Greg Matisson has changed my mind....
I just finished watching today's press conferences. At one point Matisson almost broke down in answering a question about Hoke and the jawing on the sidelines. Matisson really went to bat for Coach Hoke today. I encourage everyone to watch the full video on the Mgoblue website. Previously I had professed that I was done with Brady Hoke but in listening to Mattison's responses today I have to say that I'm willing to go along a little further.These guys are certainly working hard. Let's see where we are at the end of season...
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
people everywhere who work their ass off but just aren't good at their job. Hard work only gets you so far.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^
Please end all further comments to this post. Nothing more needs to be said.
September 22nd, 2014 at 6:09 PM ^
NOT HOW THE INTERNET WORKS!
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^
Agreed. Talent exists in all walks of life and some people just don't have the talent to compete at the highest level, and there's nothing wrong with that, so long as those in charge identify and address it.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^
Please tell me you aren't saying Mattison isn't good at his job
Michigan ranking in total defense,
2010: 110th Rodriguez/Robinson
2011: 17th Hoke/Mattison
Because if you are, you're living up to your sig.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 9:35 PM ^
I was talking about Hoke but unfortunately they're most likely a package deal.
September 22nd, 2014 at 10:48 PM ^
What if we—by some crazy turn of luck—get John Harbaugh, GMatts old head coach in Baltimore. Does he stay then?
September 22nd, 2014 at 6:52 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 7:20 PM ^
yea because giving up 1 offensive touchdown this past saturday is "outmatched"
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^
However, sometimes I feel like some (not all) of the board gets a bit vitriolic towards Hoke and the coaches. They should be retained based on job performance at the end of the year, but I really don't get the distinction between supporting the players and supporting the coaches. They both invest themselves in the program. If, at the end of the season, it is time for a change, then so be it. As for me, I will supoort the players AND the coaches for the entire season. I still hold out hope for improvement, and I don't think its naive. If a coaching change is necessary at the end of the season, then we need to make that move, but I'll still regret that things did not work out. Hoke has many qualities that I want in a Michigan coach and it is disrespectful and counterproductive to demand a coaching change at this juncture.
September 22nd, 2014 at 6:11 PM ^
Yes, I think that it's naive to hold out hope for this season. Michigan is 2-8 in the last 10 games games against teams from Big 5 conferences (and Notre Dame). This includes: a physical pounding against MSU, a miracle finish against Northwestern (a team that went 1-7 in the B1G), a whooping by Kansas State, the largest loss to ND in rivalry history and the non-competitive game that we saw last weekend.
We're still seeing turnovers in bunches, bizarre decisions to punt on 4th and 6 from the opponent's 37 and head scratching draw plays on 3rd and 16 inside the 40 with time running out in the half.
I was very hopeful for (and supportive of) Brady Hoke. I think that he's a great guy. I'd definitely buy him a beer if I saw him at Fraser's. However, at some point you have to cut your losses or risk further denigration of the program.
If you're the parent of a 17 year old highly touted recruit with offers from Michigan, Michigan Staee (see what I did there?), Notre Dame. Ohio State and Penn State.......can you honestly say that you'd suggest that they go to Michigan if their primary goal is to win games and play for B1G Championships?
At this point, I don't think that it's disrespectful or counterproductive to discuss making moves in an attempt to save the program. If it's better to change coaches now instead of after the next humiliating loss (or after the season), then that option needs to be on the table. I'm not saying that I'd make the move right now but Dave Brandon's ass is on the line. He can't let this season (or recruiting class) get away. That's got to play into his decision making process.
