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Big Ten Blogger’s Roundtable: Post-Signing Day Edition
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10 CommentsMaize n Brew put together a special offseason edition of the Big Ten Blogger’s Roundtable to talk about recruiting, and my answers are below.
1. As a general question, evaluate your recruiting class. Is it more or less what you expected, were you pleasantly surprised or horribly, horribly disappointed? Were your team’s needs adequately addressed or will you be starting a two star running back at center next year?
Michigan’s recruiting class definitely was a pleasant surprise given the circumstances. Lloyd Carr announced he was retiring a few days after the Ohio State game, and Rich Rodriguez wasn’t hired until a month or so later. Over the month where the future of the Michigan football program was unknown, Michigan lost only one recruit. And after Rodriguez was hired, U-M lost only one more recruit. In both case the players weren’t a good fit in the new system (Wienke wouldn’t have been if he stayed committed), so the losses actually were good things as they made room for players that fit the Rodriguez offense.
Considering a coaching transition happened and Coach Rod had only a month or so to really recruit, I’d say that Michigan’s recruiting class for 2008 is unbelievably good. With the recent addition of Martavious Odoms, Michigan actually moved up to #5 in the Scout.com rankings. Credit goes out to the old and new coaching staffs as this really was a combined effort to put together such a great class.
As far as addressing needs, this recruiting class did a great job at almost every position. The only position that needs another recruit is quarterback, and that vacant spot is being saved for Terrelle Pryor should he surprise everyone and choose Michigan. Other than that, this recruiting class turned out to be great and will be a big part in winning in the future.
2. Who were the big catches in your recruiting class? Name two players matriculating to your school whose existence everyone else in the Big Ten will curse for the next four years.
The biggest name in the Michigan recruiting class is without a doubt Sam McGuffie. He is an Internet sensation thanks to his highlight video on YouTube, and was famous even before committing to Michigan. I don’t think he’ll be able to bring his signature hurdle move to the Big Ten without a big risk of injury, but he already has the “wow” factor.
The other player in Michigan’s recruiting class that I think will be very well-known sooner rather than later is Boubacar Cissoko. He was the first commit of this recruiting class and is a 5-star cornerback (on Scout) despite being very short. Cissoko makes up for his lack of height in a number of ways, and as long as he is covering a receiver that isn’t too tall, Boo Boo will make plays all game long.
3. You can’t win them all. Maybe some slick talking carpetbagger schmoozed his way into your living room, sold you a set of ginzu knives made out of tin foil, and walked off with your wife and your star recruit. Perhaps an in-state lock who grew up with [Insert University Here] posters on his wall and your coach’s face tattooed on his arm decided to go elsewhere for reasons no one seems to understand? Did your recruiting class lose someone big on signing day, who was it, and was your school able to yoink someone else to cover his loss?
Without a doubt, losing Nick Perry to USC hurt. Perry was always seen as someone who likely would have gone to Michigan if he decided to stay in-state, but that’s the problem. Perry pulled a RoJo and decided on the Trojans on signing day. Although defensive end isn’t a pressing need right now, anytime you lose a great in-state player to someone like USC it’s going to sting for a while.
4. There’s been a spirited debate about this whole “Coaches’ Code” among the members of the Big Ten coaching fraternity. Do you believe this exists or is it a line being floated by the guys who couldn’t keep their recruiting classes together? Bonus points for declaring your coach a poacher or a poachee in creative fashion!
I don’t doubt that their once was an unwritten rule of some sort about going after another Big Ten school’s commits, but the only coaches that actually play by that unwritten rule now-a-days are about 10 years behind the rest of the conference in terms of recruiting. A commitment means very little in the recruiting world we live in right now, and if anything it just makes a coach try to recruit a player even harder than before. To the coaches out there that actually bring up this unwritten rule, they just aren’t very good at playing the game that is recruiting in the year 2008.
To the question of what type of coach Rich Rodriguez is, just look at how Michigan cleaned up on signing day and that will provide your answer
5. Finally, who’s the slickest, smoovest, most Billy Dee Williamsesque recruiter in the Big Ten? Who’s the worst, most incompetent, “trip over the flat tire on his Yugo” recruiter in the Big Ten?
