Stopping the Downward Spiral - Test #1&2 = Passed, now we're on to #3
So I will freely admit that I fit under the Fierce Pragmatist segment of the pie chart previously posted on this venerable website last week. I feel safe in admitting I am one of those who liked the possibility of the hiring of bigger names like Jim Harbaugh and Les Miles. After 24 hours, a couple of cold ones and discussions with a few other friends, some of whom were players and managers when Brady Hoke was coaching, I came very much to a guarded peace with the hiring. One of the discussions was with a former player who explained the following theory.
After extolling the virtues of Brady Hoke and convincing me that the players respect and like him, that he's a good recruiter etc., etc. he said that the only way this turns bad is if we get locked in a downward spiral from the get go. He defined said spiral as having a few very early roadmarkers. First, keeping Denard and at least one of the other starting QB's as Denard has a tendency to get hurt. The fear was that we would end up with one or no scholarship qb's. The second marker was hiring some name coordinators. The third was somehow salvaging some kind of recruiting class, the fourth was at least salvaging a bowl next year. The fear was that we (1) lose all the quarterbacks and (2) hire random coordinators which causes the team to take the beating in the press which leads to (3) recruiting class falls through the floor then leading to (4) a bad seasons similar to 2008 with either a non-scholarship or true freshman QB stumbling to a bad record which (5) crushes recruiting again and (6) leads us into that killer 2012 schedule and another bad year.
Anyway, the same former player and I talked last night and we discussed his theory again. Both of us agreed the retention of Denard and Devin Gardner was huge and the Mattison hiring was about as good as could be. Now we're on to #3 and we're both feeling pretty good and are holding out hope that coming out of this weekend with the possibliity of getting commitments from Wile, Raymon Taylor, that TE/DE from Ohio (Heitzman) that may all come during this weekends visits, I'm beginning to feel like test #3 will be passed in the near future.
So I pose to the Board, once Hoke was hired, did you have any milestones beyond the obvious (gettings some wins) that you were looking for out of the new regime?
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^
spring game should be #4, will be a big indicator of what the team is capable of
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^
Yeah but regardless of who the coach was (and this spring will be the fourth different coach I've seen a spring game under) they don't show anything. The only true test to me in Spring Game is having everyone actually physically able to make it on the field and not be or get injured.
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:52 AM ^
I disagree entirely. Just seeing how effective all 3 units are at executing the plays, knowing their assignments, not committing penalties is a strong indicator of how much work has gotten done and how much is left.
I won't be looking for gaudy statistics from any unit but I will be interested in the above.
January 22nd, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
I agree with Irish. In the 2010 Spring game it was obviously apparent that Denard had improved his throwing mechanics and decision making. And that our Special Teams were atrocious. I left the game finally thinking the offseason hype around Denard may be justified, and knowing that we wouldn't be able to hit the broadside of a barn outside 30 yards with our fieldgoal units.
January 22nd, 2011 at 3:28 PM ^
that the fans were convinced that Denard is all mirror and mirage because he faced against 2nd team defense and shouldn't be considered as a starting QB at this point. Now, Denard had a good year and will improve on his mechanics and accuracy.
January 22nd, 2011 at 3:57 PM ^
At this point last year, the spring game hadn't happened, so of course Forcier was the presumptive starter. After the spring game, it was clear to most that Denard had taken over. He demonstrated in that game that he was capable of making every throw in the offense. That had been the real question about him.
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:34 AM ^
My buddies and I exchanged emails post-hire on a very similar train of thought - sort of a "to do" list (or "must do", I guess). Keep Denard, hire a big time DC, salvage the class, etc.
I tihnk Irish is on to something - I don't put a ton of stock in the spring game, per se, but with a switch in schemes (on both sides of the ball), and more position switches coming, developing depth at key areas and players taking to new positions will be huge. With the need for 2 interior D linemen, I'll be very curious to see what Big Will, Q, etc. look like come spring, for example. Though, if there's one thing I've been fairly confident about all along, it's that this staff will get something out of our DL...
In any event, I'd agree with the tone of this post - so far, so good... but still very cautious.
January 22nd, 2011 at 7:39 PM ^
Yep, agree 100%. I really wanna see what the offense is gonna look like.
Hopefully Borges does the right thing and incorporates spread concepts for Denard.
I really, really don't want to see Denard constrained by an under center, I form, boring pro-style offense.
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:35 AM ^
Some goals I would have for the staff are quite simple.
Beat State and Beat OSU!
also....
I would love to see Michigan get back to its old ways of intimidating opponents. Teams like Indiana, Purdue, and for that matter MSU at one point understood when they played Michigan that they were in for a long day, and would be scared of the Maze n Blue.
But it seems under Rich Rod that every team that Michigan faced, thought the exact opposite and expected to beat Michigan. Past three years wins, let alone blowouts have been tough to come by.
Go Blue
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:43 AM ^
I'm with you, really want to beat both. That said, ordinarily if you asked me what would your rather (1) Beating State and OSU but losing the rest or (2) go 8-4 or 9-3 but lose both, I'd take Option #1. Thats how much I hate Ohio and State. But for the sake of the new regime, this year I'd take Option 2 just to get our footing.
That said, as an in-stater, I'm desperate to see us beat State. As per Ohio, same desperation but that "Fierce Pragmatist" is coming out and I feel we have to elevate our level to get to the point where we can legitimately have a chance to beat Ohio State.
