Observations on Coach Rod’s Third Year at Michigan

December 28, 2009 to January 5, 2010: The official day of his firing
Coaching Issues

• Lack of Preparation/Sound Game Planning & Strategies for Big Ten Competition
• Lack of Adjustments: 2010 2nd Quarter: Opponents 194 Michigan 83; 2009 2nd half: Opponents 160 Michigan 125; 2008 2nd half Opponents: 181 Michigan 86
• Execution and mistakes: Dropped passes, Penalties, Missed Assignments, Poor Blocking, Poor Tackling, etc.=Poor Coaching
• Turnovers Gained: 77th in 2010, 105th in 2009, 77th in 2008
• Turnover Margin: 107th, 109th and 112th of 120 NCAA Divison I Football Teams Turnovers Gained/Margin=Poor Coaching

  Statistical Averages/Year	2010	2009	2008
  Fumbles	29	29	38
  Fumbles Lost	14	13	18
  Interceptions	15	15	12

• The Team Record: 15 wins 22 Losses including the first in the Michigan football program history to a MAC team: Toledo
• Humiliating Losses: 38 point loss to Mississippi State, 30 and 35 point losses to Ohio State, 29 point loss to Penn State, 25 point losses to Illinois x 2 and Penn State, 20 point loss to Wisconsin
• Rivalry Losses: 0-3 against Ohio State, 0-3 against Michigan State
• Conference Record: 6-18 against Big Ten opponents=Poor Big Ten team
• NCAA New Football Coach Comparison 2008-2010
• Brady2Terrell analysis: 2 Losing Seasons to Begin Your Tenure as a Michigan Head Football Coach
• Worst Field Goal Team in NCAA in 2010
• Time of Possession: 113th in 2010, 116th in 2009, 109th in 2008; Coach Rod says arrogantly, it doesn't matter and it's an overrated statistic! Well, it does matter especially in the Big Ten. Who led the NCAA in Time of Possession in 2010? Stanford 35:08 average per game
• Strength & Conditioning
• Offensive Line
• Receivers
• Running Game
• Lack of Defense:

  2010 Category	Defensive Rank	Big Ten Rank
  Rushing	94th	10th
  Passing	112th	11th
  Total	110th	11th
  Scoring	108th	10th
  Pass Efficiency	103rd	9th
  Sacks	98th	7th
  Tackles for Loss Turnover Margin Turnovers Gained	76th 109th 77th	5th 11th 8th
  First Downs	107th	11th
  3rd Down Conversions	86th	8th
  Red Zone	81st	6th

  2008 versus 2009: Lack of Michigan Defense

  2008	Big Ten Rank	NCAA Category	2009	Big Ten Rank
  51st	6th	Rushing	91st	10th
  87th	9th	Passing	67th	7th
  66th	9th	Total	82nd	9th
  90th	10th	Scoring	81st	9th
  81st	10th	Pass Efficiency	74th	7th
  107th	11th	Turnover Margin	112th	11th
  35th	6th	Sacks	72nd	10th

• 3-3-5 Scheme: Only Big Ten team using it as its predominant style of defense, sacrifices the line of scrimmage, the style only works with teams who have the personnel to make it happen and Coach Rod forced the defense to the players who weren't equipped nor ready. Only strong NFL teams with professional players excel at this type of defense, virutally all the top NCAA football programs employ a 4-3 except in obvious passing situations and then go mostly to a 4-2-5
• Lack of developing defensive players: Coach Tall, Coach Gibson and Coach Robinson have not developed defensive players
• Decimated Defense Part II Part III
• Scapegoating Scott Shafer for defensive problems (Blamed for demise of the Michigan Football program)
• Coaching Philosophy: Defense doesn't matter, we'll just outscore opponents with our "quick strike" offense
• Lack of leadership/team spirit/Captain change and reversal
• Players Leaving: Anthony Lolata, Austin White, J.T. Turner, Vladimir Emilien, Steven Threet, Nick Sheridan, Dann O'Neill, Brandon Smith, Sam McGuffie, Toney Clemons, Bryan Wright, Avery Horn, Marell Evans, Zion Babb, Vince Helmuth, Artis Chambers, Marques Slocum, Quinton Patilla, Kurt Wermers, Justin Boren, Ryan Mallett, etc.
• Players Leaving for the NFL when they're not ready: Donovan Warren, Carson Butler (Will Mike Martin be next?)
• Players Dismissed: Boubacar Cissoko, Justin Feagin
• Players Academically Ineligible: Tate Forcier (Will he transfer?)
• Game issues: Lack of Clock management-Time Outs underutilized, angry if players or other coaches call time-outs, lack of using time-outs as a method to better communication, gain confidence, maintain poise and composure, play calling-35 yard field goal when down 3 scores in second half, reverse on own 20
• Worst Special Teams in Michigan Football History-2 blocked punts, field goals, 4 fumbles on punt returns, kickoff returns, kickoff coverage-return by Ohio State for TD
• Coach Rod Bust Speech was a Bust

Recruiting

• Players Decommitting: Demetrius Hart, Kevin Sousa, Tony Drake, DeQuinta Jones, Anthony Fera, Pearlie Graves, Kevin Newsome, Shavodrick Beaver, Jordan Barnes, DeWayne Peace, Bryce McNeal, Christian Wilson, etc.
• Admissions/NCAA Clearinghouse Issues: Demar Dorsey, Conelius Jones, Antonio Kinard, Davion Rogers, Marcus Witherspoon, Adrian Witty, Taylor Hill, etc.
• The New Michigan: Football Recruiting has Changed at Michigan under Coach Rod
• Losing the battle to MSU with in-state players Battle for Michigan Football Recruits 2010 Battle for Michigan Football Recruits 2010
• Lack of priorities in defensive recruiting
• Snake Oil: Do we really want to be proud of a coach who steals other team's commitments?
• Walk-on program: This is positive, no criticism here except this: Troy Clack's Story on Kicking Tryout

NCAA Violations

• Rodriquez, Barwis receive Letters of Reprimand

Personal Issues

• Legal Issues

  Rodriquez and 4 Others Sued for $3.9 Million

  Rodriquez Linked to a Banned Clemson Booster

• Blind Loyalty

Conclusion: Terminate Rich Rodriquez’s Contract

Hire Jim Harbaugh, Les Miles, Brady Hoke, Mike Trgovac, Chuck Heater or another Michigan Man as head football coach immediately

Coach Harbaugh Knows How to Build a Winner

RichRod Must Be Fired, But Choose His Replacement Wisely

All The Evidence Is In, and RichRod Must Go

Coach Rodriquez Doesn't Deserve to Stay

Rodriquez was Wrong for Michigan from the Start

The Evaluation

Timeline of Coach Rod's Tenure as Michigan's Head Coach