Michigan Expectations and RichRod's Future

• krambman

  

  I'm curious to hear from any one, but Michigan fans in particular about what your realistic expectations are for this coming football season. I want to know what would be a realistic and acceptable season (say 6-6) and what would be a realistic and overachieving season (say 9-3).
  
  I'd also like to hear from you what you think this team needs to do in order for RichRod to keep his job. Is it based solely on the team's overall record, or is it more about seeing improvement from last year and throughout the season? Or if you think his job is safe regardless, say that as well.
  
  I'm just curious as to what some realistic expectations are for an acceptable and exceptional season in Ann Arbor are this year.
• Trueblue23

  

  I don't think the exact record matters when speaking of RichRod keeping his job. I think it will be the actual on the field product that determines rather or not Michigan has another coaching search this offseason.
• sjmvsfscs08

  Trueblue23 wrote: I don't think the exact record matters when speaking of RichRod keeping his job. I think it will be the actual on the field product that determines rather or not Michigan has another coaching search this offseason.

  This. Lots of teams look better compared to the previous year but don't improved record wise. Now, I think he'll need to improve the record, but I don't think firing him for anything less than a breakout season is a smart move if they look improved. The defense had a long way to go, I don't expect that unit to accomplish much.
• Nate

  I honestly think all of the allegations against RichRod will end up costing him his job more than his record or what happens on the field.
• dave

  A winning record and bowl game is a must even if it's the motor city bowl.
  
  Also, the can not get blown out by middle of the pack big 10 teams. If they have more than 1 uncompetitive conference game I think he's gone.
  
  Everyone keeps talking about the defense, but no D can be good when the O sucks so bad. Their turnover margin needs to be positive or near 0 even with the young qb's.
• bo shemmy3337

  When asking about Michigan football and not including their fans is flat out stupid. Any fan of another team is not going to know half of what MOST UM fans know. A lot of the UM fans on here have never been to AA nor are they real Michigan fans. They just like the argument.
  
  Here is how I see the season in a nut shell. Denard is playing great in spring ball and might take Tate's spot. It would be best for the team IMO as Tate can not run and RR can not win without a running QB. There are lots of tough away games and I see them going 7-5. Who they beat and where they beat them is up in the air IMO and RR's job depends on it. He can get fired or extended with a 7-5 record IMO. Maybe 8-4 but 7-5 is more like it. Either way GO Blue and I hope I am wrong they go 12-0.
  
  Also the defense is going to be much improved but that is not saying much. Still a young team who has a history of giving up early in the season so anything can happen.
• devil1197

  Uh Bo, where does he say he doesn't want input from UM fans?
  
  He is stating that he will hear from anyone, but Michigan fans in practicular lol.
• killer_ewok

  

  krambman wrote: I'm curious to hear from any one, but Michigan fans in particular about what your realistic expectations are for this coming football season. I want to know what would be a realistic and acceptable season (say 6-6) and what would be a realistic and overachieving season (say 9-3).
  
  I'd also like to hear from you what you think this team needs to do in order for RichRod to keep his job. Is it based solely on the team's overall record, or is it more about seeing improvement from last year and throughout the season? Or if you think his job is safe regardless, say that as well.
  
  I'm just curious as to what some realistic expectations are for an acceptable and exceptional season in Ann Arbor are this year.

  bo shemmy3337 wrote: When asking about Michigan football and not including their fans is flat out stupid. Any fan of another team is not going to know half of what MOST UM fans know. A lot of the UM fans on here have never been to AA nor are they real Michigan fans. They just like the argument.
  
  Here is how I see the season in a nut shell. Denard is playing great in spring ball and might take Tate's spot. It would be best for the team IMO as Tate can not run and RR can not win without a running QB. There are lots of tough away games and I see them going 7-5. Who they beat and where they beat them is up in the air IMO and RR's job depends on it. He can get fired or extended with a 7-5 record IMO. Maybe 8-4 but 7-5 is more like it. Either way GO Blue and I hope I am wrong they go 12-0.
  
  Also the defense is going to be much improved but that is not saying much. Still a young team who has a history of giving up early in the season so anything can happen.

  Say what????
• wildcats20

  

  I would venture to say that just getting to a bowl game won't be enough. I'm thinking they have to win their bowl game and it better not be something more than a 5-6 place Big Ten bowl game(whatever those are nowadays).
• cbus4life

  Was up in AA a ton this past year, and tihs spring in particular, and i hear lots and lots of folks saying they want Denard and will be very upset if he isn't starting at the beginning of the year.
• krambman

  

  I think those who say that the record is less important than seeing improvement are right. I think if they go 6-6 but are close in several of those 6 losses, maybe lose a few down the wire, that shows improvement and that they are being competitive. Being blown out won't help his cause any. I also think that that team really needs to defend their home field. Michigan is only 7-9 at home under RR and they simply cannot do that poorly at home.
  
  The thing that would bother me most about him as a coach if I were a Michigan fan is his inability or unwillingness to adapt. When he was hired I remember him being asked if he was going to run his spread, or if he would change his offense at first since he didn't really have the correct players when he first got to AA to run that system and he said that he'd like to run the spread but he's not a system coach, so he would run the best system for his players. That clearly has not been the case. Now I'm not saying Michigan would have been tons better, but I think that if he had not tried to force his players to do things they didn't have the skills or natural ability to do, then they would have been at least a little better.
  
