Denard Robinson is everything we want in a Michigan Man. Not only is he an amazing performer on the football field, he carries himself with undeniable class and effortless grace. Regardless of the coaching situation, if this young man leaves our university, the loss will extend beyond the football field.
I didn't have a problem with it, but I can see the other side's view. I don't see it as a desperate move to save his job, but him giving everyone a chance to see how much he cares about the program and team. Regardless of the outcome, I give him credit for wearing his emotions on his sleeve. It can't be easy to do that with everything that's going on right now.
You think that Bill Martin hired one of the innovators of the spread option offense to run something OTHER than the spread. Ok, I don't know what he was hired to do, BUT, it is certainly not some incredible assumption to believe Rodriguez was hired to run his own offensive system.
2. Yes, I'm assuming Denard will improve, especially as a passer. There is evidence he can improve from year to year, and none that he won't. If being the number 1 offense in the conference is "looking like shit" so be it. However, just because Hart is a freshman doesn't mean his impact won't be substantial. Have you heard of LaMichael James? He turned out to be pretty good his freshman year in a spread option offense. As far as the other Big Ten teams go, look up their depth charts on defense. They'll have some issues of their own to address.
3. I'm assuming pro style because Harbaugh is the obvious candidate to replace Rodriguez, and he runs a pro style. It's not that much of a reach to think that. So, you're assuming that the two or three years these players have spent learning a completely different offense than the pro style won't be a problem? It's not that the team isn't physically capable of running one, they'll have to relearn an entirely new system. You're fond of pointing out the failure of 2008 which was predicated on the change in system. Didn't work out too well.
4. Sorry chief, but being down 10 with 9 minutes left in the THIRD quarter isn't an insurmountable deficit. You also just admitted it was interesting when they scored some TDs. Sounds like you're coming around.
First, no one's yelling from a soap box. So calm down. It's a message board to express opinions and to debate. I'm assuming you're an adult, but if that's too much to assume let me know.
1. Fine, no Nick Sheridan or Steven Threet. Who do you propose run the zone read? Ryan Mallet? He did say he could adapt his system to the talent he had around him. Fair enough. So, I'm assuming you think he should have installed some kind of pro style/spread hybrid. Why even hire him if you're not letting him run his system? He was hired to bring WVU's spread version 2.0 to Michigan. Even you have to admit that wouldn't happen with anyone at Michigan in 2008. The defense is awful. No one's debating that.
2. Your counterpoints about our offense are weak at best. I admitted the offense started slow (I suggest reading something thoroughly before responding) but picked it up later. That's a problem, and it can be fixed with experience. It also seems you would rather have a 2nd year Tate start rather than Denard, who had one of the most incredible seasons in CFB history. I don't think you really see the big picture here. I said Denard is a true sophomore to make the point that the offense is only going to get better. If you don't think a first year starter is going to make another leap with a year of experience, you're simply being unrealistic. Devin Gardner will likely get a medical redshirt, although I didn't agree with the way his redshirt was burned either. No clue what relevance your point about 2009 Tate has.
3. Not sure how you can say Rodriguez wasn't a bold hire when his system was a complete deviation from the previous regime. I'm sure there was another pro style coach out there if thats what they were dead set on.
4. Interesting to me isn't just in the point total, or yardage total. Interesting to me was to see the team fight back from those deficits, until the end no matter what the score. If you don't think being down 10 with 9 minutes left in the third against Wisconsin was interesting, I suggest you stop watching college football after a team has a touchdown lead.
1. The evidence that a change, if not complete overhaul was needed was obvious during the first 2 games of 2007. I'd also posit that it extended back to the last 2 games of 2006. The end of 2006 saw our defense get exposed. The first two of 2007 saw it get annihilated. If you don't remember, Appalachain State sliced and diced us. Oregon was up 32-7 at halftime, and mercifully let it only get to 39-7. The defense looked slow and out of position. The offense couldn't keep up. Something needed to be done.
2. I'm pretty sure he wants the "next thing" because Florida has won two titles with it, Oklahoma is always in the hunt with it, and the top two teams in the country this year have some version of it.
