Feldman reporting Manny Diaz is going to Miami

Submitted by killerseafood3 on December 30th, 2018 at 10:37 PM

per Twitter..

This means the Temple head gig will be opening back up...

Red Sammy

December 31st, 2018 at 5:50 AM ^

Losing Don Brown would not be the end of the world.  He’s done a decent job at Michigan, but he’s been so-so, at best, in real games.  In fact, in most games in which he has had to defend a QB who can walk and chew gum at the same time, he’s struggled.  His defense has also struggled mightily in big games, especially in the clutch moments of big games.

2016 vs Colorado: Brown was getting destroyed by Sefo Liufao. . .luckily, he got injured, otherwise Michigan in serious trouble of getting beat.

2016 vs Wisconsin: Probably Brown’s best game.  Defense held up from beginning to end in what was at the time a big game.  Of course, the Wscy QB was Hornibrook, so. . .

2016 vs Ohio State: defense fades badly in late 4th Q and OT.  

2016 vs FSU: Shredded by FSU in 1st Q, plays respectably most of the rest of game, then immediately falls apart as soon as Michigan takes the lead late in the game, when put in pressure situation after long kick off return,  allows freshman QB to easily win game for Seminoles.

2017 vs PSU: absolute disaster.

2017 vs South Carolina: helpless against mediocre Jake Bentley in the second half.  Embarrassing performance.

Even in the games in 2017 in which the defense held up fairly well, there were terribly disappointing lapses, such as the failure against Haskins in the OSU game, and the third quarter against Wisconsin. . .stuck with a shitty offense, the defense never won a game against a good team for Michigan in 2017, even though supposedly it was a top defense.  Look at Michigan State, with an even crappier offense, sometimes their defense steals games against better teams, yet I doubt anybody in E. Lansing would wet themselves if Mike Tressel left, yet he beat PSU this year, performed far far better against OSU, and watch how much better his D plays in their bowl game.

2018 vs OSU and Florida: Embarrassing.

Beaten by Wimbush, caught with his pants down by Thorson.  Only 1 genuinely impressive performance, against PSU. Lucked out against MSU when Dantonio played an injured QB.

As has been noted many times in many threads, Brown’s defense is fine against B1G bottom feeders and non-conference scrubs, but it hasn’t been anything but MEDIOCRE, AT BEST, against good teams and in big games.  He did a decent job, overall, but Michigan never won a thing with him, so why fret if he leaves? At worst, once again we don’t win any championships, and if the genius Harbaugh makes a genius hire, maybe we get a DC who provides a defense that plays its best games in the big games--wouldn’t that be a refreshing change?   

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 642

Michrider41

December 31st, 2018 at 8:32 AM ^

Yes, it would.  The #1 defense in the country giving up 89 points (14 were on a blocked punt and a pick 6) in its last two games is pretty pathetic.  The third and a mile conversions that this team has given up is just unbelievable. The lack of big plays and turnovers on defense is also astounding.  When was the last time you saw MIchigan make a play like the Florida safety made on that pick in Saturday?  

Joined: 07/26/2016

MGoPoints: 2980

JPC

December 31st, 2018 at 8:42 AM ^

Good post. Fancy stats aside, Brown's defense turned into a sieve more often than not when Michigan absolutely needed to hold firm. Marcus Ray was right, and we completely ridiculed him for it. 

They seem to be a complete bully of a defense. They feast on overmatched or deflated opponents, pumping up their fancy stat rankings, and then fall apart at the worst possible time. 

Brown's defense didn't look top 25 against OSU. I couldn't give two shits if Michigan holds Middle Garbage State University to -5 second half yards, if it's going to allow Ohio to score an historic amount of points. 

Joined: 10/13/2018

MGoPoints: 12224

JPC

December 31st, 2018 at 10:31 AM ^

Probably a little. Brown has pulled some very good talent out of NE, so it's not like he was building his BC defenses with dogshit and Band-Aids. In any case, they also ran an effective version of zone coverage, so I'm not sure it's an apples to apples comparison. 

