football

Disclosure - I didn't know a thing about Jedd Fisch until the past 48 hrs.  While a NFL fan it is either NFC teams or good AFC ones, of which JAX is not in either category.  So all this is just from internet sleuthing.

Quick thoughts on the "angst" around Fisch in some comments

• Drevno is a great OL coach.  He has zero OC experience at FBS (as noted in comments he coached it in FCS before Harbaugh gave the reigns to Shaw instead of Drevno once they got to Stanford).  People welcome him with open arms as an OC.  But raise questions about a NFL OC coming here to be a "passing coordinator/WR coach".  It is sort of funny when you think about it. 
• Uou now have effectively 3 OCs in the room, 2 with actual experience doing it at very high levels - Fisch/Harbaugh.  More experienced minds the better.
• He is not coming here to run the offense which is a higher profile risk/reward.
• If I showed you Tom Herman's past history before he got to Urban you'd say WTF on the hire 10x as much as anyone can say anything about Fisch.  And Herman was the OC hire - a more prominent position.  He had 3 poor season as ISU's OC and 1 great season at Rice and 1 bad one.  So in 5 years he had 4 mediocre seasons - you see how that turned out.
• Fisch never stays anywhere for more than a yearr or two - based on his age and career job hopping this is a resting stop for a year or two and then he gone.  So even if you hate the hire, don't worry - he gone soon enough.

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Now a deeper dive into his background.  Dude is only 38.  I don't care what you think about him, getting an NFL OC position at age 36 has to mean he did something right.

He started as a grad assistant at Florida during the Spurrier years.  So just being around that DNA that early in your career is a positive.  He then became an assistant QB/WR type coach early on at NFL franchises Texans and Ravens - the Texans job was in his late 20s.

His "non assistant" positions have been as follows:

• 2008: NFL Broncos WR
• 2009: NCAA Gophers OC/QB
• 2010: NFL Seahawks QB
• 2011-2012:  NCAA Hurricanes OC/QB
• 2013-2014:  NFL Jaguars OC

I'm going to skip the Jaguars experience because with all due respect to our ex QB, he was stuck with a low level NFL QB last year and a rookie in 2014.

Looking at his QB development he has a mixed bag.  Dude was 33 years old and in his first solo job running Minnesota's offense in 2009.  Someone wrote on another thread "Fisch tore up Adam Weber's throwing motion and messed him up."  Looking at the stats that seems relatively fair from afar.  2009 Weber regressed from 2008 Weber.

		Comp %	Yds	YPA	TD	INT
2008 Weber		62.2	2761	6.7	15	8
2009 Weber		52.0	2582	7	13	15

But if anyone is going to be messing with QB mechanics it's going to be one Jim Harbaugh.  That's his thing.  Fisch will be another set of eyes for the QB, the WR coach and another experienced guy to game plan to help Drevno/Harbaugh.  And guys that age improve over time - I am sure Drevno is better today than in 2009 as is Durkin or whomever.

In 2010 he went to Seattle to coach for Carroll.  Small world.  Hasselbeck was in his last year at Seattle so I am not going to give Fisch any penalty or bonus for coaching a 35 year old veteran.

His experience at Miami was pretty solid. 

He first took Jacory Harris and improved him...

		Comp %	Yds	YPA	TD	INT
2010 Harris		54.8	1793	6.6	14	15
2011 Harris		65	2486	8.3	20	9

then did a solid job with Stephen Morris...

		Comp %	Yds	YPA	TD	INT
2011 Morris		Barely played
2012 Morris		58.2	3345	7.9	21	7

Are these Heisman QB stats?  No.  But if UM 2014 had this sort of QB play out of Coach Nuss we'd  have 3 more wins and still have Hoke.

He also has experience coaching QBs named Morris.  That's important.

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Guy is a competent coach who at a young age has been in both the NFL and NCAA.  Important position in his 30s.  With ties to Florida now with the 2 years in Miami.  And not unfamiliar with the Big 10 with Minnesota.  He is another brain for Drevno to bounce ideas off; a guy who has done Drevno's job.  (assuming Drevno is the "OC")  Probably here 2 years max (either by his choice or if he doesn't work out, Harbaugh's choice) as he appears extremely career ladder oriented and this is a nice resting spot that helps both parties for the next 12-24 months.   If you compare his resume for a "WR coach/passing coordinator" to what Herman had walking into OSU as sole OC - it's far more extensive at a similar age.  And this is Harbaugh's offense in the end.  With Harbaugh's QBs. 

In Harbaugh you should trust.

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2015/01/michigan_states_mark_dan...

So, the staff

HC- HARBAUGH
RGC/OL- Tim Drevno
PGC/QBs/WRs- Jedd Fisch
RBs- Wheatley
DC/LBs- DJ Durkin
DL- Greg Mattison
DBs- Greg Jackson
ST- John Baxter

One more position left to fill. TEs. Who are the candidates for that position?

also, will the OC title be dropped in favor of the PGC/RGC titles?

Tonight, I was trying to decide which coaching staff I was more excited about, the offense or the defense. Although I like all the hires so far, I'm more excited about the hires on the defensive side of the ball.

IMO, the defense brings a more proven track record. I believe Durkin was a grand slam and I may have squeeled slightly hearing him state that he was waiting for JH to call him when he heard the Harbaugh to UM rumors. He's also a hellacious recruiter. I'm also excited about Greg Jackson. I think we'll see our DB play greatly improve, especially at safety. 

Some of you are much more knowledgeable than I when it comes to football and I'm sure there are also people with much more insight on these particular coaches. Just for fun, are you more excited about the hires on offense or defense at this point? 

-I'm going with JUB's report on Wheatley accepting the job for this scenario. 

-I counted Baxter as neutral (also an exciting hire).

EDIT: In order to keep it fair, Harbaugh is neutral as well. Clearly is the most excitingest of exciting hires. 

I can't post a link from my mobile device, but check JUB's twitter feed...No surprise, obviously, but good news nonetheless. For example, Sam Webb said today that he thought Wheatley would make a difference with Weber's recruitment (though not necessarily swing it Michigan's way).

There ya go.

http://michigan.247sports.com/Bolt/Jedd-Fisch-Hired-At-Michigan--34578166