Strategies for Rebuilding a Program?
I've been thinking about what it takes to build a program in today's college game (that's the key) that can compete with the top-tier programs of Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State. I've been expecting Texas and USC to claw their way back in, but so far that hasn't happened. I thought maybe Georgia would do it, but so far they haven't cracked the Alabama puzzle, and this year they were beat fairly soundly by an ascending Florida. Florida's story is intriguing: how they do in the SEC championship game against Alabama will be revealing.
In today's college game, it's all about have really good talent across key positions, and having depth to endure the season and reload as players go off to the NFL. Alabama and Clemson do this like a well-oiled machine. Ohio State does, but to a slightly lesser degree. Oklahoma is fading. Florida seems to be ascending. I'm not yet convinced about Notre Dame.
A program looking to crack into the top has to get there; they can't start there.
To start the journey requires some upset wins early to create an impression of an ascending program. Then a good recruiting plan to build on that, filling in key positions while maintaining some balance and depth. There's no obvious formula, otherwise everyone would do it.
Imagine you're a newly hired coach at Michigan (or Texas, or USC), and you're tasked with this. What's your rebuilding framework?
- Do you begin with a focus on offense, or a focus on defense?
- What is your initial approach to recruiting: go for obvious top talent (and maybe miss), or seek hidden-gem talent at first and build from there?
- On defense, do you focus on the line initially, or defensive backs?
- On offense, do you focus on the line initially, or skill positions like QB and WR?
- After you have your first-team in place, where do you focus on for depth?
- What's your position on managing playing time in today's world of easy transfer?
- What's your position on fifth year seniors who are good but not great?
- What else?
The answer "Just win!" is too simplistic. There's an approach to winning. What's your approach?
November 29th, 2020 at 10:01 AM ^
Cratering the O Line like RR’s recruiting cratered it previously doesn’t seem like a great strategy
November 29th, 2020 at 10:39 AM ^
And defensive line
November 29th, 2020 at 11:55 AM ^
Recruit better players. Coach them better when they get here. Make sure to have elite line play.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:42 AM ^
Three guys in 2009, one in 2010, two (after a later subtraction) pre-firing in 2011 ... yes, RichRod did a number on the O-line.
Weirdly bimodal, though -- look at some of the guys he did get. Omaheh (last-minute 2008 in the first hybrid class), Lewan, and Schofield. Multiple years in the NFL for all three and great success for Lewan. (Yes, all, I know he's an ass and not a "Michigan Man." Acknowledged. I don't need it rehashed here.) He also had Jake Fisher teed up in 2011. Was this all Greg Frey's brilliance? Not sure ...
OP: I'd argue that Oklahoma has never been elite. They've just benefited from being in a second-tier conference that doesn't play defense. Not light years away, though. Same with ND. They're not at the level of Alabama / Clemson / OSU.
EDIT: UMxWolverines makes a good point about the D-line. I guess Richard Ash got a cup of coffee in the NFL after detouring through WMU, but that was a huge sore spot for RichRod. It was at Arizona, too.
November 29th, 2020 at 11:06 AM ^
Come on, I know people like to bag on Oklahoma and not being able to get over the hump in a while, but they've been dominating the Big XII for literally 20 years even back when Nebraska, Colorado, and Texas were still good. Since 2000 they've won 13 Big XII titles. I think we would all take that.
November 29th, 2020 at 11:13 AM ^
OSU is the B1G version of Oklahoma if you ask me. They have been beating up the B1G and Michigan especially, but they haven't been a constant playoff team. Their playoff record / appearances is no better than ND or Georgia. They beat up on the B1G, but Oklahoma came to their house a few years back and kicked their asses. They have lost to Purdue, Iowa, MSU, and Penn St. Clemson and Alabama don't do that. Fuck OSU.
November 29th, 2020 at 11:49 AM ^
I hate OSU as much as anyone. But would I take their record over the past 10 years? In a fucking heartbeat. Joyously. They're not a "constant" playoff team? They have gotten there three times!! Where do I sign up for that?
