Article published Tuesday, September 2, 2008
UM needs to be more physical, Rodriguez says
By
JOE VARDON
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
ANN ARBOR - After critiquing the film of his first game as Michigan's coach - a loss on Saturday to Utah - Rich Rodriguez yesterday offered a frank assessment of his team. "We're not good enough to play bad and win, I don't care who it is we play," Rodriguez said. "If we play bad, we ain't gonna win. That's where we are right now. We are what you see." According to Rodriguez, the Wolverines played poorly on both sides of the ball in their 25-23 setback. The coach also said he was disappointed in his team's tempo, with too many of his younger players sacrificing aggressiveness to think through assignments. Fifteen Wolverines made their college debuts Saturday, and the entire team was executing the Rodriguez administration's offensive (spread-option) and defensive schemes for the first time against an opponent. "I didn't think we played very physical," Rodriguez said. "I thought we played tentative at times, thinking a little too much. Whether that was because of inexperience or because of unsureness on certain plays, we addressed that quite a bit [Sunday] with the team, about playing more physical and not thinking as much. "If they won't play faster, won't play more physical, they won't be playing." For the second consecutive week, UM does not have a definitive starter at quarterback. But, based on Rodriguez's comments, Steven Threet is the favorite to start over Nick Sheridan this Saturday against Miami (Ohio). Threet and Sheridan each threw touchdown passes against Utah, but Sheridan was also intercepted once and could've been picked off at least three other times.
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