Michigan Football: Video of Coach Robinson -- Part 3

Posted at 4:00pm -- 4/5/2010



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Michigan Football: Video of Coach Robinson -- Part 2

Posted at 4:00pm -- 4/4/2010



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Michigan Football: Video of Coach Robinson -- Part 1

Posted at 4:00pm -- 4/3/2010



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Mailbag question: Coach Robinson and the 3-3-5

Posted at 8:00am -- 3/28/2010

Mailbag question: Coach Robinson and the 3-3-5

GBMW,

I have a couple of questions regarding the 3-3-5 defense that UM is apparently going to use this season.

I do not think that I have seen any information indicating that GR has ever used the 3-3-5 defense. How much of a problem is this for implementing the defense? I believe that one issue with the defense is that they have seemed to learn a new scheme each year so this has entailed a hard time improving. So isn't that still a problem for this season? Does the scheme offer enough advantages to offset the learning curve?

Keep up the good work; I enjoy your honest evaluations and comments.

Andy

-------------------------------

Thanks for the questions.

If the entire defensive staff were novices (little background knowledge or teaching experience) regarding the use and implementation of a 3-3-5 stack defense, then Coach Robinson's lack of experience might be an issue. Remember as well that Coach Robinson has been to several places working either at the NFL or college level, so he is clearly adept at employing and teaching different schemes, as well as working with personnel across a broad continuum of skill talent.

Coach Bruce Tall, Coach Tony Gibson, and Coach Adam Braithwaite all have significant experience with the odd stack from their time at West Virginia. And so on the surface, one could infer that implementing the 3-3-5 stack should not be a problem.

Michigan also played quite a bit of 3-man front last season, so again the learning curve should not be as much of an issue.

The primary supporting event in our opinion is that by previous design or an evolutionary course of things, Michigan has been recruiting and gaining commitments from athletes with skills that are a better fit with 3-man fronts. Michigan has been recruiting more of the smallish, quicker athletes who can run, which is in theory the perfect fit for playing the 3-3-5 odd stack.

Thank you again for your questions. There is no doubt that the defense (or more likely defenses) that Michigan employs in 2010 is of great interest to fans.

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Mailbag question: Coaching staff

Posted at 8:00am -- 3/21/2010

Mailbag question: Coaching staff

What do you guys think so far with the coaching staff? Do they seem all on the same page along with how are they as far as being teachers?

Kim F.

-----------------------------

Thanks for the question.

We have always been impressed with the current Michigan coaching staff’s teaching abilities. From film and practice observation, we have seen fundamentals are being properly emphasized.

With the majority of the staff having spent years together, it is difficult to question the cohesion.

The one thing perhaps that is most impressive is how practices are run and how the coaching staff always wants an up tempo atmosphere.

Currently, the overriding concern about the coaching staff is the eventual effect of coaching changes on the defensive side of the ball. With moving a GA up to a recognized coaching position, one hopes that little if any cohesion is lost. The thinking is this type of move places the new assistant ahead of the learning curve, since he knows what to expect from the current staff and possesses familiarity regarding the players. In essence the feeling out process should be minimal or altogether eliminated.

Thank you for you question, the best coaches are typical master teachers.

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Mailbag question: What do you guys think of the new defensive coach hire?

Posted at 8:00am -- 2/15/2010

Mailbag question: What do you guys think of the new defensive coach hire?

What do you guys think of the new defensive coach hire?

I see good things along with bad things with the hire.

The good includes that the new coach knows all the players and has been around the defensive coaches and probably does not have a huge ego.

The bad could be that he might be a "yes man" to the coaches along with the head coach. After interviewing and spending a lot of time with other coaches this might look like Michigan couldn't get anybody else.

Could the hire of this coach be a deal where many other assistant coaches were not sure about Coach Rod’s status at Michigan, along with the fact that he is more of an offensive coach?

Jim R.

-------------------------------

Thank you for the question.

We have always believed that the head coach, be it Coach Bo, Coach Mo, Coach Carr, or Coach Rod, needs to be given complete control over staff selection and duties. It is the head coach’s job security and reputation that is on the line. We did not believe any of the rumors that some people were spreading about new AD Brandon stepping in and throwing names out (for the coaching vacancy) to Coach Rod. This hire shows some guts by Coach Rod. He opens himself up to an obvious charge of cronyism if Coach Braithwaite does not work out.

