The Snowflake Thread: Coaching

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

This will be the thread for your thoughts on coaching and coaching decisions. 

DonAZ

November 9th, 2013 at 6:49 PM ^

I'm fully on board the "Fire Borges" bandwagon now.

It's not just the playcalling, as mentioned here.  It's that he's shown he has no idea how to use available talent to best effect.  Gardner is not and never will be a pocket QB.  So don't use him as such.

The fact that Borges continues to think he can mold Gardner into some rock-steady pocket QB convicts Borges of gross incompetence.

Gardner shows flashes of what he could be when he runs out of the gun, rolls out and hits short passes.  Borges either doesn't see that or he refuses to see it.

In either case, fire him.

stephenrjking

November 9th, 2013 at 7:12 PM ^

I actually think Gardner can be a capable pocket passer. We've seen the offense hum--think Notre Dame--and we've seen the players get put in position to succeed. Just look at how Funchess has developed.

It's true that execution is part of the problem. Nebraska is TERRIBLE against the run, running power or stretch plays to attack this should not be dumb ideas. But the OL is all kinds of awful.

Here's the thing: Execution is an issue, but I believe that the Borges plan puts the players into positions where execution is harder than in other systems. Remember, one of the advantages of Chip Kelly's spread system is that the reads are simple and quick. Al's are not.

And his record with quarterbacks is awful. To his credit, Devin has fixed a lot of the interception issues; but now, he looks scared and skittish behind the line, and makes far fewer good plays than he did early this season or even last season. I don't think Devin is coached well, and since his QB coach is also the OC with a lot of other responsibilities, that shouldn't surprise me.

The team is also slow. It takes a lot of time to call and set up for plays. That's a consequence of Al's philosophy. Not that they huddle, or even that they arrive at the line later in the clock; it's that calling or changing plays takes forever. A team that used to run no-huddle tempo all the time is now incapable of moving fast.

A different coach with a different philosophy, even if the formations and plays looked kinda similar, would do better than this.

I mean, c'mon. Minnesota is playing better offense than we are. It might be nice to have Max Williams on our roster, but other than that name one player on their offense that you'd take over ours. You can't.

Cope

November 9th, 2013 at 7:41 PM ^

level-headed and who is a respected poster around here give up the party line and advocate making changes. This game put me over the edge, as well, and it is not an emotional response. As you say, the numbers are clear: we are absolute failure as an offense. Not bad. Absolute failure. And that  at least rests squarely on the OC.

TESOE

November 9th, 2013 at 10:50 PM ^

Stanford was predictable vs. Oregon on many keys downs.  Bo's teams were predictable.  

Borges could call better games and it wouldn't help.  His team is not capable of executing what he is coaching.  It's a coaching fail at a fundamental level - who to block, who to look off and go to, how to hit a hole... it goes on and on.  Michigan deserves better.  The players who are sacrificing their all for this school deserve the best available coaching.  To lose like this is not OK.  Hokefully the powers that be will take action or else they aren't the right powers.  I don't see the issues on the defensive side.

Whoever takes over for MSC needs to think hard about the direction of the Football program.  The kids are great.  I'm very happy with the recruiting.  Find the source of these failures and fix it.  

That Denard was denuded of his Jr and Sr years to the Borges mantra makes me sick.  This season is showing what an incredible college talent he was.  

jsquigg

November 9th, 2013 at 6:55 PM ^

It is the philosophy, but it isn't the play calling?  What are you watching?  Nebraska plays with one high safety and puts 8-9 in the box.  Borges runs.  Nebraska plays two safeties high.  Borges passes.  Michigan tries to run the veer and Nebraska has four guys in the back field because they know Michigan has no play action for this play.  On the biggest third down of the game Borges calls a play that by design has Gardner roll left as a right handed QB who already struggles when his feet aren't set.  If that's not complete and utterly fucking terrible play calling, I don't know what is.

They don't have a philosophy because according to Borges having a philosophy makes you easier to stop.

They aren't developing the line or the QB as they should.

They talk shit consistently about the one offense that might actually fit their current personnel.

It might actually improve the offense to fire Borges and Funk right now.  I actually trust the players to come up with a better offense on their own at this point.

buddhafrog

November 9th, 2013 at 9:34 PM ^

You got it all wrong, and the NEB coaches admited this after the game.

They were reacting to us.  If we were lining up to run, they'd put 9-9 in the box (and often run-blitz the safeties).  When we lined up to pass, they'd have two deep safeties and know where to blitz.

It is as much this alignment fiasco from Borges as it is his play-calling, and yes, they are closely related.

