Snowflakes: Bowl Game Edition - Coaching

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

In this thread, you have an opportunity to discuss your thoughts on the coaching and coaching decisions made in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. 

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azian6er

December 29th, 2013 at 5:46 PM ^

I understand the obvious kickback to the sentiment that a "fat guy can't coach" however, seeing as almost half of our country is obese, shouldn't half of any successful professionals be obese as well? My point is that there is a dearth of obese, elite CFB coaches. I by no means am attempting to state that fat guys can't coach because, well - that would be pompous and pretty much fucked up. Either it is simply an unrelated statistic - or perhaps there is a correlation. It just seemed odd to me once I thought of it. Saban, Miles, Meyer, *dantonio* (shudder), Strong, Shaw, Harbaugh etc all seem to take care of themselves physically (apart from genetic heart type conditions) and perhaps that is an indicator of work ethic and stamina to do their job well. This could and probably is complete BS, however, I found it odd. That is all.

Joined: 04/09/2012

MGoPoints: 3749

uminks

December 29th, 2013 at 2:50 AM ^

She is a KSU fan. She predicted a 45-17 win, which was close. She knew KSU would win easily since she told me our team is not that good, at this time.

The defense disappointed me the most. Though the offense looked flat. Shane did a great job. Good velocity throws and a quick release.

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32040

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

December 29th, 2013 at 10:19 AM ^

blog or any media would be a study into S&C during this offseason. Tonight the team looked slow and lethargic. Watching the tiny fragments of bowl preparation film, it appears the practices function at slower speed as well. All season the lines have lacked explosiveness and we wear down by Q4 instead of the opposition. It's also reflected in the inability to shut down Offenses in the late stages, like NU and PSU.

Joined: 11/01/2012

MGoPoints: 18051

CoachBP6

December 29th, 2013 at 3:47 AM ^

The thing that is most worry some to me is the level of preparedness that we bring week in, week out. On the road or neutral site games we constantly look unprepared. 12 times under Al Borges we have failed to reach the 300 yard mark. 1/3 of games every season Al calls a game that leaves even the most novice fan questioning performance. I don't see Al changing now, he is who he is. Al is a guy that's going to call a few brilliant games (IU, CMU, ND,o$u) as well As several awful games (Iowa, Nebraska, MSU, northwestern, UCONN) then he'll have the mixed bag games of good and bad (Akron, penn state, K-state, Minnesota). Call me crazy but I just don't see that trend ever changing... Some of the things he does like the option to the short side with a first time starting left handed quarterback from tonight's game completely blows my mind. Defensively I never questioned Greg Mattison until this year. Obviously we are very young and thin in a couple areas on defense, so I'm sure to some degree, Greg was hampered by the available personnel. My concern is the lack of player development and the apparent lack of understanding the schemes being run. Time and time again this year we have allowed huge plays because of a missed assignment, bad alignment, or poor communication. The first game or two that's to be expected but not constantly, all year. In three years I have not seen a formidable pass rush and this years defense have allowed 50+ plays of 20 or more yards. I'm hopeful once our defensive line gels and secondary help arrives that we will see a huge turnaround. I think mone and peppers make a huge difference. The last thing I want is for this team is to go through another coaching transition. For me the solution would be to clean house of the offensive coaches and hire a young, energetic guy that executed a pro / spread hybrid. What say you MGoBloggers? Are the issues with this team strictly experience / depth related? What are your solutions to fix our offensive woes?

Joined: 12/18/2013

MGoPoints: 7967

mddubbs

December 29th, 2013 at 8:10 AM ^

When Hoke was hired I vowed to quit paying money to support this charade. He was 47 and 50 when hired, went 11-2 with Carr/Rich Rod recruits, and has backed up since. There is plenty of talent on both sides of the ball but unlike an Iowa, K State or yes, MSU the team simply doesn't improve from start to finish and that is coaching.

All the marketing and branding in the world doesn't sell an obsolete product and thankfully, I haven't spent one cent of disposable income since Hoke was hired.  I have never seen a coaching staff do less with more!

 

Joined: 01/12/2011

MGoPoints: 152

State Street

December 29th, 2013 at 8:35 AM ^

Think about the next season.  Is anybody excited?  This is the first time I can remember feeling absolutely nothing towards the next football season.  No intrigue, no anticipation, no excitement.  I feel about as uninspired as Brady Hoke looks coaching a football game.

Changes will be made, sure.  Borges will be gone.  Perhaps some of the other staff too.  But does anybody feel any sort of positive with Brady Hoke in charge? 

This man is not a BCS level coach.

He is not a Michigan caliber coach.

During the hiring process, Brandon spent too much time vetting his Michigan ties and not enough time vetting his football philosophy or credentials.

And now, we pay the price.

Let's enjoy mediocrity.

Joined: 07/09/2011

MGoPoints: 15316

riverrat

December 29th, 2013 at 9:22 AM ^

Bingo...it feels like he has to be the smartest man in the room... Sorry - misplaced - this was to StephenKing's comment about Borges's inability to develop a sound base offense...

Joined: 02/01/2009

MGoPoints: 795

Magnus

December 29th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^

Why Mallory? Did our cornerbacks not have 10 picks this year? They were beaten by a kid who's an All-America-caliber player last night. They certainly could/should have done better, but the secondary was not really the problem for most of the year. The most glaring problem was the lack of penetration and pass rush up front.

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 166006

Magnum P.I.

December 29th, 2013 at 8:03 PM ^

Well, if we're going to fire the guys responsible for pass rush and penetration, that means Hoke and Mattison have to go. Then who's left to coach the team?

Seriously, though, I think that the secondary has been poorly coached all season. Blowing assignments, playing soft coverage, NOT TURNING THEIR HEADS EVER ON LONG PASSES, and all sorts of other deficiencies. 

