Are we done giving Don Brown a free pass?

Submitted by jmarsh22 on December 29th, 2018 at 3:25 PM

I’m so sick of hearing about Don Brown’s #1 defenses. They are overrated garbage. Learn to adapt to what offenses are doing against you or leave. They have given up over 100 points in the last 2 games. Ridiculous.

teldar

December 29th, 2018 at 4:18 PM ^

I would agree with much of this. I do think the primary problem is that there is simply not enough team speed in the back 7. I think they're trying to change this. It seemed to me that CB recruiting this year was more focsed on speed than size like it obvioiusly was in previous seasons and obviously Bush is the type of LB they're looking for. Also, Brown's MO has been SPEED off the edges and in the middle. There just isn't much there at this point. I think this is a large part of why the slants keep working against this team. The problem is that these are not things you change in one offseason.

 

MindlessChaos

December 30th, 2018 at 12:36 AM ^

That's why it's the scheme/playcalling. If you pay close attention you will find it's actual pretty feast/famine. The reason the stats end up good and it looks amazing vs inferior competition is because the blitzes get home and the inferior competition has trouble with some of the looks. (Same thing happened under Mattison fwiw)  The trouble arises when opposing offenses can stave off the pressure/ blitzers which leaves open the back end. This is also why the spread can beat it. Good (or bettter) teams can pick it apart which is why you saw the last 2 games. Sure, having the missing players would have helped today but the reality is it's probably still an L.

The Baughz

December 29th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^

Same here. Bring in a young, innovative OC and proven DC who doesn’t run man coverage 85% of the time. Shit is embarrassing year after year.

Meanwhile you have an AD saying he’d like to give Harbaugh a lifetime contract. Maybe he should go and hire an AD with some balls who isn’t afraid to challenge Harbs.

JohnGalt

December 29th, 2018 at 3:28 PM ^

This team has quit on this staff.  Get rid of Brown, Jay, and Pep.  If any come back it will be the same shit next season. 

Rafiki

December 29th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^

He doesn’t get a pass for osu but he does for this game. 14 of the points the D gave up were on bust by backups along with plenty of other big plays that lead to points like the deep pass on the long 3rd down in the 4th. That’ll happen when you lose 2 first round picks. 

 

PaulWall

December 30th, 2018 at 1:37 PM ^

Im guessing you do too if you believe Rashan Gary played like first round talent during his time at Michigan.  He was good.  Good at meeting chase head on behind the quarterback. He either didn't get the development needed or he was overrated. Either way,  that's a problem for Michigan football. 

DHughes5218

December 29th, 2018 at 3:31 PM ^

I may be lying to myself but I don’t think it was on the defense today. Small mistakes and errors got out of control. This team is still developing a winning mentality. Just waiting on a breakthrough.

Uper73

December 29th, 2018 at 3:48 PM ^

Defense was bad on critical plays.  The Florida staff severely out schemed and out coached Michigan on both sides.

What is more concerning is how poor the offensive game plans are and how poorly the staff is leveraging its offensive talent.  McCaffrey will push Patterson next year.

 

 

 

MGoSteven

December 29th, 2018 at 3:32 PM ^

If Don Brown continues his refusal to play zone coverage, then fire him. I don't care about having the #1 defense because we beat up on bad teams. Playing only man coverage is just stupid and bad coaching. 

 

Edit : I'm not saying fire him now, because I think he's a good enough coach to make adjustments in the off-season. 

Harbaughlin

December 29th, 2018 at 3:33 PM ^

2 of those TD's were a blocked punt and a pick 6 both Don Brown's fault...

 

and we give up 2 Less TD's today if Bush is playing instead of random backup #3. Bowl games are garbage and need to go away sitting 5 Starters vs a team sitting 0... Hard to figure out what was gonna happen.

Ham

December 29th, 2018 at 3:33 PM ^

I remember being criticized for simply saying him/the defense was overrated. I was wrong. They straight up stink against anyone with a pulse. 103 points over two games. Who cares if they're number 1 when they play shit offenses?

bluepalooza

December 29th, 2018 at 3:35 PM ^

Lets all be honest.  Any D coordinator in the country would have done no worse and maybe better the last two games.  I really thought Michigan D would play well today and the offense would put up at least 30.

I just feel like something is wrong and my confidence for 2019 is very low.

chunkums

December 29th, 2018 at 3:35 PM ^

Brown's defense underperformed at several points this year, but I can forgive them for giving up 35 in a bowl game while missing several key players. 15 points when you have Shea Patterson throwing to three receivers who were top 150 players is criminal. 

Mitch Cumstein

December 29th, 2018 at 3:36 PM ^

I really like a lot of what Don Brown has to offer. It just feels like against teams with good QBs he can get outschemed with some very predictable play calling.

obvious examples today were the first half 3rd and 5 an draw and the 2nd half 3rd and 20. Just don’t know why brown always gets caught off guard in seemingly obvious situations. 

Realus

December 30th, 2018 at 12:36 AM ^

He's too aggressive and too predictable in that he almost always plays man.  He saw all of the talent he had at UM (compared to BC) and thought he could play pure man to man.

He has to know now, that he can't.

I consider Harbaugh on the warm seat next year and Don Brown on the hot seat.  He can't give up that many points in big games again.