Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Tuesday Mailbag

There is a lot of activity in the comments field today, so I thought I would share the question with the bigger BHB Inmate audience.

Ricky asked: 
Bob, if Dave Brandon's plan is to keep RR this is a horrible situation. But if his plan is to fire RR it really isn't THAT bad. First this recruiting class is already HORRIBLE. Michigan perennially signs top ten classes. Yet since last year we've been so happy to get 3 and botterline 4 star players. Last year's class was already kinda unspectacular. This year's class is downright embarrassing.

Even if Dave Brandon affirmed RR's status as coach after the Ohio State game, what is the potential for this recruiting class? 20th to 30th ranked?

With the being said, if the plan is to fire RR, the new coach will bring new excitement and by Feb the classes will probably be about the same. We'll lose some RR recruits get some new recruits that never considered Michigan.

My belief is the lower buyout after Jan 1 is the main factor. What do you think?
Go Blue

I have faith in David Brandon but this process is a head scratcher for me.  My hope is he has some "special plan" in mind and we are just waiting to get to the final chapter of the book.   I do think this recruiting class has the ability to be good, if we could just get this coaching situation resolved.  The Avery Walls loss today was a big one but there are a number of big recruits still out there that could make this a top 20 class.  Kris Frost, Blake Countess and Anthony Zettel could really help the over all class rankings.

I don't think the $1.5M is a huge factor.  If I was RR I would want to be let go so I can put my hand in the air for these other jobs that are getting filled quickly.  After 1/1 there won't be many head coaching jobs available.  So if I was going to be fired, I would of settled at say $3M so I could look for a new gig earlier rather then later.  Couldn't you let him go and make it effective 1/1 anyway?

Here are the list of my concerns either way:

Keeping RR:

  • For how long?  Is he a dead man coaching for another year?
  • Did we miss out on good DC candidates?
  • Sure we will save some of this class but did we miss out and will we miss out on some top recruits if RR doesn't get a firm recommendation from Brandon.
Firing RR:
  • New guy would have to build a recruiting class in less then a month.
  • It could set the program back a few years if the new coach brings a new strategy.
  • Potential loss of current offensive players.
  • Loss of current players and small window for 2011 class - sounds really bad for the program in 2-3 years out.
  • Paying RR $4M to $2.5M to leave is a lot of green.   I expect Harbaugh would be a $4M a year man as well.
  • What is the window of getting Harbaugh if Michigan really wants him?

14 comments:

uncle ron said...

My biggest question is Bob, why hasen't Harbaugh signed his contract yet, what is he waiting for.
Are things already done and in place, if thats the case then we lack a lot of class in this program. Maybe his non loyal verbage 3-4 years ago was right....just saying.

Anonymous said...

Dave Brandon on January 1st, after the game.

"I hereby introduce you to our new head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, Urban Meyer"

How bout that for a shocker lol

uncle ron said...

WOW !!!!! that would be.......

maize n blue blood said...

here's is a insider. don't ask how i know, but word came down a pipeline.

Harbaugh only clause in his contract is to be able to coach a NFL team not MICHIGAN. I don't like it, but this is what he wants to do and i am happy for him.

We would have had better years under RR if Casteel had came with RR we would not be having these blog sesseions. And i do believe with the good DC would be successful running 3-3-5,3-4 or 4-3 in the big 10.

Bottom line dont't fire RR unless u have HARBAUGH name on a contract.

Anonymous said...

PETE CARROLL to MICHIGAN.

And over the next decade he'll bring along clones of Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Mark Sanchez, and NO Reggie Bush. But pretty much at least 5 five-star players and 8 NFL players each and every year for a decade.


Big Joke lol. Just image though, it would be in front of every newspaper....

maize n blue blood said...

Casteel is out of the question as future DC. As you all may have read that WV HC Bill Stewart will be there one more year along with the new OC and Casteel is sticking around.



If RR doesn't find a DC to make 2011 a much better year then he's gone and we are back to square one. This S#*T stinks.