November 29th, 2020 at 11:56 AM ^
Dude I would take Wisconsin's, Oklahoma's, Georgia's, Oregon's, LSU's, ND's, Penn St's and few other teams. My point was Alabama and Clemson are on another level, OSU isn't on that level. We weren't talking about taking their success compared to ours. That's a strawman argument
November 29th, 2020 at 12:27 PM ^
Just curious, any one remember when the Bucknuts had a losing season. ? I sure as hell don't.
November 29th, 2020 at 2:43 PM ^
I read an article a few weeks ago that OSU has the best overall record this century (2000s) in CF. Bama and I believe Boise State were behind them. That kind of tells it all.
November 29th, 2020 at 12:29 PM ^
OSU has been much better than OU in recent years. First off, they've actually won a BCS title. And when they've lost in the semis, it's usually been close. Also they've fared well in non-conference matchups generally. I know, I know: OU beat the Buckeyes that one time. But OU always gets punked in BCS games and rarely plays big non-conference games during the season. And I think we can agree that the Big 12 is garbage.
November 30th, 2020 at 8:40 AM ^
rarely plays big non-conference games during the season.
Poorly researched post. In the last decade, Oklahoma always plays a name-brand non-conference opponent. They've played Florida State (2X), Notre Dame (2X), Tennessee (2X), Ohio State (2X), UCLA (2X). The only year they haven't scheduled, or tried to schedule, a big non-conference game was 2020 pandemic year. They went 8-2 in these games, including wins over #2 Ohio State and #5 Florida State, #22 ND, and #17 FSU.
In the last decade, Ohio State has also tried to schedule a name brand non-conference game. But, with less success. They split with Miami, they swept two terrible Cal teams, they split with Virginia Tech, they split with Oklahoma, they beat TCU in a one-off, and they didn't play a name-brand team in 2019. That's 6-3.
And when they've (Ohio State) lost in the semis, it's usually been close
Well, 50% of their semi-final losses have been close. The other 50% were 31-0 blowouts. I don't think you know what the word "usually" means.
November 30th, 2020 at 6:19 AM ^
The OL that RR recruited was good. The problem was he stopped recruiting them much like Michigan has stopped recruiting DTs basically, with similarly disastrous results. Hoke had bodies but his OL was always abysmal.
November 29th, 2020 at 1:37 PM ^
I really don't think the OL has usually been a problem or that it has been "cratered" since Coach Warriner took over the O-line a few seasons ago. We lost 4 starters to the NFL draft this season, Mayfield and Hayes were both key to the unit this year and both lost to injury (along with others), and the offensive line is the unit you can very rarely plug in a true freshman.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:02 AM ^
I’d start by not giving a crap about the hire being a “Michigan Man.” That poisonous, provincial bs has resulted in 2 terrible hires, and blew up Rich Rods term before it really started.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:45 AM ^
^^^^ This!
November 29th, 2020 at 10:59 AM ^
Jfc with rich rod
He was and is a shit coach as evidenced by him doing NOTHING since he left Michigan
He was a gimmick hire from the big east who had his moment in the sun and blew his big chance against Pittsburgh and never recovered. End of story
November 29th, 2020 at 12:04 PM ^
The "Michigan Man" thing is 100% a media creation. They turned a Bo quote, which was about something entirely different (Bo was saying that commitment to Michigan, not a Michigan past, is what made one a "Michigan Man") into something about hiring from Michigan. It does not reflect any priority the administration has.
Rich Rod is a key example of this: He had no Michigan background and was hired anyway. He was a terrible misfit for the program, but not because he wasn't from Michigan. It's because he didn't realize his limitations and he didn't pay attention to what was already working well in the program, which at that time was most of the program. He came in like a bull in a china shop and broke everything, which will doom a coach to failure more often than not. The key, though, is that Michigan hired him irrespective of the fact that he wasn't a "Michigan Man" (according to the media's definition of that phrase). He absolutely would have been embraced as a Michigan Man in the Bo sense if he had been right for the program. He simply wasn't.
