George Helow Out as LB Coach

Submitted by JeepinBen on February 16th, 2023 at 12:00 PM

Per a tweet from Bruce Feldman. Mutual parting. I assume this is to make a spot for Chris Partridge. 

 

https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/1626263726407192590?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

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JeepinBen

February 16th, 2023 at 12:00 PM ^

https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/1626263726407192590?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

 

SOURCE: Michigan and Wolverines LB coach George Helow have mutually agreed to part ways to pursue other opportunities. Helow who arrived in 2021, helped UM rank in the Top 15 in yards per play both YRs and developed Junior Colson into Freshman All-American and an All-Big Ten LB.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 16, 2023

 

Joined: 01/22/2010

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Blake Forum

February 16th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^

Best of luck to Helow. Even if we have some criticisms of aspects of how he did his job, he was still a part of the dramatic turnaround of Michigan football from 2020 to 2021-2022. Hope he finds a soft landing. 

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MaizeBlueA2

February 16th, 2023 at 9:39 PM ^

Jabrill Peppers is one of the best defensive players to ever wear a winged helmet...what the fuck are you talking about?

Gary was a beast, and had to eat doubles while freeing Winovich who dominated any team that tried to block him without help. He was excellent.

Cesar Ruiz was one of the what 3? 4? best Centers in school HISTORY!

RJ Moten, 29 games and 15 starts at Safety over the best two year span Michigan has had in 20 years.

Brad Hawkins grew into a senior leader who literally saved our 2021 season with 2 plays versus Nebraska. 

Also, he didn't just recruit Jersey. WTF...I haven't seen a more incorrect post in a LONG time.

  • Dax Hill
  • Ambry Thomas
  • Cam McGrone 
  • Josh Ross
  • Makari Paige
  • David O-JA-BO!
  • Devin Bush
  • Khaleke Hudson
  • DJ Turner
  • Michael Barrett
  • Josh Metellus
  • Ben Mason

Per 247Sports, Patridge had a hand in all of those recruitments that weren't NJ.

I REPEAT...WHAT. THE. FUCK. ARE. YOU. TALKING. ABOUT?

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BlueintheLou

February 16th, 2023 at 12:04 PM ^

Happy to have CP back, especially from a recruiting front. LBs weren't the strength of the D the last couple of years, but CFP both years Helow was here. Thanks for you service to Michigan!

Joined: 09/13/2008

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AlbanyBlue

February 16th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^

Good luck to Coach Helow. Thanks for being a part of Michigan's turnaround and ascension.

That said, this is a huge upgrade. I'm looking forward to a boost in recruiting AND not seeing LBs doing the wrong thing as much. Welcome back onboard, CP!!

Joined: 09/11/2010

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Bill Brasky

February 16th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^

Me too. I've head a lot of people predict this on the board recently, and some feel this is the most logical move. I guess i don't know why people didn't want him here. The Bruce Feldman tweet makes him sound outstanding. It's hard for linebackers to be good when your D Line is so dominant. Do the linebackers even have a chance to paly defense?

Also, very happy Partridge is back. I hope his recruiting stays top notch like when he first joined us. Hopefully Harbaugh gets the best out of him.

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Quailman

February 16th, 2023 at 12:49 PM ^

It's less that people didn't want him here and more that people knew Partridge was taking someone's spot and Helows coaching and recruiting performance has made him the most likely and the least damaging to be the one to leave.

And of course the Feldman tweet is going to make him sound good (I think outstanding is a reach for what the tweet says). No one is trying to bad mouth him in the way out. But him being on a staff that has great numbers and him coaching a highly rated LB who had to play as a frosh to being a frosh AA are not exactly glowing proof he's outstanding.

And sorry, but, what you are saying about the LB and them not being able to shine is not a strong point. Plenty of teams have great LB play behind great DL play. The DL was not stopping the LB from making plays or showing they were good. The LB as a group were probably the weakest link because they were the weakest link, not because the DL was too good. 

 

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JonnyHintz

February 16th, 2023 at 2:42 PM ^

I guess i don't know why people didn't want him here
 

I don’t think anyone is saying that. However, he’s been pretty disappointing in the recruiting department and linebacker play under his direction has been… fine? Helow was pretty clearly the weakest link on the staff and Partridge is a natural replacement and what appears to be a certain upgrade. I don’t think anybody was sitting here saying Helow has to go, but Partridge fell into our lap and that made the decision pretty clear. 
 

It's hard for linebackers to be good when your D Line is so dominant. Do the linebackers even have a chance to paly defense?

Uh, no it’s not hard for linebackers to be good when your DL is so dominant. DL being dominant would actually occupy the OL, allowing LBs to play more freely and be blocked less. Go back and look at some of the UFRs from the past two seasons. Linebacker is a tough position to play, but plenty of issues with tackling, blown assignments, and guys “covering grass” came up in those UFRs.


I don’t think Helow was a bad coach by any means, he was just okay. But the fact that he was a poor recruiter in his time here made him expendable.

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massblue

February 16th, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^

Best of luck to him, and I hope he left on good terms (as we've learned, you do not want to burn bridges).  He helped us beat OSU twice, which will buy him a free drink whenever he visits AA.

 

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smitty1233

February 16th, 2023 at 1:09 PM ^

I don't think Helow did a bad job but my eyes are turning to Chris Patridge. Getting Colson who has a couple years starting and has All-American ability will be interesting to see how he pushes him to that next level or not. Also  think the NEB transfer and Rolder have solid ability to be really good LB. 

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HighBeta

February 16th, 2023 at 1:13 PM ^

Might as well repeat myself:

When there is a "mutual agreement to part ways", that tells me that George got a decent goodbye hug and kiss to find other "opportunities" --- and make room on the coaching couch for Partridge.

Good for him, and, reportedly/obviously, good for us.

Nice!

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Michigan Realist

February 16th, 2023 at 1:22 PM ^

I wish Deuce Spurlock didn’t transfer. He may have benefited from Partridge more than Helow. 
 

Every person I speak with in Michigan Alabama and Florida tell me Spurlock will be a sideline to sideline tackling machine for Florida sooner rather than later. I hear Alabama almost won the transfer war for this kid. Alabama tried to get in late on Spurlock as well as a host of other top schools but Deuce kept his commitment to Michigan. 
 

If all I hear is true we’re gonna regret letting this kid get away. Remember Harbaugh stated last fall 

“ Deuce Spurlock and Rolder are virtually carbon copies of each other “ 

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