Josh Gattis Wins Broyles Award
Harbaugh is (justifiably) receiving a lot of credit for remaking his staff this offseason with guys in their thirties, but the blueprint for that strategy has been here since 2019. Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis today was named the 2021 winner of the Broyles Award for the top assistant coach in college football.
We are honored to announce the 2021 #BroylesAward Winner Josh Gattis, @UMich OC. @Coach_Gattis exemplifies the legacy of Coach Broyles and 26 years of #coachingexcellence.@UMichFootball @michigannews @espn @CBSSports @FOXSports @NBCSports pic.twitter.com/ZyQMj7TKae
— BROYLES AWARD (@BroylesAward) December 7, 2021
Gattis brought #SpeedinSpace to Ann Arbor in 2019 and achieved a perfect synthesis with the Counter/Pin & Pull power offense that Harbaugh previously favored, especially late in the season as Donovan Edwards was incorporated into the passing game. Gattis balanced a jam-packed WR room of many differing talents, fielded the best two running backs in the Big Ten according to Pro Football Focus, managed a two-quarterback situation by playing to the strengths of both while maintaining strict roles for either, and oversaw the second-best protection line we’ve charted, after the one in Gattis’s first season at Michigan. Doubtless the players, other assistants, and the head man himself had a lot to do with that too, but Josh Gattis’s fingers and playcalling were all over the most astounding victory of the season.
Here's that UFR of the offense vs. Ohio State again. Congratulations Coach Gattis! Flea flickers forever!
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December 7th, 2021 at 2:50 PM ^
Well done sir!! Hope he stay's around for a while.
December 7th, 2021 at 3:16 PM ^
Why? After we campaigned to have this coaching staff fired? Constant speed in space snark?
December 7th, 2021 at 2:52 PM ^
Did anyone else's heart sink when they refreshed the Mgoblog page? I saw a pic of Gattis and no title yet and thought, he gone!
Congrats coach Gattis well deserved. Here's hoping he sticks around for at least a few more years.
December 7th, 2021 at 2:58 PM ^
Just think - if it were any more easy for Gattis to fool you, you could play linebacker at OSU!!
December 7th, 2021 at 5:26 PM ^
There’s an old saying: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, fuck, are you Josh Gattis?
December 7th, 2021 at 3:00 PM ^
Yes, that is exactly what happened to me. "Oh no, where is he going?"
Edit to add: So much growth from Gattis since he arrived. I remember opening game against MTSU and they were running a rainbow salad of literally everything with not much rhyme or reason, followed by the 3 yard inside zones and a cloud of dust against Army. As the year went by he figured out what his team could do and the offense was definitely ascending by the end of the year, I wouldn't put Patterson having a bad bowl game on him. I'll give everyone a pass for 2020. This year he started from a higher point than previous years looking pretty good week 1 and finished with the whole unit still seemingly on the upswing, despite losing the best WR in week 1 and a key RB midseason. Congrats to coach Gattis.
December 7th, 2021 at 4:44 PM ^
I went from wanting him gone after the first game (and all his prior seasons) to hoping he doesn't leave. The playcalling and schemes have been great this year (except for the damn no read zone reads) and I think the majority of our problems in the past, even when not so obvious, has been shitty QB play.
December 8th, 2021 at 7:42 AM ^
I think there's been a massive switch and rethink of Gattis around here since the excellent game plans against OSU and Iowa--did anyone here ever think once about Gattis winning this award prior to those two games? Maybe it's me but if before OSU this was suggested I'd say put down the crack pipe
December 7th, 2021 at 2:53 PM ^
Hope he takes a page from Venables and sticks around for a decade. But if he doesn't, let's line up Joe Moorhead as our backup plan...
December 7th, 2021 at 2:55 PM ^
You mean Akron's head coach of ~3 days?
December 7th, 2021 at 4:39 PM ^
Yes, precisely. I'm assuming that the OC position at Michigan can pay more than the HC position at Akron...
December 7th, 2021 at 2:55 PM ^
Congrats Coach Gattis???
Really liked the innovative plays coupled with the effective execution!!
Go Blue ???
Beat dem bulldogs ?