But I guess you could pick a grab-bag defensive coach to can, and I wouldn't complain.

Joined: 07/16/2009

MGoPoints: 30660

Big Blaze

December 29th, 2013 at 9:46 AM ^

I'm just sick and tired of turning in to watch my favorite football team I've rooted for the past 28 years only to spend the game in shock at the utter incompetence of this team. I've truly never seen anything like it.

Play calling, schemes, personnel, aside...

Has Hoke and Co. in their recruiting of "Michigan Men" lost sight of recruiting tough, hard nosed players?!? Every game the past past 3 years (and I've watched every single one, trust me) Michigan has looked tentative, scared, passive, and it's blindingly obvious. Physically we have no presence. The toughness Hoke talks about is a FIGMENT of his imagination!

I hear guys like Marcus Ray, Woodson, Marlin Jackson, etc. talk on radio and these guys have attitudes and pride! They played angry and with an intent to physically dominate their opponent. When the guy across from them completed a pass or ran for a first down they took it personally and got even! They played angry and made opponents fear coming to the Big House. These days teams LOVE playing Michigan...we're over-hyped, over-rated and always under-performing.

Nothing I have seen this year indicates things turning around. See you all next year when we get shoved around by Sparty, Ohio, and another bowl opponent.

Joined: 09/22/2010

MGoPoints: 382

MGoBlueChip

December 29th, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^

Is am torn this morning after watching the game last night. I thought Al came out with a great game plan in the initial stages of the game with Shane to settle him in, but then just reverted back to his old ways. I see a bright future with Shane. But our defense looked so confused and overmatched by a middle of the pack Big 12 opponent. We got no pass rush and they gouged us repeatedly on the ground - not to mention they exploited both CBs. I really don't see how the pass rush will get any better next year. Hoke can't go because we cannot afford another transition after three years, but something has to change. At a loss, so disappointed in the end of the season.

Joined: 09/28/2011

MGoPoints: 521

erald01

December 29th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^

Can we just get some young coaching in this staff, someone who is fucking hungry, willing to work hard so he can prove himslef..i am tired of us hiring these older generation guys who are worn out and still have the old philosophy..college football changes every year and its not the same anymore, so we need some young blood in our coachinh staff..its taine Greg and Al to retire

Joined: 01/17/2013

MGoPoints: 3462

BlueinOK

December 29th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^

It's so hard to judge a coach based on just games. There's so much more to the job. Yeah it's all about wins and loses, but there's still so much more. Hoke took over a mess from RR so chill out. 

Joined: 12/06/2009

MGoPoints: 15029

cloudman

December 29th, 2013 at 6:13 PM ^

He inherited Denard, who has been the best offensive threat Michigan has had for the last 4 years.  The defense was at its best during the first year, and since then has been trending downward with Hoke.   Next year, there can be no Rodriguez excuses, it's purely Hoke/Mattison/Borges.  If you want to worship at the alter of the past, you may do so at your own risk.  Time to move on!

Joined: 07/28/2011

MGoPoints: 579

Soulfire21

December 29th, 2013 at 7:36 PM ^

It's been discussed ad nauseum on this blog.  The style/philosophy changes (from pro-set to spread and now back to pro), the disastrous 2010 class which saw 1 OL taken (and not for the right system) and nearly everyone leave class, having only a couple weeks to finish up the 2011 class, etc.

And Hoke utilized Denard with quite a bit of success, the 11-2 Sugar Bowl season and the 8-5 season last year which saw Michigan lose to the #1, #2, #3 teams in the country (all away from Michigan Stadium) and a very good SC team, and if Denard doesn't go down against Nebraska we had a good chance to win that and be 7-1 in-conference. 

Even last year Michigan was still 6-2 and a contender in the conference.

Ultimately, I agree that next year is very much make-or-break.  There's no excuse we shouldn't get to 10 wins with our two losses being to two of OSU, MSU, and ND.  It technically wouldn't be a coaches full team until 6 years in but I think you're correct that next year it is enough of Hoke's team that the Rodriguez factor should be negligible, if there at all.

This year had more of the makings of a year one than it did year 3, in my opinion.

Joined: 03/18/2010

MGoPoints: 22716

Atrained

January 1st, 2014 at 8:01 PM ^

For most of the season I felt that as long as Borges went, the coaching staff would be good enough to bring Michigan back to being a consistently good, occasionally great team.

I'm now not feeling so sure if anyone on the staff (save Mattison) is a BCS level coach.  Here's a list of Michigan's position coaches and the biggest school they've coached at prior to Michigan.  I've split the list between people that were with Hoke at SDSU, and those that weren't.

 

With Hoke at SDSU

Funk (OL Coach) - Colorado State

Mark Smith (LB) - Indiana State

Roy Manning (LB) - Cincinnati

Dan Ferringo (TE) -  USC

Jeff Hecklinski (WR) - Arizona for one year, before that Central Missouri state

 

Not with Hoke at SDSU

Fred Jackson (RB) Michigan for forever

Curt Mallory (DB) - Illinois

 

So, what this information shows.

1) For half of the position coaches this is their first BCS level program they've coached for. For almost everyone, this is by far the biggest job they have ever had, and it seem possible they received it because of their affiliation with Hoke, not merit.

2) Including Mattison and Borges, 66% of the staff has ties with Hoke at SDSU.

 

What this suggests is the spreading idea that the staff is in over their heads is quite possibly true.  Also, the lack of accountability and coaching changes amongst coordinators and position coaches  is likely linked to their long-standing relationships with Hoke.  It doesn't sound like a recipe for a successful program.  

 

 

 

Joined: 11/16/2013

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