OL Justin Boren (Official Thread)

[matcar]

When push comes to shove I tend to agreel. You have to make your own team and RRs approach is different enough to warrant a lot of changes. We would be foolish to view any attrition problems to last beyond one season and even then it could be offset by changes to S&C. There will be problems in the interim - and I will relish every one of them. And it remains to be seen how RRs coaching style translates to a major program and kids who have lots of options as to where they play ball. But it is premature to dismiss RR and UM as a potential winning combo.

I do challenge the word "lax" in relation to Boren. "Lax" OL recruits work their way into the two-ddep as redshirt Juniors. They don't start as RS Frosh. The linked article reads like Boren is soft, but read it in the context of who wrote it and why.

Ditto this. I doubt Boren is soft, but attrition happens w/ new coaching staffs. For TSUN, it's a shame that the attrition included some top name recruits, but I doubt it will take long for them to rise up. And your comment about S&C is spot on. TSUN was way behind the times in this area and I have little doubt that DRod will change that. But, there looks to be a few lean years where we should show no mercy on the field. I look forward to it.

 

[billmac91]

it's a smart move by Boren, soft or not, too further his chances of playing on Sunday.

Quick question: How many WVU O-lineman made it to the NFL under Rodriguez?

Dan Mozes is the only guy I can think of, and he isn't even in the league anymore.

D-Rod's system just isn't conducive to playing on Sundays. I hope UM fans get used to a football program that produces about half the NFL talent it used too...

 

[jwinslow]

WVU Draft History

Quick question: How many WVU O-lineman made it to the NFL under Rodriguez?

Scout shows zero OL alumni on roster for WVU.

Dan Mozes is the only guy I can think of, and he isn't even in the league anymore.

All-American, Rimington award winner, went undrafted. Six other centers were drafted.

I hope UM fans get used to a football program that produces about half the NFL talent it used too...

Well that was the case moving from Nehlen to RRod... see the link atop this post.

01-07 - RichRod - 7 draft picks, 1 first rnd, 2 first day. Biggest names: Pacman Jones, Chris Henry
80-00 - Nehlen - 57 draft picks, 4 first rnd, 21 first day. Biggest names: Marc Bulger, Jerry Porter, Jeff Hostetler

Nehlen produced 2.7 more draft picks per year.

The above link does not list 2007, but WVU had no one drafted last year.

 

[NightmaresDad]

it's a smart move by Boren, soft or not, too further his chances of playing on Sunday.

Quick question: How many WVU O-lineman made it to the NFL under Rodriguez?

Dan Mozes is the only guy I can think of, and he isn't even in the league anymore.

D-Rod's system just isn't conducive to playing on Sundays. I hope UM fans get used to a football program that produces about half the NFL talent it used too...

I don't think they'll care if they are winning college football games.

However, what it will really affect is recruiting.
RR will be recruiting players that maybe don't have as realistic NFL aspirations, but fit well into his scheme (e.g. Pat White).
That doesn't mean he won't be able to field a college team that is capable of winning against anybody.
It's going to take him a couple of years, though, at scUM to get there.

The college game is still, and probably always will be, vastly different from the pro game. If college defenses were as fast and physical across the board as pro defenses, that stuff he runs would get blown up, and he would need 8 scholarship QBs to get through a season.

Plus he'll probably never ever, as long as he coaches, have a fullback as good as the one he had last year as WVU.

My point is - A college coach's ability to turn out NFL players and high draft picks is more of a recruiting point than an absolute yard stick for college football effectiveness.

 

[jwinslow]

DetNews

3/25

U-M's Boren to get release papers today

Angelique S. Chengelis The Detroit News

Michigan offensive lineman Justin Boren is to get his release papers from the school today and is expecting to make a statement later today, his father, Mike Boren, said Wednesday.

Mike Boren, a former Michigan linebacker, declined to comment on his son's situation with the Wolverines. He said he anticipates his son will finish this semester at Michigan before deciding on his future.

