I think it’s time for fans of the University of Michigan to open their eyes to the debacle of a head coach that is gallivanting on
You don’t need a “Michigan Man”. You need a head coach.
I could throw a visor and a headset on a two year old, and he might be able to do a better job running this team than Rich Rodriguez. Sure at times he has looked like an “offensive genius”, but to be honest even I could call a pretty solid game against the likes of Umass and Bowling Green.
Rodriguez has been nothing short of disastrous since becoming the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines.
To be frank with you I feel a tad bit stupid even writing this. I don’t think I’m writing any breaking news here! In three years he has accumulated a subpar 15-20 record. Sure, the Wolverines are bowl eligible this year at 7-4, but when has the “CVS Cotton-Swab Bowl” become acceptable to a fan base that used to get upset over 10 win seasons?
Generally the thought is that you give a coach 3 years to implement a new system. If there is progress then give him an extension, if not it’s time to bite the bullet and start going a different direction. I think it’s almost impossible to find any improvement that is not fraudulent in the Rich Rodriguez era. Perhaps this year you could point to the explosiveness of the offense, and Denard Robinson’s early Heisman bid. The incredible lack of any defensive ability and Rodriguez’s record in Big Ten play when it really matters though effectively erases any afore mentioned progress. So in my eyes he has done nothing.
A head coach needs to be responsible for all aspects of his football team, and Rodriguez seems to be only interested in the offense. The Wolverine defense has been historically bad. With one game left in the season they have already allowed 369 points and 4,897 total yards of offense against them. The kicking game is even worse! Every time the field goal unit takes the field I have to hold back my laughter, and sometimes my lunch. Michigan is an astonishing 4-13 on field goals this season, and generally even have a hard time getting the extra point.
A head coach needs to do more than just “poke his head into the room” every now and then to check on the other units of his team. He should know the defense even better than he knows the offense, and he should give his special teams just as much time. His offense might be “fun to watch”, but the rest of his team is just sickening to watch. The blame has to rest solely on his shoulders for that. Sure, Greg Robinson has been atrocious as a defensive coordinator, but if Rodriguez is able to hide behind him as a scapegoat, than Michigan is in even worse trouble than it seems.
This Saturday the Wolverines travel down to Columbus to take on the hated Buckeyes. In years past this would be one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the college football season; not only by Michigan fans, but by fans all around the country.
The University of Michigan can thank Rich Rodriguez for taking this game from a classic rivalry to a three ringed circus though. Jim Tressell could be wearing a silk Hawaiian shirt instead of that sweater vest of his, and Ohio State would still have no problem blowing out the Wolverines.
This wont be a football game; it’s going to be a football clinic. Somebody please get Rich-Rod some scrap paper and something to write with.
I think he’s going to have to start taking notes.