Rich Rod ,Must Go!

[Mikenmike]

I am not going to judge how good a defense is by their spring game, sorry. Not to mention they were without two NFL type players in Mike Martin and Troy Wolfolk.

The reason I think they will make strides is that they have tons of experience. Wil lthat translate into success? I hope so.

DE-Mike Martin, Jr, two year starter
NG-Will Campbel, Soph, lettered last year
DE-Greg Banks, RSr, 2 yr lettermen
LB-Obi Ezeh, RSr, 3 yr starter
LB-Jonus Mouton, RSr, 2 yr starter
Bandit- Craig Roh, Soph, starter last yr
Spur- Thomas Gordon, RFr
FS- Jordan Kovacs, RSoph, starter last yr
SS- Cam Gordon, RFr
DB- Troy Wolfolk, Sr, 3yr starter
DB-JT Floyd, RSoph, started two games last season

There are only two players who did not start or play a large role in last years defense. Not to mention that Demar Dorsey is expected to compete for a starting DB spot, and JT Turner is expected to move back to S as well.

You forgot Van Bergen, he will start over Banks

[Mikenmike]

Also, Kovacs could be benched if Turner moves to SS(Deep Safety) and Cam Gordon gets moved to FS(box Safety).

[Mikenmike]

IMO also the 3-3-5 isn't going to work well in the big 10. the run 1st teams like wisconsin, iowa, penn st., osu etc. are going to have big rushing day against the D. 1 missed tackle by a lineman or L backer and his in your secondary gaining 10 to15 yds a wack.

Do you really think they are going to stay in a 3-3-5 against teams like wisconsin and iowa? It's just a base defense they will switch to a 4 front against power run teams.

[Peake]

Mikenmike, good call, how did I forget Van Bergan who started last season. I guess I was just too excited that Banks decided to finally show up. At 6'4 292 Banks ran a 4.68 during the night of champions.

I really hope Turner goes to Deep and Cam to free, that would be amazing! Kovacs could share minutes at spur with Thomas Gordon. I really think we will see Marvin Robinson getting minutes at spur as well. I would not be surprised if we see Dorsey playing some DB by mid-season and then starting by seasons end.

The talent is coming, but Rich will have to win 8 to keep his job, and I just don't know if they can at this point. Time will tell.

[marshallman]

I think that if RR dont win at least 9 or 8 games then Michigan will get ride of him...man its really hard being a michigan fan since tressell came along lol. I guess i just have to reflect on the Cooper years.

Bingo!! Now you know what Buckeye nation went through with Cooper. I hope RR doesn't get fired. He's the best thing for OSU. With OSU loaded to the gills with talent this year and "THE GAME" played at home, I'm hoping Tressel opens up a can of wop a$$ because it will be a reloading year after 2010.

[Mikenmike]

Peake,
No biggie it happens, I to am very excited about what this defense can do in the next couple of seasons. Mike Martin, Big Will, and Van Bergen are all very good. Banks, Patterson, Heniger(if he comes back from his acl injury), and Jibreel Black will all provide much needed depth this season. I agree with you about Marvin Robinson, by the end of the season I would not be surprised to see him start.
Week1 D IMO
DE-Mike Martin(jr)/Banks
NG-Big Will(so)/MM/Patterson
DE-RVB(rs JR)/Patterson
LB-Obi Ezeh (rs SR?)/J.b. Fitzgerald (rs So)
LB-Jonas Mouton (rs SR)/Kevin Leach (so?)
Bandit(DE/LB hybrid)- Craig Roh (so)
Spur-Thomas Gordan (rs FR)/Jordan Kovacs (rs So)/Marvin Robinson (If he comes in and just dominates in fall camp)
FS(Box Safety)- Cam Gordon (rs Fr)
SS(Deep Safety)- Justin Turner (rs Fr)
CB-Troy Woolfolk (rs SR)/ Cullen Christian (I don't expect him to start but he could get some reps, #3 CB in his class)
CB-J.T. Floyd (rs So)/ Demar Dorsey (possible SS as well)

[Peake]

I agree with most of that.

NG your forgot Sagesse, who will most likely be the #2. Demens may be the starting Mike over Obi or at least be #2 ahead of JB. I have heard there is a much better possibility of seeing Cullen at S instaed of DB, but that was before JT proved he will have to be a S. Don't be surprised to see Kenny Wilkins move into the 2-deep at DE or Bandit. He is up to 255 from 230 in high school. Only reason the guy wasn't big time is because he got mono after the first game. He is a freak now. Also, I have heard that Avery may be further along in his development then Cullen at this point, just hear say. Anyways, it is nice to not have to relie on a bunch of freshmen:)

[Bleeding Red]

I think that if RR dont win at least 9 or 8 games then Michigan will get ride of him...man its really hard being a michigan fan since tressell came along lol. I guess i just have to reflect on the Cooper years.

Bingo!! Now you know what Buckeye nation went through with Cooper. I hope RR doesn't get fired. He's the best thing for OSU. With OSU loaded to the gills with talent this year and "THE GAME" played at home, I'm hoping Tressel opens up a can of wop a$$ because it will be a reloading year after 2010.

I totally agree marshallman.

RR is my next favorite coach besides Tress.

I thought that last year RR might get the OSU assistant coach of the year award!

