Why can't there be a real spring game?
Because of friends of mine, in years past I've been to a couple of spring games at SEC schools, and always wanted to have that atmosphere here at M. But it seemed every year with LC, we would hear that we "don't have enough healthy guys" to play a real spring two squad game. Fine, I thought, Lloyd just isn't interested in this and that won't change.
In comes RR, who professes to want that SEC type atmosphere, and true to his word, we greatly improved the spring environment last year, which I enjoyed greatly. But we still didn't play a game. Maybe next year, thought I. But as we know, RR has already stated that "we don't have enough healthy players" to play one this year. All well and good, but my question is, why? Don't we have roughly 80 guys right now in spring practice, maybe more? And why wouldn't that number be enough to split into two squads and play? I don't get it.
I think you answered your own question:
Q: Why can't there be a real spring game? ... A: "we don't have enough healthy players"
that comment could be definitive. I suppose one of the coaches here could supply a real explanation of why 80+ guys can't form two squads and play.
Those 80+ guys are not evenly balanced across all of the positions. You can pretty easily point to 4 or 5 positions on defense where we are 1 key injury away from disaster.
Our defense will not have the depth we so desperately crave until the 2010 recruiting class arrives this summer.
The thing is, we don't pull the scholarships of injured players like they do in the SEC.......
Or radically over-sign. I kid.
At the end of the day, it's a practice for the players, not a game for the fans. If there aren't enough guys, there aren't enough guys. Just be glad they're inviting us to the party.
for those of us too far away it sucks that it won't be aired until the end of the day. And at that point, it'll be a game for the fan, because the practice will already have happened, and I, the fan, will get to enjoy the "game". And I WILL enjoy it. As you say, better than no party at all.
when the Senior class is actually big, we will have a real game. Who cares, anyway? We will still get to see the squads line up and hit. The only real difference is special teams. It's a great excuse to jump in a car, drive 5 hours, tailgate, walk to stadium, choose my free seat, and watch the best football program in the history of the sport show off how much they have improved this offseason.
People have to talk about something just to keep their voice boxes in working order so they’ll have good voice boxes in case there’s ever anything really meaningful to say. - Kurt Vonnegut
When you can take the pebble from my hand you will be ready for a real spring game.
But why?
Anyway, I never said in my post that this was a big deal, only that I didn't understand why we didn't have enough guys to play one.
Because you can't count the number of guys who sent in their LOI but didn't enroll early. They won't be here till Fall. Thus, we are still short a player or two in some key positions.
working on mechanics are more important than simulating a game for you
Maybe RR will read your post and decide to have a REAL spring game just to make you happy at the sake of injuring a few players on a still depleted, still way too young roster.
Honestly, a real spring game would be great, but the format they used last year was very exciting!!!! The offense was put in very random situations and the objective was to score. It is great practice for the 2min drill and OT. This year with three solid QBs it should be even more exciting to watch them drive the ball. Last year it was just Forcier and Cone.
the situational stuff. For one, Tate fumbled in his own endzone when they were doing the "make a first down backed up on your own 1 yard line." I came away from that last year thinking it was better for Tate to learn a hard lesson like that about how you protect the ball that close to your own endzone when it didn't count. RR does a nice job of still scoring for every little play made on both sides of the ball, so there is still competition. I can't believe it's only 13 days away! See you there mgopeeps.
To have a true game, our defense is still really thin. It's great that we had as many recruits enroll early, but they were all on the offensive side of the ball. Throw in injuries to Vlad, MM, now Obi, and it wouldn't be nearly as interesting to see.
Tell me, what are each team's line-ups on the DL? How about at CB? You would have two squads that are half walk-ons, which wouldn't be that interesting anyway. Instead, we get to see our starters on D play our starters on O, at least for the most part. That, to me, is more entertaining.
Next Spring, I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being a real game, since we don't lose too many seniors from this team.
The Spring Game is simply a drug for the Michigan football addict. It's just enough to balance out the withdrawals from the past five months.
and plug some of those old stars into the lineup...nah!