A Bit More On Greg Frey
Michigan's added Greg Frey as an OL/TE/run game coach, as you probably heard about. Michigan valued his addition enough to move Jay Harbaugh into a somewhat awkward spot as the RB coach, and his track record makes it obvious why.
Michigan, Part I
Rich Rodriguez and Frey walked into a disaster zone in 2008. After Corey Zirbel was forced to retire with an injury, Michigan had something like 7 or 8 scholarship offensive linemen. Things did not go well.
By year three, Frey's last in Ann Arbor, Michigan had a first-choice lineup of:
- LT Taylor Lewan
- LG Stephen Schilling
- C David Molk
- RG Patrick Omameh
- RT Perry Dorrestein
Four of those guys would go on to NFL careers of at least a few years in length, with Lewan and Omameh still in the league. Lewan and Omameh were Frey recruits. Lewan was a fast-rising prospect who Frey IDed first and got in the door for before he rose to the mid-to-high four star status he ended the cycle with; Omameh was a late poach from Cincinnati. Molk, who Frey inherited as a redshirt freshman, won the Rimington as a senior.
2010 and 2011 stand out as the zenith of Michigan offensive line play over the past... God, probably 15 years. 2011 had Lewan, Molk, and Omameh back; Frey recruit and future NFLer Michael Schofield drew into the lineup along with Mark Huyge. Lewan, Omameh, and Schofield returned in 2012 but the two new guys (Ricky Barnum and Elliott Mealer) were major steps back, and from there it was disaster time.
This is a painful recent memory for Michigan fans; it is also a best-case scenario for anyone attempting to suss out the ability of a position coach. Michigan was bad when Frey arrived; they were good when he left; the air went out of the balloon over the next few years.
Indiana
Frey landed in Bloomington after his brief strange trip under RichRod and was the OL coach for Kevin Wilson until Wilson was booted a couple months ago. How much of Indiana's improvement was Wilson and how much was Frey is impossible to determine, but the combination took IU's offense to heights not since since the days of Antwan Randle-El.
This season the vagaries of recruiting Indiana and a series of injuries forced multiple young players onto the field, with predictable results; despite that Frey's track record is very strong:
...his work in Bloomington has been outstanding. Jason Spriggs is in the NFL. Dan Feeney is a potential first-round pick and probably the best guard in this year's draft. Even less heralded players, like Collin Rahrig and Jake Reed (and probably Dimitric Camiel soon to join them) have spent time on NFL rosters.
And all of that was done without the benefit of the kinds of highly regarded players Michigan would be more likely to attract than IU. When they committed, neither Feeney nor Camiel were considered among even the top 900 prospects in the 2012 class, according to the 247Sports Composite, while Spriggs was listed as a tight end.
Michigan fans no doubt remember 2015's mashing at the hands of Frey. That year's line was 8th in adjusted sack rate and 35th in adjusted line yards; the previous year's was 27th and 86th. Run efficiency took a big hit this year but IU popped back up in sacks allowed.
Frey made a ton of chicken salad in Bloomington and both close observers of Indiana...
sorry to ruin your morning but michigan just hired greg frey and, um, that’s bad for indiana https://t.co/yV50f2BnCz
— CRIMSON QUARRY (@crimsonquarry) January 25, 2017
...and national analysts...
#Michigan hiring Greg Frey is no question one of the best off-season moves in college football this carousel season: https://t.co/1aX81SPB3R
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) January 25, 2017
...think Michigan just scored a coup.
But what about crootin?
A conveniently-timed article from the Tampa Bay Times:
Indiana-Tampa Bay recruiting pipeline outperforms state schools
This is largely attributable to Frey.
"The reason Indiana is having so much success in the area is all because of Greg Frey," Largo football coach Marcus Paschal said. "I have a great relationship with him that goes back a long way. He knows Rick Rodriguez, who I played for. Frey even recruited me when I played at Largo and he was an assistant at USF."
Indiana has five commits from the Tampa area in this recruiting class, including a four-star kid they flipped from USC. Frey also recruits Cincinnati for the Hoosiers with good success. He should be an asset.
But what about manball?
You'll note that for the last decade Frey has been coaching spread OLs that run a ton of inside and outside zone and not much gap stuff. (If you remember gap stuff from Indiana in the last couple years you're probably thinking about the pin and pull sweeps that are a staple of most offenses these days.) The transition from hyperspace IU chaosteam football to Michigan's manball is a large one.