We know there were many bigger names floated around to join the Michigan staff, or at least were supposed to have been interviewed. Some are actually old friends of the program. In our opinion the last thing this coaching staff needs is another big ego. That is not meant as a cut or put down to Coach Rod and his staff members.

All great head coaches, and most top assistants, especially coordinators, have huge egos. It goes with the territory. It takes a fairly large ego to be a top-flight college coach. You have to 100% believe in what you are doing and your coaching ability. Most top assistants would want a large say in what Michigan was doing (program implementation and make-up) and this could be very problematic. A big time hire could also more than likely be a short-term hire, and in our opinion any big name assistant would be looking for a defensive coordinator job as soon as possible. And that would put Coach Rod right back to this starting point next season. Plus, there are a ton of positives for hiring from within at this point.

We have been impressed by many of the graduate assistants that we have seen at Michigan practices, including the offensive line GA, running back GA, and strength and conditioning GA, who stayed at Michigan instead of taking a full-time position at another school.

Promoting from within has benefits; the GA is familiar with the playbook, players, and the rest of the staff. As mentioned, such a hire does not bring in a huge ego, and promoting from within will also help attract other top quality GA's. Coach Braithewaite also has experience with special teams.

1) Coach Braithwaite has been on the Michigan staff for two years, it will be an easier transition because he is already familiar with techniques, terminology, and schemes.

2) Hiring/promoting from within will make it easier to attract other top level GA's and assistants.

3) Coach Braithwaite has already coached with the majority of the staff for two to four years, two at Michigan and two at West Virginia. He already knows and understands what is expected and has developed the "thick skin" Coach Rod has talked about it takes to coach on this staff.

4) He is already familiar with the players what they can do and not do. In meetings he is already prepared to discuss and help evaluate players and where they might better fit.

5) He is not a rookie coach. He has been a defensive coordinator and has previously coached the positions he is being hired to oversee.

6) He has experience handling special teams, and this could be a big bonus in our opinion.

Not that there are not some potential pitfalls, and not that there is no risk to the hire, but there is risk in any hire.

While Coach Braithwaite is not a rookie, he does have limited experience at this high of a level. He also was primarily a safety coach in the past, working with hybrids is not completely new to him, but he does not have a lot of experience at this position.

Let us take a summative look at the current situation that has formed over the last few years: (1) the past two seasons have went poorly; (2) Michigan has went through several defensive coordinators over the past few years, and (3) there is a general perception that the defense is overlooked by the offense, etc.

With all the things going on with Michigan football currently, with practice gate, daily logs, Coach Rod’s future with two non-winning seasons in a row, the NCAA in-house and all the rumored politics going on behind the scenes at Michigan, attracting a top level assistant would not have been easy. Supposedly some potential assistants were interviewed for the position but took jobs at what we believe were lesser college football program at a similar position.

This hire will provide some stability and was probably about as good as Michigan was going to do, especially with how long it took to bring in an assistant coach. If UM could have succeeded in bringing in a bigger name assistant we believe this would have been done post haste, in part to help finish out the 2010 recruiting season. Having the advantages of time and hindsight it now makes sense that the hire went the way it did, not publicly being announced until after signing day.

This hire may not get people "excited" or get people talking positive about Michigan. But the conclusion of the success of the hire will have to take a wait and see what happens approach.

Every coach at this level has a breakthrough start to a coaching career.

We welcome Coach Braithwaite, and wish him good luck. GBMW wishes him a long and successful career at Michigan, and as always ... GO Blue!

Written by GBMW Staff

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Michigan Football: Coach Rod hires Adam Braithwaite

Posted at 2:00pm -- 2/11/2010

From MGoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan football head coach Rich Rodriguez announced Thursday (Feb. 11) the hiring of Adam Braithwaite as the program's safeties/outside linebackers coach. Braithwaite joins the Wolverines' staff as a full-time assistant coach after spending the past two seasons as a staff assistant.

"We are excited to promote Adam to be our safeties/outside linebackers coach," said Rodriguez. "He has been a loyal hard-working member of our staff for several years and knows our system. I believe he will bring a lot of energy both in coaching and recruiting."