3. Not sure what you mean about "Your TEAM" not existing for three years, or competing with Bowling Green and Indiana for recruits. Of course I disagree about not being competitive. The team often starts slow against elite competition, but they ALWAYS have fought back. You can call that not being competitive, but I call it character, and like it or not, the 2nd half of all of those games have at least been interesting at some point.
4. Rich Rodriguez was hired to win, of course. To say he was brought in to win immediately with the talent that was there is just asinine. I know you don't believe Nick Sheridan was going to go all Denard on the rest of the Big 10, so I'll just leave it at that.
5. Who is saying Michigan definitely did not make a mistake? Grasping at straws doesn't involve seeing improvement to the point where an offense led by a true sophomore is number 5 in the nation and on pace to be the most prolific offense in big ten history.
Michigan did what it needed to do at the end of 2007. Make a bold hire. Rich Rodriguez was that hire. If you can't see progress, and the immense potential this team has, I suggest taking off your scarlet and grey (or green and white) goggles, and have another look.
Agreed, but I think a consideration every AD must consider before deciding on a coaching change is how it would affect recruiting in general combined with potential transfers. You still can't base a coaching decision on that factor in a vacuum, but it is still a valid consideration.
Agreed. If Rodriguez is fired, I have no doubt he'll catch on somewhere else. It will probably be somewhere with less pressure more willing to give him time to build his program his way (Minnesota?). His "failure" at Michigan will only make him work harder to put the bitter taste of the last three years behind him. If he does go, I hope its somewhere we don't play his team regularly.
You're suggesting that White was a one hit wonder and Rodriguez got lucky and rode him to BCS wins and the Michigan job. It's possible, but I think Denard's transformation from last year to this year, and his record setting campaign directly contradicts your premise that Pat White made Rodriguez. If anything, Rodriguez molded White into the playmaker he was, and Denard into the player he is and will be.
As a Dolphins fan I can understand the move, but absolutely do not agree with it. Before the season started Sparano was adamant that Henne would get the entire season to show what he could do. The fact that he said it "isn't an indictment on Henne's future" just makes it worse. I don't know how they expect him to have any confidence going forward. All that said, the Dolphins' offense has been vastly underachieving, and hopefully Pennington can provide a spark.
It is perfectly reasonable for fans to be unhappy with different aspects of their teams, but I can't fathom how a true fan would root for their team to lose.
Valenti said that Brandon will pull an "Earle Bruce" on RR and fire him the week before the OSU game. Further proof that RR is probably safe for at least one more year.
Am I the only one who thinks if Rucker does play he should be targeted early and often? I just can't see how practicing once in two weeks and then playing against a veteran QB in a hostile environment can go well. I think Dantonio handled this in the worst possible way from all angles.
And I don't want to start a new thread...but this is my first post, and I think it keeps things perspective. Below is an e-mail I just got. There is no gratuitous Michigan loving or Ohio State hating. It is pure. I hope we can all recognize that watching 20 year olds up and down the field is a game...and there are execeptional heroes we never take notice of. God Bless.
hey brother whats goin on?!?! I actually don't have a phone number right now; I'm deployed in Iraq. But we definitely need to catch up. As you can tell, i'm still in the army but my time is winding down. I actually thought about staying in but i recently decided that it was time to get out when my obligations runs up (may 11). Everything is going well though. The deployment isn't too bad and I'll be home in January. You can see on my profile that I have a nice lady named Nancy. She's really awesome and we've been together for about 2 years now. I'll probably wait a few months once I get back and then ask her to get married. its kinda scary even though I know we're not 21 anymore. Right now i'm still based out of Washington state which is an area I really like a lot. I'm currently working with a company called Alliance that offers a very good career transition service so hopefully they will be able to help me get a good foot into the corporate world. Still love the razorbacks and we have a really good team this year. So are you a wolverines or hoosiers man now? i suppose you have the right to claim both haha. D-robinson is the truth. anyways, man, life is really good for me. What are you up too these days? I see you went to Indiana, what did you study? I'm sure you're making that BANK boi! anyways, hit me up and let me know how life is going. I definitely will shoot you my phone number once I get back and we'll catch up some more brother. Hope life is treating you well!
Recent Comments
Denard Robinson is everything we want in a Michigan Man. Not only is he an amazing performer on the football field, he carries himself with undeniable class and effortless grace. Regardless of the coaching situation, if this young man leaves our university, the loss will extend beyond the football field.