My first response to this question was Ron Zook, who has done an amazing job of recruiting at Illinois. After thinking about it, though, I decided that Minnesota coach Tim Brewster by far is the slickest recruiter right now. His team went 1-11 this past season yet he still managed to get 7 4-star recruits and a top 30 class overall. On top of that, who wants to play football for Minnesota with the weather they get up there? Their winters even put Michigan winters to shame, and that’s saying something.
The worst recruiter in the Big Ten became obvious last week when he openly questioned a recruit’s high school and called a fellow Big Ten coach a snake oil salesman in a wizard hat. Obviously, I’m talking about Joe Tiller. It’s a good thing for Purdue that he’s retiring after next season simply from a recruiting standpoint as the guy really just doesn’t seem to understand how it works anymore. I get why he was mad and everything, but some things are better left unsaid, especially if they involve a wizard hat and snake oil.
Watch for A LOT of attrition on Minny’s class… Timmy Brewster took a lot of questionable, high risk kids. Many recruits are high risk academically and/or have serious character issues. UM would not want any on Minny’s best recruits, although these seem to be the ones that would be the easiest to buy off, USC style…
Joe Tiller needs to shut up; he is nothing but a big time hypocrite. All we keep hearing about is how he had one of his recruit?s stolen on signing day by the slick R.R.
What you don?t hear is how he attempted to do the same thing by going hard after 2 of CMU?s recruit?s on signing day, one of which was Lorenzo White Jr. That guy is a total joke, what a whine ass. Give it up Joe, your nothing but a big time hypocrite, practice what you preach, or shut your mouth.
Apparently Brady Hoke came out to say that Tiller went after one of his recruits after he found out Roundtree was going to Michigan. Tiller is definitely a hypocrite!
And to pile on Tiller a little more, if the “snake oil” he was referring to is RichRod’s “new” (to the Big Ten, at least) offense, Tiller was selling a whole lot of that snake oil ten years ago when he brought his WAC offense with him from Wyoming.
I guess looking like Wilford Brimley makes you a grumpy old coot too.
this is pretty good:
http://www.sportspickle.com/features/volume7/2008-0213-rodriguez.html
Even though we lost players,here and their,it sounds like we are gonna have a pretty good team, this season.I sure hope so with new coach in all.I just hope every one plays well, with having a new coach.I agree with all with what you said in this post!And that did hurt that we lost a player to USC, Nick Perry.That’s to bad! With all these new players I just hope we can have an Awesome 2008! I hope we end up being better then 8-4 like last season!
GO BLUE!
Hi Everyone
This blog is surely one of the best out their on blogger
Brewster is selling kids a vision, and they’re buying in. For whatever reason.
He does have a few things going for him. The Gophers are getting a beautiful new on-campus stadium, so that they will no longer have to play in the god awful metrodome. Shiny objects are good recruiting tools; this is probably about as shiny as they come – good for him for taking advantage of it. Also, I am sure he is using Tubby Smith as new basketball coach and that program as an example of the turnaround he hopes to lead – and painting a picture of all of MN’s D1 programs as on the rise.
I’m more interested in Brewster showing up as a decent recruiter because it will REALLY hurt Wisconsin and Iowa (and Illinois to a lesser extent). A lot of these guys would have gone to one of those schools in the Mason era.