As previously announced during Rodriguez's signing day press conference (Wednesday, Feb. 3), defensive coordinator Greg Robinson will coach the linebackers. Bruce Tall will continue to work with the defensive line.

Assistant head coach Tony Gibson will coach the cornerbacks and free safety position. He will also add the responsibility of coordinating the special teams. Rodriguez will continue to have all of the coaches remain involved with a certain phase of special teams, but Gibson will manage that phase of the game on a daily basis and on game day.

Braithwaite was the defensive coordinator at Hampden-Sydney College (Va.) during the 2007 season. He worked with the linebackers and coordinated the special teams for the program's conference championship team and Division III National Playoff run. Prior to accepting his position at Hampden-Sydney, Braithwaite was a defensive graduate assistant for Rodriguez at West Virginia (2005-06). He assisted with the secondary and linebackers and helped the Mountaineers win a pair of bowl games (2006 Sugar and 2007 Gator) and the 2005 Big East title.

Braithwaite was the safeties coach at William & Mary in 2004 when the Tribe claimed the Atlantic 10 Championship and reached the semifinals of the Division I-AA National Championship. He gained his first college coaching position as the wide receivers and tight end coach at West Liberty State College (2003).

Braithwaite was a four-year letterman at defensive back for William & Mary (1997-2001), and was the starting strong safety on the Tribe's 2001 Atlantic 10 co-Championship team. He earned his bachelor of arts from William & Mary (2002) and his master's degree in athletic coaching education from West Virginia (2007).

Michigan Football: Coach Robinson

Posted at 10:00am -- 2/4/2010



YouTube by michaelrothstein35's

Mailbag question: Michigan defense

Posted at 12:00pm -- 1/13/2010


Mailbag question: Michigan defense

I have seen Michigan decline in defense in the past 10 years or so and wondered why we did not focus on defense earlier. In 2008 and 2009, our defense was our own enemy. An extra four or five games could have been won in 2009, if we had an OSU type of defense.

How do you see our defense in 2010? Who is in the running to take the place of Coach Hopson? Do you think Coach Rod and Greg Robinson are on the hot seat and will focus on improving the defense for 2010 and turn it around?

It's been evident and heartbreaking to see our rival (Ohio State) consistently is strong at defense year in and year out, while Michigan has struggled to assemble a quality and power type of defense. It just seems as though Ohio State has found the right formula for defense, but Michigan still can't find the answer.

One puzzled Michigan fan -- James F.

-------------------------------------------

Thanks for the question and yes we have seen a UM defense that for the last ten years has struggled, a defense which does not possess the confidence that they are able to stop somebody like the defense we had with the 1997 team.

GBMW sees the defense continuing to struggle in 2010.

We just do not see a replacement for our best defenders; Stevie Brown, Brandon Graham, and Donovan Warren. Add to this dilemma is the inexperience at linebacker and safety. It becomes difficult to envision a defense being much better. If improvement is indeed achieved, the probable contributing reasons will be using the same scheme instituted by the same defensive coordinator for a second year. While some may laugh at this level of continuity, it is the best UM has had in recent times.

Michigan will not reach Ohio State’s status on defense until the same talent level is secured and that will not happen without placing a high emphasis on defense like Ohio State does. That means recruiting must land some elite talent and this talent must be developed in practice.

We have told the story multiple times of Coach Robinson trying to use a coachable moment to teach a defender and then get shut down by Coach Rod. The same thing happened to Coach Shafer. Why so? The philosophy has been that the defense exists to improve the offense.

As to Coach Hopson's replacement, we are hearing a number of names. ESPN reported former Michigan assistant coach Bill Sheridan was a leading candidate, but we do not know if that is accurate or just speculation with him previously being on the Michigan staff.

We will get a better idea in the near future. The coaching convention is coming up shortly and that is where job deals get done much of the time.

Written by GBMW Staff

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Mailbag question: What do you guys think of Magee?

Posted at 8:00am -- 1/13/2010


Mailbag question: What do you guys think of Magee?

What do you guys think about Magee possibly leaving for the South Florida job? If this happens what happens next, or what would you guys like to see happen?

Dan B.

---------------------------------

Thanks for the question.

