Rich Rodriguez owes Appalachian State a thank-you note, but not just because it upset Michigan in the season opener.
It wasn't just the victory. It was the way the victory was achieved.
Michigan's defense was clueless against Appalachian State's spread-option offense. That's the same offense Rodriguez coached with such spectacular results at West Virginia.
"If you can't beat them, hire them," seems to fit here.
Granted, Michigan didn't have the good sense to go after Rodriguez from the get-go. First, it looked inside the "Michigan family" and got rejected by LSU coach Les Miles. Then, it made a pass at Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, whose lack of interest in the Michigan job coupled with his disinterest in the Miami job last year has just about convinced everyone he's serious about staying at Rutgers.
You might have thought similarly of Rodriguez when he turned down Alabama last year. The intriguing question: Why would he say "no" to Alabama and "yes" to Michigan.
Obvious answer: Because it's easier to win in the Big Ten than the SEC.
But don't take my word for it. Ask Ron Zook.
His third team at Florida got him fired. His third team at Illinois is going to the Rose Bowl.
Zook is succeeding at Illinois by recruiting more SEC-type players with an emphasis on speed. Rodriguez has been doing the same thing at West Virginia. And he will continue to do so at Michigan, where his spread-option offense will drive Big Ten defensive coordinators bonkers.
Who knows? He might even beat Ohio State. Or at least, maybe he won't lose to a Division I-AA program.
The hiring of Rodriguez speaks volumes for the spread-option offense. It's one thing for Appalachian State or even West Virginia to run that offense. But now, you have one of college football's most storied and traditional programs implementing what was once considered a gimmick offense.
Imagine the impact on recruiting. Michigan will be selling tradition as well as a flashy offense.
Don't let the word "option" get in the way. This isn't the wishbone. You can recruit running backs and wide receivers to this offense. Most of all, you can recruit athletic quarterbacks who can run and pass effectively. And you can recruit enough of them to provide quality depth.
The day before Michigan hired Rodriguez, Appalachian State defeated Delaware 49-21 for its third consecutive national championship. The foundation for those championships was laid four years ago when coach Jerry Moore decided his offense needed an upgrade. So he visited with then-Utah head coach Urban Meyer, as well as Rodriguez at West Virginia. Both ran the spread option.
Meyer has since brought the offense to the SEC, where he won a national championship last year in his second season at Florida. If not for a stunning upset loss to Pittsburgh in the last game of the regular season, West Virginia would be playing Ohio State for the national title this season.
No one is winning more with this offense than Appalachian State. Mountaineers quarterback Trey Elder rushed for 617 yards and passed for 993 this season. Not bad for a backup. Starting sophomore quarterback Amanti Edwards rushed for 1,948 yards and passed for 1,587 yards.
Michigan won't have to worry about defending Edwards next fall. Instead, it can concern itself with finding a quarterback like him.
With Rodriguez as coach, the search shouldn't be difficult.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284.
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Comments » 26
mlrandle#226831 writes:
Wonder to whom this article is addressed?
jobrando#216494 writes:
What a great hire for Michigan.. Are the VOL Board Members listening?
mcbrideut writes:
Hire Appy State coach for Tennessee Offensive Coordinator!!!
murrayvol writes:
marc_ash, you've answered your own question. Nobody! But get ready for Auburn with new OC Tony Franklin to run the hell out of it next year. And get ready for UF to run it a lot better when they bring in a couple of top shelf rbs.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
The buzzword in this article is "change". Change in thinking. That flys in some places, not others.
Offense was not the Vols problem. They played well enough save Fla, Bama and probably Cal to win in the regular season. Barely, at times, but they won. Michigan is changing offense, we need to sorely address the other side of the equation. Had the "D" performed as well as the "O", we'd be in a BCS bowl. Its a shame we have moved Wisconsin way off center stage. Good football team awaits.
DennisVols writes:
"Cha-cha-Changes turn the world around"
What seems to be the issue right now is that UT did not seem to be prepared for Coach Cut. taking another head coaching job. I'm not suggesting that they have to make a "knee jerk decision" here as to who the OC is going to be, but there just seems to be a lack of a plan in place. There is an opportunity here, one of the biggest to face this program in years.
