Darrell Funk discussion

Submitted by carlos spicywiener on

After Saturday's performance, how are you guys feeling about the most-abused position coach of the offseason, Darrell Funk?

I'll go first. My thoughts:

I honestly felt that "if Nuss wants to keep him, that's good enough for me" in January. And yes, disclaimers apply - it's App State - but the running game looked great, Gardner took one sack, and he definitely deserves some credit for getting Cole ready so fast.

We'll know more after ND, but I feel pretty good about Funk being on this staff.

a2_electricboogaloo

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^

I think the O-line looked pretty good, but IMO its WAY too early to talk about how we think Funk did.  We have to have at least one game against a competent D-Line.  That being said, I'm cautiously optimistic that we might not suck this year.

JHendo

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^

I refuse to formulate any sort of opinion on this team or its coaches based on their performance against App State.  Next week, and more specifically Big Ten conference play is when we will all have a better idea.

I will say it was a better outing from the O-Line than I ever expected.  When you think about, it's quite a sad testament to the recent state of our OL that I had to brace myself for anything other than what went down on Saturday...

mgomiller

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:31 PM ^

Brian and Ace have discussed their attendance at a Funk presentation on online coaching. They have reported Funk's extensive knowledge of the intricacies of zone blocking. It may be that he finally has a offensive coordinator that he runs a scheme that he is well suited for coaching. It may be that he has interior players that are a year older. It can't hurt that the offense also made sense for the first time in a few years.

I vote we give him the benefit of the doubt until we have seen a few more games this year.

Space Coyote

September 2nd, 2014 at 2:35 PM ^

It assumes that bloggers or high school coaches would go to a coaching clinic and come away thinking they had more knowledge than a big time college level coach. I have been a pretty big critic of Funk going back to the 2nd year, but he's not incompetent. I know people want to believe some of these guys are, because it makes the call for firing them or whatever easier to justify, but it simply isn't true.

Funk knows as much as anyone about OL play. He knows the intricacies of zone blocking like the back of his hand. He knows ways other people teach it that he doesn't. But you know what? All these guys do. They didn't make it there through incompetence.

So, the question isn't if they know the stuff. I know the stuff (not as much as Funk, but to speak with hyperbole), yet I'm not a college OL coach. The question is how good they are at teaching it to the players and having the players execute it. And here's where people want to make it black and white when it isn't that either. OL is hard. It's a difficult position to play. I've been a critic of Funk, but the youth and inexperience on the interior is also a legit excuse/reason. That doesn't mean I've been happy with the performance I've seen on game days or think they've been good enough either, but he can coach. The guys are getting better because he can coach and he knows his stuff. The question is if he can coach well enough and if his knowledge translates well enough for Michigan's OL to improve at a clip it needs to.

I wouldn't base much on the App St game. App State's defense was awful and opened up a lot of run lanes by themselves. The OL certainly looks better, but it was always going to look better. And now that Funk is still around, ND won't be the tipping point one way or another either. It needs to be constant growth throughout the season at a rate quick enough to be closer to where they need to be than they are now.

Anyway, I just get frustrated that "someone said this coach isn't an idiot so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt." Well, none of these guys are, so that's not a good reason either way.

pescadero

September 2nd, 2014 at 3:33 PM ^

"I have been a pretty big critic of Funk going back to the 2nd year, but he's not incompetent. I know people want to believe some of these guys are, because it makes the call for firing them or whatever easier to justify, but it simply isn't true."

 

"This game was not what (Michigan) had shown all last year,” said Mountaineers coach Scott Satterfield. “Why they did that, I don’t know. … It was all game. Even the last drive, they were playing man.”

 

...ummm, that looks like a vote for "some of these guys" being incompetent.

 

 

Space Coyote

September 2nd, 2014 at 3:59 PM ^

Michigan, who has pretty much the same defensive personnel as last year, the same defensive coaching staff, spent the spring game playing Cover 1 man (which a lot of teams do), said they'd be more aggressive to the media (which a lot of teams do), and didn't, I dunno, and App St didn't send someone to personally scout their open Fall scrimmage, it means the App St coaches are incompetent?

There are many reasons the App St staff should have been caught a bit off guard by that. They probably expected Michigan to run it some, but not the whole time. They probably prepared, based on all other evidence, for a team that played mostly zone. And by all other evidence, I mean Greg Mattison's whole history and this Michigan staff's history. There was plenty of reason for App St to not believe Michigan was going to be almost all Cover 1.