[Peake]

Woody Hayes vs Michigan first 3 years....0-3

Might want to hold out on the blasting Rich Rod stuff. Carr smashed OSU for 6 (5-1) years before he started his fall off.

[seofan_via_dublin]

Woody Hayes vs Michigan first 3 years....0-3

Might want to hold out on the blasting Rich Rod stuff. Carr smashed OSU for 6 (5-1) years before he started his fall off.

That's all well and good, except this ain't the 1950's, and UM isn't getting any better.

Also, might want to remember that even though Woody went 0-3 to start,
Bo never won a national title.

[Peake]

We will see if they are getting better or not. This is the year that will tell how good they are and if they have improved. The certianly got a ton of defensive talent this recruiting class, so I am very confident that they are going to be better.

I don't get why anyone is jumping to conclusions after a spring game that most did not watch. The 1st team defense without two of their better players gave up one TD during a situational scrimmage. They scoring drive also started with the 2nd team offense getting the ball from the 25-in. THe Mike Cox td run came against a mix of the 1st and 2nd team and Devins run came against the 3rd team. Oh my God lets all jump ship because the offense scored a single td on the 1st team.

[1987chieftains]

lets hope it gets better. after last year it can't get much worse.

[seofan_via_dublin]

We will see if they are getting better or not. This is the year that will tell how good they are and if they have improved. The certianly got a ton of defensive talent this recruiting class, so I am very confident that they are going to be better.

I don't get why anyone is jumping to conclusions after a spring game that most did not watch. The 1st team defense without two of their better players gave up one TD during a situational scrimmage. They scoring drive also started with the 2nd team offense getting the ball from the 25-in. THe Mike Cox td run came against a mix of the 1st and 2nd team and Devins run came against the 3rd team. Oh my God lets all jump ship because the offense scored a single td on the 1st team.

I know you're not a fan of Rich Rod, and commented on his departure last year,
but what truly justifies the concept of "getting better"?

The defense has been God awful, so you could say they got better if they simply showed up and
got marginally better results than last year.

The offense should be able to score on most teams they face, so it will be the defense that determines the
overall record of the team, and the eventual fate of RR.

Last year they were 5-7, after starting 4-0. So "getting better" could simply be making a bowl game.
If that's the case, then expectations are at a critical low, and vast changes need to be made.
Or, will "getting better" be an 8-4 regular season with a bowl loss. In this case, we can justify improvement,
and I think this is the line of demarcation on RR's future at UM.

But the problem becomes, how will they get those 8 wins.
I think they have 4 gimmie wins (UMass, BGSU, Illinois, and Indiana)
I am chalking up 3 loses right off the bat ( Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio State)
So, they have 5 games to show what "getting better" means.
---UCONN, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn St., Purdue

They need to win 4 of those games to get to 8 wins.
Personally I think they win 2, but I can see the 4 wins as a possibility.
If they get 8 wins, then I'll gladly say that they have "gotten better", but
then the issue becomes, has RR impressed enough boosters by that point
to keep his job.

[Peake]

I think Iowa is not an instant loss. They have to play Michigan at Michigan, and UM had every chance to beat them last year at Iowa. The difference this year is we can play mostly upper classmen, opposed to playing handfuls of freshmen and sophomores.

The offensive line will finally be full of talent, reather then average players. Schilling should have an All-Big Ten season and Taylor Lewan and Patrick Omahmeh have been talked about as the next great combination of UM Olinemen. The 2-deep on the Oline is full of experience, rather then under classmen everywhere.

We will see.

[claypantherfan]

I think this year I see Michigan winning 7-8 games this year but I hope more

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

these posts please me, michigan football is like a fish outta water right now, sad in ways to see for a program with this type of pedigree, but i see plenty more gold pants in the future for buckeye players. go BUCKS.

[boilermaker]

caglewis,,, I got the name boilermaker from a good friend of mine during a poker game. He went to use the bathroom ,while he was gone I poured some Wild Turkey in his beer. We all laughed and he started calling me boilermaker.
I am a Michigan fan ,and have been since the Buckeyes fired Woody Hayes! I switched to Bo Schembeckler and have been a Wolverine since. It is hard right now . Rich Rod is not a good fit, he needs to go! I dont care where just out of Michigan. All the history and years of excellence with NO sanctions ,now there is a blackeye on the program because of this goof.Not to mention the worst team in the history odf the program last year . I look for more of the same this season. I think they will win some games this year, but not in typical Michigan hard nosed football. You must play Defense to win championships.
I know what Bo would say ......Rich Rod MUST GO!!!!!

[seofan_via_dublin]

Just wondering, but why the switch to the sworn enemy when Woody was let go.

He was past his time, was losing to the team up north, and it was time to turn the next page anyway.
Nobody likes to see a legend get fired, but the writing was on the wall long before Charlie got his jaw in
the way of Woddy's fist.

[NYBuckeye96]

Another year, another Buckeye victory of Michigan!

Michigan better get its ducks in a row before the new expansion teams are on board because the mountain will be that much harder to climb up when a Nebraska or a Notre Dame becomes a league rival!

[boilermaker]

Dublin , Bo was a chip of the ole block of Woody . The next best thing to Woody.Plus even as a Buckeye fan and a 11 year old kid I loved the Michigan helmets. LOL