Impact of Tolbert at SC coach over one month

Submitted by iawolve on
One item that keeps coming up in the practice interviews is how much better the team "looks" and is conditioned which is attributed to Tolbert. This is mentioned again a few threads down in Bolden's interview for MGoBlue. I am not doubting Tolbert's ability, I am glad to have him. My question is what could he have done with these guys in a little over a month? Is it more attitude and belief or did Wellman simply have no idea on how to run a SC program? I have not seen the team yet so I don't have a way to compare with the eye test. Interested in any insight here. Hail Harbaugh.
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Baughlieve

February 28th, 2015 at 6:46 PM ^

The Barwis Effect

Barwis goes on WTKA

During the interview, Barwis talked about his pets. Now, a normal person would have a pet dog or cat or something like that, but not Mike Barwis. He had pet wolves and a dog-like animal from Spain that was bred to hunt lions. Seriously. Barwis also touched on how he once drove off a cliff and still made it to practice and then also discussed a ridiculous journey to West Virginia and back to move some things to Ann Arbor. The journey included being in a snowstorm, lifting a trailer back onto the road, and getting to practice only 30 seconds late after hurting his back and having only one functional leg. Folks, Mike Barwis truly is an urban legend. 

 

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LSAClassOf2000

February 28th, 2015 at 4:21 PM ^

For what it is worth, in the thread which contained the interview with Joe Bolden, Joe himself mentions what he has noticed anyway:

"The gains the guys made in the offseason in terms of speed and from the lifting stands out to me," said Bolden. "And on the defensive side of the ball, guys are more physical. The defensive backs are coming down and hitting the ball. The running backs are getting downhill; the offensive linemen are getting off and trying to get to the second level.

Harbaugh has complimented Tolbert as well, and was quoted in an article a few days ago, as I recall. 

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tolmichfan

February 28th, 2015 at 8:43 PM ^

How can you tell how hard a guy is "hitting" when they aren't in pads yet? This type of stuff is said every offseason, because are you gonna go into an interview and say man this year we are really taking a step back and really not hitting guys as hard. No, it's sports psychology 101 right now your team is always the best, fatest, strongest, and this offseason we worked harder than ever.

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Miami Maize

February 28th, 2015 at 4:23 PM ^

What's most impressive about these comments is that they are coming from current players, who have the most insight into how the other players look and are getting stronger, faster.  It feels like the opening sequence of the old Six Million Dollar Man, with all the players getting way faster and stronger.

We are so blessed to have Jim Harbaugh running the show.  While we all endured an anxious December, the wait was so well worth it.  

 

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cbuswolverine

February 28th, 2015 at 6:34 PM ^

I guarantee you that we could go back through every single offseason and find players saying wonderful things about their teammates.  Go over to EMU and ask some of their guys how they think things are going right now.  They'll tell you they're going to win the MAC.  "Football Player Says Teammates Looking Good," is not a fresh headline. 

Don't get me wrong.  I'm excited, too.  It's just that I don't know how anybody doesn't take the annual sunshine and roses from these same guys who have performed below expectation over and over with a massive grain of salt.  Bring on the spring game, please.  I need to see it with my own two eyes at this point.

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MichiganMAN47

February 28th, 2015 at 4:25 PM ^

Didn't Wellman use the same program for all players? He didn't differentiate the program for certain positions. In other words he was basically treating Running Backs and Offensive Lineman with the same regimen- not a good formula for success. That would make a bit of a difference.  

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Wendyk5

February 28th, 2015 at 4:34 PM ^

I can't speak to work outs but during the women's football academy, we toured the work out facilities and in the snack bar area, there were signs indicating differentiation in how the different weight categories should be replenishing their bodies. The categories were weight loss, weight gain, and weight maintenance. I have to think they at least differentiated that much in work outs as well, if not at positions, too.

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The Trashman

February 28th, 2015 at 4:31 PM ^

A month is a lot of time. Usually when I'm working out, it takes like 2-3 weeks to substantially improve my muscle mass. Also they had every player eating specific items for every meal. For example Peppers has been eating straight pasta since Harbaugh was hired.

