Random attack (criticism) on Rodriguez

it sounds like a fabricated excuse to bring up RR. Since the whole Mallett thing came down, we've been hearing here that both Carr and RR lobbied him to stay, and that he was headed out the door before the coaching change. I wish we could factually settle this "RR drove Mallett away" thing once and for all. In any case, if Mallett simply refuses to stay and play for RR, that can hardly be blamed on RR. RR has adjusted his offenses from Tulane to WV depending on available talent before.

RE

This isn’t Rich Rodriguez going to Michigan and demanding the roster change dramatically for him rather than he change even a little bit for it.

If the posts here have been about anything for the past year, they have been about that UM barely HAD a roster when RR arrived; I don't feel like rehashing the litany again. The above assertion is, at best, sheer uninformed laziness and repetition of hack memes, and, at worst, malice.

I ditto the poster's assertion that inserting this dubious claim about RR in an article about Kelly is in fact "out of place."

It is kind of random, because Rodriguez and Kelly don't run the same type of offense. While both Lloyd Carr and Charlie Weis ran pro-style offenses (tight ends, fullbacks, occasional shotgun, etc.), Rodriguez brought in a run-first read option offense. That's not the same type of spread offense that Brian Kelly is bringing. He does run some read option, but that's not the whole centerpiece of his offense. Of course Brian Kelly can adapt Notre Dame's personnel to his offense - all he's doing is adjusting Weis's shotgun passing game.

(That's an oversimplification, but not an egregious one.)

Besides that, the continuation of the Mallett-was-forced-out idea gets old after awhile. It's not like Rodriguez wanted to be stuck with Nick Sheridan and Steve Threet, two guys who are somewhat statuesque AND worse passers than Mallett. Mallett was headed out the door anyway, whether it was because Mustain had transferred to USC or simply because he didn't think he would fit in Rodriguez's offense. Media continue to blame Rodriguez for Mallett's departure when, in fact, Rodriguez had very little to do with it.

I doubt anyone will be saying that Brian Kelly forced out Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate.

You forgot green relish and a pickle spear (it is SEVEN condiments).

Also, it has to be on a steamed poppy-seed bun.

(not that I'm obsessive about or anything...)

I think it took huge balls and was really kind of a dick move of RR to assume that when he was hired he would coach the way he knows how to coach and had been coaching for 25 years.

What he should have done is polled all season ticket holders and asked them for their input on what he should do. This would have meant that fans would have had some buy-in and therefore would have been perfectly happy with 3-9 and 5-7 seasons.

It just shows you that when you take a new leadership position like head football coach you should undercut all of your strengths and kowtow to the whims of people who know nothing about your profession.

Lesson learned, I guess.

that Wetzel didn't write about MSU and Dantonio is because no one gives a shit about Michigan State. Everyone knows about Michigan.

RR and UM as random fuck objects

stated.

They're not subtle, and they're not underhanded.

The national media see one thing: FAIL. They aren't UM students or UM message board guys. They're detached and they look at this situation objectively.

And what they see is a guy who needs Hizz Playerzz and simply cannot win unless he has them.

Oh, and a legion of excuse makers at his back.

Well said Don. Michigan beat the hell out of pretty much everyone else for so long that people want to see the fall. There is that whole envy factor as well...Big House, AA, getting a degree that means something...

Look at the recruiting this year...it won't be long. I am certain that RichRod won't mind running up scores in future.

Goddammit, why can't it be September already???

Another losing season and UM will have a new head football coach for 2011.

Traditional West Coast offense, circa Bill Walsh: two rb, 1 te, qb under center, short passing game, high percentage, heavy reliance on slant to wr as primary route, with rb's as underneath routes on most plays, usually in the flats, but sometimes as circle route options, depending on blitz or not. The base set it's run out of is a big difference. Note that I am not referencing the "Air Coryell" offense, which may be/may not be thought of as West Coast. Also, I know Jack Elway supposedly invented it (John's dad), but am not informed as to the base formations of his original offense. But, the Bill Walsh offense, which was the most successful W.C.O., and most widely known, has a "pro style" base, and is still run in the NFL by many teams. (Eagles, Vikings off the top of my head; 90's Packers- early 2000's Packers as well.)