Mailbag question: Greg Robinson
Posted at 12:00pm — 9/21/2010
Mailbag question: Greg Robinson
GBMWolverine:
It appears that after 17 games of Greg Robinson as defensive coordinator, he is not the long-term answer as Michigan’s defensive coordinator. His defense cannot stop the run and consistently gives up mega yards.
Even when Michigan and Texas played in the Rose Bowl, Michigan moved the ball up and down the field with ease. He simply is not the answer and if Michigan fans ever dream about beating Nebraska and State to play in the Big Ten’s title game, then Robinson has to go now. I am convinced that it is not the players, but his scheme.
And can anyone explain why Big Will is not in the rotation? So what if he plays high, he’s over 310 pounds and we need beef in the middle. Mike Martin is being wasted playing nose guard.
This is just horrible and as I am so frustrated right now.
Your thoughts please,
Dwain
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Thanks for the question and the comments.
Like some mailbag questions, there was little doubt after Saturday that a letter of this nature would be forthcoming. The staff will answer and comment on your thoughts. But before starting please (all readers) know and understand that several of our contributors are coaches or former coaches and understand the trials and tribulations coaches go through. Any comments will be centered on defensive performance and this or any other question directed to the site will not serve as a forum on a coach’s professional ability or job standing.
Let us start with reality, a very good starting point for any such venture. The reality is Michigan is so thin in talent and depth that the options the staff has for defensive alignment and personnel rotation are also thin. Having said that, it is safe to assume the coaches are likely fuming as much as the general public over Saturday’s near debacle. The question is what will be done about the shortcomings?
Yes, indeed, it would be nice to have a 300+ lb nose tackle or defensive tackle. But Mike Martin is the closest thing at the current time. The question still remains: is Big Will a nose tackle, a 4-3 tackle, or ever a 3-4 tackle?
One problem is that Michigan currently plays with only one defensive tackle and we are not convinced Martin has the skill to play defensive end. Martin chooses a side and slants adding to some of the difficulty if he is blocked down the line and his gap is not covered.
We disagree that having a defensive tackle playing high at 310 pounds is okay. We care less about how big a player is and more about proper technique, such as pad level. If a player does not have proper pad leverage he will be successfully blocked by a good technician.
Will Campbell still has some conditioning issues and needs to work on using his hands and other fundamentals. We predict Big Will does develop into a quality defensive tackle, he is just not there yet. Of course, a player needs to play to get better, that is the flip side of the above argument.
Coach Robinson is one of the better teachers on the defensive staff in our opinion.
We half agree with you about the scheme.
And so, we believe the current problem is a combination of not having enough talent and partly scheme.
We are not currently (and have been on record against) big fans of hybrids used as a fundamental part of a base defense.
The mismatches and size issues have been evident and will continue to be evident.
Still, even after putting forth the scheme problem, most of the defensive problems we perceive reverse spirals back to recruiting. UM has missed on several players, including some with clearinghouse issues. The first two years of Coach Rod’s tenure clearly focused on offense (and that has paid off) with good results. The result on the defensive side, especially taking into consideration who has left and who did not make it in, is almost polar by comparison.
This left the staff in a situation where nearly every defensive recruit, highly ranked or not, had to quickly become a contributing player. No program gets that fortunate. Besides the talent level dilemma brought about by recruiting good but not elite talent, the defensive squad also suffers from players leaving the program, even during the season. Unfortunately, this leaves recruits and the general public wondering what is going on and provides negative recruiting fodder. This spirals into a situation where the coaches must overcome obstacles of which other top programs are devoid.
Last year’s defensive recruiting class was certainly better on first glance, But with several clearinghouse issues, including a top national player, the current defensive class still suffers depth and quality problems.
Some will state the remedy is simply to add more talented players in this recruiting class (2011), which is fine, but that strategy provides no relief to this year’s team and possibly for next year’s team as well.
If the status quo strategy and results continue, the defense will continue to struggle since it will essentially always be a young defense with insufficient depth.
We have been detailing a less than stellar defense for three years, but frankly expected at least some improvement on the defensive side of the ball.
Once again, a win is a win, but discount the temptation to be giddy and play ostrich in the sand. If nothing changes many of the big physical teams of the Big Ten will score thirty or more points a game against the current set up. Some will say so what, the offense will score forty. Will it? That is a petty tall hat rack from which to place a hat.
Written by GBMWolverine Staff
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