What (if anything) has Harbaugh done wrong in Year 1?
So many good things have happened in 1 Anno Harbaugh, the Year of Our Harbaugh, that the list of positives would fill up a series of diaries, and even then would still be incomplete.
We've discussed, and celebrated, the many good things and will continue to do more of that I'm sure. This morning, to change it up, I'm interested to hear perspectives on things you think he DIDN'T do right. Perhaps a more critical analysis from time to time will help ensure we don't turn into a PSU-like fanbase, turning the football coach into a deity that can do no wrong (even when faced with obvious evidence to the contrary)?
My list is small:
1) Waiting to unleash Jabrill on offense until mid-season. Could his dynamic playmaking abilities have won the Utah game? That game was so tight that I believe he could have been the difference maker.
2) Posing for this picture. THIS IS NOT A POWER POSE, JIM. (Credit: Melanie Maxwell - Mlive.com)
December 30th, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
Ten seconds is a lot for one offensive play. (Remember, the clock stops upon a change of possession.) Almost all normal plays take less than that. You'd either have to do something fairly risky like a double-reverse or have the QB run around in the pocket and then heave a deep ball, where you run the risk of a negative play. Maybe you could have a fast guy like Peppers run around a bunch and then just heave the ball in he's in trouble, but he'd have to time it just right.
The tricky thing is that if you turn it over at the line of scrimmage there, it's probably close enough that Cook can reach the endzone on a Hail Mary. Whereas if you punt and gain 20+ yards of field position, he probably can't.
December 30th, 2015 at 4:09 PM ^
Any way you slice it, statistically and strategically, punting was the right decision in that situation. As for the playcalling, you chew up the clock by calling running plays and letting the play clock tick away, not by getting cute and calling slow-developing plays. The chances of something going wrong on a slow-developing play are much higher than the chances of what actually ended up happening.
December 30th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 2:00 PM ^
The snap was low, but was not to O'Neill's left. It was dead on, if not a hair to his right.
He does NOT fumble it to his left. He fumbles it to his right.
Technically, he fumbles with the rugby motion, not away from it. If anything, that should have assisted the blocking.
December 30th, 2015 at 2:54 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 3:16 PM ^
I watched it before my last comment, and just watched it again. He fumbles it right, as he's rolling right. Relative to his motion, the ball is directly up the field.
Regardless, that's not what you originally said. You said he fumbles it to the left. If you're going to argue with me what constitutes right versus left, then I think I'm all set here.
December 30th, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^
I want him to actually do this next year and post the video's of it online. Sara seems like she'd be game.
December 30th, 2015 at 11:34 AM ^
I agree with the penalty stuff and the comments about OSU and MSU. My other big thing was a lack of building depth and some of the position changes, like Winovich and Canteen. The defense saw few 2nd stringers in the rotation beyond Gedeon, Thomas, and the DL. It would have been nice to see some other LBs in the rotation.
December 30th, 2015 at 11:34 AM ^
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December 30th, 2015 at 11:35 AM ^
Run blocking; yes. But the pass blocking was outstanding all year.
December 30th, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
I was just hoping that some of the O linemen, like Kalis, who were basically man beasts designed to pulp D linemen would develop. It turns out they're more of a finesse line.
That's fine if we can finesse our way to a run game. And I know that some of that will depend on getting RB's who have better vision. IT just hasn't happened yet.
I realize my opinion is colored by my college years; when it seemed by the time Wheatley got the ball the O line had moved the D line 2 yards back.
December 30th, 2015 at 11:36 AM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 11:47 AM ^
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December 30th, 2015 at 11:55 AM ^
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December 30th, 2015 at 12:24 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 12:02 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^
Pulling the trigger too early on offering marginal satellite camp kids in June, and then giving them the cold shoulder later. Not a good look.
December 30th, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^
I thought he got off to a rough start by pissing a select few student groups off by making (what were in the grand scheme of things pretty damn innocuous) political comments on Twitter. But he met with those students and has since been pretty good about being a figure that everybody on campus can get behind. That's important for a football coach, whatever you think of the political sensitivities of students.
And I think he has done nothing else wrong. Go Harbaugh!
