As usual, Wojo brings sanity to UM D discussion
Wojo, as usual brings the sanity in his column today on the state of Michigan's program and the defensive development:
Again, Wojo actually uses sourced quotes (not "my peeps tell me", or "Michigan power brokers who refuse to go on record say") and backs up his opinions.
Summary:
- yes, personnel problems exist
- yes, Greg Robinson is doing a poor job, but changing DC's midseason isn't a magic wand to cure the problems
- RR believes he's buying time to restock the defense with an offense that's winning games at Oregon and Auburn
- Ultimately, if RR can't get to a bowl game after 12 opportunities to win one game over two years to get bowl eligible, then he deserves to be fired. (and you know what, putting it that way, I agree)
Agree or disagree, it's always nice to read Wojo who outside of funny picks columns on Fridays, generally looks at an issue rationally and lays out his arguments, staying away from red herrings, ad hominems, and "I'm smarter than the coach" type writing. Good job, Fat Man.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:40 AM ^
Wojo is one of a few level-headed journalists.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:38 AM ^
I am convinced Wojo is not a Michigan fan. I can't figure out how he can be so damn rational ALL THE TIME.
Speaking of which, Donovan McNabb blows my mind as well. I can't believe how well that guy handles himself publically during adversity. Sure, there have been a couple incidients over the years, but for the most part, that guy is so classy in the media. Say what you want about him as a player (I have never had a vested interest in him unless he was playing the Lions) but I find that guy incredibly easy to root for (except when he is playing the Lions.)
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:44 AM ^
And well thought out. I really do hope to see progress in the last 4 games and come out with at least 2 more wins.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:56 AM ^
Half of a team. Lol
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November 2nd, 2010 at 8:07 AM ^
Good article, but Oregon and Auburn both run more complex spreads than Rodriguez. Rod doesn't use much motion out of the slot (close to none, I might have seen it once or twice all year) and he hasn't run much midline. The offense is still good, but they need to start out faster than they have.
November 2nd, 2010 at 8:55 AM ^
Agree on Oregon, but not as much on Auburn. Auburn does throw down field more, but its offense, particularly on the run side is no more sophisticated than ours. And they have stud running backs three deep.
November 2nd, 2010 at 9:09 AM ^
It's in the playbook, but why he doesn't use all of the playbook that is available to him is beyond me. He either has serious trust issues, or our offense has the dumbest football IQ in America, and can only grasp and execute so much. I am not liking his reluctance to go out with all the guns blazing.
November 2nd, 2010 at 9:26 AM ^
Yes, let's complain about how our offense isn't quite as good as Auburn's or Oregon's. But totally ignore the defense.
Sanity FAIL.
November 2nd, 2010 at 9:39 AM ^
That the offense is still pretty young as well... and RR has even said that they have not opened the playbook completely this year. I didn't expect them to until next year anyway. I am not sure it would matter too much anyway. They're scoring a bunch of points. Now let's get the defense to score some points!
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^
that this crippled offense run by mentally challenged players is #4 in the country in yards/game.
Dear MGoPosters,
If you find yourself bitching about the offense, given EVERYTHING ELSE that is happening, perhaps you should just stop right there and go do something else.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:40 AM ^
doesn't win games. There are huge issues with the defense, but in the last 3 games UM's offense is only averaging 9 pts in the first half. That's part of the reason UM's found itself in such big holes in the second halfs.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^
Is it the 9 first half points/game over the last three games that the offense has scored? Or is it the 22 first half points/game that the defense has given up over that span? If you don't like yards/game, how about 19th in points per game.
I think we have bigger problems than the offense.
November 2nd, 2010 at 12:02 PM ^
"The reason UMs found itself in such big holes in the second halfs (sic)" is BECAUSE OF THE DEFENSE GIVING UP TDS ON 80% OF OPPONENT'S DRIVES.
If the defense was stopping even SOME of opposing drives, the scores at half would probably be more like UM 9: 10 OTHER instead of UM 9: 28 OTHER.
November 2nd, 2010 at 8:17 AM ^
That was a very well written and comprehensive analysis.
November 2nd, 2010 at 8:24 AM ^
That's as damning a fact as anything else you can point to.
November 2nd, 2010 at 8:35 AM ^
explains all that needs to be said. If it doesn't change in the next two weeks, a win over OSU at the Shoe may not even help.
