Pot, meet Kettle
I just finished reading Brian's most recent AOL entry about Lane Kiffin and one of lines in the post kinda resonated with me: "I dunno, I'd rather my head coach find a way to use one of the best QBs in the country than toss him away because he doesn't fit the mold just right."
I couldn't help but think that these exact words could have been applied to Coach Rod re: Ryan Mallet.
Note: Not trying to take a shot at Brian, it just seemed kinda ironic, don't ya think?
January 14th, 2009 at 8:51 AM ^
This story has been beaten to death...Mallett didn't like it here...he left. Rod did not tell him to leave like Kiffin.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:04 AM ^
Do you think RR kicked out Mallet to keep Threet at QB?
January 14th, 2009 at 9:09 AM ^
No, he made it clear to Mallett that Pryor was "his guy" and Mallett decided that he would be better off going elsewhere.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:24 AM ^
Even if he did make it clear that he wanted Pryor, so what? That doesn't mean Pryor would have beaten out Mallett or that Rodriguez wouldn't have put in pass plays that would have played to Mallett's strengths. He didn't yank Mallett's scholarship or tell him to go elsewhere. I guarantee you that if Mallett had stayed, we would have seen a different offense this year - maybe not better, but different.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:31 AM ^
Your last sentence is right on the money.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:26 AM ^
Mallett was leaving whether Carr was coach, or Rodriguez.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:30 AM ^
Mallett decided he would be better off going elsewhere the second RR was hired.
He was toying with transfering his first winter here... then during the season (even with playing time). His issues with the coaching staff were pretty well known, pretty much everyone close to the situation called him "uncoachable" and there was even the report that Lloydd threw transfer papers in his face.
RR really didn't try extremely hard to keep Mallett around, I don't think anybody would disagree with that. But at the same time mallett didn't want to be around. RR didn't run him out of town, or anything with pryor... it was a pretty mutual thing.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:30 AM ^
Mallett decided he would be better off going elsewhere the second RR was hired.
He was toying with transfering his first winter here... then during the season (even with playing time). His issues with the coaching staff were pretty well known, pretty much everyone close to the situation called him "uncoachable" and there was even the report that Lloydd threw transfer papers in his face.
RR really didn't try extremely hard to keep Mallett around, I don't think anybody would disagree with that. But at the same time mallett didn't want to be around. RR didn't run him out of town, or anything with pryor... it was a pretty mutual thing.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:23 AM ^
I'm curious where you got the "his guy" quote because Rich Rod definitely did not say it like you seem to be implying. Rod barely even had a chance to talk to Mallet (if at all) before Mallet decided to leave. The only quotes I remember from the situation were of Rod saying that he would try and fit the offense around the personnel he had.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:07 PM ^
If you are going to make a statement such as this you need documented evidence. Is there an article somewhere where Mallett said this, or are you just assuming?
I'm referring to Logan's post for the record.
January 16th, 2009 at 8:58 AM ^
guy? What is your source? What exactly was said in this meeting.
I have never heard this, as it is undoubtedly untrue. A head coach, calling a high school QB, who has NOT EVEN VERBALLY COMMITTED TO THE SCHOOL, "his guy" would be totally stupid. RR is not stupid.
If Carr stayed, Mallett was gone. That, I think, was a done deal after the "throwing of transfer papers" at Mallett during the season.
IMO, things got so bad between Mallett and Carr that Carr stuck with a totally ineffective Henne against OSU rather than put Mallett in.
Mallett somehow really reminds me of Jeff George, (physically, leadership and attitude-wise, and talent-wise)who played for Purdue as a freshman (and maybe sophmore) before transferring to Illinois.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:08 AM ^
For all those who HONESTLY believe that Rod really tried hard to encourage Mallett to stay at UM...I got a bridge in Brooklyn that you might want to look at.
Btw, Kiffin did not pull Boyd's scholarship. He was honest with Boyd and told him that he would not likely play QB at Tennessee and Boyd elected to leave. I have a very strong suspicion (admittedly, that is all it is, a suspicion) that a similar conversation occured between Rod and Mallett.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:45 AM ^
I've been looking for a bridge!
January 14th, 2009 at 8:53 AM ^
With all due respect to Brian, it's why he's writing for blogs and not coaching.
Let him go coach for awhile and let's see if he still believes that statement. It's easy to coach from a distance. We all do it.
January 14th, 2009 at 8:56 AM ^
How exactly did Rodriguez "toss away" Mallett?
January 14th, 2009 at 9:04 AM ^
Mallett was leaving anyway. No matter who the coach was going to be. Ziff72 is right. How many more times you want to beat that thing into the ground?
Therefore, there is no irony.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:58 PM ^
That is the general consensus on this board, yeah, but how do we actually know this? I'd love to believe that Rich Rodriguez didn't run him away, but as far as I've seen, there isn't much proof.
What proof is out there?
January 14th, 2009 at 9:22 AM ^
You sir, are a moron.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:27 AM ^
Witty rejoinder...touche'!
