What are we playing for?
Every year, teams play for specific goals. Or maybe one big goal. A conference championship. A winning year. The national championship. A bowl game. A BCS Bowl Game. Victory in the big rivalry game.
Bo's teams always played for Big Ten Championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl. Carr's teams always played for the Big Ten championship and / or "Bigger things". Some teams play to build a foundation, build character, build a solid defense, etc.
Not matter what the goal, team goals always make their players, their team, the foundation for their goals. Until this year.
Since Coach Rodriguez was hired, the system, not the team, has become the fondation for all of Michigan's goals. Viewed from this perspective, the players, the team, have become ipso facto, a weak foundation. In fact, not so much a foundation as a drag, a boat anchor, a liability. Our team is holding back the success of our new system.
So this is what I don't like about Coach Rodriguez' approach.
- teams are bigger than systems
- this year's players haven't grown as a team
- next year's players will take little from this year--except failure
I don't agree that Michigan will be great in 1-3 years because Michigan, unlike Coach Rodriguez' past coaching stints, is not a weak school trying to succeed by attracting ok talent and playing an unorthodox offense.
The culture of Michigan football is much stronger than anything Rodriguez has seen before. Intense conditioning hasn't improved the team--or individual players. Intimidation hasn't made players tougher. High tempo play hasn't worn down our opponents, who have dominated the 4th quarter of most games. In short, the team has made almost no progress since spring training.
So long as Michigan football success tries to build upon the spread system, it will fail. We're not a weak culture that's never known success. Until our team is made the foundation on which to build the new offense, we'll go nowhere but down. Every week.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:24 PM ^
October 27th, 2008 at 5:34 PM ^
in order for this team to grow as a team, winning would most likely be key to them growing as a team...what did bo have? winning teams...how is rich rod gonna have winning teams? by learning the system. the system is vital to the growth of the team. losing is not gonna be a great bonding experience, and is not gonna grow the team as a unit...learning the system is gonna lead to winning which is gonna lead to bonding which is gonna grow the team.
another thing about our school being better than west virginia when rich rod took over...because we are michigan and attract the kind of recruits that we do, the teams we will put on the field week in and week out will be WAY better than the teams at west virginia...thats exciting as hell...the fact that rich rod could win at west virginia wit the level of recruits that he had is just a testament to the impact of the SYSTEM...if he gets his players, winning football will happen again....and they will be the team that you are looking for
October 27th, 2008 at 5:46 PM ^
October 27th, 2008 at 5:48 PM ^
"So long as Michigan football success tries to build upon the spread system, it will fail. We're not a weak culture that's never known success. Until our team is made the foundation on which to build the new offense, we'll go nowhere but down. Every week."
I don't follow. Because Michigan has been successful in the past, the spread system will not work at Michigan? I've never been an ace at reading comprehension, but that's what I'm getting from this.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:54 PM ^
Your post is garbage.
An offense who can't stay on the field isn't going to wear anyone down.
Our OLine is starting to gel. Certain plays hold rays of hope for next year. Are you telling me that you don't think that Threet has improved at all this season? How about Minor in the last 2 games?
We should have our entire offense return next year. On defense we lose 5 starters: 3 DL, 1 CB, and 1 S. The we will have a two 4* Sophomores, a 5* Freshman, and two 4*RS Sophomores to help fill those gaps. Overall, we return 17 of 22 starters. Saying that this year won't help anything next year is absolute ignorance.
October 27th, 2008 at 6:19 PM ^
"High tempo play hasn't worn down our opponents, who have dominated the 4th quarter of most games."
High tempo play hasn't worn out our opponents, because our offense, with 10 first year starters, has not executed very well, leading to too many 3-and-outs on offense.
The system will work here, just like it has worked elsewhere. Be patient.
October 27th, 2008 at 6:21 PM ^
Since Coach Rodriguez was hired, the system, not the team, has become the fondation for all of Michigan's goals.
RR is on record saying that the goal is to win the B10.
October 27th, 2008 at 6:53 PM ^
October 27th, 2008 at 7:24 PM ^
October 27th, 2008 at 7:28 PM ^
October 28th, 2008 at 12:46 PM ^
October 28th, 2008 at 11:14 PM ^
October 27th, 2008 at 7:35 PM ^
October 27th, 2008 at 7:37 PM ^
October 28th, 2008 at 1:04 PM ^
October 27th, 2008 at 9:01 PM ^
WE aren't playing for anything. The team is playing for pride, for respect, for Michigan and for themselves.
"I don't agree that Michigan will be great in 1-3 years because Michigan, unlike Coach Rodriguez' past coaching stints, is not a weak school trying to succeed by attracting ok talent and playing an unorthodox offense."
An unorthodox offense? You mean the spread? The offense that, as Brian has chronicled, 9 of the top 10 offensive teams in the nation run a variety of? No it isn't 3 yards and a cloud of dust. It is lets get our speed demons into open field so they can run for daylight. I'm glad you took the time and effort to post this piece, but it really hasn't been researched or backed up with any football knowledge.
I'll get off of my soapbox now.