September 22nd, 2014 at 8:42 PM ^
While I'm not happy with the coaching at this time either, why is it all the coaches fault? At what point is it the players fault? If you look at say recruiting stars and compare the Utah team to UM position by position, shouldn't UM be able to line up and beat the man across from them enough to win the game regardless of scheme/coaching/preperation? People talk about development, but there is development by a number of players. Clark, Henry, Glasgow, Bolden, Wilson, etc. these guys are all developing on defense. Funchess, Darboh, Green, Miller, Hayes, Norfleet, etc. these guys are developing on offense. The real crutch, which has been at UM since Carr retired, is the ability of the QB to read coverage and throw accurately. As dynamic as Denard was he couldn't do this and Gardner doesn't seem very good at it either. Hopefully Morris will be better at this next year, but if not I have faith that Speight will be. And once the offensen line is good enough to not have constant pressure and get the run game going, that should help out the QB. So, not to take all pressure off the coaching...there are some negative things going on, but from what I'm looking at the problems with these teams still lie on the o-line and the QB. There are open recievers out there that are just not seen or delevered good balls to. If that changes I really think the whole dynamic of this team changes.
September 22nd, 2014 at 8:55 PM ^
Ultimately, it's the players that must execute. But it's the coaches that have to select the players and shape them into an effective team. That is not going well. Hoke makes $4 million a year to turn raw high schoolers into B1G championship players, and, at least on offense, it ain't happening. The weakest spots on the team are now populated by all his guys. On the O line, we can't expect greatness but some reasonable consistency and ability to push smaller players around should happen more often than not. Gardner's career has almost entirely been under Hoke, and he was good enough as a high schooler to be the top dual threat recruit. Last year there were rumbles about him going to the draft. He has not improved since then and in fact looks worse.
So yeah, it's Gardner's fault when he throws a pick. But it's Hoke's fault that Gardner doesn't know better.
September 22nd, 2014 at 9:47 PM ^
Hoke isn't the offensive coordinator. If anything then that's Nuss' fault, no? For some reason it seems to be generally accepted that Nuss is a good coach, but Hoke is a bad one. I mean, there are some reasonable explanations for why Gardner hasn't shown a lot of progress. First, he's in his 3rd offensive system. Second, his offensive lines have been bad. Third, he has played multiple positions. IMO the QB is a huge part of the problem and I don't think that falls solely on Hoke. Granted, me may not be using the best system, playcalling, etc. to match Gardner's skill set, but his decision making, his turning his back the defense, his starring down his primary reciever, etc. those are all very correctable obvious things that I have to assume he's been coached on yet still continues to make mistakes on. He's a great kid and I'm sure is under tremendous pressure so I feel for him. But, IMO much of the problem is on him and the o-line...at least more so than on the coaches.
September 22nd, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^
Hoke is a nice guy...maybe too nice. I always poke fun at Kelly's purple face, but maybe a QB needs a harsh dose of reality every so often. Watch the B1G Network special on QB Leach and you will learn that BO was ready to, and specifically threatened to, bench him on several occasions if he couldn't get it right on the field. I think players feared (in the revered sense) Bo and played with a twinge up their backside...later, in hindsight, they professed love and admiration for the man, but it began with respect. Gardner is a heck of a gifted athlete, but all that pales in comparison to his failure to keep the golden football rule: protect the ball. Bo would not make excuses. Bo would not worry about Devin's psyche. Bo would bench Gardner (probably already during the ND debacle). The TEAM, the TEAM, the TEAM. It's time to instill discipline in this team....let it begin with fear and let that start at the top, with Gardner. Enough babying these guys, it's time to DEMAND excellence. That is a head coach doing his job of demanding excellence from himself, his staff and his players--holding players and coaches ACCOUNTABLE.
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:29 AM ^
That twinge up their backside was the memory of Bo's foot.
When the team played poorly in the first half, they invariably came out for the second playing like gangbusters. I imagine Bo scorched their ears with fire and brimstone during halftime.
September 22nd, 2014 at 6:54 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
You see why Mattison is a great recruiter?
Too bad he can't coach offense too.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^
Being persuasive isn't the same as knowing how to ID talent and build a program. Mattison was DC and recruiting coordinator at ND for 8 years and they were mediocre or worse the whole time. His success all came on the coattails of Ray Lewis (every other DC he had in Baltimore immediately got to be an NFL head coach) and Meyer/Strong (had as much if not more success after Mattison left at Florida and have had elite success at their two other head coaching stops after that). His opinion on Hoke's ability to coach doesn't mean anything to me.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:30 PM ^
Well, also the greatest defense in the history of college football, that he largely recruited and briefly made us all think Jim Hermann was a genius.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:33 PM ^
you don't think he has brought in talent and built a good defense in his 4 years here?
