Lemming endorses our recruiting class, and Rodriguez
If you don't want to click the link, Tom Lemming says that this recruiting class is "exceptionally athletic," with "athletes at every position, even the punter is an athlete." He also stated that "he's (RR) getting help at every position, and they're all guys that can run," and "with athletes like this, it's a no brainer that Rodriguez will turn things around."
http://www.freep.com/article/20100127/SPORTS06/1270402/?imw=Y
Opinions are mixed about Lemming, but I've seen enough from him in the past to be of the opinion that he is a pretty good judge. During these times, we need all the praise we can get.
January 27th, 2010 at 7:58 AM ^
Kiss. Of. Death. This is like jamiemac saying something is a sure thing. We're doomed. Anyone shorting Ann Arbor Pitchfork & Torch should except a margin call as soon as the market opens.
January 27th, 2010 at 7:51 AM ^
Ringing endorsement? Must be an expert, I think.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:22 AM ^
Great. Now I can sleep at night.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:44 AM ^
to hear someone talk about this class in terms of their abilities and how that fits what RR wants to do. My favorite thing about his program is that he has a concrete plan and he knows what he has to do to get there. This team has taken a slow turn-around for this metamorphosis, but great change takes time. He is turning one of the biggest, slowest Big Ten teams into the quickest, fastest one. The speed is something you can't teach, and we have got it all over the field. This will help most at the second and third levels of our defense.
January 27th, 2010 at 9:40 AM ^
We were not one of the "slowest Big Ten teams" under Lloyd Carr.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^
I have a feeling the Gators circa 2007 might disagree with your assessment of our team speed.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:25 PM ^
It made me sick to my stomach the way Wisconsin manhandled us. Speed is good, but size at certain key positions is equally important. I like Lemming's assessment but it doesn't mean anything if the recruiting up to now doesn't translate into wins in a hurry; I'm not to confident of Coach Rod's status if year three is a failure.
January 27th, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
Wisconsin manhandling us had more to do with the fact that our secondary was awful than it was our team "size". When you can't trust your safeties and you have to play far off the LOS just to prevent the deep ball it doesn't help your run defense very much. Oh and the MLB's inability to prevent the TE seam didn't help either.
Once we have competence back in the secondary, I think teams like Wisconsin are going to find it a lot more difficult to try and ram it down our throat and win. Ohio State is another team that might run into trouble trying to play Tressel ball against us down the road...
January 27th, 2010 at 8:59 AM ^
I said last year after the first couple of games that this was the first time that my impression of Michigan was "FAST!" This class is going to add to that. Rodriguez obviously feels like he can teach the rest.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^
...after the first four games? Because it didn't look like we were out "atheleting" anyone after that..
January 27th, 2010 at 9:58 AM ^
Tom Lemming isn't very good at his job. He's "famous" because he was one of the first - if not THE first - guys to do what he does.
He's like the guy who invented wiping your ass with a leaf. It was a novel idea at the time, but nothing compares to Charmin.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^
Zoom in a little more.
January 27th, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^
Or in this case do you agree with him even though he's "bad at his job?"
And nothing beats Cottonelle with Aloe.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:26 PM ^
I like your thinking but actually nothing compares to Pampers Baby Fresh.
January 27th, 2010 at 5:47 PM ^
Northern Quilted Ultra (the purple package). Much better, IMO.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:08 AM ^
Wonder why the change. He used to love Michigan, and then seemed to hold some grudge against Rich Rod. Now he's flip-flopped again. Cybil, anyone?
January 27th, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^
He was the one on the Army All-American game giving info on the players, I would think a high profile game like that could get any recruiting guru it wanted.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:11 PM ^
Tom Lemming basically started the Army AA game, and for a long time was THE guy to pic the players for it. He still plays a major role in who gets chosen. It's not like the Army AA people were going to pick anyone else.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:35 AM ^
Every 'pick' series I've done here or at the JCB has had a winning record and pulled a profit.
I'm not an expert. Nor the best at what I do. But, I am hardly the kiss of death. Start fading me, I guess. We'll see how that works.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:55 AM ^
Maybe I will FADE you, SIR!
January 27th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^
for using early '90s Death Row terminology like "fading"
January 27th, 2010 at 10:45 AM ^
lemming is creepy, but good at recognizing talent.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^
Hmm, anyone remember what Lemming predicted at the beginning of last season? I tried to find it and failed, but I seem to remember him thinking we would go 6-6 at best, but more likely 5-7. Interesting that he thinks we're now on pace for an inevitable turnaround.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:36 AM ^
Maybe he's a witch. Or a warlock, I guess. In any event, that would explain a lot.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:02 PM ^
Lemming makes season predictions? I thought he was just a recruiting guy.
January 27th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^
I do think our class is athletic and fast, but it doesn't take a genius to see that. We have 1 offensive lineman, a ton of defensive backs and receivers, Josh Furman, no nose tackles, and some undersized defensive ends. We're bound to be athletic and fast.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^
We've got athletes, but can they play football? We seem to have a lot of "projects" in this year's class. Guys like Jake Ryan and Josh Furman who are going to need a while to bulk up and learn a new position in college.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:33 PM ^
Isn't he the guy that rated ND's classes in the top 10 every year since 1990? He isn't the best judge out there anymore, which is why I think he's been largely marginalized by Scout and Rivals despite being the original recruiting guru.