Congrats to Herr Swindle (and Stranko, for the cheesecake)!
Brian should have at least been nominated. I read here and m-zone more than any buckeye sites because you guys are so damn funny. EDSBS is a good pick (notwithstanding the lingering burning feeling in my gut from the non-fiesta) but you should have at least had a shot. Keep up the good work.
You need to post a link to the 10:00 announcement.
Fantastic "Pro Wrestling" references.
Well, well, well...Rojo...we missed ANOTHER one.
What a terrible year for in-state recruiting for Michigan. Allen & Rojo, both in-state, and DB is an area of NUMBER ONE NEED at Michigan...and we lose both. How (WHY???) is this happening???
This is just inexcusable.
It appears the nightmare scenario has occurred, an event so horrible I didn't even wish to entertain the thought. Ronald Johnson has apparently dropped M....M not even finishing in his top 3.
Why is this happening? Best guess is that Carr is a lame duck coach, and there is uncertainty right now about what the new regime would look like and if guys like English, Loeffler will even be there next year.
I doubt very much any of this has to do with the recent OSU or bowl game records. At least M plays in a great rivalry and appears in BCS bowl games regularly which is more than 95% of NCAA teams can bring to the table.
M's secondary over the next few years could, well, probably will be a disaster. Missed out or finished 2nd for too many players the last three years. The one last hope there is Warren, and that is probably just a pipe dream.
Good thing Mallet is already enrolled, or Meyer would be banging his door too.
You guys have a link for the Rojo disaster? I can't find anything on it.
never mind
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/
..._01.html#231721
let the panic ensue.
Has anyone seen anything more definitive on this? It seems to me like if he had decided AGAINST Michigan, then Carr would definitely make it a point to go visit him and try to sway him back (just like they've been doing with Finch).
shorts,
It appears RoJo will not talk to Carr at this point. All indications are very bad here.
Hopefully everybody is wrong about this, but I doubt it.
My money would be on Florida at this point. Johnson went down there a few days ago, said he loved it, and then Meyer flew out to see him 1 day after he returned. My WAG is that RoJo wanted to commit when he was down there, but needed Meyer to talk to Mom to seal the deal. Johnson is very family-oriented and is very serious about his faith, so his family is very involved with his decision.
I would never be happier about being wrong about something though.
MVM, that's actually a great point about the visit by Meyer. Unfortunately, I think you may be right. Crap crap crap crap crap crap crap...
OSU's working on their game plan already for next season against us: PASS, PASS, PASS.
Let me say a couple things.
1) Too many assumptions are being made here. It's irresponsible for a blogger on a newspaper chain's website to post about a rumor on a message board.
2) Let's say, for the sake of argument, that the worst is true. He doesn't meet with UM, he meets with the other four, and he doesn't pick UM. That would be beyond humiliating.
Finally, how could anyone continue to be satisfied with Carr as the coach when one of the only things he did really well in the past was recruit? This wouldn't just be about Rojo, it would be about six - count 'em, SIX - in-state players turning down scholarship offers in one year.
BRCE
Agreed, its time for a change and it may have to start at the top with Bill Martin who seems to care about keeping the athletic department in the black more than anything else (although his hands may be tied by the Regents). Just more frustrated than anything else right now. Argh!
This hurts bad.
The idea of Morgan Trent, Brandon Harrison and (insert three-star fershman here) trying to cover next year is really hurting my head.
What good's all that offensive talent gonna be with DeBord as the coordinator and a defense that can't stop anyone?
Is anyone actually surprised by this? Either he's in the bag (in which case he doesn't need to meet with Lloyd) or he's never serious about Michigan. I don't think he's stringing Michigan along.
If Rojo is out, let's just forget and not ruminate. Our recruiting process correlates to results on the field. It's a loss, but if we're worth out salt our coaching staff will figure out a way to win with less talent - I know that's proabably too much to ask.
I don't understand this reaction to the Rojo news. Rojo never said he was coming to UofM. Everyone who was counting him as part of the class is based their assumption on a the "gut" feeling of a few "experts" who either never talked to the kid or had few if any direct quotes that indicated he wanted to commit to Michigan. Mostly everyone was just regurgitating other people's conjecture.
Why not react this way to any other recruit we didn't get? Should we fire Carr for Jai Eugene? Or some recruit we wanted but didnt get from Ohio (hey, parts of it are closer to AA than Muskegon) who ended up going to a Florida or California school?
We get some recruits we lose some. On the whole Carr has done well. Yes, the recruiting efforts at OL and CB have been disappointing in the last couple years, but lets try to get a grip on reality - which gives us a coach who just had an 11-2 rose bowl season, runs a clean program, and has consistent success rivaled by only a small handful of schools.
