SMU Snowflakes - The Overall Coaching
September 15th, 2018 at 8:07 PM ^
Might be a down year in the Big Ten. Which is great news.
This team can have a good season if they tough out some games mentally.
Unfortunately they are who they are and Notre Dame skating by Vandy and us in a dog fight with SMU deep in the second quarter says that more than ever.
This isn't a hugely talented squad and our coaching is mediocre.
I'll say 9-3 with losses to State, PSU and OSU
September 15th, 2018 at 8:18 PM ^
That would be 8-4 then. We've already lost to ND.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:48 PM ^
I don’t know that I agree on the talent front. I think the talent at wide receiver and tight end is pretty damn good and Shea is a top ten QB in the country. SMU was committing guys to the run without any thought of pass. It would be okay for Michigan to punish that early. I was happy with the offense in the second half. But you play four quarters. It’s more fun to win, but I wasn’t left feeling warm and fuzzy.
September 16th, 2018 at 10:24 AM ^
Go away.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:55 PM ^
Maybe this could be its own thread but I'll put it here.
As disappointing as this is in Harbaugh year 4, we should not fire him. The truth is that a) unless you want to get real dirty, you're playing at a disadvantage in the NCAA, and b) he's still pretty good. 8-4 with the occasional lucky 11-1 is way, way better than it could be.
Thanks to the NCAA's abdication of its enforcement duties, in my opinion, college football has separated into two groups: the super-elite who pay their players six figures and get away with it, and everyone else. We're not in the first group. We don't want to be in the first group. So until we break away and start our own conference and athletic association - which we should do - this is where we are. Got to appreciate the sport for what it is instead of expecting to compete with the Untouchables, in my opinion.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:07 PM ^
Harbaugh is being paid as if he is one of the top 3 coaches in the country. He has to do better than this. When is Michigan going to realize its not 1970 anymore and open up the fucking offense.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:25 PM ^
A. It's possible that going 8-4 consistently without playing dirty does, in fact, make him one of the top coaches in the country.
Remember the NCAA has, at the behest of the SEC and others, gone out of its way to sabotage his satellite camps, etc. He's battling uphill here - and not just against the other teams.
B. What else would you rather have the university spend its money on? I might say the physics department, others would say the dental school, etc. It seems more than likely that the football program is a single unifying element that people love. It's about school spirit, too.
C. Very significant chance, in my opinion, that if you pay someone else say 50% of Harbaugh's salary, you end up with a much worse football program. Not worth it to me subjectively. And it may not be worth it objectively either given the revenue losses that may follow.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:37 PM ^
Lets not act like going 8-4 at michigan is some tall task. Michigan, when playing well, can out recruit 90 percent of its competition. Harbaughs offense stinks, there are dozens of coaches who could take our players and put a better offense on the field than he currently is.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:58 PM ^
It absolutely is a tall task. Ask Rich Rodriguez. Or look what's going on at Florida State. Or Florida. Or Texas. Or Tennessee. Hell, look at Alabama before Saban got there. Complete foolishness to think that it's easy to go 8-4 at any school in Division I.
September 15th, 2018 at 10:24 PM ^
Agree to disagree.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:28 PM ^
So many little B*tches here. Not sure how you beat someone by as much as we did today while showing nothing and still give your Punkass the vapors. I’ll get your fainting couch ready Sally
September 16th, 2018 at 11:08 AM ^
Couch coaches. It really is true, there is a loud segment of the Michigan fans who aren't happy unless they aren't happy.
They forget the RR years, or the years before Bo. I'm old enough to remember both, and am completely content with the direction the program is headed in.
Now, get off my lawn.
September 15th, 2018 at 10:24 PM ^
It truly is astounding people want to fire harbaugh. Unreal how fucking forgetful people are about how bad it can be
September 15th, 2018 at 10:41 PM ^
Very disappointed in some of the posters and even the good ones. People want to be at the level of Alabama or OSU. So any kind of spewing goes after a game if it did not meet their expectation.
September 16th, 2018 at 11:22 AM ^
Operative words there is "THEIR EXPECTATION". Fans dont go to class full time, then spent countless hours at practice/film/training - at a top notch University with exacting standards such as this great University. The coaches and players set the expectations and goals, not the fans.
The team only wins by 25? WTF, "WE" suck, the coaches suck. Don Brown (who some of these same "fans" idolized) can't coach anymore.
We fans are just here for the ride. "This is Michigan" so I understand high hope's for the squad, but keep some perspective here.
September 16th, 2018 at 10:00 PM ^
John MF'ing Beilein... Nuff said
September 15th, 2018 at 9:02 PM ^
Harbaugh, like Hoke, is married to an outdated system - the whole manball thing just looks sluggish and slow compared to a more modern offense. Look at OSU and TCU - quick, fast, get rid of the ball, etc. Michigan's offense is painfull slow and slow-developing. Plays take forever to unfold.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:18 PM ^
Ehh. Still works at Stanford. Just tough to do when your OL is terrible. But that's on JJH as well - he needs to do better.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:21 PM ^
He's trying to run some RPO concepts, seemingly because he watched the Superbowl with Nick Foles. Thing is Philly had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL with Jay Ajayi and Blount.
If you are gonna do a run heavy big play RPO based offense you need a good offensive line.
I would like to see more QB keepers from Shea. Dude can flat out run. That would keep the defense off balance and much more likely to bite the run fakes
September 15th, 2018 at 9:21 PM ^
He's trying to run some RPO concepts, seemingly because he watched the Superbowl with Nick Foles. Thing is Philly had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL with Jay Ajayi and Blount.
If you are gonna do a run heavy big play RPO based offense you need a good offensive line.
I would like to see more QB keepers from Shea. Dude can flat out run. That would keep the defense off balance and much more likely to bite the run fakes
September 16th, 2018 at 1:04 AM ^
Agree with Shea running, but you also should balance the necessity of running your QB vs opponents like WMU and SMU while also saying Shea, just don't make a stupid mistake chucking the ball downfield on the run.
I'd rather have him available to run vs the Big Ten.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
Call me crazy, but I think it is silly to take anything from this game, regarding play calling. The first half was clearly Jim treating the game as an amped up practice, working on different situations. You don't go for it three times on 4th down unless you're supremely confident in the outcome of the game.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^
O.k., you are crazy.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:30 PM ^
I wish some reporters ask Harbaugh why he doesn't ever evolve. His offense is so 1970s it's ridiculous. Like get a grip, I know you loved Bo and shit but his offenses sucked ass too. Ask some tough questions reporters!! Make him answer why he doesn't utilize our WRs and QB more.
September 16th, 2018 at 1:02 AM ^
We ran a bunch of modern day read option. All running plays are not from the 1970's if they don't work.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:39 PM ^
The idea we’re going to land Daxson after a game like this while Bama is smoking Ole Miss is an absurd fantasy.
September 15th, 2018 at 10:00 PM ^
Agreed. There's a reason the crystal ball count is what it is.
It would take a miracle.
September 18th, 2018 at 10:47 PM ^
This didn't age well...
September 15th, 2018 at 10:19 PM ^
Playcalling was fine. It was obvious this will be one of the last ones to practice running. May as well go ham on it when we can throw at will. 45-20. And we only had 3 possessions the whole second half. Things are fine. Chill.
September 15th, 2018 at 11:32 PM ^
Man, can’t believe even UMBig11 is saying 8-4. I don’t think Harbaugh is the answer but another coaching change after this season could permanently kill the program. Michigan needs stability. Get rid of Pep and give Harbaugh a few more seasons to figure it out. It is what it is.
September 16th, 2018 at 1:04 AM ^
I think another loss to OSU and MSU will lower expectation to the point where most will accept Iowa status.
The only thing about Harbaugh job that might lose it is the fact he's getting paid so much
September 16th, 2018 at 8:02 AM ^
His salary is not the issue. Nobody gives a crap what he is paid, for the simple reason that we don’t pay it. It is not passed along in ticket prices, tuition, concessions, etc.
