October 30th, 2010 at 10:40 PM ^
do you think we might do better going back to a more classic Michigan style?
October 30th, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
Insofaras "classic Michigan style" means stability, yes. If you mean three yards and a cloud of dust, no. The defense will come with time and experience.
October 30th, 2010 at 10:10 PM ^
I feel like we say that a lot now...
October 30th, 2010 at 9:45 PM ^
This is premature. If we finish 7-5 Rodriguez will keep his job, or at least he'll deserve to. At this point (halftime), I'm not optimistic, though.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:59 PM ^
Right now, I only see Purdue as a seriously winnable game. For me, this game is the tipping point. Lousy D, special teams and lousing coaching. Now, the offense looks like last year. Enough is enough.
October 30th, 2010 at 10:07 PM ^
I don't disagree with you except for the last sentence. We should give Rodriguez the chance to prove our pessimism wrong.
October 30th, 2010 at 10:16 PM ^
I don't see that as "seriously winnable." I see that, and every other game this season, as eminently loseable.
I've felt all along that what was just as important as wins for RR this year was that the team finally becomes competitive in the conference, even if we still lose more than we win. If we improve over the course of the season,and keep the games close, that would be a sign that RR is turning the corner. There are still four more games to play, but I have to admit that if we continue to stink it up for the rest of the season, then I don't know what to think any more.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
Does anyone really think Harbaugh would really leave Stanford right now? Don't get me wrong, I would love for Harbaugh to come. He's had good success since he's been a head coach starting with University of San Diego. But does he have the mentality that says that he want's to try to build this thing (Stanford) into a serious contender? Or would the MIchigan job be too important to pass up, if offered obviously.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:47 PM ^
I won't say UM is automatic for him, I bet he takes a lot of pride in having brought Stanford to where they are now, but by the same token he could be a legend if he coached his alma mater back to the top, so you never know.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^
I hate to seem petty but...
October 30th, 2010 at 9:48 PM ^
His stock is sky-high, but if Mich wants him, they'll have to get in line. A lot of teams are eager for his services, from pro programs to the NFL.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:52 PM ^
Good point--the NFL is definitely an option for a guy like him. In our favor, though, Michigan has shown they're willing to pay, and don't discount Brandon's desire to make a huge splash in hiring a new coach.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
I don't know what to say. It is one thing to have a bad team play you tough, but we are getting destroyed by a bad team. I know that youth and injuries are playing a part, but we don't look like we have our heads in the game at all.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
October 30th, 2010 at 9:52 PM ^
I voted today, and one of the U-M Regents candidates was running on the "Fire RR" ticket!
October 30th, 2010 at 9:47 PM ^
now the real worry is the last game. if we go down there and get blown out, it's a sad day for Rich Rod (whom I genuinely like and think is a good guy) and more rebuilding with a different coach....
The one thing I find strange: why is everyone so sure Harbaugh would come? Ever lived in Palo Alto? It's pretty nice out there...
October 30th, 2010 at 9:47 PM ^
This staff has been in over their head since the beginning. No defense for three years and now no offense either. It's sad when you get outcoached by an 83-yr old who probably doesn't even know what's going on.
October 30th, 2010 at 11:18 PM ^
but let's not pretend that he's actually coaching this team.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
With this line, this quarterback, this receiving corps, we have 10 points against a terrible, awful Penn State team.
It's not a lack of talent on offense. He's an offensive-minded coach.
I've been a huge, huge Rodriguez defender but I can't defend this. Win or lose isn't a huge deal to me tonight, but if we don't put up points.. like at least 30 points in this game, I think I'm done. It's gonna suck that we have to start over, but how is our offense going to get much better than this?
We have the best quarterback possible for this system. Very good O-Line and receivers. I don't understand. I love Rich Rod and thought he was the one that would make this team awesome, but if we don't win 7 games I'm more than happy with finding someone new. And at this point not even Purdue is looking like a lock.
October 31st, 2010 at 7:10 AM ^
gaining experience. You realize it is a true sophmore who is starting right? The offense will continue to improve. The question is can our defense do the same. I think the answer to that is yes, because there is even more inexperience there. I am just not sure if Gerg is the guy to do it anymore.
I have been a supporter of both RR and Gerg from the time each was hired. I continue to support RR inspite of what is transpiring now, as I think he can get it done. In Gerg's case, I thought the inexperience was the cause of the problems (and I know that is the main cause). But when you can't prepare a unit better than this after a bye week, I don't know what to think anymore.
I never expected our defense to be good this year, but I thought that a good coach would be able to get this unit to look good against an offense like penn state with a walk-on running the show. Seriously, we are lacking talent and experience, but is this the best we can reasonably expect from this group? I have to imagine that another DC could have them performing better......maybe I'm wrong though.
I guess in short, I just don't know what to think anymore. I hate pointing fingers and trying to find blame. I am just very very sad at the state of affairs with my favorite team in all of sport and hope they can find the answers.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:50 PM ^
I still have faith in RR. But I have absolutely no faith in GERG. Yes, we're young on D, but we're not getting better at all.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:52 PM ^
Gerg isn't responsible for 10 points against a garbage Penn State team in the first half. I agree with you for the most part, haven't completely lost faith yet, but it's not like our offense is absolutely dominant against the good B10 teams and our D is letting us down.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
The offense has hardly had the ball. I don't think they're playing that badly. The D isn't getting them the ball.
October 30th, 2010 at 10:07 PM ^
As many times as Penn State...
October 30th, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
Agreed, but our offense and special teams have been a major letdown the past two and a half weeks. You have to admit that. It's a whole-team implosion.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^
October 30th, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^
on Monday. How can you defend this team now. Mike Martin going down is unfortunate, but continuing this 3-3-5 crap is pointless! Put five lineman in there and force this kid to throw. Maybe an INT.
RR will certainly be taking a loss on his house when he moves. Didn't Bill Martin's bank finance that too? How's that working out?
October 30th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
After the game...
October 30th, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^
i thought coming on here would help but its not, I am out and I don't know where I am going.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
I still think the game is far from over, but it will take some luck. PSU is not going to be perfect for the entire game, so keep it close and see what happens.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
LAst year it was Brown and Minor both missing significant time. Now Shaw and Fitz can't get to the field. What the hell goes on in practice.
RR will have a tough time finding a new gig next year.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
On the bright side, if PSU is as bad as we thought, we still have a chance.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
I am reserving judgement until the game is over.....but I will say that I have an eerily similar feeling that I had last Halloween watching Minor Rage get stuffed 4 plays in a row at the goal line in Champagne and then Juice williams taking a 1-win Illini to a convincing win.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^
because its all so brutal. Its an ugly mess. Sorry.
October 30th, 2010 at 10:00 PM ^
Kills Halloween again?
October 30th, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^
I've heard through the rumor mill that this has already happened, Penn State game notwithstanding. Can anyone confirm?
October 30th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
from the beginning. When he has his 8mm kidney stone removed Monday, he's going to give me an earful.
Man this shit sucks!
October 30th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
October 30th, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
October 30th, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
October 30th, 2010 at 9:59 PM ^
I genuinely feel bad for RR in that, like many others have said, I really wanted him to succeed, not just because I wanted wins for us, but because he seems like a good guy. I think he gets fairly criticized for the results on the field--he's ultimately given us little to cheer about when it comes to victories. But he got a really raw deal from the media from the moment he was hired, and all that crap--leaving WVU, the buyout, the lawsuits, the practice hours bullshit--was unfair and just bad luck. He should be remembered for not producing wins, but not for all of that media-fabricated crap.
October 30th, 2010 at 10:06 PM ^
4 million dollars will assuage whatever 'bad' feelings he has.
October 30th, 2010 at 10:35 PM ^
Is that his contractual severance? The NCAA judgment gives cause to fire without severance, in my humble opinion?
October 30th, 2010 at 9:59 PM ^
They still can't tackle shit. It's like watching a bunch of kids try to pick up a greased watermelon.
October 30th, 2010 at 10:03 PM ^
Greased watermelon fight, AKA Michigan defense tackling drill
October 30th, 2010 at 10:03 PM ^
I have been a RR staunch supporter but to lay an egg like THAT in the first half is embarrassing. This team needs to play its hearts out in the second half.
October 30th, 2010 at 10:02 PM ^
The offense is fine, mistakes yes, but talented. Our head coach is an offensive minded coach and that is clear.
Where we need help is getting more talented defensive players and having some assemblance of a special teams group. With our defense weak, giving them great field position is a setup for touchdown after touchdown.
The last two years have been painful, even worse than the year we went to the Holiday Bowl and were beat by an undefeated BYU team.
Firing coach Rodriguez will not get us talented defensive or special teams' players. Let's see how the season pans out before calling for his head.
October 30th, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^
As the head coach, Rodriguez still bears responsibility for the defense. Either he's doing something to screw up the defense or he's done a terrible job when it comes to hiring defensive assistants. Either way, the defense is on him.