Mailbag question: Five questions

Posted at 8:00am — 12/8/2009

Mailbag question: Five questions

GBMW,

I started out as a supporter of this coaching staff and the changes
The staff wanted to make. While I was a big fan of Coach Carr, the defense had suffered in his last few years, as had conditioning. Also, fans rarely saw the offensive imagination that Coach Carr showed in his last bowl game against Florida. That being said, I am growing more concerned with this staff for the reasons listed below. Am I crazy or is there something rotten in Denmark?

Questions and comments are below.

1) Problems that are not talent related do not seem to get corrected. For example, Tate’s lack of ball security or linebackers and safeties out of position All Of The Time.

2) Recruiting seems to be based on dogma rather than need. Where are the linebackers? Where are the defensive linemen? There are only so many 5′ 7″ slot receivers a team needs.

3) Game schemes seem to be based on dogma not analysis of the other team. Teams with inferior size and speed can be beat with a lateral running attack. I don’t think that is the best plan for Ohio State, with their size and speed in the front seven.

4) Half time adjustments seem to be frowned upon as something “there really isn’t enough time for. “Opposing teams seem to do much better against us in the second half and since we are “the best conditioned team in America” the answer must be some combination of coaching and size.

5) There is all too much noise around Coach Rod. If it is not his
buyout, it is his practice schedule, if it is not the previous concerns, it is his investments, if not that, it is players badmouthing the program. One or two issues I can understand, but there is just way too much controversy that seems to follow him.

It is time for less talk, less noise and more improvement.
Your thoughts about the above please.

Bob A.

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Thanks for the questions.

1) We have witnessed fundamentals being drilled at spring practices. And yet we can understand your frustrations. We think many of the frustrations are caused by the tease of Michigan ‘s improved play in the first four games (which we later found out we beat bad teams) because those teams ended up 6-6, 5-7, 4-8, and 0-12. Many fans thought previous problems were behind us, but in fact when Michigan started playing better teams these mistakes from the past seemed to creep back into Michigan’s play as they did the year before.

2) We are also equally puzzled by the recruiting numbers that favor the offense. With a roster that is far out of balance, offense to defense, it only makes sense that the staff should/would concentrate on defense. We are no “Experts” or college coaches, but just from looking at the numbers, the casual observer could easily conclude that Michigan needs to load up on defensive players. At least now it appears UM will have at least a balanced class. But again we agree and would like to see more linebackers and defensive tackles in the class. We have been beating that drum for a while now about the slot position, especially since they only used one true slot receiver in almost every formation.

3) Michigan ‘s offense is not about out-scheming opponents. It is about out executing and playing faster than the opposition. The package is very limited to allow for better execution and playing fast. There is little or no adjusting in the offensive play calling.

4) We do think that lack of depth is a major reason for the second half problems. Still, we would like to see some adjusting and change ups, especially from the defense. Or at the very least some manipulation of personnel to set up some favorable match ups.

5) What is surprising here is that this (point 5) seems to be true. Coach Rod’s rep is that of a guy who just loves and wants to coach. He does not want to, or care to, take care of peripheral distractions. In our opinion Coach Rod was caught by surprise and was ill prepared to deal with being under the bright lights at Michigan, especially when the baggage refused to leave and the lights got more intense.

Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!