JQP said...

I don't buy your statement: "It could set the program back a few years if the new coach brings a new strategy."

How come Auburn and Oregon's coaches are playing for the national championship after only TWO years on the job?

RR has already had WAY too much time. If a coach is any good, he'll make a positive difference almost immediately, using what he has.

Bob said...

Q, Both of those coaches didn't change the system. In fact Oregon's coach was on staff at Oregon when he took over.

I also believe Auburn wouldn't be where it is with out Cam Newton this year. Who just seemed to drop in their lap. I wondered how that happened?

I also believe Stewart at WVU will be fired or retire after the bowl game. This whole OC situation for a year doesn't make much sense. My guess is Pitt wanted Holgorsen and this was WVU's way of locking him down right now.

uncle ron said...

"Q" not if you don't have the right talent for a completely new system, look at what Auburn and Oregon had before their new coaches came in, both teams were in the throws of switching to the Spread before they arrived, big difference to what Rich had before he got here. There were no Favors left on the table by former "Michigan Men" before him......just saying.

JQP said...

Winning defines talent, not the other way around.

Some coaches can win with teams that others could not, with the available talent others could not. (I'm not necessarily talking national championship-caliber play here, just solid play we all recognize and can be proud of.) Pellini turned Nebraska around, not because he improved their talent -- it was there, but Callahan couldn't do anything with it -- system or not. Look at Stanford, they're now a smashmouth team because of Harbaugh.

Any idiot can coach a team loaded with talent. Coaching isn't just about talent and x's and o's, it's a lot about breeding motivation and a culture of excellence. Sorry, but I don't see excellence nor appreciable improvement at Michigan and I'm tired of the players getting blamed for it for their lack of talent.

I'm not drinking RR's Kool-Aid that Michigan's talent-level had dropped to where we belonged last in the nation. System or no, after three years, we still don't play the disciplined, error-free football of a well-coached team. And the system change doesn't explain why the defense fell so far, so fast. Yes, it had been slipping of late -- but last in the nation?As a direct result of the coaching change? Hello?!?! (Btw, making good DC hires is part of the job.)

For whatever reason, RR has proved that he can't cut it at Michigan -- and probably in the Big Ten, for that matter.

maize n blue blood said...

Q. get off your knees for harbaugh and act like a man. Now if u can't get harbaugh in bed oops, lol, who is your next choice.

Sometimes you gotta play with the cards that are dealt and seeming that RR didn't have a bonified DC to come over with him, that push the BCS bowl game due date back.

Now Brandon's pussy footing is costing us in the coaching dept and recruiting dept. But he's sticking to his water guns, which makes no sense.

so again mrs. harbaugh, i mean Q. Who do you have on the menu if Harbaugh won't do it.

JQP said...

Keeping RR out of convenience is stupid. This is Michigan. There are good coaches and assistant coaches out there (other major schools seem to find them) who would love to come here, and who would do no worse than RR has done.

I'm not on my knees, Alan, but you obviously enjoy RR bending you over and having his way with you. He probably thinks you have the talent he's looking for.

Anonymous said...

Q has a point.

I'm sick of people still backing RR up and calling the rest of us "BAD" Michigan fans.

7-5 IS a down year for Michigan. So after 3 seasons Michigan is still having a down year with the worst defense imaginable. Fire the fuck'n man.

Why are we lowering standards? Remember when Lloyd Carr went 7-5? People considered that atrocious. Now that we're used to 3-9 & 5-7 so many of us are ok with 7 or 8 wins now?

Why don't you guys become fans of a MAC school so you can bring your 3 years of content with a .417 winning percentage with you.

maize n blue blood said...

Q, u still haven't given a legitimate line of coaches to run the program. U just sit and complain. Throw some good names out there.

Their will be a new coach in 2012, but not at this point. DB will give him one more shot at this.

So you wining ladies will have to wait like the rest of us. Quit ya complaining and wait to see what happens.

Remember we are only short a DC. Fix that in we play BCS bowls again and you all will hush