What if Rich Rod had the transfer portal?

Submitted by DesertDog on December 14th, 2023 at 6:43 PM

Thinking back on The Decimated Defense and all of the roster holes that Michigan was trying (largely unsuccessfully) to plug during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, what do you think would have happened if there had been an unrestricted transfer portal during those seasons? Do you think it wouldn't have made much of a difference because the problems were with coaching anyway? Or because the academic office is often a significant barrier to transfers? Or do you think Rich Rod would have been able to fill in the gaps much better than he was able to in real life? Would he have made it to a 2011 season and have been able to get that desperately needed win over Ohio State?

MGoBoard
Football

blueheron

December 14th, 2023 at 7:01 PM ^

I'll play.

Do you think it wouldn't have made much of a difference because the problems were with coaching anyway?

That seems like the correct answer.

Or do you think Rich Rod would have been able to fill in the gaps much better than he was able to in real life?

Sure, but not enough to make a meaningful difference.

Would he have made it to a 2011 season and have been able to get that desperately needed win over Ohio State?

I can't see him topping Hoke's "pooping gold" 11-2 season. The defense still would've been some degree of incoherent. Schools would've had another year to scheme around Denard and his limitations as a QB.

Joined: 03/26/2009

MGoPoints: 30925

XM - Mt 1822

December 14th, 2023 at 8:20 PM ^

i know it's fun to dump on greg robinson here, but the truth of the matter is that greg showed up at michigan and there were only 28 scholarship players on defense - rich rod had used the rest of the scholarships on offense.  that wouldn't have changed with the portal.  only NIL, paying for some serious talent would have changed that. 

Joined: 12/21/2011

MGoPoints: 103058

JonnyHintz

December 14th, 2023 at 8:31 PM ^

Bingo. Rich Rod’s biggest downfall was roster management. He recruited a bunch of tiny guys to run his spread option offense and largely neglected the defense (and OL for that matter). He married his team to the 3-3-5 defense he ran at West Virginia, no matter what background his DCs had, and left glaring holes throughout the roster. I believe when Hoke took over, we had something like 8 scholarship OL. 
 

as you mentioned, the portal alone isn’t going to save that. Scholarship limitations would still be in play and unable to offset the cap with NIL. 

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 48345

JonnyHintz

December 15th, 2023 at 2:29 PM ^

He had good OL because he inherited Carr’s OL. He neglected to recruit the OL, which is why OL play gradually declined. Can’t blame Hoke for inheriting 8 OL because the previous coach didn’t recruit the position. Rich Rod’s lines would also have faltered once Carr’s upperclassmen graduated and his own lack of focus on the position came to fruition.
 

3 OL in the 2009 class, one of which moved to Defense. 

1 OL in the 2010 class. 

3 OL in the 2011 class (Hoke hired at the tail end of this class)

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 48345

JonnyHintz

December 16th, 2023 at 8:59 AM ^

Probably had a little something to do with his reputation being tarnished after being tied to the debacle that was the Michigan defense… not exactly a great DC candidate when you’re already 60 years old and your most recent job featured the worst defense in Michigan history. 

My goodness. It’s amazing to see the rush to criticize the proven DC that wasn’t allowed to run the defense he’d ran his entire career instead of blaming the shitbag head coach that made him run a defensive scheme he’d never utilized. Why don’t we just hire Lincoln Riley to run the triple option?

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 48345