It's Looking Like Doug Nussmeier
Sam Webb is a connected person, and it appears that the Michigan OC choice is a barely-hidden secret amongst the connected, so when he posts an article titled
Michigan's Ideal Candidate
With a picture of Doug Nussmeier and long discussion of Doug Nussmeier, who you'd think would be untouchable at Alabama, this is… unlikely to be a guess. And since it's followed quickly by Bruce Feldman confirming, it seems to be done. Informative update to follow.
INFORMATIVE UPDATE. So who is this dude? He started his coaching career in the CFL with a couple of years as a QB coach, then moved on to Michigan State in the same capacity for three years (Jeff Smoker as a senior and then two years of Drew Stanton), then the Rams for two years. Marc Bulger was an All-Pro in year 1, which was an 8-8 season, and then the Rams went 3-13 and everyone got fired.
Nussmeier landed at Fresno State as OC for one season, was immediately hired away by Washington, and after three years was hired by Saban. His numbers as an offensive coordinator:
YEAR | TEAM | RUN% | YPC | YPA | YPP | TOTAL O | FEI |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Fresno State | 56% | 5 | 7.2 | 5.9 (28th) | 387 (43rd) | 59th |
2009 | Washington | 49% | 4.3 | 7.1 | 5.7 (48th) | 376 (62nd) | 41st |
2010 | Washington | 56% | 4.7 | 6.6 | 5.5 (67th) | 362 (76th) | 63rd |
2011 | Washington | 53% | 4.4 | 8.2 | 6.2 (24th) | 410 (38th) | 24th |
2012 | Alabama | 63% | 5.6 | 9.3 | 7.0 (5th) | 446 (31st) | 5th |
2013 | Alabama | 56% | 5.8 | 8.8 | 7.2 (5th) | 454 (33rd) | 9th |
It should be noted that the Washington job was massive reclamation project after Ty Willingham cratered the Huskies to 0-12. The year before Nussmeier showed up the Huskies were 118th of 120 in total yardage at 263, and their other stats were basically the same. With Jake Locker, Nussmeier popped the Huskies up to average and when Keith Price took over in 2011 they were legit. The caveat there is that Steve Sarkisian, an offensive guy, was his head coach.
Then he was hired by Alabama and everything got very shiny indeed. However, it is Alabama, and make no mistake: Nussmeier was not some pirate coup with Alabama desperately defending as Michigan thrusted and parried. Alabama boards have been buzzing for weeks about who their new OC would be. Saban told Nussmeier to look around for a nice landing spot and Michigan provided one. For whatever reason, Nussmeier was just not process-y enough for Dear Robot.
Nussmeier's got a pretty good resume both as an OC and a QB coach, what with Smoker/Stanton/Bulger/Price/Locker/McCarron on his resume, and quickly climbed the ladder. He's got a good rep as a recruiter and at 43 is relatively young for a BCS offensive coordinator; his Washington offenses were spread/pro mish-mash amalgams and then he seemed to do just fine with Alabama's pro-style attack. It's possible Michigan was going to ride with Borges for another year before the rarest commodity of all appeared: a proven college offensive coordinator with pro-style genes.
January 9th, 2014 at 10:20 AM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 10:44 AM ^
I don't see that Nuss contacted Michigan first, it is more likely that he spread the words with his friends that he is movable, then Braden and Hoke heard it.
January 9th, 2014 at 2:47 PM ^
Don't all these top guys have agents? I'm sure they're involved in knowing what positions are opening up, etc.
January 9th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
Michigan may be a dream situation for Nuss. Hoke clearly lets his OC do his own thing. He does not even wear a headset. Contrast that with Saban who probably wears a headset just to check on Nuss taking a pee.
January 9th, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^
that with so many job opening at the HC position we never heard Nussmeier's name come up.
Either way we just hired Alabama's offensive coordinator. Sweet music.
January 9th, 2014 at 11:07 AM ^
Looks like everything alligned for you and you got a great hire. If we could only be so fortunate on the defensive side.
January 9th, 2014 at 11:10 AM ^
The Big Ten is getting more of an SEC flavor coaching-wise in the last couple of years.
January 9th, 2014 at 11:16 AM ^
Just wondering if this was Hoke or Brandon? I base this on no knowledge, but it is pretty clear Nussmeier wants to be a head coach. If Brady has a bad 2014, is the heir apparent already there? Long shot I know, but why didn't this guy go for a head coaching position somewhere?
