DCC: Nate Woody
(Sorry if anyone mentioned this...didn't find anything in a search)
But the #2 defense in the country this past year (Army, who played a full 11 game schedule) was coordinated by a guy who was on UM's staff last year...as an analyst.
Nate Woody was formerly Georgia Tech's DC and before that a very successful DC at Appalachian State. He spent 2019 in Ann Arbor as an analyst before getting picked up by Army where they allowed only 270 ppg while playing 11 games.
Anyone have any opinions or additional knowledge of this guy? Did he enjoy his year in A2? Get along w/ Harbaugh? Would you feel good about hiring him given his lack of big-time experience? Seems like they should at least be giving him a call.
December 22nd, 2020 at 10:58 PM ^
270 ppg? Do not want.
I assume this is ypg. And that seems like a poor measurement given he's working with Army's offense, which is the most ball control of all ball control offenses. How about ypp?
December 22nd, 2020 at 11:09 PM ^
Looks like they were ranked number 22 in that. Notable guys above them would be Cincy and Marcus Freeman at 4.
December 22nd, 2020 at 11:37 PM ^
Freeman has inroads into Ohio recruiting.
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:28 AM ^
To get back into Ohio will take an Ohio coach with several Ohio staffers. One guy won't do it. They will negative recruit the one guy but would be hard to do with multiple.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:30 AM ^
Why does Ohio recruiting matter? It doesn't take Ohio kids to beat OSU, it takes kids that are good athletes and well-coached to beat OSU. Those kids can come from anywhere. OSU's starting lineup has only five Ohio born kids - 2 OL, a TE they barely use, a DE, and a DB who is from Ohio but went to IMG. They have no Michigan-born players starting, and only 2 on the entire roster. Yet they're still heads and shoulders beyond us in talent, because they know that the only way to build an elite team is to recruit from everywhere.
Even with a staff full of folks with Ohio inroads, we're not just swooping in and getting the best Ohio recruits, because they're still far more likely to be OSU fans who will jump on an OSU offer before thinking of going to Michigan.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:34 PM ^
Have to begin with effectively recruiting your own backyard and neighbor's yard which has 3x the talent pool of Michigan. OSU has always begun by dominating their state and expanding outward--just look at 247 state recruiting for the classes of '21 and '22. So yeah, the perception might be that they've turned their back on Ohio, but only to the extent that the talent from elsewhere is better than the other 6-15 from within Ohio in a given year. We're not recruiting this well locally and it might make sense to plant our flag somewhere as a starting point. We have a lot to sell as an institution, should be doing far better than we are-- unless the interface that parents and recruits are having with representing football personnel is inferior to what they experience at an OSU. Maybe we need better salesmen? Can say what you want to about Urban Meyer, but "great salesman" is what stands out above all else, and that awareness has only been passed on to the staff there now.
December 22nd, 2020 at 11:41 PM ^
Is Freeman anything more than a pipe dream at this point? I mean how realistic is it? Seems like we’re getting our hopes up.
December 22nd, 2020 at 11:55 PM ^
Almost anyone is on the table with the contract we are about to offer.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:40 AM ^
He was going to take over for Fickell if he took the MSU job. I'd imagine Freeman won't have to wait much longer for that promotion.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:50 AM ^
What are you talking about. The OSU or ND jobs aren't opening up anytime soon. So where is Fickell going?
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:03 AM ^
Not Fickell... The comment was about Freeman getting his shot at HC somewhere soon. You should have gone to bed an hour earlier!
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:10 AM ^
Ryan Day will be coaching in the NFL within the next two years.
December 23rd, 2020 at 7:41 AM ^
270 ppg
against OSU in the future, this number will look respectable
December 22nd, 2020 at 11:04 PM ^
I really hate judging coaches by their stats in this crazy season.
His resume looks ok, but not someone Michigan would have considered before, so I wouldn't be in favor of considering him now. And why give him a call unless you want to hire him?
December 23rd, 2020 at 3:15 AM ^
That would be quite the trajectory. -Analyst, to Army's DC who is 5th in TOP to UM's DC. in 2 years.
December 22nd, 2020 at 11:15 PM ^
Too old.
And if we're going to poach a DC from a service Academy, we should be looking at John Rudzinski from Air Force.
December 22nd, 2020 at 11:16 PM ^
Can he recruit
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:39 AM ^
Can he coach is the more relevant question.
December 22nd, 2020 at 11:19 PM ^
Gotta consider the amount of insanely long drives Army takes during games limiting the amount of drivers offenses get
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:17 AM ^
December 23rd, 2020 at 7:34 PM ^
I had a gecko that bit me once. Hurt. A little blood. Never been bit by an alligator.
