Ron Simpkins critical of defense, coaches
Rivals article on Simpkins' take on the team's recent struggles. Interesting opinions from a former player and close follower of the program. Quote regarding the need to try backups out on defense even if they don't grade out ahead of starters in practice:
"I would try someone else to see if they're a gamer because a lot of the kids right now that are playing - I don't care if they're good practice players because they're not getting it done on game day."
http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1014016
November 10th, 2009 at 9:41 PM ^
The Force is strong with this one.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:43 PM ^
Now that comment is a winner...and funny.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:45 PM ^
That's the spirit! A +1 and a pint to you, sir.
November 10th, 2009 at 8:52 PM ^
If Michigan's current team is intolerable, there are 119 other programs out there who you might be able to "tolerate."
Have you considered the fact that Michigan's schemes this year caught some early opponents by surprise, but by now opponents are taking advantage of the weaknesses shown by freshmen and redshirt freshmen and inexperienced redshirt sophomores?
I don't see regression as much as I see growing pains that other teams are able to take advantage of.
Oh, you have no talent at safety? Let us throw the ball deep and get long runs once we get to the second level!
Oh, you have a freshman QB? Let us play zone coverages and keep him contained inside the pocket!
Oh, your backup QB can't throw the ball? Let us put 9 guys in the box and force him to beat us throwing the ball!
November 10th, 2009 at 9:05 PM ^
As for the secondary, how many games did it take for us to be figured out? One or two?
Defensive youth? Craig Roh (freshman) doing very well. Mike Martin (soph) doing a great job. You can't blame the losses on youth.
Do you think Illinois has more talent then us? Purdue? Is Indiana even close? Of course not. So it's not about talent either, is it?
What is intolerable is that the team is getting worse as the season goes on. We might finish last in the Big Ten. LAST. That doesn't mean I would change my allegiance, it just means that I won't be blind to the problems on the field.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:29 PM ^
You're right. Craig Roh and Mike Martin have done well. You know who hasn't? Jordan Kovacs (RS frosh), Mike Williams (RS soph), Boubacar Cissoko (soph), JT Floyd (RS frosh). Throw in a third defensive coordinator in the last three years, and that can't help.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:35 PM ^
Yes. There is plenty of youth, and it'd be fair to say that youth cost us a couple of plays...but the problems in this D run a lot deeper than a couple of plays.
Was youth the problem last year? I do recall lots of "at least the D will hold us together" refrains last year. Again, I'm not looking for perfection any more than I am excuses.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:37 PM ^
No. The problem last year was a) Shafer sucked as DC and b) he was neutered by the other coaches once his schemes didn't work.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:44 PM ^
...and you could tell that Shafer "sucked" after just one year?
Hypocritical much?
November 10th, 2009 at 9:46 PM ^
Do I really need to explain to you why Shafer sucked?
November 10th, 2009 at 9:59 PM ^
I didn't like him either...but I'm not the one saying that a coach needs more time. Then again...wasn't that hire a RR decision?
November 10th, 2009 at 10:01 PM ^
I would argue with you, but since I live in my mother's basement, I have to go to bed when she tells me. I have an early morning of scouring the internet for rare action figures.
Please don't fuck my girlfriend when I'm asleep. You seem like quite a ladies man.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:15 PM ^
SO WHY ARE YOU BURYING ROBINSON AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR?
You called Magnus hypocritical?
November 11th, 2009 at 10:17 AM ^
ALL CAPS! OH SHIT! YOU MUST BE FOR REAL!
I actually don't have a problem with Robinson. My problem is with RR and his love for tiny players. The "need for speed" has softened our D. Our fast players can't tackle or cover. At least they can lift weights though. Sweet fodder for the interwebs.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:42 PM ^
You don't know anything about football in general or this team in particular. Just give it a rest already. I am getting tired having to give Magnus so many +1's for making you his bitch.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:45 PM ^
He's seriously tired of +1ing me, too. Nobody likes me. It's probably giving him a migraine and a kidney stone to +1 me.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:00 PM ^
You're right. I don't know much. I don't even know if you're the fat guy or the old woman in that picture.
November 10th, 2009 at 8:17 PM ^
I could not agree more with Simpkins here. Alright, we get it, Mike Williams and Jordan Kovacs are the best safties in practice. Turner, and Gordon are redshirting. Williams and Kovacs have been terrible. Give me JT Floyd, Teric Jones, James Rogers at corner with Woolfolk at FS. Give me Vlad Emilien, Brandon Smith at safety. Please, anything. We couldn't be much worse, could we?
November 10th, 2009 at 8:27 PM ^
needs to keep his mouth shut and keep the discussion in the family. Who cares what he says in an article on Rivals that may/ may not be behind a paywall? What does he gain from this? Does it help RR, Michigan, or the players for a former player to fuel the fire of fans even further.
Why not go to RR's office and let him know, in person, what Simpkins thinks?
More importantly, unless you have been to many practices, how do you (or Simpkins) have any idea how kids are playing? Turner and Gordon are red-shirting for a reason, and Emilien may be hurt (and didn't he miss his senior year because of an injury)?
If nothing else, RR and his staff (not sure about GERG here) have shown they can evaluate talent.