True freshman starts
As we all know, we're still a very young team. This is from Spath at thewolverine.com
Michigan has played more true freshmen this season than any other school in the Big Ten, and it's not even close. When Ricardo Miller earned a spot on U-M's coverage teams Saturday against Massachusetts he became the 13th rookie the Maize and Blue have used this fall, in three games - Purdue and Illinois rank second with seven apiece.
http://michigan.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?ReturnTo=&sid=&script=co…
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^
But that's kinda just where we are at right now...
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:17 PM ^
Why would RR burn Ricardo Millers redshirt by playing him on the coverage units? That is a waste IME. Hopefully Ricardo comes down with an "injury" so he can still get his redshirt.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^
If Ricardo is one of the best coverage guys, I'm all for playing him. This program needs wins to secure RR's place as head coach. They are headed in the right direction and I'd hate to see that derailed by poor kick coverage costing us a close game or two.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:26 PM ^
Its obviously a coach doing whatever it takes to save his job. Long term ramifications will be dealt with then
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:41 PM ^
Its obviously a coach doing whatever it takes to win football games.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:46 PM ^
It's obviously a coach doing whatever it takes to win football games.
This one bugs me.
September 22nd, 2010 at 4:02 PM ^
Devin Gardner has no reason to be playing right now. We have an exemplary back-up who should be playing then becoming marginalized on the bench. Gardner should have redshirted giving him two years of starting after DR and TF leave, but instead he will get 1. Ricardo is playing at one of the few positions we have enough quality players at (Stonum, roundtree, Hemingway, Robinson, Odoms, Gallon, Stokes), but he, JJ, and Dileo are all playing minor roles and having their redshirt burnt.
Now how is having these guys play kick coverage helps this team more then hurts this team in the future?
September 22nd, 2010 at 4:14 PM ^
Stop.
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:55 PM ^
My fandom isn't getting in the way of common sense. Our D in year 3 of the RR era is terrible. We can't even afford to redshirt players that need to be redshirted, bc he drove off a large part of the roster, and recruits players that can't even get on campus. Do you really think he needs to play Ricardo bc he can't find someone better for a special teams coverage unit that is covering both punts and kick offs well?
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
You're first statement was that RR was trying to save his job. I agree he is in a position where holding back would be ill advised. However, now you insist that he has a better alternative, and is burning redshirts for his own amusement?
Also, I can take differing views on Michigan football, but back off Charlie Sheen.
September 22nd, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^
Devin is our second best QB. That's why his redshirt is being burned.
And, special team units are important. Very important. We dont have the depth to not redshirt players. These kids playing only special teams now.....how about letting the season play out and watch their roles increase.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:21 PM ^
take all of 2 snaps?
And please don't respond with "well the coaches made him 2nd string so he must be better than Tate" mantra because Tate was 3rd string based as much on disciplinary issues as anything else.
September 22nd, 2010 at 5:27 PM ^
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:42 PM ^
You may look at it as "doing whatever it takes to save his job", I look at as "starting the best players at their position".
But yes, hopefully that leads to wins and a coach keeping his job.
September 22nd, 2010 at 3:16 PM ^
...to wrong thread. Never mind.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:26 PM ^
I guess you didn't see the coverage unit against UMass.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^
at 6'4". It'd be nice to have him take advantage of some shorter corners in the league.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:34 PM ^
I like some of his measurables, but his speed (if not ability to get separation) and hands have been questioned by some observers. Not that I would expect too much from a true freshman...
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:35 PM ^
Probably because RR plans on playing Miller at WR as well, and wanted to get him some game action where he could. WRs generally aren't redshirted.
September 22nd, 2010 at 3:13 PM ^
Especially when there's run blockin' to be done!
September 22nd, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^
If this season doesn't go well, Rodriguez is out. Putting Miller in on special teams means one less person on the two deep has to play there, decreasing the chance of injury to a starter or starter in waiting. That alone may be a reason to play him on special teams
September 22nd, 2010 at 4:42 PM ^
the Coaching staff will play whoever they need to get the job done and I think most here will agree...just get the job done. If we were packing 85 schollies year after year it would be a nice luxury to tuck some talent away, but we don't. At this point I am happy we can field a pretty competitive team, you?
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:19 PM ^
I feel like this can only help us with recruits. Come to UofM play right away. Some positions have to redshirt like O and D - Line, but some of the skill position guys are in camps all year long and have excellent coaching and skill bases.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:28 PM ^
That was my thinking too but it seems like this hasn't helped keep the young defensive players around (at least the ones that are lower on the depth chart). They seem unwilling to put in a year or two if they aren't immediately listed in the 3-deep or 2-deep or as the starter. That's my humble observation, though, and I'm sure there is lots more to the recent transfers than simply playing time (academics, etc.). I readily acknowledge that these guys are very young men and have reasons beyond my comprehension for choosing to play where they may.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^
As bad as this may seem it might help with recruiting. A lot of top prospect claims they want early playing time. Rod and Co can use this stat to their advantage.
