Michigan spreads it out

Michigan finally hired a head football coach. Being a Michigan fan, I have to address the hiring. I wanted to do it yesterday but the Browns took top priority so we’ll do it today.

 

It’s amazing how Rich Rodriguez flew under the radar. His name was never mentioned until Sunday when he accepted the job. Funny how that happens yet report after report kept breaking that Les Miles was going to the coach. At last, finally, those stories are done. But would you be surprised if ESPN reported Les Miles is still considering the Michigan job? I wouldn’t.

 

Anyway, I never even thought about Rodriguez (I’m just going to start calling him Rod now) as the coach of Michigan but I think it’s going to be a good hire. We all know how Rod runs the spread option. We all know how Michigan has been as reluctant to change it’s offense as female employees of the New York Knicks are to be alone in a room with Isiah Thomas. We all know that Michigan only goes after the classic big white strong armed quarterback who could get out run by Joe Patreno running across the field to get to the bathroom. Ryan Mallet is not an option spread quarterback. It will be interesting to see how Michigan adobts to the spread. 

 

Rod said all he’ll ever coach is the option spread because that’s all he knows.  The team Michigan has right now is not built for that offense. It could take Rod two years to have his players in place. Even so, Rod will find a way to run some form of the spread, although it might not be a true version. Michigan has talented athletes and he might just start auditioning them for new positions. 

 

This is what Michigan needed. A new coach with new ideas. This is an offense not seen in the Big Ten so it will give them at advantage (once they learn it). This is the same offense that Michigan could never stop. You know the old saying, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. This is the perfect definition of that saying. 

 

There’s one thing that would make the transition to the spread option much easier for Michigan – by landing the top recruit in the country. The nations most highly coveted high school quarterback Terrelle Pryor has now put Michigan as one of his top choices. 

 

Pryor is a 6’6” quarterback from Pennsylvania who just ran for 209 yards and accounted for 5 touchdowns (three running, one passing, one receiving) in an AA state championship win. He is being compared a Vince Young type quarterback. Would he not be the perfect fit for the new spread attack at Michigan?

 

Prior to Rod’s coming to Ann Arbor, Michigan was not even on Pryor’s list of schools, West Virginia was. Now WV is off and UM is on. According to Pryor, Rod called him Sunday before he even told his team or anyone else that he was leaving WV. He has offers from Ohio State (please no), Florida (have to play behind Tebow for two years) and Penn State (hometown team but have to play for Grandpa Joe). Michigan is startin to look like a great fit.

 

He’s what Rod should say to him. “Terrelle, how would you like to play quarterback at the University of Michigan? I’m going there, I’d love you to come with me. Together we can change how they play football there. How would you like to change the way football is played at the nation’s all time winningest college? How would you like to change the college football world? You can be the man on the biggest stage in college football.”

 

You’re telling me that wouldn’t appeal to an 18-year old kid? It just makes sense. You combine him with top running back recruit Sam McGuffie and you got your backfield for the next four years, well probably only three. (If you haven’t see McGuffie’s YouTube videos, do yourself a favor and search for it now. Amazing. They will be better than Pat White/Steve Slaton.)

 

I like the hire. I’m hoping the trend continues of new coaches at Michigan and Ohio State where the new coach beats the old coach. Good luck Rod. 

About these ads