Mailbag Question:

Would all those changes that you guys described actually be a good thing right now?

Also all the changes on defense seems extreme ... does going small like having Williams or chambers a linebacker a good thing?

When do you throw in the towel and tell the seniors sorry we are looking to next year even though a lot of them put their blood, sweat, and tears into this program.
When is it the right time?

Is it better to move on and prepare for next year especially since your not going to go to a bowl game and get the extra practices?

Thanks Jim

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Thanks for the question. This is one of the toughest questions coaching staffs face. When do you go to young guys, and do you burn a red-shirt to get valuable experience especially this late in the season.

With Michigan, they are playing for pride at this point; they cannot win a National Championship, Make a BCS bowl game, make any bowl game, or win Big Ten Title.

Therefore, why not experiment some and find out if some of the young kids can play. Especially when vets, seniors and juniors have not got the job done. One program to look how they turned it around so quickly is Notre Dame. They played many young guys when they went 3-9 and now are benefiting from it because they were able to see what they had and used the practice time in the fall to evaluate players while being able to see them in action during games.

Sometimes you have practice players and then sometime you have game players. Meaning some players bring their best during practice and you do not see any improvement in the games while a game player might not be that great in practices, but when the lights come on he ramps it up an notch or two for the games.

For going small on defense, how well as being "big" worked. Michigan’s lack of quickness and athleticism has killed them. Teams are beating Michigan on the perimeter and in the flats. The only way you find out if Williams or Chambers can be effective at Outside Linebacker is to try them.

written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine