It's not the scheme, not the inexperience, not the talent at fault.
It is simply, the fundamentals of tackling, angles, and assignments that are lacking. The biggest criticism of the coaching staff on defense has nothing to do with scheme. Youth and talent are a factor of course, but that is not where we fail. It is the simple fact that we cannot teach, for whatever reason, our players to tackle properly, pursue properly, and be disciplined. Coaches CAN teach players of mediocre talent and no experience to tackle properly. That is not a matter of opinion but fact. It happens elsewhere in the country on multiple teams. No one should have expected anything but a poor to mediocre defense this year. But we should expect players that tackle, pursue, and have proper assignments--regardless of experience and talent. I don't care what our scheme is next year, not one bit. I care that we have new defensive coaches who can teach fundamentals. Our coaches have failed miserably at that.
November 20th, 2010 at 2:46 PM ^
deleted.
November 20th, 2010 at 2:52 PM ^
For example they have just ran 25 straight times with nine people in the box and gaining five to ten yards a carry...no excuse. I just watched Vinopal have him lined up to tackle and fell at his feet.
November 20th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^
he's about 170 pounds trying to take down a 240 lbs train. I still have the image of him getting absolutely trucked by Royster when he tried to tackle high on his first run support opportunity.
November 20th, 2010 at 2:54 PM ^
In a lot of aspects this IS a coaching issue. GERG and RR are throwing way too many schemes at this defense. 3-3-5, 4-3, "4-4", 3-4 all with position switches by the week. It's sickening. I would prefer to run a base 4-3 with the simplicity of an 8th grade defense so they at least know where they need to be on most plays.
Again, to prevent negbang, I love Coach Rod. But GERG has proven basically nothing at the college level.
IIRC GERG was in charge of a talented defense basically keeping teams from catching up to the offense with the Broncos. That is his specialty...not being forced to run a scheme that puts the most players of our worst position group (secondary) on the field.
I'm no coach and GERG knows 1000x more than I ever will (I think), but this stuff is so irritating to watch.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:14 PM ^
Come on bro. "We're going to be multiple."
November 20th, 2010 at 3:02 PM ^
Completely agree. Harbaugh now, please. Forgive me, but 7-6 doesn't satisfy me, nor should it any Michigan fan. I don't care if we have to rebuild again, this is just ridiculous. Remember the days when we actually had legitimate hope that we could win every game on the schedule? Yeah, me either, and that's pretty damn telling. The Rodriguez experiment will soon be over, powerful alumni behind the scenes, who never wanted him here in the first place, will work their magic in the off-season. A 25+ point loss in the Shoe next week will seal the deal.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:22 PM ^
Hey dumbass, go somewhere else.
I have legitimate hope that we can win every game on the schedule next year.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:55 PM ^
I can see both NE and OSU beating us next year at home. Our defense would really have to improve by leaps and bounds to only have one loss next season. I'm hoping for an 8-4 or 9-3 record in 2011 with the defense making big strides through the season with a good DC who can coach!!!!
If we get a good DC, we should put it together in DROB's senior year to make a run at getting a BCS bowl!November 20th, 2010 at 3:26 PM ^
Sir, I really hope you just shut down your computer and go do something else the rest of the day.
We don't need your emotional reaction crap.
When you have gotten into the realm of rooting for Michigan to lose big so that we can get rid of a coach, you have gone off your rocker.
You are no longer a Michigan fan if you get to that point, and you sound pretty close IMO.
Go sleep it off.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:54 PM ^
I'm not rooting for them to lose, just pointing out the impending disaster. For the third year in a row we are going into an OSU game with no chance of winning and without anyone in our own fanbase thinking we have a chance(not counting hopeless, illogical homers). Last year, the Big House was washed in scarlet, which is a great indication of what this fanbase thinks of our coach. But apparently, everything is fine because the offense puts up yards and maybe scores a few points after we're already getting pounded and down 24. This isn't emotional, unless that emotion is the complete despair and hopelessness that each vintage Rich Rod Big Ten beatdown brings.
November 20th, 2010 at 5:28 PM ^
Of course you are not rooting for us to lose. You have just given us a 0% chance to win either of our last 2 games. Go root for another team.
