Jasper

November 29th, 2018 at 3:31 PM ^

I'll bite. What was the problem with RichRod's offense? Also, what kind of offense is effective regardless of how good the opposing team's defense is? Does (say) Manball work well against Alabama?

Hey -- the RichRod experience sucked on many levels. But, if the spread was lousy it wouldn't be so popular.

Clarence Boddicker

November 29th, 2018 at 11:10 PM ^

In 2010 he threw for 2570 yards. That was good for 7th in the Big  Ten. In 2011 he threw for 2173, which was good for 5th. In 2010 he rushed for for 1702 yards. That was good for 2nd...in the NCAA. I love Denard as much or more than anyone here. I used to see him around campus and he was electric just hangin. But he did not have arm talent. That's why he got drafted as an wr/rb. But he was one of the best running quarterbacks I've even seen. His vision when he ran...maybe 2nd to none. And jets for legs.

Clarence Boddicker

November 29th, 2018 at 11:40 PM ^

It's a silly point because you're comparing the Rich Rod teams to this years offense as an argument that the Rich Rod offense wasn't one dimensional. But we've run the ball like 65% of the time this year. This year's offense is far too one dimensional so that's a pointless comparison. I'm not sure how you could've watched the Rich Rod teams play and think we had an effective passing game. That offense was hindered by the inability to do that.

JFW

November 29th, 2018 at 4:11 PM ^

Very true. I'd rather have a Urban Meyer type spread rather than RR. To be honest, I think RR's spread got largely downloaded by the end. We didn't do much against MSU or OSU, and that was after going all in on offense. 

So, as I've stated before, I"m rather scheme agnostic. I'd like an offense that can shift into different phases. Maybe a base spread, with power elements when needed to control the clock and some read option from time to time. I'm willing to vary the percentage of what we do based on our opponent and our talent. 

What I *DO NOT WANT* is a ______ Zealot. I don't want a guy who says he wants to have pure manball, pure read option, pure spread, pure.... and RR is too close to that pure ideology to make me comfortable. 

That, and do we really want someone fired after sexual harassment claims? 

michgoblue

November 29th, 2018 at 4:57 PM ^

There were a number of problems with RR's offense:

1.  The RR zone read spread was largely unstoppable when RR rode it to success at WVa with Pat White as QB.  Unfortunately, like any other offensive innovation, eventually defenses catch up and you have to continue to develop and evolve. RR didn't.

2.  RR's offenses really downplayed the passing element, and focused heavily upon running the ball.  The problem with that is that RR was unable to bring in (and largely, did not target) the big boy OL, and instead favored smaller, faster linemen.  When you go up against Wisconsin, MSU (recent vintage), OSU, PSU, ND, etc., you need to be able to stack up in the trenches. 

While you say that the "spread" is very popular, the spread can have many forms.  There are countless versions of the spread.  There are passing spreads, zone read spreads, pistol spreads, the type of "pro style" spread that the Patriots run, the spread that Lloyd Carr used in his last game to shred Urban Meyer's defending national champion Gators, etc/  Nobody has ever said that the spread doesn't work in the Big Ten.  It's that Rich Rod's style of offense was not well suited.  Also, having sat through every single game of that era, it is 100% true that RR's offense put up video game numbers against weaker teams, and completely failed to even move the ball against teams with a pulse.  

michgoblue

November 29th, 2018 at 7:01 PM ^

I was as big of a fan as Denard Robinson is anybody. That said, if you look at what made up those record passing seasons, the nard would pass for a metric ton against crappy defenses and could not move the ball against the better defense is that we played. 

Not remotely trying to rip on Denard. He was a unique talent and he paired very well with Rich Rod’s system. My critique is more of the system and then Denard. 

Schmozerine

November 29th, 2018 at 6:25 PM ^

I would argue our defense was always the issue once our offense got going.

 

take a look at 2010

Total Offense- 9

Passing- 33

Rushing 13

Receiving- 33

 

Compared to 2018

Total offense - 41

Passing- 83

Rushing- 25

Refieving- 83

 

The Rich Rod years were terrible. Never want to repeat that darkness again but to say his offense wasn’t good is not very accurate. We all know the defense was just atrocious.

 

The past couple years our defense has saved our offense way more than manball has helped. 

There have been a plethora of threads regarding our need to adapt to a newer offense. 

(Stats courtesy of ESPN. On phone or I would try copy and pasting). 

Mr Miggle

November 29th, 2018 at 3:46 PM ^

Brandon hired Hoke. Bill Martin hired RR. That coaching search was well documented. You may find it interesting reading.

RR wasn't his first choice and wasn't on the market at all until late in the process. The first guys they approached weren't known for running new fangled offenses; Ferentz and Greg Schiano. They were about as close to Carr's philosophy as you could find.