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:35 PM ^
I usually agree with you on just about everything, but you can't argue with Mattison's results here at Michigan. His defenses have been consistently excellent. He is not the problem, the same way RR's offense was never the problem. Both units were made to look worse due to extreme deficiencies on the other side of the ball.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:45 PM ^
Hoke is responsible for building a complete team and Mattison as recruiting coordinator plays a role in that. We have one quality skill player on offense from Hoke's 3+ classes making a real impact and a bunch of big whiffs on the offensive line. When that happens and you didn't sign a QB or a legit RB prospect in 2012, there are big issues present.
And I think "excellent" may be a little hyperbolic for our defense the last 4 seasons, and even this year. Whenever they've been tested they have folded (4 TD in the first 7 drives against ND, field goal right before half and TD right after against Utah when their QB came back). I'm not sure either ND or Utah are great offensively, and both were playing shorthanded at times (Utah without QB, ND without multiple starters).
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:52 PM ^
His defenses have given up huge points to nearly every good offense they've played. Some of that has been because of the horrendous offense, and Mattison is a solid coach, but he's no defensive genius.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:18 PM ^
It is starting to REALLY worry me that I am agreeing with LordGrantham a lot these days.
Mattison is a good defensive coach who did a wonderful turnaround of our defense. Its never been elite or great since he has been here. Its been good for 3 of the 4 years (pass defense last year was horrific). He had a good run at ND where thir defense was also good not great most of that time. He is a very competent college level coordinator and the least of our worries. But lets be realistic about our defense - no one is walking into Michigan and saying its a defense that changes games. But that is not all on him either - we have lacked playmakers for the better part of these 4 years - JMFR in 2012, Mike Martin in 2011 - thats about it really.
We dont have a ton of splash players - I'd like to see what he could do with them but he is responsible for the development (or lack of) of those splash players.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:35 PM ^
the d doesn't pass the eye test, and there's a reason they haven't been sending players to the nfl--there aren't any playmakers and they are just solid. we were just so accustomed to terrible defenses under RR that competency looked elite.
September 22nd, 2014 at 8:01 PM ^
I don't disagree that it isn't a world-beating defense, but there are maybe 3-4 a season that could realistically be considered that. The lack of impact playmakers is troubling, but I do expect guys like Ryan, Clark, Henry, Lewis, Peppers, etc. to be playmakers for this team going forward this year and beyond.
And look at MSU - they had the best defense last year by most measures and had 1 guy drafted total; hell, had the same number drafted from their 2010 defense. Being really good in college doesn't mean the same as the NFL, and I absolutely believe that given 2-3 more years Mattison would/will field one of the top-10 defenses in the country.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:55 PM ^
who have we given up huge points to besides OSU last year?
September 22nd, 2014 at 6:39 PM ^
Without going back and looking Indiana comes to mind.
September 22nd, 2014 at 8:03 PM ^
Michigan had 1 bad quarter (23 points) against one of the most explosive offenses in the country. They also dropped 63 on IU with the 2013 offense, so it was kinda a weird game.
September 22nd, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^
They gave up:
30 to ND
43 to PSU
47 to Indiana
29 to MSU
42 to OSU
31 to KSU
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:00 PM ^
He (Mattison) is not the problem, the same way RR's offense was never the problem.
Hey . . . I've got an idea.
Too soon?
September 22nd, 2014 at 6:58 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 8:08 PM ^
It played fine against MSU; the offense not being able to do anything at all is going to wear down any unit. OSU had the shoot best running game in the country; they ran all over MSU to boot. KSU was a weird game where nobody seemed to know what they were doing, and honestly the biggest issue was every cornerback being unable to cover one of the best WRs in the country.