December 7th, 2021 at 6:34 PM ^
I'd be very interested to see how the number of big plays compares to previous years. It seems like Michigan had so many plays of 30-plus yards this year, and even a bunch of 40- or 50-plus yards. I have to think it is way more than recent years, but I wouldn't know how to check. Anyone have quick access to that info?
December 7th, 2021 at 2:55 PM ^
Wait. I thought that Mike Lockesly was the real brain, and the better play caller, behind that Bama offense in 2017-2018? All the Maryland fans said so!
December 7th, 2021 at 3:12 PM ^
What's a Maryland fan?
December 7th, 2021 at 3:49 PM ^
Like a Michigan State fan, couch burnings and all, but not in the Big Ten.
December 7th, 2021 at 2:56 PM ^
Appropriate recognition for a job well done! Congratulations Coach Gattis.
December 7th, 2021 at 2:57 PM ^
Congratulations, Coach!!
December 7th, 2021 at 2:58 PM ^
Seth, any chance of getting the Defense UFR for the OSU game?
December 7th, 2021 at 3:13 PM ^
The good news is we have a few weeks before the Georgia game for Seth to do the OSU defense UFR as well as the UFRs for the Iowa game.
December 7th, 2021 at 3:30 PM ^
I am in two minds about the Iowa game. While it was important to win it, the four-week gap means any problems will be mitigated before the Georgia game. If Seth gets the time to do it, welcome. Not bummed out, if it's not done.
December 7th, 2021 at 3:13 PM ^
I've got 85/92 plays done and not rushing as I try to look to a bunch of loose ends that have accumulated over the course of the season. Spent yesterday with my daughter who had no school while the teachers train on shooting drills.
ETA is tomorrow.
December 7th, 2021 at 3:20 PM ^
We have waited 10 years. What're another few days :D
It's always good to spend time with one's kid. But it pains to hear why they were off in the first place. sigh.
December 7th, 2021 at 4:02 PM ^
Teachers training on shooting drills...wtf.
And said so casually...
(Not a knock or commentary on you...just the insanity of it all.)
December 7th, 2021 at 5:30 PM ^
The recent shooting was barely covered in the national news.
This is where we’re at. . . the media now considers mass shootings to be endemic.
December 7th, 2021 at 5:34 PM ^
Wow. I never thought I would head this words about Teacher's training.
Those kids man. They grow up so fast. Mine will leave for college in a few (hoping he will go to UM but any good college is good with me). Cherish the moments Seth. Heck of a job this year. UFR can wait. Kids don't.
December 7th, 2021 at 5:28 PM ^
Unfortunately for Seth the football program has recently undergone an unexpected season extension.
December 8th, 2021 at 4:08 PM ^
Fully "expected" season extension :) Just that it happened this year for the first time.
December 7th, 2021 at 3:00 PM ^
Josh Gattis in 3 years as OC at Michigan has helped us get over the OSU hurdle (at least for a year) win a BIG 10 Championship and headed for Michigan's first ever appearance in the CFP.
What's Mike Locksley up to these days?
Enough said.
December 7th, 2021 at 5:36 PM ^
To be fair, Gattis’ preparation was initially steaming dog shit. He was not as advertised. It’s to his credit that he learned. He improved. I’m all for that.
It makes me wonder if Locksley isn’t also a student of the game.
December 7th, 2021 at 3:06 PM ^
Wait.. no way! This guy guy should be fired! (Says random mgotroll who know nothing about coaching)
/s
Step up people, you know who you are.
December 7th, 2021 at 3:20 PM ^
Agree. Please step up and eat your crow.
December 7th, 2021 at 6:33 PM ^
Before we get all sanctimonious, let's remember this is the same offensive coaching staff that though Joe Milton was the answer, and ran D-Caff out of town. We weren't in the QB room to see what they did, but there were some questionable decisions before this year's success.
December 7th, 2021 at 7:03 PM ^
I think the Wisconsin head hunter and the opportunity to play with/for family is a more plausible explanation of his decision.
December 7th, 2021 at 8:58 PM ^
Running McCaffrey out of town wasn't a questionable decision on hindsight.
December 7th, 2021 at 9:07 PM ^
Catchafire is on an ultra-sanctimonious tirade and keeping score at home. All fair weather fans, haters, and BPONErs are in danger. If you have said anything bad about this coaching staff the last few years you will be discovered. Better to just come forward now, eat your crow, and not tempt fate. You have been warned.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:41 PM ^
D-Caff wasn’t run out of town. He left because Cade was going to be better, and he knew he’d be behind him on the depth chart. Source:Shea’s Dad, per Sam Webb. Already knew it in 2019.