This is probably more asset than drawback. Michigan has not run outside zone with any effectiveness the past couple years; Frey promises to help fix that. That should help diversify Michigan's run game. Michigan has a large portion of the manball specialists in college football already while Frey has been on the cutting edge of high-tempo spread for a decade. It's reasonable to expect some profit as those two systems exchange DNA.
Finally, Frey was the right hand man of Ohio State's new offensive coordinator for six years. If anyone has insight into Kevin Wilson's tendencies it's him.
But what about the media?
You may remember Frey's, er, enthusiastic coaching being a major point of contention during Michael Rosenberg's crusade against Rodriguez. That was more about one man's quest to dethrone Michigan's coach than anything rational, as Frey's successful tenure at IU demonstrates. When you're winning (relatively so, in Indiana's case) and producing draft picks this is how the articles go:
“See the defense!” he shouts.
For the record, we have left out the helpful adjective.
And then, again in family friendly form:
“See what’s going on!”
“Find the ball!”
You coach in the take-no-prisoners Big Ten and it’s no time for hugs and sweet words of gentle persuasion. Not in this practice moment, anyway. Frey’s message is as clear as a sledgehammer, and you’d better believe it works. He has built one of the conference’s best offensive lines, meaning it’s one of the best in the nation, and he hasn’t done it with five-star recruits.
I predict a notable silence.
January 26th, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^
The thing I hate most about Ezekiel Elliott and Cardale Jones is how damn likeable they are. Marshon Lattimore as well. Fuck the Boren family and fuck the Bosa's (Nothing personal against either of the Bosa's they're just really fuckin good)
January 26th, 2017 at 12:37 PM ^
This is an awesome hire. Ecstatic to see Frey join the staff. imhe, the OL has been the weak point of the team for years, and is the single area in most need of improvement. Having two guys focusing on this is ideal. This will help with recruiting, with giving time to young recruits, with solidifying and growing the foundation of the team.
I suspect it is too late, but at this point in the recruiting cycle, bringing in another high level OL, especially in a flip, would be the best possibility out there. I'm still irritated at the loss of Wilson to Georgia. (how did Michigan's bagmen drop the ball on this?)
I am not positive, but I vaguely remember a piece by Brian years ago where he talked about the OL coach, in going to a coaching seminar. Not sure if that was Frey. But even if not, I was impressed by the need for good OL coaches. The footwork and scheme recognition and pulling timing and need to work completely together as a group of 5 (or 6, with a TE) make this such a huge, huge need to prioritize.
January 26th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
January 26th, 2017 at 12:40 PM ^
January 26th, 2017 at 12:56 PM ^
had a similar effect on the D-line. I'm all for throwing more coaches at the line.
Having Harbaugh as a QB coach is an amazing luxury. The coaches on the current roster are as strong as I can think of.
January 26th, 2017 at 3:40 PM ^
issues we do". I'm sorry but the chutzpah of that statement is off the charts. I'm gonna go ahead and guess that Harbaugh and his staff are lightyears ahead of us in seeing any issues at any position on the team.
January 26th, 2017 at 4:38 PM ^
Good catch, I'll grant poor wording. The point was more to suggest that it turns out that we who perceive an OL problem are not far off, if Harbaugh is addressing it. It is granted, to me, that Harbaugh's staff knows so much more about the team that our levels of knowledge aren't even in the same galaxy.
Mostly, I just intended to contrast Harbaugh's fix-now approach (when he has a proven OL coach still on his staff) to Hoke's cataclysmic failure to do the same thing when serious cracks began to emerge in 2012. Hoke, as head coach, should have known by the end of 2012 that the OL was a problem. This year, amateur fans perceive that OL was a problem both now and going forward; Harbaugh apparently thinks that enough to adjust his coaching mix to address the OL directly.
January 26th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
January 26th, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^
Of those five starters, four of whom having a few years in the NFL, the fifth, Perry Dorrestein, also hung around practice squads for a couple of years. So a sip of coffee in the NFL for all, if not a full cup.
January 26th, 2017 at 12:44 PM ^
January 26th, 2017 at 1:00 PM ^
Trader Joe's, anyway
January 26th, 2017 at 12:49 PM ^
Coaches that want to be head coaches know that Jim Harbaugh is the guy they want to work for. How else does a guy like this become a co-oline coach? How else do we pluck an NFL offensive coordinator/ assistant coach for a passing-game coordinator gig?
