What I've seen from the practices so far.
Now, i'll start this off by saying information on in this entry is accurate, aside from opinions of course.
Some things I know about the team I feel I should relay:
1. Our RB's **(excluding Smith) can't catch worth a damn & Toussaint is getting a long look as the #1 RB.
**edit: Smith has shown in games he can catch no doubt, but the others worry me...
2. Our o-line will surprise many, lewan is looking more and more like jake long every day. Which will in-turn improve our QB play even more, because how many times did we see tate make an ill-advised throw due to pressure?
3. A 2nd year in GERG's system will greatly reduce the big plays that plagued us last year, our secondary is benefiting from going up against our offense in scrimmages, and you can see the confidence increasing everyday.
4. Odoms and Stonum are also getting long looks at #1 and #2 WR's, roundtree is slot #1.
5. Denard has improved passing, but not enough to warrant a lock on the #1 QB spot. His mistakes are still worrying.
The major question in my head: Will RRod allow gardner to RS and lead the team next year, because right now, he COULD play a good bit, but, is it worth wasting a year on an OK season with 2 other similar QB's when he could have 4 strong seasons?
6. Not surprisingly, the coaches do not want turner back (unless a major major attitude change). They reward hard work and well, he was lacking in that area.
7. RRod accepts physical mistakes (within reason), but he will let you know that he does not mental mistakes. He is old school, just like Bo.
8. I'd be very very surprised if we did not make it to a bowl this year. I strongly feel that our D will be IMPROVED from last year. A second year in GERG's system and a good chunk of returning starters will be the main reason for this, not to mention there is a small sense of urgency around the team.
9. Cullen Christian will see the field a good bit this year, and is playing like he should.
10. The true freshmen (non-early enrollees), haven't seen much in scrimmages, yet, mostly due to summer school and the complete lack of knowledge about plays etc. The older guys are really showing some leadership here, and the coaching staff is helping them along. I'd parallel this to your first day in high school, but that feeling of being completely lost lasts a month.
11. There is a tight knit family atmosphere around the team, and the guys are really thriving from it.
August 13th, 2010 at 6:46 PM ^
It would be weird to think that our Defensive Captain might not even be a starter. It's good to know that he is doing well in his new position.
August 13th, 2010 at 6:42 PM ^
If you've seen football practice in 2008 and 2009, could you comment on the change in LB coaching? Obviously, depth and experience have improved since then, but is there any particular aspect of LB coaching that you feel was especially lacking under Jay Hopson and accounted heavily for the LBs' struggles?
August 13th, 2010 at 6:57 PM ^
I'd love to hear the inside view of that.
August 13th, 2010 at 6:35 PM ^
Wait, how is Odoms getting looks as the #2 (which I assume means the outside receiver) and Roundree is at slot. Odoms is like 5'8. I call BS.
August 13th, 2010 at 6:37 PM ^
steve smith (carolina) is listed as 5'9, you saying he should also be confined to only the slot?
August 13th, 2010 at 6:44 PM ^
Touche, but Steve Smith can fly and I don't think we've seen that yet from Odoms.
August 13th, 2010 at 6:49 PM ^
I've heard that Hemingway has had some mental errors. They might be looking to get the best 3 receivers on the field while keeping Roundtree in the slot where he has excelled.
August 13th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^
with the bevy of quick passes and WR screens we do, having odoms with room to work ain't a bad idea.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:11 PM ^
He did best DRob in the 40 earlier int he year by .01 if I remember correctly. But then again DRob said he was just comming off of being sick. But still, he's not slow by any means.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^
He won the team's fastest man competition in the spring, sooooo false.
August 13th, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^
I read that as well, but it seems hard to believe. He doesn't really strike me as a burner - more of a guy who's shifty after the catch.
August 14th, 2010 at 12:39 PM ^
Odoms was the player that passed Shaw from behind to lay a sick block when Shaw broke free in the Minnesota game two years ago.
Odoms is a burner.
August 14th, 2010 at 11:44 AM ^
Odoms has struggled with alot of the duties ours slots have such as making something out of the bubble screen/quick pass. Where Tae has excelled is drag routes and deep routes...or anything where he can get open against zone. WR makes sense for Odoms, maybe not every down but I like him outside more.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:07 PM ^
Many thanks!!! Probably the best porn i've viewed since April - even better than the videos, i guess i've always preferred to read the articles anyway :-)
August 13th, 2010 at 10:28 PM ^
just like Playboy?
August 13th, 2010 at 7:16 PM ^
What is it about the defense that has you so optimistic? Does that optimism spread to the whole secondary?
August 13th, 2010 at 7:19 PM ^
our mascot kills things, your's protects ends of rainbows.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:30 PM ^
....where there is a pot of gold. GOLD!! =)
August 13th, 2010 at 7:35 PM ^
Is that what they're calling Lucky Charms now?
August 13th, 2010 at 7:36 PM ^
well, you gotta lure the kids in some how...
lol
August 13th, 2010 at 8:14 PM ^
gold
August 13th, 2010 at 10:38 PM ^
fair enough, I am sure I will have my questions answered soon enough
August 14th, 2010 at 1:50 AM ^
Wow I am really glad i clicked on this post.
