Ominous (telling?) David Brandon quote in Rittenberg coverage of Defensive Staff Rumors
Rittenberg posts Rich's statement that the rumors about defensive staff changes are false. He also includes this quote from David Brandon:
Athletic director Dave Brandon isn't ready to share his thoughts on the Rodriguez-led program that has won just four of 20 conference games and 13 of 32 overall.
"I'll comment on the state of the program after the season," Brandon said Monday morning. "I know the coaches and the players are working hard to get better."
That does not sound like "Rich will be here for a long time" ... It sounds like there is a crack in the steadfast support. (Rich didn't look too comfortable Saturday night either.)
November 1st, 2010 at 8:50 PM ^
Is every school that fires an underperforming coach "another ND"?
November 1st, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^
"Another ND" only refers to schools who replace an underperforming coach with someone worse.
November 1st, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
"Another ND" only refers to schools who replace an underperforming coach with someone worse.
I would add "repeatedly" to that description...
November 1st, 2010 at 9:00 PM ^
If the OMGFRDKRODPLZ people get their way, the replacement would have to be a spread option coach, or it would result in another three years of poo. So, basically, they would be firing RR for a coach who learned his offense from: (drumroll please) RR. My point here is that they might as well keep the originator instead of hiring an imitator.
I find it ironic that a large portion of the fanbase is reacting exactly the opposite of how players are taught to react. Players are taught to keep their focus, don't get too low from losses, and don't get to high from wins. Many of us are definitely violating the "24-hour rule," too.
Anyway, there are four games left. All is not yet lost. Even in the face of such overwhelming "evidence," I am not ready to close the book on this season yet.
November 1st, 2010 at 9:11 PM ^
The fact that we've gone through "three years of poo" under RR does not necessarily mean we would under any coach. It's not even the offense that's been the problem. It's the side of the ball that he doesn't specialize in.
As for us fans reacting differently than players, that may have to do with us not getting a $200K education for being part of the program, but rather, being asked to pay large sums of money to keep the program going. We're investors in the program. It's reasonable to wonder where the dividends are.
November 1st, 2010 at 9:22 PM ^
I agree with your point that we need to finish out this season before we start looking for another coach. We're still 5-3, despite how dire the rest of the schedule looks. The defense is atrocious, but if we can get a few turnovers, this offense can keep us in any of the rest of our games, even against OSU.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:29 AM ^
Except - while they may have learned the spread from Rich, some of those other coaches actually field defenses in addition to the spread offense ...
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^
Also, while RR introduced the zone read option, it's now become a pretty commonly-run play across the country. It's no longer just his thing.
November 1st, 2010 at 10:22 PM ^
Put the knives down.
"state of the program" might also imply how well or poorly Michigan is after the season in terms of competing in the future. As a business, you might have a shitty 2009 (as many businesses globally did) for several reasons, not all linked to management. The real question is before you start handing out pink slips and looking for the greener grass (a new manager): Are you better or worse positioned to outperform the following year?
I hate to break it to the cliff jumpers, but these are business decisions more than anything, not emotional ones based on fan vitriol and the love of NFL-esque offensive formations and the No. 1 jersey. I'm glad it's Brandon in charge right now and not a Schembechler. In business, cooler, smarter heads prevail.
Will Michigan be bowl eligible? Odds are not good now, but they should be bowl eligible by beating the worst offensive team in the league - Purdue.
So about the future: How many starters on offense and defense return next year for Michigan? I could be wrong, but by my count I see 9 starters back on offense (loss of Dorrestein and Schilling), plus 2 returning QBs.
On defense we'll probably see 8 starters back (Banks, Mouton and Ezeh gone), plus a better situation at LB and the secondary. The DL will have RVB and MMartin.
That's 17 returning starters at least. Better yet if Woolfolk and some of the other walking Wolverine wounded return at 90-100%.
A 6-6 bowl eligible team with a shitload of experience starters back next year, plus the huge leap of offensive production never seen before at Michigan? I don't know man.
I understand it's UM and people are "fed up" with losing, but IMO Michigan has more to lose with yet another change in the football program.
People are slitting their wrist in Ann Arbor, but there's also 4 games to be played with two of them at home for Michigan. This pathetic defense could actually get "lucky" in one of these contests. Next to Purdue the worst offense in the league that Michigan has to defense is Illinois.
All this bellyaching by UM fans isn't going to affect how this team practices and works.
7-5 is probably where Michigan will end up. Not too far from original 2010 season expectations.
Put the knives down.
November 1st, 2010 at 11:11 PM ^
same as before the Penn State game. (One of them not being bottom dwellers Indiana or Purdue.)
RichRod will just have to do it the hard way.
IMO, Illinois is a better team than PSU, and methinks Illinois at home should be tougher than PSU away. The line however, has Mich a 3 pt favorite, (just like at PSU).
Those of us in the dumps probably find that hard to believe. But surprises do happen in sports.
November 1st, 2010 at 11:53 PM ^
This has to be one of the youngest defenses in the country, one of the best offenses. It took RR to tear down and rebuild the O and for many reasons the D fell apart much of which wasn't his fault. If the D improves next year and they will with age and experience the O will only get better, this team will get better, by 2012 should be top 5. To fire these coaches now would be stupid. RR's biggest mistake, practicing too long, why, he wants to get this team better and he is. I would think when they hired him they had to think 4 years minimum with the complete change on offense.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:39 PM ^
hoping this is related enough to the topic to be considered a reply, but has there been any substance to the rumor of Moeller coming back as a "consultant" that is currently running around gbw? i know i know....its gbw, and i haven't been able to find a link, but i figured if there were an answer to this question it would definately be here.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:52 PM ^
Along with Gary Moeller, I recommend that we bring other consultants back: Charles Woodson, Lamarr Woodley and Brandon Graham. And give them all uniforms. Except Gary Moeller. Who, at that point, would no longer be needed as a consultant.