January 14th, 2009 at 9:24 AM ^
it's interesting to me, that you as a Michigan fan believe speculation that Kiffin's handling of the Boyd situation was on the up and up but that Rodriguez's handling of Mallett was dirty. Read Sharp much?
January 14th, 2009 at 9:25 AM ^
Maybe Brian was making a comment that using his personal experience as a Michigan fan, he knows how stupid Kiffin is being.
That isn't the pot calling the kettle anything, that's simply saying"I know, because my team did it and it didn't work." I think this quote sums it up best:
"Take it from a Michigan fan: one thing you do not want to do as a first- or second-year head coach is throw out a walk-on or freshman at quarterback."
January 14th, 2009 at 9:35 AM ^
You're right,Brian probably was indicating that Rod may have screwed the pooch, I should have come up with a better title for the thread...
I still find it laughable that so many people on this forum are belittling me and are absolutely CERTAIN that Rod didn't f*ck up with Mallett.
What decisions has Rod made this year that inspire people with this kind of unwavering confidence? His hiring of Shafer (DC in charge of the worst UM defense of all time)? His blatant "crony-ism" in bringing over "his guys" as coaches without really trying to get the "best and brightest" assistants available?
I want Rod to be successful because I love UM football, but I am not blind to the man's failings. So far he has proven to be a pretty big dissapointment. Still plenty of time to turn it around, but this first year was a failure of EPIC proportion.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:38 AM ^
"absolutely CERTAIN that Rod didn't f*ck up with Mallett."
And you being absolutely CERTAIN that Rod did fuck up Mallett is different.....because....?
January 14th, 2009 at 9:41 AM ^
Your last paragraph is such a bunch of bull shit. We've seen troll lines like that so many times here it isn't even funny. This season was only a "failure of EPIC proportion[s]" if you didn't pay attention to a damn thing all season long. There is plenty to be very positive about with this team and the coaching staff. We get it, you don't like Rodriguez (for whatever reason) and nothing is going to change that. Move on already.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:46 AM ^
But you are not adding in all the variables. Now I will give you the hire of Shafer was not exactly a good move, but it seems to have been more of personality clash thing rather than a philosphy. The D was the worst in history with a HUGE assist from the O. When ever the D hit the field they were behind the 8 ball to produce because offense sure wasn't going to.
Now the second part of the equation is EGO. RR believes his system is the best system. They hired him to run his system here based on the success of him running his system at WV. Now if RR wants to replicate the success he had at WV then he uses the same blue print and if this is the case why go out and get new coaches? It is the old adage if it is not broke don't fix it.
However, the said Shafer hire is a sign that he is willing to try a new method of success if he thinks the old one won't work. The firing of Shafer is another example of that as well.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:05 AM ^
Again, I think it's more ironic that you are absolutely CERTAIN(!) that Rodriguez was wrong (based on zero evidence) and Kiffin was right. What proof do you have that Kiffin didn't "run off" Boyd? Not that I'm saying he did, but it's basically the same situation, yet you choose to crucify Rodriguez but not Kiffin. Thus, moron.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:06 PM ^
last 2 highly rated recruiting class disagree with you, but what do they know, right (sarcasm)?
January 14th, 2009 at 12:30 PM ^
He brought over ever assistant he had from an 11-2 team that subsequently jailsexed OU in the fiesta bowl, and thats cronyism? There is a difference between cronyism and familiarity. When a coach takes a job, he's not going to hire an entirely unfamiliar staff just because they are the "best and brightest assistants" You hire guys you are familiar with because if the coaching staff needs to have a unified message, and that is difficult to accomplish if your staff is just a hodge podge of the hot names at the time.
You know why I think Rodriguez will be succesful, he has been everywhere he has coached. I think that the entire career of the man thus far trumps 1 season with a black hole at the QB position if you are going to look at predicting future results.
Finally, yes, Mallet was leaving no matter what. The only thing Rodriguez could have done to get him to stay was not get hired by Michigan.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:53 AM ^
Shit, someone has control of the CIP device.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:37 AM ^
Jack Bauer and Tony Almeida are on it!
January 14th, 2009 at 9:28 AM ^
Yeah, what Chris just said.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:36 AM ^
between Mallett and Boyd was that Mallett needed to be coddled. He wanted to be treated like a star and told how much the program needed him. Of course, RR's position was, if you are at Michigan, you should want to play for Michigan. If you don't want to play for Michigan, you don't have to. And as we all know, Mallett chose the latter so RR released him of his obligations to the university. Just like he released every other kid who walked away without restrictions. That is why fatty fat tom cat could pick up and walk down the street and play road block for da sour nuts. Now what I will say is that it was a clash of ego's between Mallett and Rodriquez. But RR didn't show him the door. He just held it for him as he left.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:43 AM ^
Exactly, and if it were a clash of egos that's a battle that the coach SHOULD win every single time.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:45 AM ^
same thing at Oakland. He didn't want Jamarcus Russell for the first pick, he wanted a pocket passer. He doesn't want to have to teach mechanics for his system. He's looking for a Matt Lienart type of QB, great throwing ability, good mechanics, and can escape if need be, not run because you can.
