Report: Michigan fires coach Rodriguez

[Pills]

I have no problems with the offense - it's the defense that went completely to shit. I think in his first year, it was like 65th, and then 85th, and then one of the worst 20 in Division I this year.

He got a guy that could run the offense, and has the personnel to do so (it was #6 in the country before the bowl). The defense is complete crap. I understand that there have been injuries, especially in the secondary, but there were way too many inexperenced guys out there.

Also, Michigan got hit with its first ever major penalty (in football, at least) under his tenure. That took less than 2 years.

 

[FedEx227]

Well you have a guy that's so hard headed in his ways like RichRod that he basically ran off any players they had in the program because they didn't fit his system offensively and defensively.

No other coach is that boneheaded when it comes to running spread stuff, which is why I prefaced by saying someone hard headed like him. That was the problem he didn't want to transition into pro-style or at least take elements from pro-style, he absolutely wanted to do what he did in West Virginia with Michigan without regard for the players currently in the Michigan system.

You can do that sort of all or nothing transition at Arkansas State and suck for 3 years, you can't do it at Michigan.

Definitely true though that his defenses were crap and that's largely the reason for his firing but Rodriguez has never had a big emphasis on D.

 

[Atlas]

his biggest failure was not being able to being Jeff Casteel along with him to UM (he elected to stay at WVU) and still run the 3-3-5 stack... there aren't many coaches who can run that defense well, so he really put any d-coordinator hires in a tough spot... he really just should have kept on Ron English and let him worry about the defense...

also, just so we all are clear, RRod started out running the run and shoot at Salem College and at Glenville State... he kept most elements of the run and shoot at Tulane and Clemson, but it wasn't until he got to WVU where he went to the run heavy, zone read offense he is so well known for now (keep in mind he told Oliver Luck that his son Andrew would not play at WVU as a QB if he decided to come there.... yeah, fuck him for that)... his inability to re-adapt to the personnel he had at UM doomed him (he could have used Ryan Mallet and gone back to the style of offense he started out in, he just took the easy way out and wanted to stick with the Pat White style offense), and honestly, he is a fucking douchebag and got everything he deserved...

 

[NAHSTE]

Despite his failure at Michigan, I still have respect for Rich Rod as an offensive coach. Those Tulane and Clemson offenses were pretty fun to watch. Shaun King and Woodrow Dantzler FTW. He's stubborn as hell, evidenced by deciding that Ryan Mallett and Andrew Luck couldn't play QB for him, but his system does eventually work.

I think he'll succeed at a midlevel program in the Big East or ACC. Just not the right fit for Michigan whatsoever. And yeah, the no talent scrubs he was recruiting to play defense didn't help matters much.

 

[Maize]

I completely agree with you about Rodriguez. He is a great offensive mind, he was just in over his head at Michigan. Brandon's press conference was great, I have full faith in his decisions. I saw the firing coming, it is just nice that it is official.

Just the way Brandon was talking, someone with ties to Michigan makes the most sense. Brady Hoke is the favorite, in my opinion. I see him bringing in a solid staff, if he does get the job. It will be interesting, but I know Brandon will get the right guy. We won't be settling on someone because we cannot get Harbaugh, we will just get a good coach.

 

[Boucher]

Didnt hoke sign a new contract?

 

[Maize]

Didnt hoke sign a new contract?

Yes, in early December I believe. Extension and a little more money. The buyout did not change, however, and I think it is manageable.

 

[JeremyHight]

his biggest failure was not being able to being Jeff Casteel along with him to UM (he elected to stay at WVU) and still run the 3-3-5 stack... there aren't many coaches who can run that defense well, so he really put any d-coordinator hires in a tough spot... he really just should have kept on Ron English and let him worry about the defense...

Definitely true. He gets Greg Robinson and tells him "You have to run the 3-3-5" instead of getting a 3-3-5 DC or letting the DC choose their own system. I never understood the stuborness on sticking with a 3-3-5 system that isn't exactly sweeping the nation.

I see Michigan going after a big name (and failing), then settling for Hoke.

 

[Sportsbuck]

Didnt hoke sign a new contract?

Contracts mean nothing.

 

[Sportsbuck]

Definitely true. He gets Greg Robinson and tells him "You have to run the 3-3-5" instead of getting a 3-3-5 DC or letting the DC choose their own system. I never understood the stuborness on sticking with a 3-3-5 system that isn't exactly sweeping the nation.

I see Michigan going after a big name (and failing), then settling for Hoke.

For the most part a lot of it was not having enough guys at LB/DL to run another kind of system... didn't have the depth on the dline to run a 4man front, and didnt't have the depth in the LB core to run the 3-4, so he stuck with variations of the 33.

 

[Maize]

So Les Miles, Brady Hoke, and Gary Patterson seem to be the only names floating around. I wonder if there is anyone people are overlooking.

 

[1ke]

Theyll go hard after Les. Pitch him 4 mil and up, and make sure he knows the road to the BCS is 10x easier going through the Big 10 rather than the SEC. Hell say thanks but no thanks and try Hoke. Patterson aint movin...

 

[Sportsbuck]

According to what I've heard, just like last time Les Miles is not a candidate, has not been contacted by Michigan, and will not be contacted by Michigan. There's a reason why Bill Martin was "out on his yacht" when Les called him last time around.

It's Hoke or bust right now. Dream targets they are Peterson, Patterson, Mullen, with Charlie Strong's name being tossed around as well.

 

[BrntO4Life]

It's Hoke or bust right now. Dream targets they are Peterson, Patterson, Mullen, with Charlie Strong's name being tossed around as well.

And by "dream" you mean "delusional visions of grandeur". None of those guys would leave their currents jobs for Michigan.

 

[Hasselbeck]

Brady Hoke would be a tremendous hire. The man can coach.

AND.. for selfish reasons.. it would allow for my man Rocky Long to either become HC at SDSU and rape New Mexico year after year.. OR.. have my man Rocky Long coach the defense at Michigan with premiere talent he has never had the opportunity to use.

So.. go Hoke!

 

[SuperKevin]

Didnt hoke sign a new contract?

Yes but it had a clause that he could leave if offered the Michigan job.

 

[NAHSTE]

Yes but it had a clause that he could leave if offered the Michigan job.

Yeah, the SDSU AD said he understands Hoke's intention to coach there and wouldn't even try to hold him back. Meanwhile Miles has an insanely high buy out, and has already told Michigan no once. (And likely has already told them no early in this process, too.)

So yeah, Brady Hoke will be the next coach at Michigan.

 

[Maize]

Brady Hoke would be a tremendous hire. The man can coach.

AND.. for selfish reasons.. it would allow for my man Rocky Long to either become HC at SDSU and rape New Mexico year after year.. OR.. have my man Rocky Long coach the defense at Michigan with premiere talent he has never had the opportunity to use.

So.. go Hoke!

I would love if Rocky Long followed Hoke to Michigan, and it seems like Sportsbuck is right about Les Miles. And Patterson might not like how "involved" David Brandon is with the football program. I think Hoke is the right guy.

If it's not Rocky Long, I could see Corwin Brown or Mike Trgovac coming in. More interesting would be who is calling the plays for the offense if Hoke comes in.

 

[Hasselbeck]

I would love if Rocky Long followed Hoke to Michigan, and it seems like Sportsbuck is right about Les Miles. And Patterson might not like how "involved" David Brandon is with the football program. I think Hoke is the right guy.

If it's not Rocky Long, I could see Corwin Brown or Mike Trgovac coming in. More interesting would be who is calling the plays for the offense if Hoke comes in.

I read an article today that basically says the only way Rocky won't follow Hoke to Michigan is if he gets the HC job at Texas State.

Since Rich Rod ran the 3-3-5, which Rocky Long is basically like the godfather of, the transition would be seamless.. and Michigan would likely have a disgusting D after a few years of recruiting.

Back in Rocky's days at UCLA.. his defenses were routinely at the top of college football. The man can coach D like no ones business at the college level.

 

[The Buddha]

Hasselbeck is giving me a serious Broner with this Hoke/Long combo.