Wow, even Ira is talking coaching candidates on WTKA right now
Tune in.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:39 AM ^
This offense won't work in the big ten!
/s
October 31st, 2010 at 7:22 AM ^
I'm surprised he can talk about anything besides tailgating with his parents.
October 31st, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^
Too cold! We need SMASHMOUTH!
Seriously, we do need some defense.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:39 AM ^
Check the "loss will cause me to..." section of Brian's preview again. Ginger Nick Sheridan just shredded us.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:50 AM ^
It will be very enlightening to see if he actually does start talking in that direction. Obviously the folks on here really respect his thoughts.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:53 AM ^
I am SUPER curious on what Brian's reaction is going to be.
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<br>Apparently loss of Martin > loss of most of Penn State D-linemen.
October 31st, 2010 at 1:01 AM ^
I'd think he's going to start contemplating Harbaugh at the very least.
I feel like we're precariously close to the ND coaching carousel/perpetual rebuilding mode right now. I really really wanted RR to succeed here but I think this may have been my breaking point. Guess I'll see what happens next week to be sure.
October 31st, 2010 at 1:36 AM ^
ND has had Davey, O'Leary (short lived), Willingham, Weis and Kelly as coaches since 2001 (last ten seasons). Five coaches in ten years. You have to go back to the the 1960's to find Michigan's fifth coach (RR, Carr, Mo, Bo, Bump). It's not really a carousel yet.
Brandon just need to think long and hard about what direction he wants the program to take. The decision is really up to him....and he'll ulitimately have to live with it (one way or the other).
October 31st, 2010 at 1:45 AM ^
Guess what I'm saying is that it doesn't take much to get that carousel spinning. If they were to fire RR and bring in someone else it's not beyond the realm of possibility that there could be a bunch of transfers and recruiting decommits which would deplete the roster even more than it is currently. If the new guy needs to install a new system and the losses start piling up again... you know the drill.
Hopefully Brandon makes the right decision. Whatever that may be.
Edit: That was a spectacular run-on sentence by me. I'm not even going to edit it because I'm so proud of it.
October 31st, 2010 at 1:55 AM ^
The Michigan fanbase has the requisite sense of entitlement to make the carousel spin very fast, very soon.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:06 AM ^
I'm not done with RR and it seems unreasonable to not let his kids become upper classmen.
If this becomes serious, there better be only 2 candidates on the list: Chris Petersen and Urban Meyer.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:22 AM ^
I might be alone in this boat but I have zero faith in Petersen's abilities. Effectively, BSU only plays three games a year. There's a huge difference between getting your team up for three games and grinding through a difficult Big 10 schedule. Besides, Hawkins and Koetter has lots of success at Boise State and fell flat on their face when they hit the big time.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:37 AM ^
but neither of them did what he's done. Not to mention everyone has the same prep time for bowl games and he's delivered in BCS games. As much as it pains me to admit, I'd bet that if they managed to get into the big one this year (dear God, please no), they'd give whoever they're playing a game.
Also, through the first 4 games of the year, they had as tough a schedule of anyone and made a statement in DC (despite the face plant VT did the following week).
October 31st, 2010 at 11:06 AM ^
What nazooq said. Get back to me when they play a full schedule of high D-1 teams.
October 31st, 2010 at 3:19 AM ^
if urban meyer becomes michigan's coach...i will burn ALL of my michigan belongings.....he's NOT A MICHIGAN MAN!!!
October 31st, 2010 at 9:14 AM ^
I doubt Peterson would leave Boise. I mean they have a fairly decent shot to play in the national title where he's at and he's turned down previous overtures from other schools. Same goes for Meyer. Along with the fact that he wants a reduced workload as it is, I doubt he would take on a project like this.
Fitzgerald probably doesn't leave Northwestern and Wittingham will stick around Utah, especially with the PAC-10 move. And I think we're all agreed that Les Miles is not an option.
Obviously Harbaugh is the clear cut number one guy and I'm pretty sure he would come, but if he were to turn us down, things get dicey. We might have to go for a guy like Mahlzan. And we probably take a long look at someone like Brady Hoke. Other names probably include Patterson at TCU (no idea how tied he is to there and the story of him berating the guy with a concussion for not going back in gives me a bad vibe), Dan Mullen, Al Golden, Gary Pinkel, Calhoun at Air Force, and probably others I'm not thinking of.
October 31st, 2010 at 9:19 AM ^
You all are off in the wrong area. IF RR goes, DAN MULLEN. Book it. Seriously.