So when even our own fan base talked abou the offense being vanilla and stuff, do you think opposing coaching staffs heavily scouting Michigan's spring game rather than look at previous Michigan film and previous Nuss film? If I'm a coach, I'm going to sure as hell believe my eyes and what I've seen on numerous occasions over one practice (spring game) and media rumblings about being more aggressive.

Now, as far as that goes, that's just the scouting portion of their team. That's scouting one other team while still worrying about your own. App St likely spent more time scouting themselves than scouting newspapers or MGoBlog to find out Michigan was going to run a lot of cover 1 against them. And yet, I bet all the App St coaches know about technique and those sorts of things. But yeah, ok, because they were caught off guard by Michigan running almost all Cover 1 in the first game of the season when they've never done that before, means the App St coaches are incompetent....

pescadero

September 2nd, 2014 at 4:20 PM ^

"Michigan, who has pretty much the same defensive personnel as last year, the same defensive coaching staff, spent the spring game playing Cover 1 man (which a lot of teams do), said they'd be more aggressive to the media (which a lot of teams do), and didn't, I dunno, and App St didn't send someone to personally scout their open Fall scrimmage, it means the App St coaches are incompetent?"

 

No, that they were totally amazed it could happen after the spring game and all the media coverage means they were incompetent in this case.

glewe

September 2nd, 2014 at 4:40 PM ^

SC, I'm interested by your stating you have been critical of Funk--I thought you were in the camp saying that he can only do so much with freshmen, etc. Or maybe you were, and you mean something else by critical.

I'd be interested to hear your assessment of the comments made by Lewan that Funk is the best [OL] coach he's ever had, and the act of Kugler's father reportedly sending Kugler to play for Funk, in light of your stated criticism of Funk.

Obviously, Lewan is gonna say good things about his coach, but that sounds like a ringing endorsement, rather than just a general endorsement. Lewan could just as easily have said, "He's a great coach. I love playing for him," and he wouldn't have been stirring up controversy. But the thing with Kugler's father seems like the real deal--another absolutely ringing endorsement of his coaching ability.

These are the reasons why I have withheld criticism of Funk. As I said, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

leu2500

September 2nd, 2014 at 7:35 PM ^

For example, in your scrimmage analysis you said the following re the run game: 

"They did look better running the inside zone. They more consistently got into their assignments. Unfortunately, they did very little once they got into their assignments. Feet stopped moving, they lost their punch and didn’t power through to finish drives through their feet, hips, and then upper body. At best, they stalemated."

Better, no difference?

 

Space Coyote

September 2nd, 2014 at 7:40 PM ^

Though, in my Coaching Points post, I talk about how I was slightly unhappy with the fact that they were forced to manufacture movement from the defense by running mostly OZ. Still need to do more from IZ, especially given the lack of size/talent on D for App St. But getting into assignments means non-negative run plays, it's improvement from last year.

Hard to say much else beyond that because App St did quite a bit of self-inflicted damage in my opinion, and Michigan's OL kind of helped them to further that damage. We'll get a better idea this week.

Sllepy81

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^

and it's not a good app state. Ask me in a week when we face a better team. Besides some times a play book doesn't match a position coaches style, that may have been the case in the past.

Go.Blue.Hail

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^

I don't think we'll know until the season is over. Simplified schemes might help more than anything, and it takes some experience to become good. The young linemen need to build confidence in order to become donkey hatin hulks.

991GT3

September 2nd, 2014 at 5:14 PM ^

and they are extemely tight. But for DR scrambling the running game for Michigan has been moribund under Funk. Yet, he still survives. That should answer any question as to whether Nuss's recommendation would influence BH.

The only way Hoke would fire Funk is if DB instructs him to do so.

Marley Nowell

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:34 PM ^

All that matters to me is what Nuss thinks of him. If he was given some leeway in choosing his asstistants and decided to keep everyone that is great. If some guys were "forced" upon him that is less than ideal but hopefully he is among it work.

True Blue In Ohio

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:34 PM ^

So, the O-line question this week!  Glasgow will NOT be suspended for this game.  Some have stated that he is our best offensive lineman.  Who sits?  I know Joey B. was benched for Kalis, but everyone else looked rather decent.  Any thoughts?

jls1144

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:35 PM ^

I am a football fan but far from proficient on scheme. That being said, even I saw Kalis and Miller both drive their players 10-12 off the line. I know it was App St, but if don't remember seeing anything that obvious last year.

mgomiller

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^

Hoke said that Kalis' back is fine. He looked great against App State. I have also heard that one of the coaches proclaimed that Mags is our best LT and that he is playing LG because he is needed there more.