  I do think that if he gets canned at the end of the season that they will say it is because of the off-the-filed issues, and not the record, and I think that it will be 50% that and 50% based on the teams on-field performance.
  
  I wonder how badly RR regrets leaving West Virginia or not taking the Alabama job the year before he left for Michigan?
• Zombienation

  Michigan has a great recruiting class coming in. Particuallry on D. But the offensive side of the ball is question too. With Tate hurting his shoulder, and Robinson playing great spring ball, look for Robinson to takew the spot. Also true freshmen, devin gardner could also see time. The running back position has its holes as well. But i look for Fitzgerald Toussaint to take the spot by the time the season starts. The line was youngs, and you get better with exp. so we'll see how that turns out.
  
  The Defense is going to be average. Not terrible. The d coordinator has got to go. He is terrible. Just my opinion.
  7-5 worst
  9-3 best.
  GO BLUE!
• krambman

  

  Zombienation wrote: The line was youngs, and you get better with exp. so we'll see how that turns out.

  You should get better with experience. For an example of not getting better with experience look at Ohio State o-line 2007, especially Alex Boone.
• Zoltan

  krambman wrote:

  Zombienation wrote: The line was youngs, and you get better with exp. so we'll see how that turns out.

  You should get better with experience. For an example of not getting better with experience look at Ohio State o-line 2007, especially Alex Boone.

  Being a functioning alcoholic sometimes hinders getting better
  
  To answer the question I think R-rod is gone after this year with something like a 6-6 or 7-5 record, unless he pulls a crazy upset over OSU at the end of the year. Cause of death will be ruled as conference record and NCAA investigations.
• bigkahuna

  I see us going 7-5 or possibly 8-4
  
  For sure wins (In my eyes)
  
  UCONN
  UMASS
  BG
  Indiana
  
  
  Toss Ups
  Notre Dame-We're lucky we get them in Week 2 W
  Michigan State-Rivalry Game, but looking at last year and what has happened to both teams in the offeason I say W
  Illinois-Forget Last year W
  Iowa-Played them tough last year, and I think we get them at home W
  Purdue- Always pulls something out of their ass L
  Penn State-JoePa finally has our number L
  Wisconsin-Our run D will probably suck again L
  Ohio State-My heart says W but my brain doesn't agree T
  8-3-1 This year lol
• Mr Pat

  ^^^Nice lol
• cbus4life

  I don't think UCONN is a sure win...
• WebFire

  cbus4life wrote: I don't think UCONN is a sure win...

  I agree.
• bigkahuna

  Compared to the rest of the schedule, I would say it is.
  
  If you HAD to choose 4 For sure wins on this schedule, what would they be?
• WebFire

  bigkahuna wrote: Compared to the rest of the schedule, I would say it is.
  
  If you HAD to choose 4 For sure wins on this schedule, what would they be?

  Why, is there some rule that you have to pick 4 sure wins?
• insuranceguy

  There is not 4 sure wins on the schedule. I would say 2. BG and Umass. When youve the seasons that Tsun has had the last 2 years unfortunately there is not much for sure until its proven on the field.
• ksig489

  They will be anywhere from 7-5 to 9-3...they will be in a bowl game. Noticeable improvement will be seen on both sides of the ball. That is just part of a young team growing up.
  
  Rodriguez bought himself this year and one more with the recruiting class he brought in this year. Getting a top 10 QB in Gardner and getting a top 10 prospect in Dorsey (and ESPNs #14 recruiting class) has shown UM that Rodriguez can recruit with the big boys. When they get back to winning 9 or more games a year, which could be this year, he will start getting better and better recruits. Unless they go 4-9, I dont see him being let go. His recruiting has bought him time.
  
  
  His biggest mistake will be to let Forcier keep the QB job. As soon as Tate began to believe his own hype early in the season he became more of a liability than an asset. Let Robinson or Gardner run the show and play the offense like it was meant to be played with the QB as a running threat rather than a threat to just make mistakes.
• cbus4life

  I think there are 2 sure wins, maybe 3 with IU. BG and Umass though, for sure.
  
  But, i've heard some analysts say that they will be improved this year as well...
  
  UCONN and IU, they'll be favored, probably, but still aren't sure things...
• bigkahuna

  WebFire wrote:

  bigkahuna wrote: Compared to the rest of the schedule, I would say it is.
  
  If you HAD to choose 4 For sure wins on this schedule, what would they be?

  Why, is there some rule that you have to pick 4 sure wins?

  No, of course there isn't a rule.
  
  It's just that if you can't pick 4 games on the schedule that you "know" you're going to win, then you have a problem. I'm being optimistic.
• WebFire

  bigkahuna wrote:

  WebFire wrote:

  bigkahuna wrote: Compared to the rest of the schedule, I would say it is.
  
  If you HAD to choose 4 For sure wins on this schedule, what would they be?

  Why, is there some rule that you have to pick 4 sure wins?

  No, of course there isn't a rule.
  
  It's just that if you can't pick 4 games on the schedule that you "know" you're going to win, then you have a problem. I'm being optimistic.

  You don't think Michigan has had problems?