CC: JUB Interview re: his thoughts on the coaching search
John U. Bacon was interviewed on myfoxdetroit last night following the Michigan football bust, and of course the topic shifted to the coaching search. For those who don't want to listen, JUB said:
1. He believes that Harbaugh is still Michigan's top choice and that JH is still considering the option.
2. He does not believe the recent NFL.com and similar NFL-source reports that Harbaugh has rejected Michigan.
3. He also does not believe reports that Harbaugh is "signed, sealed, delivered" to Michigan.
4. He believes that even Harbaugh doesn't know at this point.
5. If we do not land Harbaugh, JUB still believes that we would end up with Miles. His reasoning is that Hackett knows that much of the fanbase wants Miles if Harbaugh says no, and that Hackett is very good at listening to the fanbase.
6. Finally, JUB says that we are in for a few more weeks of speculations because "all sides" are entering a "dark period." (I think that we have been there since last Tuesday, as we have heard NOTHING of substance - only media speculation going in every possible direction - from anyone other than the sourced "searchbits" from Brian).
Nothing new or earthshattering, although JUB's take on Miles differs from what many here think. I always took Hackett's comments about looking for a coach who can win withing shenanigans to mean that Les was unlikely, but who knows.
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/clip/10929709/john-u-bacon-on-michigan
December 9th, 2014 at 10:35 AM ^
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December 9th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
If it isn't Harbaugh, maybe Hackett should listen to the part of the fanbase that wants to play 21st century football. If Miles is Plan B, losing Plan A is not an option. In other words: Harbaugh or bust.
December 9th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^
Les Miles' record in the 21st Century: 131-49. Just sayin'. 21st Century is not ONLY equatable to Oregon/Arizona/Baylor/Auburn offense.
December 9th, 2014 at 11:11 AM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 1:04 PM ^
For "twenty-first century," read: spread option offense plus indifferent (at best) defense.
December 9th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^
He's winning 70% of his games in the SEC West (toughest division in the nation) and nearly 80% overall. I'd bet he does alright here.
Harbaugh is a MANBALL (i.e. "not 21st century") kind of guy, is he not?
December 9th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
I'm not sure I understand. Harbaugh isn't running Oregon's offense in SF. I know he did some pistol and QB runs last year, but that disappeared even toward the end of last year, and certainly this. Though I could be wrong, I haven't seen many games.
They're both manball, with that being defined these days - I suppose - as lack of the element of a running QB. Though a few years ago, I think Les did have his QB running now and then.
But what is the difference in offensive scheme between the two?
December 9th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
and pro-football are two completely different sports, I would not look at what Harbaugh is doing in SF for guidance anymore than I would watch a UFC match to learn how to box. Harbaugh was old school pro-style at Stanford, but he did have the best quarterback in the nation for two years. Miles' offenses run some weird stuff, he is the pistol quite a bit but when I watch what he runs out of it I can't really figure out why.
December 9th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 11:16 AM ^
Teams can win with many different styles of play. But if you survey every head coach in the FBS, I gaurentee you most will say that using the modern spreads give you a better chance to win consistantly. It's the reason there are so few high level 'anti-spread' offenses today. Sure, I can smoke 2 packs per day for 30 years and not get COPD or lung cancer. But that doesn't mean it's a good idea because there's a chance doing something stupid works out. Personally, I say play the odds an embrace these "21st century" concepts of spreading the field, making defenders tackle/defend in space, simple reads, etc.
December 9th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
It's not that a modern offense is needed to win; it's that modern offenses improve your chances of winning, all other things being equal. Furthermore, we do not have the talent of Alabama, do not oversign, do not cut (medical redshirt) players, etc. Moreover, even Alabama this year has gone no-huddle, uptempo. I haven't watched them much, but I saw Alabama's QB score a touchdown on a read-option. Straight-up, RR WVU read option. I couldn't believe my eyes. What has Saban been complaining about the last couple years? Very fast, no-huddle teams. It puts the defense at a disadvantage. Who have they lost to? Auburn, Texas A&M.
