Mailbag question: Coach Rod, Rankings, and filling out the class

Posted at 8:00am — 12/23/2010

Mailbag question: Coach Rod, Rankings, and filling out the class

GBMWolverine,

Despite the uncertainty in the coaching situation, Michigan was able to land two solid commits in Blake Countess and Desmond Morgan in the last week two weeks.

Where do you see this recruiting class ending up in the rankings if Coach Rod stays on? How about if he is let go?

Also do you think that the recruiting class is filling the most pressing needs of this football team? I think that DT is the only spot that is of worry as there are only a few recruits left on the board.

Cheers,

Alex P.

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GBMWolverine Response:

To start the reply, the staff strongly believes Michigan needs two high level defensive tackles (not just bodies either) and a bona fide defensive end, one who is a genuine edge rusher, to finish off the 2010-2011 recruiting class.

We would also like to see a speedy wide receiver, one who is capable of stretching the field vertically, thereby serving a dual purpose of scoring on the long ball and opening up possibilities underneath for Michigan’s other receivers. Currently Michigan appears to be recruiting the same type of receiver now on the roster.

We are not “star” or ranking gurus by any means. If Coach Rod stays, and makes a few more “good” catches, we hold it to be tenable for Michigan to be ranked in the 15 to 20 range. One thing to keep in mind for those who are star gazers, and has been coldly confirmed in Michigan’s recruiting saga the past few years, is that it does not matter who signs a letter of intent in February, it matters more to the football team and fans who is formally accepted and actually shows up in Ann Arbor in the fall. Go back only one year and remember last year’s recruiting class that so many people thought was a great class for Coach Rod at Michigan. But before even one game was played, many of those committed and/or signed never saw the maize and blue winged helmet.

We are always more concerned with where Michigan ends up three or four years down the line. In our opinion, that is the amount of time it takes to get an accurate measure of any recruiting class and to confirm that the recruits successfully matriculated through the program. It is always great to have a top five class, but ranking is of no value if the players leave before eligibility has ran out, or moved on to the NFL, transfer, quit, encounter academic issues, and so on.

If Coach Rod is not retained, the outlook for this recruiting class becomes less clear. The new head coach may invoke a completely different recruiting agenda. The need to form a new staff within a limited amount of time, talk to Michigan recruits who have been targeted by other schools, or add last minute signings places a program in flux. Situations will arise from which a program in transition will win some and lose some.

We could expect some defections if a coaching change happens and some quality additions as well. It would be desirable if a new coach is brought in that current team members would at least hear the new coach out and see what his overall plan is for the team and for individual players, and also go through spring practice.

Players who leave prematurely without sufficient time and analysis face potential negative situations, such as sitting out a year of transfer time or leaving a university and never receiving a degree.

We have been made aware of the phrase “All-In for Michigan” the last couple of years and witnessed the entire team talk about the meaning of the accepted mantra. The “All-In” scenario begs the question of will the loyalty mandate continue if a new coach is announced or fade into history as a “catchy phrase?”

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!