For hundreds of Michigan fans across the country, this year has been nothing short of disastrous. A 2-4 record, including losses to Notre Dame and lowly Toledo have made fans scratch their heads in wonder and curse the wizard known as Rich Rodriguez.
The question is where does the blame truly lie? It's obvious when watching the post-game interviews that Rodriguez is clearly flustered and is struggling as much as his players are.
But remember this. 95 percent of Michigan's players were recruited by Lloyd Carr to run the pro-style offense that has been Ann Arbor's signature since the 80's. Rodriguez needs more Sam McGuffie and Martavious Odoms-type players to run his offense. And you think he misses Pat White this season?
Michigan's defense, laden with NFL caliber talent, has been a huge disappointment. While Scott Schafer may be to blame for some of their problems, many players seem to struggle for no apparent reason. Morgan Trent, Charles Stewart, and Stevie Brown have been dismal in the secondary.
Obi Ezeh has been a stud but Jonas Moutan and John Thompson have been mediocre counterparts in the linebacking corps. The defensive line has been brilliant at times and terribly average at others.
The offense is an another matter entirely. Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan are not equipped to run this offense. The offense line has been moved and switched so often consistency has been extremely difficult to find.
Martavious Odoms has been an excellent vertical threat so far, and Greg Matthews has shown that he can be the go-to guy for the receivers. Toney Clemons, Zion Babb, and freshman stud Daryll Stonum have been, well, bad.
Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown have basically done nothing. Minor is averaging a fumble a game and Brown has been injured too often to see the field. Michael Shaw shown talent at times, but like so many other Wolverine players, fumbles often and seems to be in Rodriguez's doghouse. Only youtube phenomenon Sam McGuffie has proved that he belongs in the spread, and he's a freshman.
Michigan fans have clamored at the losses and asked, "Why not run a pro-style offense?" or "Why are we running a spread that doesn't work?". While running a few more pro-style sets wouldn't be detrimental to team growth, the coaching staff wants every player to become more comfortable and learned with the spread offense. It's not a simple offense.
For wide receivers, it involves more than just simple passing routes, but certain designed runs and screens, and to be blunt, Michigan doesn't have the type of players they need at the receiver position.
The offensive line has always had simple blocking schemes,and now they are pulling and zone-blocking when they have never done so in the past. That, and they lost three NFL caliber linemen to the draft/graduation.
So what does this mean for Michigan fans? Next years recruiting class features two of the countries best dual-threat quarterbacks in Tate Forcier and Shavodrick Beaver. The rest of the class includes four running backs, two wide receivers, one athlete, and those are only the current commitments.
As Rodriguez builds his team to fit his offensive strategies fans will see a drastic improvement in production, points, and ultimately victories. This is the time where Michigan haters will be having their fun, but it will not be for long. Rodriguez is a proven winner, and with one of the premiere schools in the nation as a recruiting base, he will surely do better.
For Michigan fans, now is not a time to give up, but take your licks, and be patient. Success may just be on the horizon, and closer than you think.
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about 1 month ago
I eagerly (to say the least) look forward to those days (again). But, come on. Toledo?? Just how low does this thing have to go? I was in RR's corner, but I am beginning to wonder. This offense has scored more than 17 points what, twice? You can't win like that. And, I have seen more turnovers in two games than I saw all last season. You feel the defense has been underachieving, yet how can you expect them to look good when the offense is always turning the ball over inside their own territory?
I will say this: Michigan has one thing left to hang our hats on. No College program, anywhere, has the number of consecutive winning seasons and Bowl appearances as UM does. (Yes, this includes some really obscure appearances, and more than our fair share of losses, but they have been there nontheless) Despite a win vs Wisc (one which I had counted as a loss), they had better get their crap in one sock, or they are in real danger of even blowing that 'tradition'
from about 1 month ago
I don't think the defense has underachieved, they've flat out played badly. You're exactly right, Toledo? A collection of 2 star caliber players beat Michigan? That's the thing we can't figure out. I suspect a lot of players are struggling to grasp the system and the philosophies the coaches are trying to teach. I don't blame them either, no obvious leaders have really stepped up and proved themselves.
about 1 month ago
Hey Jeff,
I think the problem you're seeing with Michigan is very understandable given a new coaching staff. The players are both kids and students. Having to learn a new system causes them to do too much thinking on the field and not enough instinctive playing.
Just takes seven wins to make a bowl game, which might be a reasonable goal for this season.
Next season will be a wolverine of a different color my friend.
Lew
from about 1 month ago
And it doesn't help when most of your starters leave, and all your new starters have never played. Couple that with a complex offense, it just doesn't make thing easier Lew.
from about 1 month ago
lol..would it be that big of a loss to lose your starters now? face it, this year Michigan is the joke of the entire Div. 1, NCAA football. I can't wait to watch Michigan get destroyed by Penn State and Ohio State. We are laughing our asses off in Columbus, enjoying every minute of this. R Rod....you need to go back to your high school schedule you played while at WV.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks! You are a really classy fan, we need more of you around the country. It's great to see one of college football's premiere program's get torn down and laughed at. Kudos sir!
from about 1 month ago
do you need a Kleenex Jeff? Michigan fans are so pompas....yet not are very quiet. R. Rod is a joke....and will become more of a laughing stock when his current recruits beging to de-committ! Hail to the Victors....lol .... that is much less than an accurate statement or line in that silly song.
about 1 month ago
No, with all due respect to Lew, the BIG 10, nor any BCS conference DOES NOT get a free ride. If you play in a conference that has an automatic berth into this pile of garbage, you should be held to a higher standard. Texas, Penn State and Alabama, just to name a few, all have teams consisting of students and athletes just like Michigan, so what's the Wolverines' excuse? You can't get defeated by Toledo if you want to play in a good conference. Then again, perhaps I'm right. Perhaps the BIG 10 isn't that good and should have its automatic BCS berth revoked. Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan, Northwestern, come on they all suck. Penn State is really good and Michigan State might be a Top 10 team but otherwise, the BIG 10 is not good. With that said, RichRod deserves all of the criticism he's currently receiving. He didn't necessarily leave West Virginia on the best of terms.
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