Coaches Corner: The 2009 football season has officially started! — Positives
As we head into the 2009 football season thought this would be good time to look at good things and bad things coming out of off season. Because in our opinions, the 2009 football season has officially started!
1) Coaching staffs positive attitude: Much has properly been made of players attitude. Not as much out of coaches attitude. Easiest thing would of been for the staff to close the doors and not be open. They did the tough thing and in our opinion, the right thing and got themselves out there.
Entire staff has made themselves available during clinics and they did not sidestep any questions. Players will not be upbeat if the staff is not. Big difference from last year.
2) Players Positive Attitude: This has been discussed plenty. Needs to be mentioned again, majority of team is having fun this year. Challenging each other and motivating each other.
Not everyone was 100% on board, but vast majority. Such an improvement over 2008. Even a young man like Zirbel who will never play again was around and helping, extremely impressive and is now a graduate assistant.
3) Leaders Emerging: 2008 team lacked leadership in our opinion and had a lot of “camera leaders” meaning talking in front of the media, but now being a true leader 24 / 7 / 365 on and off the field.
You could see it at practices, as some of the upper classmen were not happy and very few players stepping up and being leaders. Not this year, S. Brown, S. Schilling, O. Ezeh, B. Graham, B. Minor, and M. Moundros were leading drills and very vocal, another huge improvement.
Even injured players like Mouton, Warren, and Martin on defense and Nick Sheridan on the offense were on the sidelines and helping their team mates. Great to see.
4) Offense is starting to get Coach Rod’s type of personnel. At quarterback, offensive line, and running back you could see the difference having the right people was making.
We are not 100% there yet, more on this later, but starting to show signs. Caveat, I know the top two running backs are holdovers. Thing is they were both in best shape of life and it was obvious they had 100% bought into Coach Rod and staff now. In our opinion that makes them Coach Rod type personnel. Same with offensive line.
5) Team is in best shape for spring football since Coach MO days. Can never underestimate the importance of being in good condition. It is extremely difficult to learn football doubled up and gasping for air. Also it is tough to properly time things up if you are moving half speed because you are out of shape. Props to staff and players for making this a priority and of course Coach Barwis.
6) Spring practices at Michigan are no longer a country club week end. They are fast paced, high energy, full contact events. Not quite as tough as BO days, but definitely a huge improvement.
7) Tight Ends: Koger and Webb are outstanding athletes capable of doing big things. Michigan showed signs of including them in offense. Webb in particular made a couple of the best runs after catches of any player. Will include here the staffs inclusion of more power football, using tight end. More things defense has to stop and also prepare for the better in our opinion.
8) Michigan is starting to show signs of having the personnel it plays on special teams. Players like Hawthorne, Jones, and Vlad have the mind set and skill set to become standout special teams players. Might still be a year away, but will be disappointed if special teams are not a ton improved.
Negatives coming tomorrow
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Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine
