Michigan Football Tidbits: Just some stuff
The Wermers comments after leaving the program (we kept saying there would be at least two who leave the program with a couple others who will probably go through season and then make decision) now you know who those two were.
Something to keep in mind. Any coach, including Coach Rod are concerned and never like to see kids leave a program. However, Coach Rod has made it quite clear in this off-season, that kids who "do not love football" wont make it at Michigan.
Now, it is important to understand what Coach Rod means by "love football". It means they have to put up with Coach Barwis program (which is unrelenting) and they have to put up with Coach Rod's practices (which is unrelenting). In Wermers case, you have to put up with Coach Frey (who is unrelenting).
It's not easy! It's not fun! It took way over a year for most on this team to buy in. And even today, there are a few who still struggle. This is one thing we have been trying to hammer to people that this new system is not easy for any kid and it demands a lot from these kids.
But, and this is important, Coach Rod understands why he was hired at Michigan. He understands the pressure he will be under this year. He understands there are a certain group who cant wait for him to fail and he gets all of this.
So, he does not have time to sit around and become guidance counselor. And he put tremendous pressure on Coach Barwis to make sure he produces a team ready to practice in August that is the best conditioned team in his history. Coach Barwis believes he has accomplished this.
Now, also understand that this does not mean team will be successful, but it is one piece of the puzzle. Players still need to produce on Saturday's, which still puzzles Coach Rod why they practiced so well during the week and stunk on Saturday's.
What changes have taken place over the course of a year with team?
A lot of changes, but none bigger than the players now. Instead of bitching and griping about Coach Barwis and overall program, they have the attitude that is basically like "look, we all have to do this, we all want to win next year, so if you want to gripe or do not want put in the work with the proper attitude, you need to step aside for someone who does". This is the new attitude of team going into 2009.
All of this will mean nothing of course. Team can have the best attitude and work ethic in the world, wont matter and Coach Rod understands this more than anyone.
Some recent comments once again from Coach Rod and Coach Barwis.
"WE need more defensive commits"!
He understands the difference in numbers and coaches are trying hard to recruit defensive kids. In fact, there are some offensive kids who have big interest in Michigan that coaches have told they may have to wait.
"We need to get top rated kids"!
Again, for those who want to continue to argue star system. Coach Rod has consistently said one of big advantages of Michigan, is it allows them to get in the doors of highly rated kid. And Coach Barwis in almost every speech he makes, explains that putting highly rated kids through his program has a much bigger upside than others. So, they pay attention to this stuff.
It is just that Michigan needs to win some games, that will help, but going into next year, we think you will see much more patience especially with limited numbers.
What all of us need is for football season to start. Then we wont get obsessed with some of these topics as much, but instead we will be obsessed with how the team performs.
One last comment: Senior leadership this year has been so much better. Remember, these Seniors, were recruited not by Coach Rod, but by Coach Carr and some of these kids have been through three different coordinators, but for those who believe they may have a future in football, they now appreciate the progress they are making. And having so many NFL players hanging around in summer does not hurt.
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Written by MaizeMan and ErocWolverine
2 comments:
Which NFL players are "hanging out" at Michigan?
IMO a big reason why the team practiced so well last year, but played so poorly in the games was the QB position. Threetidan could throw vs. air with the red jersey on in practice but were terrible, flat out awful in the games. For any QB to completely 50% (or less) in this offense really shows their lack of skills... there are just too many ops for short passes and check downs for a QB to have that poor %...and we all saw how many big gainers Threet missed downfield etc....
Anyway my point is that the team can look really crisp in practice but once the key position in football (QB) starts to break down in the game, and be inconsistent, it tends to rub off on the rest of the team.
The only inexplicable thing about last year, IMO was the fumbling problem.... the rest of it, poor tackling, angles of pursuit etc. are all hold overs from Lloyd era.
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