As a percentage of the overall athletic department budget, the difference between $4 million and $7 million is inconsequential, especially where, as here, a rich alum (the Harris family) has made an endowment for part of the coaching salary.
Those who raise the whole “Well he makes too much money for these results” argument are basically saying that they are unhappy with Harbaugh and they need to find a reason that may be more palatable to other than saying that he just doesn’t win enough. Remember, Hoke made a fraction of what Harbaugh made. When the results sucked, he was fired. Nobody said, “well, we only pay him a few mil a year so it’s fine.”
September 15th, 2018 at 11:38 PM ^
I don’t think everyone on here is smarter than the coaches. If only they had all of you guys there to tell them they could throw on these guys.....
they were running even with the numbers stacked against them because they know they need to be able to do that. Also they don’t want to put all their passing offense on film. Yes I know each game is most important, play to win the game al that. When they had to they did go to the air and DPJ had three offensive touchdowns. Every one needs to lay off the play calling.
September 16th, 2018 at 12:42 AM ^
Maybe not smarter than the coaches, but what about perspective ? There is something to say about those who can view things at a distance and perspective, than being on field and only seeing one dimension on things. I'd like to see Harbaugh and/or Brown in the pressbox one game and see how different he would do things. Hard as hell to have dimensional view of plays while standing on sideline, yet thats what armchair qbs have here only.
September 16th, 2018 at 12:59 AM ^
Games like this are bound to make the coach with the heavily favored team look stupid. Guarantee SMU did some things they didn't have on film at all, while Michigan is still trying to keep a few wrinkles under wraps and get out of dodge without a bunch of injuries while still working on base plays.
Also 8 man kamakazi fronts are murder to run against, but you have to do it.
More concerned that today revealed maybe an issue or two with the interior offensive line and maybe some blocking, or lack of, by our RB's.
September 16th, 2018 at 1:10 AM ^
Why in the world did we have our starters in on D on that final drive? The game was over, and we were cramping left and right. IIRC Long, Kinnel, and Gary all had to leave that drive, and they never should have been out there.
Harbaugh consistently leaves starters in way too long in my opinion. You're just increasing the chances for injury and taking away valuable reps from the backups.
September 16th, 2018 at 9:57 AM ^
IMO.....
if you get pulled as an individual it is punitive (see Evan post some bad blitz pickups). If you get pulled en masse it is a reward for good play and having a big lead.
The defense did not earn getting pulled early this game. The SMU offense has a.lot of similarities to the spread passing concepts we will see in the next 3 weeks vs. UN, NW, and UMD and clearly the back 7 need work on the pass D concepts.
On a completely separate note... I thought this was a GREAT game (at least on-field) for Daxton Hill to see in person. He saw first hand the high level of opportunity and responsibility we place on our safeties in coverage AND saw the potential for immediate PT given our current players/roster. (Not that our safeties are bad - just that we don’t have any Game changers currently on the field.)
September 16th, 2018 at 3:35 AM ^
The comments in this thread are terrible. It will be funny to come back and read them after the season. Chicken Little would even be ashamed...
September 16th, 2018 at 10:18 AM ^
Honest question for. What is your expectation of the season based on what you have seen to this point? I honestly think this is a four loss team. MSU, PSU, Wiscy, and OSU are going to be VERY tough games. 3 out of those 4 is a tall order.
September 16th, 2018 at 11:01 AM ^
If M continues to perform at the current level, then yes, 8-4. But football teams don’t perform at the same level every week. This team is improving and could get significantly better. I still see the most likely record as 10-2.
September 16th, 2018 at 11:33 AM ^
Why do people always talk about improvement as if we are going to improve but other teams won't? It is possible for other teams to improve too, perhaps even more than we do. This isn't a particularly young team with experience on the defense, 4th/5th year guys at OT, and outside of WR/Ruiz almost everyone who is starting is in their 3rd, 4th, or 5th years. We also don't exactly have a stellar record of finishing the season strong lately going 5-7 in the last 4 games of each of Harbaugh's years. Opponent quality is a big factor there but aside from Rudock's improvement there really hasn't been a strong in season improving trend under Harbaugh like you see with say PSU 2016 etc. I guess we'll see but you're counting on something to help us that may just as well work against us.