December 30th, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^
And turned my water into wine. He served it slightly chilled when room temperature would have been more appropriate
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December 30th, 2015 at 12:25 PM ^
he forgot to say the following to Blake:
"Young Man, if there is anything wrong with the snap, and I mean anything, you eat that ball like it's a vegemite sandwich."
December 30th, 2015 at 12:35 PM ^
this feels like a trap to me. but here is one thing that I have a problem with and it's not specific to Harbaugh and his staff.
If I were a head coach I would VERY rarely call for a punt block, especially if I have a dangerous punt returner (Peppers) and double especially if I'm having issues stopping the opponent on offense.
Two perfect examples of my last point are the roughing the punter plays for us vs. OSU and in last night's game UNC vs. Baylor. In both instances Michigan and Carolina (coincidentally my two alma maters) finally stopped a high-powered offense and were still in a close game. And in both instances after failing to block the punt they give the other team the ball back where they systematically drive the field for TDs and the games got away from them.
I'm sure there's a reason to send players after a punter beyond just the rare instance of blocking the punt. But if I were our coach I would play 99% of the punt returns as anti-fake defense coupled with setting up a return for Peppers. The risk/reward factoring in punt block rates just seems upside down to me, especially when you know you're lucky to get your D off the field.
December 30th, 2015 at 12:40 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 12:43 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^
Bo sure as hell wasn't—you don't compile that craptastic bowl record by mere chance—but that didn't mean he wasn't a great coach at Michigan. We hope the same case will apply to Harbaugh, and if the first season is any indication, it will.
December 30th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^
I didn't appreciate the playcall in the game vs state. I think Houma could have gotten 2 yards. I also didnt appreciate a time out being called before the punt once he saw state's formation. Aside from that, I've been VERY satisfied with Harbaugh and what he's done with this team in his first year.
December 30th, 2015 at 1:33 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 10:19 PM ^
If this was still Hoke's team, we wouldn't be worried about who's playing...because we wouldn't be in a bowl game.
December 30th, 2015 at 1:34 PM ^
That being said, the pass protection was excellent. Rudock oftentimes had all day to throw.
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December 30th, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^
My major objection is that he went man coverage instead of zone on that one play that made Joe Bolden get ejected for targeting.
(...which makes as much sense as being mad at the coach for a punt formation because the punter fumbled.)
Seriously, though, I'll cast another vote for the white pants. Had no issue with anything else. Any disappointment in results rarely had anything to do with the method.
December 30th, 2015 at 1:52 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 2:02 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 2:26 PM ^
You don't think the staff evaluates the players that will be at camps before the camps start? I think it's disingenuous to say they are unknown and offers are given on a whim. My guess is they know from film who to look out for, and the performance at the camps can confirm their assumptions or debunk them.
December 30th, 2015 at 3:08 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 4:08 PM ^
I doubt they know everyone who will show up, but I'm sure they are aware of FBS-caliber players that are likely to attend. My guess is if you are a 2 star or above and live in the region the camp is being held, the staff has evaluated your film in preparation you will be there.
December 30th, 2015 at 3:33 PM ^
seem like the only real glaring errors. For a 1st year, I find it hard to real pick out too many glaring issues. This was a hapless 5-7 team a year ago. Major improvement in year 1 that is only overshadowed by everyone's sky high expectations for Harbaugh
December 30th, 2015 at 4:57 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 10:11 PM ^
He must have been remarkable in his first year for him to ask "Why not have WWE in Michigan Stadium and not have the fans outside his house with pitch forks and torches. That tells me he had a season better than anyone could have predicted. Need a for example? What happens to Dave Brandon even if he throws the question out there without saying that he would be good with it. Because we all know the fact is not only would DB be ok with this I think when he hears about this he will be jealous that he didn't think of it first and then try to do it when he had some capital to burn. So I think Harbaugh has had a year and or season that garnished a popularity any coach would absolutely love to have. Any mistakes he may have made were obliterated by the success he enjoyed this past season on and off the field.
December 31st, 2015 at 12:36 AM ^
How do you compare great to great? You can't. Michigan football is greatness.
December 31st, 2015 at 2:48 AM ^