RichRod Discusses QBs, Beilein Discusses Summer in Europe

Submitted by MGoShoe on

RichRod talks about the quarterback competition at the Big Ten meetings.

Michigan’s quarterback battle seems destined to drag late into fall practice, and coach Rich Rodriguez doesn’t mind the competition one bit.

Rodriguez reiterated at the Big Ten spring meetings Tuesday that incumbent starter Tate Forcier and fellow sophomore Denard Robinson are neck and neck atop the depth chart.

“It’s wide open, it’s not just coach speak,” Rodriguez said. “Denard and Tate are right there battling for it. Denard made a lot of steps in the spring and then Devin (Gardner) coming in for the first time did pretty well. He’s still behind the guys, which you would expect because it’s his first spring. But it’s going to be an interesting battle.”

“I thought they did a pretty good job as true freshmen, but our expectation in their second year are a whole lot higher,” Rodriguez said.

So how does Rodriguez see the quarterback battle shaking out?

“I don’t,” he said. “What I hope it does is elevate all of those guys, and if all of them get elevated because of the competition within each other but still understand the team concept then it’s all win-win.”

Prediction based on flimsy evidence: Coach Rodriguez will employ a more deliberate quarterback rotation system in 2010 to get Tate and Denard a more equal number of snaps.


Meanwhile, Coach Beilein put out a little more information about a possible European tour this summer for the men's basketball team. Beilein said:

...he expects to make an overseas trip with his basketball team this summer.

"We’re working through some of the possibilities there right now," Beilein said from the Big Ten spring meetings. "We can get games, it’s where we can get them because the Italian leagues are just finishing, the German leagues are just finishing, the Belgian leagues are just finishing. It’s hard to get a coach to make a commitment for Aug. 23, so we’re working. That’s what we would like to do."

Beilein said Michigan would have to travel overseas the week of Aug. 22, after summer semester classes are finished but before the fall term begins.

Prediction based on flimsy evidence: LLP does not get a fifth year and Michigan signs a European player in the 2011 recruiting class.

BiaBiakabutuka21

May 18th, 2010 at 10:23 PM ^

I have to say you have become one of my favorite posters.  Always providing really good free content with links and block quotes.  Gotta give credit where credit is due.  Thanks.

Crime Reporter

May 18th, 2010 at 10:31 PM ^

Good info. I appreciate it.

I think Rodriguez is being honest when he says the competition is wide open. Hopefully, it brings out the best in everyone this year.

Doug Sir Swish Remer

May 18th, 2010 at 11:53 PM ^

I smell a Tate Forcier transfer in the future if he losses out. He is not gonna take Denard starting or getting half of the snaps lightly. Kinda sucks for Tate if he losses the spot because he doesn't have a fallback position like Denard has. I'm still not convinced Denard is the guy. His spring performance didn't say much because our second string defense is horrible at best.

HAIL-YEA

May 19th, 2010 at 2:36 AM ^

Although when a coach says "it's not just coach speak"  my 1st thought is...coach speak

But this season sure will be fun if Denard really is devolping as a passer.

Sven_Da_M

May 19th, 2010 at 6:49 AM ^

... and it makes sense at this point.

My prediction based on no evidence: RichRod knows his prime QB this year, and it's Denard.

He will rotate QBs for the first few games and use an increasingly large part of the playbook as the season goes on. 

Unless he has to open things up faster to win, such as against ND.  We HAVE TO beat the Irish and that pompous ass Kelly this year. And then tell them we're terminating our contract unless they join the Big Ten!

Tate may get a lot of PT, but Denard is the X-Factor with this offense.

Blazefire

May 19th, 2010 at 8:19 AM ^

My prediction based on no evidence: RichRod knows his prime QB this year, and it's Denard.

So wait... I'm a little confused, I guess. Your prediction, based on no evidence, which you seem greatly assured of, is the exact opposite of what the coach just swore was  the absolute truth? And does he operate this subterfuge mill regularly, or just during the off season?

Excited to hear about the European game. I wonder if most of Europe has any idea, at all, what the University of Michigan is?

MGoShoe

May 19th, 2010 at 10:05 AM ^

...is this will be a week long trip with 2-3 games.  As with everything, the NCAA has rules that govern foreign tours.  The first thing to know is that games played during foreign tours are not counted toward the maximum number of contests.  Here's the excerpt from the the NCAA Div-I Manual that covers this:

17.3.5.4 Foreign Tour. The games played on a foreign basketball tour shall be excluded from the maximum number of contests, provided the tour is conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in Bylaw 30.7 (see Bylaw 17.29). (Adopted: 1/9/96 effective 8/1/96, Revised: 1/12/99 effective 8/1/99, 4/27/06 effective 8/1/06)

Essentially this is an opportunity to get more game time than would otherwise be available.  With such a new lineup, this will be essential.

Now, what does Bylaw 30.7 say about how to conduct a foreign tour?

30.7 FOREIGN TOURS AND COMPETITION

A member institution may participate in a foreign tour in any sport (see Bylaw 17.29), provided the conditions specified below are met. (Revised: 1/11/89)

30.7.1 Certification of Tour.  The institution must certify in writing that the conditions set forth in this section are met and must maintain the certification on file in the athletics department. (Revised: 1/11/89)

30.7.2 Eligibility of Student-Athletes. The eligibility of student-athletes on the tour shall be governed by the following (see Bylaw 14.2.3.6):

(a) If the tour takes place during the summer, the student-athletes shall have been eligible for intercollegiate competition during the previous academic year or shall have been enrolled at the institution as a full-time student during the previous academic year and have established by the beginning of the tour that he or she is eligible for competition the academic year immediately following the tour; or (Revised: 8/11/98)

30.7.2.1 Incoming-Student Participation.  It is permissible for an eligible incoming student-athlete to represent the institution on a foreign tour that begins after the permissible starting practice date in the sport involved or after the first day of classes of his or her first regular term at the institution. An incoming student athlete (freshman or transfer) may participate in practice sessions conducted in preparation for a foreign tour only if such practice sessions occur either: (Revised: 5/4/05)

(a) On or after the first permissible practice date in the involved sport; or

(b) On or after the first day of classes of the student-athlete’s first regular academic term at the institution.

