December 3rd, 2020 at 9:55 PM ^
It’s nice here this time of year.
December 3rd, 2020 at 1:52 PM ^
Tony Gibson
December 3rd, 2020 at 1:58 PM ^
I find it interesting that even though he's been a coordinator for a number of years now he still doesn't have a Wiki page.
He'd certainly know how to run the 3-3-5 stack, I guess.
But if you want someone to run the stack, I'd much rather go after Zach Arnett. I'd throw away his time at Mississippi State because all defensive coordinators fail under Leach.
December 3rd, 2020 at 8:09 PM ^
GERG had no idea how to run the stack. Rodriguez brought GERG in and demanded he run a scheme he had no experience running. Yes, GERG was a poor coordinator but Rodriguez was an idiot to think GERG could possibility succeed.
December 4th, 2020 at 12:49 AM ^
Zach Arenett inherited a defense that was ranked 73rd in total defense and is lost seven starters. Now Mississippi State's defense is currently ranked 20th according to Football Outsiders. Michigan is ranked 78th. Who would you rather have?
Arnett is 34 and has been coaching for 9 years. He had a top 20 defense with Rocky Long's SDSU Aztecs. He's a cerebral, innovative, ambitious, coach, who although primarily plays a 3-3-5 adapts his schemes to his players. The question is recruiting and maybe ethics. He pulled an Enos on Syracuse and went to the Bulldogs 11 days after he agreed to coach the Orangemen.
Here are his stats since 2018
- Rushing yards allowed per game (1st – 89.6)
- Rushing yards allowed per carry (1st – 2.9)
- Fewest 30-point games allowed (T1st – 2)
- Fewest 40-point games allowed (T1st – 0 … one of just six teams)
- Percentage of big plays allowed (2nd – 9.2) with only 153 of 1,658 opponent plays gaining either a 12-plus yard run or 15-plus yard pass
- Percentage of drives that they kept their opponent from crossing the 50-yard line (4th – 61.3)
- Percentage drives that their opponent covered less than 25 yards (4th – 60.1)
- Percentage drives holding their opponent scoreless (6th – 76.3
- Points per play allowed (10th – 0.3) and points per possession allowed (10th – 1.3)
- Yards allowed per play (14th – 4.9)
The key stat to me is Percentage of big plays allowed - Don Brown is horrible. The team that wins the big play stat wins 76% percent of the time.
December 4th, 2020 at 12:16 AM ^
What's Mike DeBord doing these days?
December 3rd, 2020 at 3:30 PM ^
Look how awesome that road uniform looks, way better than that generic ass white pants uni.
Harbaugh can't even get this right, I hate Harbaugh for what he has done to the program.
December 3rd, 2020 at 3:38 PM ^
Am I the only one who actually really likes the all white unis? I think they look pretty sharp.
December 3rd, 2020 at 4:10 PM ^
The all white unis are so much better. To each their own.
December 3rd, 2020 at 4:48 PM ^
All whites are bland as helll
December 3rd, 2020 at 5:50 PM ^
Been a Michigan fan since the early 1970's...and I LOVE the all-white uni's!
December 3rd, 2020 at 7:56 PM ^
I liked when they wore the maize pants against penn state in 2017. I don’t mind the all-whites, I just wish they’d do the maize pants on the road every once in a while too
December 3rd, 2020 at 4:52 PM ^
Yellow and white (juxtaposed like that) just don't work. It's simple. Even the lightest green or blue next to white? Fine.
December 3rd, 2020 at 9:57 PM ^
Don’t be a hater man.
Too much hate in the world.
December 4th, 2020 at 4:19 PM ^
I wouldn't mind this uniform so long as we don't go with the neon yellow. I like the earthier Maize that we're using now.
December 3rd, 2020 at 1:52 PM ^
My dog would be an improvement compared to the coordinators we have now; especially DB.
December 3rd, 2020 at 8:24 PM ^
Would your dog be willing to relocate? I think we could use him/her. Even if it’s not improvement over DB, which is a low bar to set, I’m sure it’d be adorable to see on the sideline.
December 3rd, 2020 at 1:53 PM ^
change coordinator or coordinator change? I think the role of coordinator should remain the same. the person holding the position should change.
December 3rd, 2020 at 1:53 PM ^
Good post title.
December 3rd, 2020 at 1:53 PM ^
All topics regarding coaching and the team have been talked about ad nauseam, from every angle, front and back.
