2009 TSUN News (football only discussion)

[jwinslow]

Mallett wasn't the happiest camper, but RR did not want him at UM nor did he try to facilitate that, regardless of what was written in the press. He was moving forward with his offense not Lloyd's, and chose Sheridan, Threet & Feagin - and an open slate for read-option QBs - over Ryan Mallett.

We will see which offense RR runs this fall. Spring reports continue to trickle out that the passing game is still largely underneath and swing passes, with little downfield passing. If/When Denard takes over for Tate, I'd imagine the Pat White offense will live on.

From the sounds of it, it seems like DJ just loves Michigan. Just like most of us here would probably attend OSU even if others felt JT's offense wasn't the best for reaching the next level at our position.

Good luck to DJ for the other 11 regular season games during the year.

 

[Sportsbuck28]

Within his short history as the play caller, he's done both.

Shaun King - Tulane (RR - Offensive Coordinator)

• 1997: 199/363 (54.8%) for 2577 yards and 24 TD vs. 14 INT. 124 carries for 511 yards and 5 TD.
• 1998: 244/364 (67.0%) for 3495 yards and 38 TD vs. 6 INT. 156 carries for 633 yards and 11 TD.

And when he got an athletic qb that didn't have as good an arm, such as Pat White, he did run the ball more. If you look at the actual ratio of pass to run in the "pat white" era, every year they threw more as White grew as a passer. There's more evidence to suggest that RR will adapt his offense to the skills of the qb WITHIN HIS SYSTEM. Meaning, that UM may throw more with Forcier while still keeping the read option as the basis for which the offense runs. If Forcier is as good a passer as they say, I'd look for the UM offense to more resemble Tulane under King. However, there is always Denard Robinson, the speedster from Florida. He ran a 10.28 100 meter at an event this past weekend. If he can pick up a decent amount of the offense this summer, I'd look for him to get plenty of playing time.

That whole "He will adapt his playcalling to the personel" excuse went out the window when Threet was running the read option 10 times a game.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Mallet ran himself off. Rumor was that Mallet was gone anyway, regardless of who the hire was. Apparently he was homesick, which is why he's back playing at home. Mallet was looking for the perfect excuse to skip town, and RR was it.

Completely false. Any Michigan fan who is really 'in the know' will tell you exactly what JWins just did. RR didn't want him there, and made no attempts to keep him there. If he was that good at running the offense to fit his personnel....I think he would have opted to keep the 5* stud QB instead of trotting out the garbage that he did last year. The fact is, he's either not willing or not capable.....he wants his WV offense.

In regards to DJ, I think JWins nailed that, too. WRs in that offense aren't going to develop in to anything. The kid just wanted to go to Michigan.

 

[brutus2002]

I remember Michigan being in great shape with Perlie Graves and Daquinta Jones too...we all know how that turned out. If Michigan does not make a bowl game their late season recruiting will take a major hit especially with OOS kids. IMO having only 1 defensive verbal should tell Michigan fans all they need to know about the current staff...offensively minded. Like said before you cannot bank on recruits that are offensively minded to be moved to defense. The Michigan staff is not only recruiting players to be moved to defense but they are recruiting alot of hybrid kids...this can be good and it can be bad. IMO RR recruiting style will be his undoing. He needs to remember that players like Pat White come around only once maybe twice in a coaches career.

 

[brutus2002]

OT Robert Crisp has chosen NCSU over Michigan

 

[buckeyemania11]

Tater Tot may be "slippery" but that can only go so far, what happens when he takes off and gets straight leveled by a oncoming Linebacker or Saftey? from how small he is I would say he is not going to be able to withstand a season of abuse from opposing defenses

 

[blueinfla]

Tater Tot may be "slippery" but that can only go so far, what happens when he takes off and gets straight leveled by a oncoming Linebacker or Saftey? from how small he is I would say he is not going to be able to withstand a season of abuse from opposing
defenses

187 is pretty generous in my opinion, but he's still got 6 months. You don't think he can put on at least 10 lbs in that time?

Also, I'm sure the running game isn't going to rely on Tate. Minor, Brown, Shaw, Smith should be alright. Hell, with a broken up OLine last year, they were still able to rush for nearly 150/game. With the 6 redshirt freshmen available, the depth is much better.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

187 is pretty generous in my opinion, but he's still got 6 months. You don't think he can put on at least 10 lbs in that time?

Also, I'm sure the running game isn't going to rely on Tate. Minor, Brown, Shaw, Smith should be alright. Hell, with a broken up OLine last year, they were still able to rush for nearly 150/game. With the 6 redshirt freshmen available, the depth is much better.

I agree with you that 187 is "pretty generous" In fact, if he adds 10 pounds... I'm not sure he's then even 187. As a stranger to the weight room, he maybe can indeed put on some pounds... likewise, he could be a real work-out wimp.....