We think that for Coach Magee this is great news that he is being interviewed for the head-coaching job at South Florida.

A chance to be a head coach at a program he helped to start must be an exciting prospect for Coach Magee. The key will be if Coach Magee ends up taking any of the current Michigan assistants with him.

Could Coach Smith, or Coach Frey, be interested in being the offensive coordinator at South Florida? Both are Florida guys and the thought of going home would probably be appealing.

Having to replace two key offensive assistants would be very hard for the Michigan program. If any of the above scenarios happen (and we are not saying they will or will not), we would prefer to see Coach Rod hire someone with a background in the pro-style passing game, or at least move the current scheme in that direction.

In our opinion, combining Coach Rod's quarterback read option with a more complex passing game would be a great combination, and allow for diverse players to get into the game making the combined offense more deadly and unpredictable. Defenses would be pressured by a team that can get the running game going, and incorporate the running backs, slot receivers, tight ends and the split ends all into the passing game. This sharing of the wealth and assorted modes of attack could pose serious threats.

What does UM do as far as coaching goes and whom do you bring in? Well, UM is already down one defensive coach and we would actually like to see a second defensive coach brought on board since Coach Robinson is handling many coaching duties at Michigan, with new linebacker duties, along with being the defensive coordinator and teaching everybody on the defensive staff his system, and communicating what he wants done and how he wants the players to play.

Would Michigan be able to bring guys like Chuck Heater and Corwin Brown both back to Michigan? Perhaps this option would be possible.

One thing in regards to bringing in two defensive coaches is one could also be a special teams coach as well. Whomever works with special teams could take on this important responsibility and this duty could become more of a full-time duty, whereby one staff member becomes primarily or even solely responsible for the special teams. Corwin Brown would be an excellent person for that position because of his time in the NFL and experience with handling special teams. Brown also is known for being an excellent recruiter and a very good young coach.

Chuck Heater is a former Michigan player who played under Bo and bringing him back would be an excellent idea. He is a very good secondary coach, along with being an excellent recruiter with important and numerous connections. Being with Urban Meyer for so long also would provide a case study on how hard to recruit. In addition, we are a little partial to Heater being that he is an Ohio Wolverine, along with being from the same hometown as ErocWolverine (Tiffin, Ohio). Alas, Florida has just signed Coach Heater to a new upgraded title and he likely was financially compensated for his new standing on the Florida staff.

This, the above scenario of two defensive coaches, would even out the coaching staff, since Coach Rod is basically a part-time offensive coordinator; along with being a part-time quarterbacks coach. He always has helped call the plays and has the final say on the play going in. So Coach Smith, if Coach Rod believes he is ready, could take over the offensive coordinator duties, along with being the quarterbacks’ coach as well.

Since Coach Magee handled the tight ends and also the slot receivers, along with a grad assistant, we believe Coach Dews could handle the 8-10 more bodies that taking on the slot receivers and tight ends would incur.

While some of the possibilities detailed above are possible, we doubt they really happen, but we, as defensive-minded observers, would be thrilled by any advancements on the coaching staff on behalf of the defense.

Written by GBMW Staff

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Coach's Corner: Here are some things I would like to see next season -- Part 2 -- Offense

Posted at 8:00am -- 1/8/2010


Coach's Corner: Here are some things I would like to see next season -- Part 2 -- Offense

Offense:

1) Be more physical and make other teams take notice.

This is a major goal of Coach Rod and staff. They all want this team to possess a tough hard-nosed running game. The toughness needed to have a punishing running game was not there last season.

I talked to Coach Frey and he told me one of the biggest misconceptions is that zone schemes are not as physical and typical, traditional blocking schemes.

Coach Frey and Coach Herron (apologies if spelled wrong) want the line of scrimmage moving forwards. In my opinion Michigan would have won two or three additional games if the offensive line had been able to move the line of scrimmage forward into the red zone. Another off-season program with Coach Barwis should help.

2) Produce some big plays, better yet; produce more big plays than the opponent.

When Michigan was 4-0, the offense was creating a ton of big plays. Carlos Brown was breaking long runs and Tate Forcier was hitting big pass plays. Yes, this was against lesser competition, but still it was happening.

