Great Detroit Free Press article

Submitted by Schemboeller C… on October 8th, 2017 at 1:49 PM

This article is very eye opening. It highlights some serious issues with this team's coaching. Definitely worth the read.

\http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2017/10/08/michigan-wolverines-football-problems-arent-new/743905001/

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ArmenHammer

October 8th, 2017 at 3:03 PM ^

I mean, are we gonna just ignore that we all love Don "I don't play quarters" Brown for his complex schemes? We don't bitch about it cuz it works. That's the thing, of course it can work, but it isn't, and you'd think these NFL coaches with these 4/5 star guys, or the older 2/3 stars starting over them, would make it work after three years, but it hasn't. And, I'll tell ya, the last thing I want is for some big coaching changes to massively alter the offensive scheme again. Granted, I don't think Jay Harbaugh should be coaching running backs, which is much less a case of over-complication as it is just provable incompetence.

Joined: 12/07/2016

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Sione's Flow

October 8th, 2017 at 3:01 PM ^

By all accounts Drevno is a great Oline coach, but so far the results are not there. Perhaps it's time for Frey focus solely on Oline. I think some of the missed blocks, etc... are because the line is getting two different sets of input. Frey may be a better option as a coordinator moving forward due to his work with Rodriguez and Wilson also.

Joined: 06/05/2011

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Sione's Flow

October 8th, 2017 at 2:50 PM ^

post

Joined: 06/05/2011

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Don

October 8th, 2017 at 2:54 PM ^

is that it provides Alabama with a very easy argument to make to Ekiyor. I'll be shocked if he doesn't flip. Not sure I'd blame him with the very visible issues with coaching and talent.

RR still gets criticized for not adapting his coaching to the available talent, but it appears as though Harbaugh is doing exactly the same thing. Life is ironic.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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Schemboeller C…

October 8th, 2017 at 2:59 PM ^

Yep. At least RR got his players in place by his 3rd year. Here we are in Harbaugh's 3rd year still spinning our wheels

Joined: 12/13/2015

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mm92.

October 8th, 2017 at 3:01 PM ^

RR was 13-16 at the point in his tenure. Harbaugh is 24-7. That's a pretty big difference.

Joined: 10/10/2012

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UMForLife

October 8th, 2017 at 2:54 PM ^

It all starts with OL. Fix that and everything looks better. To fix that, we have coaches. We just don't have the players. Get better players. Have one OL coach. I see playcalling being brought up quite a bit. We wonder why they run certain plays even though it doesn't work? My feeling is that our players need more reps and they are able to only do certain things. Or they are able to show things in practice they are not able to do in live action game. Until we have an excellent OL or a scrambling QB we are not going to good. It starts with better players and more reps. Hopefully next year.

Joined: 11/04/2013

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bluinohio

October 8th, 2017 at 3:29 PM ^

We showed we CAN do certain things. Pitch sweep to Higdon - 11 yards. 2 plays later another pitch sweep to Higdon- 7 yards. Never called again. Instead we wait til it's a downpour then try to have OK throw. Or we run up the middle on first and second then ask him to pass on an obvious passing down. Then we run 2 fades in a row into the endzone.
It's not just the plays that are called either, it's WHEN they are called that puts the players in a tough position to actually make the play work. If 75% of the people watching know what's coming, I'd assume the defense does too.
I totally agree the offensive line is a huge problem, but the playcalling is a huge part of the issue too.

Joined: 08/24/2015

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rd2w10

October 8th, 2017 at 3:04 PM ^

And we never get any breakdowns in coverages or mismatches. A fade to Mcdoom instead of a fade to gentry or DPJ shouldnt happen. Also the Qbs need to give the wrs a chance to atleast out athlete a db.

Joined: 02/22/2012

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Scottwood

October 8th, 2017 at 3:05 PM ^

Why was Pep considered a good hire?

I don't really see anything in his resume that is impressive.

Joined: 01/08/2009

MGoPoints: 730

Coldwater

October 8th, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^

Big time NFL coaching experience. Quarterback coach, wide receiver coach, offensive coordinator in the NFL...that's a dang good resume. For whatever reason it hasn't translated to the Michigan team at all. It's been a monumental disappointment.

Joined: 12/14/2008

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BlueMk1690

October 8th, 2017 at 3:47 PM ^

are full of failed college coaches. It's an old boys network. I'm pretty sure the Zooker is still somewhere around there..