October 31st, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^
October 31st, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^
harbaugh comes in and uses tate as his qb and puts denard in the backfield with hopkins or cox for the next year while he begins to recruit his players. tate can be a drop back qb and denard is a greater runner- we can actually survive a coaching change with the talent rr has recruited. the o-line is playing great and we have talented receivers. he'd recruit bigger o lind and backs but that can happen over time. the defense will still need to be fixed by whoever comes so frankly when that's considered nothing changes. you either believe rr can fix the defens and you might as well keep him or you think he can't and he shold be gan.
just sayin.
October 31st, 2010 at 11:09 AM ^
"And we probably take a long look at someone like Brady Hoke."
You lost me right there. Why not also interview Ron English and Stan Parrish?
Brady's entire reputation, so far, is based on a lightning-in-a-bottle season (the 12-win one) and a win over Air Force this year. Hire him and our ceiling is Purdue under Joe Tiller. Still better than what RichRod has done, but probably not as good as other candidates.
October 31st, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
I'm not saying that we should hire the guy but if Harbaugh were to say no, the administration would definitely take a look at him. Especially with his U of M ties. There is really no comparison here though between him and Ron English or Stan Parrish. Neither have those guys had any kind of success as a head coach while Hoke has done pretty well at Ball State and looks like he is turning around a San Diego State program that has sucked for a long time. I would personally prefer to see a few more years at SDSU before we talk about the guy coming to U of M, but you can't deny that so far, it seems like he is a pretty decent coach. I will be watching closely though when they take on Utah and TCU to end the season.
October 31st, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
October 31st, 2010 at 9:41 AM ^
God I hope not. If we get Urban then MSU would laugh at all of our criminals getting arrested.
October 31st, 2010 at 10:02 AM ^
Disagree. I have been firmly in the camp that has not been happy but is deathly afraid of another coaching change. I was embarrased again this week, though, and am starting to realize that staying with RR out of fear of change is like staying with a crappy girlfriend becuase you have alreadey been with her for three years and you would hate to have wasted that time. That is what RR has become. That crappy girlfriend that is dumb, bitchy, and none of your friends like her but she has a nice body (see offense) and so you keep her around.
October 31st, 2010 at 10:12 AM ^
Excellent, excellent analogy. I've been an ardent defender, but I'm now out of the Rodriguez camp. This far into year three, and we still can't make a crappy B10 team look like a crappy B10 team? It's just not going to get better. I expect we'll get shredded again next week, win or lose a tossup against another terrible team in Purdue, depending on who has the ball last, then lose out. Brandon's going way out on a limb if he keeps Rodriguez after that.
October 31st, 2010 at 11:05 AM ^
Everything is in place for us to follow the $@#%show that's going on at Notre Dame. Way too many people are still screaming "THIS IS MICHIGAN!!!" The parallels are disturbing. I still have faith that Brandon will handle this gracefully (regardless of whether that involves keeping RichRod).
October 31st, 2010 at 1:45 AM ^
I don't think "precariosly close" means our history is almost comparable in having a coaching carousellike ND's if we change coaches now. Instead I think that replacing a coach after just 3 years could put us in a position of standing next to a carosel. Firing an imaginary future coach after RR in fewer than 5 years then be stepping on the carosel. ND has been living on the carosel through all the coaches you mentioned.
October 31st, 2010 at 1:54 AM ^
When do you go from a carousel move, to a Nebraska move? They could have said "we can't hire our 4th coach in X years"...but it's looking pretty good for them right now.
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<br>I really don't know the answer to that question.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:02 AM ^
Guess we just gotta hope that Brandon knows the answer to that question.
October 31st, 2010 at 1:52 AM ^
an objective look at the future looks pretty good right now.
We have one of the best offenses in the country run mainly by freshmen and sophomores, and a line that is blocking like madmen. It's on track to be napalm in cleats (to quote Brian) for the next few years.
To go with a megariffic offense, you don't need a top-ten defense to dominate the conference, merely an above average one. Looking at the players we have and the recruits we're bringing in, the odds are that the defenses in the next couple years can approach average to above average without much of a stretch - maybe with someone other than Greg Robinson in charge, though.
So the present looks pretty mediocre, but the future is looking all golden and sparkly with rainbows and unicorns from my perspective. We throw away that future for a lot more of the present situation for years if we change coaches. It doesn't seem to be a particularly wise direction to proceed down that road.
October 31st, 2010 at 3:43 AM ^
Agreed. I hope Dave Brandon sees it our way...
October 31st, 2010 at 10:44 AM ^
The last two NC teams from the Big Ten (Michigan in '97 and OSU in '02) were lead by excellent defenses. Most of the other NC teams in recent memory (LSU, Bama, Florida, USC...) also had great defenses.