Go Blue
Big Blue, this is the old ball coach from South Florida (Justin Feagin’s old coach). I want to say that no matter how a school is rated, most 5 star, 4 star, etc., it makes no difference. Everyone has to start over, prove themselves again. What you did, or what you were is of little significance. Look where Jerry Rice and Walter Payton came from, who would have ever predicted what they accomplished? All this hype over Terrell Pryor, he’s from a small school, but he’s learned to master the media, through his mentoring and the people he surrounds himself with I imagine. I have studied his tapes at length and have compared him to Feagin for hours. You know what? In my opinion, he is too big of a target for opposing defenses, he’s gonna get decapitated. Feagin grew up playing against Pahokee (Odum’s alma-matter) and Glades Central. If any of you follow High School football you’ll know these teams. Former graduates from these schools include; Fred Taylor, Ricky Jackson, Eric Rhett, John Ford, Antoine Smith, Santonio Holmes, Anquan Boldin, Martavious Odums, Deonte Thompson, Janoris Jenkins and Louis Oliver. I know I forgot some, but the point being, Feagin is better than Terrell Pryor. Look at his burst of speed and ability to cut. Pryor’s long lumbering body does not move like that. You all probably think I’m crazy and partial to Florida kids, you’re right, I’ll put a Florida all star team up against anyone and gaurantee victory. Feagin is 6’1″ 197 on his way to 220, he is not 6′ 180. Let me clear up his 40 time for you too – 4.49 not 4.6. Allow me to clear up the two star,three star,etc. etc., it’s media b.s. Feagin and Odums could start for any team in the country, 1A through 6A. I coach at a 6A school and Pahokee beat us, they’re 2A. Point being, manipulation of the media is a crock. Playing as a team is what matters and that’s what Coach Rodriguez brings to Ann Arbor. Who would have thought West Virginia would be as good as they were? Not me, even though Jarrett Brown, Pat White’s back up used to play for me. I’m anxious for this season to begin and see who really rises to the occasion. I can gaurantee two who will, no stars or 10 stars, #1 or #1000 recruit in the country – JUSTIN FEAGIN & MARTAVIOUS ODUMS. They’re fearless and they play against the best competition in the country bar none – FLORIDA. What happened when Miami Northwestern went to Texas? #1 team in the country vs. #2. Result Miami Northwestern 29, South Carroll (sp?)21. Bring Pryor and his team to South Florida and our state champs in 2A – Pahokee, will stomp those western Pennsylvania punks like red headed step children. Wolverine fans will soon forget the Pryor hype. It is, what it is – some will rise to the occasion, some won’t. I can gaurantee two players that will be fearless in their pursuit of playing time, Feagin and Odums. They started varsity for four years each, Odums – South Florida offensive player of the year his junior season, Feagin the South Florida offensive player of the year, this year. On the same team, you must be kidding me! High school football at its best, that’s got to be worth 100 stars between the two of them…
Coach, I think you brought up some really good points about the weaknesses of recruiting rankings. Feagin’s (and Odoms?) experience against quality defenses will be a huge asset for them, especially during the transition period of getting used to college football. With Feagin’s and Odoms? experience playing against the best talent in the country, it will be much easier for them to adapt to the increased speed in the college game.
I think another good point that you brought up is how RR focuses on playing as a team. I think Feagin’s athletic abilities, such as his ability to cut, his speed, and his ability to throw, will allow him to be a better fit to RR’s offense than Pryor. I am really satisfied with how RR is making Florida a priority when it comes to recruiting. As you mentioned, the talent that comes from that state is unbelievable. The only state that even comes close may be California, but that is mostly because of its size.
I completely trust RR’s evaluation skills and feel confidant Feagin will excel at UM. When RR was first hired, I was curious if he would go after four star recruit Marquise Gray of Indiana. At the time, Rivals ranked him as the #2 dual threat QB in the country and he had a list of impressive offers. (Now he is #3.) (I felt at the time if RR really wanted him, he would get him from Minnesota.) The fact that RR did not even contact Gray (as I am aware) gives me great confidence in Feagin’s abilities. Looking at Gray’s junior statistics, I always wondered why he was ranked so high when his completion percentage was so low (48%) and that was against lower talent than what Feagin had to compete against.
I was looking at Odoms? film on rivals, and he sure is fast and quick! I could see him being an instant starter at the punt return position based on his quickness. He should easily be a 4 or 5 star recruit based on his other offers of Notre Dame, Tennessee, Auburn, Rutgers, etc. His 40 time is listed as a 4.57, but he looks a lot faster than that. (My guess is that this time has not been updated in a while and/or Odoms just plays fast.) From the one clip I looked at, it appears that he has the frame where he could put on some weight without it affecting his speed or quickness.
Thanks again for your post! I really enjoy reading them. I am excited about seeing Feagin and Odoms play this fall at UM!! Feagin will have plenty of options to throw to when it comes to wide receiver, and Odoms will definitely be an instant star with his speed and quickness.
Big Blue