September 16th, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^
1. M is currently missing Aubrey Solomon on defense, could be a lot better when they get him back. Getting Tarik Black back on offense could help there as well, though probably not by as much given the play of M’s other receivers.
2. Brad Hawkins looks like a possible playmaker in the secondary, but had a bust yesterday that went for a TD. Reasonable to expect significant improvement from him. Ditto Josh Ross at LB, who gave up a first down with a misplay yesterday but could be a star player down the line. Carlo Kemp at 3T is another new starter who should get better over the course of the season.
3. The OL may not improve their individual technique, but the organization and communication problems that plagued M last season seem to be diminishing. That could continue. And M could still get a talent boost if one of the young OTs breaks through.
4. Patterson seems to be developing a better rapport with his receivers. That could make a big difference, as well as just increased familiarity with the team, system, etc.
5. M has depth at most positions. Reasonable to expect M to improve relative to most opponents (i.e., all but OSU) as injuries take their toll.
6. M has one of the best coaching staffs in college football. Also reasonable to expect players receiving top coaching to improve more reliably and more quickly than players on other teams with inferior coaches.
September 16th, 2018 at 8:11 AM ^
Reading this thread, you would think we lost the game. Or that it was really close at any point in the second half. We won by 25 points. We had a receiver break out for three touchdowns in a game. Our quarterback had a QB rating of over 200 (!!!). The offense scored points on it’s last six consecutive drives. Oh, and we did this without our top RB and with probably the most flag-happy refs I have ever seen.
We just saw top-10 Wisconsin lose to BYU. Psu barely beat App St. Sparty has a loss to the fighting Herm Edwardses and barely beat Utah State that’s not even the good Utah school.
For the second straight week, we rolled over a crappy opponent. If I had any complaint, it would be with the defense, which has looked sloppy, penalty-prone, unable to handle a mobile QB and overly reliant upon Chase Winovich to save every play. I suspect that they will be fine on that side of the ball and that, like the offense, we were content to win being vanilla.
This fan base is insufferable if this win wasn’t “good enough.”
September 16th, 2018 at 9:46 AM ^
Higdon was out fellas. The run game sputtered all first half but I think Karan would have broke one or two and given the offense the spark it needed.
That run of Evans when he cramped up may have been another huge run (good run as it was).
September 16th, 2018 at 10:41 AM ^
The problem as I saw it was that they had a game-plan to run the ball with Higdon.
His style, as in bruising down-hill tackle breaking running. Mostly 1 cut & go.
Evans is fantastic, but he is NOT that type of a runner. He's much more of a juker, open field make-you-miss type of running back. Thats why he's often so effective later when the opposing D is bruised & tired from facing Higdon.
If you watched Evans closely you saw him juke and cut at least twice before he even made it to the line of scrimmage. With our bad O-line the holes are CLOSED BY THEN!
Higdon out was a last minute decision and you don't change your game plan then you just plug in a new piece.
I'm not happy about a lot of this game (coaching, D, penalties, etc.) but I think thats why Harbaugh inexplicably used Evens to run into the line over & over for the first half of the game.
Tru is much more Higdon-like than Evans-like, and I think his effectiveness later was very apparent.
September 16th, 2018 at 11:08 AM ^
Totally agree. I don’t know if Higdon got hurt in warmups, if it was earlier in the week but they thought he could go, or if they just thought Evans could execute the same gameplan.
September 16th, 2018 at 11:16 AM ^
Man, if only other teams were allowed to use this strategy!
September 16th, 2018 at 12:23 PM ^
Far too many penalties. Other than that, I’m not too pissed
September 17th, 2018 at 7:35 PM ^
In big games with a close score we will loose every time with the coaching staff in place.