Smart Football on Hoke
From Chris Brown at Smart Football:
Hoke-a-mania. Michigan has hired Brady Hoke, prodigal son most recently of San Diego State. I don’t know much about Hoke — seems like a solid guy and he obviously wanted the job. The rumor is he’s bringing Al Borges with him to be offensive coordinator; I’m already getting lots of questions about his so-called “Gulf Coast Offense.” I don’t know where that name came from, but as far as I can tell he’s a pro-style guy: nothing too exotic. But he’s been an offensive coordinator for a long time (close to two decades), in two major conferences (the Pac-10 at UCLA and Oregon and the SEC at Auburn), and when he’s had first-round NFL talent (Cade McNown at UCLA and Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown, and Cadillac Williams at Auburn in 2004) he’s had elite offenses.
I think that sounds about right. Michigan’s coaching search was explicitly about someone who wanted to build the program, not hiring the next offensive genius. And I can’t really argue with that — the Rodriguez thing ended badly. That puts on the onus on Hoke, however, as he must recruit and build the program from the ground up; there won’t be any reliance on a decided schematic advantage to win. But is that a bad thing?
And, most importantly, clips of Borges' offense this year:
January 12th, 2011 at 10:25 AM ^
Soooo...let's all be thankful for Devin Gardner?
January 12th, 2011 at 11:06 AM ^
Absolutely yes.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
I don't think Denard is leaving, but if he does, how many schools can say they have a 5* QB waiting in the wings?
January 12th, 2011 at 10:26 AM ^
Is that a passing spread? They threw a lot of "home run" balls there. Also, based on the final score, not much defense being played....
January 12th, 2011 at 10:58 AM ^
They threw a lot of "home run" balls there.
Perhaps that is why they call it a highlite reel...
January 12th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
You're on fire today. That's three ZINGS I've seen so far.
...haha that one was right in the wheelhouse
January 12th, 2011 at 10:28 AM ^
To have both a schematic advantage and better players?
January 12th, 2011 at 10:34 AM ^
Who said anything about unmanly? If you are referring to the quote about "MANBALL", Hoke never said anything about manliness. He never said anything about the spread either. The author implied it in the article, but the quote which contained "basketball on grass" was specifically about zone blocking. His quote basically said you can't zone block every play or your defense won't be ready for power running games. This implies that he will run a diverse offense to prepare his defense, not play "MANBALL" as everyone is calling it. The fact that they do run the spread at times should tell you that he doesn't "disdain" it as the author stated.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^
"he runs the spread" as if that's something helpful.
There are different types of spread offenses, and Hoke and Borges don't run a spread that's remotely similar to the one that we spent 3 years developing.
In their career, QBs playing for Borges have something like -650 (no really) yards rushing.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^
The term running the spread is so generic that it means little. To be fair RR would deflect critisicm of the spread for developing NFL players by using the Patriots as an example of an NFL team that ran the spread.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
....run a vertical spread. Has anyone given any thought that maybe Denard doesn't want to run the ball 30 times and take shots all day long so he suffers more and more injuries. Just saying. RR didn't adapt to our personnel....I have a strong feeling that BH will.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:01 AM ^
Exactly.
This is going to be a complete overhaul of offensive startegy (AGAIN) and we will have to tear down what we have been painfully building the last three years. This is the biggest reason why I am very disappointed in the hire. Not Hokes fault, like the guy just not as the head coach of Michigan right now.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^
When has Borges ever had a QB that can run a 4.3 40? You don't know how they will use Denard until the spring game so it's kind of silly to assume that they wouldn't at least attempt to work his running ability into the passing game at all. QB Draws, PA Boots, and PA Oh Noes can all be worked in relatively easily without doing zone blocking on every play.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:07 AM ^
has no experience running the read option (and seemingly has no interest in running the read option, given his track record), and our new head coach has openly stated his disdain for the zone option offense. And our best player by far is a perfect fit for a read option attack and a much murkier fit for any other type of offense.
Putting Denard in a west coast offense is just a waste of everyone's time and a good way to make me throw stuff at my TV.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:38 AM ^
He did not openly state his "disdain" for the zone option offense. Read the quote that Brian posted again. The author used the word "disdain". The quote just said that running one blocking scheme every play hurts your defense because they won't be prepared to face it. He's a believer that the game is won in the trenches. There is nothing preventing them from running a QB ISO with pulling guards and whatnot like Rodriguez did this past season. You haven't even seen what they are going to try to put on the field and you know it won't work. This is akin to "spread won't work in B1G". Stop making assumptions and wait until we actually have information about what we might see next season before you declare this hire a bust.
