CC: Interesting article! This could be the tell all by tues morning!
January 1st, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^
Yes!
So we get to keep RIch Rod after all! :)
He has made Michigan in to the 6th best offense in the nation this year. He helped make Denard into the first 2000-1500 player. The nation's top all around runningback recruit, Dee Hart, will commit to Michigan ONLY IF Rich Rod is still the coach. Michigan won more games in 2009 than 2008 and more games in 2010 than 2009.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:34 PM ^
No, we were not the 6th best offense in the nation this year. Not by a long fucking shot.
Sixth most yards per game does not remotely translate into sixth "best" offense when we are frequently unable to put points on the board against good competition.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^
It was 5th best offense before the bowl game. And you can't argue with stats. Fifth best is fifth best is fifth best.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^
You don't get it. Fifth most yards per game does not = fifth "best".
We scored 17 points against Michigan State. 7 against Ohio State. 14 in our bowl game. If you take away the 22 overtime points against Illinois, our ppg in the Big 10 were basically the same as in 2005 -- the year of "infinite sadness". Running up yards against the Bowling Green's of the world doesn't make up for that.
You have to be utterly delusional to argue that this was the fifth best offense in college football this year.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
We do not have the 6th best offense in the country. Our offense can't do sh*t against a physical defense.
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:28 AM ^
What about the defense?
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:44 AM ^
We have one?
January 2nd, 2011 at 11:38 AM ^
Our offense performs more poorly when they are playing from far behind. Similarly, in 2008, our relatively talented defense performed poorly because they were playing from far behind. We all love statistics and numbers and analysis: but we need to remember that football is a game played by humans, not numerals, and psychology and motivation play a big role in the performance of teams. College football, in particular, is a momentum sport.
All this to say that the thesis that "our offense sucks" because it didn't put up points when playing from far behind is too simplistic. If our defense was serviceable, and the game was more competitive, I bet you that our offense would have performed better.
As evidence, I would point out that Michigan did put up a lot of yards and points against some of its opponents with excellent defenses--esp. Iowa and Illinois.
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:11 AM ^
If only there was a stat that adjusted for opponent strength and looked comprehensively at offensive output.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaaoff
Michigan is #3.
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:23 AM ^
And yet, nine of Mississippi State's 12 regular-season opponents scored more points against them than we did. The same was true for OSU. In fact, against the five best defenses we faced (OSU, Iowa, Miss State, MSU, Wisc), our supposedly awesome offense averaged a whopping 18.8 points per game. Unfortunately for the RR fans, it's points, not yards, that decide games.
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:31 AM ^
yes. this. ㅜㅜ
January 2nd, 2011 at 4:40 AM ^
Jmblue, that is some strawman shit right there, picking the 5 best teams we played for your stat. You can easily make your point without resorting to such tactics.
January 2nd, 2011 at 8:12 AM ^
Great O to go with the other two phases in football, D and ST, oh wait.
January 2nd, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
but Mississippi St. is a GOOD team. They started 8 Jr./Sr. on offense 6 Jr./Sr. on defense. NO FRESHMAN. They would stack up favorably against the upper tier of the Big Ten, something we do not. Not only that, but they are building something at MSU, a place where building rarely happens, such as been done at TCU or Boise St. A place where they are underdogs and expectations have been low. It's easier to build a team in that environment. You take that same staff, and recruit those same players here at Michigan and they would probably not have the same success they are having now. You would have folks talking about Mullen being an outsider, about changing of the guard, a lot of the same things we have now to muck up the works.
I know it seems like ages that this has been said, but we do have a young team. A young team that I'm sure played under tremendous pressure to win yesterday. This is not the best that Coach Rod or the team can do; if he remains as head coach, next year will be better. At the very least we'll finally have a So./Jr. laden squad.
January 2nd, 2011 at 10:45 AM ^
The only stat that matters. We don't score many of them against better teams.
January 2nd, 2011 at 7:10 AM ^
yeah I find it a bit sad that in LC's 12 years as HC the worst season he ever had was 7-5 and the majority of people were screaming get rid of him. Meanwhile 7-5 is the Best that RR has done and many people are screaming his praises.
January 2nd, 2011 at 10:17 AM ^
I'm not thrilled with 7-5, but I don't give a damn whether or not RR is a good coach during a transition period. I'm excited about the fact that when everything is set the team will be phenomenal. They will win a national championship, big ten championships and just be an outstanding team without any sense of violating integrity.
It frustrates me that we were willing to go through the entire bad transition and now that we're finally about to be good we might decide to do it again and end up back in the Bo era. And frankly, without Bo, the Bo era isn't shit.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:53 PM ^
I've come to the realization that total yards isn't a great indicator of the effectiveness of the offense. It certainly doesn't help with 4th down conversions (0 for 5 today).
Michigan didn't score past the first quarter in the past two games. The reality is the current offense is not very consistent. It has flashes of brilliance but can also disappear for long stretches of time. Missippi State runs an offense pretty similar to Michigan's and it was much more effective today.
January 1st, 2011 at 11:11 PM ^
West Virginia defense (yes with that awesome 3 3 5) was #3 in the country .... but got shelled by NC State 23 - 7. Also Syracuse was #5 in defense in the country ... but who did they play.
Unfortunately, when we played any of the "better" B1G teams .... our offense was nowhere nearly as good as it was playing Bowling Green, etc. Maybe our offense looked so good because our defense looked (and was ranked) so bad.
Point is these stats are simple averages. They, like the transitive property, are not very meaningful wen the game is played on the field.
Go Blue !