December 9th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with you on this one. The only teams I can find that "don't run anything resembling a spread" are GT (triple option) and Minnesota (weird freak offense that seems a genesis from not having the spread parts Kill normally used in the past). Then there are the more-manball-than not teams like UGA and Wisconsin (although Anderson is spread guy, but has the parts to just power run as much as he wants). But even teams like FSU, MSU, are incorporating more and more 'spread' elements out shotgun sets with multiple WR and using tempo. As to the number 1 team in the CFP, Saban hired Kiffen to open up the offense. In 2012, Bama had more rushing yards than passing yards. Hell, Bama is basically a no huddle offense this season!
A spread is not just a 'Rich Rod spread'. Spread concepts can be integrated into offenses that are not based on the read option, QB runs, or the base bubble screen packaged plays. Hell, compared to UM the past three years, almost anything is more 'spready'.
December 9th, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^
Such as shotgun, up tempo, and no huddle don't a spread team make. Those concepts have been used by pro-set teams for decades, multiples of decades. Three or more receivers, only one running back...not spread, just concepts that have been used for decades...yes, even Michigan 30 years ago used three receivers plus a RB that would run a route.
So what is "spread" offense? Without bringing in concepts shared by many other offenses, what makes the Spread Offense unique?
December 9th, 2014 at 11:16 AM ^
You're saying that any speculation on what type of offense either will run in college is invalid. I don't agree.
December 9th, 2014 at 11:10 AM ^
is that Harbaugh has proven that he can win at an institution with high academic standards and a recruiting disadvantage.
Miles wins by recruiting at a super high level. They always have tons of NFL talent. I mean, look at LSU's offensive roster last year:
QB: Mettenberger (4-star, 6th round pick)
RB: Alfred Blue (3-star, 6th round pick)
RB: Jeremy Hill (4-star, 2nd round pick)
WR: Odell Beckham Jr (4-star, 1st round pick)
WR: Jarvis Landry (5-star, 2nd round pick)
Miles and his staff also seem to do well developing talent, so perhaps he would be a good fit here. But Harbaugh got the most out of the talent he had, whereas Miles overwhelms his opponents with talent. I mean, that team (above) beat Iowa in the Outback bowl 21-14. How the hell did THAT happen?
December 9th, 2014 at 11:17 AM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 11:19 AM ^
"Miles and his staff also seem to do well developing talent"
I'm not saying that Miles isn't a good coach. I'm saying that he doesn't do more with less. Harbaugh does. To me that's indicative of him (Harbaugh) being a better coach.
December 9th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 11:52 AM ^
There have been many instances of places stocked with great talent, but have fallen short due to poor coaching. Ron Zook, Muschamp, Hoke, Kiffin...need I go on?
College ball comes down to coaching and player development. It doesn't matter how much talent you have if the coaching is garbage. Bottom line: Miles recruits well AND develops the talent. You don't get lucky in the SEC west and win like he does.
December 9th, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
People don't want to hear this, but it is so correct. Miles' recruiting has been outstanding, but he is at LSU, a school with possibly the best built in recruiting advantage in the country-the only significant program in an incredibly talent rich state. Between that, frequently shady recruiting practices and strange in game decision making, I just don't get the attraction. And I don't give a crap about some alleged thirty year ago stuff with another coach. I just don't think he is a good fit.
December 9th, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
Is winning 78% of games a good fit for Michigan?
December 9th, 2014 at 1:13 PM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
I don't get the argument about him not being able to do well here. He has 3, 4 and 5 star players that are in the NFL. That comes from player development as well as recruiting.
If I look at the last three years of recruiting for Michigan and LSU according to 24/7 they seem fairly even:
LSU - 2012: 14th, 2013: 6th, 2014: 2nd
Michigan - 2012: 6th, 2013: 4th, 2014: 20th
So I don't buy the recruiting argument. If Hoke was in the SEC West we would have been lucky to win one or two games this year. Mediocre coaching produces mediocre results.
Miles was a good coach at OkSt and has been exceptional at LSU in the toughest division in all of college football. He has a 3-3 record against Urban Meyer who recruited the same level of talent or better than Miles. That is the same Urban Meyer who hasn't lost a game in the B1G regular season for 3 straight years.
Based on your assessment, we would pass on a Saban as well, because he has an unfair recruiting advantage by being in the south and gets to much talent.
I think you have a different issue with Miles, but you are using false arguments to discount him.
December 9th, 2014 at 11:25 AM ^
'Manball' is not a lack of running QB. Manball, to me at least, is the overall concept of a compact offense that says 'yeah, we're running, try and stop it', followed by, 'yeah we're running, try and, HAHA, beat you over the top on play action!'.
