Michigan: Final word on search and recruiting

[NewEnglandGuy]

Take the sting out of Carlisle's commitment, look at scUM:

AD allegedly lied about only offering Hoke:
Miles turned down more money to stay at LSU | CollegeFootballTalk

Which was obviously to help make Michigan seem less desperate in hiring the 3rd choice.

On recruiting, of the 12 remaining commits (just lost their kicker to Miami), 5 are looking around.
Scout.com: Football Recruiting

LB from Texas, Kellen Jones (looking at Miami and Colorado)
OT from Florida, Tony Posada (looking at Miss St)
CB from Maryland, Blake Countess (looking at Penn St)
CB from Florida, Dallas Crawford (looking everywhere, he is gone: Miami, Tenn, UNC, USC)
OT from Michigan, Jake Fisher (looking Florida, Mich St, Oregon)

We were interested in Fisher and he just officially decommitted. I think they will find it hard to keep the recruits that are not from the midwest. It is almost certain they already missed on Frost, Deion Barnes, and Aundrey Walker. It looks bleak right now, but it is hard to keep a program down this low. Playing time alone with get kids there somehow.

 

[mgriff]

This is why I like the approach of locking up a candidate prior to firing the head coach. It might be frowned upon in the profession, but I would have kept **** Rod instead of taking Hoke. While he has promise, he isn't going to help immediately on the trail, and they are most likely looking at more rebuilding for another chance at returning to prominence.

If **** Rod could have landed a better defensive coordinator, there would have been less time to mire around in mediocrity, which is exactly what is going to happen to Michigan for the next few years. They had an offense in place, and now they went and scrapped it all over again to begin another rebuilding process.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

This is why I like the approach of locking up a candidate prior to firing the head coach. It might be frowned upon in the profession, but

I would have kept **** Rod instead of taking Hoke. While he has promise, he isn't going to help immediately on the trail, and they are most likely looking at more rebuilding for another chance at returning to prominence.

Hey, I see you can't say **** anymore.

If **** Rod could have landed a better defensive coordinator, there would have been less time to mire around in mediocrity, which is exactly what is going to happen to Michigan for the next few years. They had an offense in place, and now they went and scrapped it all over again to begin another rebuilding process.

As much as I don't like the former scUM defensive coordinator. His flashing smiles at ND misfortunes still grind me, this all wasn't his fault. I said before they hired RichRod, when they hired him, last fall when everyone was talking about how he was really a good coach, and about to turn the scUM program around, that RichRod was an offensive genius, but would never make it in the BigTen as a head coach because he had to steal from the defense to feed his offense. Period.

I don't know if I agree with locking up your next intended before you breakup with your current, but scUM really routed out their own anal oriface on this one. The case can be made every time that they would have been better off if they took a page from the Jack Swarbrick book of athletic directorfrickenship. They needed to shut the frickenship up and put up with RichRod for one more year, laying things out very clearly to him, with exact performance standards. Their pool of candidates would have been larger, they wouldn't have lost nearly every recruit with a brain, and they wouldn't have had to lie so much!

 

[irish4ever]

It makes me smile every time I think of 'ol DlckRod getting ran out of town and the current demise of the whole scUM football program. I pray that their recruiting woes continue throughout the remainder of this recruiting cycle and next!

 

[phork]

They are currently out of the Davie era and headed full steam into the Willingham era. Hopefully things remain as is and we can actually take advantage of the situation now.

 

[Rocket89]

I think there's a decent chance that Michigan wins 7 or 8 games in each of the next two seasons.

"Don't be ridiculous!" the Notre Dame fans exclaimed.

But hear me out.

Yes their defense sucks, it sucks big time. But they have nowhere to go but up. And moving away from the fast-paced spread will help them. Plus, Hoke will probably put a lot of focus on defense.

Secondly, Hoke is stepping into a situation with a lot of talent on offense. They might not be a perfect fit system wise, but Hoke was able to have a very good offense with one great running back at SDSU and a bunch of other players you've never heard of, so having Michigan's talent is a positive.

