Greg Mattison nominated for Broyles Award
My favorite coach, and probably yours, is one of forty nominees for the 2014 Broyles Award, which goes to the nation's top assistant coach. He was one of five finalists in 2011, when I believe he deserved to win. LSU's defensive co-ordinator was named the best assistant, although Mattison's accomplishments that year were more impressive.
Congratulations to Coach Mattison.
November 27th, 2014 at 12:12 AM ^
We'll see how he does against OSU. I personally believe the defense has been underwhelming this year, but congrats to him nonetheless. I like him, even if I think he should move on after this year.
November 27th, 2014 at 1:14 AM ^
November 27th, 2014 at 4:01 AM ^
Stop being mean to him.
Far as the defense goes, I just think they're almot impossible to evaluate because the offense has been so shitty. Much like the 2010 offense, it is really hard to figure out how they would perform under remotely normal circumstances.
November 27th, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^
It was fairly apparent that by the middle of the 3rd Q against ND the D understood the offense wasn't going to score, and so gave up some easy late game points. It looked like the same thing occurred against Minnesota, MSU, and even MD.
November 27th, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^
November 28th, 2014 at 6:05 AM ^
people feel his defense has been "under-whelming". The constent short fields due to sudden changes and pick six turnovers were alarming the last couple years. What I can not understand is why the offense either did not feel they were alarming or were unable to correct that problem and give "The Team" a better chance at winning.
Greg Mattison deserves more credit than he will get just for keeping this defense together while their record stays below 50%. Ironically these type of awards go out to coaches whose teams have records well above 50% because of the thought that the defense is the reason for the teams succsess. I feel if we have learned anything this year is that this is a team sport. So I wish him luck in this award but at the same time I am not sure he is going to get it.
November 27th, 2014 at 12:19 AM ^
November 27th, 2014 at 12:19 AM ^
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November 27th, 2014 at 12:46 AM ^
Coach Mattison led a remarkable turn around in our defensive fortunes, which gained Michigan a Sugar Bowl victory. I thought then and still do: What Coach Mattison achieved, given the circumstances, was more impressive.
John Chavis was DC under Les Miles. Coach Mattison was working with Brady Hoke. Big difference.
November 27th, 2014 at 1:06 AM ^
Lsu beat I think three winners of BCS Bowl games in one season, smoked the SEC en route to the title, and unleashed an incredibly dominant, NFL talent laden defense. I think most of the teams they beat ended up winning their bowl games. Most LSU fans think it was the best LSU defense of all time.
November 27th, 2014 at 9:08 AM ^
November 27th, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^
November 27th, 2014 at 7:15 AM ^
There's no "right" or "wrong" when the OP is stating his opinion.
Is your only criterion for winning the Broyles Award being the #1 team in the country? If so, how do you choose between selecting the OC or the DC for the #1 team in the country?
Also, I'm not saying Chavis wasn't responsible for some of this, but that LSU defense was stacked with Tyrann Mathieu, Morris Claiborne, Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery, Eric Reid, Michael Brockers, etc.
Meanwhile, the only defensive player from that 2011 Michigan team to have been drafted is Mike Martin, a 3rd rounder. Granted, there are still some possibilities to still get drafted (Jake Ryan, Frank Clark, Blake Countess, etc.), but considering that was three years ago, you're talking about guys who were freshmen at the time. Mattison made hay with Ryan Van Bergen (out of football), Jordan Kovacs (a walk-on who's a fringe NFL player), Thomas Gordon (out of football, AFAIK), Kenny Demens (undrafted, special teamer for the Cardinals), Craig Roh (undrafted, out of football), etc.
Great coaching isn't about taking great players and allowing them to be great. It's about making the sum greater than the individual parts.
November 27th, 2014 at 8:15 AM ^
Happy Turkey Day Magnus.
November 27th, 2014 at 9:02 AM ^
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November 27th, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^
November 28th, 2014 at 12:17 AM ^
November 27th, 2014 at 12:24 AM ^
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November 27th, 2014 at 1:46 AM ^
It's kinda ironic that while Mattison did turn around the defense from the RR era, he is the one who coached the defense that gave up the most yards in a single game in Michigan history.
November 27th, 2014 at 8:34 AM ^
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November 27th, 2014 at 10:38 AM ^
November 27th, 2014 at 5:08 AM ^
November 27th, 2014 at 7:02 AM ^
Michigan hasn't had seven losses in one season since 2009.
November 27th, 2014 at 7:34 AM ^
The site for the award posted the comprehensive list of finalists yesterday - LINK
Other Big Ten coordinators on the list - Dave Warner (MSU Co-OC), Tracy Claeys (Minnesota DC), Tom Herman (OSU OC), Bob Shoop (PSU DC) and Dave Aranda (Wisconsin DC).
November 27th, 2014 at 7:40 AM ^
If this offense could get out of its own way, the team would be great.
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November 27th, 2014 at 9:28 AM ^
Agree, but let's say very good, not great.
November 27th, 2014 at 9:46 AM ^
Let's say good. (Schlomo)
November 27th, 2014 at 8:09 PM ^
I have a hard time calling our defense "damn good" when it gave up 400 passing yards to Gary Nova and pretty much looks helpless whenever it faces a two-minute drill.
November 27th, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^
Mattison turned around one of the WORST defenses in modern football history and he did it with basically the same kids. Chavis had a defense loaded with NFL talent and no recent struggles to speak of.
Also, the fact that Mattison is a finalist this year is just plain silly.
November 27th, 2014 at 10:09 AM ^
The theory of relativity says that this defense is only good in relation to our own awful offense, bad to moderately good offenses we have faced, and our own past awful defenses. Mattison has done a decent job, but not one worthy of a national award.
November 27th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^
Let's say better than the "Steel Curtain". Better than Ray Lewis and the Ravens. Better than the Russians defending Moscow in WW II.
Okay, maybe that's a little Fred J.
Seriously, Greg Mattison has been a light of football fortitude through a rather dark and gloomy era. Sure, there's been mistakes and miscues. I'm grateful he brought his football knowledge to Michigan.
His weakest defense has been trying to defend Brady Hoke. But that shows courage to stand up for a friend in tough circumstances.
Thanks again Coach Mattison.
November 27th, 2014 at 10:35 AM ^
Important to keep in mind that there are 40(!) nominees. You basically just have to be above average.
November 27th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
It's for the top assistant. Assuming that all are coordinators, you're potentially talking about the top 20 offensive coordinators and top 20 defensive coordinators. I think there are 128 FBS teams, so that's still pretty dang good.
November 27th, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^
November 27th, 2014 at 11:44 AM ^
November 27th, 2014 at 8:04 PM ^
2012 MSU was bad on the OL and at WR as well. They basically had LeVeon Bell and little else.
November 27th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
but Brian might need medical attention.
November 27th, 2014 at 11:33 AM ^
Coach Hoke=General George Custard (born in Ohio) but a Michigan Man. Wikipedia-Michigan Brigade"The Michigan Brigade, sometimes called the Wolverines, the Michigan Calvalry Brigade or Custers's Brigade, was a brigade of cavalry in the volunteer Union Army during the latter half of the American Civil War." The Ohio State University will be Hokes last stand.
November 27th, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^
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