It was a good defense. The stats were fine for most of the year before the bottom fell out on the team.
September 22nd, 2014 at 9:02 PM ^
Mattison is from madison? See what I did there.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:08 PM ^
Mattison said he wouldn't have left the Ravens to come here if it weren't for "that man" (points to Hoke).
Let's see where the dust settles at the end of the Big Ten season, hopefully no sooner. I think the way I will approach each game is in a vacuum -- completely independent of results prior and results after. The only thing that currently matters is beating Minnesota.
That may not be a realistic approach, but it mitigates a lot of the sad feelings for me.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
Which product on the field? Hoke's or Mattison's?
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^
As a ravens fan I can attest to this, mattison was probably getting fired, not that that has anything to do with this team.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^
He was demoted from DC to recruiting coordinator at ND but stayed on because he couldn't get a better job. He then got an elevated title but was still working under Charlie Strong at Florida. He left that job to be a position coach in the NFL. Then he went from the NFL to college.
The guy hasn't gotten a promotion in 20 years. Acting like he's some guru was one of many mistakes this fanbase made when they thought this program was going to be a national contender under Hoke.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:56 PM ^
The last three comments by PurpleStuff reaffirms my faith in the genuineness of the knowledgable Michigan athletics fan. Mattison appears to be little better than MAYBE an above average football coach, whose calling in life is perhaps best suited to appliance salesman.
You want the evidence, the proof? Read last three posts by PurpleStuff. Still don't get it? I got nothing for ya.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^
The defense is eighth in the country right now in average yards allowed per game. Given the qualifiers that the metric isn't perfect by any means--and it's not schedule-adjusted--but bad defenses don't rank that high.
The guy is a good-to-great college coach. Give credit where credit is due.
September 22nd, 2014 at 6:02 PM ^
and I preface this by saying I like Mattison as our DC.
We may be giving up less yardage because our opponents are only having to go 50 or 60 yards to score instead of 80+ with our offense not moving the ball and punting deep within our own territory. I say all this not having looked at scoring drive distances from our opponents, just a quick thought from work.
Our run D has been pretty amazing thus far and we have depth and talent in the secondary. I like what our D has given us this year. The lack of offense and field flipping is the only way I figure we outgain our opponents and still lose.
Something to ponder.
September 22nd, 2014 at 8:31 PM ^
I like PurpleStuff enough, but I'd counter that the ND game's score was very deceiving, with two of those TDs coming on short fields set up by turnovers. And against Utah, which has a decent offense, the defense held them to under 300 total yards and gave up a total of 19 points (a couple coming on short fields at TOs) plus scored a TD themselves. This isn't some tire-fire defense.
Also, here are Mattison's defense ratings at ND from 1999 to 2004 (he went to the DL at 2002). I couldn't find them for 1997 and 1998.
1999 - 74
2000 - 51
2001 - 14
2002 - 13
2003 - 33
2004 - 54
And then from 2005 until 2010 on it was 75, 65, 39, 39, 86, 50. And considering how those early ND teams were suffering through the Bob Davie years, I see a pretty steady climb. Also, Urban Meyer called Mattison the best recruiter he knew.
Mattison isn't the greatest DC in the world, but people acting like whether or not he was "out the door" in Baltimore effects his ability to be a good college defensive coordinator ignores the mountains of evidence that certain people are built for one or the other.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:48 PM ^
As a Ravens fan, you have no idea whether or not he was going to get fired. It certainly would have been a bizarre move considering the Ravens defense was one of the best in the league.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:19 PM ^
Every ravens fan I know wanted him fired at the end of that season and there were tons of rumors he would be, so yes well while I am not ozzie newsome I can not say for sure what would have happened I can tell you that if most people around the ravens wanted him gone.
I'm glad you followed the ravens so closely in 2010 and watched the games and followed the reporting around the team so you knew what was going on.
September 22nd, 2014 at 8:03 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 8:32 PM ^
Well, this story checks out. I mean, you did ask Ravens fans you knew, and you also read stuff on the Internet.