Just freshman HS football.  Unbelievable.

yoyo

November 9th, 2013 at 8:26 PM ^

Prior success doesn't matter at this point.  We nearly lost to some trash teams and lost to some very bad teams.  I don't give a crap if he won 10 superbowls.  It isn't working.  Rich Rod was a great coach before he got here.  He built a BCS caliber team in the middle of nowhere but his Michigan teams were terrible.  Hoke is doing the same thing this season and likely in the future.

MGoDC

November 9th, 2013 at 6:42 PM ^

http://www.texassports.com/schedule.aspx?path=football

http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/usc-m-footbl-sched.html

Texas won 5 in a row, USC won 3 out 4 and were competitive in their loss at ND. Major programs with the balls to fire a Coordinator or a HC mid-season. I see no reason why Borges or Funk should continue to be employed starting tonight. We just lost to a Nebraska team at home that is probably the least talented in the division given all of their injuries.

buddhafrog

November 9th, 2013 at 10:42 PM ^

To be fair, what he said might not be wrong.  *IF* Hoke can not fix it, as the poster said, than he should be fired, although at the end of the season at the soonest.  If he is unwilling to make changes with Funk and/or Borges at the least, I think he should be fired.  I do support Hoke a lot.  But sitting here thinking about it, if he is unwilling to make coaching changes after this season, then I think a logical person might very well believe that he will not be able to change what is happening here.  And if that is the conclusion of Dave Brandon, than he should be fired.

For god's sake, I hope Hoke does something about what has been happening.

stephenrjking

November 9th, 2013 at 6:51 PM ^

Team is in full-on meltdown mode, by the way. They might not be soft, but they are in a tailspin.

Hoke is in danger of being the next Ron Zook, or at least a late-term Mack Brown. 

Reggie Miller thinks things are going poorly.

jdub55

November 9th, 2013 at 6:44 PM ^

We have looked listless and sloppy in every single game this year and in most apects of the team are getting worse and worse. I think that says something about the coaching. The just look lost.

corundum

November 9th, 2013 at 6:44 PM ^

Serious presser question: Nebraska's defense allowed 602 yards against Wyoming, 465 against SOUTH DAKOTA STATE, and 430 against Minnesota. What did they do to stifle Michigan's offense to a grand total of 175 yards, and -21 yards on the ground? What allowed those previous teams to attain such success when compared to Michigan?

UMFan95

November 9th, 2013 at 7:02 PM ^

There is no coaching happening at ann arbor.  Hoke needs to go if he loves michigan.  He knows that this job is way over his ability.  He is hurting michigan, the longer he continues.  Dave brandon needs to get a proper coach here with proper coaching resume. I am not sure how can he hand the keys to this program to such and idiot like hoke with many coaching mistakes.  Never seen so many mistakes happen from a head coach at michigan

cheesheadwolverine

November 9th, 2013 at 6:45 PM ^

I don't think anyone disagrees that Funk should be fired tomorrow and Borges at the end of the year.  I believe it is becoming clear that we probably should never have hired Hoke, but I don't want to turn into a school that keeps firing coaches after a few years, and it's hard for me to know who is available that would be better.

Michigan FTW Again

November 9th, 2013 at 7:17 PM ^

the end of the year too. B1G is gone, and there is no doubt that Borges is gone after the BW3s bowl.

The line WILL improve with experience, but it is going to take time. I'm still on the youth bandwagon here.

Hoke is the right fit for Michigan. He will make the right decision and correct the staff issues after bowl season.

Go Blue.

jabberwock

November 9th, 2013 at 8:38 PM ^

meme keeps getting repeated?



Hoke has shown poor in game coaching decisions, with time outs, clock management etc.



He's delegated everything else and just stands on the sidelines and claps.



What has his intense focus on the Defensive line yielded?



Is it becuase he like defense and says "toughness" a lot?



You are judged on your subordinate hires as much as anything; at best mattison has earned a B, what will Hoke's loyalty to Al cost him?

AgonyTrain

November 9th, 2013 at 6:47 PM ^

I am beginning to think we should have hired Kill instead of Hoke. His players actually get better during the year and he inherited a total tire-fire so I dont want to hear the youth excuse for Hoke. Brandon should tell Hoke that he has 1 year to show improvement if he keeps Borges and Funk or 2 years if he cans them this off-season.

Dilithium Wings

November 9th, 2013 at 6:46 PM ^

Fire all. Seriously. Another frosh QB beats a Mattison defense. Borges can't run an offense. Hoke had no control on his team. All he brings to this team is recruiting. He's the kiffin of Michigan.