Interesting comments from Chris Spielman on Columbus radio. Very interesting because Spielman is a guy who really does know what the hell he's seeing out there, and he does not like it. Sure, he's a Buckeye, but you get the feeling in reading this that Chris has tremendous respect for the tradition of Michigan football and would genuinely like to see us rebuild a defense worthy of the rivalry.
http://detnews.com/article/20101123/SPORTS0201/11230413/1004/SPORTS/Chri...
Rebuilding the Rivalry
Always manages to undercut himself
I agree that Spielman knows what he's talking about, but he always goes a little too far and says things that don't make sense. Like this:
They're all great kids. I had a chance to meet with a bunch of them. They practice hard, they play hard, and they're tough, but it comes down to one thing when you're talking about playing at a high level like Michigan is used to playing at, and that's talent. And they have zero on defense. One kid, the Martin kid. Other than that, a lot of guys would be nice little subs at Indiana.
I mean that last part is just ridiculous.
That jumped out to me as
That jumped out to me as well. It's one thing to say Mike Martin is the only player on the defense who would start at OSU (pretty reasonable claim, IMO), but to say the others wouldn't even start at Indiana?? Not so much.
It's amazing to me how this
It's amazing to me how this board claims to be the "logical, well informed" segment of the Michigan fans, and then gets mad when a guy who knows ten times more about football than any of his says that our defensive players, on the worst defense in Michigan football history, who can't tackle, can't contain, can't keep up, can't make one stop, wouldn't start at Indiana.
I'm gonna go out on a limb. Martin would start at OSU or Indiana. Not one other player on our defense would start at Indiana today. Seriously how could you even question that?
Van Bergen, Roh, Mouton,
Van Bergen, Roh, Mouton, Demens and Kovacs would all start at Indiana. But other than that maybe could start at Central. Would kill for Nick Bellore though.
Ohio Stadium "10000 alumni and 74000 truck drivers."- Bob Ufer
Just to be sure...we're
Just to be sure...we're talking about the same Indiana defense that gave up 83 points to Wisconsin, right? Maybe there is some Indiana I'm not aware of.
Craig Roh and Kenny Demens
Craig Roh and Kenny Demens say wut up.
And Ryan Vanbergen
Just punched you in the mouth for leaving him out.
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
M-16
I'll stop at 6 since I'm pretty sure if I go any higher with the numbers you'll get confused.
This board in general does not put it's head in the sand and claim that we don't have defensive issues. We have huge defensive issues. Speilman's (and your) hyperbole lack any depth and real analysis. That is in contrast to the mounds of analysis that point to the real myriad of issues we have on our D.
So go away. Thanks, bye.
There is no need for #1.
There is no need for #1. Keep politics off the board.
Anyway, while Spielman's comment was a little over-the-top, his general point is taken. We aren't very talented on defense. Honestly, I'm not sure why Van Bergen and Roh are held in such high esteem here. They've been largely invisible this season. Mouton's a guy who I do think would have benefitted from better coaching.
Fair enough jmblue
Apologies if it offended you. M-16 got me riled up. He's a troll. And should go away.
Anyway, can you explain why
Anyway, can you explain why you think Van Bergen would be good enough to start for 75% of the teams in the conference when he's hardly been a factor for us? In 11 games, he has three sacks and 5.5 TFLs. Personally, I think he and Roh (who has 0.5 sacks) have been major disappointments this season.
RVH
I'm going by the UFRs and what I've seen with my eyes. I'm no Magnus, so huge grain of salt.
But he seems to do his job most of the time. In a 3-3-5 I doubt you'd see his position putting up sacks or TFLs on a regular basis. 3 sacks seems high to me actually given the way the defensive philosophy we're going with this year (passive and ineffectual).
I'm doubting he'd play at tOSU ever really. But he's the kind of player Wiscy and Iowa have made great D's out of in the past.
