Remember, this is just one man's opinion ... and an outsider at that.

But David Poe of the Parkersburg (W.Va.) News and Sentinel predicts that this will be the final season for coach Rich Rodriguez at Michigan. Here is a portion of Poe's column:

He's not going to win. He's going to end the season with another lopsided loss to Ohio State, this time in the Big House, where there is no sin like losing to the hated Buckeyes.

Rodriguez's short tenure at Michigan has been a disaster.

The players don't seem to like his style. The alumni hasn't warmed up to him. The administrators who hired him -- and who could fire him -- were unhappy they were going to have to be deposed in his legal dispute with West Virginia University.

Although most coaches get at least three years to prove themselves, I'm convinced Rodriguez is only going to get two.

Poe then goes on to suppose that Rodriguez could wind up back in the state of West Virginia to coach Marshall next season.

R-Rod - please stay!

Luv,
Spartan fans...

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Can WV please get over losing RichRod to UM? Man, the hate they have been spewing since he left... ridicilous IMO. Why don't they worry about their own team and how they will do this year?

/rant

Michigan’s QB race: Forcier vs. Sheridan

By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)—Tate Forcier (FOR’-see-ay) has taken advantage of graduating high school early to take snaps and classes at Michigan.

Forcier rotated with Nick Sheridan during early drills that were open to the media Monday. The Wolverines practiced for the first time in a season they desperately hope marks a turnaround.

Michigan lost a school-record nine games last year in Rich Rodriguez’s debut season with college football’s winningest program.

Sheridan shared starting duties in 2008 with Steven Threet, who transferred after the season.

Forcier left sunny San Diego last winter, started his studies at Michigan last spring and gained a lot of experience during spring drills.

Wolverines' offensive line grows up
Inexperience was factor last year, but coaches see growth
Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

Ann Arbor -- Maybe it really is as simple as this -- last year, no experience, no depth; this year, experience, depth.

That's the difference in Michigan's offensive line from a year ago.

"The thing last year was, three of us on the offensive line had started a total of 17 games with (Steve) Schilling starting 12 of them," said Mark Ortmann, projected as this year's starter at left tackle.

"Along the offensive line it's pretty difficult to throw people into a situation that, A, they've never started, and B, they may never have played that much, maybe just clean-up crew. So to throw them into a situation that maybe they weren't comfortable with is a lot to ask."

Offensive line coach Greg Frey is upbeat about the line's potential this year. Having experienced players returning, not to mention a group of redshirt freshmen available, has given Frey a group of about a dozen players who can rotate throughout a game.

That sheer increase in bodies is enough to give Frey confidence. Perhaps more importantly, he believes, is the galvanizing effect that comes from going through a 3-9 season and understanding why they're putting in the work that's required.

Frey likes to say his players have worked hard and smart during the spring, into offseason conditioning and now that camp has begun.

"Guys have been out there, they've been in front of the good and bad," Frey said. "Now, it's a little more stabilized for them. They don't react as much up and down -- it's not a roller coaster. That gives a sense of confidence that, 'Hey, OK, listen, I know if I get these things better, I can make myself a better player.'

"They worked hard last year, but now they understand why they're working. That's where the mentality is. When I say they're working smarter, they're not trying to climb a mountain in two leaps. I think their mentality is healthier. They've jelled. They're friends. They get on each other when they need to correct something and defend each other when they need to and that's a nice thing to see."

What's also nice for Frey is the fact that he does have bodies to work with and he's not coming into the season trying to patch together a line. More than likely, Ortmann will be at left tackle, Schilling at left guard, David Molk back at center, David Moosman at right guard and Mark Huyge at right tackle.

Ortmann has said the confidence among the linemen is noticeable. How? Well, it's not like they sit around talking about how confident they feel, but they see it in the weight room and while watching film. The linemen have grasped coach Rich Rodriguez's offense, and they have seen results from strength coach Mike Barwis' conditioning workouts.

He said not only are the linemen stronger, but their agility has improved.

"I think that's going to carry over to the season just confidence-wise. When you're throwing around 500 pounds, that's going to boost your morale on the field," Ortmann said. "It's cool to see linemen doing the same drills as defensive backs. Granted, not doing them as fast but just as smooth. That's been pretty exciting."

Frey said his players aren't thinking as much.

"Of course they are thinking, but they don't have to consciously compute, 'OK, we're supposed to do X this play, and I have to do Y.' They react because they instinctively know what to do," Frey said.

That's the part of confidence that makes things easier on the players and the coaches. As Moosman said, confidence builds on itself and makes everything and everyone more efficient.

"We're a lot more confident in what we've got," Moosman said.

Rodriguez said that after the first day of practice Monday, the offensive line showed evidence of experience. The players recognized mistakes immediately, and instead of wondering what it was they had done wrong, they made the adjustment and moved on.

"They're a pretty sharp group," Rodriguez said.

Frey said it would be premature to evaluate the line now, but he does like what he has seen.

"They've taken great pride since the season has ended," Frey said. "They have attacked their weakness and have worked on their own.

"Some of it was just getting healthy, getting stronger, or getting a little older. Some of it was more getting used to dealing with adversity on the field. ... .

"With the work they've put in there comes a certain amount of confidence, and that's where you're see more of a feeling of, 'Yeah, I can do this.' It will be interesting to see how it plays out. I'm really excited to watch these guys go."