Why do you think this required it's own unique and special thread?
December 3rd, 2020 at 2:01 PM ^
Three potential reasons why the OP created a new thread to discuss a topic that's been discussed to fucking death around here over the past month with no new or interesting insight to add to the discussion:
1. Only one other new post on the board today so the OP wanted to have something to talk about
2. The OP wanted others to know they were thinking about this topic
3. The OP doesnt frequent the board very often and doesnt know this topic has been discussed around more frequently than the the relative merits of our Presidential candidates this year.
December 3rd, 2020 at 2:03 PM ^
Curious what the rest of the fan base is thinking regarding assistant coaches since all signs point to Harbaugh returning for 2021.
December 3rd, 2020 at 2:07 PM ^
If a program is a dumpster fire I'm not sure any assistant coach, no matter how talented, can be successful
December 3rd, 2020 at 2:07 PM ^
Why do all signs point to Harbaugh return? We hear about an extension today I wasn’t aware of!?!
December 3rd, 2020 at 2:12 PM ^
You really dont know what the "rest of the fan base" is thinking about our assistant coaches right now? Ok I'll help you out:
Brown - Everybody wants him gone yesterday
Gattis - Board is split 50/50. Half think he's being held back by Harbaugh and would be good if unshackled. Half think he's the problem and needs to go.
Warriner - Everybody likes him as a OL coach. Nobody wants to see him as the OC
Jay Harbaugh - Jury is out. Some think he's ok, some think nepotism is the only reason he's around
Shoop - He's MIA. Nobody knows why but rumor has it he got in a fight of some sort with Brown
Zordich - He needs to leave yesterday with Brown. Our CB play has been awful this year (see State, Michigan)
Jean-Terry - No great board opinion either way
Nua - Another one where the jury is split on his coaching but recruiting is not good. And the organic pass rush has been, shall we say, somewhat lacking.
Moore - Seems ok. Would be super awesome though if he could show All how to catch a ball that hits him the hands.
McDaniel - Is it him or Harbaugh that is fucking up the QBs? Nobody knows but they definitely regress so he can leave with Brown & Zordich.
Does that help?
December 3rd, 2020 at 2:22 PM ^
Okay, now I'm going to need a separate board thread for each name as we (in)validate these suppositions accordingly.
December 3rd, 2020 at 2:23 PM ^
Jean-Terry sucks as a coach. The LBs are not performing. Perhaps he’s a good recruiter, but Ross and McGrone and MB are all underperforming.
Nua is the same.
Zordich: only reason he has to go is if he’s to blame for CB discontent (Lewis, Hill). Yet, is he the one recruited Will J and Domani J?
Yet, if Brown is fired then we can expect a majority of defensive coaches to be jettisoned for the new DC to build with his guys.
December 3rd, 2020 at 2:26 PM ^
Disagree with your zeitgeist opinion on Zordich. I'd say the board is 50-50 on him too. Most think he's a waste as a recruiter, but a top flight coach.
Other than that, you could end the thread right here.
December 3rd, 2020 at 2:56 PM ^
Yup, the CB play has been the one position group to improve over time this year.
(Hard to judge RBs... since simply running HH more has improving things).
December 3rd, 2020 at 2:38 PM ^
I’ve been searching the board since I read this post and can’t find any reference to the Brown/Shoop fight. MGrowOld, can you point me to the source of this rumor or provide further detail please?
December 3rd, 2020 at 2:39 PM ^
Shoop: is that really the rumor?
Zordich: I think its 50/50 on him also. The improved CB play just shows he's a good coach, bad recruiter
Nua: bad coach, bad recruiter.
Isn't is Brian Jean-Mary? LB play has been terrible
McDaniel: I think people feel like he could go and no one would miss him?
December 3rd, 2020 at 3:05 PM ^
really missing the Warinner thing.... our o line can't push a shopping cart and certainly doesn' move the line on 2nd and short, 3rd and short, 4th & inches....
December 3rd, 2020 at 3:21 PM ^
They are currently all freshman, or 1st year starters.
December 3rd, 2020 at 4:23 PM ^
Our o-line is basically the island of misfit toys. I can give him a pass for this year.
We lost 4 to the NFL and 4 more to injury (that we know of). I say "that we know of" because we are playing some freshman in front of some more experienced guys that you would think should see some time too.
And it's hard to have a functional run game when you have a non-functional pass game.