...Cont'd

 

[zincfinger]

I don't recall anything similar - and can't remember anyone of the ilk of a Boren or Mallett.

Agreed. Guys leaving because they're not getting, and don't anticipate getting, the playing time they want is one thing, and happens everywhere. In contrast, Boren was a certain starter, and Mallett was easily the most likely starter. It's pretty unusual for guys like that to leave, coaching change or not.

 

[Jaxbuck]

RR's laying his foundation.

Or digging his own grave.....time will tell.

 

[jwinslow]

DetNews
Departing U-M lineman blasts program

Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

Offensive lineman Justin Boren received his release papers from the Michigan football team and issued a statement regarding his departure from the Wolverines.
Boren, the Wolverines' most experienced returning lineman, left the team on Monday, a day before the team's fifth spring practice under new coach Rich Rodriguez.

"I regret leaving behind my friends and teammates, but I need to stand up for what I know is right," Boren said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon. "I wore the winged helmet with pride, whether we won or lost, whether things were going well or times were tough.

"Michigan football was a family, built on mutual respect and support for each other from (former) Coach (Lloyd) Carr on down. We knew it took the entire family, a team effort, and we all worked together. I have great trouble accepting that those family values have eroded in just a few months. That same helmet, that I was raised on and proudly claimed for the last two years, now brings a completely different emotion to me, one that interferes with practicing and playing my best and mentally preparing for what is required.

"That I am unable to perform under these circumstances at the level I expect of myself, and my teammates and Michigan fans deserve, is why I have made the decision to leave. To those of you outside the program, the loyal Michigan fans and alumni, I know you will have trouble understanding, but I do want to thank you for your years of support. I wish my teammates the best and will always be proud to have been a part of Michigan football over the past two years."

...Cont'd

 

[Oh8ch]

I have never had a tattoo.

But I am going to have that entire article tattooed on my butt so I can drop trow every time I run into a UM jersey.

 

[jlb1705]

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Wow.....Best of luck to Justin wherever he ends up. It takes a lot of guts to stand up for something, particularly with the knowledge that there will a significant amount of abuse meted out in the aftermath. Certainly wish the best for this young man.

 

[Oh8ch]

Just had to pull up a few quotes about Boren from the UM board from BEFORE it was clear he was leaving:

Boren was one of the guys named by UM insiders as "buying into" the new S&C program. In fact, based on workouts, they called him one of the "leaders" of the team and commented on how he had trimmed down considerably.

evry video u see about how things are going he is in it

I had heard Boren was buying in to the system and developing a leadership role as well but if you look at the spring highlights posted on this board you can see Boren looks like the fattest lineman on the team.

don't you think if Boren leaves that will set us back another two years.

And of course, from RR himself:

We're forging ahead with the guys who play for Michigan

Whatever "Playing for Michigan" means these days.

 

[jokewood]

Wow.....Best of luck to Justin wherever he ends up. It takes a lot of guts to stand up for something, particularly with the knowledge that there will a significant amount of abuse meted out in the aftermath. Certainly wish the best for this young man.

Standing up for something would be to simply walk away. Throwing the coaching staff under the bus with vague accusations when their response to your leaving was "no comment" isn't exactly taking the high road, whether you want to agree with Boren's comments or not.

 

[jwinslow]

Wow.....Best of luck to Justin wherever he ends up. It takes a lot of guts to stand up for something, particularly with the knowledge that there will a significant amount of abuse meted out in the aftermath. Certainly wish the best for this young man.

As he is planning to finish out the semester at UM. He'll be tarred and feathered by the UM fanbase, but it's pretty clear this was anything but a rash and/or trivial decision.

Fair or otherwise, what will the fallout be on the recruiting trail from a quote like this, at least around this region?

 

[shetuck]

DetNews
Departing U-M lineman blasts program

Sad and sobering...


... and scary too! Makes me wonder what RR was having them do to each other with those *winged* helmets! Just sayin'... :moo: