Tick Tock....
....so says the clock that is ticking in regards to RichRod's job security.
No, I am not hinting he will be fired. I am pretty sure that RR will be back next year. The clock that starts ticking after the horrible showing today is about the security of his job. While I agree with the 5 year plan for RR, I just lopped off one year. Next year is do or die for him. The team just never really progressed after the first 5 games and ended up getting worse, in my eyes. RR and staff were fortunate enough to become bowl eligible and that's a big plus. Now, it's about shoring up top D recruits. Do I think the staff will? No. They couldn't for two seasons so why do I think they can now? And why next year is the year for RR to prove he turn this program around. And when I say program, I mean the entire program including the D. How will he do this? I am going to assume Gerg is going to be given his pink slip. And as I have stated ad nauseam, RR needs to hire a DC who will be allowed to PICK HIS OWN STAFF. I don't fully blame Gerg. I also blame the assistants that RR brought with him. Loyalty is an admirable trait but not when your team's defense gets worse and worse 3 years in a row. In fact, the team needs two HC. One for the O and one for the D. But WTF do I know. I still don't think the D will be all that better next year anyways.
And congrats to OSU. They once again took care of their arch rivals with ease.
Here's looking forward to next year.
And yeah, I know we have a bowl game but win or lose, this season was quite disappointing in how it plunged off a cliff.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:45 PM ^
Seven points. SEVEN.
November 27th, 2010 at 5:12 PM ^
Six point. SIX. Ah ah ah ah.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:47 PM ^
it needs to and the defense won't be much better, if at all, then what is you reasoning for keeping the staff. The offense is good, I grant you that, but EVERYTHING else is in shambles. The recruiting is weak, defensive staff is lost, the defensive players are young and possibly missing the necessary talent to keep the team in games in the near future and a HC who doesn't seem to care about defense or special teams.
All this sounds like a recipe for no progress next year or worse. The schedule next year won't be easier than this year and the defense probably won't be much better either. That combined with the admitted lack of defensive recruiting spells doom for the defense down the road. All that says DB has a HUGE decision to make. The future or this program and its relevance on the college football landscape is hanging in the balance.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
I'm not sold on the offense. If Lloyd Carr didn't habitually call off the dogs when they got up a couple scores, they could have put up some pretty nasty numbers too. The offense's production increases as the point defecit increases as far as Big Ten play (which is the ONLY thing that matters) is concerned.
November 27th, 2010 at 5:01 PM ^
This is an important point. Good teams don't play eight Big Ten games. They play four or five and about half or three-quarters of the remaining three or four games. The gaudy yardage stats are a result of this team playing "more" games than an average Big Ten team.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^
Seems to be happening a lot today.
November 27th, 2010 at 5:02 PM ^
The board is busy and slow.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^
Tick tock.....
November 27th, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^
November 27th, 2010 at 4:50 PM ^
Let's see. "RR should be fired". "RR should be held onto." Got it. Debate set. Now for this since there is nothing more to add to the thread:
November 27th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
I'm looking for evidence.
Yes you can say we improved because we have 2 more wins than last year. But is there any evidence that we will consistently compete for championships? I just don't think I see any.
We can beat weak teams, but RichRod was not brought here to win the MAC (or the Big East, which if UConn prevails you can say we "won"). Is there evidence that we can win Big Ten and National Championships?
There are just too many holes after 3 full years. Special Teams, Defense, turnovers, penalties, dropped balls, can't finish drives in a tight field. We are in game 12. Nobody is a freshman anymore after 12 games.
I need to see evidence that we are becoming a complete team. It's just not there. Next year MSU will be better, NW will be better, Nebraska will be coming in. Does it really look like we will be competitive? After 3 years, I just don't see a line of sight that we will.
November 27th, 2010 at 5:26 PM ^
WILL be better!
November 27th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
Judging by the comments I'm seeing on this board, I think we're turning into Notre Dame fans.
November 27th, 2010 at 5:04 PM ^
No, ND fans think Gruden is going to be their next coach. At least we're not that deluded.
November 27th, 2010 at 5:32 PM ^
I've been looking around, that ND is looking quiet attractive. I think they go to the gym a lot and have a nice upside. Where can I get a nice ring.
s/
November 27th, 2010 at 5:30 PM ^
Were not far off, but we'd still have to fire a couple more coaches to reach, "the point of no return."
November 27th, 2010 at 5:46 PM ^
At least our team still has the potential to be good in the future.
November 27th, 2010 at 5:50 PM ^
November 27th, 2010 at 5:20 PM ^
As fans, I think there should be an outcry. I don't think we're whiners, or ND fans. We're Michigan fans who expect to win games and have a great program we can be proud of. In large part, we're what keeps the program going. So if we don't have high expectations -if we don't expect to be competitive with the best teams in the Big Ten - we will wallow in the middle of that 11, soon to be 12, team board like Indiana, Northwestern, and Illinois.
People are starting to expect us to be middling. Let's not become complacent and think, we'll do it next year. I want RR to succeed. But it's not happening as things stand. So, something needs to change. If they bring in a bunch of great defensive recruits, they'll be the new freshmen, not the seasoned saviors. Are our current freshmen talented enough to excel into their sophomore years and be a great defense? What will hasten that? I don't have the answers, but anyone who wants things to stay the same isn't seeing things as they are. None of our Big Ten wins were impressive. That should be incentive enough.
November 27th, 2010 at 5:44 PM ^
Mods, please increase the point minimum to > 7,000 for posting new threads.
November 27th, 2010 at 5:51 PM ^
And just for you, 700 because of your excellent suggestion.
November 27th, 2010 at 5:51 PM ^
That is awesome. Best ever.
November 27th, 2010 at 5:51 PM ^
Try this! Complain about the future not the past. If you look at the situation moving forward rather than in the rear things look up! We have a bunch of talent on our team as underclassmen with a whole season of experience (and ass whippings) underneath them.
That hasn't happen in quite some time.
It's not that bad. Looking at the current recruits we should be fine. I for one can't wait for the bowl game. Long time coming!
November 27th, 2010 at 5:59 PM ^
But honestly our defensive recruiting is a bit frightening...unless some of the redshirts breakout next year, the dline is going be a mess very soon, and depth throughout the D and special teams remains a hugh problem.
Aug
November 27th, 2010 at 6:24 PM ^
One can be a fan and still criticize.
Just as annoying as all the fire RR extremists are the people who are afraid to take a cogent look at the state of the program.
The team just never really progressed after the first 5 games and ended up getting worse
That could be said of any of the last three years. What's the difference? Where exactly is this forward progress you speak of? Yes, all the freshman will be sophomores next year. But the ones on defense will also most likely be playing for yet another DC too.