That's the main reason he got fired from Oakland, he didn't want to work with Russell. He wanted a pocket passer with a strong arm. That why Russell would be pulled out of games instead of sticking with him.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:48 AM ^
there are, and always will be, two camps to this debate:
Those who are informed. Those folks know that the worst kept secret during the 2007 season was not that it was Lloyd's last season, but that mallet had been pondering a tranfer, even as he started a few games, and that he clashed with his teammates and coaches regularily.
Did the coaching change help foster his transfer. Yes, because he was unsure he wanted to play here to begin with and pretty sure he didn't want to play for RR. RR tried to re-recruit him, but decided its the kids decision and since he did not want to be here, he could not convince him otherwise.
Then, there is the other camp of folks, who grumble about RR running off Mallet even though there are no facts to support that....who claim he told Mallet it was Pryor's job and he would warm the bench.....those are straw man arguments.
Ryan Mallet was transferring regardless of the coach. We were saying that during most of the 2007 season.
If anyone was surprised at his transfer, then they weren't playing attention and were not informed....there's nothing wrong with being a fan just on Saturday....hardly.....but try and get the facts before spouting off.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:53 AM ^
Bingo. Excellent post. Those who have paid attention know this and those that haven't been paying attention (e.g., the OP) don't know this. Which is exactly why the OP's entire premise is flawed.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:09 AM ^
Indeed. When it's known as fact that two people with as disparate personalities as Lloyd Carr and Mario Manningham have gone off on you and you don't seem to get along with either of them, your head coach and your #1 receiver, it's a pretty safe assumption that he didn't get a long with a whole lot more of the team and coaching staff as well.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:35 AM ^
I remember getting mad at Manningham when he was chewing Mallet's ass on the sideline. Then the more I found out about Mallet I was like "Ohhhh...I get it Super Mario. I'm an idiot. Carry on."
January 14th, 2009 at 10:01 AM ^
Put aside Mallett's personality or anything Rodriguez did for a second:
Rodriguez is a coach with a track record of running the all a lot, and asking the QB to run the ball a fair amount (even when he didn't have White, guys like Marshall ran for 400-500 yards a year, and King ran for 800). Mallett wasn't (isn't) that sort of QB. Why on earth would he have stayed? We saw how much Threet struggled.
My point is that Rodriguez didn't have to do anything, and Mallett could have behaved like a boy scout, and there would have still been ample rationale for him to leave.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:41 AM ^
I'll never understand those trying to decipher whether Mallett was pushed or not when the main point is that as a pure drop back QB, with limited mobility and no desire to run regularly he SHOULD want to transfer when Rich Rodriguez shows up to coach your team.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:45 AM ^
exactly.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:28 PM ^
Couldn't have said IT better myself. Whatever people think of Mallet the PERSON (he sounds like a decent kid who had reservations about playing for Carr after his freshman year, and saw the writing on the wall when RR arrived), the kid SHOULD have left considering the offense he was RECRUITED FOR was probably not going to be the one he was going to run. As they say, SQUARE peg in a ROUND hole.
January 16th, 2009 at 1:15 PM ^
Honestly, given everything that people close to the situation have reported, calling Mallett a decent kid might be a stretch. Word is he rubbed a whole lot of people on the team the wrong way.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:30 AM ^
My favorite defense on a message board is poster's opinion being subjected to criticism because he used definitive statment's like "RR ran Mallett off and didn't try to keep him at all". Then said poster defends his opinion by saying "you don't know for certain that's what happened". Yet, his statement implies certainty.
Ah! Hypocrisy, my one true love.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:49 AM ^
I suggest Mgoblog proceeds to implement "Tard Tests" before posters are given full ability to make forum threads and diaries here.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:58 AM ^
This is the ugliest type of troll behaviour. Instead of flaming Michigan this type of troll tries to start a fire from within. The trick is to profess your love for Michigan while at the same tearing Michigan down at every turn. They hide behind a mask in the hope no one will see they are only sowing seeds of discontent.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:38 AM ^
Yep. A dead giveaway on this troll is her response in the thread asking about LOIs and they way she framed her answer specifically toward OSU.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:05 AM ^
Listen I love MICHIGAN I have PLAQUES on the wall at Yost I'm just saying that ND is going to go 11-1 next year, OSU is unbeatable, MSU is dominating in-state recruiting, and I have A LOT OF RESERVATIONS about Rich Rod don't you think he is the WRONG hire and an EPIC failure I think we will never win a game EVER AGAIN don't get me wrong i love MICHIGAN and hope we do well but I think Rich Rod is a scum bag sleazy asshole who wouldn't be fit to coach a pop warner team and he pooped in Ryan Mallet's cheerios the day he was hired BUT I LOVE MICHIGAN I SWEAR
blueman is the worst offender of this type of trolling here currently
January 14th, 2009 at 11:19 AM ^
There is only one troll on this board but they go by many different names. His name: Ellipses Man.
(Dex shivers/lights cigarette/takes swig of whiskey)