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Posted on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 2:08 p.m.

Rich Rodriguez and Monday's Michigan press conference

By Dave Birkett

Comments

rightmind250

Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 12:24 p.m.

I looked at the stat sheet. It doesn't matter if you avg 20 yards a carry you can't win with 1 carry. Michigan gained 80 yards rushing against PSU. Thats not going to get you 30 + points is it? What did they have at Iowa? Something like 28 yards in 28 carries. Michigan State? Against sisters of the poor, yes UM avg 270 yrds a game. Gig Ten avg= 120 yds a game. They haven't even played OSU or Wisky yet. So, Kubrick you are right. You might want to go look at the stats. Put that in your pipe and smoke it along with your Kool-aid.

Kubrick66

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 4:39 p.m.

rightmind250... You need to take a closer look at the stat sheet before declaring that Michigan can't run the ball. Minor averaged 4 ypc, Brown 4.4 and that's without any kind of sustained rhythm. I'll take that over dropped passes, int's and sacks.

Jon

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 11:17 a.m.

RR, you forgot to mention yout team is UNDERSIZED and got its' hiney whipped at the line of scrimmage, because your defensive line has an average weight of about 215! That is the size of Pete Carrols' killer safeties. Think McFly!

Imaloser

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 4:41 a.m.

scUMs luck ran out against PSU; they lost fair and square. It's nice to see the local media provide them with excuses, though. scUM may be in the same conference as PSU, but they are not in the same league as PSU. scUM was lucky to even be in the game at that point. Thankfully, the luck evened out and the correct team won. If walmart Nation is whining about a loss to PSU, I can't wait to hear them whine about the losses coming up next.

azwolverine

Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 10:58 p.m.

maizenbluedoc, Fumbles are a carryover from the Carr era??? Say what?! Yeah, that Mike Hart was a real fumble machine...he only set the Michigan record for most consecutive carries without a fumble. The only time Hart ever fumbled was in his last game against Florida, where our defense came up big and minimized the damage caused by the turnovers. Fancy that, a defense that actually did it's job. Please, people...let RR live or die based on his own merits. He doesn't need excuses. I'm a teacher, and in my class we have a sign that reads, "If you want to be SUCCESSFUL, don't give or take EXCUSES." Excuses are for losers. I, for one, would like to think that the Michigan coach is NOT a loser and that he would be embarrassed at all of the excuses many of his supposed backers make for him. This is RR's team and his responsibility...NO EXCUSES!!!

Jaxon5

Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 6:29 p.m.

Caught in a cycle. 1. Fumbles and interceptions have increased. 2. Fumbles and interceptions have become acceptable. 3. Fumbles and interceptions cause teams to lose. 4. Losing has become acceptable. Coaching can break the cycle.

rightmind250

Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 4:44 p.m.

Kubrick66, You are right man, run the ball. Give it to our seniors, our offensive line will create running lanes. Have you watched any of the games? UM can't run the ball. The line is getting blown out. They are over matched.

Kubrick66

Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 4:02 p.m.

There's too much pressure on the Freshman QB's. Michigan's offense ran 73 plays. Minor and Brown only 20 combined carries. Shaw one. That leaves 51 plays in the hands of Tate and Robinson. That's way too much. Minor and Brown should get minimum 30, 40 combined touches. Even down two scores in the 3rd they still should've been pounding the ball. Can't expect Freshman to carry the team on their shoulder every game. Lighten the load, put the game in the hands of the seniors... Fumbles or no fumbles.

Irvine CA

Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 3:40 p.m.

Omaha, I hope you are right. When you look at the stats of the 3 losing games, we don't have much possession time, and we don't have that many short passes as well. Sticking to the game plan is one thing, but when we couldn't run as in the MSU game, our coaches have to learn how to improvise. Has anyone considered having D Rob as a WR, or in some trick plays? I hope RR is saving all the good plays for OSU.

maizenbluedoc

Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 3:29 p.m.

Fumbles and dropped passes are a carryover from the Carr era. This isn't something new. There is something missing in the coaching scheme that allows this to happen. These errors can happen to anyone, but not 6-7 in one game. Unless this problem is corrected, this team will never be great. Some coaches will not tolerate not protecting the football, but this doesn't appear to be the case with RR.

OmahaBlue

Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 3:05 p.m.

Irvine, it is not play calling. There were 4 dropped balls with 3 of them being on big third downs and two huge fumbles. MSU game there were 7 dropped balls and one huge fumble by Stonum. Iowa game had 5 turnovers two unforced. This is not play calling, as you said it this is just young players making mistakes, they will learn. Fans expectations just became raised because of the 4-0 September. Once Tate gets a full season and a little bigger and can utilize D Rob on the field, Michigan will be one to watch out for.

Irvine CA

Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 2:29 p.m.

We don't need any excuses. This is a young team, and not long ago many experts are expecting it to go 6-6. Young players making mistakes is one thing we have to improve, but how about the play calling? We just cannot move the ball, too many 3 and out, as if the opponent defense knows our play book.