Michigan Insider Podcast: Newsome to TE coach, Jay to defense
I was listening to the free insider podcast with Zach Shaw and Steve Lorentz and they dropped the nugget that Grant Newsome was moving from analyst to TE coach and Jay was moving to the defense. They were quite positive about the moves and spoke of them as some deals.
Had anyone heard this reported anywhere else? What position would be available for Jay to coach on D? Hope he holds onto coaching special teams, that wasn't mentioned.
February 8th, 2022 at 2:24 AM ^
Jay played as a DT.
February 8th, 2022 at 2:42 AM ^
In high school...
February 8th, 2022 at 2:46 AM ^
OK but he didn't play TE or RB and that's been just fine under him. And Newsome didn't play TE, Bellamy played at WR not on defense, Moore was coaching TEs before, IIRC Helow was a secondary coach before. We've seen this a million times now with guys coaching positions they didn't play.
February 8th, 2022 at 9:47 AM ^
Jay has proved he can coach!
February 8th, 2022 at 10:12 AM ^
I'd take exception to RBs being "just fine" under Jay. I wasn't all that impressed with our running back play during the vast majority of his tenure with that position group. I love what he's done with special teams and tight ends, but I think we've seen a huge leap forward at the running back position with Mike Hart on board. This isn't to bash Jay at all. He's earned his stripes, but I think it bears watching how things go under his watch on the other side of the ball, if that is indeed what is happening.
February 8th, 2022 at 10:41 AM ^
Hart is terrific doesn't mean that Jay was not "just fine".
February 8th, 2022 at 11:01 AM ^
Ohhhhh, so it was Hart who taught Corum to juke guys out of their jocks??
And it was Hart who taught Haskins how to hurdle fools?
Baloney. We had amazing RBs this past season because the players were awesome.
February 8th, 2022 at 11:08 AM ^
It can be both yeah? Good coaches help bad coaches hinder.
February 8th, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^
Wow, that missing comma sure changes the meaning of that last sentence.
"Time to eat grandma." vs. "Time to eat, grandma."
February 8th, 2022 at 11:29 AM ^
I have zero playing experience but I'd bet that coaches helped HH become better at blitz pick up and all running backs better at reading blocks and looking for cut back opportunities.
February 8th, 2022 at 11:51 AM ^
Amazing RBs? Which is a 1st round pick?
February 8th, 2022 at 12:28 PM ^
It's 2022. RBs shouldn't be in the first round unless you're confident you're getting AP or Derrick Henry.
February 8th, 2022 at 2:44 AM ^
I was skeptical of that, but Wikipedia says he played on the defensive line in high school until knee injuries ended his career.
February 8th, 2022 at 7:25 AM ^
I just wiki’d him and learned that he is the adopted son of Jim Harbaugh, I had no idea. I’m sure this is common knowledge to many, but news to me. I was always amazed at the incredible lack of Harbaugh family resemblance, now it makes more sense.
February 8th, 2022 at 8:42 AM ^
Oh, if Wikipedia says it, it must be true!
February 8th, 2022 at 12:06 PM ^
There are peer-reviewed articles that proclaim Wikipedia's accuracy relative to other sources.
February 8th, 2022 at 12:51 PM ^
"peer-reviewed" is the new "correlation does not equal causation" thing that people say to try and sound smart
February 8th, 2022 at 9:12 AM ^
Really…? I always thought he was just the son of Jims first wife and that was the resemblance difference
February 8th, 2022 at 7:38 PM ^
Me too, but that Harbaugh gene seems to be strong looking at the brothers, his other sons, and of course older Jack….I guess I thought it was wild that Jay looked nothing like him at all with their gene pool seeming to be so prominent…but again, now it makes perfect sense. Good on Jim for adopting.
February 8th, 2022 at 9:13 AM ^
This is accurate… but seems not very well known within the fan base (not that it matters, just an interesting nugget IMO).
February 8th, 2022 at 9:51 AM ^
That is interesting. They've both been here 7 years. I'm a little surprised there hasn't been a feature on them that has mentioned it. They both may just be really private.
February 8th, 2022 at 10:36 AM ^
He is ADOPTED? What ? I doubt it. I call bullshit. He looks just like Him. Nice try!
February 8th, 2022 at 11:55 AM ^
That is so interesting, I had no idea. Good on Jim, too many kids out there need homes while we reproduce anyway.
February 8th, 2022 at 1:12 PM ^
Also throwing my dude Bob Barker's PSA, and have your pets spayed/neutered. Too many people make unwise decisions and cost pets their lives.
February 8th, 2022 at 1:46 PM ^
I guess we can no longer say that Jay Harbaugh has coaching in his blood.
February 8th, 2022 at 2:39 AM ^
Not crazy about Jay moving to defense. Jay has been very good with the TEs, so would Newsome even be an upgrade, not to mention enough of an upgrade to offset moving Jay to not only a new position but a side of the ball he's never coached? It would seem like Jay (TE) + experienced defensive coach >> Jay (defense) + Newsome (TE).
February 8th, 2022 at 2:54 AM ^
I view it as an opportunity for growth and career progression for both of them
February 8th, 2022 at 6:36 AM ^
I would have to imagine that Jay is looking to move from his dad's shadow and coach his own team at some point. It would be a much harder path if he stays as TE/ST coach. He needs to move around, and at this point, I trust his track record of positions he has coached (and hope he holds onto ST coordinator)
February 8th, 2022 at 9:30 AM ^
Great coaches understand both sides of the ball.