I'd also point out:

Sam McGuffie

Photo Gallery​

All-purpose back
Cypress (TX) Cy-Fair
Ht: 6-foot-1 (Events)
Wt: 188 lbs
Forty: 4.32 secs
Bench max: 355 pounds
Bench reps: 15
Vertical: 41 inches
Shuttle: 3.83 secs
GPA: 3.2
ACT: 22
Class: 2008 (High School)

It's not that the running game is going to 'rely' on tater-tot, it's that the QB gets hit a lot in football... and even more so in an offense like RRs. His size, of course, does not assure he'll get injured. But, it sure doesn't help. One clean hit from a man the size of Cam Heyward and Tater ....... well..... 187 is the right number, if you know what I'm saying.

 

[Buckeye86]

One clean hit from a man the size of Cam Heyward and Tater ....... well..... you see where this is going

I was thinking more along the line of Mr. I Want to Destroy Everything That Moves as an example of who will crush him.

but Heyward isn't a bad choice either...

 

[Best Buckeye]

As with all his teams RR wants quickness. I think that is a big part of his style of offense. Some little guys are hard to find and tackle as we all know. we will see this year how that works out for him but it will be the year after that is most important if he has a winning season this year.

 

[NFBuck]

As with all his teams RR wants quickness. I think that is a big part of his style of offense. Some little guys are hard to find and tackle as we all know. we will see this year how that works out for him but it will be the year after that is most important if he has a winning season this year.

Yep, and if given time, DickRod's offense's will become very good. Unfortunately, his recruiting strategy hasn't changed since wvu. He still seems to think he can get by without giving the defense as much attention as the offense. In the Big-10, defense wins out. Always has (with rare exceptions), always will. He could get by in the Big East (historically not a strong defensive conference), but in the Big-10, the teams that load up on defensive talent go far. Minnesota had some nice offenses in the first part of the decade, as did Purdue and Northwestern. They would occasionally bubble up to the upper tier of the conference, but rarely get too far.

 

[jwinslow]

187 is pretty generous in my opinion, but he's still got 6 months. You don't think he can put on at least 10 lbs in that time?

He's been committed for 8 months, and almost certainly given a workout regimen during that span. He's been on campus for 3.5 months. Most players can add 10 lbs in that timeframe, but can Tate?

 

[IronBuckI]

Yep, and if given time, DickRod's offense's will become very good. Unfortunately, his recruiting strategy hasn't changed since wvu. He still seems to think he can get by without giving the defense as much attention as the offense. In the Big-10, defense wins out. Always has (with rare exceptions), always will. He could get by in the Big East (historically not a strong defensive conference), but in the Big-10, the teams that load up on defensive talent go far. Minnesota had some nice offenses in the first part of the decade, as did Purdue and Northwestern. They would occasionally bubble up to the upper tier of the conference, but rarely get too far.

Given the way that Big ten offenses have performed in and out of conference the past few seasons, I can't really blame him. Average defenses can stop or slow most Big Ten offenses enough that a good offense will outscore them.

 

[3074326]

Did RR ever have his starting QB healthy the entire year when he was running this run-first offense?

 

[NFBuck]

Did RR ever have his starting QB healthy the entire year when he was running this run-first offense?

I think Pat White stayed healthy his first year ('05) after taking over in-season, in '06 and '07 he was dinged up from time to time. One thing DR is doing smart is recruiting QB depth, because he's gonna need it.

I've never thought his offense was gonna flat out fail. I've always felt it will eventually do quite well. The problem is that he's not bringing in the calibre of defensive players that I think will allow him to reach the pinnacle most scUM fans are desiring. They are gonna be bad defensively this year. Their depth is putrid on defense. Thus far, I don't see him doing a lot to improve the situation. He's putting out too many offers to slots/WR and undersized RBs. Yes he needs plenty of them, but not at the expense of defense. A number of these kids are jumping on the offers and committing because they aren't getting other offers as prestigious as scUM. It's a strategic error on his part. If all these offensive kids jump on the offers, that's less slots for defensive players. Doesn't matter how many defensive offers you hvae out there if offensive/hybrid players are snatching spots. I think they only have like 17 or 18 to give this year and they already have, what, 7 offensive players committed? Sure some of them may switch to defense, but why not give those schollies to prime defensive prospects?

This season will set the tone for his future. If they struggle again (very likely with another frosh QB and suspect defense), his seat will begin heating up rapidly. If Tater and Robinson don't live up to the hype, he may be starting over with another frosh (and a raw one at that), Gardner, at QB in '10 on top of losing his best defensive player (Graham). If I were a scUM fan (God forbid), I would not be very comfortable with the way things are setting up...