December 3rd, 2020 at 9:01 PM ^
Not to forget how the OLine basically became functional and showed growth since he has arrived.
December 3rd, 2020 at 3:15 PM ^
Who the heck is Jean-Terry? Do you mean Brian Jean-Mary?
Most of your list I agree with, Zordich gets a pass from me this year. He’s shown he can get it done developing guys.
December 3rd, 2020 at 4:30 PM ^
I tell you what, Gray has turned into a functional corner in the last few weeks. Zordich earns his pay. I don't know why he wasn't functional before, but he is now.
He's still going to get rolled in bread crumbs, 11 herbs and spices and burned extra crispy by OSU if we play them, but he's at least functional vs normal college teams.
December 3rd, 2020 at 7:56 PM ^
The refs for the MSU game called holding/PI. I’m not saying they were wrong, just some refs let some of that go. It sounds like that really shell shocked Gray to the point he lost confidence. That’s the worst thing that can happen to a CB. It appears he’s modified his technique to be less handsy. He’ll never be a lockdown corner, but he can be serviceable provided the rest of the defense is functioning (like getting to the QB in 2-3 seconds.)
December 3rd, 2020 at 6:37 PM ^
Brown - Everybody wants him gone yesterday - Yes
Gattis - Board is split 50/50. Half think he's being held back by Harbaugh and would be good if unshackled. Half think he's the problem and needs to go. - Yes
Warriner - Everybody likes him as a OL coach. Nobody wants to see him as the OC - Yes
Jay Harbaugh - Jury is out. Some think he's ok, some think nepotism is the only reason he's around - Pretty much, yes. I don't like JBaugh.
Shoop - He's MIA. Nobody knows why but rumor has it he got in a fight of some sort with Brown - Interesting, hadnt heard that.
Zordich - He needs to leave yesterday with Brown. Our CB play has been awful this year (see State, Michigan) - Serious? Feck, no. Zordich is one of our top position coaches, full stop. Weird year, more an indictment on recruiting than on Z. He should stay, if Harbaugh stays.
Jean-Terry - No great board opinion either way - Yes
Nua - Another one where the jury is split on his coaching but recruiting is not good. And the organic pass rush has been, shall we say, somewhat lacking. - Agree
Moore - Seems ok. Would be super awesome though if he could show All how to catch a ball that hits him the hands. - Yeah, All is super frustrating. Open all the time, cant catch for shit.
McDaniel - Is it him or Harbaugh that is fucking up the QBs? Nobody knows but they definitely regress so he can leave with Brown & Zordich. - Don't know, but I still tend to give Harbaugh benefit of the doubt.
December 4th, 2020 at 6:35 AM ^
Surely Jay Harbaugh is both of the things you say. He does seem to be ok, but he's also (very obviously) only here because of nepotism. There's no conflict between those things.
December 4th, 2020 at 8:36 AM ^
No doubt a little nepotism brought him here 6 years ago. Since then, he coached the TE's to great acclaim in 2015-16, incl AA & Mackey Award winner Jake Butt (who's every award came under Jaybaugh's coaching). In 2017 he switched to special teams and RB, and we had outstanding ST from 2017-2019. As the RB coach, his players have consistently learned how to pass block in the backfield and have played fairly well considering the blocking in front of them and play calls.
He has also become one of the two best recruiters on the team. If you had to pick between him and Moore, I'd choose Jay. They recruit nearly equally as well (here's there 'crootin records - Jay, Sherrone), but Jay's position groups have faired WAY better than Moore's TE's have in the two years he's had them.
He's earned his pay. Which is more than I can say for most of the other position coaches...
December 3rd, 2020 at 4:42 PM ^
It doesn't matter who the assistants are.
If JH is retained, we know our ceiling. The 2016 team was pretty amazing, and the staff blundered and sludgefarted to 10-3.
The floor, however, is something we're also getting a glimpse of right now. And it's fucking scary.
December 3rd, 2020 at 9:13 PM ^
What a frustrating season that was. Michigan led in all 3 losses until the final play of the game.
December 3rd, 2020 at 1:54 PM ^
I'll volunteer to coordinate change, unless you're looking to change colors since I'm partial to maize and blue.
December 3rd, 2020 at 1:54 PM ^
If not an already established lower level coordinator, or recently unemployed head coach, I'd kick the tires on Larry Foote. Been a LB coach in the NFL for 5 years now, and the only way he leaves Bruce Arians is for a coordinator position.