January 9th, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^
Apparently part of the reason Pearson took the head coaching job at Tech
January 9th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^
Wouldn't that be on the OC? Unless you lose multiple games 63-62 and the defense suddenly looks to be to blame.
I don't think they got him with a long term roadmap, but I could be wrong. I think they brought in a guy with a solid track record to try to get things fixed in the next few years with the thought they may lose him at some point, but be better for it.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
Agreed. I don't feel too strongly that this is part of Brandon's plan, but I also don't get why the guy took the same job at Michigan. We can all argue "it's MEEEEECHIGAN", but from a pure football perspective it is not a step up right now.
I understand he may have been looking for a job anyways, but unless he does not want to be a head coach it just seems strange. He is not getting any younger and there are a few decent jobs open.
Oh well. I am very excited for him and conspiracy theory aside, a great hire from performance recruiting perspective.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^
Sorry for expressing an opinion. Someone downvoted me which is your right, but it took me from 100 points to 99, so I needed to send this.
Please let me know what is negative about my post? If it is the general euphoria being felt and I am debbie downer. OK I get it.
But if not, please share why you downvoted me.
January 9th, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^
Downvoting is the coward's way of disagreeing with you. Other websites discourage downvotes saying that downvoting isn't meant to show you disagree. If you disagree, post your counter-argument. Differing opinions are respected. It makes for a much better blog environment.
Maybe someday this blog with evolve.
January 9th, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^
The guy can coach quarterbacks and offense.
Also, 1994 NFL Draft Quarterbacks:
Drafted Quarterbacks | |||||
NAME | POS | SCHOOL | ROUND | PK(OVR) | TEAM |
Heath Shuler | QB | Tennessee | 1 | 3(3) | Washington |
Trent Dilfer | QB | Fresno State | 1 | 6(6) | Tampa Bay |
Perry Klein | QB | LIU-C.W. Post | 4 | 8(111) | Atlanta |
Doug Nussmeier | QB | Idaho | 4 | 13(116) | New Orleans |
Jim Miller | QB | Michigan State | 6 | 17(178) | Pittsburgh |
Gus Frerotte | QB | Tulsa | 7 | 3(197) | Washington |
Jay Walker | QB | Howard | 7 | 4(198) | New England |
Steve Matthews | QB | Memphis | 7 | 5(199) | Kansas City |
Glenn Foley | QB | Boston College | 7 | 14(208) | NY Jets |
Doug Nussmeier QB Stats at Idaho and prof.:
Year | Lge | Team | Age | # | GP | Comp | Att | % | Yds | TD | INT | TD% | INT% | Y/G | Y/A | RAT |
1990 | NCAA | Idaho Vandals | 20 | 6 | 125 | 204 | 61.3 | 1536 | 11 | 7 | 5.4 | 3.4 | 256.0 | 7.5 | 135.5 | |
1991 | NCAA | Idaho Vandals | 21 | 11 | 230 | 384 | 59.9 | 3300 | 25 | 11 | 6.5 | 2.9 | 300.0 | 8.6 | 147.8 | |
1992 | NCAA | Idaho Vandals | 22 | 11 | 206 | 333 | 61.9 | 3028 | 22 | 9 | 6.6 | 2.7 | 275.3 | 9.1 | 154.6 | |
1993 | NCAA | Idaho Vandals | 23 | 11 | 185 | 304 | 60.9 | 2960 | 33 | 5 | 10.9 | 1.6 | 269.1 | 9.7 | 175.2 | |
1995 | NFLE | Rhein Fire | 25 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 44.4 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 11.1 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 5.3 | |
1996 | NFL | New Orleans Saints | 26 | 3 | 28 | 50 | 56.0 | 272 | 1 | 1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 90.7 | 5.4 | 69.8 | |
1997 | NFL | New Orleans Saints | 27 | 4 | 18 | 32 | 56.3 | 183 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 9.4 | 45.8 | 5.7 | 33.7 |
NCAA | Totals | 39 | 746 | 1225 | 60.9 | 10824 | 91 | 32 | 7.4 | 2.6 | 277.5 | 8.8 | 154.4 | |||
NOR | 7 | 46 | 82 | 56.1 | 455 | 1 | 4 | 1.2 | 4.9 | 65.0 | 5.5 | 55.7 | ||||
NFL | Totals | 7 | 46 | 82 | 56.1 | 455 | 1 | 4 | 1.2 | 4.9 | 65.0 | 5.5 | 55.7 | |||
NFLE | Totals | 10 | 4 | 9 | 44.4 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 11.1 | 2.7 | 3.0 |
January 29th, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^
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