Jim Harbaugh was an NFL coach coming off a Super Bowl appearance, and who had also accomplished amazing things at Stanford. He was one of the most sought-after coaches at that time and any school would have been happy to have him. His Michigan background was a huge plus, but it's not why he was hired. It might have been why he accepted, but we should be proud of that.
The only coach in the recent past who had a Michigan background and who probably wouldn't have been hired otherwise was Brady Hoke. His hire was a mistake, but the athletic director who hired him was run out of town. He's the *only* recent example of Michigan favoring someone with a Michigan background (which did not involve attending Michigan as a student, by the way), and one mistake does not a trend make.
The use of the phrase by the media is incredibly annoying (and it may hurt us if would-be coaches think we are provincial), but it is based on a *complete* misperception of the administration's priorities. They want the best football coach possible, who also brings the necessary character. That's it.
November 29th, 2020 at 1:15 PM ^
I don’t disagree with this entirely, but I do take slight issue with the Rich Rod characterization. I don’t disagree that he could have done a better job adapting his scheme to the talent he had; but he was brought in to shake things up and I don’t think you can blame him for wanting to do things his way. His way didn’t work, and that’s fine, but I think any coach is going to want to do things their way.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:03 AM ^
At this point, we need to be playing the young defensive talent we have. We have 15-16 4 star players who aren’t contributing, play them! Let them get experience!
November 29th, 2020 at 10:58 AM ^
I say this every year and it never happens. Play young players here and there, see what you’ve got. You can’t determine best players by practice.
November 29th, 2020 at 11:15 AM ^
Well, I’ll say this for your comment, it’s quite clear THIS staff can’t evaluate ability from practice. That’s for sure.
November 29th, 2020 at 2:40 PM ^
No shit. Even Mazi Smith isn't looking too bad in limited snaps. Explain to me why he isn't playing more and why it took this many injuries for him to play.
Hinton finally got in after some injuries and I'd say he's our best interior lineman. Not sure that's the compliment it should be though.
Our coaches are just bad at evaluating. End stop.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:03 AM ^
I don’t think getting talent at michigan is the problem (OL DL Qb skill positions). The problem is evaluating the talent you bring in and making sure it’s a fit as well as developing the talent you bring in. For example:
Hoke: great talent evaluator bad coach
harbaugh: bad talent evaluator bad development bad coaching.
November 29th, 2020 at 11:52 AM ^
Probably better to say that Hoke wasn’t successful as a Power 5 head coach. He has had success at lesser schools.
also you see a lot of comments complimenting his ability to coach the D Line
& finally, we see a lot of comments about how the AD office/“culture” hindered RR’s ability & is hindering Harbaugh
but there doesn’t seem to be equal recognition for how Brandon hindered Hoke’s tenure. We know he did (watching film, for ex) but we’ll never know how much because Hoke isn’t the type to talk about it
November 29th, 2020 at 12:25 PM ^
I would actually say Hoke's staff was above average in recruiting and development. There's a lot of guys (esp on the defensive side) in the NFL who speak to that. Their problem was they were inept coaches schematically on the offensive side of the ball.
Harbaugh has a transfer problem and now a development problem (and a coaching problem). Interesting that the D-line abilities cratered after Hoke & Mattison left. It's not like there we haven't had good recruits there to explain away the problem
November 29th, 2020 at 12:52 PM ^
This makes a lot of sense.
To take if a step further IMO Harbaugh's teams with Hoke's recruits and staff did much better and performed at a higher level so far than anything Harbaugh bunch has put out on the field.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:04 AM ^
On both sides of the ball, you have to build out from the lines. Got to have a ton of depth on both lines.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:06 AM ^
1. Warde needs to select and offer the best candidate and match for the job.
2. The new coach needs to have the budget to bring in the most dynamic, skilled and experienced staff possible.
3. The program needs to dominate recruiting the state of Michigan and needs to reestablish pipelines in Ohio and throughout the Midwest.
4. The offensive and defensive philosophies need to be contemporary yet fundamental that consistently demonstrate effective football elements that are key to winning.