One of the defensive problems this year, though not the only one, was the offenses failure to maintain a drive. Just look at the UF and Bama games. During the second half of both games UT's offense went into hibernation. Too predictable maybe or was it just too limited. This is not a knock to Cut. He is a great coach and was just what UT needed after '05 to install discipline and get Ainges head back on straight. Now is the time to take the next step forward. Think outside the box and toward the future.
imw8n4u writes:
Anyone thinking Cutcliffe is kicking himself for going to Duke now that the WVU job is open? He could be competing in the Big East instead of the ACC, home of sleeping giants Miami and FSU, not to mention BC and VT.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Most of the individuals who like change are babies with wet diapers! But, change is inevitable. We are at a crossroads, and the right hire for OC will propel us back into the top tier of SEC teams, and the wrong hire will have us blundering back into mediocrity. (Anybody who thinks we are in the top tier with four losses, maybe five, is not facing reality.) CPF, you are on the spot! Go Vols! SAVol
james#216392 writes:
Is Appy head coach or OC available?
newtonrail writes:
james, he's in his 60's and plans to stay in Boone, NC. Sure would like to see Dale Jones back at Tenn., but he coaches primarily LB's.
dfreeman writes:
Who cares about Michigan?? Why is this news on a Volunteer site??
rawvol writes:
Fulmer should take a look at App State's OC. He's made the transition with coach Moore....I believe he's been at App for nine years. Calls the spread offense fluidly. Three-peat national champs running the spread! Living in Boone, NC.....Big Orange country!
Greg18 writes:
Mlrandle mentioned earlier about to whom is this article addressed? I was reading article and thinking Mr. Adams was speaking to Fulmer directly. No one can argue the biggest success we have had was 98 when Tee Martin used his legs to get critical first downs.I don't know if UT should copy Florida and implement the spread but they should consider recruiting QB's who are more mobile than Ainge and let them make plays with their legs and make defenses prepare for that possibility.
thesavageorange writes:
The problem w/ the "spread option" is you have to have the perfect QB to run it.The QB takes a lot of hits increasing the risk of injury.Tebow injured Fl drops a couple.Dixon goes down Oregon drops 3 straight.White played hurt all year dropped a couple.It is very hard to have 2 QB's on the same roster who can do the same things.The more teams that run the spread the less # of athletic QB's there will be to go around.
DennisVols writes:
While I believe that the "Spread" offense should be used somewhat it also has many drawbacks to place the success of the team on totally. If you doubt that then look at UF and OU record this season. When Tebow and Dixion got hurt both team struggled because of their total dependence to the spread.
UT needs an OC that is open to change in order to open up this offense. I do agree it is way too predictable. UT has the talent at all the skill positions and each need to be developed so that they can contribute to the overall success of this program.
The old adage “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket" is something to be learned in this sport.
With our offensive line being as strong as it is being able to implement some aspects of the spread combined with the traditional aspects of our offense would keep the opponents on their toes and not able to dedicate to just one style to defend against it.
Ironcity writes:
Why do all of you think the spread is the greatest thing since slice bread. There are about 40 teams running it. Most suck. The few that do well get a lot of pub. Its a fad offense that is already on the downside of its life span. Its another version of the run and shoot. New flash, UF won last year because of its defense not the spread. Tehy won in spite of the spread. The spread cost UF the LSU game this year and the Auburn game the last two years. In fact Auburn has absolutley man handled that offense the last three years. If you loose your QB, your toast. I would like to see some invoation, but I would like to see something truely innovative. Something thats hardly been tried. Not last years big fad!
VOLinDAWGland writes:
As defenses go smaller and faster to take on the spread, it opens the door for power offenses to crush them. I say stay the course with the power offense as we will be crushing the smaller defenses.
Nebraska power game destroyed UF in the 90's and destroyed our small/fast defense.
I'm fine with situational spread/option plays, but power + execution + speed + talent will win just fine.
BTW, you can have a mobile QB who can improvise when the initial play breaks down without going all in for a fad offense.