January 22nd, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
Please do not ever ask this question ever again. It is posed once a day for the entire summer. Do not start the trend this early.
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^
1) Beat that school in Ohio
2) Beat Lil Brother
3) Win the first ever night game at the Big House
4) Then let the Maize beat the Corn-"holers"
Everything else will fall into place. I would like to say M is 9-3 and playing for the conference championship but I might be over doing it here. It will not deter my love for M though.
January 22nd, 2011 at 2:21 PM ^
How can we beat Notre Dame, MSU, OSU and Nebraska and still end up 9-3?
January 22nd, 2011 at 3:20 PM ^
I hear WMU is pretty ridiculous this year.
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^
I guess I just wanted to see that this would have some longevity and have potential to bring us back to elite status.
In terms of longevity, I'm somewhat nervous about having older Assistant coaches. While their knowledge of the game is perhaps as extensive as can be and most of them are AC lifers meaning they probably won't take a job elsewhere, I was hoping for some younger coaches to perhaps better relate to the players they will be coaching, and perhaps when the time comes, be groomed to take over the HC gig down the road. I see many of these coaches retiring after they're done here and while that is fine, it's kinda nervewracking in a sense.
Back to elite status is self explanatory and something that will be graded over the course of Hoke's career here so not something you can check off the list immediately.
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:43 AM ^
however, Joe Pa is 80. Our guys are in there 50s. We have a long way to go. Maybe after Denard spends a few years playing on Sunday, he will come back as QB coach.
January 22nd, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
Mattison is 61 not in his 50s. Brian brought up a legitimate concern up on the front page about our kids not having anyone to talk with. I hope they can get someone younger and a little less pale on the staff with at least one of the last two hires. I find it hard to believe that a university as diversified as Michigan is going to have nothing but old white men on the staff.
I am a white male FWIW.
January 22nd, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^
Coordinators come and go. During Carr's 13 seasons, he had three DCs and five OCs. I wouldn't worry too much about that.
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^
The Coordinators and assistants look like the "before" pictures in Hair Club for Men ads.
In all sincerity, one thing I'll be watching long term is whether Hoke brings in some younger position coaches that have the potential to fill the coordinator spots and can relate better with the players.
January 22nd, 2011 at 12:08 PM ^
You say that like it is a bad thing.
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
you. I was mostly concerned about teh timing of the hire.., DB waited too long (IMO) to hire Hoke. Can you imagine what Frost and Hart would say to having Hoke/Mattison in mid to late December? We would not have enough scholorships to go around.
But if we at lease salvage a few 4* recruits, then we can coach 'em up and have a good year. Im looking forward to a NY Day bowl this year. GO BLUE
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:44 AM ^
salvage this years recruiting class! I do not believe it will be top ten - obviously - but if Hoke & co. can bring in a few nice unexpected surprises.......well then I would be on board. I know that the coaching staff is dying to have me on board even though they haven't come out and said it yet.
January 22nd, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
We have nothing to fear but fear itself.
January 22nd, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
Beyond agreeing with OP and Irish, I am looking to see if the Michigan family could come back together. So far, I think Hoke is doing a good job at reducing the divisiveness.
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:39 PM ^
I, and many others I'm sure, will be looking to see what kind of progression has occurred with Devin Gardner. Without Tate in the mix, he's got to get to the next level and be able to take meaningful snaps. With his size and arm, he could be an excellent fit in the Borges scheme.
anyone want to put together a film of every snap taken by Gardner @ Michigan, including the spring game last year?
He's the true unknown, right now.
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:46 PM ^
Barring a scary performance at the spring game, I would be shocked if we could not salvage a bowl this season. This team returns almost everyone, and Denard is still Denard. The defense will almost certainly be better under Mattison and with Woolfolk coming back.
In my view, Hoke inherits a much easier situation than Rich Rod did, which is compounded by the vocal support of everyone and their brother. This team has the potential to be better than they were in 2010.
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:51 PM ^
utterly amazing how so many of you don't know squat about michigan football...
heitzman is coming to be a LB.... not a "TE or DE"
January 22nd, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^
Since the head coach that was hired was a middle of road coach. They had to get assistants that were top-notch and they did that. So I'm pretty happy as of now.
January 22nd, 2011 at 3:43 PM ^
Maybe these were among the goals, and if so, Hoke has done right by the program:
The defense and special teams have been in a free-fall for three years. Bringing in an experienced guy like Mattison should help to both stabilize and improve the quality of the program. If he does that for even a few years, grooms a successor, and moves on to a well-earned retirement, it will be a good thing.
Remember that a great coordinator who is young will likely leave to be a head coach after a few years anyway.
Mattison has coached very successfully at programs with great players like Michigan and Florida, and in the NFL. I very seriously doubt that he has a problem relating to minority players, or that they have a problem talking with him. If that was the case, he wouldn't have been successful. His age didn't seem to bother the Florida team or his NFL team.
To say that people of different ages, racial or ethnic backgrounds will have a hard time communicating with each other because of their differences is a pretty broad, and largely unfair, assumption.
I've been reading the quotes about the UM hires, and I didn't see a single African-American former UM or pro player lavish anything but praise on Hoke or Mattison when these hirings were announced.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:36 AM ^
My goal for this year is that we are competitive in every single game and that the D doesn't give up over 40 points of offense to ANY team this year.
Another goal is that we don't allow a team to rush the ball 40 consecutive times.