December 7th, 2021 at 3:07 PM ^
Congrats, Coach!
Go Blue, Beat Georgia!
December 7th, 2021 at 3:28 PM ^
Awesome. Even though he drinks Diet Coke.
December 7th, 2021 at 3:41 PM ^
That is disturbing
December 7th, 2021 at 3:37 PM ^
So well deserved. The play calling this season was incredible, topped by that 3rd and 12 QB draw in the BIGCG that we hadn't seen all year.
The most important thing for Harbaugh at this time is to do everything in his power to keep this staff, and to keep them hungry. Moore, Clinkscale (sp), MacDonald, Hart, etc., etc.
Hopefully Josh gets a huge pay boost and stays blue for the foreseeable future.
December 7th, 2021 at 3:40 PM ^
Keep flicking them fleas!! Congrats, Coach Gattis!
December 7th, 2021 at 3:49 PM ^
Congratulations! Terrific news, and appropriate news too.
December 7th, 2021 at 3:53 PM ^
1. Obviously "he gone." (Honestly, Duke would be dumb not to hire him...please be dumb, Duke).
2. I distinctly remember that Henning call and I didn't even celebrate (it was waaay to early to get excited)...instead, I audibly said, "wow, great play call."
Writing it now doesn't express appreciation I had for it then. I said it in a way that was like, when I'm trying to describe this game 10 years from now...I'll say "the one where we faked the screen to Donovan Edwards and Henning scored on a reverse." And everyone will know what I'm talking about.
Just like I remember the fake double screen pass to Jake Butt up the seam play.
It was just a phenomenal playcall.
I'm not giving Gattis credit on the playBOOK, clearly Harbaugh and Weiss stepped in. I will ABSOLUTELY give Gattis credit with play calling and sequencing plays. He's gotten astronomically better in that regard.
Case and point, the Iowa game. The double pass to Edwards was, *chef's kiss*.
He's grown so much in terms of just managing the game. When Iowa pinned us deep, he poked and prodded in a way that wasn't going to risk losing the game and then found the play to move the ball and flip the field.
He keeps everyone off balance now. Congrats to Coach Gattis...this is so well deserved. Started attacking by ground, then moved to the air...I expect to see us attack by sea against Georgia.
December 7th, 2021 at 4:05 PM ^
For me, taking the games individually, Gattis' play calling was somewhere between adequate and questionable for much of the year
HOWEVER (SAS voice), how he played off the tendencies and tricks he showed earlier in our later games (especially OSU and Iowa) has me fully on-board the bandwagon. Just hoping he's grooming Hart for when he leaves for a Head job somewhere in the next couple of years.
December 7th, 2021 at 4:21 PM ^
Couldn't be happier to be eating crow about Gattis after last season. I felt the MSU debacle in 2020 was more on his shoulders than Brown's (couldn't produce more than 27 points against that team?). I also felt the RPO issues were mostly on his shoulders too.
But this year, working in our 3 different RBs and 2 different QBs. Getting some huge RPS wins (that Cade run on 3rd and 12 against Iowa!) the way he's blended power run with speed in space has this offense absolutely cranking. I hope we can manage to hang on to him for at least another year, but I have to believe he is at the top of the hot assistant hiring pool now. Would not be surprised to see him go to a P5 program as an HC next year or a G5 school this year.
Well done sir. Glad JH didn't listen to me and brought you back.
Now for my delicious crow dinner!
December 7th, 2021 at 4:22 PM ^
This offense executed their gameplan better than any in recent memory. Well deserved!
December 7th, 2021 at 4:23 PM ^
Cade is the most important person in this success... Think how bad it was when Milton playing.
December 7th, 2021 at 5:27 PM ^
Awesome job Coach Gattis. It is a tough combining Harbaugh's offense with #SpeedInSpace but you did it.
The last two weeks you dismantled OSU's 4 and 5 * recruits on Defense and the ball hawking Hawkeye defense. The creativity is amazing, but more than that what is amazing is how you did what the players could do and not force clever plays on them.
Give Georgia HELL. Well deserved!
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