If you’re looking for someone to blow sunshine up a south-of-the-border orifice regarding the state of the Michigan football program, don’t hold your breath waiting for Brady Hoke to be that someone.
Following Saturday’s spring finale in front of a crowd estimated at around 25,000, Hoke wasn’t exactly passing out platitudes like they were candy, and summed up the state of the program in one succinct quote.
“I don’t think we’re where we need to be, by far, at any position,” Hoke said.
Of course, given what was wrought by the abomination that was the Rich Rodriguez Era in Ann Arbor, that’s somewhat to be expected, but it’s still clear that a lot of work -- some would say miracles -- needs to be performed before the calendar flips to September.
Perhaps the only certainty the Wolverines will take into the 2011 season is that Denard Robinson will continue to be as electric a talent as there is in the country. As the junior’s in the midst of learning a new offense, however, he struggled during today’s glorified scrimmage. Robinson, whose name will likely litter most preseason Heisman lists, completed 5 of 14 passes for 68 yards. He was a non-factor on the ground as well, gaining just one yard on five carries; that, though, can be attributed to the fact that it was basically “touch and you’re down” when it came to the quarterbacks.
The passing game struggles are another matter, and Robinson freely admitted that he’s still in the process of feeling his way through the new system.
“I’m trying to get a grip on that offense,” Robinson said.
Perhaps the greatest strides Hoke has made this offseason have been in healing the fractured relationship with Michigan’s past greats, a fracture that was a direct result of RichRod seemingly keeping alums at arm’s-length from the program and simply not “getting” Michigan football. In what was described as a very passionate address, Hoke spoke to dozens upon dozens -- upwards of 250, to be a little more exact -- of past Wolverine greats Friday and, apparently, the “Michigan Man” knocked it out of the park.
“I think he brings back the tradition that kind of lost its way,” former running back Mike Hart said. “He really values the traditions, and the guys before him, whereas under Coach Rod, I don’t think he valued the tradition as much.”
While getting the approval of players from the past is all well and good, it will mean nothing for those 60 minutes on Saturdays in the fall. It could, though, buy the first-year coach a time as it may take a year or two to completely clean up the mess -- especially on the defensive side of the ball -- left by the previous regime.