'Modern' football to me is using the field and tempo as assests by stressing the defense to react as fast as your offense can move, making them defend and tackle one-on-one in space, and giving simpler reads that option defenders thus taking them out of the play without having to block them. You don't have to have a mobile quarterback to do that. Hell, Clemson was a great offense using those concepts with Boyd who is no more mobile than Shane Morris (Boyd ran a 4.84 in the 40 at the combine). And Boyd threw for over 3800 yars his last three years and only once had more than 500 yards rushing in a season.
December 9th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 11:45 AM ^
Yehaw!
| LSU Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (2005–present) | ||||||||
| 2005 | LSU | 11–2 | 7–1 | 1st (West) | W Peach | 5 | 6 | |
| 2006 | LSU | 11–2 | 6–2 | T–2nd (West) | W Sugar | 3 | 3 | |
| 2007 | LSU | 12–2 | 6–2 | 1st (West) | W BCS NCG | 1 | 1 | |
| 2008 | LSU | 8–5 | 3–5 | 3rd (West) | W Chick-fil-A | |||
| 2009 | LSU | 9–4 | 5–3 | 2nd (West) | L Capital One | 17 | 17 | |
| 2010 | LSU | 11–2 | 6–2 | T–2nd (West) | W Cotton | 8 | 8 | |
| 2011 | LSU | 13–1 | 8–0 | 1st (West) | L BCS NCG | 2 | 2 | |
| 2012 | LSU | 10–3 | 6–2 | T–2nd (West) | L Chick-fil-A | 12 | 13 | |
| 2013 | LSU | 10–3 | 5–3 | 3rd (West) | W Outback | 14 | 14 | |
| 2014 | LSU | 8–4 | 4–4 | T–4th (West) | Music City | |||
| LSU: | 103–28 |
56–24 |
||||||
December 9th, 2014 at 3:21 PM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^
Yeah all those BCS bowls are a real underachievement. Come on, man. Even Alabama doesn't win every year.
December 9th, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^
South (i.e. Denard Robinson) then I think that Les Miles would be able to as well...he won't lose those connections.
December 9th, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 11:43 AM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
... RIGHT HERE!
December 9th, 2014 at 10:36 AM ^
Come home, Jim
December 9th, 2014 at 10:40 AM ^
In before the obligitory bitching about JUB and complaints he doesnt know anything and the manditory comments that he hasnt told us anything new.
December 9th, 2014 at 1:09 PM ^
He barely knows anything and I've heard this all before. And that's what my point is. It's just nothing new. That guy is the worst. THE WORST.
December 9th, 2014 at 1:31 PM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 2:03 PM ^
bjk, if we have to add the "/s" to our hilariously witty comments.
December 9th, 2014 at 10:38 AM ^
Harbaugh or Miles??? Yes, please!!!!!!!!!
December 9th, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
Hopefully if Hackett is around for the next apparell deal he "listens to the fanbase"... Hey Jim one word... Nike!
December 9th, 2014 at 10:40 AM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 10:40 AM ^
Maybe Hackett is in place solely on the off chance that we do have to hire Miles. While I personally would be ecstatic with that hire, many in the fanbase and former players/coaches would not be (read: anyone associated with Carr).
To appease this faction after what would be a disappointing hire to them, Schlissel/regents or whoever may be pulling the strings behind the scene can simply say "he made a mistake and now we will not consider him for fulltime AD" or something along those lines. Half the fanbase gets what they want in a great coach despite off the field issues and the other half gets an admission that his hiring was a mistake and those responsible will feel the consequences. But we have to let him coach out his contract because it would cost the University a lot of money not to.
I know, put a tin foil hat on. Just popped into my head.
December 9th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
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December 9th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
It's the coach that preceeded him. If that man is cool with Miles coming on board, then Miles would be a serious coaching candidate. If he's not okay with it, Miles is not coming.
December 9th, 2014 at 11:10 AM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^
What is Gary Moeller's record as a person?
December 9th, 2014 at 12:04 PM ^
Given what the rumors consist of, if they're true I don't really see that as being a forgive and forget, especially if you can back it up with doubts that Miles would be good for Michigan football given his experience as the head coach of the only significant team in a talent rich state and some shady recruiting and personnel management practices.