I think this is kind of like how Weis stepped into a situation with a very talented junior class at ND. Michigan's defense isn't good enough to where they'll have a Weisian back-to-back BCS appearances, but their may be enough for a decent record.

And Michigan's schedule this upcoming season isn't all that difficult either.

But here's the kicker, UM needs to win 7 or 8 games in 2011, and maybe 8 or 9 in 2012, because Hoke needs to bring in top 10-ish recruiting classes over the next two years if he's ever going to turn the UM program around and be able to survive in 2013 and 2014 in a post-Denard Robinson world.

I don't see that happening, but I do see some limited success over the next two years where the UM fans get their hopes up, but a seriously weak 2011 and (likely) mediocre/to decent 2012 and 2013 classes ultimately sink the Wolverines once every good player they have now is gone.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Rocket, buddy!

You are a great witer, I love your articles, I have told you before I have gained a great deal from your insight; but, put it this way: It is a good thing that Michigan doesn't play the University of Toledo ROCKETS in the foreseeable future!

Here is an article that I read this morning that agrees with you:

Game-by-game predictions for 2011 Michigan football | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

As you can see, it is from the Detroit Free Press, or at least their electronic counterpart the “freep.” They make the same argument; however, the majority of their livelihood is based upon scUM. (Lions, and Tigers, and RedWings, oh my!) Almost anyone else sees them with an untried coach with less experience that RichRod, with a base philosophy diametrically opposed to the said, loosing it’s entire recruiting class because of it’s timing . . . and then there is “the factor.” Remember about the second year of the Willingham dynasty?

When everybody figured out how they could knock off the Irish? And get the emotional high of knocking off an elite school? Sure the first few years of the Weiss era were a setback for the barbarians at the gates but they got back on track. Unload on the Irish, it was relatively easy task for the status knocking off an "elite" program brings. Now look at the cast of characters. You got Ohio State, they see no end in sight for their dominant ways – add Nebraska, nope nodda, -- not gonna start there. Now you have the little eight licking their chops for all those years. Hell, I even hear it in the ND fans; it sounds like, “this is going to be FUN!”

And on top of everything, they are going to have to keep Robinson healthier this coming year than they did last year, to even have a quarterback capable of playing, with Forcier flunking out.

and they wouldn't have had to lie so much

Oh, look! the past perfect tense is alive and well!

 

[Rocket89]

Thanks Bog,

One thing I do know is we need to start beating UM. I want to see a 3 to 5 year winning streak.

D-Rob in a more traditional offense is going to be interesting. It could work, but the passing lanes which are very easy to throw through in the spread, will not be there anymore. He improved as a passer this year, but I think his throwing abilities have hit a ceiling.

It wouldn't surprise me if Devin Gardner comes in and plays well if D-Rob gets hurt or something. Gardner seems more suited for the transition anyway.

 

[IrishLax]

Everyone is sleeping on Devin Gardner. This kid might end up being a special player (and way better passer than DRob).

 

[Rocket89]

Everyone is sleeping on Devin Gardner. This kid might end up being a special player (and way better passer than DRob).

^^^For sure, odds are he'll be a very good quarterback.

 

[Riddickulous]

Michigan actually has 11 commitments.

The loss of their kicker recruit is huge. They have no kicker. Special teams are important.

 

[irishff1014]

Yes special teams are important and if they can't get a kicker they will be in trouble. They could not kick a FG for a million dollars.

 

[Rocket's Rocket Fan]

Rocket, buddy!

You are a great witer, I love your articles, I have told you before I have gained a great deal from your insight; but, put it this way: It is a good thing that Michigan doesn't play the University of Toledo ROCKETS in the foreseeable future!

Greatest night ever here in Toledo! Every bar was packed with students. It was a blast for all of us.

 

[irish4ever]

Michigan actually has 11 commitments.

The loss of their kicker recruit is huge. They have no kicker. Special teams are important.

They're down to 10 commits now per Rivals. Jake Fisher (OT from Michigan) is off the scUM board! Hahahahaha, gotta love it!!!!

 

[Riddickulous]

Michigan's class is ranked in the 40's. Brutal.

 

[Rocket89]

Michigan's class is ranked in the 40's. Brutal.

