MAKE PLAYS

In what is one of the more curious offseason coaching moves, Michigan just named former Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson as its new defensive coordinator.
Robinson, referred to affectionately by Syracuse fans as "Greggers", became known around the Syracuse blogosphere for his ridiculous postgame quotes. He also experienced very little success in four years at the helm of the Orange, posting an atrocious 10-37 record. (That blog, called Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician, is a great read, even for non-Syracuse fans).
Making the move even more interesting is the fact that Michigan's DC from last season, Scott Shafer, is taking over the same position at Syracuse, in what definitely looks like a downgrade for the Wolverines.
Now I know that Michigan had one of the worst defenses in the Big Ten last year, ranking ninth in the conference in total defense and tenth in scoring defense. But the Wolverine offense couldn't stay on the field last year, making it difficult for the defense to avoid wearing down in the second half, as it did against Penn State.
Regardless, Shafer was considered one of the top assistants in the country after being nominated for the Broyles Award (given to the nation's top assistant) with Western Michigan in 2006. Last year's nightmare in Ann Arbor has dimmed his star, and he and Rich Rodriguez parted ways.
Robinson, meanwhile, drew the ire of Syracuse fans for his questionable coaching decisions during his four year tenure, and his most notable coaching achievement was winning two Super Bowls as defensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos in the late 1990s.
No offense to Greg, but I'm not sure he can take much credit for the Broncos' success, considering they had John Elway manning the quarterback position and considering that Greggers presided over the Kansas City Chiefs' porous defense that couldn't stop the Colts in the 2004 divisional round.
At any rate, for Penn State fans, this will be an interesting situation to watch. Robinson and Michigan both have a lot to prove. However, if Robinson's tenure with Syracuse is any indication, Daryll Clark might be having another field day with the Wolverines in 2009.
-Steve