BLUE
...the joy and despair of being a Wolverines fan.
December 16, 2007
BILL MARTIN, I AM SORRY!
In a stunning display of pessimism, a surprising number of Michigan fans are today celebrating the hiring of Rich Rodriguez with hand-wringing about how poorly his offensive philosophy fits in at Michigan…and with how little attention this offensive innovator pays to defense, which, of course, is what wins championships. One hopes that these people were not part of the hordes howling for Mike Debord’s flayed skin to be nailed outside the Big House for a lack of offensive creativity (I was one – see Curious Lloyd Feeds A Spartan), otherwise all the psychoanalysts in Southeastern Michigan will not be enough to untangle such conflicted fans.
The reality of Rich Rodriguez’s scheme is that he has had to contend with a stunning deficiency of talent in Morgantown. As we saw in the Appalachian State game, one of the great equalizers in college football today is the spread option – individual players can make a huge difference and compensate for a lack of overall talent, and this Rich Rodriguez has done at West Virginia and done it well.
“Wait!” say the conflicted contingent. Pat White and Steve Slaton? Lack of talent. Puhlease! Yes, a lack of talent. Embittered West Virginia fans must be delusional to think that the Rich Rodriguez can’t coach – he was a touchdown away from playing for the National Championship with Indiana talent. Here is a comparison of West Virginia’s talent level with Michigan and some lead SEC schools:
(Standard disclaimer: This analysis does not imply that ratings provided by recruiting services are an accurate predictor of player performance at the college level and does not take into account player experience. It is a gross measure of incoming talent.)
The highest rated player on either of West Virginia’s starting squads is a Michigan cast-off, Ryan Mundy. No other player – using Rivals data – is over a three star:
No defense!? How stunning is it that Rich Rodriguez has fashioned the 4th rated defense out of a unit that has two unrated players and a Michigan cast-off whom we all hated with a burning passion a year ago for his horrific tackling?
Talent on offense? This unit rated out at less than one-half the talent level of Michigan’s offense!
Eighteen Michigan starters were more highly rated than his counterpart on West Virginia. Only one West Virginia player - Ryan Mundy (how's that for irony) - was more highly rated. Mike Cox, whose commitment brought out equal parts derision and laughter amongst the Michigan faithful, would be a stud recruit at West Virginia.
Ask yourself this: what would Lloyd Carr have accomplished with those West Virginia players? I will tell you: Lloyd Carr would not have been able to produce a single winning season with these players. Rich Rodriguez has done more than just win with average talent, he has won big:
(2007 rankings incomplete.)
Common sense suggests that the reason Rich Rodriguez is successful with such inferior recruits is one part scheme, one part conditioning and another part player development. If you add Michigan’s historic level of talent to a coach who is an offensive genius, knows conditioning and develops talent, the possibilities are downright scary.
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