Huge Opportunity to Keep Michigan Program in Influx this weekend

[SeattleHawkeye]

If PSU continues to have inner-turmoil and all those injuries ... Michigan will probably beat them.

I concur. PSU looked absolutely brutal much of the game Sat., and it's honestly hard to watch a class program like PSU struggle so much. And I'm not sure it's going to get better anytime soon.

Sat. I had the feeling that whoever lost the MSU-UM game was going to struggle the remainder of the season, as that has been both teams' recent precedent. You never know what will happen Sat., much less the remainder of the season, but UM scares me. I have a couple friends that are UM grads, and one told me people were calling for DickRod's head soon as the game ended, as I'm sure many were just waiting for UM's 1st loss. While UM is unquestionably struggling on defense, it's hard to argue their O hasn't flashed at times, albeit against suspect defenses. After the UA game my confidence in IA is still shaken, and it sucks saying that. But I think MSU laid out the blueprint for beating UM - play ball control offense, contain Denard Robinson, controlling your pass rush to limit running lanes, limiting Robinson's designed runs, and forcing UM to pass...and one thing usually characteristic of IA defenses as of late is their tendency to make teams 1-dimensional. I think the Hawk D forcing UM to throw and IA playing ball control offense dictates the outcome of this game.

 

[kuhntz]

What makes anyone think he will ever get a D in Ann Arbor? He never had one in WV.

 

[deanvogs]

What makes anyone think he will ever get a D in Ann Arbor? He never had one in WV.

This is the correct answer! He has an offensive philosophy. 3-3-5 for a D? That might work in the Big East, but that will NEVER, and I mean NEVER stop any of the offenses in the Big10. With Nubby moving in next year, tell me how Michigan stops Iowa, Michigan St., Nebraska on a yearly basis??

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

Part of that is because Michigan didn't capitalize in the red zone and threw an INT in the first quarter. They fell behind quickly because their defense can't stop anyone.

The margin for error right now for Michigan's offense is very small because they can't rely on their defense. If they get down 10 points they have to abandon alot of their running plays and and Robinson has to throw the football downfield more.

If Michigan had Michigan State's defense they would have absolutely embarassed Michigan State on Saturday.

I don't think it remains to be seen on Michigan's offense. Their problem with now is they aren't getting any help from their defense in bigger games. If that part of the equation changes then watch out.

Michigan didn't fall behind quickly, they were up 3-0 at the end of the 1st and only down 17-10 at halftime. It's not like MSU came out firing and scored 28 in the first or something. Michigan's offense had plenty of time to get rolling but it's not quite as easy to run around B10 opponents like it is the Bowling Greens and UMasses of the world.

 

[Jeebus]

Michigan isn't "horrible" just because they lost to Michigan State. They'll likely beat Penn State and I think they can beat Purdue and Wisconsin. That leaves them 4 and 4 and most likely in the upper half of the Big 10.

 

[briankaldenberg]

This is the correct answer! He has an offensive philosophy. 3-3-5 for a D? That might work in the Big East, but that will NEVER, and I mean NEVER stop any of the offenses in the Big10. With Nubby moving in next year, tell me how Michigan stops Iowa, Michigan St., Nebraska on a yearly basis??

His defense was good enough to beat Oklahoma by 20 points in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.

He won't need to stop people. He'll just need to contain people and force a turnover or two. West Virginia didn't give him as much access to 4* and 5* defensive recruits as Michigan does either.

They get their defense to a point where they are only giving up somewhere in the neighborhood of 24 points per game and forcing and average of two turnovers, and I don't think they'll have much problem with the teams you listed.

If Rich Rod is fortunate enough to win 2 more games he'll be back next year and I bet they'll average over 35 points per game in Big 10 play and their defense will be formidable enough to win the Big 10... Realize they are starting like 7 freshman this year on defense. That's why I want him out now why we have a chance to get him out.

 

[homerHAWKeye777]

What makes anyone think he will ever get a D in Ann Arbor? He never had one in WV.

Sorry. It's not true. However, it's not Dick Rod who coaches the D. His prior defensive coordinator is still at WVU if memory serves. And, it was that prior DC who managed to get the 3-3-5 to work ... of course, that was also against Big East-level competition.

The issue with Dick Rod coached teams is that they almost always seem to have difficulties when they face off against teams that feature elite run-Ds. If you neutralize all their speed in the running game ... then all of a sudden, his teams are then rendered pretty ordinary.

 

[BryceC]

The fact that anybody employs Greg Robinson just boggles my mind. The guy sucks and has sucked for the better part of a decade.

 

[Billso]

This is the correct answer! He has an offensive philosophy. 3-3-5 for a D? That might work in the Big East, but that will NEVER, and I mean NEVER stop any of the offenses in the Big10. With Nubby moving in next year, tell me how Michigan stops Iowa, Michigan St., Nebraska on a yearly basis??

In RR's presser yesterday he mentioned we may see some 4-man fronts from them this week.

I'm not sure what to make of Greg Robinson. They're starting all these true frosh, how do you really evaluate the D-coordinator in that circumstance? Is the fact they're starting true frosh on him? Are the kids improving under his tutelage? Tough questions for RR, and then throw in the purely political pressure to "do something" about the D.