I didn't have a problem with it, but I can see the other side's view. I don't see it as a desperate move to save his job, but him giving everyone a chance to see how much he cares about the program and team. Regardless of the outcome, I give him credit for wearing his emotions on his sleeve. It can't be easy to do that with everything that's going on right now.
Rome got destroyed, the look on his face when he got thrown was priceless. Also, his hair is atrocious.
You think that Bill Martin hired one of the innovators of the spread option offense to run something OTHER than the spread. Ok, I don't know what he was hired to do, BUT, it is certainly not some incredible assumption to believe Rodriguez was hired to run his own offensive system.
2. Yes, I'm assuming Denard will improve, especially as a passer. There is evidence he can improve from year to year, and none that he won't. If being the number 1 offense in the conference is "looking like shit" so be it. However, just because Hart is a freshman doesn't mean his impact won't be substantial. Have you heard of LaMichael James? He turned out to be pretty good his freshman year in a spread option offense. As far as the other Big Ten teams go, look up their depth charts on defense. They'll have some issues of their own to address.
3. I'm assuming pro style because Harbaugh is the obvious candidate to replace Rodriguez, and he runs a pro style. It's not that much of a reach to think that. So, you're assuming that the two or three years these players have spent learning a completely different offense than the pro style won't be a problem? It's not that the team isn't physically capable of running one, they'll have to relearn an entirely new system. You're fond of pointing out the failure of 2008 which was predicated on the change in system. Didn't work out too well.
4. Sorry chief, but being down 10 with 9 minutes left in the THIRD quarter isn't an insurmountable deficit. You also just admitted it was interesting when they scored some TDs. Sounds like you're coming around.
First, no one's yelling from a soap box. So calm down. It's a message board to express opinions and to debate. I'm assuming you're an adult, but if that's too much to assume let me know.
1. Fine, no Nick Sheridan or Steven Threet. Who do you propose run the zone read? Ryan Mallet? He did say he could adapt his system to the talent he had around him. Fair enough. So, I'm assuming you think he should have installed some kind of pro style/spread hybrid. Why even hire him if you're not letting him run his system? He was hired to bring WVU's spread version 2.0 to Michigan. Even you have to admit that wouldn't happen with anyone at Michigan in 2008. The defense is awful. No one's debating that.
2. Your counterpoints about our offense are weak at best. I admitted the offense started slow (I suggest reading something thoroughly before responding) but picked it up later. That's a problem, and it can be fixed with experience. It also seems you would rather have a 2nd year Tate start rather than Denard, who had one of the most incredible seasons in CFB history. I don't think you really see the big picture here. I said Denard is a true sophomore to make the point that the offense is only going to get better. If you don't think a first year starter is going to make another leap with a year of experience, you're simply being unrealistic. Devin Gardner will likely get a medical redshirt, although I didn't agree with the way his redshirt was burned either. No clue what relevance your point about 2009 Tate has.
3. Not sure how you can say Rodriguez wasn't a bold hire when his system was a complete deviation from the previous regime. I'm sure there was another pro style coach out there if thats what they were dead set on.
4. Interesting to me isn't just in the point total, or yardage total. Interesting to me was to see the team fight back from those deficits, until the end no matter what the score. If you don't think being down 10 with 9 minutes left in the third against Wisconsin was interesting, I suggest you stop watching college football after a team has a touchdown lead.
1. The evidence that a change, if not complete overhaul was needed was obvious during the first 2 games of 2007. I'd also posit that it extended back to the last 2 games of 2006. The end of 2006 saw our defense get exposed. The first two of 2007 saw it get annihilated. If you don't remember, Appalachain State sliced and diced us. Oregon was up 32-7 at halftime, and mercifully let it only get to 39-7. The defense looked slow and out of position. The offense couldn't keep up. Something needed to be done.
2. I'm pretty sure he wants the "next thing" because Florida has won two titles with it, Oklahoma is always in the hunt with it, and the top two teams in the country this year have some version of it.
3. Not sure what you mean about "Your TEAM" not existing for three years, or competing with Bowling Green and Indiana for recruits. Of course I disagree about not being competitive. The team often starts slow against elite competition, but they ALWAYS have fought back. You can call that not being competitive, but I call it character, and like it or not, the 2nd half of all of those games have at least been interesting at some point.