January 1st, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^
Not to get all personal, but are you out of your fucking mind. 6th best offense? Sorry, we are not a top 25 offense. Against good competition, we completely fold ON OFFENSE. WE put up 1 td against osu and 2 against MSU (not that MSU). In both games, we were shut out after the first quarter. Sorry, anyone who still repeats the "6th best offense" meme needs to put down the kool-aid. Our offense only looks good because it is being compared to our pathetic special teams and defense.
Keep RR? I actually like the guy, but in 3 years, he has completely unraveled a great program. We are a joke. Rivals laugh at us. And, I have never before as a M fan felt that a 31-14 half-time deficit was a guaranteed loss. Here, I did.
I don't care of some of the factors causing this were beyond his control. At this point, we need to make a major change - bring in JH, hell bring in Hoke. Hell, bring in anyone. But this is not working.
January 2nd, 2011 at 10:57 AM ^
January 1st, 2011 at 10:52 PM ^
Does anyone think he would have made a major difference today or in the other games Michigan lost? Maybe he'd find some cut back lanes but I don't think our current RBs are that bad - rather there are other issues that have limited the running game.
January 1st, 2011 at 11:12 PM ^
Sometimes the threat of an effective running back is as important as the running back actually being effictive. If Dee Hart is better than Michigans current RBs (very possible) then Ds will need to pay him more attention, instead of only worrying about Denard. The RB's quality can take the pressure off of the QB.
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:24 AM ^
It still doesn't matter if your OL is getting pushed around all day, as it was today.
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:40 AM ^
Also true.
January 1st, 2011 at 11:15 PM ^
I dont see in the part of the article about Harbaugh where it says we're keeping Rod. It basically says the 49ers HOPE they can get Harbaugh, and have a plan B in place in case he elects to go to Michigan (which ESPN Insider Adam Schefter says is the likely scenario).
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:08 AM ^
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:26 AM ^
So we get to keep RIch Rod after all! :)
Nope. It just might mean we'll get Hoke instead. RR is gone, period.
January 2nd, 2011 at 8:18 AM ^
Something about this story doesn't make sense:
"Team president and CEO Jed York said the next general manager will pick the coach to replace Mike Singletary, who was fired Sunday when the 5-10 49ers were eliminated from the NFC West race.
Baalke confirmed Friday that he will "visit" with York...but again, they first must hire a GM so he can then hire the next head coach. That will not come until next week, sources said."
So the Niners are going to put a press on Harbaugh Tuesday morning, but won't make any offers to coaches until they've gotten their front office in order next week? If DB offers, it's going to be first thing Tuesday morning. The Niners are going to miss the window while they dither with their GM position, which it appears they are going to fill from within anyway.
To those asking why he would want the 49ers job: I liken Michigan to the college sweetheart you know you could be happy with the rest of your life, and an NFL job to the hot chick you've always wanted to root but never really got the chance and now she's offering herself to you. You know it's over and oh it never really began but it's a risk your loins want you to take.
January 2nd, 2011 at 9:55 AM ^
is only ONE player, and we are talking about a TEAM here. I also find it funny that all the RR apologists on this board think Dee wouldn't play for Harbaugh. He may be talking tough because he likes Rich, but that doesn't mean he will leave for sure. Check out the success of JH's recent backs. Anyone remember Gerhardt?
SCORING offense is the only thing that matters, since that's what they base the outcome of games on.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:26 PM ^
There may be a battle in the football underworld, with demons and gremlins and bridge trolls all breathing fire and crumbling castles and killing little poor innocent furry creatures with baby eyes for the attention of Jim H and his band of perfection knights.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:26 PM ^
This team is on the cusp of greatness!
<br>
<br>RR is the greatest offensive mind in history!
<br>
<br>Oh, wait.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:29 PM ^
Go fuck yourself!
January 1st, 2011 at 10:43 PM ^
Not called for.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:49 PM ^
There is a reply button for a reason.
January 1st, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^
Un necessary.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:30 PM ^
on ESPN.com, Bruce Feldman says Urban Meyer could return to the sidelines at...
Ohio State, succeeding Jim Tressel.
I just pooped my pants.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
Bruce Feldman is doing what ESPN does: throw shit at the wall.
As for this thread topic: duh? It was pretty obvious that Harbaugh was going to be the 49ers target.
January 1st, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
January 1st, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
Sorry I think my wife started her period!
January 1st, 2011 at 11:38 PM ^
I'm really not interested in all the hot details of your wife's period.
January 2nd, 2011 at 4:44 AM ^
Two wrongs don't make a right, but...go die in a fire.
/hypocrite, I know.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:35 PM ^
I'd be worried if Michigan wasn't such a great job. Plus the 49ers are cheap. Michigan can basically match what the Yorks would pay a coach by giving him Rich's salary. You know Michigan will offer more than that.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:42 PM ^
but incentives and ego go into play.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:43 PM ^
he can always come back to college football. he may not always have the opportunity to coach in the NFL.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:51 PM ^
Are you serious? Aren't there like 7 or 8 NFL jobs open right now? How many coaches has Michigan had in my 30 year life span? This could be his last shot to coach his alma mater. The NFL fires coaches all the time.
January 1st, 2011 at 11:28 PM ^
Jobs in the NFL open up every year. Jobs at high level college football programs, on the other hand, not as much.
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:27 AM ^
And more specifically, the job at his alma mater very rarely comes open.
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:31 AM ^
And more specifically, the job at his alma mater very rarely comes open.
January 2nd, 2011 at 1:59 AM ^
is likely to be more secure.
The Michigan football team will have clear resource/tradition advantages over most of its competition. The 49ers dollars, on the other hand, spend no differently than do those of the other NFL teams.
Of course, JH might just see himself as the next Bill Walsh