I agree with that about RVB
I could agree with that about RVB being the kind of great player Wisc., and Iowa make great Defenses but what does that say about our defensive coaching staff not being able to get that kind of great production out of them, and if its not his talent and its our scheme thats holding him back then once again what is that saying about our coaching staff if there scheme is with holding players from there full potential. I also read in another post a little above about Mouton if coached better....that again is not a good thing. By the way the last part not directed towards you just frustration sorry
BS--one practice and one game for Spielman
is more than enough to know more about our level of talent than every single person on this board--period. In fact he attended a couple practices in person. that is enough to decide on talent level. It's way more than enough to be smarter than both you and I put together. I agree with every single sentence in his quotes. And I'll trust his word more than people on this board who have studied it.
"Everyone gets dumped Gabe. Let me give you some advice: a little coverup on your Adams Apple will make it appear smaller. Which will make you appear less like a transvestite."
So....
Every great player who has ever played the game is also a great talent evaluator? Interesting perspective.
There is a difference between talent and skill. Our players are too young (and probably poorly coached) to have the necessary size and skill to be competitive in the Big Ten.
That doesn't mean they're not talented. Rivals, Scout, and ESPN would all agree that our D is more "talented" than all of the Big Ten outside of tOSU and PSU. We clearly need more talent infused into this team, but that's not the reason we're 112th in total D.
It's a ridiculous statement he made comparing our D to Indiana's bench.
Matt Millen
If you think that ex-players know more talent than anyone else (at least on this board), how do you then explain Matt Millen?
Because no one on this board
would do any better than Millen.
"Everyone gets dumped Gabe. Let me give you some advice: a little coverup on your Adams Apple will make it appear smaller. Which will make you appear less like a transvestite."
His major point, which I
His major point, which I agree with, is we have too many starters on D who should not be starters in the Big Ten. Other than Martin, Van Bergen, Mouton and Kovacs, we don't have kids who are physically ready to compete in the Big Ten.
I agree with you that they
I agree with you that they are not physically ready to compete. But I disagree with your interpretation of his claim. He claims that our players are not talented enough to be on a Big Ten defense. As if to say we should be recruiting different kids entirely, not that these kids need to grow. I guess that's really not something we can make a determination on right now, which is why I'm surprised that he goes so far with his critique.
Relative to OSU, we have no
Relative to OSU, we have no speed at LB, all of our freshman DB's would have redshirted this season, our D-line is woefully undersized, hell if we wanted to play a 4-3, who would we play on the DL? There is nobody ready to play, nobody.
Who cares about a 4-3?
We don't play a 4-3, why would you even bring that up? It's like saying, gosh, if we ran a pro-style offense, who would we even play? Completely irrelevant.
I swear, some of the comments this week are making my head hurt (more than normal).
Spielman's overall point is accurate, though. He's using this thing called hyperbole to get his point across. Apparently no one here is familiar.
You're missing his point
The point is we just don't have depth on the d-line. Pro-style vs. spread is way different than 4-3 vs. 3-4/3-3-5 or whatever you want to call it. Would you feel better if he said "take Mike Martin out of the lineup and there's no one to fill the void?" It's pretty much the same point.
We've played a lot of 4-3
We've played a lot of 4-3 this year.
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
They may suck, but no reason
They may suck, but no reason to call them douchebags, freshmen or not.
"But it is better to live here in sackcloth and ashes than to own the whole state of Ohio."
-- Lafcadio Hearn
Funny Thing
Last year the board was full of posts about how Kovacs is too small, too slow, too...you get the picture. Turns out he's the only non-lineman that can actually be depended on to make a tackle.
take out Kovacs and replace with Roh
We have a total of four decent players on defense...
Jordan Kovacs, I am sorry, is not one of them.
Are you aware that Kovacs has
Are you aware that Kovacs has more sacks and TFLs than Roh? And he's doing that from the bandit position.
The only reason I omitted
The only reason I omitted Roh, is because he is still somewhat undersized. In an ideal world Roh would be a redshirt freshaman getting spot duty in passing situations, biding his time before taking over as a starter in his 3rd season.
Rose-colored glasses
and the future of what will be: I think Roh, Demens, and Cam Gordon have a lot of talent. Ideally Roh wouldn't have had to play last year, and he'd be pretty damn good for a RS freshman. Kenny and Cam could have used another year as b/ups. Add back Woolfolk and Heininger and I think you have a couple more.
