SEARCHBITS XXXIV: Assistants Home Stretch Comment Count

Brian

B6uPuNnIcAAsfts[1]

I know I'm a millionaire many times over but let's go to Red Robin anyway

IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE… YET. Sam's source on Tyrone Wheatley is Tyrone Wheatley, so in a case of conflicting information I'm inclined to go with him, and we have that. Rivals' Brandon Brown reported that Wheatley was in the boat, signed, etc., last night, and then the above picture of Harbaugh and Wheatley hanging out at… sigh… Red Robin popped onto the internet and everybody's like WOOOO. Sam has some not so fast my friend:

Wheatley arrived later in the afternoon.He met with the offensive coordinator. It got late so he didn't have the chance to interview with Harbaugh, so they caught dinner. The interview with Harbaugh was then pushed to today. …

No contract. No done deal yet.

I think the reason Sam is putting this out there via Wheatley is that Wheatley doesn't want to give the wrong impression to the people who might be hiring him. It would be awkward to walk into a job interview and be asked why people think you already have it when you do not.

I don't think the cold water means anything other than that; Wheatley's going to be as serious and professional as a boss could want and this is part of the process of getting a job. I'd be surprised if he wasn't brought on in the near future—it makes too much sense.

WHOOPS. Also on Wheatley: Doug Marrone's Jets interview apparently didn't go so well and other gentlemen are believed to lead for it. He's being bombed by former assistants of his on the radio:

…when he takes a job, he already has his plan in place for his next job. Let me say this to you: I've said this before -- self-centered, selfish, greedy. He'll get a job because there's not enough qualified people with head coaching experience to get these jobs.

If Marrone did just pull an all-time employment boner that would mean Wheatley would not have the opportunity to continue as a part of Marrone's staff. Marrone's getting four million dollars this year either way.

DURKIN OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL OFFICIALLY, AGAIN. Is DJ Durkin official yet? Has he been official for weeks? I don't know. Last night saw another flurry of people confirming that DJ Durkin will be the Michigan defensive coordinator, something I thought we'd already… like… confirmed. Apparently not.

Anyway, it is officially official that DJ Durkin is Michigan's defensive coordinator. I look forward to the next and presumably last time it becomes official, when Michigan issues a press release on the staff.

We've also officially reconfirmed that Mattison is staying on. Someone reconfirm Harbaugh to Michigan. Not because we need it, but because it feels goooooood.

MICHIGAN'S DIRECTORY SERVERS ARE WORKING OVERTIME. Someone in IT who doesn't care about football is looking at a usage spike and wondering what the hell everyone is fingering everyone else about:

Jackson served as Harbaugh's DBs coach with the 49ers, and reportedly contacted LA DE Jalen Bates on behalf of Michigan recently. With no other DB coaches popping up on the radar that hire seems highly likely.

THE OTHER JACKSON. Maize and Brew has some scoop on the other Jackson, the comparison-makin', beverage-coordinatin'  one:

I asked my source whether Jackson has indeed retired and received the following: "He isn't sure yet. It's a possibility unless anything changes. He's not stressed about anything though."

With Wheatley closing in on the RBs job, Jackson's likely to stay retired unless Michigan has a DeBord-esque administrative position for him.

I HOPE THIS GUY KNOWS THE COLLEGE RULES AND HOW TO COUNT TO 11. Sam on the wildcard spot:

That's interesting. It means that Drevno is likely to be the primary OL coach and that TEs are likely to get folded in with either the WRs or OL on someone's title. A couple of people have suggested that the gentlemen who would get that job is Florida ST coordinator Coleman Hutzler. Unless that's a law firm. Which it definitely is.

HARBAUGH HIRES ENTIRE FRIGGING LAW FIRM TO COACH SPECIAL TEAMS. You heard it here first.

Anyway: Hutzler is barely 30, spent three seasons as a GA under Harbaugh at Stanford, probably needs a job after Muschamp got axed, and is rapidly moving up the ranks. Also popular with the ladies.

So he's got that going for him.

NO. Expert type guy Scout Roussel says SJSU OC Jimmie Dougherty has been offered a spot as the QB coach, which isn't likely. If he does come in it would be as a WR coach—the position he had at Washington—unless Sam's wrong about the ST guy. Harbaugh does QBs anyway.

GUESSOCHART. Getting to the end here:

OFFENSE COACH confidence DEFENSE COACH confidence
OC Tim Drevno lock DC DJ Durkin lock
QB Jim Harbaugh lock DL Durkin lock
RB Ty Wheatley probable LB Greg Mattison lock
WR John Morton maybe OLB/DE Roy Manning probable
OL Drevno lock DB Greg Jackson probable
TE N/A   ST Coleman Hutzler low

OTHERS: Jimmie Dougherty (WR)

Comments

Michigan9

January 7th, 2015 at 1:19 PM ^

Its a process, but we should be extremely happy the way this is moivng.  I mean, just a week ago one of the most important press conferences took place introducing JH as head coach.  He's hit the ground running and getting his team together.  It will have a domino effect with more good things to come.  JH's presence alone at the National Championship game will go a long way for Michigan and the B1G. 

I expect National Signing day to be rather interesting for the Maize and Blue.

#GOBLUE

The Rake

January 7th, 2015 at 1:19 PM ^

Curious as to his status here. Listed as probable but I can't recall any news on him one way or another, maybe that's how we get to probable. I'd like to see him stay since he seems to be a good recruiter with the right attitude. Also, any update on S&T? Is it definitely 9ers assistant mentioned yesterday? I was under the impression that a staff would roughly be announced today since the first team meeting is today if I'm not mistaken.

gasbro

January 7th, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^

I saw Mattison with Marrow last Friday at the BW3s on State. These guys are definitely connoisseurs of fine dining.

 

Probably a meet and greet weenie roast at Harbaugh's once he settles in.

theguy49503

January 7th, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^

probably wasnt an "interview" in the traditional sense but I doubt he has been wearing a suit and tie all day for nothing. What we may call an interview may have simply been a conversation about the job but could still end up in the desired result by all

Quail2theVict0r

January 7th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^

The Red Robin thing falls under the Barenaked Ladies "If I had a Million Dollars" montra:

If I had a million dollars
We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner
But we would eat Kraft Dinner
Of course we would, we'd just eat more
And buy really expensive ketchups with it
That's right, all the fanciest Dijon ketchups