I agree with your projection. I would like to see Mags, Glasgow, Miller, Kalis, and Braden.

StephenRKass

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:56 PM ^

What about Cole? I think the reality is probably going to be:

Glasgow or Miller at Center,

Glasgow,

Whichever three of Cole, Mags, Kalis, and Braden are able to fend Glasgow off, or conversely, sitting whichever of Cole, Mags, Kalis, and Braden most clearly improves the team by creating a spot for Glasgow.

The thing is, I believe that Glasgow is going to start on the OL. If Miller is good enough at centes, Glasgow will shift to another position on the line. We basically have six starters for five positions. Glasgow is the most versatile, and if anyone is injured, he could be the first one to fill the position.

StephenRKass

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:37 PM ^

You can't judge the OL and Funk from the ASU game. If the OL opens holes and dominates form Miami through Rutgers, holds its own against ND, PSU, and doesn't collapse against MSU, we can start talking about Funk.

The truth is, the cratering of OL recruiting under RR set Michigan way, way back. Borges dealt with this situation badly, but it was beyond Funk or Borges or Hoke to get much more out the OL last year. The only reason we are in a decent place is because Hoke (& Funk) have been given time. And yes, Nuss is simplifying in a good way.

SF Wolverine

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^

At this point, I am impressed enough with Game 1 that I am now hopeful that the "shining light in the distance" is not mediocrity, but averageness.  And, I stand prepared to further upgrade my hopes as when we start playing teams with uniformly D-1 talent.

jaydubya

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^

I think our O-line is improved this year.  But can the O-line's solid performance in one game really change our perception of Funk after the O-line's woeful performance in every game last season?

True Blue Grit

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:39 PM ^

But it certainly WAS the best non-QB running attack in a game we've seen here in years.  Granted it was against an undersized defensive front.  Next Saturday we'll learn much more about this line.  I certainly don't expect us to rush for 300+ yards every game.  Not hardly.  But I would love to see us consistently get close to 200 yards on average.  What I don't want to see are games where we get completely shut down.  If that happens, Funk deserves the criticism he gets. 

mGrowOld

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^

I think Funk was dealing with some fairly signficant personal issues last year that were compounded by being forced to work for a coordinator who is looking more and more each day like the desease, not the cure.

That said I do think it's premature to judge him based on a single game against an overmatched opponent.  But "so far - so good" at least.

FWIW I think we're going to learn more and more as the year goes on just how dysfunctional the offense was under Borges.  Nobody really wants to say anything yet but my guess will be that will change somewhat if the offense does continue to produce results missing from the past couple of years.  

cutter

September 2nd, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^

Lewan and Schofield were both redshirted during the 2009 season, so they both played on the field from 2010 through 2013.  Three of those four seasons they were on the field were under Funk's guidance.  

So does Funk get credit for the development of Lewan and Schofield?  By extension, even though he came in a year earlier, what level of credit does he get for the development of Omameh?  Omameh did come on the team a year earlier and he may be the starting guard at Tampa Bay this season.  If you look at the 2012 offensive line starters, three of the five are in the NFL (I believe Ricky Barnum and Elliot Mealer aren't on pro rosters).

I'm pointing this out because the sample size of offensive linemen that have been coached by Funk throughout their careers at Michigan is essentially nil at this point and only two on the current roster are upperclassmen (Miller and Glasgow).  A handful of guys who were under his tutelage that I listed above are in the pros--does he get credit for them or not? 

 

Qmatic

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:43 PM ^

It's encouraging to see our line push back inferior competition. That was sure as hell not the case last year. Still, the jury is still out on how they can perform against solid d-line's. We still are starting a true freshman at left tackle and an out of position (in my opinion) left guard. I won't put center as a real question mark because I believe that if Miller struggles Glasgow is a top-tier B1G center. Kalis looked really good on run blocking for the most part and I was impressed with Braden. If Miller can play like he did, or close to that as the season goes on, I think plugging Glasgow in at left guard and either Cole or Mags whoever performs better can be serviceable at tackle I think we set up well.

I'm cautiously optimistic, which I did not expect to be at all this year.

BlueKoj

September 2nd, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^

We don't know a lot from this week, but we know they didn't block this way last year and the RBs didn't run this way either. So, it is an improvement in the fact that they finally did what they were supposed to do. That wasn't true about CMU, Akron or UConn and I don't think that competition was much different. So...its a small thing, but not unimportant.

maize-blue

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^

I still maintain a position that Al Borges was not a good teacher of anything and probably he and the other coaches were on different pages. As most have already stated, 1 game is a little early to tell one way or the other regarding Funk/O-line. However, I do believe that we should have clarity on our opinions by perhaps mid-season.

