Football Scoop: Gattis is #1 most important assistant hire of the offseason
There's some skepticism in the article about having a first time play caller as Michigan OC, and pontificating about where in the world do we go next if Harbaugh can't beat OSU this year of all years.
That being said the author does say they think this hire will work, and that this isn't Harbaugh sticking a square peg in a round hole but trying a new peg entirely.
August 14th, 2019 at 10:51 AM ^
I think the whole "never called a play" thing is quite overblown. You need to recruit talent and to develop talent, which he brings. Gattis has gameplanned and strategized against top teams as well. I think the ultimate question just lies in how quick can he recognize his plan going in isn't working if that's the case. Most coaches downfalls I believe is they're too proud to move on from a gameplan that isn't cutting it (a la Don Brown against OSU).
August 14th, 2019 at 11:13 AM ^
Or Brady Hoke's insistence that it's the execution that's the problem, nothing else. Just execution.
August 14th, 2019 at 11:29 AM ^
a la Don Brown against OSU
Don Brown deviated from his gameplan relatively quickly. The problem was his gameplan didn't work and then plan B worked even less well. .
August 14th, 2019 at 11:46 AM ^
Maybe I am wrong but I don’t remember that at all? I remember us getting destroyed in man coverage in the first half by short crossing routes. Then he went zone on the first drive of the second half and got a stop. And then mixed a little zone with a lot of man coverage the rest of the way and our corners/safeties were once again eviscerated.
August 14th, 2019 at 12:51 PM ^
No, Brown had a plan they had used against Indiana the week before that worked effectively. They reverted to that plan in the 2nd quarter (remember the lull in scoring there?). Then OSU came out with their counter to that plan, because they knew from Indiana what our backup plan was.
It had apparently not occurred to us that OSU would have the cunning idea of game planning for the adjustments they had just seen on tape, and had no reply. Or at least nothing that worked.
August 14th, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
Love how Harbaugh isn’t afraid to tweak and bring in high quality assistants. I think Gattis is definitely up for this.
August 14th, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
Isn't the guy who is claiming Gattis never actually called a play, the same guy who was expecting to hire Gattis to be his OC?
August 14th, 2019 at 11:26 AM ^
And that my son is what we call "just being butt-hurt".
August 14th, 2019 at 12:01 PM ^
Gattis: "Ask him who developed the gameplans."
I'm not expecting 70-0 against the Terps, but I think Locksley will get a peek at our full binder over the course of the afternoon.
August 14th, 2019 at 12:50 PM ^
Possibly. Gattis had a very respectful response to that question about Locksley's comments. I would love to hear his actual thoughts about it and it will be interesting to see if he feels he needs to show something a little extra against the Terps.
August 14th, 2019 at 11:07 AM ^
I believe there are some people on staff who have called plays before. I'm sure they would be willing to help Mr. Gattis.
August 14th, 2019 at 12:02 PM ^
Our coaches wear headsets. We'll be fine.
August 14th, 2019 at 4:03 PM ^
Looked like he knew what he was doing calling plays during the Spring Game. Everything in his life has led up to this point. I could be wrong, but my take is that he's a guy with good football instincts and high football IQ and that is what you need in a guy running the show. You need someone who can process what the defense is doing quickly and instinctively understand how to exploit it. I'll be sad to see him leave in 2 years for a HC position.
August 14th, 2019 at 11:14 AM ^
I'm excited but tempering my enthusiasm for this offense. I need to see it in action against a good defense before I'm completely sold, but having said that we certainly have the athletes to be explosive.
August 14th, 2019 at 11:28 AM ^
Pep has called a million plays. I'm fine with giving a shot to someone who has called zero.
August 14th, 2019 at 11:57 AM ^
Locked in for truth.
August 14th, 2019 at 11:30 AM ^
Well it certainly was "the most import assistant hire" for the only school I give two shits about.
August 14th, 2019 at 11:32 AM ^
I like the word "multiple" .
We seem to have square pegs AND round pegs, and now we can exploit both square and round holes!
Although it seems Gattis has plenty of help from experienced play callers so he's high on this list IMO; I'd put some of the new DCs, especially where head coaches aren't defensive guys, above him. Offensively though, I'd have to agree this hire could have the most impact at the end of season for sure.
August 14th, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
I can't disagree with the article. Although, I do have a question about this statement: "you’ve finally got a Michigan team that can deliver on the promise Harbaugh made when he strode in from San Francisco four years ago, to return Michigan to the promised land."
Just what did Harbuagh promise, again? I don't recall that he actually promised anything, aside from playing hard. Why do writers (well, 'journalists') continue to yell that he promised stuff? He didn't...
We (fans and journalists) are guilty of placing somewhat unreasonable expectations on him, and (to his credit) he's doing his best to live up to them. I hope he can...
August 14th, 2019 at 3:09 PM ^
depends on what you are labeling unreasonable?
Winning NC in 4 years = unreasonable
Winning B10 conference once in 4 years = high, but not unreasonable
Winning East Division once in 4 years = reasonable
August 14th, 2019 at 4:22 PM ^
When you pay a coach national-championship-winning salary, its not surprising for expectations, unless you want the team to continue sucking? Or maybe he was hired to keep the offense the same or even downgrade it? It never ceases to amaze the knots people will tie themselves into to act as personal apologists for what clearly is an admission of offensive failure in hiring Gattis.
August 14th, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
I think it'll work out. We really have no other choice but to believe that as our other choice is Man Ball and letting scrubs like Iowa and MSU get us in a low scoring game and win.
August 14th, 2019 at 1:13 PM ^
I just hope someone explains to him how in tune staee and OSU will be to every single thing he does, and know him better than himself. Don Brown sure didn't realize it so it seems, until after the drubbing.
August 14th, 2019 at 3:59 PM ^
Uh, which drubbing did MSU lay on Don Brown?
Unless you're using Staee for PSU, in which case your point holds better
August 14th, 2019 at 4:29 PM ^
Perhaps you missed the last regular season game - we played osu and they put up 62 points. Ring a bell?
August 15th, 2019 at 11:50 AM ^
I'm not so worried about Gattis being a first time play caller. He has the safety net of Jim Harbaugh, and even Ed Warinner, under him.
I just want to see a widely opened up passing game with him. Crucial play calls in those crucial moments of tough games--Jim Harbaugh, with all his college and pro experience, is there to assist. I think things are going to be great at those times.
I'm thinking 11-1, or 12-0 this season.
August 15th, 2019 at 9:59 PM ^
Ricky Rahne and Gattis coached with James Franklin at two stops for more than 6 years together.
When Moorehead left, Franklin chose Rhane to lead his offense and set the stage for Gattis to leave. It was inevitable that the odd man out wasn't going to stay on as a position coach, both felt they could be coordinators. Is there anything to be gleaned from Franklin's choice?
Compare Penn State 2018 to PSU 2017 and you see a veteran play caller vrs. a rookie play caller. Same offensive system, returning 4 year starer at QB, veteran OL, experienced position players. Miles Sanders rushed for 1300 yards replacing Barkely's 1300. McSorely regressed tremendously as a QB, his comp rate tanked and he ran the ball a lot more than they would have liked him to run and as a result he limped through the season. Penn State wasn't scaring anyone last year with their ingenuity on offense.
Pump the brakes on Gattis. He may well develop into a fine OC but we're asking a lot out of a guy who is inexperienced. I understand it can't get much worse and I will accept improvement as a great first step. I don't expect the record books to be rewritten, that is asking too much
August 16th, 2019 at 1:56 AM ^
He could be what puts Michigan over the hump. So yeah, maybe he is the most important hire.