5. Special teams coaching needs to be just that; skilled for success in each area and keys to victory.
6. Membership on the team is a privilege and a fifth year by any player is never a guarantee.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:10 AM ^
I agree with your points but you did overlook a rather important one. As a matter of fact it has to be the first step before any of these can happen.
1. Harbaugh's gotta go. Quit, medical leave, fired, don't care how, but he's gotta go.
And if he won't leave on his own Warde's GOT to have the stones to can him.
November 29th, 2020 at 11:01 AM ^
Warde won't fire him. Don't be surprised to see JH back with a 3 year gig.
November 29th, 2020 at 12:54 PM ^
Agree. He graduates players, hasn’t been arrested and (before COVID) ticket sales were rising. Those are what checks Warde’s boxes. Harbaugh isn’t going anywhere unless he decides to go
November 29th, 2020 at 10:09 AM ^
The defensive scheme is garbage. Clean out the defensive coaching; fresh scheme. I’d even consider bring in new offensive coaches. Burn it down
November 29th, 2020 at 10:12 AM ^
From my perspective in 2020 it entails:
1. Establishing an offensive identity, and assembling the best possible staff you can that will recruit the players at the highest level that can fill what you need to run it
2. Defensively, run a relatively straight forward scheme and hire the best recruiters available that will acquire players that can make plays out of base schemes and blitz packages so you don't have to manufacture coverage or pressure
3. Hire a good staff of analysts that can diagnose opponent tape as well as self scout so the HC and coordinators can quickly and accurately build solid and rational game plans. Analysts would be responsible for cutting tape, and also generating reports on opponent situational tendencies for the HC and coordinators to review for game planning - don't belabor your coordinators with studying and identifying these by watching raw film, allow them to use that time to, yes, recruit
4. Recruit - heavy emphasis on controlling the line of scrimmage and making plays on the outside. If you are successful there the quarterbacks and running backs will come. Should always be taking at minimum 2 guys you eventually plan to slot at DT, whether or not you miss on the DT's high on your board. Looking for pure athleticism on the outside and coach the technique when they get on campus.Getting polished athletes is great, I would take an outstanding athlete with raw technique over a solid athlete with great technique every time. At quarterback, recruit a guy that above all else can distribute the ball quickly and accurately, and has the natural ability to work his progressions. In the college game, I would value that way more than the intangibles like height (to a degree) or arm strength
5. Establish the expectation of discipline and hard work at practice during the week. Consequences for the players that fail to meet that expectation and administer equitably across the entire team
6. Demonstrate the program is a meritocracy and the best players will play on Saturday, don't make it lip service
7. Recruit, recruit, recruit
November 29th, 2020 at 12:23 PM ^
I agree starting with an offensive identity. To that end it also starts with recruiting the right QB within the first two years. Even Harbaugh proved he could win at Stanford if you get the right QB. That is where it all begins. That is what made the difference for Dabo at Clemson. Saban recognized this and has completely shifted his focus. Urban always knew that and has publicly said this.
I disagree about the trenches in today’s game. A good scheme can mitigate having a bad o-line. Look at what MSU did against Michigan this year. Look what OSU has done against Michigan’s “great” defensive lines the past few years. While I think having great line play eventually becomes critical, it starts with a sound offensive scheme and a QB that can execute it.
After that, get the bagman network and the steroid screening team set up. Then you can worry about everything else.
November 29th, 2020 at 1:43 PM ^
To be fair, MSU was able to torch Michigan through the air partly because Michigan's defensive line is flat out bad. The secondary is also bad, which didn't help matters either.
