The Rich Rodriguez Era began dubiously on Saturday when the Wolverines fell to the Utah Utes 25-23. I have to say it wasn’t really that close.

The first half was thoroughly embarassing for Michigan. They couldn’t move the ball and they could stop Brian Johnson and the Utes. It was Johnson and kicker Sakoda that took the game over.

Michigan’s offense was terrible. Nick Sheridan didn’t have a clue. His statistics only recorded 1 interception but he was lucky that it wasn’t 3. Worst of all, his pick came with 51 seconds before the half, which of course Utah capitalized on and took it in for a score to make it 12-10 at the half. On top of that, to begin the second half, Sheridan botched a handoff to true freshman Sam McGuffie. It looked like they both messed up, but I was certainly not pleased that McGuffie literally pointed fingers after he fumbled. He needs to grow up and grow up quickly. The botched exchange led to Sheridan being ushered to the bench in favor of Steven Threet.

Finally, a bright spot. I thought that Threet came into the game with poise and seemed to able to complete a pass to his own team. Neither Sheridan nor Threet are going to win the game with their feet (they both proved it today), but I think that Steven Threet might be able to win it with his arm. He has considerably better passing skills than Sheridan and Carlos Brown proved that he can be the dual run/pass threat that Coach Rodriguez’s spread offense.

There were a couple plays that were kind of strange to me. The plays where the offensive line didn’t move while the sideline route was run. The play payed off once and the the other was a near completion. I really liked the innovation there. Cool to see if they continue to use plays like that. The Utah defense didn’t know what was going on.

Unfortunately that was Michigan’s defense most of the game. The defense definitely played better in the second half, but the tackling was terrible and the coverage was very loose. The bright spots for me were the pass rush in the second half, led by Tim Jamison, and the overall play of linebacker Obi Ezeh. This unit has a lot of work to do if they’re supposed to carry this team.

Overall this was not a huge shock. Utah is a good team and Michigan is a team without a strong identity. It is definitely a disappointment but I think one good thing was learning where Michigan needs to improve. And we definitely learned that on Saturday.

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As we all know Michigan’s home opener last year was an embarrassment. This year the Wolverines bring a Utah team into the Big House that has BCS bowl aspirations. Michigan will also be breaking in a new head coach, offensive philosophy, starting quarterback, starting running back and it’s wide receiving corps.

That’s enough for me to be very scared. I know that Coach Rodriguez will be able to bring in top-shelf talent (Terrelle Pryor notwithstanding) to run his spread offense. The problem is that the talent hasn’t arrived in Ann Arbor. They’re still in high school. And frankly they may be more suited to lead the Wolverine offense than either potential starting quarterback (Nick Sheridan or Steven Threet). I’m sure those guys are great guys, but if you asked either of them if they realistically thought they would start a season as the University of Michigan’s first-string quarterback I have to believe they’d have said “No way!”

Everyone has said that Michigan’s defense is (and will have to be) it’s strength, and I agree. But if their offense is terrible and turns the ball over all the time, they won’t be able to overcome it (ask Brian Urlacher and the 2006 Bears defense).

Now onto the Utah game. Utah runs the spread offense that gave Michigan fits last year against App. State and Oregon. One thing has changed, the defense faces a similar offense every day at practice. And that can only help. Utah’s offense will return 4 players who suffered injuries last year.

Starting quarterback Brian Johnson, wide receiver Brent Casteel, and running backs Matt Asiata and Darrell Mack are all coming off injuries for Utah. This could prove to be very bad for the Michigan defense. I think the Michigan defense will need to put some points on the board for Michigan to come out on top. Hopefully Michigan will be able to withstand their attack and put enough points on the board to escape a second home opener loss.

Prediction
Utah 24
Michigan 27

A lot of people have been talking about Michael Phelps lately, and with good reason. Saturday he became the first athlete to win eight gold medals at an Olympic games. Obviously that is an amazing feat, but the talk of him as the greatest athlete ever should really stop.

Before yesterday, was Mark Spitz thought of as the greatest athlete ever?No. And he wasn’t even in the team photo. So what was it about Phelps at these Olympics that launched him into that realm?

Hype.

That doesn’t do it for me. Don’t get me wrong, I think Michael Phelps is an amazing swimmer. I’d even say the best swimmer ever, but to for the Beijing Olympics to set him above the likes of Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Jesse Owens, and Jim Thorpe (just to name a few) is ridiculous. Congratulations to Michael Phelps. Amazing accomplishment, but you’re not the greatest athlete ever. And I’m sure he’d agree.