There are not many teams that can drive the field consistently against top-level competition. You have to create some long gains. In my opinion that means players like Denard Robinson, Daryl Stonum, Jeremy Gallon, Je'Ron Stokes, and Michael Shaw have to step up.

These are the players with the speed, explosiveness, and burst to create some long plays. At least two, and hopefully more, need to step up and become a home run threat. I would prefer such a threat to be a wide receiver over a running back, but at this time I will not get picky!

3) Ball Security.

This should probably be #1. Until this is fixed, Michigan will struggle. I can guarantee this was emphasized last spring, I saw it. But it has to get done. This team will not win against high-level competition having three or more turnovers a game.

Part 3 of this series will cover the defense

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Mailbag question: Quarterbacks and scheming

Posted at 4:00pm -- 12/6/2009



Mailbag question: Quarterbacks and scheming

GBMW -- Thanks for your input.

The spread offense that Rich Rodriguez prefers seems to be most effective with a quarterback who is physically imposing. Since it is primarily directed to the run, the quarterback should ideally be 6’5” and 240lbs, extremely quick and deceptive, able to take hit after hit, and possess decent passing skills. Rodriguez was able to find this person in Pat White when he was at West Virginia, but thus far has not been able to fill this need at Michigan.

Obviously, Tate Forcier is not this type of quarterback considering his diminutive size, and especially noting that he was injured early in the season after only a few hits. My question is twofold, is it realistic to expect to be able to find a quarterback who has this unique physical presence; for instance it seems that in the last two years only Jeremiah Massoli of University of Oregon and Tyrelle Pryor fit this prototype.

How can you be sure such a player is attainable when this type of player seems to be as rare as a blue moon and comes around only once per year or every other year. The second question relates to the coaches being more adaptable to the skills of the players. Certainly, early on the coaches must have known they did not have a prototypical running spread quarterback. Why wasn’t the offense tweaked to reflect the skills of the players on the field rather than conform to a specific scheme? I was hoping to see this offense predicated on quick timing passes and quick reads that send a receiver to an area vacated by a linebacker or defensive back. I know that is a different spread than the one RR runs, but couldn’t there be a bit more flexibility?

Thanks,
Mike S

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Thanks for the outstanding group of questions and comments. The analysis above brings into question how offenses are created and eventually succeed. Understanding everything discussed above would be a good objective for all chalkboard addicts.

Regardless of position, Coach Rod and staff look for great athletes with speed and pay little regard to size. The #1 attribute both Coach Magee and Coach Smith talked about in seminars was the quarterback being a true dual threat.

This requires opponents to seriously defend both the run and pass ability of such gifted quarterbacks. Making a defensive staff spend planning energy and scheming time on mostly one player usually opens up other offensive avenues for success. As for quarterbacks with size, Michigan has two coming in with the 2010 class. Both D. Gardner and C. Jones are close to, or over, 200 lbs. Gardner could easily be 220 in a year or so.

For better or worse, Coach Rod and staff made the decision to not tweak the offense, but to run the schemes the coaches have as their long-term strategy. We do give the offensive coaches credit for going to more of a passing game plan this year when it become all too obvious that running the ball was not going to get the job done.

This scheme we are watching is what Coach Rod and staff believe in and this is what they have so far decided to hang their future on.

A most telling comment was your assessment that quarterbacks of this nature (sizeable athletes with great skills running and passing) are indeed rare, hence the media circus and publicity over T Pryor’s recruitment and signing. Yes, indeed, these guys are rare and Michigan may have landed one this year. Gardner is looking great and Jones is an excellent athlete who needs to be channeled to an appropriate spot to use his athletic ability. Quarterbacks of this nature usually require some time to put the entire package of success together at the college level, see Exhibit A – T. Pryor. Gifted running backs can take the rock and make great contributions as freshmen.

Written by GBMW Staff

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GBMW: Coach's Corner -- What Michigan Looks For In recruits

Posted at 8:00am -- 12/1/2009



GBMW: Coach's Corner -- What Michigan Looks For In Recruits

During the past two Michigan football spring clinics some of the position coaches, and Coach Rod, talked about what they looked for in recruits. Mostly this discussion involved the offensive coaches. They went first and used up most of the time, at least according to Coaches Hopson and Coach Tall, who followed and laughed about the loss of speaking time.

