There have been discussions about the defense and RichRod's "managment style" of delegation to the DC for execution. Can a head coach delegate so much and still have a successful defense? Here is a summary of RichRod's defenses over the past 10 years.
|
Year |
Team | Total D (yd/game) | Total D (rank) | Scoring D (pts/game) | Scoring D (rank) |
| 2001 | West Virginia | 350 | 40 | 24.4 | 51 |
| 2002 | West Virginia | 335 | 33 | 23.2 | 40 |
| 2003 | West Virginia | 391 | 74 | 22.8 | 44 |
| 2004 | West Virginia | 339 | 37 | 20.5 | 28 |
| 2005 | West Virginia | 311 | 15 | 17.7 | 13 |
| 2006 | West Virginia | 337 | 62 | 21.7 | 49 |
| 2007 | West Virginia | 302 | 7 | 18.1 | 8 |
| 2008 | Michigan | 367 | 67 | 28.9 | 84 |
| 2009 | Michigan | 393 | 82 | 27.5 | 77 |
| 2010 | Michigan* | 441 | 82 | 28.4 | 105 |
*through 7 games
Averaged by Team:
| Year | Team | Total D (yd/game) | Total D (rank) | Scoring D (pts/game) | Scoring D (rank) |
| 2001-2007 | West Virginia | 338 | 38 | 21.2 | 33 |
| 2008-2010 | Michigan | 400 | 77 | 28.3 | 89 |
RichRod has finally able to install his high-yardage offense from West Virginia to Michigan. Defensively, the numbers above show that RichRod had a top-40 defense most years at West Virginia, which obviously has not transpired at Michigan.
Assuming that RichRod delegated to the DC at West Virginia like he has done at Michigan, then my conclusion is that his "management style" has worked in the past. RichRod's defenses have been better than average almost every year at West Virginia. So then why are the number so horrible at Michigan?
2008:
Offense run by Threet/Sheridan couldn't keep the Michigan defense off the field
2009:
Offense run by freshman QBs couldn't keep the Michigan defense off the field
2010:
Michigan defense couldn't keep the Michigan defense off the field (attrition, injury)
Related to this discussion http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/sigh-wvu-dc-jeff-casteel-jeffs-defenses-kept-us-games, stability with the defensive side of the team, players and coaches, is what has been lacking. RichRod had talent on the defensive side of the ball when he arrived. So in hindsight, it was a mistake to hire Shafer who lasted only a year. Again in hindsight, should RichRod have kept Ron English? Would there have been more stability or were the faulty offenses of 2008 and 2009 too much to overcome? We will never know.
West Virginia in 2007 was one victory over Pitt away from playing for the national championship. Notice in that year, WV had a top 10 defense which adds to the conventional wisdom that defense wins championships (or in that year, almost playing for the NC). The numbers show that RichRod has put together elite defenses before. Will it arrive or wil the fanbase lose patience? That, will we definitely know either way.
ass on the recruiting trail and rebuild the depth in the secondary and LB.
Given these Loki-like angry deities looming over Schembechler Hall the last 10 years, we have to expect even more post 2010 season player attrition and fluke injuries.
Beating Penn State on the road in two weeks might help.