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Victor Valiant

October 9th, 2017 at 10:23 AM ^

Coach of GB Packers secondary.

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Scottwood

October 8th, 2017 at 8:19 PM ^

He was fired by the Colts and the Browns are awful. Lots of guys toil around in the NFL coaching ranks. Bill Sheridan was a DC for a few years and is still a linebacker coach. So is Jim Hermmann. Terry Malone ended up being a TE coach for forever in the NFL. It's an old boys network. Just having been an NFL assistant doesn't mean much. Don Brown had a track record you could point to statistically. Pep was just tied to Andrew Luck's hip and was fired b/c the Colts offense underperformed.

Joined: 01/08/2009

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Jimmyisgod

October 8th, 2017 at 3:27 PM ^

People around here and in the media were excited because he turned down the pros to come to Michigan. As if that really meant anything.

Joined: 01/24/2012

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Schemboeller C…

October 8th, 2017 at 3:08 PM ^

Michigan needs to take a page out Texas Tech, Iowa State, OK States playbook on how to put QBs in positions to be successful. You know, like maybe throw a quick slant or a stop route or a screen every once in a while...

Joined: 12/13/2015

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Brian Griese

October 8th, 2017 at 3:50 PM ^

I can’t help but wonder if we need to move towards an air raid. Frankly, I think it’s too difficult to put a great college offense together that is pro-style these days because so few high schools run it. I firmly believe it’s going to put us behind the 8 ball in future seasons with regards to the o-line, where the issues have been the most highlighted. The spread has exploded since Harbaugh started at Stanford, and even big time pro-style schools like Penn State, OSU and Bama have moved away from it to some degree.

Joined: 10/25/2014

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Schemboeller C…

October 8th, 2017 at 5:22 PM ^

I dont know about the air raid because those offenses tend to crumble a few games every year when the passing game isnt clicking. But I do think we need to move towards recruiting dual threat QB's and running the zone read.

Joined: 12/13/2015

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Gob Wilson

October 8th, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^

The article has the following quote (and refer to a 'mirage of creativity'):

> "They ran 40 different formations in the first half."

> Forty formations. Three points. "

I did not think we had 40 snaps in the first half. Maybe the experts can comment.

Joined: 11/24/2012

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Schemboeller C…

October 8th, 2017 at 3:26 PM ^

I believe we had 16 plays on the first drive alone

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Charmandar

October 8th, 2017 at 3:36 PM ^

Some of you need to smoke some weed or take a Xanax and relax. It is just a game. Harbaugh is a great coach. Former head coach Dave Brandon (everyone knows Brandon was the real head coach not his patsy Hoke) left us a fucking crater. It will take Harbaugh awhile to dig us out of their mess.

Joined: 08/24/2016

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blueday

October 8th, 2017 at 3:41 PM ^

On their improvement week. Just want emotion and creativity on O. Realize they are young so scheme around that... the fade and power run game isn't working. We knew that before sparty.

Joined: 11/04/2014

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MichiganForever

October 8th, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^

Lets listen to some idiot named after a pokemon.

Joined: 03/23/2013

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Charmandar

October 8th, 2017 at 7:03 PM ^

Let's listen to random message board poster.

but hey if you want to raise your BP over a game that has zero effect on day to day management of your life, go right ahead. I'll be over here chilling, enjoying life.

Joined: 08/24/2016

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MichiganForever

October 8th, 2017 at 7:26 PM ^

Take another bong rip and log off

Joined: 03/23/2013

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Charmandar

October 8th, 2017 at 10:49 PM ^

I don't smoke weed or take any drugs. I do realize whether Michigan wins or loses has no bearing on my life. The sun will still come up tomorrow. I will still be employed and with my wonderful family.

It is just a game. Relax.

Joined: 08/24/2016

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MichiganForever

October 9th, 2017 at 3:27 PM ^

Im totes relaxed bra. Its called being a fan and a football fanatic. Maybe you should find another sport to follow if competition upsets you.

Joined: 03/23/2013

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MichiganForever

October 9th, 2017 at 3:28 PM ^

Im totes relaxed bra. Its called being a fan and a football fanatic. Maybe you should find another sport to follow if competition upsets you.

Joined: 03/23/2013

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UM Griff

October 8th, 2017 at 5:03 PM ^

Should provide a jolt to the offensive minds to do what works, ditch what doesn’t (the fade pass!!!!) and improve our blocking (a totally missed effort last night).

Joined: 12/03/2016

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