MLive Crew
I have two requests for MGoBlog contributors at the MLive (http://www.mlive.com/forums/umfb/index.ssf) level. These are the people with posts like "THIS UNACCEPTABLE RICHROD BAD COACH HIM MAKE ME UNHAPPY!!!"
* Please vent over at MLive. You're lowering the level of discourse here. It hurts my head.
* Take a look here: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/alumni-tracker/school/1839 Impressively high number, correct? I strongly believe that success on the field is positively correlated with the number of future NFLers on the roster. My request: Tell me how many guys from classes of '05, '06, and '07 (i.e., guys in their third year at UM or beyond) will play more than two years in the NFL.
Hey, I'm not sold on Rodriguez, either. But I'd like to at least be fair to him.
November 7th, 2009 at 7:36 PM ^
Sadly, all of those guys are gone next year*.
We'll need patience next year, too. We don't lose much (i.e. hard-to-replace talent) following the 2010 season, so IMO, while I hope we're a middle-of-the-pack team next year, I don't expect this group is capable of challenging the top of the B10 until 2011.
*OK, I left off red-shirt junior Steve Schilling
November 7th, 2009 at 7:49 PM ^
I'll buy Graham and Warren as decent NFL players. Minor is a complete unknown because he has been injured for the bulk of the past two years, and you never know how that will translate to the NFL (he might get better medical care on a NFL team, or he might just fall apart). Brown has been better as a hybrid LB than a safety, but I wouldn't call him a revelation. He probably won't play in the NFL except maybe on special teams, and even that would be a stretch.
I think next year will feature a more experienced offense keeping the pressure on the other team's defense, and hopefully some slight improvement by the D. I do agree that 2011 would be the earliest this team could compete in the Big 10, but I guess I'm okay with that.
November 7th, 2009 at 7:49 PM ^
But the Big Question will be: What happens IF UM does not show progress next year?
This team may be right where a lot of people thought they'd be, excluding me--I thought this season would be a solid 8-4/possible 9-3, but I have to question those who are now wavering on 2010. I think there was pretty much a consensus opinion that 2010 would be The Year for a run at the Big Ten championship.
Now, more than a couple times I've said that the 2009 and 2010 classes better be really, really good--expecially defensively. If they are not--on the field as well as in our heads--well, I'm sorry, but 2011 is going to be pretty bad as well.
Right now we have a staff that cannot find a way to coach what they have. Are the young guys waiting in the wings, and are the recruits coming in, decidedly better? They'd better be, because now the People seem to be saying this staff is handcuffed by a serious lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball.
Shafer was scapegoated for last year--yet with a better offense that can score and at least move the ball and (I believe) has cut down on turnovers and three-and-oots, this year's defense stinks even more.
What's up with that?
November 7th, 2009 at 7:56 PM ^
To our M2Live Crew out there, if you're going to sing Me So Horny, you're lowering your own level of discourse.
November 7th, 2009 at 8:47 PM ^
are on Illinois and Purdue?
November 7th, 2009 at 10:08 PM ^
That's a good question and if I had a time machine I'd answer you.
Through my post I'm trying to make the point that UM may not be able to out-talent teams as it has in the past. We might still have a + margin that area. (I'm not sure.) But, it may not be as large as in past years.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:17 PM ^
with you that UM is not as talented as they have typically been (especially on defense). If we can't out-talent teams than we have to out execute them or out scheme them. I am not giving up on RR at all, but we are not doing either right now.