January 12th, 2011 at 12:01 PM ^
I'm saying he won't use zone blocking, because he hates zone blocking, and that we really should be fricking using zone blocking schemes with the personnel that we have.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:35 AM ^
I am encouraged by DBs supposed remarks about the offense to players. I expect some more power running, but that will be a good thing. I expect Hoke knows what a special talent Denard is, and will adjust accodingly. Plus the OC is known for de developing QBs, and Denard had a big arm. I think it will work out. I like the explosiveness of his SDSU offense this year.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^
...means unleashing Stephen Hopkins? Yes, please!
Hmmm...I'm starting to like this idea of mixing up some Hopkins power with some Denard gashes and passes. Of course I liked that idea last year too, but for some reason RR didn't try it too much.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^
is planning on significantly altering the scheme he's been running for like 25 years, there probably won't be many designed runs for Denard.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^
Some of Denard's best runs seem to come on plays that aren't designed runs. The WMU run comes to mind.
I know this is hersey, but I want to Denard run less and pass more. It will raise his stock in the eyes of NFL scouts and hopefully let him finish every game this season as opposed to needing a relief QB in the 4th. Let him run on plays when he sees space and get big chunks of yardage and less of these 3rd and short runs that set him up to get hit hard by a LB.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:04 AM ^
as Denard doesn't really scramble very often. Pretty much every big run that occurred last year (ND, Indiana, Penn State etc.) was a designed run. The Western play was one broken play, but Denard's natural instinct when facing pressure is to try to throw, rather than to scramble.
And any scheme designed to have Denard throw way more and run way less seems to me like an epic fail in terms of understanding how to best put your players in a position to succeed.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
Denard's natural instinct when facing pressure is to try to throw, rather than to scramble.
That's why having a Qb coach will be so beneficial to him. Look at the washouts or guys who never achieve their potential in the NFL (Vick & Young) who are thought of as running Qb's. Their first instinct in case of trouble is to tuck and run, at the expense of open receivers.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
Power running......means unleashing Stephen Hopkins? Yes, please!
I too would welcome the unleashing of Hopkins...
January 12th, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^
I mean 38 points to Wyoming? Wyoming's offense was pathetic this year (ranked 107th in points, 98th in rushing and 100th in passing). Also, I couldn't help but notice every time the announcer mentioned an SDSU player, they were a senior.
Sorry if I'm still a bit skeptical. I'll warm up to Brady sooner rather than later.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
was a freshman if that makes you feel better.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:14 AM ^
thanks for trying.
January 12th, 2011 at 12:23 PM ^
Wyoming's defense gave up 1000 less yards and 11 less TD's than ours. Sometimes us fans need to realize just how bad things have really gotten.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
I did watch just about all of SDSU vs. Navy and I will say that the QB made good decisions and when Borges has a stud (in this case the SDSU receiver who was just lights out) he rides that stud hard. That kid really lit up the Navy secondary all game.
To be honest I really liked the offense. I will also say that the SDSU QB is a good prospect.
Hopefully he's smart enough to take a look at Denard and say "we need to run shotgun a lot" which thankfully he did do at SDSU from what I saw.
Now please hire an absolute stud at DC!
January 12th, 2011 at 10:55 AM ^
hands...We should all be excited to have a guy very qualified and passionate to be a part of our program. I hope with all my heart we back this guy and give him our full support. We need to embrace this decision as if we made it ourselves.
If this site doesn't get more positive we are going to shark ourselves into the same position we were in last go-a-round!
Welcome Brady Hoke! Go Blue!!!
January 12th, 2011 at 10:58 AM ^
people are seriously conflating two independent things here.
I support Brady Hoke as the coach insofar as I will root for the team and won't try to like, sabotage the program or anything.
I hate the hire with the passion of a thousand suns and want Dave Brandon fired for being so incompetent at his job that this is where we have ended up.
Those two things are in no way mutually exclusive, and I can support the guy we now have as our coach while simultaneously thinking this was the worst fucking coaching hire process I've ever seen in my life. I'll support the coach; I won't embrace the decision as if I made it, because I didn't, and the guy who did fucked up royally.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
...with the exception of OSU....which team gave us the most trouble that year? Some will say Penn State but the Lions only put up 10 points against us. Ball State put up 26 and almost beat us. I remember because my nails were chewed off by the 3rd Q....give the guy a chance. His teams played inspired...something we haven't seen in three years now.
January 12th, 2011 at 3:57 PM ^
I'm not on the anti-Hoke train but you realize that game was played a week before possibly the biggest game in Michigan football history? I think they may have been looking ahead a little bit.
Not to take anything away from Hoke, but I just don't think that one game tells us very much.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
highlights from all 13 SDSU games:
January 12th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
in favor of a power back like Hopkins, that would be nice.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:17 AM ^
...to that. I thought I was taking crazy pills and was the only one who kept seeing that nonsense unfold.