4. Rich Rodriguez was hired to win, of course. To say he was brought in to win immediately with the talent that was there is just asinine. I know you don't believe Nick Sheridan was going to go all Denard on the rest of the Big 10, so I'll just leave it at that.
5. Who is saying Michigan definitely did not make a mistake? Grasping at straws doesn't involve seeing improvement to the point where an offense led by a true sophomore is number 5 in the nation and on pace to be the most prolific offense in big ten history.
Michigan did what it needed to do at the end of 2007. Make a bold hire. Rich Rodriguez was that hire. If you can't see progress, and the immense potential this team has, I suggest taking off your scarlet and grey (or green and white) goggles, and have another look.
Agreed, but I think a consideration every AD must consider before deciding on a coaching change is how it would affect recruiting in general combined with potential transfers. You still can't base a coaching decision on that factor in a vacuum, but it is still a valid consideration.
Agreed. If Rodriguez is fired, I have no doubt he'll catch on somewhere else. It will probably be somewhere with less pressure more willing to give him time to build his program his way (Minnesota?). His "failure" at Michigan will only make him work harder to put the bitter taste of the last three years behind him. If he does go, I hope its somewhere we don't play his team regularly.
You're suggesting that White was a one hit wonder and Rodriguez got lucky and rode him to BCS wins and the Michigan job. It's possible, but I think Denard's transformation from last year to this year, and his record setting campaign directly contradicts your premise that Pat White made Rodriguez. If anything, Rodriguez molded White into the playmaker he was, and Denard into the player he is and will be.
Very interesting that State has played 1 more game but still has over 600 yards less than a gimmick spread team.
As a Dolphins fan I can understand the move, but absolutely do not agree with it. Before the season started Sparano was adamant that Henne would get the entire season to show what he could do. The fact that he said it "isn't an indictment on Henne's future" just makes it worse. I don't know how they expect him to have any confidence going forward. All that said, the Dolphins' offense has been vastly underachieving, and hopefully Pennington can provide a spark.
It is perfectly reasonable for fans to be unhappy with different aspects of their teams, but I can't fathom how a true fan would root for their team to lose.
Valenti said that Brandon will pull an "Earle Bruce" on RR and fire him the week before the OSU game. Further proof that RR is probably safe for at least one more year.
Although I do sometimes read freep articles before working out, gets me nice and angry.
I think that was Brian Billick.
*crosses arms and looks up at the roof*
Am I the only one who thinks if Rucker does play he should be targeted early and often? I just can't see how practicing once in two weeks and then playing against a veteran QB in a hostile environment can go well. I think Dantonio handled this in the worst possible way from all angles.
A field goal?
And I don't want to start a new thread...but this is my first post, and I think it keeps things perspective. Below is an e-mail I just got. There is no gratuitous Michigan loving or Ohio State hating. It is pure. I hope we can all recognize that watching 20 year olds up and down the field is a game...and there are execeptional heroes we never take notice of. God Bless.
hey brother whats goin on?!?! I actually don't have a phone number right now; I'm deployed in Iraq. But we definitely need to catch up. As you can tell, i'm still in the army but my time is winding down. I actually thought about staying in but i recently decided that it was time to get out when my obligations runs up (may 11). Everything is going well though. The deployment isn't too bad and I'll be home in January. You can see on my profile that I have a nice lady named Nancy. She's really awesome and we've been together for about 2 years now. I'll probably wait a few months once I get back and then ask her to get married. its kinda scary even though I know we're not 21 anymore. Right now i'm still based out of Washington state which is an area I really like a lot. I'm currently working with a company called Alliance that offers a very good career transition service so hopefully they will be able to help me get a good foot into the corporate world. Still love the razorbacks and we have a really good team this year. So are you a wolverines or hoosiers man now? i suppose you have the right to claim both haha. D-robinson is the truth. anyways, man, life is really good for me. What are you up too these days? I see you went to Indiana, what did you study? I'm sure you're making that BANK boi! anyways, hit me up and let me know how life is going. I definitely will shoot you my phone number once I get back and we'll catch up some more brother. Hope life is treating you well!