and I'm actually pretty upset that it took me this long to find it. I've been in the South since 2000 and I miss going to all the games and drinking beers up there with you guys, but I'm pretty happy to not feel alone anymore. This board is a godsend..It is hard being down here. Fans aren't students of the game like we are.