Maryland chooses Alabama OC Mike Locksley as new coach

Submitted by Gentleman Squirrels on December 4th, 2018 at 8:03 PM

Notable since Pep Hamilton was one of the finalists for the job. I wonder if this means that Pep is coming back or if Pep will continue to interview for coaching positions and that Michigan will be in the market for a new OC. I wouldn't mind seeing Matt Canada at Michigan even if it's for only one year. Maybe just to spice up Harbaugh's current offensive playbook.

Bambi

December 4th, 2018 at 8:50 PM ^

I'd agree with all that. I think final point total against OSU looks nice, but how we got there is a much less flowery feeling.

I also agree that we didn't maximize our passing game potential. I thought the same thing, that we were saving something for OSU that never materialized. We were the same time that relied on a straight forward running game using the passing game as a change up when our passing game had the tools to be a machine of its own.

In Pep's defense, it was his first year with Shea and a generally young offense. It's possible that a 2nd year with the same group will open up the playbook more. But in reality, I think all these issues are Harbaugh issues and not Pep issues. Pep is an extension of Harbaugh, if we hire a new OC I don't think much will change. We'll still be a "pro style" run first offense that under utilizes the pass game. Some window dressing may change, but nothing major. With all that being said, there was a massive improvement from last year to this one. I'm willing to give Pep another year, see if we can take the jump from good to great. I think the worst thing we can do is change coordinators every 2 years because we're impatient and aren't perfect immediately. There are valid Pep criticisms, but not enough to warrant a change IMO.

Joined: 10/12/2013

MGoPoints: 23158

JPC

December 4th, 2018 at 8:57 PM ^

Six field goals against IU

Zero points in the 3rd quarter against OSU turning the game into a blowout

Shit red zone efficiency basically the entire time he's been here

There are plenty of reason someone could hope for an upgrade. If "he's not total shit like you stupid guys say" is his best defense, he's clearly not a top tier talent.

Is he a great recruiter? No.

Is he super effective as a play caller? No.

He could be upgraded. 

Joined: 10/13/2018

MGoPoints: 12224

FingerMustache

December 4th, 2018 at 8:54 PM ^

is your argument that the offense was so good this year that there is no room for improvement?  If not, I’m not sure why we can’t both wish for improvement on that side of the ball while acknowledging that the defense played a role in our two losses.

We were ranked something like 30th in the country on offense, which is not going to get it done if we want to compete for a championship. I would also note that pretty much every starting player was on at least one of the All Big10 lists.  And by most projections, we have NFL caliber prospects at QB, RB, C, LG, RG, TE and at least two WR spots (and probably 3). So what exactly is the excuse for not being elite?  

Joined: 02/17/2009

MGoPoints: 963

UMxWolverines

December 4th, 2018 at 9:45 PM ^

Our offense hemmed and hawed all year except against Penn State and Wisconsin. And it even took a long time to get going against them in the first half. How do you not see this? The guy was brought here to design passing plays and call plays, he is failing at that with our best receiver getting a measly 500 yards on the season. You cannot afford to take so long to get going against the best teams on your schedule...the offense didn't get going against Notre Dame and OSU until it was too late. You cannot afford to settle for field goals like we did with terrible red zone playcalling. He isn't good. 

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65474

M-Dog

December 5th, 2018 at 8:53 AM ^

I still don't understand all the hate for Pep.

His offense generated only 13 points on its own into the 4th quarter against Ohio State.  6 more Michigan points were off an OSU turnover within the 10 yard line. 

Meanwhile, Ohio State had 41 points into the 4th quarter.

It was more than clear that this was not going to be a 17 - 10 possession game.  Michigan's offense needed to keep pace with OSU.  Pep had no Plan B to do it, despite having an offense that was capable of doing it.

He lost me on that one. 

Our 4th quarter offense needed to be our offense from the middle of the 1st quarter on.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257567

Jack Be Nimble

December 4th, 2018 at 8:23 PM ^

I admit I'm surprised by this. He certainly did very impressive things as the OC at Alabama and he knows the area well, but he was kind of a disaster in New Mexico, his only stint as a head coach.

Joined: 10/03/2014

MGoPoints: 1833

LSAClassOf2000

December 4th, 2018 at 8:26 PM ^

Mike Locksley is supposed to be a great recruiter (and he has spent part of his career at Maryland anyway), so that's a nice pickup for Maryland.

