'I think they've looked better as the season has progressed. But still, from where they were at the beginning, losing against Utah and Notre Dame -- they just looked bad in those games, so bad. They've improved, but not to where they should be at this point by any stretch of the imagination.' Question: How much patience do Michigan fans? How much time are they willing to give Rich Rodriguez? If they have another year next year like this one, would that be it for Rodriguez? Howard: 'Oh, yeah, yeah, he could not have ... (breaks into laughter). First of all, the patience is the million-dollar question. It's kind of like asking a married man what he would do if he found his wife cheating on him. If you've never been in that situation, you really don't know how you're going to react. Michigan fans have never been in this situation, so the patience thing is a big question. 'There's no way in the world he can have a season next year like he had this year and he still be in Ann Arbor. That would not happen.' Question: What has this season been like for you and the other former players? Howard: 'I went up there and watched them in the spring, and I came back home and I told my wife, 'If this team wins six games this year, it's going to be a heck of an accomplishment.' And she thought I was overreacting. 'I told some of my best buddies, 'Our bowl streak is in jeopardy.' And everybody thought I was overreacting: 'Nah, nah, give them time, give them time.' 'I said, 'If they win six games, Rich Rod is one of the best coaches in college football.' Then I said, 'If they win seven, he has to be finalist for the best coach in college football, if they win eight, he is the best coach in college football.' I expected them to struggle. 'Now, there's a way to lose, and there's a way to look embarrassing. Earlier in the season, when guys couldn't field kickoffs, that to me that goes beyond coaching. 'There's a lot of blame to go around, so Rich Rodriguez, and (defensive coordinator) Scott Shafer and the rest of the coaching staff -- those guys definitely have to shoulder some of the blame, there's no doubt about that. But as a player, you have to have some pride to go out on the field and do certain things that show you're a football player.' Question: The defense looks like it has had no fire. Defense was supposed to be the strength of this team. Has the offense been so bad it's had an effect on the defense? Howard: 'I don't know what the answer is on defense. Like I said, there's enough blame to go around. It starts with the coordinator, Scott Shafer, but then individual players have to have pride in what they're doing, too. When you see a team that at times looks as bad as they've looked, you know it's not just one thing.' Question: Is this a trip (to Ohio State) that this team dreads? Do they want to just get this season over with? Howard: 'I'm curious to find out which team shows up. (Michigan is) going to come out there fired up. There's enough upperclassmen on that team who know the depth of this rivalry and how important it is.'