QB Controversy

"Get busy livin', or get busy dyin'.  That's God damn right." - Red - Shawshank Redemption


Down by 9 with roughly seven minutes and change to go in the fourth quarter against Iowa, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez must have had Red's famous line from Shawshank running through his head.  To that point, he had seen his freshman quarterback Tate Forcier struggle against an Iowa defense that had knocked him around, confused him, intercepted him, and generally beaten him for 3 1/2 quarters of football.

It was time to get busy living, or get busy dying.  So he made the call.

*IN MY BEST RE-ENACTMENT OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE SCENE*

Rod (as Manager Lou Brown): Gimme Robinson!
Offensive Coordinator Calvin McGee (as Catcher Jake Taylor): You want Robinson?
Rod: I know he hasn't done very well in these situations, but I got a hunch he's do.

Of course, Forcier would be playing the part of crafty right hander Eddie Harris, who had engineered a gem up to that point.  He had simply run out of gas.  And I feel the same way about this situation.  Forcier had engineered a first five games that had any Michigan fan dreaming of the Heisman Trophy's he would put up when he was older.  WHEN HE WAS OLDER.  At this point, he was far from the finished product that we envision.  Even in a loss against Michigan State, he was putting the ball on the numbers, but was a victim of many drops.  Against Iowa, he resorted to the scramble far too early, leaving his receivers to try and read him, rather than run the routes (many of which were open!).  You could see Rodriguez visibly upset at Tate multiple times when Forcier would get the snap and look for the first available scramble.  He was not going through his reads; he was simply playing in his own offense.  We had to expect this kind of game would be coming.  It had been too good for five games for there not to be some kind of road bump.  So when Iowa stayed in their two-deep safety look the entire game - daring Forcier to beat them through the air - I knew it was likely to be a long night.

Which is why I contend it was a smart move to go to Robinson.  Rodriguez had "danced with the girl he brought" for as long as he could, and it was time to consider other alternatives.  Michigan was having tons of success running Brandon Minor and Michael Shaw - even Forcier had some success on some zone-read plays, although many times he kept the ball when he shouldn't have.  For as much success they were having on the ground, it was equally bad through the air.  I give much of the credit to the Iowa defense.  They are a smart, hard-nosed, disciplined bunch of guys that will make you "snap it again".  They will not give up big plays through the air, and they counted on being able to make the tackle on Tate when he kept the ball.

So "Shoelace" Robinson was the clear move.  In his first series, he marched the Wolverines down with efficiency, both on the ground and through the air.  Suddenly, Iowa was back on their heels with another weapon to worry about.  When they played their 6-in-the-box Nickel look, they got shredded.  The only problem for Michigan was that the time was running out.  After the first score, which took almost 4 1/2 minutes, the Wolverines tried an onside kick, a questionable decision.  Unsuccessful, the defense did what it had been doing all year - it gave the offense the ball with a chance at the end of the game.  So it was with a minute and a half that Coach Rodriguez made the decision that many Michigan fans have been jumping all over.

I'll admit, at the time I was one of those fans.  Tate was the one that had led us to so many comebacks through this season, he should be the one out there!  Predictably, Robinson made a freshman mistake and threw an interception.  The rest is history.  So should Tate have been brought back?  Like I said, initially I was in the "YES HOLY HELL!@#!#@! YESS!!@ WHY COACH ROD!@????" camp.  Now, I'm firmly in the other camp: Robinson was the choice.  Here are the reasons:

• It was clear that Coach Rodriguez was upset with Tate for many of his decisions throughout the game.  The troubling thing was that when they showed some of the interactions on the sidelines, it appeared that Tate was trying to make excuses for his decisions.  Not a good thing.  Being coachable is the number one priority for a freshman quarterback.  Tate was clearly making some bad decisions, he needed to know that there were consequences for them.  He is not a senior 4 year starter - he is a freshman and he has a lot to learn.  I actually compare this situation to one many Michigan basketball fans saw last year.  It was a road game against Iowa, and star player Manny Harris was having a turd of a game.  Michigan was firmly entrenched on the bubble at this point - the season was still in doubt.  So when the Wolverines forced overtime, many of us thought that Manny would turn it around and lead us back to a win.  When overtime started, Harris was on the bench.  There he stayed for the entire five minute period.  Afterwards, John Beilein said it was a coaches decision not to play Manny.  This had many fans up in arms; how can the best player sit when it is such an important game?!  Come to find out that Manny had been pouting on the bench the whole game, and did not take to coaching too well. So Beilein made a decision FOR THE PROGRAM.  No one player is above the program.  The result?  Michigan finished strong down the stretch with a rejuvinated and humbled Manny Harris leading the way.  Similarities to this?  You betcha - Michigan Football and Tate Forcier both took a step forward with this situation.
• Was there any belief that on this day Tate was going to lead Michigan back?  Can any of you honestly say that Tate looked good during the game?  Against Michigan State, he had at least given us and idea that he had a pulse.  No such pulse was present during this game, which is why Rodriguez made the decision.  
• The X's and O's called for this decision.  Robinson is much (MUCH) better runner between the two.  With Iowa only playing the 6-7 in the box, Rich Rod had to exploit the weakness and hope for Denard to break off a big play.  To anyone that has seen him play in practice and in games, they will tell you that Denard can break a big play from anywhere with his legs.  He showed that he could lead the offense to a score after the first drive, so it was only fair that he get the chance to lead them to a win.  Remember, all they needed was a field goal.
• What if Tate would have gone back in and failed?  How many would then be calling for Rodriguez's head because he took Denard out?  Experts would be crying about how Rodriguez is too loyal to Forcier, and how he isn't giving Denard a chance.  

This is all relative to one thing: wins and losses.  If Denard had led Michigan to a game-winning drive, then he and Rodriguez would be the hero.  That is not how it happened, though, so this program has to live and grow with it.  The only criticism I have with the coaching staff was not going to Robinson sooner - but even this is a criticism that comes in hindsight.  The old saying is that hindsight is 20/20, and that cannot be any truer than it is in this situation.  

So relax, Michigan fans.  We are still growing at the quarterback position.  Neither of these guys is going to have a perfect season.  Hell, come next year neither of these guys may even be starting.  But before you go and rip on Rich Rodriguez for his decision making, take some time to think about how the game played out.  Like I said, I was one that was furious at Rich Rod for not playing Tate.  After some perspective, I am firmly in the other camp.  Some may still disagree, but I am in the camp of "In Rod We Trust". 

NRTTS

Coach Deuce