Michigan's long road ahead

2008-09-10T06:59:10-04:00

2008-08-30T21:13:28-04:00

2008-09-10T06:38:27-04:00

2008-09-03T19:05:46-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/263/119/thumb/111410253_f8d948c432.jpg 89 CA

BluetotheCore

Berkeley 263459

RR is off to a good start. A win would have been a great start. The system he wants will be in place, not in 3 years, more like 3 games. Then the talent and experience level will matter, and we'll see how it unfolds. Everyone's all "recruiting recruiting". There's a lot more to coaching than that, and RR can do a lot on the practice and game fields to win a few this year. Still plenty of reasons for optimism this season, and at the same time enjoy not having too-high expectations on the team for once! 2655745

2008-09-02T08:27:47-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/100/406/thumb/donkey.bmp 35 MD

edub187

Rockville 100706

Crazyhips...yes. The bubble screen. The staple of any RR run offense. I'm pretty sure Pitt spent at least half their practices defending the bubble screen, and look what it did for them. As for this article, UM fans say give RR two/three years to get the right people into place. Yes, that will get his offense going the way he wants to, but don't you think that in those two/three years coaches like Tressel won't have defenses put in to stop that? Don't you think he's already started preparing for the day RR gets what he needs at UM? RR offense worked so well at WVU because no one had any idea how to defend it, and it blew people away. Now it's not so much of a mystery anymore, and coaches are learning how to defend it. I really think UM hired a flash in the pan novelty, and will be sorely disappointed when things don't work out the way RR promised they would. Not hating...just pointing out. 2637687

2008-09-01T19:16:30-04:00

jmw003

Kalamazoo 493689

Regardless of any of the other issues, this Michigan team would be having difficulty regardless of who became coach. This is considering the loss of Henne, Hart, Jake Long, and a host of others seniors who graduated I fully agree that Rich Rod needs to be given at least 3 years, until his own recruits are in and experienced. Comments that he is not "a fit" for Michigan are meaningless. Eventually his style of play will win big, since none of the Big 10 schools can defend anything except the old style Big 10 offenses 2634562

2008-09-01T18:00:14-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/483/1/thumb/byebyetn.jpg 2198

rhymeister

tea town aka Tokyo 4851

"The question is: How long will Michigan fans exhibit the patience they promised before ever seeing the new-look Wolverines in action?" Obviously not even one game, LOL, if you read many of the comments on SI.com and espn.com, Gennaro! 2634319

2008-09-01T15:00:03-04:00

crazyhips

Morgantown 493352

RR will push his spread run at the exclusion of all else. That is why WVU lost to Pitt last year. He will not use his players talents no matter what. For example, yesterday Pat White set a WVU school record throwing 5 TDs, and last year he was 6th (I think) in the NCAA with pass efficiency completing 67% of his passes. No matter what, Rod wouldn't change the game plan and blew what will probably be his only shot at a national title. Hope Michigan fans like the bubble screen. You'll be seeing a lot of it. 2633805

2008-09-01T12:18:48-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/412/303/thumb/sportscenter.gif 67 MI

sportSCenter360

Canton 412743

All you haters better not jump on the bandwagon once RR restores michigan to the top again. THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS Go RR! Go Blue! 2633254

2008-08-31T21:25:16-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/458/609/thumb/kozmo.jpg 37 CA

Dweezil

Fairfield 459049

Things are likely to get worse for Michigan before they get better. A six win season may be the best they can hope for this season. 2631561

2008-08-31T17:45:33-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/426/952/thumb/BuckeyeGirl.jpg 894 NV

river1075

Las Vegas 427392

Utah was so much superior that even with all their mistakes: 1) 15 penalties, several at key times 2) a blocked punt 3) blocked EP 4) 4 fumbles (2 lost) 5 an interception they were able to win the game. You all want to think that Threet is your man, but except for that one good pass (33 yards) he was not impressive. He completed 42% of his passed (in a spread offense) and only had 36 yards besides the TD pass against a MWC team defense that lost to UNLV last year. It also was clear to me that Utah shut down their offense in the 4th quarter, running the ball even though there were 8-9 players in the box. I predicted in earliar posts that RR's offense wowuld look like a chinese fire drill the first part of the season and then he would pull it back and be more effective. But, I think he is too bullheaded and arrogant to adjust to his players skill levels. As an OSU fan I have always feared and respected the UM program...the respect is now in obeyance. 2630896

2008-08-31T17:06:01-04:00

GV Giant

Green Valley 352940

Hey, uh, folks - UM did not lose a game to some generic opponent. They lost a game to a Mountain West school formerly coached by the head man at Florida, who have gotten VERY comfortable beating BCS-type teams. This may not be an Appalachian State-type upset, but c'mon - give the Utes some credit. Even with their mistakes, they clearly showed themselves the better team, at least for yesterday. 2630720

2008-08-31T13:31:46-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/465/380/thumb/blocko.jpg 585 OH

_Janus_

Columbus 465820

History repeats itself. Back to back home opener losses, just like the 89-90 season. So much for a "Victor's March" in Ann Arbor. 2630275

<img src="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/images/08/30/t1_rodriguez.jpg" border="1" height="272" align="top" alt="" width="425" style="width: 425px; height: 272px" />By Gennaro Filice, SI.comFollowing the hiring of Rich Rodriguez, the Michigan faithful repeatedly claimed they were ready to face transitional struggles. Fans of the winningest program in college football history told everyone they were fully prepared for a rocky road as Rodriguez employed a radically different offensive approach.Well, now it's time for those maize-and-blue supporters to walk the walk.Michigan's season-opening, 25-23 loss to Utah confirmed the prior assumption that this process is going to take time. Michigan finished the game with 203 yards of offense, including just 36 on the ground. Although QB Steven Threet showed promise in the fourth quarter, it's apparent that neither Threet nor starter Nick Sheridan is an ideal fit for Rodriguez's spread-option attack. And it sure doesn't help that the supporting cast on offense is chock-full of fresh faces with minimal experience. Long story short, this offense is eons away from anything resembling the well-oiled machine Rodriguez directed at West Virginia. (Speaking of which ... The Rodriguez-less Mountaineers rolled past Villanova, 48-21, as Pat White threw five touchdown passes.)Not to paint the picture that it's all gloom-and-doom in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines showed their fortitude by outscoring Utah 13-0 in the fourth quarter and giving themselves a chance to win. Additionally, the defense, which entered the season with high expectations, clamped down in the final 30 minutes following a horrendous first half. But the offensive product that we saw in the Big House today made it abundantly clear this program is in the primitive stages of a substantial transition. It's going to take more than a few games for this offense to begin clicking on a consistent basis. The question is: How long will Michigan fans exhibit the patience they promised before ever seeing the new-look Wolverines in action? 1266

The Sweep

New York 479813