Hannibal.

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^

We'll see.  I think that there has been too much blame placed on Borges up until now.  The first game was encouraging though.  Our starting tailbacks both averaged over 10 ypc and I don't think that they got most of that on their own.   

Eye of the Tiger

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:56 PM ^

So arguably he wasn't being used as well as he could have been prior to this year. We'll see, as many people have said, once we go up against better competition. But if our OL plays better than last year, especially considering we graduated two tackles to the NFL, then we'd have to conclude that the problem isn't/wasn't Funk being a "bad coach."

(And keeping in mind that "better than last year" includes "mediocre" and "average." This is still a very young line, after all.)

ST3

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^

Last year, we gained 166 yards on 39 carries against ND with Miller at center and Glasgow at LG. Yes, half those yards came on Gardner runs, but the Green/Smith combo had one combined carry. We're missing Lewan and Schofield, but they lost Nix and Tuitt. If we can gain 150+ yards on the ground, I like our chances.

Don

September 2nd, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^

and yet still took the job as OC, then he'd be directly tying his own success to a coach he thought was terrible. Since Nussmeier doesn't strike me as an idiot, I think it's safe to conclude he thinks Funk is OK as offensive line coach.

glewe

September 2nd, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^

Additionally, we know that Nuss has already been considered a candidate for some HC jobs, and that is probably where he is headed. From his pre-Michigan record, I don't know that I'd mind if he didn't one day wind up as HC here post-Hoke.  I'm hopeful for his time at Michigan.

But what I'm getting at is that you're right. A top-notch OC at a highly publicized and much discussed Division 1 football team gunning for an eventual HC position is not going to throw away his career by anchoring himself to a program poised to fail because of coaching/recruitment/development restraints, or otherwise what-you-will. He's not gonna sink himself.

CLord

September 2nd, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^

C'mon SpicyTaco, we both know the App State game shows us nothing.  Funk's season will be determined upon how he performs against decent D-lines.  Specifically, ND, MSU, PSU and OSU.  The rest of the schedule will be smoke and mirrors at best.

I.e., jury's still way out, and need more data.  All App State showed us is that the D line  isn't going to get an F this year, but we still don't know if it will end up as a D-.

alum96

September 2nd, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^

I think its a low bar as most are just asking Funk to field a competent OL by end of year.  I understand why with the youth.  I wont judge Funk until end of next year because with the salaries we pay we should be getting the best of the best (top 10 type coaches at every position group).  He has been handed the type of talent maybe 7-8 schools in the nation have.  Remember after the 2012 haul of OL we were talking about manball and how in 2015 and 2016 we'd be Alabama North?  How the UM OL and the OSU DL would have battles of lore in 15-16? 

Well he was given another great batch in 2013 and if in 2015 they are average to slightly above average it doesn't mean he is doing great with what he was handed.  It would be a negative to me if the line is not looking "very very good" in 2015.

Of course our expectaions are mediocre this year and I expect any competent coach can take this talent and make it "below average to average".    The OL needs to be a stalwart a year from now, something a step below what OSU had last year but not so far that it doesnt seem like it cant get there in 2016.  So while most here will have the jury out for "a week" or 10 weeks I will be looking at 2015 - the line should be looking dominant versus average foes (the Illinois of the world) by mid 2015 and more than holding its own versus the MSUs and OSUs rather than "yep welp".

I am not going to throw out the "this is Michigan crap" here but OL has been a core competency here  since the 1960s and we can see the past few years how important it is.  We need to return to it being the strength of the team 8 out of every 10 years.

alum96

September 2nd, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^

Also ND's line is not "all that".  Their DEs are as young as our tackles.  This is going to be a lot different match than MSU or OSU's DL.   ND's strength is down the middle but right now Sheldon Day is the core worry along with Jones - a very big man at 315 bs.   I actually think the OL will surprise to the upside versus ND specificially because people are going off the name on the front of the jersey rather than looking closely at ND's DL.  They have 1 premier player at DT, and are rotating in 1st and 2nd year players at the DEs.  Our tackles should be "ok" versus the type of guys they are playing. 

The interior of the line on the other hand is going to have their hands full.  So our Gs and Cs I see exploited.

DE

  • Okwara - a "meh" JR
  • Trumbetti - FR

DE

  • Rochell - SO
  • Blankenship - FR