TheWolverine.com - Rodriguez: Our time will come

November 21, 2009

Chris Balas
TheWolverine.com Senior Editor

It's foreign territory for Michigan ? last in the Big Ten, tied with Indiana and searching for answers with lineup changes even in the last game of the season. Though the Wolverines have bottomed out with their second straight losing season, head coach Rich Rodriguez insisted there would be better days ahead.

His job security is not a concern, he answered (with disdain), noting his only concern is building a winner in Ann Arbor and adding he's seeing progress each day, even during a 21-10 loss to Ohio State.

"I do. Maybe some of you don't. Maybe some people don't want to paint that positive picture because they like to be negative," he said. "But I've seen it every day. I saw positive signs even in stretches last year, and I've seen a whole lot more this year.

"Offensively we made some strides, defensively there were good moments. Today was a positive day for the most part. But I see more than you see on Saturdays. I see it daily in all the things we require of the program.

"A lot of times fans just judge you by what you do on Saturday. I'm a big boy ? it's a big boy business. We've won a few in the past and we're going to win a few in the future ? it's what we do."

But how soon? The Wolverines were overmatched at most positions on the field Saturday, a gap that led to Ohio State's sixth straight win in the series. Freshmen and sophomores adorned U-M's lineup Saturday, but the day will come when more seasoned players will take the field, Rodriguez noted.

"When we have a team that has the majority of the guys juniors and seniors starting and a handful of freshmen and sophomores backing them up, every year the next wave comes in and all that ? that's when you know you arrive," said Rodriguez. "When you play this many true freshmen and young guys, there's a gap somewhere; inexperience. We're building the program the right way. It takes a little bit of time.

"We have to identify our problems. That's our job as coaches. But we've been able to identify the majority of them. I like our guys. We have a small senior class again, but I think they'll be great leaders following this year's example. I like our young guys and the way recruiting is going. I think we'll have an outstanding recruiting class, the base of what we want to do to have a championship program that keeps building and building and never takes a dip down is on its way."

There is no magic formula to winning championships on the collegiate level, he continued.

"I do have a pretty good idea what it takes to win in this league and every other league. I came here a little bit knowing about that, had won a league, had played against the SEC, ACC, Big 12 schools, bowl games and all that," he said. "The formula is the same. It's about recruiting the right quality student athletes and developing them to be the best they can be.

"There should be a difference between an 18-year-old college freshman and a fourth or fifth year senior who has been in the program. Strength-wise, mental-wise, maturity wise, all those things. We should be growing and getting better all year. Certainly we have not had on field success like we wanted to and everybody wants to ? individually, the seniors have grown in two years. Brandon Graham is better than he was two years ago. You're judged on wins and losses. That's what they judge head coaches on, and that's fine. Our time will come."

On the most recent loss to the Buckeyes, Rodriguez lamented many of the same mistakes - turnovers (a Tate Forcier fumble recovered by Ohio State for a touchdown and four Forcier interceptions) in particular - for U-M's lack of success. He was proud of the effort and disappointed with the missed opportunities, insisting Michigan would be back.

"I don't know if you can go back to last year or the years before," he said in assessing the losing streak. "We'll beat Ohio State when we're better than them. When we have a better team than them, we'll probably beat them. It's probably as simple as that.

"The only thing I can tell you is we're committed to trying to build a better team ? the coaches, players, everybody involved in the program."

Notes

? Senior running back Brandon Minor had tears in his eyes when he was introduced in street clothes, unable to play because of a shoulder injury.

"You miss him, and you're going to have injuries," said Rodriguez. "I've said it all year that Brandon Minor, we're a different football team when we're in there because of his physical presence. He'll run through some arm tackles. I don't want to underestimate his importance in pass blocking. He's the most physical pass blocking running back I've ever had.

"We missed him. I felt bad, because he really, really wanted to play, but other guys got their chance and they did okay."

Freshman Vincent Smith carried eight times for 32 yards to lead the Wolverines in rushing.

? Turnovers played a key role in the outcome, with Ohio State winning the battle in forcing five to Michigan's one. Forcier suffered his worst game in a Michigan uniform.

"Turnovers ? he's a young guy. Freshmen sometimes make freshman mistakes," said Rodriguez. "He's got to learn from it. He's upset about it. You'll learn from it. There's never one reason you lose games - there's always a multitude. Turnovers, beating yourselves certainly doesn't help."

Fellow freshman Denard Robinson was not a factor in the limited number of snaps he played.

"They got experience, and I think they've got a very bright future," said Rodriguez. "Let's be realistic, as I told them ? most true freshmen don't play at this level let alone that position. Usually if they do they are surrounded by a lot of experience around them. But they did get that experience and they'll grow from it in the future."

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