Rod needs to go!

[chad]

Let me start this out that i was a huge fan of Rod earlier in the year but since Iowa game along with the rise of Harbaugh i've slowly started to realize he needs to be let go and Harbaugh fired.

Everyone can make excuses about lack of players, etc but it's very obvious this horrendous defense is attributed to Rod's lack of attention to defense and his tunnel vision toward getting offensive players to fit his scheme. This all started with rounding out his first recruiting class with solely focusing on offensive players - Shaw, Odoms, Richardson, Feagan, Barnum, etc... On top of that Rod goes and hires Scott Schafer basically on a blind date and we all know the story. I find it very hard to believe that he would hire an offensive coordinator on a whim like he seemed to do with Schafer and this has resulted in players on 09 team (Ezeh, Mouton, Williams, Fitzgerald, etc) struggling with another new coach. If Rod had 1. rounded out his first class with a few defensive players and 2. did his homework on hiring a bangup DC theirs absolutely no way this team would have a horrendous D and at worse should be an average defense. Which i would argue would result in 2-4 more wins this year.

It's amazing to me how we can so deep at slot WR, OL, RB, TE and have so little depth on defense and this is clearly a result of Rodriguez focusing most of his attention to offense in terms of recruiting.

We can also add in the Jay Hopson hire which is probably going to be another coach that'll be gone after this year.

Finally, the last thing i find funny is why people continue to argue to keep Rod around for another year because he needs time. Why??? Is it because they feel bad for him? It seems very hypocritical if thats the reason because then why didn't Rod keep Shafer around for more than 1 year and fired him instead of giving him a chance for players to get acclimated to his system! No, he fired him because of a horrible defense and that he didn't mesh well with the coaching staff and players which sounds eerily similar with why Rod should be fired because of his horrendous record and he doesn't mesh well with the AA atmosphere. Also, i would probably have another year of patience if Harbaugh weren't doing so well at Stanford but it's very obvious he would be a great fit as Michigan coach.

Again I would like to reiterate the fact that Rodriguez fired Schafer after only 1 year as DC so why in the world would someone be opposed to firing Rod after 2 of the worst years as Michigan coach! If it's because you think he'll build a power house program in next 2 years than i guess thats ok but if it's because he DESERVES a time i totally disagree because Rod obviously doesn't agree with that logic or he would've give Schafer more time.

[joeismyname]

why chad? so we can lose Cullen Christian and Devin Gardner? Probably some of his recruits from last season as well. This would not solve anything. Only tear the program down even more. Rod is a good coach and he has proved it. He's just facing a tougher test here with lack of depth on defense, and stupid turnovers by young players. Clearly this guy can coach, he knows how to move an offense down the field, the youngsters just don't know how to finish out a game. They will learn, they will grow, it's what young teams do. The defense can only improve. It looks like warren is staying (knock on wood) so the only big loss is graham who will carry the michigan name proudly wherever he goes. This team is gaining experience, and doing it the hard way, by giving away a bunch of games with some missed defensive assignments, and turnovers. These are correctable mistakes. Once the defense gets built back up (which it is getting built back up), and the offense learns to hold onto the ball (this falls mostly on Tate), this team will be good. Give it time. Rich knows how to coach. Just get off of his back and let the man do his job. Get behind him and maybe it will allow him to focus on football.

[rickyleach]

i wouldnt be upset to see jay hopson go , and i sometimes question calvin magee , but rr needs time and to fire him now would kill the program for 4 more years. this man needs time ,

[goblue]

I know it's frustrating to some people who want RR out. But if this doesn't work out with RR I think the blame needs to go to Martin and not RR. I don't think anyone anticipated that we would have two years of hell like this. If we had a crystal ball prior to RR's hiring and looked into the future and saw the 2008-09 seasons, I don't think there's any doubt that most of us would have preferred another coach.

But now that we're in this I think it would be digging even a deeper hole to fire RR now. And what makes people think that if we do get rid of RR and bring in a new coach that it's going to go smooth with the new coach? Didn't Harbaugh get a DUI a few years ago? Didn't he say awful things about Michigan a few years ago? Didn't he show bad sportsmanship by going for two points after he all ready killed USC? Didn't Miles just recently blow the game by bad clock management? Isn't he regressing somewhat? Didn't Brian Kelly have some trouble in the past? The list could go on and on with the so called good coaches. They all have problems. And don't automatically assume that if we bring in a new coach that we're going to have this big turnaround.

The best way to handle this is to take one thing at a time and just see what happens. Take it year by year. If RR really does suck like some people say and next year is like this year then they'll probably get their wish and RR will be fired. But if he improves next year even to 7-5, I think he'll be on his way to finally making Michigan a powerhouse in 2011.