Mat,
What really stings is that of the top NINE rated blue-chippers in the State of Michigan, the Wolverines landed NONE of them. That's gotta be unprecedented. It certainly is unacceptable, under ANY circumstances. I don't care WHO else we have landed out of state.
i'm kind of with mat here...and the 6 offers don't mean alot--they probably offered 50 guys this year (or more?). we only went hard after the Mich CBs. the losses at OL & CB hurt, but don't forget the wins at QB, WR, DL, and a few others (FB, TE). plus, this the RC that came off the 2005 season. if this is worst case, i'll take it.
also, assuming Caup & BCRE are correct about #s, are we really upset that we didn't get 3 guys we didn't offer? are we upset about T Washington? and the OL-man Tenn legacy? and QB Threet going to GT? it's a little illogical to be OK losing those guys as individuals, but then go into panick mode about losing them as a collection. again, i see it as 2 big swings and misses in-state. that hurts no doubt, but if it's worst case, i can live with it.
What I am hearing is that for some reason RoJo's mom has really soured on Michigan, but that he still would prefer to go here. Just what I heard. Don't know how that type of scenario would play out, but Carroll and Tressel were both in Muskegon yesterday. It sounds like it's between us and the fuckeyes for him.
Lets quit calling for LC's head just because he did not land RoJo. As many have stated, the kid never really came out in public and told that he was a strong Michigan lean. If that were the case and he suddendly changed his mind after a visit to Fl, please feel free to hurl invectives!! If not lets just feel bad and move on, the kid had us amongst his favs and now he thinks Fl is a better fit for him so be it. I mean what do you want Carr to do, go down on him. I mean a chance to start as a freshman at a top flight BCS program, which also happens to be a instate school and the winningest program in CF cannot appease a kid, then lets move on. Too bad this has to end this way, but Rojo is no the be all and end all of Michigan football. Peace and GO BLUE!!
Ufers over at winged helmet has some really balanced view point on Rojo and recruting this year in general. Worth a read!!!
Still a week left of this recruiting stuff... many times it will change a few more times, including on NSD. I don't get the Fla thing. I know they lost a lot, but check out their current verbals and then see below for Scout's predictions. Talk about sharing playing time.
http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=162...62&p=2&
c=614650
ughhh
Let's face it, Rojo's gone. There is no possible reason to play this game if he's coming to M. but this isn't about Rojo. Let's face it, he could pull an Antonio Bass and never play. This is about all of us fans knowing without a doubt that elite talent in the state of Michigan doesn't want to play for our Wolverines.
Mdan's right...for 2007. but that wasn't the case in 02-06, or next year in 08 by all indications.
If all of these so called defections are due to perceived coaching uncertainity at UM due to Carr's impending retirement, then Mlive's discovery could not have come at a worse time. I hope ppl are not using this as a negative recruiting against Michigan. If this is actaully the case, then Carr and/or Martin should clarify this situation. IN this @#$%ing dirty world of recruiting people stoop to unimaginable levels to get a kid to come to their program, this is a necessary evil that has come to stay!!
Warren down to M and USC!!!!!
If all this is true about RoJo, this really sucks.
from the tom luginbill chat on espn a few minutes ago:
"I think RoJo may be heading to Florida, but don't count out Michigan just yet. "
I will take Warren over Rojo. just as good without the games.
Recruiting is cyclical. It never stays the same every year forever. Next year, one of the top CBs in the country, Boubacar or whatever, is huge on UM. I saw a link to his myspace account on one of the UM message board link to the right on this blog, it's entirely UM pics, from Henne and Hart to Breaston and the Big House. So our recruiting class isn't top 5 this year. Just cause Illinois was, for example, doesn't mean they will be amazing. I mean they have Zooker, and it's ILLINOIS!! We are still Michigan, we still have a top 15 class and we will still be just fine. Next year is another year. These are 18 year old kids for christ sake. Take a look back to like the 2001 or 2002 recruiting year and check out the ESPN Top 150, I'd say about 45-50% of those kids ended up being nowhere near as good as projected. We have good coaches, good teaching coaches, and they will get the most out of everyone they got this year. We will be just fine!! Especially if we get Warren. PLEASE GOD LET WARREN SIGN WITH UM!!!
i've been awake so long i forgot it wasn't thursday. i was going to bitch why you hadn't posted yet.
If UM loses out on Warren, Finch,and RoJo, this DB group isn't that good. Michael Williams was a nice pick up, though. Stevie Brown and Jonas Mouton were good DB pick ups last year. To me, RoJo seems like he could be the next Charles Woodson. I'm not saying he'll win a Heisman, but, he could be a dominant two-way player at UM. I just keep telling myself that there is still time before NSD. Something has to be going wrong for Finch to decommit(even if it was a soft verbal) and RoJo to possibly drop UM totally.
Maize&Smeef, that was the most discrptive comment wrt recruiting ever: OMG people calm down, we'll be OK...half these kide don't pan out anyway...losing one guy won't kill us....OMG PLEASE WE NEED TO GET THIS OTHER GUY PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! hilarious
Dan
That is true about recruits not always panning out for their teams. I looked back at previous UM recruits and there were 20 other recruits ahead of Branch, and he's going to be a top 10 draft pick. Mike Massey, of all people, was a top 5 defensive end recruit. My point is things don't always pan out, but when people see the success USC,among others,is having with 5 star recruits, it makes getting the top players more of a priority because they seem to be better players.
Really blows.
What's worrying is how it has played out. We are not even given a chance to sell our program to a Michigan kid. Apparently when he had torn ACL, we were the ones who promised that our schollie will stay.