It will be interesting to see if Pep ends up somewhere not here, but not because I necessarily want him gone....more like, I think he would be an interesting HC somewhere.

 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130667

Bo Nederlander

December 4th, 2018 at 8:26 PM ^

Not like it will matter in the slightest, but I'm writing a letter, personalized to Jim, about the downfall of ego. He knew his defensive prowess was a weakness. What did he do? Got the best D coordinator in the nation. 

Letter goes as simply as follows: 

"Coach, we all love you. Drop your fucking ego and do what you did, when you recognized an area of improvement when there was a glaring hole. Hire someone great and trust them."

This is something well within the realm of possibility. I'm not religious but we're both spiritual. Set that fucking ego aside (about offense) and get someone innovative in here to match your TREMENDOUS positional talent. That happen? We're on Alabama level. 

Just my Brandy soaked shit. 

I'm lot lying though. I'm writing that letter. 

Joined: 06/11/2011

MGoPoints: 20

DrMantisToboggan

December 4th, 2018 at 8:34 PM ^

I usually shrug off the talk of the "Michigan Arrogance" just for thinking that our school and college town and athletics are great (they are)...but this is really the arrogance that people hate from Michigan folk. The very notion of thinking "Surely, if Jim MF Harbaugh receives a handwritten letter from me - it's ME after all - he will see the foolishness of his ways, and I will save the program."

Do not write Jim Harbaugh a letter, you jamoke.

Joined: 11/26/2014

MGoPoints: 74183

lilpenny1316

December 4th, 2018 at 9:43 PM ^

We scored 37ppg, second most in the B1G, and people are still giving Pep a hard time.  If you have a top 5 defense, that's good enough to be in the CFP conversation going into The Game.  Harbaugh's the OC and unless something crazy happens, he will remain the OC.

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61859

Michrider41

December 4th, 2018 at 10:24 PM ^

It was Pep’s fault the Gentry couldn’t catch a cold.  It was Pep’s fault that the punt was blocked.  It was Pep’s fault that Patterson’s arm was hit and OSU got a pick.  It was Pep’s fault that the defense looked like they had 7 guys on the field. Plays were there to make on offense.  Gentry’s drops cost 4 point directly and -14 indirectly. 

Joined: 07/26/2016

MGoPoints: 2980

UMxWolverines

December 4th, 2018 at 11:40 PM ^

It IS Pep's fault that he doesn't design more plays with short quick developing routes like OSU and Oklahoma. It IS Pep's fault that we went 3 and out to start the game like we did pretty much every time we got the ball to start the game. It IS Pep and Jim's fault that we were still huddling down 3 scores late trying to make a comback, unless they had already given up, which I would hope is not the case. 

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65474

lilpenny1316

December 4th, 2018 at 10:26 PM ^

We were 10-1 going into The Game, so the offense did what was needed.  The defense also faced broken QBs half the season so that helped pad our stats.  

My only complaint with the offense is the red zone offense.  I think that was a huge difference in the first half.  But how much of the offense problems were the coaches fault, and how much was it execution? 

I had to suffer through Fred Jackson and Mike DeBord as the OC.  This is light years better than that so that might be why I'm kinda neutral towards Pep.

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61859

bacon1431

December 4th, 2018 at 11:21 PM ^

I think we saw enough from other games to say that the red zone strategy, execution and play calling all struggled this year. But I’m with you and that’s my only real complaint. People complain that we don’t put up gaudy stats like an Oklahoma or OSU but we have an incredibly different philosophy. Which is fine when it’s executed and not fine when it isn’t. But I’ve never met a fan base that truly loved their OC for more than a season or two. It’s the easiest coach to criticize 

Joined: 07/26/2008

MGoPoints: 25294

M-Dog

December 5th, 2018 at 8:58 AM ^

And 6 of those 19 points were off of an Ohio State turnover within the 10 yard line.

Our offense generated only 13 points on its own while Ohio State was cranking out 41 points.

Check my math on this, but that does not appear to be a winning formula.  

Or even a formula to stave off abject humiliation.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257567

lilpenny1316

December 4th, 2018 at 10:08 PM ^

If you want to give credit to Warinner for the run game, then whose fault is it that the run game didn't do anything in the 3rd quarter?  Or that Patterson was getting harassed all game?

And when does Michigan ever rank highly in passing offense?  Even with Brady and Henson, we weren't a top 10 passing offense.  

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61859