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On New Michigan AD And Jeff Backus...
On David Brandon...
University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman referred to David Brandon as "the ideal candidate" for athletic director. And there is little to dispute that.
Brandon does seem to be the perfect blend of Michigan’s tradition (he was a backup quarterback on the U-M football team when Bo Schembechler was the coach) with the new and very real world of intercollegiate athletics (he has vast business experience and been on the U-M Board of Regents).
Michigan does need to renew its ties to Bo. What you see on the football field just doesn’t look right - and the results speak for themselves.
Brandon did support the stadium expansion, which is beautiful. Also, it would be wise if the university continues to upgrade its basketball facilities.
The big question is where Brandon lies on the Rich Rodriguez issue. Undoubtedly, he will throw his support Rodriguez’s way publicly, but Rodriguez isn’t his horse in this race. He is that of Bill Martin’s - the outgoing AD.
Can’t imagine a former player of Bo’s would have a lot of patience, in the role of AD, with what is transpiring on the field in Ann Arbor lately.
On Jeff Backus...
I understood where Lions coach Jim Schwartz was coming from Monday with his praiseworthy comments about much-maligned left offensive tackle Jeff Backus. I do feel Backus has unfairly been presented as a scapegoat for the Lions’ woes down through the years, while handling a difficult situation as the consummate pro. Have said and written so many times.
But Schwartz took it too far when he used the word "outstanding" and inferred that Backus is a Pro Bowl-caliber player. It’s true - he is probably better than half the starting left tackles in the NFL these days. It’s also true that half of the starting left tackles are probably better than Backus.
That’s not an outstanding player. That is not a Pro Bowl-caliber player. That’s a player who is less of a weakness than most of his teammates on a 2-14 team.
University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman referred to David Brandon as "the ideal candidate" for athletic director. And there is little to dispute that.
Brandon does seem to be the perfect blend of Michigan’s tradition (he was a backup quarterback on the U-M football team when Bo Schembechler was the coach) with the new and very real world of intercollegiate athletics (he has vast business experience and been on the U-M Board of Regents).
Michigan does need to renew its ties to Bo. What you see on the football field just doesn’t look right - and the results speak for themselves.
Brandon did support the stadium expansion, which is beautiful. Also, it would be wise if the university continues to upgrade its basketball facilities.
The big question is where Brandon lies on the Rich Rodriguez issue. Undoubtedly, he will throw his support Rodriguez’s way publicly, but Rodriguez isn’t his horse in this race. He is that of Bill Martin’s - the outgoing AD.
Can’t imagine a former player of Bo’s would have a lot of patience, in the role of AD, with what is transpiring on the field in Ann Arbor lately.
On Jeff Backus...
I understood where Lions coach Jim Schwartz was coming from Monday with his praiseworthy comments about much-maligned left offensive tackle Jeff Backus. I do feel Backus has unfairly been presented as a scapegoat for the Lions’ woes down through the years, while handling a difficult situation as the consummate pro. Have said and written so many times.
But Schwartz took it too far when he used the word "outstanding" and inferred that Backus is a Pro Bowl-caliber player. It’s true - he is probably better than half the starting left tackles in the NFL these days. It’s also true that half of the starting left tackles are probably better than Backus.
That’s not an outstanding player. That is not a Pro Bowl-caliber player. That’s a player who is less of a weakness than most of his teammates on a 2-14 team.
Labels: David Brandon Bo Schembechler Rich Rodriguez Jeff Backus Jim Schwartz
posted by Pat Caputo at
12:15 PM
6 Comments:
Pat,
as bad as the lions have been, I suppose having a player who is deemed "middle of the pack" for their respective position could be looked on a plus. However, I dont think any of the scrutiny Backus has faced has been the slightest bit unfair. When he signed his contract extension, it made him the 6th highest paid OL in all of professional football. in your own words he is middle of the pack as far a performance goes but he was rewarded with a pay scale of an elite level talent. if the organization is supposed to be held accountable for their actions, dont you think it would be just as fair to do the same with all of their employees, including players? why is average acceptable when the man does not contribute at the level of his pay? you can make the argument that the talent around him affects his results, but doesnt an elite level player raise the level of play of those around him? Raiola is not capable of backing his big mouth up with his play and backus isnt capable of backing his pay up with his play. i'm sick of these guys. the lions are so bad that we have to stretch to look for positives to shine through all of their futility. they are just bad, period. to make matters worse the talent pool is so bare that there isnt even a remote glimmer of hope in a league that is based on parity. pathetic. i quit.
lil rob
Pat,
I heard you on 97.1 today and I agree that Greg Jones is not an All-American. Very good player, much better than his recruiting ranking coming out of HS and will play in the NFL, but he's not the best LB in the country. I think this is a case of statistics lying, Jones makes a lot of plays but I think its due to the scheme State plays and not having a lot of playmakers (minus Eric Gordon) around him.
Who do you think Brandon would target if Rich Rod gets fired? Someone said on 97.1 today that Brandon is good friends with Jim Harbaugh? Have you heard that as well? I think Harbaugh is a very good coach, hate his personality, but Michigan would do well with him. It would be interesting to see the transition back from the spread n' shed to a pro-style offense.
I like the move for the new AD. I am most interested in how he deals with the Rich Rod situation. I think he will give Rich Rod 1 more year though he will be on an extremely short leash...
On Jeff Bacus.. I think he is beaten up a tad much .. but lets face it he has made a lot of costly mistakes over the past several years on that line with stupid holding penalties on a big play or just getting one of the QBs killed because lets face it he has issues with the majority of skilled pass rushers on the outside. I think he could be a much better guard and maybe right tackle.. but a blind side protector I just think he is a tad below average. That being said he is servicable... and the lions could always do worse. He is probably just below the middle of the pack of NFL left tackles. Lions do have bigger needs..
I'd really like to see us go DL and then I wouldn't be disappointed if we grabbed that one Guard I think he is from cal.. in the second or third round..
lil rob,
Agreed. And it shows you just how bad the Lions are. If Backus were on a remotely good team, he wouldn't have been franchised and therefore gotten that kind of contract. The franchise tag or big money, long-term deal would have gone to a better player. But Backus was the best the Lions had.
Caputo
John,
Harbaugh is the obvious candidate at Michigan, but Brandon is supposedly close to Lloyd Carr, who doesn't seem to be in favor of any of the obvious candidates and blasted Harbaugh in the past.
Caputo
Maddog52,
It will be very difficult for Rich Rodriguez to last past next season as Michigan's coach.
Caputo
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