I'm glad Michigan made this hire, it will be interesting to see how UM handles the transition to spread and how successful it will ultimately be with the spread. This is a good credibility test for the spread.
thesavageorange writes:
Ironcity:I think that's what myself dlskaggs ,and VOLinDAWGland are trying to point out.I do though (like dlskaggs)think you need some variation of a so called spread package.It really should be called the matchup b/c what it is designed to do is cause mismatches.The way WV runs it gives the QB three plays he can run out of a particular set, usually 2 runs and a pass.(kinda the way Peyton does w/ the colts)Like the LSU db said"when they are in that formation we know what they are trying to do"Well not if you have run pass options.whoever our new OC will be,I atleast hope they don't do that look to the sideline stuff.I can't stand that.I like Mizz way of running it.Kind of old school meets new school.
budd#207344 writes:
John, John, John, trying to make believe you know about football. Your brother must be a Michigan assistant. He used your logic to hire a coach. They hired Rod because they were turned down by Miles and Schiano. Neither of which run the spread. And so you know FL didn't win their NC with the spread. They had the drop back Leak, remember. With the spread they won the heisman and finsihed third in the SEC East
Just stick to making snide columns about UT athletics. When you venture into actual analysis people see the real you. And your actual knowledge is like the number of spread teams that have won NC or Super Bowls.
BigOrangeJeff writes:
This is nothing but a gimmick offense, just like others that have come and gone. Look at the arena-style game played by Texas Tech, Hawaii, by UK under Mumme, and UH under Pardee. Look at the wishbone, I-bone, Flex-bone, etc. These offenses are unsustainable over the long haul. With the exception of extreme circumstances, like Nebraska under Osborne, you can make a splash for a while, defenses eventually catch up and expose the weaknesses. If not, we'd still be running the single wing, which, by the way, is very similar to this new gimmick.
The problem is that you can't recruit true NFL caliber QBs to play in these systems. One reason is because these offenses do not work in the NFL. Another is because the skills required to succeed in these systems do not translate to those needed by NFL QBs. Look at the QBs who excelled in these systems in college: Andre Ware, David Klingler, Tommy Frazier, Scott Frost, Eric Crouch, Doug Johnson, Danny Wuerffel, Jesse Palmer, Rex Grossman, Tim Couch, Kliff Kingsbury, BJ Symons, Timmy Chang, Alex Smith, etc... None of these record setting QBs made the leap to the NFL with any success.
Some say that Tebow will break that streak, but we'll see. The success of his passing game currently relies on the threat of him running. NFL defenses would love for him to run the ball. As strong as he is, his body won't be able to take that pounding on Sundays.
BOJ
DarthVol writes:
Why didn't they just hire the WV offensive coordinator? Because (as I've learned from reading the posts of most Volunteers) it's the OC that determines the fortunes of your offense. The head coach just...manages the team...sorta. Except for those small details and practice tempo that go unchecked by the head coach, at which point it's determined that the OC is also responsible for that as well.
Get comfy boys. Most of you got what you wanted. You got to keep the face of the program intact with an opportunity to add a little flavor to the offense. Problem solved, right?
thesavageorange writes:
BigOrangeJeff:Great points.My favorite was the I-bone.Isn't that what Dinardo brought to Vandy, and was suppose to save the program.You have to be able to use multiple sets , and can't rely on one basic style."spread option".Just like we can no longer line up in the power I and run HB ISO all day.I think JC will bring some unique tools to the table.This is a nervous yet exciting time.I've strapped on the 5 point harness for this one.Back to square 1 beat Wisconsin!Peyton running the spread op , now that would be funny.
oasis3#214380 writes:
Adams, I too would like to see a change in our offensive philosophies. However, you should let Fulmer make his hire and then comment on it. Nobody needs you making the decision for him. As for the spread offense remember this- Florida, Oregon, Missouri, and Illinois all ran the spread and none won the conference championship. LSU, USC, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Va. Tech all ran conventional offenses and won major conference championships. The spread offense does not guarantee a championship. Good coaching and innovative play calling are much more important. I hope we can improve both.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
The biggest spread we all need to be concerned with will be in the bulbs between Home and Visitor (Tenn & Wisconsin) at the Outback Bowl.
Even with a Dook coach running the Tenn offense. Curiouser and Curiouser.....
VOLinDAWGland writes:
Budd...LOL!!!!! That's going to leave a mark.
stroker writes:
Right on budd!
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