November 20th, 2010 at 5:33 PM ^
...you can choose to eitherto be logical or be a Kool-Aid drinker. Jonestown showed wha happened to the later. I award the RR die hards no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
November 20th, 2010 at 6:33 PM ^
So you are giving us a 0% chance of winning a bowl game against an undetermined team also? You can go root for another team also. I hate what our fans have become.
November 22nd, 2010 at 7:56 PM ^
...honestly...Lions fans have a better connection to reality (hint: It doesn't matter what the team is when you perform as we have against teams that are even the slightest bit tough).
November 20th, 2010 at 3:26 PM ^
Sounds like you will be supporting tOSU next week. Or, ar least you will find an "upside" to a UM defeat.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:26 PM ^
Wait, we're 7-6?
Can someone tell me what I got for Christmas? I seem to have slept through it...
November 20th, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^
...beating OSU or whoever we playin the Insight Bowl? The answer is no.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:53 PM ^
I hope Dave Brandon unleashes the Pimp Hand real strong on you
November 20th, 2010 at 4:34 PM ^
When you're done being an irrational fan, come on back. Your arrogance is not needed at this juncture.
This was in response to Exmtroj.
November 20th, 2010 at 5:14 PM ^
Sadly, I may be one of the more rational ones here, much like I was a couple weeks ago when I suggested that everyone calmdown after the "big" win over an Illinois team that still hung 65 on us at home. One of the reasons that people get so pissed at me is because I'm just right, and people naturally get pissed when someone points out how bad their favorite team is. The rational fans understand that we have only beaten two teams with a winning record (and one of those was FCS UMass),and this Big Ten performance is pathetic. This is NOT Michigan football.
November 20th, 2010 at 5:31 PM ^
Just like you are NOT a real Michigan football fan. I am a rational fan and I think everything you just typed is complete horseshit. Your entitlement is disgusting. And if you were wondering, there won't be any room for you on the bandwagon.
November 20th, 2010 at 5:41 PM ^
My "entitlement" includes actual facts and statistics that any logical fan can look up if they so choose. Your similar "entitlement" as a "real" fan because you want to ride the Rich Rod bus all the way into a volcano is purely emotional. Go ahead and keep pretending this team is better off with Rich Rod instead of a coach who understands how to coach Big Ten football, you'll be rewarded with more losses.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:02 PM ^
Wisconsin ran all but one play the entire second half and our defense couldn't get them to punt once. (not) ONCE!!! In the entire half! All the defensive coaches should be fired yesterday. People who wanted to bring GERG back after last week: you're out of your minds and now you know.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^
Wow, GERG is really proving to be the perfect scapegoat for Rodriquez.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:33 PM ^
Who's Rodriquez?
November 20th, 2010 at 3:33 PM ^
What? Rodriguez is on notice. Unless the defense makes a leap next year he's gone.
November 20th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^
when you keep seeing safties coming up to make tackles on runs...that means the LB's are not doing there job. I believe it is the scheme...hence 3 down lineman 3 LBs and 5 safeties...
You cannot stop the run when you have safties coming from 10-12 yards back. Gerg has not developed these LBs at all...I just hate everything about the defense. Ya they are young bla bla bla...everything and everyone is at fault.
November 20th, 2010 at 2:59 PM ^
maybe it's a combination of the scheme, the inexperience, the lack of talent, and yes, the lack of fundamentals.
OVER-REACTIONARY GAMEDAY LOSS POST ARRRRRGHHHH
November 20th, 2010 at 3:09 PM ^
It didn't help that the Purdue punter thought he had all day to put his thumb up his ass before he got his punt blocked.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:13 PM ^
It has gotten to the point that a failed onside kick attempt is almost better than kicking the ball off, because the offense will get the ball quicker...if that doesn't speak to defensive FAIL on all levels, I don't know what does...
November 20th, 2010 at 3:14 PM ^
We were killed today, humiliated on defense. It's an insult for them to run the ball on every single play (save one) and for us to not be able to stop them once. How do you not adjust as a DC? Put in the four-man beef machine on the DL, Demens, Mouton, and Obi at LB, and Marvin and Carvin at safety. STOP. THE. RUN. Adjust.
