Sac Bee reporting John Morton and Tim Drevno coming to Umich
according to chris balas
https://twitter.com/balas_wolverine
Drevno is currently O-line coach at USC, but worked for 49ers 2011-2013
Morton is was WR coach for 49ers
December 31st, 2014 at 1:34 PM ^
He would be a huge pick-up. He was at Stanford with Harbaugh when they recruited and developed guys like Martin and DeCastro and all the dudes that paved the way for Shaw's great record.
At USC this past year, he started three true freshmen on the offensive line in the Holiday Bowl. A game where the Trojans scored 45 points and ran for nearly 200 yards.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:34 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 1:34 PM ^
John Morton played at Western Michigan in 1991-92 and is Auburn Hills native.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Morton_(American_football)
December 31st, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^
same johnny morton that played WR for the Lions?
December 31st, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
Johnny Morton played at USC. That's from memory. Google the rest.
December 31st, 2014 at 8:38 PM ^
If it's the guy that does the knocking out, we'll take him. If it's the guy that gets knocked out, then pass.
December 31st, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^
From his SF bio page (yep, still up):
Morton played at Western Michigan for two seasons (1991-92), where he finished 10th on the school’s all-time receiving list (78 receptions) and eighth in receiving yards (1,278), earning All-Mid-American Conference honors as a senior, in 1992. He later received a bachelor’s degree in general studies from Western Michigan in 1997. Morton came to Western Michigan after two years (1989-90) at Grand Rapids (MI) Community College, where he received his associate’s degree in 1990.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^
is a homerun- built those mean OL at Stanford and 49ers and has been with Harbaugh since SDU until heading to USC this past season
December 31st, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
With a congratulations/love letter from Harbaugh as the prologue. With him for ten years.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^
Definitely not to be confused with Johnnie Morton.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
i see your tagline. i think the pistons are 3-0 since dropping smith and two of those wins on the road. i was able to watch the indiana game, and the pistons looked like a team. players (especially jennings) looked to pass first. and they got after it a bit on D.
they appear to now be full of young guys that want to play...as a team.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
and the team looks like a whole different outfit. The ball is moving and they're generating a lot of open shots. Last night's thrashing of Orlando was basically the Pacers game, but with better defense. Part of the uptick is better offensive play, part of the uptick is Andre Drummond starting to wake up from his slump. Either way, it's nice to watch the team have their best 3-game stretch in recent memory. Jodie Meeks has been the excellent addition I thought (and hoped) he would be.
December 31st, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
I was searching to see if Johnnie dropped the "nie" to be taken more seriously as a coach.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^
Insane that we could steal USC's OL coach a week after he announces he's going there oh and two 49ers positions coaches want to be positions coaches in college at Michigan. I love all of you.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
Are you a time wazard?
Drevno was OL coach for USC since Dec 2013.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^
If Drevno is joining Harbaugh's staff, how does that impact the possible Andy Moeller addition?
December 31st, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^
Listening to Brian's podcast yesterday, it really seems like atleast he and Ace are rather hesitant about adding Moeller to the staff with his DUI arrest history. Obviously his coaching record speaks for itself along with his Michigan connections but it's hard to sell yourself to parents of recruits with 3 DUIs.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^
Yeah, those three (three!) DUIs are pretty bad, and probably too recent for it to yet be a 'past' mistake kind of thing. Also, while I didn't pay nearly quite as much attention Moeller's OLs at UM at the time, I don't think UM every really had an elite run offense under him. Very good yes, but never seemed elite. However, that could also fall a lot on DeBord and Carr for the style of football they played.
December 31st, 2014 at 3:24 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 1:52 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
This is why I didnt think there was a chance we'd get Drevno. Especially with the "get the band together" stuff coming from Moeller. It is an interesting dynamic if those texts were true - it would show Harbaugh to be a bit of a cold hearted assassin - which I am ok with. This is why I am happy with Harbaugh from a position coach standpoint - it is so underrated and he demands excellence there. It is not about friends and grandfathering people which has been the UM way since Carr. If you are average - you will be gone.
As others have said Moeller and his DUIs might also be an issue on he recruiting trail and selling it to the Schlissel's of the world.
December 31st, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^
That Moeller would be coming for an OC role? Or maybe Drevno would be coming for OC role?
December 31st, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^
I absolutely loved the Olines of the early/mid 2000's. Huge, mean giants who worked really well together. It's not a coincidence that our RB's has some of their best years rushing during that time. As much as I know Moeller was a part of that, a coach's personal history is much more highlighted on the college stage.