 

[homerHAWKeye777]

In RR's presser yesterday he mentioned we may see some 4-man fronts from them this week.

I'm not sure what to make of Greg Robinson. They're starting all these true frosh, how do you really evaluate the D-coordinator in that circumstance? Is the fact they're starting true frosh on him? Are the kids improving under his tutelage? Tough questions for RR, and then throw in the purely political pressure to "do something" about the D.

The Michigan D got lamed pretty early on by both graduation and the off-season injuries. That forced them to start too many FR. To make matters worse ... they ended up changing to a new scheme at the same time. Not really a recipe for defensive success.

While I agree that GRob hasn't been a stellar DC on the college level ... it really has been tough to judge how he's fared at Michigan.

 

[yaman3]

What makes anyone think he will ever get a D in Ann Arbor? He never had one in WV.

You need to do some fact checking.

Sorry. It's not true. However, it's not Dick Rod who coaches the D. His prior defensive coordinator is still at WVU if memory serves. And, it was that prior DC who managed to get the 3-3-5 to work ... of course, that was also against Big East-level competition.

The issue with Dick Rod coached teams is that they almost always seem to have difficulties when they face off against teams that feature elite run-Ds. If you neutralize all their speed in the running game ... then all of a sudden, his teams are then rendered pretty ordinary.

Right and wrong. Rich Rod is involved with the D in terms of philosophy. Scott Shafer, the first defensive coordinator had a more conventional scheme. RR wanted the 3-3-5 and the threw that in midseason and it sucked as it does now, and he fired Shafer. Shafer is now at Syracuse with I believe a Top 15 defense. Jeff Casteel could make the 3-3-5 work and work well. Something has to change. The linebackers and Dlineman are not very good with the exception of 3 guys and one is used completely incorrectly. If the Michigan coaches are reading this: CRAIG ROH IS NOT A ******* LINEBACKER HE'S A DE FOR GOD'S SAKE. The deth at the fron 6 or seven is terrible, partially because of the lack of upper classmen and partially because of injuries and guys not delelvoping how they imagined. Blame has fallen on Rod there which is probably the right thing. The secondary has been killed by injury, guys not making it to UM, guys going pro, etc. If Warren would have stayed(Which he obviously should have for his own good) and Woolfolk doesn't get hurt they are much better. James Rogers sucks and if Stanzi doesn't throw at him 10 times, he is an idiot. The safeties are young. DOn't block Obi Ezeh because he will get himself blocked by not moving and getting washed out.

In RR's presser yesterday he mentioned we may see some 4-man fronts from them this week.

I'm not sure what to make of Greg Robinson. They're starting all these true frosh, how do you really evaluate the D-coordinator in that circumstance? Is the fact they're starting true frosh on him? Are the kids improving under his tutelage? Tough questions for RR, and then throw in the purely political pressure to "do something" about the D.

I follow UM football pretty damn closely and I have no idea on your questions. Some have improved. Some haven't. Obi Ezeh started as a sophomore and he is no better. He isn't worse, just not better. Jonas Mouton, JT Floyd and Mike Martin are all better. Jordan Kovacs is physically limited but he is by far the smartest and most well placed player on the D. I'm not one to hang coaches out to dry, but I have serious questions about whether Robinson can get it done or not. It's hard to look past the two Super Bowl rings, but at some point the performance has to be there. There will be pressure, for RR to fire Greg if this continues, nd it will. I don't know if that is best though. Then you go throw all the same things again. There will still be limited talent. Pile onto that that they are doing a lot of thinking and it's not good.

 

[Billso]

Thanks Yaman - good info! You've given us some interesting stuff to look out for Saturday.

 

[deanvogs]

His defense was good enough to beat Oklahoma by 20 points in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.

He won't need to stop people. He'll just need to contain people and force a turnover or two. West Virginia didn't give him as much access to 4* and 5* defensive recruits as Michigan does either.

They get their defense to a point where they are only giving up somewhere in the neighborhood of 24 points per game and forcing and average of two turnovers, and I don't think they'll have much problem with the teams you listed.

If Rich Rod is fortunate enough to win 2 more games he'll be back next year and I bet they'll average over 35 points per game in Big 10 play and their defense will be formidable enough to win the Big 10... Realize they are starting like 7 freshman this year on defense. That's why I want him out now why we have a chance to get him out.

Did you really reference the bowl game where RR WASN'T there to take part in because he left the school? You do know that Bill Stewart coached that game, don't you?

If RR only wins 2 more games (unless one is Ohio St.) HE GONE!

 

[yaman3]

Did you really reference the bowl game where RR WASN'T there to take part in because he left the school? You do know that Bill Stewart coached that game, don't you?

If RR only wins 2 more games (unless one is Ohio St.) HE GONE!

Do you think things really changed? Come on, that's ridiculous. He hired Jeff Casteel. That defense was a bend but not break defense. They gave up yards but not always points. If you really think Bill Stewart chenged anything you are wrong. Besides that, if he was so much better, why have they not been close to the BCS Championship since he left.

 

[yaman3]

Thanks Yaman - good info! You've given us some interesting stuff to look out for Saturday.

I try not to be so trollish, even though technically I am trolling.