That said, we don't have the players on defense right now. I begrudgingly agree with Spielman (who is awesome in Techmo Superbowl, btw--sack machine) that we just don't have the talent, size, and speed on defense to be a Michigan defense. Spielman said that RR is still recruiting WVU-caliber defenders, and that needs to change. For starters, you bring in an entire defensive staff with NFL credibility, with a history of sending players to the league, and you let them run the show on that side of the ball. Do that and we'll be in the running for the blue-chip defenders.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:35 PM ^
West Virginia is in the top five in the country in scoring defense right now. Yes, I know the Big East is pretty poor right now, but I'd take their defense in a heartbeat. What we need is competetent coaching for whatever level of defensive players we have.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:15 PM ^
Wisconsin has 19 starting seniors and is, right now, the more talented team. Sometimes we lose because of the things we do (poor angles, tackling, etc.). This week we lost to a better, more experienced team. Not much point of whining about angles when the better team clearly one. I do think it's very possible that next year we are the better team, though. Go blue!
November 20th, 2010 at 3:27 PM ^
No, we are years away from being able to compete well with a team like this. Honestly, with RR at the helm it's feeling more and more like we're becoming a year-in year-out middle-tier Big Ten team.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
Michigan is an average defense away from being able to compete with anybody in the country. I don't know how long it will take to get that, but it could be immediately if we get the right defensive coordinator in place.
November 20th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^
...9 wins next year. If our freshman have even ordinary improvement (remember, we're playing 9 freshmen in the rotation) we take a large step forward on D, that should be good for at least 2 more wins.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:38 PM ^
interesting point. now math time. wisconsin has at least 17 senior or redshirt senior starters. rich is in year 3 coaching and has 1 senior starter. considering players takes 4-5 years to become seniors then 5 minus 3 is 2 years that carr didn't recruit shit and coach rod is making up for that with still good but young players. don't be the moron who says rich is not out trying to get every top defensive player there is but it doesn't always go your way every time. is there one clear perspective on the state of the team inherited by rich on this message board?
November 20th, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^
only 1 senior? Shilling, Dorrestien, Banks, Patterson, Mouton, Ezeh (sometimes) are all starters.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:49 PM ^
i take the negbang as a resounding no.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:16 PM ^
for ushering in Mich first winning season in two years. The young guys comming up next year yes I see some great things they will be able to do. I'm not ashamed of the defensive effort this game Ironically the Offense put Michigan in a serious hole. Next year we'll be real good
November 20th, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^
Is that what Michigan has become to you? Just happy to have a winning season....
November 20th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
We should win 14 games every year. Obviously.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
Yah thats what it could be...
November 20th, 2010 at 3:20 PM ^
My balanced view is this team is getting better. The offense is prolific and top 10 worthy. I like what Rod is doing and I hope he gets the time. That said I think this is the worst collection of talent (defensively anyway) that we've had at Michigan since the 60's. Rich Rod has not recruited the defesnive side of the ball effectively and he is ultimately responsible for this failure. That is the truth. Rod is very fortunate to have Denard on the roster. Were it not for Denard it's possible Rod would be out of a job...
November 20th, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^
The lack of multiple NFL-talent upperclassmen on defense is not RR's fault.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:28 PM ^
But the ultimate production of the defense is.
November 20th, 2010 at 4:11 PM ^
Really? Still beating this dead horse?
No, it's not Rodriguez's fault that we don't have six NFL-caliber seniors on defense. Which is why no one is complaining that Rodriguez hasn't put together the best defense in college football.
It is on Rodriguez that we have, literally, the worst defense in Division I-A football.
November 20th, 2010 at 4:30 PM ^
Yes the offense puts up yards each game. But it consistently doesn't perform when the game is still close. Where was the offense early in the 1st half today when the defense was playing about as well as we can expect them to?
November 20th, 2010 at 8:40 PM ^
So RR is lucky that he found a diamond in the rough and developed said diamond to be in the heisman conversation in his sophomore year? This is the "our coaches suck and can't coach" thread, let's at least be consistent in our bi-polarness