I think that a great offense is more fun to watch but a great defense is more critical to overall success.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:51 AM ^
Man that "loss will cause me to" section has really made things into open season on RichRod. It's like people now have permission to abandon the guy
October 31st, 2010 at 12:54 AM ^
Probably had more to do with it...
October 31st, 2010 at 9:24 AM ^
in Penn State's game last night, they played well. McGloin was lights out, Royster was lights out. Their entire team played inspired ball. They rarely made mistakes last night. Granted, some of that was due to our defense, but I did not see 'crappy' from them.
October 31st, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^
EVERY single team's offense plays "lights out" and "executes" when they play against our defense. Remember when we thought Indiana had the best passing attack in the B10? LOL.
Team's offenses aren't making mistakes because we NEVER force the issue with them. If the QB can always sit in the pocket for 10 seconds and then find open receivers who the hell is going to make a mistake?
October 31st, 2010 at 12:42 AM ^
For DC's starting on campus tomorrow. They did it for the kicking position. I think it's time for tryouts.
Post an ad on all the student center areas: WANTED - Defensive Coordinator. Super Bowl rings or National Championship rings not necessary.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:43 AM ^
Even Rich's staunchest supporters can't help but have questions right now.
If a change is made, Fitzgerald would be an excellent candidate, but I don't know if he would leave Northwestern, especially to another conference school that would recruit and play against Northwestern.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:45 AM ^
The offense definitely needs to be preserved - including all or most of the offensive staff. We absolutely cannot start over on that side of the ball. The easiest way for that to happen is for RR to be retained, and have him follow Zook's example and find a stud DC. But he's going to have to eek out a couple more wins first. If that doesn't happen, Plan B is to find a successful spread HC.
October 31st, 2010 at 1:44 AM ^
i'd be willing to bet that RIch takes his staff with him if he goes...
October 31st, 2010 at 1:55 AM ^
The unemployment line?
October 31st, 2010 at 2:05 AM ^
Most likely back to WVU. That is a possibility.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:07 AM ^
After he left, and they trashed him?
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<br>Uncomfortable.
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<br>It's like a second marriage after a really nasty divorce.
October 31st, 2010 at 9:34 AM ^
have difficulty finding a new job? Folks outside the program would see the potential he brings to a team, the offense is amazing and exciting. I think others looking for a head coach would see the depth, youth, and inexperience as genuine problems the team faced-which they are- and the biggest reason the team struggled. Not to mention that the Big Ten is one of the premier conferences in the nation. If we let coach go and start from scratch again, I wouldn't be surprised if he got back to the BCS before Michigan did.
October 31st, 2010 at 8:19 AM ^
"i'd be willing to bet that Rich takes his staff with him if he goes..."
Probably right, but if you were an AD, would you hire this entire staff? DC = NFW. Special Teams = Epic fail. Linebackers = FUBAR. DB's = Horror flick.
I'd vote for a DC change, and give Rich another year. Offense is his thing, and the offense is clicking along okay and still can/will improve. The D is the trouble. You don't expect to score on every drive, and 31 points is enough to win most games if you play some D.
For me, GERG has turned to GGGgggggrrrrrrrrrr. My biggets complaint is there's no blitz package to speak of. Last night you had a walk-on in his first start. We should have had guys in his face...that's when young guys make mistakes. It's not like dropping one more crappy pass defender into coverage has been helping. Pressure the QB so they don't have to cover as long.
October 31st, 2010 at 11:15 AM ^
with the sole caveat that they did blitz successfully, at least once. It was one of the Gordons.
October 31st, 2010 at 1:29 PM ^
but it sucks. Yes, the play with the Thomas Gordon sack did work... Those plays are few and far between. I'm sick and tired of seeing GERG bring the entire house... then to see the quarterback still have plenty of time.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:44 AM ^
If Auburn win the NC, it would make for an interesting hire. The offense wouldn't have to change.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:44 AM ^
that is a very interesting point, actually, if Rich can't get us to a bowl game and buy more time. I have to imagine that if Harbaugh comes to town, he'll choose to build around Tate. What happens to Denard in that hypothetical situation? Position change? transfer? Plenty of offensive weapons would remain. Would it make more sense to go after a spread coach or hand the keys to Capt Comeback and let him toy around with things?
I mean, i'm sure Jim would allow Denard to compete, but I imagine Forcier's skillset would be much more up his alley...
who knows...
October 31st, 2010 at 12:46 AM ^
takes the $$$$ and goes to the NFL.