Comment by olafandyjon (Guest)

olafandyjon (Guest) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:55:32 +0000

Crap...it's been so long since I commented here that I can't remember which name I used...

But there's so much parity in talent nowadays that Michigan doesn't have an athletic advantage over its opponents, even Division 1-AA opponents. When the difference in talent is small and the difference in execution level is negligible, then the outcome of a game comes down to which school has the better game plan. For the bulk of the past couple of years, Michigan has not had the better game plan. The edge in talent was enough to win games last year. It won't be the same this year.

It seems like Carr doesn't want to believe that he can't rely on Michigan execution and talent any more. He doesn't want to have to resort to trickery and scheming to win games. He wants to believe that Michigan's players and coaches are superior enough that simple fundamentals will win games. But there are so many good coaches and so many good players out there these days, and Michigan doesn't have the edge over other schools that it once had.

You have hit the nail squarely on the head.

Comment by John C (Guest)

John C (Guest) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:06:37 +0000

One thing that both App State and USC players said after the game is that Michigan's offense was incredibly predictable. I think we need to move away from the "even if they know what is coming, if we execute it will work anyway" approach. Sorta what you are saying, but on the offense.

Comment by Steve (Guest)

Steve (Guest) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:50:44 +0000

You know football a heck of a lot better than I do, but I'll summarize a bit of what you said in the latter paragraphs in my own words.

The job of a head coach, and his staff, is to make a team add up to be equal to, and preferably more than, the sum of its parts, whether through game plan, play calling, or whatever.

Carr and his staff may be able to do that, but they aren't right now.

More on Dia de los Muertos

Ken — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:59:16 +0000

Sack Carr? Who would be a better coach?