It's because people see his former assistants, they see his program, his energy, and approach, and they understand that this guy makes coaches better-- and in a program that will get plenty of exposure.
While I still think this particular hire is a sign that Drevno will be looking for a HC job next off-season (and who could blame him), it also signifes that talented people want to work for Jim Harbaugh. The hires we have made this season are really pretty nuts.
January 26th, 2017 at 12:55 PM ^
January 26th, 2017 at 1:00 PM ^
Harbaugh having an impressive track record of identifying talent and getting them to the next level, whether that be Position coach, OC or DC, or head coach, is huge. I am still amazed at how many great coaches coached under Woody Hayes when I watched his send off roast dinner. It really helps in getting top talent. I also think it helps that Michigan is willing to spend money on that talent and not make that an issue.
January 26th, 2017 at 1:30 PM ^
Insightful post Stephen, I think you hit the nail on head with regards to the regression of the OLine this past season.
January 26th, 2017 at 1:30 PM ^
Insightful post Stephen, I think you hit the nail on head with regards to the regression of the OLine this past season.
January 26th, 2017 at 12:52 PM ^
Our o-lines going forward should be quite a force. I think we can hire one more coach. Does anyone think we will hire RB coach. We have definitely upgraded coaching and I believe recruiting.
January 26th, 2017 at 1:33 PM ^
January 26th, 2017 at 12:56 PM ^
of this hire
January 26th, 2017 at 1:14 PM ^
January 26th, 2017 at 1:19 PM ^
He produced a 2nd round pick in Jason Spriggs and likely the top OG in the draft in Dan Feeney. Both are not lesser talents especially if they're NFL talent. Recruitng services tend to whiff on OL badly because it's a projection, not talent level.
January 26th, 2017 at 1:16 PM ^
With each one of these hires and get more and more comfortable with the idea of turnover. Although it isn't ideal, we know it's inevitable. I have lots of confidence in JH to maintain a great staff but seeing it's evolution is really something to enjoy. I don't think there is a ceiling in terms of where these staffs go and it feels like a serious arms race is errupting--look at Bama had 2 ex head coaches of major programs (one even an NFL head coach) on staff at the same time just helping working with the offense, that would be unheard of 5 or 10 years ago. I'm glad to see that JH is constantly hunting talent and developing it not just on the field but also on his staff.
January 26th, 2017 at 3:25 PM ^
For those worried about Jay... can the coaching be any worse than we seemed to be getting in last year's of Freddy J? Plus I would bet a dollar that the new 10th position coach would be a a RB guy when it is approved by the NCAA -- moving Jay to ST primarily with maybe a role learning/working with DL or LB under Partridge or Mattison also.
Disclaimer about the Freddy J. Slam -- while the OL was awful and he Obviously ID-ed some guys like Rawls etc. He has to get some blame for RB play - I refuse to believe that Borges/Hoke made all the calls on who got PT etc.
January 26th, 2017 at 1:19 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
January 26th, 2017 at 3:05 PM ^
I'd rather have an O-line open gaping holes for an average (or so-so coached) RB
Than have a very good (or well coached) RB get met in the backfield after every snap.
I know it's not as black & white as that, but great O-lines make the whole O better.
January 26th, 2017 at 3:16 PM ^
Yup. Two possessions. One late at Iowa and one late against Ohio State. A good O-line grinds out a first down instead of a three and out, and we win both games.
January 26th, 2017 at 1:50 PM ^
as Don Brown. That would be amazing. Also, probably not happening, but Harbaugh picked the guy, so I have ultimate faith.
January 26th, 2017 at 2:01 PM ^
This thread is the most meta MGoBlog thread I've seen awhile...and it's terrific.
January 26th, 2017 at 2:24 PM ^
Another data point worth mentioning and leaving up to the reader to interpret is the nosedive that Omameh took when Frey left. Any system change is going to affect players, sometimes in a negative way. And Hoke's systsem was awkward at best. But as a junior Omameh was getting highlights on MGoBlog for rag-dolling NFL prospects at the LB position. As a senior we were ready for him to be benched.
Likewise I remember Lewan as a junior being awesome and as a senior living on his reputation a little more, though he was still great aside from some dumb penalties.
January 26th, 2017 at 2:43 PM ^
I would point out a potential problem as it comes to recruiting. IU had to start a freshman LT this year. That freshman came from a very small Catholic school in the lowest high school classification in Indiana. It's a bit worrisome that he was their best option, despite Frey being a well-known OL coach. Even if you are IU, you would think you can pull in better talent than what that represents.
