Michigan Football Spring Game: Expect Differences Between Hoke and Rodriguez
The last time Michigan ushered in a new coach, the spring game was played before slightly less than 5,000 fans at Saline High School.
The featured quarterbacks were Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan.
Rich Rodriguez had recently left West Virginia to be Michigan’s newest football coach. His departure from Morgantown, however, was subject to extreme ridicule, to say the least.
Saturday’s spring game will be played before more than 50,000 fans at the Big House
The featured quarterbacks are Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner.
Likewise, Brady Hoke has recently left San Diego State to be Michigan’s new coach. Except that he’s had nothing but support from his former team.
There are huge differences between the two coaches. Rodriguez was the offensive innovator who favors finesse. Hoke is the conservative tactician who prefers smash-mouth football.
Let’s take a quick look at the two coaching philosophies and see if we can clear up a few misconceptions. But let's keep one thing in mind: Hoke has yet to win a game.
Threet vs. Robinson
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When Brady Hoke took the Michigan job, he spoke about changing over to a pro-set smash-mouth offense. But he realized that Denard Robinson had piled up All-American-caliber stats in a spread offense. So Hoke's No. 1 priority was to keep Robinson from transferring.
Rodriguez came to Michigan intent on immediately switching from a multiple offense to the read-option. But if anyone saw Ryan Mallett run, you'd know he wasn't suited for the spread. Neither was Threet or Sheridan.
Many argued that Mallett was leaving anyway, but Rodriguez didn't help his case.
Recruiting: South vs. Midwest
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The Rich Rodriguez philosophy is to move the football by spreading the field and creating space. Smaller, quicker players were supposedly needed to get the job done, and many could be found in Florida, Georgia and other southern states.
Hoke plans on establishing a recruiting base in Michigan and Ohio, then spreading out from there. Michigan's football team will resemble a cross between Ohio State and Wisconsin.
Although it will be hard to notice Saturday, some of the current players have added strength and a few pounds.
NCAA Probation
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For much of his tenure, Rodriguez was in the shadow of an NCAA investigation for improper coaching assignments and extra practice time. Many believe the probe was caused by a rift between him and a local newspaper.
The situation most likely damaged recruiting.
Hoke on the other hand, has enjoyed a good reputation wherever he's been. At Michigan, so far so good, even though questions about the integrity of street agents has surfaced.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
3rd-and-Short
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Rodriguez normally kept to his basic spread formation even on short yardage plays. You rarely saw either Robinson or Forcier under center. In any case, the execution could have been better.
In one instance, Michigan had the ball on Notre Dame's 3-yard line. Into the game thundered Big Will Campbell (6'4", 335). Robinson took the ball from under center and handed it off to power back Stephen Hopkins. The Fighting Irish were no match for this duo and Hopkins plowed into the end zone.
Later in the game Michigan ran a similar play but Robinson fumbled. So much for experiments.
On Saturday, you'll see fullbacks and tailbacks occasionally plunge into the line. While it may not be pretty, at least it's a start.
Perception
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In 2008, Rich Rodriguez came to Michigan as an outsider. Despite building a fine Big East program at West Virginia, he was leaving as Morgantown's villain, all because he once promised to remain a Mountaineer forever.
Once arriving in Ann Arbor, Rodriguez became the victim of departing coach Lloyd Carr's disgust. Carr apparently expected a hero's send-off, something like renaming the stadium "Carr's Big House."
What may actually become a positive for Michigan down the road, Carr's indifference shed light on the fact there were disagreeing factions within the Michigan family.
Rodriguez himself made an effort to patch things up by expanding the spring game experience and reaching out to the Ann Arbor community.
But the NCAA situation coupled with his win-loss record slowed the process.
Along with athletic director Dave Brandon, Brady Hoke has an opportunity to reunite the forces. It can only improve recruiting, and Michigan needs all the help it can get.
Kicking Game
6 of 10It's probably unfair to blame Rodriguez, but Michigan's kicking game last season was absolutely horrible.
In an effort to protect the guilty, we won't mention names. Michigan made only 4-of-14 attempts, with a 37-yarder being the longest made attempt.
Matt Wile, who was originally slated to attend San Diego State, most likely will be Michigan's kicker in September.
In the punting department, freshman Will Hagerup's numbers were outstanding. He averaged 43.6 yards and placed 11 punts inside the 20. Only 14-of-33 punts were returned. Watch him Saturday. He'll put on quite a show.
Defense
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Rich Rodriguez was a fan of changing coordinators.
Ron English had been the defensive coordinator under Lloyd Carr in 2006 and 2007 when Rodriguez arrived in Ann Arbor. Rodriguez, however, fired the entire defensive staff and brought in Scott Shafer from Stanford as the DC. That experiment lasted one season before Shafer "resigned."
Differences in philosophy were sighted. Shafer apparently favored an attack style, stop-the-run defense, while Rodriguez favored the prevent (the punt) defense. Greg Robinson coached the defense in 2009 and 2010. His 2010 defense allowed 35.2 points per game (ranked No. 108) and 450.8 yards per game (No. 110).
On the other hand, Brady Hoke has brought in DC Greg Mattison from the NFL Baltimore Ravens. Mattison, who has quite a reputation, has also drawn praise from former Florida coach Urban Meyer, who's been in Ann Arbor recently.
He's not only "one of the best defensive coordinators in America," Meyer said. He's also "the best recruiter in college football."
Offensive Line
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During the last three seasons Rodriguez' offensive lines have been criticized for being undersized. Some argue that the lack of quality depth has caused the unit to wear down in November.
Hoke's offensive game plan calls for more physical line play in addition to increased size. Hoke's already impressed by the two linemen who will be on campus this fall.
Both are 6'4", 330 and have nicknames in the making. With no disrespect to the original Chicago Bear, Chris Bryant will be known as Refrigerator II, while Tony Posada might be called The Road Grader.
Fullback
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Fullback?
Under Rodriguez, rarely did you ever see a fullback carry the ball (John McColgan did catch a touchdown pass once).
Brady Hoke promises otherwise, but don't be surprised if you see very little fullback play Saturday. You see, the No. 1 candidate is Steven Hopkins, but he's also vying for the feature-back position. Another possibility is 6'1", 230 lb. Joe Kerridge, who won't arrive until the fall.
Know the Words
10 of 10Rich Rodriguez could have done a better job embracing Michigan's traditions. He once even thought about giving the No. 1 jersey to a defensive player.
But probably the worst mistake was changing the offensive scheme in one fell swoop. He should have stayed with Michigan's passing offense until his players came aboard.
Ryan Mallett would have perfectly fit into the quarterback mold like Elvis Grbac, Todd Collins, Drew Henson, Tom Brady, John Navarre and Chad Henne before him. (Even Steven Threet was better suited for a conventional offense).
On the other hand, Brady Hoke enters as the true "Michigan Man (He's from Ohio)."
As most Michigan fans say, it's not where you're born; it's where your heart is.
And Brady Hoke gets it. He knows the satisfaction of beating his little brother, he knows the feeling of beating Ohio State, and yes, he knows the words to "The Victors."
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