Another thing that people overlook is how RR is handling all this adversity. It would be enough to break any man. But I think he's handling it as good as anyone could. And he wants to be here. He says he loves Ann Arbor and being a part of Michigan. He has the strength still to remind the media that he's not going to let all this negativity interfere with his team and that the only problem is the media creating rumors that the team is breaking apart. But in reality he says the locker room is unified and that they're all sticking together and believing in themselves.

[FLex500]

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n243/garethpostans/not_this_shit_again.jpg

[Bossgobbler23]

Mods,

Please move this thread to the Rant and Rage section where it belongs, it doesn't belong in the football forum. 8 out of 10 posts are of this subject, come on! Enough is enough. Every newby that comes here thinks they need to be heard. Its the same old same old, nothing new except the name of the newby. Same arguments and counter arguments. Please move it to the proper section!

Forum regulars, please do not give these people the time of day on the football forum. There is a section dedicated to this stuff. This is a FOOTBALL FORUM!!! Boycott them so we can talk football.

Thanks

[tpilews]

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n243/garethpostans/not_this_shit_again.jpg

I nominate this as "Post of the Year".

Very nice sir.

[Mike Furley]

Another thing that people overlook is how RR is handling all this adversity. It would be enough to break any man. But I think he's handling it as good as anyone could. And he wants to be here. He says he loves Ann Arbor and being a part of Michigan. He has the strength still to remind the media that he's not going to let all this negativity interfere with his team and that the only problem is the media creating rumors that the team is breaking apart. But in reality he says the locker room is unified and that they're all sticking together and believing in themselves.

With all due respect, doesn't he have to say he loves Ann Arbor and being a part of Michigan? To me, these statements aren't to be considered evidence or justification for his retention as being head coach since every coach at every school has to say this.

These statements belong right aside other standard statements like "I have no interest in coaching anywhere else"; I have not spoken with any other schools"; "we're thrilled to be going to (whatever) bowl"; "we have the best fans", etc.

[amazinblue]

RR's "All in", the team seems to be "All in" - Martin / Coleman are "All in" - it's just the media, who's job is to create readership that is speculating about this, and a segment of the fans who want 13-0 teams with an NC every season that wish to throw RR under the bus.

I've said this before - he's changing the culture - and, the malaise and downturn in Michigan football has been occuring for a LONG time - I'm thinking a slow decline for roughly twenty years. (Again, with the exception of the '97 season). This culture change is difficult - training / S&C / commitment isn't a "Saturday / game day" thing - it's an EVERYday thing.

RR's recruits buy into it. Certain upperclassmen - like Graham - have as well. I'm supportive - and am confident this team will get there. That which doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

Go Blue...

[aaron28]

How much longer is this crap going to go on?! I'm tired of the losing. Yes, I'm new here, but what has been said here is nothing new. I'm agreeing with many, many people on this board here, that say that he needs to go.

[Sten Carlson]

How much longer is this crap going to go on?! I'm tired of the losing. Yes, I'm new here, but what has been said here is nothing new. I'm agreeing with many, many people on this board here, that say that he needs to go.

What happens if he goes aaron?

Do you think the depth chart status as it is right now would be conducive for ANOTHER regime change? We've already been witness to what happens when a coaching change occurs at a time when the depth chart is depleted -- do you want to see that for ANOTHER two or three years?

Right now, whether you think RR is right guy or not, you MUST have the patience to allow him to rebuild the roster. By rebuild, I mean, to the point where nearly every position on the field is being filled by a DEVELOPED and EXPERIENCED UPPERCLASSMAN!

What you, and others, don't seem to grasp (despite repeated attempts to explain the situation) is that MSC and Martin hired RR to do EXACTLY what he's doing now -- that is, rebuild the Michigan football program into something different and more dynamic than it was before. It may or may not turn out to be better, but that remains to be seen. Martin and MSC knew that the program was at it's ultimate low -- most of the top talent went to the NFL, and the 2008 and 2009 seasons were going to be low points ANYWAY. Why not make that transition then? It's the perfect time. Build the new facilities, bring in the new coach, with a new philosophy, change the culture, the schemes, the personnel, and being anew. People whine and complain about slowing down the transitional, and perhaps spacing it out over several years. Why? What good would it have done to require the staff to constantly re-teach the scheme to every player on the field?

Just be patient, the wins will come in time. And if they don't, then RR will be fired and someone new will be hired, but they'll have a solid depth chart to work with!

[rickyleach]

How much longer is this crap going to go on?! I'm tired of the losing. Yes, I'm new here, but what has been said here is nothing new. I'm agreeing with many, many people on this board here, that say that he needs to go.

aaron i dont feel rr needs to go we need to give him more time if we were to let rr go the program would br set back 4 years, keep the faith my friend rr is going to get us to the promise land.