And that mascot comparison has to be the funniest thing i've heard in a while.
Keep it up FW, it's appreciated.
August 17th, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^
There's comedic gold at the end of that rainbow. +1 to you, sir.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:18 PM ^
I, for one, am rooting for fitz to win the starting job. i think he is the most complete back and its good to hear he is getting some looks
August 13th, 2010 at 7:35 PM ^
For me, it's just that how badly must Obi be playing? No improvement? I just figured he'd have gotten the message last year. But hey, if Moundros is really a better option, then he's really a better option and the coaches will start him.
August 13th, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^
feels like our site just landed a 5 star poster. Thanks for the info. Stop back as much as you like!
August 13th, 2010 at 8:52 PM ^
Oh wow. Thank you for the insight sir, it is much appreciated.
August 13th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
You WILL be going to practice every day and reporting back here, right? :)
August 13th, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
A. Assuming that our record will be the same regardless of which three QBs start:
- Wouldn't it be best to get Gardner some game experience so he's even more prepared next year?
- If Gardner redshirts, then starts next year and Denard moves to slot, wouldn't it be best to start Tate at QB and put Denard at slot (maybe even RB given our situation there) so he can learn it now instead of next year when we should be peaking?
B. How have we looked defending the pass, specifically vertical seams and the curl/flat?
C. Outside of the starters (Woolfolk, Floyd, C. Gordon) who looks good in the secondary?
D. Who looks good at spur/bandit? How long before M. Robinson and Furman are ready?
E. Who shot JFK?
August 13th, 2010 at 11:10 PM ^
I will have a very hard time accepting walk-ons starting in front of scholarship players. We're going into year three of the Rodriguez era; walk-ons should not be starting.
I'm starting to wonder whether RR's choice of starters is based more on the effort a player puts forth in practice than on the talent a player possesses. If that's really the case, RR's costing the team wins and shooting himself in the foot at the same time.
August 13th, 2010 at 11:47 PM ^
You know how stupid that sounds? Are you saying RR wants to lose? Fail.
August 13th, 2010 at 11:57 PM ^
Do you seriously think Rodriguez is just giving A's for effort? You don't think he's trying to put his best players on the field? Kovacs isn't a charity case. He's our leading returning tackler, and was a Freshman All-American last year. He was much more effective last year than the 4-star he replaced (Mike WIlliams). Go watch the MSU game, in which he made seventeen tackles, and tell me he was just out there because he was a go-getter who ran hard in practice.
Besides, walk-ons started under Carr (ever heard of Brian Griese?), and under Moehler, and under Bo, and probably under Crisler and Yost.
August 14th, 2010 at 1:10 AM ^
I suggest you read Misopogon's diary post on Turner's departure for more in depth discussion of the issue.
In any case, I think there is some evidence that RR seems to care more about effort in practice than actual talent on the field. Just look at what he has said about who gets playing time; his quotes have been along the lines of "such and such activity is voluntary...but so is playing time." And ask yourself this: how can a program in its THIRD YEAR under the same coach be starting walk-ons at key positions? How can the same program potentially be starting a walk-on fullback at linebacker? Unless the answer to both questions is that effort is more valued than talent, then It just doesn't make sense.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:27 AM ^
Apparently you have never been on a football team. The players that play are the ones that are most prepared to play on Saturday. Are you saying that because Mike Williams runs faster than Kovacs that he should play even though (this is strictly an example) he doesn't diagnose plays as well. is not in good as shape, doesn't remember the plays etc...
You really just want RR to get the best talent possible and then coddle them and give them what they want so they don't leave?
Misopogan has done some great work but that wasn't one of them. Saban, Meyer, Carroll and the rest would absolutely not allow anyone on the field that did not show it in practice, workouts, film. Their rosters are filled with 4 and 5 stars on the bench or transferred out, because they didn't put in the work to get on the field. The modern coach is pretty lock step in fostering a sense of competition in practice that does not allow anyone to slack.
This is straight out of the Bo Schembechler book. The story of Jeff George is exactly what you are talking about. George was a punk with a great arm....Bo passed on him to get Harbaugh because he was a leader and had guts. You are saying you want the big arm with no heart over guts. Those teams never win the title.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:36 AM ^
With the growth of places like scout and rivals, the star rating is overtaking the general fan's view of talent. While scout and rivals are great to point people in the right direction in terms of who COULD succeed on the college level, it is by no means a definite conclusion. Just because a player does not have a favorable star rating (or lack of one) does not mean he's terrible, or a waste of space on the college level; that's why coaches from each school scout players on there own.
BTW: I'm pretty sure Kovacs is on scholarship now.
August 14th, 2010 at 12:00 PM ^
I have to say you’re right about the star rating not necessarily being a predictor to how an athlete performs on the collegiate level. This is especially true when it comes to Rodriguez and his stint at WVU. After all, he won some big time games with players who proved to outperform their less than stellar rivals/scout ratings.