If my kid is getting recruiting at a big time college and the coach has a lengthy history with DUIs, how do I justify knowing my son or daughter is being looked after responsibly. 1 DUI, I can understand (Harbaugh even). We all mess up. But 3?
I really think the NFL works for him because his players are more understanding and he doesn't have to "mentor" as much he would in college.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^
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December 31st, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^
Drevno would be HUGE!
I mentioned him a few times and said it sucks we have no chance at him since he is at USC and Moeller would be the OL coach . He took a bunch of 3 stars at Stanord like DeCastro and Martin and made them early NFL draft picks. He has been with Jim since San Diego thru last year at San Fran - SF had very good OL the first 3 years before falling off this year.
ALL STAR CAST.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:43 PM ^
I know the narrative about once you go to the NFL you don't go back to college, but why would Drevno go from 49er OL coach to USC OL coach?
December 31st, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 2:21 PM ^
(link posted by a fellow mgoblogger the other day but I couldn't find the post).
December 31st, 2014 at 2:36 PM ^
But reading the article made it even more interesting that he'd actually leave USC for Michigan after only one year. His answers sound eerily like Harbaugh's coming here, on a far less directly connected scale:
“The big draw for me was USC,” said Drevno, a Southern California native. “My grandfather went to USC -- a 1951 graduate of the pharmacy school -- my sister is a 1982 graduate in hospital administration, and I grew up a USC fan going to games.” The dream of his youth was to be a USC tailback and receive all the acclaim that goes with one of college football’s most storied positions. “I used to be on my mom’s bed and would jump over the bed acting like I was Marcus Allen,” said Drevno, a former all-league lineman at South Torrance (Calif.) High. “I wanted to be a tailback, but I grew up to be an offensive lineman.”
December 31st, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^
Love the Drevo hire. With Harbaugh through USD, was the TE then OL coach at Stanford and was one of like three OL coaches at the 49ers. Now solid work in his one year at USC. Lot of familiarity and experience there. I know less about Morton, but he was apparently hired by Pete Carroll at USC, so that's a plus. Was kind of hoping for Ronald Curry because he's a young guy from Virginia (very fertile recruiting ground) and has a high upside if he works out as a coach. But as usual, I'll trust Harbaugh considering his past history with assistant coaches. Don't know much about either's recruiting.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^
right now. Everybody knows that NFL coaches never go back down to college.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^
Anyone but Funk
December 31st, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^
Is John Morton the very same Johnnie Morton who played for the Lions and Chiefs years ago?
December 31st, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
who played for WMU.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^
new Harbaugh. I'm not sure why he was addressing it to the 49er's rather than Michigan.
▪ Your Harbaugh does not function like other head coaches. An innocuous query about the weather, for instance, could trigger a florid quote from Admiral William Halsey. And yet a routine question about a running back’s knee injury may cause your Harbaugh to wince, pause and grimace as if a malodorous scent has wafted into the room. Your Harbaugh’s default in this instance is: “We don’t really talk about that here” or “I can’t get inside his body” or “He’s working through something.” This is a design flaw our technicians in California have not yet worked out.
▪ There are still a few bugs in the answer-response system. For instance, you may sense – due to a long pause – that your Harbaugh has completed an answer. You will begin to ask another question. You could be two sentences into your question when your Harbaugh suddenly continues his answer to the previous question. You will feel stupid. Do not be alarmed. This is normal.
▪ Your Harbaugh will not alter his attire in a 1,460-day span. This is normal.
December 31st, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^
This is funny as shit...you should post it as its own topic...
December 31st, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
..he may be the OC (if Roman doesn't come for whatever reason).
December 31st, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^
I went to see what the reaction was like over at the USC 247 site and they seem to think Drevno will be the OC at Michigan.
It sounds like he was very good in developing a young OL this season.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
He has fairly elite college pedigree as well. He was the USC WR coach from 2007-09 (they finished #3 in the AP poll the first two years, in year three they went 9-4 with a freshman QB but Damian Williams was a 1,000 yard receiver). He then worked under Kiffin and left after the 2011 season when they went 10-2 and had a very prolific offense with Barkley, Woods, Lee, Kalil, etc.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^
Easy answer.
December 31st, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^
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December 31st, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 3:17 PM ^
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December 31st, 2014 at 4:11 PM ^