Problems on D go all the way back to OSU 2006
No one is happy with the state of the D. Okay. But this is not a recent phenomenon. Go back to the 2006 OSU game, that D gave up 503 yards and 42 points. The next game, USC played it conservative in the first half until they started throwing the ball at which point they completed @ 12 straight (not attempted, completed). The following fall brought us "The Horror" which yielded 34 points to a 1AA tam. And then came a lovely 39 point, 624 yard game to Oregon. Later that year Wisconsin topped it off with a 37 point, 477 yard performance. And that was all under Lloyd's watch (a Defense minded, conservative coach). We all know the early RichRod era results.
My point is, the D has been susceptible to passing AND running attacks since the end of the 2006 season. There are many reasons but one key one is: Michigan has traditionally had LB's that were geared to stop the run and hopefully not hurt you in passing situations. That doesn't cut it anymore. Obi Ezeh (bless his run stopping heart), even in his interviews speaks to the fact that he comes off the field in passing downs now. Jonas Mouton is the best coverage LB (remember he was a safety in high school). If you blitz Mouton, who do you have left in the LB group to play coverage (Ezeh, Roh, Leach, Demens, Fitzgerald). All of them are run stopping LB's.
It's easy to argue a 4-2 would be better, but that would assume you have 5 DB's who would count as your best 11 players. Maybe next year or the year after.
Sadly, I think this adds up to the coaches are doing the best with what they have. If you want to blame the coaches for lack of recruiting, fine, but start where it all began, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009.
Hopefully, Jack Ryan, Isiah Bell, Mike Jones, and others start the trend LB's who can stop the run and cover people. Until then, enjoy the offense.
October 5th, 2010 at 7:18 PM ^
Title: Don't like it, don't read it. First subject: When you started on MGoBlog. Quick switch tangent to your sports playing at an old age while being 145lb. Revert back to main point.
Not that I don't like the story, it was just a bit odd. Anyway, I think the main point that people are tired of reiterated threads, or information that is obvious. I don't necessarily think this was that bad of a thread and I don't think it should have had any "I wish the point total would be raised to start a thread" talk. It didn't really provide much new, and I, like it seems quite a few others, don't agree with his conclusion. But it's not "mgoblue.com says the game starts at 3:30. Does it really start at 3:30?" and it's not "Are defense sucks and there is nothing we can do about it!" It also wasn't a diary which I am extremely thankful for because at the start of the season there was about 30 new diaries a day that were of the OP quality. I think what the OP said is perfectly fine for a board topic, it can bring about debate, which it has done to a degree for those not focusing on the other topic that has developed here. It's really not that bad.
I do think Brian should address this constant "Point total needs to be raised" meme that's going on around here. It isn't the point total that is necessarily the problem, just a lot of bad boards have been created lately (this isn't a slight at this topic). I understand a lot of them come from new members, but some new members have been adding some good things as well. It took me a while to grasp what goes on around here but I think I at least had the idea of board posting at 100 points, therefore I think that's a good enough total to quit posting. If you don't know by then, then you aren't going to figure it out I would assume. And I still see lots of pointless or redundant threads from "experienced" members everyday. This isn't a new member phenomenon.
October 5th, 2010 at 6:58 PM ^
You mean our defense in '06 sucked because we had trouble stopping the Heisman trophy winner? you know, the guy who is supposed to be THE BEST PLAYER in college football?
What a shame. Then we went on to play USC in a bowl and had trouble with a team that sent 20+ guys to the NFL.
Yes, the '06 defense was the root of it all. Clearly.
October 5th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^
Leaving aside the "noob" debate, the original post's preimse is whack. The 2006 defense gave up a ton of yards (both passing and rushing) in exactly one game - OSU, which, as noted, had the Heisman trophy winner. Then, against USC, unlike what the OP said ("My point is, the D has been susceptible to passing AND running attacks since the end of the 2006 season.") the game was 3-3 at half. As OP noted, USC couldn't run the ball for sh*t. Then, Carroll said, "Screw it" and just threw the ball.
USC had 48 total rushing yards (for a robust 2.1 YPC). So, no, the D's problems didn't start at the end of 2006. That was a great rushing defense and a pretty good pass defense. This year we have a below average rushing defense and an epically poor passing defense. Comparing them is not really comparable.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^
If you want to blame the coaches for lack of recruiting, fine, but start where it all began, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009.
I am fine with the general proposition that Rodriguez was left with a barren cupboard on defense. But I fail to see how he can use any problems with the 2003-2005 recruiting classes as an excuse, since all of those players have graduated by now.
Any problems with the 2006 class is a fair point -- Rodriguez certainly didn't inherit many talented players who are now seniors (though, to be fair, the two best guys from that class left early for the NFL).
2007 is at least half on Rodriguez. 2008 and 2009 are entirely Rodriguez.
Essentially, come next year the "Lloyd left the cupboard bare" argument should really fall by the wayside.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:08 PM ^
I think the problem goes back a bit further with Donovan Mcnabb running all over us. I think UGA is having the same problems and trend as we speak. It seems that teams struggle on Defense and OL when they don't hit in practices. I cannot remember the exact moment when Lloyd went this route, but it seems as if our "D" began struggling without the hitting. UGA like us went this route to avoid injuries, and for the first time in quite a while seem to really struggle on defense with tackling etc. JMO.
Thanks,
October 5th, 2010 at 11:08 PM ^
The main problem I have with multiple posts or different opinions on the same idea is that I do not always get a chance to read the OP's and Diaries every day during work and therefore do not enjoy having to fight through multiple same idea threads late at night to find something interesting or worth the time to read, being new I will not neg someone for their idea, but I agree I use this site as my main source for reliable Michigan information and have seen many more new (aka low point folk) putting up their thoughts which can be included in other threads and cut down on having to go to page 3 to find something worth while.
October 6th, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^
Ok, I was disjoint. My point is this... some people are genius re. football on this site. Some of these genius people (don't want to say geniuses because I might misspell it and get negged by the Harvard of the West grammar nazis (me BSEE 1981 BTW) get annoyed with newbies who either don't have their knowledge or are unaware that what they are posting has already been discussed. I actually play team sports and have gained new perspective into what makes a team successful and how long that takes (years), having played on both championship teams and crap teams. I also watched my son's football team go from 1-8 to 9-1 in three years. So, big pointers, although they may have played sports long ago to get their knowledge, have forgotten what it's like to actually be on a team (I know some of this type personally-think they could fix our team by just doing such and such...). As newbies annoy them, they-sitting on their couches with their big bellies and a beer- annoy me. I would like to know of any big pointers on this site who actually play sports anymore. I have my doubts.... So, leave us newbies and low pointers alone, and I will leave you guys on your couches. ha ha