I still think you have to aspire to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. It allows you to establish what it is you want to do on offense, while disrupts everything your opponent wants to do from a defensive perspective.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:12 AM ^
It needs to be a well thought out, multi step approach. 1) Look at everything 2) Respond by pressing on and attacking 3) Coach it hard 4) Coach it to the best of their ability 6) Look at every again 7) Repeat
November 29th, 2020 at 10:16 AM ^
The staff is odd. Players come in and do well, how was Cade not the starter before the season? Henning? Makes a great play, gets an opportunity finally and then we never see him again. What about Trevor Keegan, oline man? Hell, he looks like our best lineman! Where the hell has he been? Haskins burrows through psu on one drive and then we don’t see him much afterwards. It’s mind blowing
November 29th, 2020 at 10:18 AM ^
Just win, baby.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:40 AM ^
Who is Urban Meyer.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:20 AM ^
It would have helped Michigan to beat OSU in 2006 and more importantly in 2016. That would have built momentum.
The biggest factors I see is to retain talent at the player and coaching level and what I mean by that is to have players who stay on, don't transfer, leave early or bolt for the NFL. It's like basketball. You don't want one and done players but players who stay throughout their senior years.
That's what I call continuity. Teams like Clemson, OSU, ND, they all have experienced leadership and continuity. They have enough where if something happens they weather the storm.
Teams like Nebraska and Michigan just lack depth. Depth at everything. What is our philosophy or scheme? What can we hang out hat on? Where are the veteran coaches? Where are the veteran players?
Teams like UW and Iowa have continuity. They have depth and something they can hang their hats on.
If a coach isn't in it for the long haul and to build, then I don't want em. You can't build a winning culture on the spot. It takes time, effort, and common sense.
You can't run off your players and best coaches to your rival and expect things to be fine and dandy. When Mattison left, he took all our knowledge to the enemy. Harbaugh should have hired a co defense coordinator to counter the Mattison defect because we are lacking in that department.
Unbelievable.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:52 AM ^
The biggest factors I see is to retain talent at the player and coaching level and what I mean by that is to have players who stay on, don't transfer, leave early or bolt for the NFL. It's like basketball. You don't want one and done players but players who stay throughout their senior years.
Have to disagree with this, at least the bolt for the NFL part. In order to compete with the elite programs you absolutely need players who are talented enough enter the draft early. It's not like basketball; the NFL doesn't allow one and dones. Early round talent will still be on campus for three years, which should be plenty of time to utilize their ability while maintaining depth around them.
November 29th, 2020 at 11:12 AM ^
The OP says what it takes to build a program. You can't build a program when you have such a high number of players and coaches leaving the program like they are a Michigan.
We have a team full of inexperience and players choosing to go elsewhere. So, I stand by my assumption that it absolutely fucking matters to have players who stay than leave.
Those who stay are champions... That's why all or most of osu, alabama, and Clemson teams didn't bolt for the nfl or the transfer portal because they can win.
You also don't force or rush players who clearly aren't ready.
November 29th, 2020 at 12:04 PM ^
The issue with your point is that the playmaking, skill position players at Alabama and Clemson don't do this: Trevor Lawrence (jr), Tee Higgins (jr), Jerry Judy (jr), Henry Ruggs (jr), Najee Harris (jr) are all players that are expected to go pro this year after their junior season, or went pro after their junior season and are know rookies in the NFL.
The OP question was, "how do you build a program that competes with the college elites"? I am not taking a shot at Wisconsin or Iowa, but those programs will not compete with the programs on that elite level with any consistency whatsoever.
November 29th, 2020 at 12:35 PM ^
I'm not sure why you're lumping transfers and early entrants together. Transfers can leave whenever they want, and most do so without making a positive impact on the direction of the program. OTOH, it's hard for a player to attract the sort of NFL interest that leads to declaring for the draft after three years without contributing at the very least to winning some games.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:53 AM ^
Well in fairness we did hire a safety coach who doesn't coach. So Harbaugh has that going for him.
November 29th, 2020 at 1:42 PM ^
"When Mattison left, he took all our knowledge to the enemy."
Must have packed light.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:24 AM ^
Get good coaches, pay the best players thousands of dollars in casino chips, "donations" to their church, hundred dollar hand shakes. Who cares anymore.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:41 AM ^
Who is Urban Meyer.
November 29th, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
The NCAA surely doesn’t. Bama, OSU, Clemson. Georgia etc. have been handing out cash for years and no one cares.