January 26th, 2017 at 2:54 PM ^
You've hit the nail on the head—Frey's recruiting chops are vastly overrated, and probably so are his coaching chops. This was a terrible move by Harbaugh, and they should all be fired immediately.
January 26th, 2017 at 6:24 PM ^
That's quite the extrapolation from what I said.
January 27th, 2017 at 3:24 AM ^
January 26th, 2017 at 3:11 PM ^
January 26th, 2017 at 6:30 PM ^
I didn't say a word about top OL prospects. But this board was worried about the level of competition Kiante Ennis played against in Indiana, and he was in the next biggest class to Coy Cronk. I know the kids Cronk played against, as I coached at a school that played every sport against Cronk's high school. I watched him play several times, and I was really surprised when I saw that he had an offer from IU. He seemed like a MAC prospect who would end up somewhere like Ball State, not at IU.
January 26th, 2017 at 5:06 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
January 26th, 2017 at 6:30 PM ^
Yep, quite a few times. I went to school there.
January 26th, 2017 at 2:44 PM ^
We'll figure out where to make room...
January 26th, 2017 at 3:04 PM ^
...but what about the time he helped murder Robb Stark at the Twins?
#NeverForget
January 26th, 2017 at 3:30 PM ^
January 26th, 2017 at 3:37 PM ^
Love this hire. I believe Drev will be gone next year (2018), so we'll have our Running Game Coordinator (probably co-OC with Pep) ready to go. Furthermore, I believe we'll see immediate improvement in our running game with two proven coaches spending more time with the OL. I also agree that the marriage of spread-zone concepts and MANBALL can be harmonious, as programs like Alabama make a living off of zone running concepts in pro sets.
Jay Harbaugh as RB coach? It's always cause for concern when you install a coach at a position with which he has no experience. It is entirely possible that our RB coaching takes a step back this season.
Or not. Jay had no prior experience with ST or TEs, and those have been two of our best units on the team. It's worth remembering that he spent four seasons at Oregon State as a GA (doing and learning about everything) and then three seasons in Baltimore as Offense-Quality Control guy. Again, that means he would be learning about all aspects of the offense and that would certainly include diagnosing issues/strengths with the running game and RBs. Furthermore, he is surrounded by coaches who have strong track records with RBs and running games.
My guess is that our RBs take a large step forward in 2017, even if the running game doesn't improve much. There is so much youth on the OL that I'm concerned the running game as a whole won't progress much (keep in mind that we were 33rd in YPG nationally in 2016 and had our highest YPG average since 2011) but I believe our RBs will be better for two simple reasons:
- More talent. Among Evans, Higdon, Isaac, Walker, Davis, Johnson (if he's back), and even Samuels and Taylor, I believe we have the most talent at the position since...the 90's? And four of those guys have quite a bit of experience. It's worth noting that Evans and Higdon had the best YPC of the RBs (6.98 and 5.90, respectively).
- Better overall coaching. Even if we assume that Jay Harbaugh is a downgrade from Wheatley, adding Frey more than makes up for it, IMO. We have added a guy who wasn't just an OL coach at IU, he was also a Co-OC and running game coordinator. The real swap was not Jay for Wheatley, is was Wheatley for Frey, and that is a clear upgrade. I believe Jay will be just fine as an addition to the running game group, since we now have an extra set of eyes that is focused on the running game overall. In 2016 it was Drevno and Wheatley, with Jay chiming in for TE blocking. Now it's Drevno, Frey, and Jay all focusing on that aspect of our offense.
A better question might be will our TEs suffer as pass-catchers as a result of this change, since it seems with Frey as their position coach--in addition to coaching the OTs and being running game coordinator--they may not receive the same attention they did last year.
January 26th, 2017 at 7:05 PM ^
"He knows Rick Rodriguez, who I played for."
Wait a minute, that's not Rich. What is it with Ricks?
BTW, Greg's uncle Walder is a shitty wedding planner.
/ got nothin'
January 27th, 2017 at 7:47 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
January 26th, 2017 at 7:39 PM ^
I said this on a different thread regarding the marriage of spread and manball. IMO, a good OL coach is a good OL coach. I think the results will be excellent. Harbaugh seems to get the most out of his assistant's capabilities. Greg Frey will be no different. Great hire.
Comments