Thoughts on 2010 Michigan playing in the Big East

Submitted by EZMIKEP on

I am having a debate with someone as to how good this Michigan team would be if this was playing a Big East schedule. I am arguing that as presently constructed, this team would possibly lose a game if not run the table in that conference. Even as bad as the defense has been.

 Outside of the running back situation, this team is more talented on offense at most of the other positions than the best West Virginia teams of Rich's WV career. I think this team would win by outscoring everybody just like Cincinnati did last year. Cincinnati's team fielded a defense last year that gave up a hell of a lot of points in many of the games they won before they finally got exposed.

I am curious if people think Rich has built and offense that is on par or better than the one he fielded at West Virginia with Pat White. 

EZMIKEP

October 26th, 2010 at 12:59 PM ^

Then we didn't select our coach from a good place. I would like to think otherwise. I know we aren't in it but I am speaking hypothetically because I want to know where we are at talent wise compared to RR's WV teams of the past. 

I know its a big jump from the Big East to the Big 10, and that is specifically why I am wondering what level the offense from today is on compared to those past WV teams. I say its better and I hope I am right. We all know how the defense is. 

PurpleStuff

October 26th, 2010 at 1:16 PM ^

I'm not high on Rodriguez because he won the Big East, but because he built a team that beat the Big 12 Champion and the SEC Champion in BCS bowl games. 

As far as our offense vs. WVU's under Rodriguez, I think Denard is a better runner and has a better arm than Pat White.  We also have a deeper receiving corps.  The big edge they had though was in the backfield.  We really don't have anything close to Slaton, Devine, Schmitt yet.  That running game could kill you from every possible angle and allowed for more of an option oriented attack.  Hopefully in the next year or two we can add that to what Denard and the receivers can do.

The fact that they are already the #2 team in total offense in the country while playing so many young guys and returning nearly the entire two-deep next season is pretty awesome.

Wolverine0056

October 26th, 2010 at 12:56 PM ^

UM would definitely run the table. The defense is enough to be able to stop most Big East teams from doing much damage, but our offense would run circles around all of the defenses. Like Big Boutros pretty much said, the Big East is not very good and is horrible compared to the Big Ten.

michgoblue

October 26th, 2010 at 1:27 PM ^

Well, our defense didn't really stop Umass, and they are 1-AA.  We also didn't stop ND, and they are pretty bad this year. 

Not disagreeing that we would kick some serious ass in the Big Least, but our defense likely would have trouble stopping a solid Florida or Texas high school team.  Not hating, just saying.

oakapple

October 26th, 2010 at 1:12 PM ^

But it would certainly do better than in the Big Ten.

The “run-the-table” crowd ought to remember that Michigan only just barely beat Indiana, Notre Dame, and UMass, none of which are great. The Big East certainly has teams better than Indiana, and some of them would have a very good shot at knocking off Michigan.

SFBlue

October 26th, 2010 at 7:30 PM ^

True.  WVU, Pitt, and maybe Rutgers would be decent games.  Michigan could lose any of those. 

But, you know, the benefits of playing in the Big Ten by far outweigh the burdens.  You finish second in the Big East, you're likely headed to the Champs Sports Bowl, a/k/a the baby Citrus/Capital One Bowl.  Finish second in the Big Ten, and there is likely a BCS bowl.  Michigan could finish fourth, fifth, and still play on New Year's Day.

raleighwood

October 26th, 2010 at 1:14 PM ^

Michigan would almost certainly be more competitive in the Big East but I don't think that they'd run the table.  RR never ran the table when he was there and I would guess that the 2010 Michigan team is not at the same level as those WVU teams that won BCS bowl games. 

mGrowOld

October 26th, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^

If we're going to play THAT game then why stop there? I'd much rather move the 1997 defense into their conference but with the 2010 offense along with Zolton punting and Hamilton doing the place kicking.  Heck while we're time and space travelling maybe we should get Bo to coach that squad too.