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Mauresi

February 28th, 2015 at 4:40 PM ^

I've been a trainer for over 6 years, and I can tell you 4 weeks is just the tip of the ice burg. You can do a lot in a month, regarding diet and agility training, which are hand down, the most important. Training philosophy has a lot to go into it as well. Tolbert has been in the NFL, been in college, and has an enormous amount of experience. I'd say you'd be able to see a little difference, but if the players notice a change now, wait until fall, it will be a world of difference. #GoBlue



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DetroitBlue

February 28th, 2015 at 4:47 PM ^

I'm sure Tolbert is a really good S&C coach, but every year there's rumors out of spring practice that the team looks so much better and blah blah blah. I wouldn't put too much stock in these reports. That being said, Harbaugh!



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gopoohgo

February 28th, 2015 at 4:55 PM ^

S&C important...but the Stanford teams at Harbaugh's zenith they were mean, nasty mofos.  Like watching Bos teams in the late 1980s.  Here we come, you know what's coming but God Damn you won't be able to stop us.

The practice reports on mgoblue.com, etc....Who's got it better than us. 

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NoHeartAnthony

February 28th, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^

Different stimulus most likely. I'm a runner and rarely lift. If I were to begin a lifting cycle, I'd see improvement no matter how objectively efficient my routine was. Guessing Tolbert is working in a different fashion than Wellman and we're seeing a quick improvement in certain areas that will plateau over time.

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ChicagoGangViolins

February 28th, 2015 at 5:43 PM ^

 

To a certain middle-aged mostly deskbound patent lawyer, who I shall not identify, 'roids is an unpleasant trigger word. Please check your age-related privilege.  (cough - ouch!)

 

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M Go Cue

February 28th, 2015 at 5:47 PM ^

Seems to be evidence of the value of bringing in a coach like Jim Harbaugh.  We are seeing immediate improvement everywhere and that comes from the top.  Hell, even this website has become better, or at least more fun, in the last 8 weeks.                                                                    

There are not many coaches that can come in and have such a quick impact but we sure have one of 'em.

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CoachBP6

February 28th, 2015 at 5:59 PM ^

Tolbert has a unique way of teaching strength and conditioning. Tolbert has learned from old school SC coaches, modern sc coaches, and nfl sc coaches. His repetar consists of marrying all three together to create his own unique style / regiment. There is a lot of positive superlatives being sent Tolberts way right now and I tend to believe much of them. I think Tolbert is better than wellman by a good margin, and it will show when it matters most.

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Roanman

February 28th, 2015 at 6:02 PM ^

And were getting after it in a big way before Tolbert was even hired. No bowl practice meant extra time in the weight room. And while there was no officially hired S&C coach in there, they were being supervised by someone for sure, it might have even been Wellman retained for purposes of running the weight room while we were in between coaching staffs. I don't recall one way or the other if he was told to empty out his desk with the football staff.

It's no suprise to me that people improved and I'm seriously doubtful that Tolbert had a lot to do with it in the short time he was here.

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MGoStrength

February 28th, 2015 at 6:06 PM ^

The science is not what coaching is about, even as an S&C coach.  Yes, these guys have degrees in exercise science, many graduate degrees, but they are stil coaches.  They are not lab technicians publishing research on exercise and pouring over research journals every day.  I think the biggest thing in coaching, and most anything in life, being a good manager, being in good shape yourself, etc....it's not what you do it's how you do it.  There are a ton of different ways to get the same result.  But, something done hard and with passion, belief, and consistently and questionable science/theory will give better results than a perfectly planned/theoried approach done with questionable effort, enthusiasm, execution, committment, and consistency.  What Harbaugh, and it appears eveyone on his staff are best with, is enthusiasm, energy, and intensity.  The previous staff seemed more focused on education, mentorship, and growth.  Those are all noble values, but are not IMO as highly correlated with success as a strength coach, and success in college sports with highly impressionable kids.  

 

I have worked for strength coaches that used highly questionable practices if we go by current literature, but were really enthusiastic guys and they got great results.  I've also worked with guys that were super smart, but just simply didn't inspire and challenge the athletes enough.  Like most things in life, the people with the best personalities get the best things out of their constituents because people want to be around them and perform for them.  As much as a scumbag as we see Urban is at times, he has a confidence and charisma that is effective on those around him.  And, that is what I see as the difference so far in this staff versus the former, including from Tolbert. 

 

FWIW I realize I am gleaming a lot from a very small sample size including loads of assumptions.  But, usually when there's smoke there's fire and it's often enough to gather what's really going on.  I also have worked for 3 different college S&C programs and have a master's degree in exercise science.  Take it for what it's worth.

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