A little late sory Dave.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^
I think this helps both recuiting with early playing time and valuable experience when these freshmen become juniors and seniors!
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:29 PM ^
awesome info! Hey did you know our helmets also have wings? Here let me show you a pictures so you can see them...
Look! They're like wings right!
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:30 PM ^
RR and company don't promise kids playing time. Anyone that follows the program in depth knows this. They tell the young men that if they're willing to come in and work hard then there is a chance they can see the field. RR and company certainly don't go into a house and tell he kid, "hey you're a great WR come to Michigan and you'll start on special teams covering kicks."
Ricardo is going to be a great receiver some day in the near future, If he's really that great on special teams then I'm glad he's on the field. Personally I'd just rather have the kid red shirt so that he still has his 4 years with 1 year of traning and getting better as a WR.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:43 PM ^
RR and company don't promise kids playing time. Anyone that follows the program in depth knows this.
So you've sat in on RR's recruiting visits with kids? And I follow the program just as much as any other diehard fan here, and I didn't know that for a definitive fact, as you suggest I should.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:48 PM ^
He might promise a kid that he won't be redshirted, but there is no way he'd promise him a spot on the depth chart or anything like that.
September 22nd, 2010 at 3:02 PM ^
is a chance to compete.
Unless your Tressel & osu, then you promise a 4 bedroom ranch too!
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
Sorry, Tressel and co. have run a great program from day one. Every school will have its problems, but they consistently win games, get players to the NFL, and graduate their players. My only problem with Tressel is that he's not Jon Cooper.
On a more humorous note, does this team feel like an EA Sports NCAA team? Back when I used to play, I used to have 5-8 Freshman starters each season and no one redshirted. I also used to have obscene offensive numbers and win lots of national titles...
September 22nd, 2010 at 5:38 PM ^
RR has said countless times that he doesn't promise kids ANYTHING. No I don't sit in on visits, but you have to take RR for his word, and I definitely do. The guy isn't a liar like Bruce Pearl. Thank you for your worthless rebuddle.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:35 PM ^
Isn't it extremely rare for a college player to improve by leaps and bounds between his 4th year of college ball and his redshirt 5th year? In other words, if a kid has NFL potential, that usually shows up long before his redshirt 5th year. Thus, if playing him early is not going to cost him an NFL future, I am all for playing him.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:43 PM ^
If your theory is correct you then also have a player at near his max in potential for 2 years instead of maybe a freshmen or sophmore.
September 22nd, 2010 at 3:44 PM ^
2 ways of looking at that. 1) If you want X player to help his college team long term then sure, we can have him longer if we redshirt him, but 2) if X player's college team needs him now, then why redshirt him if it is not going to cost the kid an NFL future? In other words, all things being equal, why look at winning 5 years from now when the kid can help us win today?
Win today and 5 years from now the recruiting would have been so strong that X player essentially becomes replaceable. Lose now and recruiting dries up. Again, the one caveat being, that his playing today does not cost the kid an NFL future. And typically, with skill position players in particular, that NFL potential shows up long before a redshirt 5th year.
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:47 PM ^
I think that's a great idea, and it would be interesting to look at that more in-depth. How much do skill-position players tend to improve between their 4th and 5th year (for a redshirt player), compared to the 3rd and 4th year (for a non-redshirt player)?
September 22nd, 2010 at 2:48 PM ^
if they do reach max potential at the same time any way, why not redshirt to get that max potential a little bit longer? sometimes they leave early, sometimes they stay. if they stay you get the best of that player for a longer period of time.
September 22nd, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
Because 1) players generally dislike being redshirted, and may make a recruiting decision based on the chance of playing early and 2) the team can't wait four years to find that out. We have like 70-75 guys on scholarship. 22 are freshmen. A lot of them need to play to give the team adequate depth.
September 22nd, 2010 at 5:22 PM ^
I remember having a discussion on this already in a past thread, can't recall which one. I would think that a player should play if he can contribute when he is mentally and physically ready. You shouldn't be worried that we will lose a kid after 4 years and not get that extra year. There will be another great player to fill in, if you dont think we are capable of that, then we have bigger problems to worry about than redshirting.
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:23 PM ^
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:12 PM ^
I totally agree. If a kid earns playing time, he should play. This team is woefully devoid of depth.