February 8th, 2022 at 10:36 AM ^
Yeah, he is preparing for a HC position, would understand all three phases, his uncle started as ST and moved to defense, Jim did ST as well for a bit, good to get the experience
February 8th, 2022 at 7:31 AM ^
Jay has been successful at every position group, and he’s proven to be a great recruiter. I have complete confidence in his abilities.
February 8th, 2022 at 9:12 AM ^
I feel the same way
February 8th, 2022 at 8:03 AM ^
Jay never played TE, either, and it was his very first on-field coaching assignment. He did okay with that - as Jake Butt can attest... TE is as much about blocking and OL help as it is about pass catching and routes, and Newsome was fairly good at his OL job. I'm sure he'll be a good TE coach, which is a beginner level on-field position.
I have zero worries about whatever position/group Jaybaugh takes over. Dude has proven himself many times over in the last 7 years - you can safely stop doubting the guy, now.
February 8th, 2022 at 9:19 AM ^
He also got coaching coverage and help from drevno/Frey since we had two oline coaches at the time. Just like he had coverage/help coaching on special teams from partridge.
It feels more like a way to get newsome a promotion than makes sense for jay and feels like an unnecessary risk for a position group that is young, needs a lot of coaching, and could easily make or break the success of the defense next year.
February 8th, 2022 at 10:00 AM ^
Harbaugh had special teams all by himself last year and produced one of the best combination of special teams units in the country.
February 8th, 2022 at 10:21 AM ^
Right, after learning the ropes. I'm not saying he's not a good special teams coach today, I'm saying he didn't just get thrown into the fire with no experience and thrived, as both a TE coach and Special teams coach he got his feet wet coaching with a more experienced partner that could make up for his lack of experience. He wouldn't have that at safeties unless Clink is covering for him.
February 8th, 2022 at 11:38 AM ^
What you are also highlighting is that twice in his career he had the opportunity to learn how to transition to a new position group from skilled professionals and he has learned how to do that well. Maybe he doesn't need someone to guide him now that he knows how to do it.
February 8th, 2022 at 1:07 PM ^
Your username is very fitting - you just spew hatefire everywhere...
Of course he had help learning a new position! Who the hell doesn't?
What a dumbass comment...
February 8th, 2022 at 10:27 AM ^
And Jay works recruiting very hard
February 8th, 2022 at 9:36 AM ^
Jay is getting experience on both sides of the ball in order to help is future career. Smart dad!
February 8th, 2022 at 11:32 AM ^
Yeah I'm conflicted on moving Newsome to an on field role. Obviously they feel like he's a young stud coach and want to keep him, but on the other hand, he doesn't seem in danger of getting poached, you could keep him as an analyst for another year or two and poach an excellent defensive coach from another school.
But I guess if he's such a great coach/recruiter that you have to have him, might as well promote him or you'll lose him like Osborn.
February 8th, 2022 at 1:59 PM ^
My mental model of staff responsibilities* is that position coaches in this sort of situation get a lot of guidance from the guys over them; a big part of their responsibilities are in managing things like drills and depth charts under supervision from their superiors. A lot of the technique I would expect them to be taught by their position coach can be taught *to* the position coach.
How can Jay coach RBs if he never was an RB? How can anyone? Even former RBs need to be taught the differences between playing a position and coaching it. Jay, who has grown up in a coaching family, absorbs tons of this stuff.
Newsome has experience as a lineman, which is about as close to applicable experience for TEs as you're going to get; he knows all about blocking. The other stuff? Jay can help him, Bellamy can help him, Jim can help him, Sherrone can help him. And it's not like he hasn't been preparing for this kind of role already. He hasn't exactly been twiddling his thumbs as an analyst.
I don't think the change in performance between these positions will be meaningful.
*developed entirely from being an interested and, hopefully, informed spectator, so let's not pretend I see anything from the inside
February 8th, 2022 at 2:54 AM ^
This makes room for Bellamy to move to WRs.
February 8th, 2022 at 9:17 AM ^
You need to explain that one to me. Gattis leaving is what makes room for Bellamy to move to WRs, doesn't it?
February 8th, 2022 at 9:55 AM ^
Guessing it would be Bellamy to WR's since that position was vacated by Gattis leaving, Newsome to TE's, Jay to Safeties (and helped by Clink)
February 8th, 2022 at 10:54 AM ^
Of course, that makes a lot of sense. It's similar to pairing Bellamy with Clink and Partridge with Don Brown when he got his start. But I think Jay's position group will depend on who's the new DC. Jay should be able to slot in wherever he's needed. If the new DC is Minter, that won't be with the safeties.
February 8th, 2022 at 10:58 AM ^
Completely forgot we still had a spot to fill
February 8th, 2022 at 2:58 AM ^
Very interesting. First, I will say I'm very happy for Grant! I know he's a really impressive guy by all accounts, and at minimum I could see him being a great recruiter because of his recent playing experience and charisma. Seems like they're looking to develop him on a similar career path as a young Sherrone Moore.
Jay to defense is a more ambiguous move. To my knowledge he doesn't have any coaching experience on that side of the ball, but then again he's been pretty successful with every unit he's coached, including as special teams coordinator. This could be a good move for his career development to gain experience on that side of the ball as a more well rounded coach. I don't think Jay has given us any reason to doubt his coaching acumen, but will be interesting to see ultimately what unit he will be assigned to (my guess is either safeties or EDGE). Hopefully he'll maintain his role as ST coordinator as well, where he has done a fantastic job.
February 8th, 2022 at 5:23 AM ^
This is all very, very underwhelming.
February 8th, 2022 at 5:43 AM ^
Don't worry I hear Jay played defense in HS
/s