Coach Rod:

Here are some thoughts and philosophies expressed by the Michigan staff concerning the type of player current Michigan recruits.

1) Find the right guys and coach them up.

2) Recruit guys who love to play football.

3) Look for and recruit competitive athletes.

Coach Greg Frey (Offensive Line):

1) Find athletic guys who can get to the blocks at different levels.

2) Recruit guys who can play multiple positions; height and weight is not a key factor.

3) Recruit long armed body types.

4) Recruit guys with sufficient intelligence.

5) Recruit guys who understand and comprehend what to do during the play and can then finish the play.

Coach Tony Dews (Split Ends):

1) Recruit guys who want to get degrees and will graduate

2) Recruit guys that love football.

3) Recruit guys who want to compete with seek no promises.

4) Recruit complete players, like a Hines Ward.

5) Recruit athletic Guys, think basketball players or multiple sport guys who are fluid, and have quick feet and hips.

6) Recruit guys with natural ball skills and body control.

7) Height and weight: Recruit smaller athletes that are more dynamic recruit bigger athletes that are more aggressive.

Coach Fred Jackson (Running Backs):

1) Recruit guys with great Vision. Coach Jackson called this trait “keep the eyes on your work.”

2) Recruit guys who possess discipline.

3) Recruit guys that demonstrate acceleration.

4) Recruit guys who believe they will score every time.

Written by GBMW Staff

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Mailbag question: Misdirection plays in this offense

Mailbag question: Misdirection plays in this offense

GBMW,

Guys, thanks again for a great site.

Did you notice the complete absence of any misdirection plays in the second half of the season? Watching games on the last weekend I saw lots of reverses, and even reverse passes. Also, we taught kids caught in double teams to: 1. Try and split the double; 2. Spin out of the double, or 3. Make a pile. Time after time I saw linemen caught in doubles pushed back yards or pushed side ways leaving gaping holes.

Don

---------------------------------------------

Thanks for the question and comments.

There is very little misdirection in this offense.

Other than the quarterback read option, Michigan will use the reverse and dart series as sources of misdirection. Michigan does use some throwback out of the wheel series to the running back.

We have watched Coach Tall teach splitting the double and making a pile. But we agree that Michigan did not do a great job against doubles this season.

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Mailbag question: Time for the current coaches to be held accountable?

Mailbag question: Time for the current coaches to be held accountable?

GBMW,

I really appreciate the in-depth analysis and insight you guys bring.

The issues that alarm me most about this staff are legion.

Number one, blaming recruiting on this product is a cop-out. Lloyd will no doubt get fed up with this at some point if Rich Rod keeps blaming past recruiting.

There is a case study proving Rich Rod is off-base with these claims in the form of Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech suffered as much, or more attrition when Paul Johnson came on board. They started more than ten freshmen last year. But they managed to go 9-3 and to beat their chief rival, Georgia.

This year, they are 10-1. The execution has improved. The discipline has improved. The team is vastly better, despite the personnel losses. The reason is that Paul Johnson is probably the best game day coach in college football. He makes adjustments by series, not by halve, and certainly adjustments are made (unlike what we now endure). He is also an unrivaled judge of talent and a master motivator.

Rich Rod also does not appear to get the root meaning of humility. You get humbled when you think you are better than you are. When you receive that, and decide to make changes, it stops.

To hear you guys say certain assistants are untouchable reinforces the recurring theme of arrogance this staff exudes. The mere fact that they think they can come in and take the program backwards in order to go forward is insane. Who do they think they are? Michigan is bigger than all of them. I don’t think they realize this perception.

Michigan had some of the best position coaches in the game when RR came along. Certainly, if Scott Loeffler is good enough for Florida, he was good enough to contribute here. Certainly, Vance Bedford is as good as D-back coaches get. Ask Woodson, ask Urban Meyer.

This staff simply is not that good (and this statement is an exercise in restraint!). There are several coaches who know how to do more with less. Rich Rod is not one of them. Paul Johnson. Brian Kelly. Jim Harbaugh. All are master motivators and leaders of men. I think any of the three would have been better fits here.

Thanks,

Nelson R.

-------------------------------------

Thanks for the question and comments.