Next year, with a sound scheme, I believe they'll be much better.
Also
Courtney Avery and Carvin Johnson have shown flashes of this mysterious "defensive talent" that you speak of. Definitely potential at a lot of spots, but it's got to actually come to fruition, and who knows if that will happen, especially with a 3rd D coordinator in 4 years.
Black
I think Jibreel Black will be a stellar D lineman in the years to come as well.
I was just thinking the same
I was just thinking the same thing. Black has the potential to become a great DE in the next couple years, IME.
Kovacs
I love Kovacs and his story, but he is not "physically ready to play in the Big 10". He has linebacker speed in a safety's body.
Demens is a legit Big 10 player though.
His statements are a little...
...hyperbolic, but he's trying to be objectively honest and analytical. Plus, I think the guy knows a thing or two about defense, and defensive talent (or lack thereof) when he sees it.
He wants the rivalry back. He wants what we want: A high-level game with high-level players with an uncertain outcome.
Now we have what is very close to yet another foregone conclusion. (Another OSU win.)
We'll need a miracle of Biblical proportion to pull this one off.
ha i was just gonna quote
ha i was just gonna quote that...well i mean thats someones opinion...I just think that GERG and this scheme just dont work good together.
Life's a game of Inches
I respect Chris Spielman's
but how can ESPN allow him to do Michigan games? Stateing your opinion is one thing, but to blatantly disrespect the defense and make yourself look like an ass in the process is another
Hope the D makes him eats his words Saturday
"Look up, get up, and don't ever give up"
Spielman has called several
Spielman has called several Michigan games over the years. He's generally been very fair in his analysis. He would not insult our D just for the heck of it.
I think he is excellent during the games, however
it does not give him the green light to go on talk radio to bash the defense. As a commentator for college football, Spielman should keep his extreme opinions to himself during the games and after the games.
"Look up, get up, and don't ever give up"
He didn't say "all"--he said "a lot."
I'm prepared to agree with that.
"Everyone gets dumped Gabe. Let me give you some advice: a little coverup on your Adams Apple will make it appear smaller. Which will make you appear less like a transvestite."
Spielman
has made a lot of valid points especially at the end of the article in which he said that LC left the cupboard bare.
I love Spielman even if he
I love Spielman even if he did play at OSU. He actually wanted to go to Michigan, but his dad wouldn't let him. Still remember him doing the rugby dive into the endzone as a Lion. Can we hire him as our DC?
lager86
DC-No
LB coach...pretty please with sugar on top!
Heh, if he went to tOSU
just because of his dad, there are a book or three that are going to need a re-write.
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
I don't mind Spielman
but he basically said, "Michigan needs a better defense." Yeah...thanks.
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra
I believe it was an HBO
I believe it was an HBO documentary narrated by Liev Schreiber in which Spielman said that he told his dad he wanted to go to Michigan and his dad said no son, you're going to Ohio State. I love those Buckeye fans who unselfishly want what's best for their children and not themselves.
Not that I loved Rich Rod less, but that I loved Michigan more.
To be fair, it worked out
To be fair, it worked out pretty well for Spielman...
Yes. And I'm sure he would
Yes. And I'm sure he would have sucked had he gone to Michigan. Not that I care a whole lot, it is just annoying to hear when parents do things like that. I would be (slightly less than) equally annoyed if I heard a similar story about a Michigan fan being steered towards Michigan for the exact same reason.
Not that I loved Rich Rod less, but that I loved Michigan more.
I agree with what he says. We
I agree with what he says. We will continue to be bad on defense until the talent level rises. How that will be solved is IMO player development of kids on the roster. Talent is there, but not ready for the big stage yet.
Ohio Stadium "10000 alumni and 74000 truck drivers."- Bob Ufer
Wow
Definitely brutally honest and harsh on some of these kids (Indiana Subs). But the scary part is, he's mostly right with everything he's saying. I enver thought about this in the way he put it "They're all coming back next year. They're the worst defense in football, are you that excited?" That made me think for a second and got me depressed...Tear
If this doesn't get the defense up for this game, it's a lost cause.
He ought to be careful what he wishes for...
Let's Go Blue!
Touchdown Michigan!