But they just picked up a 2-star DB who was verballed to Minnesota and had offers from a bunch of MAC schools.

"I really love what Brady Hoke is doing!!"

They're in that stage where they can't criticize the coach right now. Justifiable given the situation...but it's cute.

 

[nlroma1o]

If you go over to MGOBLOG right now there is a thread on our recent pick up of 2 5*s. I 'd say that about half are respecting the new prescence of Kelly and his recruiting ability. While the other half are just absolute idiots who are proclaiming same story different year.

F scUM!!! I can't wait until September 10th!!!

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Forcier tweets goodbye to Michigan

 

[Irish Man3]

If you go over to MGOBLOG right now there is a thread on our recent pick up of 2 5*s. I 'd say that about half are respecting the new prescence of Kelly and his recruiting ability. While the other half are just absolute idiots who are proclaiming same story different year.

F scUM!!! I can't wait until September 10th!!!

We all said that last year about September 11th. Michigan in Ann Arbor is never an easy game, I don't care what the roster looks like. It will also be the first night game at the stadium. 113,000 fans is not easy for a team to deal with.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Forcier tweets goodbye to Michigan

Um...I'm no expert, but that seems a lot like a breakdown to me. Kinda feel bad.

 

[Riddickulous]

We all said that last year about September 11th. Michigan in Ann Arbor is never an easy game, I don't care what the roster looks like. It will also be the first night game at the stadium. 113,000 fans is not easy for a team to deal with.

Definitely. I remember that four of our six timeouts were due to miscommunication due to the noise back in 2009. Extremely difficult to communicate with 113,000 screaming fans. With it being a rivalry game and the very first night game in the history of the Big House, the atmosphere should be unreal.


But their recruiting class is abysmal. Currently rated 40th on Rivals. They have three very good prospects (Brennan Beyer, Blake Countess, Justice Hayes) and eight poor ones (by Michigan standards), five of them unranked.

 

[Rudy89]

This will be a tough one for us. Hope we pull it out we owe them a few *** kickings!

 

[Riddickulous]

Am I the only one who finds the term "Hoke-A-Mania" to be silly?

 

[chyrspchuck]

Am I the only one who finds the term "Hoke-A-Mania" to be silly?

riddickulous actually

 

[Riddickulous]

riddickulous actually

Hooray for puns!

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Am I the only one who finds the term "Hoke-A-Mania" to be silly?

"Don't be silly, Adrian Peterson."

 

[BGIF]

Am I the only one who finds the term "Hoke-A-Mania" to be silly?

No your not.

But it will be interesting to see if Brady continues the hokum that defined the Rodriguez era.

 

[Wolverine1997]

3 new recruits yesterday.

Tamani Carter 6'0 175lbs DB 3* Pickerington,Ohio
Raymon Taylor 5'10 167lbs ATH 4* Detroit, MI
Matt Wile 6'2 210lbs K 2* San Diego, California

 

[BGIF]

...
The loss of their kicker recruit is huge. They have no kicker. Special teams are important.

They have a kicker now.

He's not Brindza (shrewd move Kelly).

He's not Goudis (decommitted Boise for UM then decomitted UM for MIA apparently realizing that Blue wasn't his color).

He's Matt Wile. Only a 2 Star Kicker but in the recruiting world that can still put in the Top Dozen Kickers. Selected for the US Army AA Bowl. Made 9/11 FGs in '09 and 10/13 in '10. Long of 49 yds.

Some UM fans agog with "Hoke-a-mania run Wile".

At 6-2, 220 I'll bet there's a lot of UM fans wishin' and hokin' he could play LB, DL, S, ... any defensive position.


Wile should compete immediately for a starting PK.

 

[Irish Man3]

3 new recruits yesterday.

Tamani Carter 6'0 175lbs DB 3* Pickerington,Ohio
Raymon Taylor 5'10 167lbs ATH 4* Detroit, MI
Matt Wile 6'2 210lbs K 2* San Diego, California

Tamani Carter is a DB that was after a ND offer badly. He visited with his highschool teammate Eilar Hardy. Notre Dame never offered. Congrats Michigan.