We also have become tired of the "its all Lloyd Carr's fault" mantra and this crap keeps getting spewed by appointed experts, moderators, and supposed insiders, along with fans who pick up the banner from the previous sources and flame on.

A head coach, and indeed the entire staff, who have been at a school of historical high achievement for two years, must not be discounted as being part of the problem, that is, given a get out of jail card. Since this current staff is now and has been in total charge, the task of building (once thought to be maintaining) back the program falls 100% on those now on board. The current staff has uplifted (blown up) the landscape and produced a very new product, there is no rationale to have the previous staff shoulders any burden. Inserting reality, arguing blame is like debating what Lee should have done at Gettysburg. He lost the battle and that is that. No debate is going to change present reality.

Having said this, we all know the gossip and blame game on the message boards will continue on.

Coach Carr was 100% accountable for his tenure as head coach. He is now gone and let him enjoy his retirement and what he wants to do for the rest of his life out of the public eye.

There are many examples of improvement by teams in year two; Georgia tech is a good one as is Ohio State under Coach Tressel, and Alabama under Coach Saban. Brian Kelly made a heck of an improvement in year one and is doing quite well in year two. Jim Harbaugh took over a 1-11 team and improved the Cardinal in just a couple of years, along with beating USC two out of three times.

It is not unusual for head coaches to have assistants they feel very comfortable with; Coach Bo had guys like Jerry Hanlon and Tyrell Burton. Coach Rod is obviously happy with Coaches Magee and Gibson. He also seems to like having Coaches Tall, Dews, and Smith on staff.

As Coach Rod said in his press conference -- do not have the exact quote, but it went very close to this "I am a big boy and this is a big boys’ business" and fans want wins and that is what I and the other coaches are judged on".

It is past time for the current program to stand on it's own two feet and for all this history interpretation to stop coming up every week. This rehashing and amateur adjudication is of no benefit, including for the current staff.

We at GBMW want to talk football, basketball, hockey, recruiting and any other sport at the University of Michigan and we are tired of all the agenda and gossip that some sites try to stir up to create a buzz and get the followers to read their stuff. Know this, some just did/do not Coach Carr and this is a classic beating of the strawman. If Coach Rod had achieved a record of 11-1, you could bet the final piggy bank that such sources would never mention Coach Carr as being part of the success.

Michigan's record the last two years in the Big Ten is 2-6 in 2008 and 1-7 in 2009. No matter what people say, that is something that should never happen at Michigan and actual football results need to improve drastically next year. It is very disappointing that this team started off the season at 4-0, with wins against Western Michigan (5-7), Eastern Michigan (0-12), Indiana (4-8 overall and 1-7 in Big Ten), tied with in last place in the Big Ten, and then Delaware State. Michigan could not get another win after that game.

Edit Note: Nelson you split the perception arrow right down the middle with your letter. Wherever you are, consider yourself the GBMW archery champion.

Thanks for stopping by Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
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Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine

Mailbag question: Coach Robinson getting more control

Mailbag question: Coach Robinson getting more control

GBMW,

Hi, love the site and keep up the good work.

In regards to the defense, I know the only way to get out of this mess on D is to recruit, recruit, recruit. Yes, I heard it here.

Also, in your opinion do you believe that Coach Rod has to hand the keys, so to speak, to Coach Robinson and basically give him total control of the D and allow him to hire and fire his own defensive assistants to help get the defense back on track, with Coach Rod just focusing solely on offense? If Coach Rod continues to be stubborn when it comes to the defense and defensive recruiting, are, in your opinion, his days in Ann Arbor numbered?

Thanks
Chris

---------------------------------------------

Thanks for the question and comments.

Wins fix everything. Maybe that is not the way it should be, but it is indeed the way it is.

If Coach Rod wins, it will not matter who his assistant coaches are.

The reality is that Coach Gibson is not going anywhere, regardless of who the defensive coordinator is.

Coach Tall is probably not going anywhere either.

Coach Robinson realized this situational reality when he came to Michigan. He now has to make the best of it, assuming he stays.

Hopeful having two full springs under the same basic structure will help things out, and improvements, however small, will be realized.

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Mailbag question: Defensive staff

Mailbag question: Defensive staff

GBMW,

Coach Rod blamed Coach Shafer last year for all the problems with the defense and fired him for not getting along with his assistant coaches he brought along with him from WV.

