MI, Wolverines: Where to Go From Here.

     I just left my favorite bank teller. He thinks the problem with the Wolverines last two losses are that Coach Rodriguez hasn't found the right players. As a non-player what he doesn't understand is that good athletes develop into the scheme they have to play. Poor athletes can only play certain schemes!

     The last two losses are not due to coaching issues. They are due to players on the field playing in the game. As I wrote after the game against the Irish, I see some problems that force me to evoke my opinion game by game, one game at a time. Let's take a few moments to break it down in general terms for the players and their fans.

    I. DEFENSE:  I mentioned at the beginning of the season that in the last few years of Lloyd Carr's outstanding tenure as Head Coach the defense has been a leaky faucet. Frankly, the team hasn't been the defensive team that tied for the National Championship since 1997. What is different than the '97 U of M defense?

         A1. They established themselves as a team you cannot run or throw against   without a fierce sustained battle for four quarters.

         A2. Like this team, they remained poised for the comeback. Under Griese at QB they didn't score a lot of points in the game until late in the season.

        A3. Fundamentals. Tackling. Remember, as long as the brain, eyes, nose, neck, heart, lungs, spleen, liver, groin, knees, and ankles are okay you'll be okay. Those organs are padded so line 'em up, move-in, and wrap 'em up. You cannot reach out and arm tackle a good runner. It has never worked. It never will.

        A4. If you are a LB or DB you've got to read the Guards. After the snap if they stand up and block it's a run; if they move toward the defensive line or pull it's a run. If it's play action you still have enough time to see what they will do when they change. Use your wide-angle vision to see the field and keep potential receivers in front of you at all times!

       Overall I think the Big Ten is a better conference. You guys have a lot of pressure on you so don't quit. Sometimes you need failure to bring you back.  Despite giving up over 350+ yards per game you guys have done great. In the Red Zone you've forced opponents to kick field goals most of the time. Offense has to help.

       II. OFFENSE - since your Big 10 conference play has begun you  dropped passes, fumbled the ball, made bad snaps, but not much else. However, the league is out to get you. So you have got to man up! You don't fumble. You don't drop passes. You don't drop kicks or punts. You get the ball and punish the opponents, Wolverines.

      B1. So far you've been able to stay in the game. You haven't loss by too many points. That is a credit to your talent and coaching. But I think you've allowed the pressure to get to you. Go back to where you were the first game. Screw everyone. The press, fans, arm-chair-QB's. Be yourselves and have fun. Just do it!

     B2. Michigan St., and Iowa all came into the game 'knowing they could beat you,' because of last year, and because against your previous opponents you didn't win decisively until the last moments of the game. It's true your young. But you're young football geniuses who win games you are not supposed to win.

     The bottom line. I think you guys have beat yourselves the last couple of games. You tried so hard to get a good start in the first four games that you've blown a gasket. The Big Ten has always been a good conference. I believe you can win the next half of the season if you don't beat yourselves.

     You are here because you are good enough to live up to the glory that preceeds you. Stop thinking about what you need to do. You already know what to do. So tighten up and go get some!