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^
If that makes us 6-6. To me, even though I'd love nothing more than to win there, I would still feel that he should go (I'm saying this for the first time ever)
November 2nd, 2010 at 9:13 AM ^
I would be ASTOUNDED if RR was let go after we beat OSU @ the Shoe, we get 15 more practices, we get a bowl game, and not to mention the momentum that carries into the next season....but hey I should of really just stopped at beat OSU @ the Shoe.
November 2nd, 2010 at 9:35 AM ^
Right now we are so far away from winning a game against Ohio State that we might as well be plotting to take down the Steelers.
November 2nd, 2010 at 9:57 AM ^
Winning the game against OSU has gotten "LOL obviously" in this discussion, hasn't it?
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:11 AM ^
that highlights the most damning numbers in the Rodriguez era so far: 4-16 in the Big Ten, 0-8 when trying to qualify for a bowl, 106th in defense in his third year.
Not even close to the minimum standards for Michigan football.
I hope Rodriguez gets over the hump and we avoid another coaching turnover. Another turnover would be painful. I was excited by his hire and his offense is exciting and explosive. But we have no defense. And we can't seem to beat any decent Big Ten teams (except for a miraculous comeback win against Wisconsin a couple years ago).
I'm not the most optimistic right now.
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:16 AM ^
Coming into the year I told my son that I would not be happy with 6-6. After 5-0 I can honestly say, I WILL NOT BE HAPPY WITH 6-6!!!!! If thats the best we can do after 5-7 last year....then let the heads roll!
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:30 AM ^
Coming into the year I told the plant in the corner of my house that I would be happy with any sort of progress and would try to understand the bigger picture. SO I WILL BE HAPPY WITH ANY SORT OF PROGRESS!!!!!
The plant and I try and support the team. We're cool like that.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
at least your plant is loyal...mine wears green to support Sparty. I put ants in his pot.
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:35 AM ^
The lack of clinching wins is incredibly damning. I think RR and co. would agree that they need to win at least 2 more games before they are secure, but if he fails the next two weeks then he deserves to be gone. That said, I still have faith that UM comes out and takes care of business against Illinois this week.
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:59 AM ^
I think in this context, the lack of a "program defining / signature win" is really what's holding us back. The Wiscy win in '08 was a fluke, and both ND victories have proven to be shallow against the backdrop of the entire season. RR & Co need that "defining win" to show that with all the other "progress" being seen, there's tangible progress in wins/losses to show as well. Could be an upset of Wiscy or tOSU where we actually beat the opponents as opposed to having them give the game away / fluky D score or special teams play. I'm more inclined to think that if it happens this year, it will be a bowl game win that gets us to win #8 on the season. Examples off the top of my head in terms of program defining wins for contemporary coaches:
- Mack Brown finally beating Oklahoma to get to the Big 12 title game
- Harbaugh's Stanford upset of USC that arguably set the stage for the next year's success
- Tressel beating us in his first The Game after hyping it for an entire year.
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^
Harbaugh went 5-7 the year after they beat USC in 2007 (a one game improvement on the year before).
Mack Brown didn't beat a good OU team (he did win in Stoops' first year against a team that finished 7-5) to get to the Big 12 title game until his 8th season in Austin.
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^
I agree that the defining win has hurt, but the fact that UM fans actually have to fret about bowl eligibility is what is so troubling for me. UM will beat OSU/MSU/PSU/Wiscy/Iowa/Etc. one day - that is inevitable. But right now, the fact that they are legit underdogs to farking Illinois AT HOME (and probably won't win more than 7-8 games all year) is what is troubling to me.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
that all you need to do is be rational in order to be a "good" reporter?
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:27 AM ^
Measuring offense by yards gained when a lot of those yards are gained when you're down 3 TDs, and then getting all excited by that ... well, that's what losing football programs do. Iowa and Penn State and Michigan State weren't exactly frothing at the mouth to deny us yards given the game situation.
November 2nd, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^
Wojo just added another, "clinching wins"= 0. The numbers regarding the overall record, how many Big 10 wins, how many "clinching" wins, home wins, etc., are becoming compelling.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:52 PM ^
just answered my own question i acutally asked in a previous thread, but there was a circulating rumor at gbw that involved moeller coming back as a "consultant". It has been since debunked by fox detroit
http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/11/02/10/Moeller-denies-Michigan-return…