So whose fault is it now?

When will Coach Robinson get a say with who is on this defensive staff and will Coach Rod's buddies ever be shown the door after two years of the worst defenses in Michigan history ... Also the fact that Michigan has not been to a bowl game (possible) in two straight years cannot sit well with anyone.

We all thought Coach Carr had buddies holding the program back, but these guys are really holding the program back.

Dan F.

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Thanks for the question.

If Michigan replaces or shuffles the defensive staff we expect Coach Robinson to have a say in who gets hired, but not probably who gets fired.

The reality is Coach Gibson will always be part of any staff Coach Rod puts together; it is what it is, no matter what people want to say.

Coach Tall has been with Coach Rod since 2003 and would also appear to be safe, but he might be a guy that could get replaced if they get a lot of heat and also if they can find a true defensive line coach.

So in reality, with only four defensive coaches and one being the defensive coordinator, that only leaves Coach Hopson who coaches the linebackers.

The question becomes, if Coach Hopson returns what shuffling can be done?

Coach Hopson is a very good safety coach, so does Coach Rod move him to safeties and let Coach Robinson handle all the linebackers and of course what happens to Coach Gibson?

Could UM possible get rid of an offensive coach and add a defensive coach, since Coach Rod admits he is an offensive coach and acts like another quarterback coach and offensive coordinator? So do we really need six coaches for offense and four for defense?

We are not calling for any offensive or defensive coach to be fired, but at certain positions on offense there really are not many bodies at positions compared to certain positions on defense.

Yes, indeed, there are many questions to be answered at a later time.

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Mailbag question: Two defensive personnel questions

Mailbag question: Two defensive personnel questions

GBMW,

I love the blog. I have two questions for you.

What starting defensive lineup do you think gives Michigan the best shot against OSU?

Who would you start next year? Obviously this is much more difficult to project because of off season improvements and incoming freshmen. Would you move Roh to DE and Obi to quick? Who would start in the defensive backfield?

Thanks,

James

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Thanks for the question and the comments.

We would like to see Michigan play two legit defensive tackles, either Renaldo Sagesse or Will Campbell, with Mike Martin against Ohio State. This likely will not happen.

We expect Ryan Van Bergen and Mike Martin to remain the starters and Craig Roh to step up and take over for Brandon Graham, because quite frankly we do not have anybody else on the roster that can even come close right now, in our opinion, with the defense UM is trying to run under Coach Robinson.

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Mailbag question: Wolverine Wrap?

Mailbag question: Wolverine Wrap?

GBMW,

Hi there, and thanks for taking my question.

Before the season started, you said that Coach Robinson was teaching a tackling technique that he called the "Wolverine Wrap." I must say that I was deeply skeptical of this. I tend to think that the best ways of executing such a fundamental skill are already well known. Any good tackling technique taught to the Michigan players is probably in use by many other teams.

Among the Michigan games I've seen, tackling doesn't seem to be markedly better than it was a year ago. It's hard to measure exactly, as missed tackles are not a formally kept stat, but if the Wolverine Wrap was supposed to be a defensive revelation, I am not seeing it.

Was there anything truly innovative about the Wolverine Wrap, and if so, have the Wolverines actually been doing it? Or was the Wolverine Wrap just coach-speak for "playing good sound defensive football," which, as we know, Michigan has not been doing?

Best regards,
Marc S. From New York, NY

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Thanks for the question.

The system is actually called the shimmy tackling system. A high school coach named Bill Williamson designed it. It is an entire system of tracking the football and tackling. The moment of truth, as Coach Robinson referred to it, was called the Wolverine Wrap.

No tackling system can make up for a lack of athletic ability and overall talent in which we have been preaching about since we seen Coach Rod's first defensive practice in the spring, especially when we saw the second group and the lack of talent and quality of bodies on that side of the ball.

The only way to get better on defense is to recruit better players. People can talk about getting quicker, faster players, but you also need talented players that are elite athletes on defense to be able to play in space and play man to man in coverage and also be able to make that hit, and tackle when needed.

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If you have any questions please E-Mail

Written by GBMW -- CoachBt and ErocWolverine