For example, some of his notable WVU recruits ratings as follows:
Chris Henry 2* WR
Adam Jones 2* DB
Pat White 3* ATH
Steve Slaton 3* ATH
Just to name a few.
I’m sure this has been discussed on this board before, but RR’s record of success with lower rated athletes is undeniable. There is no reason to think he won’t be able to achieve similar results here considering he can get the most out of his players.
From what I’m reading, it seems like he has this team really motivated. I for one am excited to see the product unveiled in 3 weeks. This is truly an exciting time to be a Wolverines fan.
August 14th, 2010 at 12:18 PM ^
...correct. Kovacs has earned a scholarship. He's now a former walk on, scholarship athlete.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:28 AM ^
Take a look at Nebraska. A tradition of walk-ons starting.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:43 AM ^
This is easy to answer, because you set up a straw man and overlook the obvious. You suggest that RR can either value talent or effort.
How about this: Maybe he values football playing ability.
Talent is one component in that, but so is effort, so is intelligence... If a less talented player is a BETTER FOOTBALL PLAYER you better bet he should play, even if he is a "walk-on."
I walked on at Michigan (not football) and beat out scholly guys in my sport. I was less talented, but better. It happens... a lot.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:44 AM ^
The phrase "some workouts are voluntary, but so is playing time" isn't a RichRod thing. It's one of the most widespread expressions in sports. It expresses the notion that to succeed, even the most talented athletes have to put in the work to be ready.
Talent only goes so far. Obi Ezeh is as physically talented as anyone on the team, but we saw time and again last year that talent only helps if a player knows where to be and what to do when he gets there. Sure there are more physically talented Bandits, but Kovacs is the one who gets himself into position to make plays, so why the hell shouldn't he play? Just because he wasn't recruited? Dude is here now, and made 76 tackles as a freshman... let him hit some people.
August 14th, 2010 at 1:24 PM ^
A singer can have a glorious voice, but if she skips rehearsal and screws up the song in performance, who cares how pretty the voice is if it's in the wrong place with the wrong notes? Even though a ballerina has the most grace and charisma in her company, if she skips rehearsal and gets the timing wrong on the leap into her prince's arms, she crashes, probably injures herself (and maybe the poor prince), and the ballet comes crashing down around her. And if she skips her practice time at the barre, more chance she'll tear some connective tissue, making her completely useless to the team. Talent is as talent does. And sometimes (often) true talent doesn't come out until the background work has been done to allow it to show.
Sequeing to RR's mentions about simplifying to reduce the need to think. True talent comes out when you can act on instinct. The thinking and working comes in practice, so that once on stage you can react instinctively. He wants his guys to bring the instinct back. He'll add the more complicated stuff gradually, when they have time to thoroughly rehearse, make it subconscious, and then instinctively let loose the passion and speed once the play begins.
EDIT: Meant as reply to Lumberjack way way above. Agree with South Bend right above, though expressed differently.
August 13th, 2010 at 11:17 PM ^
thanks for the report!
August 13th, 2010 at 11:44 PM ^
FormerWolv...how crisp is MM's tackling? He should understand things at the ILB spot pretty well from having played a postion directly opposite for several years...so if he's picking up the D and getting to the right spots, my only concern is his tackling.....any problem?
August 14th, 2010 at 11:52 AM ^
...has been tackling or lack of it. We won't know how the D responds until they play an actual game. Practice won't give much of a clue imho. My hope is that this team has shaken the tackling whiff illness and proves to be a serious menace to opposing offenses this year, especially to TP/Ohio state
August 14th, 2010 at 12:39 AM ^
I've posted all what I currently know and feel comfortable with relaying to you. Until next time...
August 14th, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^
We all look forward to it!
August 14th, 2010 at 1:11 AM ^
FormerWolv release your ID and I will draw a life like picture of you.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:04 AM ^
it has happened. Ever hear of Henry Hill? Started with the 1968 team as a fourth-string walk-on at 5-10 and 200 lbs. By the end of his senior year in 1970, he was second-team All-America at middle guard. Recorded thirteen tackles against OSU in the '69 game.
Surely you're not going to tell us that Bo would rather lose with a practice gamer than a more talented guy.
August 14th, 2010 at 10:09 AM ^
FormerWolv,
Wanted to get your thoughts on this statement from Brent Yarina in his recap of Michigan's practice
-
What the Wolverines may have in speed and athleticism, they lack in physicality and depth. Once again, this isn't your typical Michigan unit, and it looks like it is better suited to stop offenses like its own.
"This defense will struggle against teams like Iowa and Wisconsin," Gerry DiNardo said. "They're better against the spread than they are against down-the-hill teams."
That could be bad news, with strong running teams such as Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin all on the 2010 schedule.
Everything I've read makes it sound like this is a much more physical team and while the depth issue is obvious it sounds like we're better of this year. What are your thoughts on the ability of the 3-3-5 they're playing to stop the run and the D's ability to match up in the B10? Thanks.