Transcript of Today’s Harbaugh media availability
Quote I found most interesting (much more so than the discussion of Harbaugh’s weight loss)
“Front’s coming together and we’re feeling better and actually really good about it.” - I found the progression from “we’re feeling better” to “actually [feeling] really good about it” heartening. Feeling better was my highest hope. If one could actually feel good about our defensive line, it would certainly change my hopes for the defense, and thus the season.
The one guy I was disappointed to not see named on the defensive line was Julius Welschof. His athleticism is so intriguing and while We look to be in good shape on the edges, there still aren’t many bodies on the interior. Whittley did not get named either, but that surprises me less. With his weight and health issues, he has always seemed like a long shot to be much of a contributor.
“Yeah, it’s a different-looking front. It looks stouter, it looks bigger. Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo doing a great job on the edges. So is Taylor Upshaw, Mike Morris, Braiden McGregor — back to full strength, is looking good, taking his knee brace off, moving so much better. Gabe Newburg as well. Interior, there’s a lot of guys like Donovan Jeter — having his best, best months ever, best offseason, all through his best camp. His level of consistency has been outstanding. Mazi Smith having a really good camp, so is Jess Speight, Chris Hinton and then a young guy, Kris Jenkins, is in the rotation”
August 13th, 2021 at 8:15 PM ^
When your feelings have no where to go but up*
August 13th, 2021 at 8:19 PM ^
Was there some kind of controversy with Ryan Osborn coaching this spring?
"Ryan Osborn, who is an analyst, has to do analyst duties. That correction has been made"
Are we gonna get hammered by the NCAA for this?
/s kinda!!!
August 14th, 2021 at 9:44 AM ^
My guess is theres some clause in the rule that allows for additional coaching during the spring. Similar to there being a cutoff date for teams to be scholarship count compliant.
again, total guess on my part but it’s a pretty well known rule that analysts can’t coach on the field and I find it pretty hard to believe that Harbaugh didn’t know about the rule. And if they were deliberately breaking that rule, I would really hope they were smart enough to not let it go public the way they did.
Harbaugh’s comments on the subject would refute that hypothetical rule, but idk how much of what he says is coach speak here. My guess is the NCAA overlooks it since it was just the spring and monitors moving forward. Harbaugh saying “oh I was busy and not paying attention,” is a pretty bad look. Up there with the “failure to monitor” penalty the NCAA likes to levy.
August 14th, 2021 at 10:43 AM ^
Harbaugh did not say he was unaware of the rule. He said he was unaware of the coaching that Osborne was doing.
“There was a — we’ve addressed that. Things that — early spring, I was coaching the quarterbacks. It was my job to be on that and make sure a guy’s not overcoaching his position. Ryan Osborn’s an analyst, he’s gotta do analyst duties. A correction has been made and we’re all on top of it. Myself included. Once we became aware of that, put a stop to it.
August 14th, 2021 at 1:58 PM ^
Yeah I kinda addressed that in the second half when I summarized Harbaugh’s comments as: “oh I was busy and not paying attention.” I also said there’s no way they didn’t know it was a rule in my statement.
What I’m saying is either Harbaugh knew it and realized they were breaking a rule, and used his statement to say he wasn’t aware it was happening at first and it’s been addressed, basically trying to save face after getting caught breaking a rule (which is a bad look. Failure to monitor your program is a big no-no) or there’s some sort of clause that allows additional coaching in certain parts of the year (much like you can be over your scholarship limits until a certain date) and they’ve addressed it to fit the required timeline (no such rule that I’m aware of).
I didn’t say anywhere in there that Harbaugh was unaware of the rule. I actually said I find it hard to believe he’s unaware of the rule. Seems like Harbaugh tried to get an advantage and it became public knowledge so his comments are (poorly) trying to save face
August 15th, 2021 at 12:14 AM ^
....and yet we didn't have a proper WR coach for. FFS!!!
August 15th, 2021 at 11:11 AM ^
I’m not sure what you’re trying to say, since it’s not really a coherent statement. But Gattis has been coaching the WRs since he got here. Gattis is a phenomenal WR coach by all accounts.
But I’m not sure what that has to do with anything I said.
August 15th, 2021 at 9:10 PM ^
This issue has been talked about quite a bit on the board since DPJ's uncle made these comments and no one really refuted it. Shark boy was a WR coach for one year, but the other years???
August 13th, 2021 at 9:55 PM ^
I for one get tired of coachspeak having to name everyone almost to keep them happy. I prefer the Bo way of never a mention of individual players. And not to praise them. And you can be sure he wouldnt be now, of them not having won a conference title yet.
August 15th, 2021 at 12:15 AM ^
Username fits.
August 13th, 2021 at 10:09 PM ^
Is Kris Jenkins being in the rotation a surprise? I thought he was still only listed at 265 or so? That would be a nice addition, if he is closer to 300, for depth. I known it is the usual pre-season hype, but im feeling better about the defense
August 13th, 2021 at 10:42 PM ^
Harbaugh basically mentions every single player when talking about a position group. I'm not worried about it. The OP said he's worried about no mention of Juice, but Harbaugh also frequently says there's always the worry of missing someone when you run down the list of names.
August 14th, 2021 at 7:03 AM ^
I know that pre-season coach-speak is akin to a Carnival Barker’s pitch, but I still fall for it after all these years. Just put me out of my misery.
August 14th, 2021 at 7:59 AM ^
Jim admits he didn’t realize an analyst was coaching his qb’s that he was supposed to be coaching.
How does that happen?
August 15th, 2021 at 12:17 AM ^
Well, he is a busy man with 4 little kids at home. Who knows, could be shooting for a fifth.
August 14th, 2021 at 7:59 AM ^
Jim admits he didn’t realize an analyst was coaching his qb’s that he was supposed to be coaching.
How does that happen?
August 14th, 2021 at 9:48 AM ^
No, the analyst was coaching the DL. Harbaugh was just busy with the QBs so he didn’t notice the analyst overstepping his duties.
August 14th, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
Good to know that someone can read.
August 14th, 2021 at 2:19 PM ^
Yeah Osborn coached in the spring. Harbaugh honestly didn’t care. Loads of teams do stuff they’re not supposed to do and nothing happens to them. Michigan can get away with it by saying there was a lot of reshuffling during the spring with coaches. Analysts can coach if the team is down a coach technically. Obviously Harbaugh’s not the kind of guy to tell the media he just didn’t care, but I’m surprised by how he answered.