December 22nd, 2020 at 11:21 PM ^
At this point it’s anybody’s guess given they still haven’t officially announced Harbaugh is even returning. Tea leaves and all that but you may as well suggest Ron Crown (Don Brown without his mustache applying for the job) as DC.
I think we have to hope for someone with a strong recruiting background and an aptitude for combatting OSU style attacks. Don’t know enough about your suggestion to say either way but not sure he’s a tier one type candidate
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:52 AM ^
User name doesn't check out.
December 22nd, 2020 at 11:22 PM ^
Using stats from this season might not be a great idea considering Army played three FCS teams.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:05 AM ^
Also, Army plays triple wing on offense don't they? Also go for it a lot on 4th down iirc...
Limiting opponents offensive time of possession might also be skewing the numbers. Edit - better stated by chunkums below
I am sure (i hope) that people will be casting a wide net and deep dive into the numbers for all the potential candidates.
December 22nd, 2020 at 11:47 PM ^
This one is really interesting. Thanks for putting him on my radar. One thing that makes me apprehensive is that Army drastically shortens the game with the nature of their offense, so YPG and PPG will be deceptive. How are they on a per-drive basis? F+ has them rated as the #55 defense and FEI has them as #30. Still impressive considering the fact that it's Army and they're at a significant talent deficit in every game.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:48 AM ^
Okay, I went back and looked this guy up. Here's what we've got. App State entered the FBS in 2014. Here's how they did in defensive FEI under Woody:
2014: 89th
2015: 22nd
2016: 18th
2017: 30th
In his one year at Georgia Tech they imploded from 50th to 107th (Head coach fired, so probably a death spiral situation),
In his one year at Army they went from 79th to 30th.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:54 AM ^
Thanks for going down that rabbit hole. I'd prefer Marcus Freeman (who wouldn't?) but thinking about other options if he doesn't work out. Aside from Woody's disaster year at GT, pretty good track record. Thanks for digging.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:22 AM ^
Right: 270 YPG, not ppg. Sorry.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:44 AM ^
offer alabamas ohio states and clemsons best underling recruiters and after u have them give them titles within the defensive coaching staff. if u dont have the talent it doesnt matter who the coach is. College football is about acquiring talent. there are lots of people in this world that can coach. the elite coaches are elite talent hoarders
December 23rd, 2020 at 2:30 AM ^
Agree for most part. But we will not be able to recruit at Ohio's level anytime in near future or at least until something changes for them. So the new DC would definitely need to coach up. Having said that, it is highly unlikely that anyone would be able to coach three stars up to compete with Ohio's 4 and 5 stars consistently.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:42 AM ^
elite talent and average coaching gives you a chance to win at least on occasion because of game breaking ability. elite coaching and average talent helps you stay close with the big boys and stack up moral victories, but close losses are still losses. urban saban and day would not rattle off undefeated seasons with michigans personel. i think harbaugh could pull off undefeated seasons with their personel. its the elite players that make elite coaches. elite coaches are elite recruiters.
December 23rd, 2020 at 7:46 AM ^
I get the sentiment, but not just anyone can be a cooridinator and have success. There is a lot to be said for coming up with a competent gameplan, teaching it, calling it, and then having plans B and C when the opponent adjusts. Everyone wants it to be as simple as just: hey get the best recruiters so we have the best players. The best players still need to be coached and told what to run. If the guy doing that sucks, then the players will not reach full potential.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:34 AM ^
im not trying to say there are not coaches that are more capable students and teachers of the game. im saying if you dont have the talent, it doesnt matter how skilled you are as a teacher and motivator if your goal is being nationally relevant. noone can coach me up to be tom brady. if coaching was the most important piece, New England would be on their way to another superbowl based on history...but that is clearly not the case.
December 23rd, 2020 at 2:31 AM ^
That Army offense is a DCs best friend.
December 23rd, 2020 at 4:09 AM ^
Then hire Army's OC also?
December 23rd, 2020 at 6:37 AM ^
Harbaugh has to get this one right! No phone call hiring. This person must also be held accountable each week.
December 23rd, 2020 at 7:48 AM ^
Wisconsin's DC. Pay him. Pay him a lot. Bring him here.
December 23rd, 2020 at 8:33 AM ^
If he can stop 3rd and 30, I'm sold.
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:40 AM ^
I would also look closely at Jon Heacock and his staff at Iowa State. They've done a great job of limiting Big 12 offenses and have strong ties to the Ohio valley. Jon even got his start under Bo.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:22 AM ^
Yards per game allowed at Army is a bit of a lazy stat considering Army is close to the slowest team in the country so their defense isn't on the field as much.