There are rumors that Rojo's mom has been offered a job at U of F etc etc. But eliminating Michigan from an in-home visit really blows.
Our recruiting staff aren't smooth like the other car-salesmen coaches. And neither are they great with playcalling.
Average recruitment + Average playcalling = Future bleak.
Mallett.. save us
Rojo's mom and "a friend" are the ones doing the talking for him now according to folks over at the victors and MichSportscenter!!!
Anyway, don't you see Florida and USC playing in the Natl. championship game for the next 4 years? College football might become boring.
Apparently next year is when the true Urban-Meyer system kicks in. And if JD Booty starts dissecting teams like he did to our Defense, how can you not see these teams meeting in the MNC game?
Do you see any other school coming close?
Texas has been stockpiling talent and they will be really really good once they get someone to call plays other than Greg Davis (ie, Major Applewhite). Just be thankful that their pressure tactics on Mallett backfired.
Everyone settle down. The chances of Florida and USC meeting every year for the title are zilch. A few weeks ago OSU looked unbeatable, a few years ago Oklahoma looked dominant, Texas, Miami at times, FSU other times, etc. Not to get all Peter Gammons, but - Look, the big schools in and near Florida, Texas, and California are going to have periods where they look like world-beaters. Their coaches are going to look like Gods and their incoming Freshmen classes will look better than the Lions starting lineup after all the "stars" are added up. This will happen from time to time and then they will lose a big game or two from overconfidence, a recruiting or player-paying scandal will come, or a big injury will hit and they will once again be down and some other school nearby will be up.
A few years ago people wanted UofM to hire Gary Barnett. Now its Urban Meyer, Les Miles, and Pete Carroll. Two years from now it will be someone else.
Lets enjoy the consistency, integrity, and class that our program reflects and try not to make the decisions of a small group of 17 and 18 year olds dictate judgment of our coaching staff and football program as a whole. Keep in mind we were one South Carolina field goal away from playing OSU for a national title this season. You need some luck to win a title and Florida had quite a bit this years.
Recruiting matters, but, to put it in the 1988 terms - take a chill pill.
steve i agree....i was just pointing out the hilarious & ambiguous nature of recruiting wrt fans' emotions....OMG we need him...these kids don't work out....OMG this other kid is a must get...losing one kid won't kill us...this kid's the next woodsom....no he could be kelly baraka... the guys we do have will all be Branchs/Braylons....we suck they're all 3*s this year....lol
besides, nothing matters till wed anyway. is rojo still deciding @ church sun? lol
So can anyone give a quick summary of "the email"?
A thing completely went unnoticed in this hullabaloo is Brian winning the Inaugural "2006 Dr. Z Award for Best Analysis"
http://burntorangenation.com/sto...0/
4757#readmore
Congrats Brian. You are one of my main bridges to Michigan Football.
EDSBS states that you might do a String Theory analysis of Debord's "incredibly complicated" offense. You just need 1 dimension to do it though.
Dan
That was me on the Woodson thing. I said that because he's a top WR and DB recruit and seems to be a "playmaker." It's all speculation and more of a crapshoot than anything else
yea, i know. i meant it as a sort of general statement in a "this guy is the next Jesus" kinda way.
dan - i was trying to be funny at the end of my post. I am pretty sure you got it cause I was hoping someone would find it funny!! Anyways, what are everyone thoughts on the possiblities of our coaching staff realizing that our strength will be our offense next year, and there being no way for us to win games playing conservatively on offense, and opening up the playbook? My head tells me they won't, but my heart is pleading for them to!!
Smeef, yea i got it...
and football next year....look, from my perspective, the coaches see the following stats being most significantly coorelated with winning:
TOs
big plays (given up on D)
to them, not giving Mike Hart the ball means more TOs (and i tend to agree). to them, soft-ish zone coverage means fewer big plays (I don't agree so much here--- i mean I do, but there are downsides to soft cover, as we all know).
statistically speaking, the way USC won the RB, if applied over several games, will bite them in the ass. tipped balls, dropped balls, WR fumbles are more likely than with running the ball. the fact is, throwing the ball more correlates to more TOs (and more devastating TOs like a pick 6). and more passing yards does not correlate to wins as much as rushing yards do.
i'm not advocating for running 90% of the time. I'm just saying, let's not expect 90% passes- and it's not b/c the coaches are idiots/old/eat babies. it will be 50-50 in general. when they are down 2 scores, they will throw more b/c they need to score quickly and get the ball back (i.e. incr the # of possisions in the game). when they are up 2 scores they will throw less (thereby reducing the # of possesions in the game for the other team to comeback). as brian has inferred, TOP is a red herring.
just b/c we have the personnel to throw all the time doesn't mean we DON'T have the personnel to run well. the goal of the M offense is flexibility- they can run run run when they're up (PSU/Iowa/MAC teams), and pass pass pass when down (OSU/USC). i.e, the offense can get a W in any game situation. i've said this before, but i think they should have done things differently in the RB too. i just think the main problem there was the Oline and the big plays given up by the D. oh and btw, we lost the TO battle there 2-1.
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