That would show the Big East pansies what's what!

michgoblue

October 26th, 2010 at 2:38 PM ^

It is a worthy conversation, and especially during a slow and long bye week.

Personally, I think that we would be towards the top of the Big East, but with this defense, it is impossible to say that we would ever run the table. 

Your post, however, raises a different question:  Is RR's style of coaching the style that will dominate the Big East but have trouble in the B10?  His Bowl victories over the Big Twelve and SEC Champs would argue otherwise.  But, again, like you said, it is always an interesting conversation (except for those who are not interested, who are free not to participate).

mGrowOld

October 26th, 2010 at 3:18 PM ^

I was JT and yes it's a worthy conversation.  FWIW I think his overall team at WVU was stronger when he left than the team we will put on field on Saturday BUT I feel that team will be much stronger by next year then his best WVU units.

The 2010 Wolverines would probably go 10-2 or 11-1 in the Big East today because it sucks.  The Big East of RichRod's day however was stronger top to bottom than it is now so they would probably have a record not dissimilar to the one we currently boast.

EZMIKEP

October 26th, 2010 at 1:24 PM ^

11-1 or 12-0 would be very realistic. I do think that this Michigan team is above the talent level of the BCS West Virginia teams. They had a more dynamic running back, but I think its hands down upgraded everywhere else on offense. Smaller schools get into these big bowls playing lesser competition and then playing one game you have a month to prepare for gives you a good shot at beating some of those good teams you face. I am not saying Rich's teams were vastly over-rated, just that they benefitted from being in the Big East as far as bowl game placement. 

Dr. BSD

October 26th, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^

The West Virgina BCS teams were more talented. I'll grant the premise that we have a litte more talent on offense. However, on defense, they were were much better than us. If my memory surves me right, in 2007 they had a top ten defense.

lilpenny1316

October 26th, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^

Maybe the Pitt game from 2007 was an outlier, but they couldn't do anything in the game when Pat White was knocked out.  I believe there was another close call earlier that year or the year before when he got hurt.  I know he was a once in a lifetime kinda guy, but you could really see how different the offense was without him in game.

The difference for us is our QBs are really good at this offense, but the running back position is holding us back.  WVU had killer runners with Devine and Slaton.  Shoot, even Kay-Jay Harris knew how to tote the rock.  I think they also had a son of an NFLer before Slaton took over, just can't remember his name.

spider

October 26th, 2010 at 3:20 PM ^

Yes, after reviewing this post, I think RR would do VERY well in the Big East with Mich. It gets me wondering, how well would WVU have doen in the Big Ten having been coached by RR? I seriously think they would have been slightly better than us(becasue WVU had a much better defense) however, I think they would be about 5-2 (just like us) with probable losses to MSU and Iowa.

The rest of the way, they could beat Penn State and Purdue, with losses to Illinois, Wisconsin and OSU.

7-5 with WVU

Mich will most likely finish 6-6 this year.

I really think RR is about as good as he was at WVU right now. Better defense good for 1-2 more wins

ijohnb

October 26th, 2010 at 3:32 PM ^

wins the Big East, second at the worst.  I have been watching ESPN every Friday night, there is not much there.  Refer to M v. UConn this year, and Florida v. Cinci last year. 

COB

October 26th, 2010 at 4:01 PM ^

Tebow and company rolled cincy...not sure what that has to do with the BE being terrible.  They are, don't get me wrong but UF was a game away from the Nat'l Title and came in ready to kill.  I think UF beats about anyone in that game. 

lhglrkwg

October 26th, 2010 at 5:17 PM ^

i think a lot of big 6 teams would go undefeated in the big east this year. OSU, MSU, iowa, wisconsin, us would probably all go 7-1 at worst in conference.

this is the first year where i feel it's totally legitimate for the mountain west to be pissed because the big east does not deserve an automatic spot. west virginia or pitt will probably go and lose by 30