30.7.4 Time Lapse between Tours.  An institution shall not engage in a foreign tour in each sport more than once every four years. (Revised: 1/11/89)

30.7.5 Maximum Number of Contests/Competition Dates. A team shall be limited to a maximum of three football games, 10 basketball games, or 10 contests or dates of competition in any other sport during and as part of the tour. (Revised: 1/10/91)

30.7.6 Opponents. The team shall not compete during the tour against other American teams (colleges or other U.S. teams) other than teams composed of U.S. armed forces personnel stationed at U.S. military bases in foreign countries.

30.7.7 Practice Limitation. Not more than 10 days of practice are permitted prior to departure. Practice is prohibited outside the playing season one week prior to the beginning of the institution’s final examination period for the applicable regular academic term through the conclusion of the final examination period. (Revised: 1/14/08)

30.7.8 Timing of Tour.  A tour may only be scheduled during the summer-vacation period between the institution’s spring and fall terms or during an academic year vacation period (other than a Labor Day vacation period) published in the institution’s official catalog. All travel to and from the foreign country must take place during such a vacation period. However, if the team crosses the international date line during the tour, the change of date will be disregarded and the equivalent time as measured in the United States will be used to determine the institution’s vacation period. (Revised: 10/18/89, 4/29/04, 10/29/04 effective 11/1/04, 5/12/05, 1/8/07, 1/17/09 effective 8/1/09; a contract signed before 4/14/08 may be honored)

30.7.8.1 Prohibition Prior to Championship Segment. In sports in which separate dates are specified for the first permissible date of practice and the first permissible date of competition for the championship segment (e.g., women’s volleyball, basketball, baseball), an institution may not engage in a foreign tour during the period beginning 30-days prior to the first permissible practice date until the first permissible date for a contest or date of competition in the championship segment in the applicable sport… (Adopted: 6/11/07)

Now you see why scheduling is such a bear.  Also, my reading of the bylaw indicates that Smotrycz, Hardaway, Horford and Christian can only participate if they were enrolled in the summer term.

MGoShoe

May 19th, 2010 at 10:44 AM ^

...overseas football tours:

30.7.3 Football Postseason Opportunity.  A foreign football tour shall be considered that institution’s postseason opportunity for that season, the accounting period to commence with the start of the institution’s normal beginning of fall football practice.

 I don't think there will be many takers for such a tour.

Blue in Yarmouth

May 19th, 2010 at 8:06 AM ^

Thanks for that. I don't really know why, but ever since the two QB's got on campus last year I wanted Denard to emerge as the starting QB. I would be pumped if he did.

At the same time, I was quite surprised with how well Tate did at times last year as well, so if he wins the starting job I won't be upset. Good luck to all three of our QB's. May the best man win and U of M go on to a bowl victory this year!

MGoShoe

May 19th, 2010 at 9:40 AM ^

...umhoops.com has some links to articles on one European prospect, 203 cm (6'8") Danish F (?) Jonathan Gilling.

Google Translate version of a Danish article in which Gilling is quoted as saying:

I would like [to attend] college. This is my first goal and I talk with some quite good schools. We have sent some videos with highlights and they [have shown interest]. The plan is to go into 4.g next year [last year of high school] and get my matriculation. Then we see how far I can go with basketball.  I'd like to end up as professional and monetize it. 

MadMonkey

May 19th, 2010 at 12:07 PM ^

I am a huge fan of Denard's, I would love to see him on the field for every offensive play in some capacity or another.  However, I am extremely impressed with Tate even with the significant and obvious mistakes last year.   Tate is a gifted playmaker.  He will learn to make the right choices and he is going to find a handle for the ball. 

I think RR can be taken at his word on this one.  Our own observations confirm how close the QB competition seems to be. 

In a scenario where it is very late in the fourth quarter, we are down by 5 points, and 85 yards from a touchdown, I am pretty sure I want the ball in Tate's hands right now.  First offensive series in the Big Ten opener?  A tossup for me.  I hold my breath every time Denard starts moving with the ball, the guy is just so damned exciting to watch. 

 

saveferris

May 19th, 2010 at 12:42 PM ^

The title should read "Rich Rod discusses QB again....". 

I also don't think that Tate should be counted out quite yet.  It's exciting to see Denard improve to the point of being a viable option at QB, but it's a big difference between getting it done in practice and getting it done on game day.  Most of the optimism for Denard seems to stem from his impressive performance at the Spring Scrimmage, but he was leading the 1st team offense against the 2nd team defense and Tate had the 2nd team O versus the 1st team D.  Need to take that into account for some of the discrepancy in their performances.

That said, is Denard going to take a bunch more snaps this upcoming season?  Almost certainly.  Do I expect to see him starting under center on Opening Day against UConn?  No.

jmblue

May 19th, 2010 at 6:41 PM ^

I don't know what it is, MGoShoe, I can't put my finger on it, but lately you have just seemed 'on'. And you always leave me wanting more.