I realize that you want to argue, and that's fine. However, if you think that Brown's BC defense were given any sort of significant analysis by opposing teams, then you're crazy. His defense is just as gimmicky as a triple option offense, and posed a similar nuisance at BC. They looked good when no high level team wanted to waste time scheming around them, knowing that it was a very winnable game because... BC. 

Now that he's at Michigan, OSU-level analysts are spending time figuring out how to beat his system. I hope I don't need to explain the outcome to you. 

Take a look at his points allowed at BC:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Boston_College_Eagles_football_team

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Boston_College_Eagles_football_team

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Boston_College_Eagles_football_team

Take a look at his points allowed at Michigan:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Michigan_Wolverines_football_team

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Michigan_Wolverines_football_team

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Michigan_Wolverines_football_team

There's something to be said about flying under the radar. 

 

Joined: 10/13/2018

MGoPoints: 12224

FlexUM

December 31st, 2018 at 7:27 AM ^

I'd be interested in stats that show how often good D-Coordinators shit the bed. Meaning, even the best get the doors blown out at times (and at times their teams still win). I'd be curious to see for those considered high level how often their defenses just poop themselves. 

It feels like with harbaugh at UM there has been a lot of ups and downs to the extreme on the defensive side. But maybe that is normal acrossed CFB?

Joined: 11/05/2011

MGoPoints: 13574

bacon1431

December 31st, 2018 at 8:18 AM ^

OSU’s defense has been pretty good over the Meyer years and they’ve given up 40+ points several times, including twice in 2013 and 30+ 5x this year. Even Bama breaks down once in a while. One of Brown’s bad games just happened to be in our biggest game of the year, which amplifies fans’ angst. 

Joined: 07/26/2008

MGoPoints: 25294

FlexUM

December 31st, 2018 at 8:45 AM ^

Thanks yeah OSU is the one I was thinking they usually have a game a year where the D chokes big time and a couple others where they are semi-bad but they still win. I'd assume every team with a good defense and respected D-coordinator has a game or two where they just suck. Seems when it happens to they OSU's/bama/clemson's of the world they have an offense that can hit the gas pedal. That should be what UM is capable of next year but I'm not confident in that. 

Joined: 11/05/2011

MGoPoints: 13574

Junior18

December 31st, 2018 at 7:48 AM ^

I am NOT on the Anti-Brown Bandwagon.

But if he were to leave, and since everybody is changing their minds now, they should see about getting Jay Bateman (former Army DC, now co-UNC DC) to change his. 

He was tremendous here at Army-- even went toe-to-toe with OU this year. Yes, I get OU probably was overlooking Army, and yes, I realize his successes came at Army (he didn't exactly face top offenses every game). But to do what he consistently did with the level of talent he was afforded at Army was impressive. His leaving is a huge loss for Army.

If Brown were to leave (and again, I'm not among those showing him the door), there'd be worse places to look for a DC.

Joined: 12/01/2014

MGoPoints: 3096

Jimmyisgod

December 31st, 2018 at 8:41 AM ^

People saying losing Brown would be no big loss are insane!  Brown is by far the best coach on our staff and there are literally zero DCs who would be as good as he has been here. His replacement is likely to be much much less effective. 

Joined: 01/24/2012

MGoPoints: 10342

KC Wolve

December 31st, 2018 at 9:56 AM ^

I love the dolts in this thread hoping the guy that has had top 5 defenses both here and his last school which was Boston College. You people are insane. 

Joined: 10/09/2010

MGoPoints: 12679

West Coast Struttin

December 31st, 2018 at 10:46 AM ^

Watched Ravens last night send the house multiple times to stop the Browns last drive.

Did we even blitz Osu? I was expecting Bush to level Haskins a few times. I saw peppers blitz a few times also & get after the Qb. 

Brown's D is always chasing, never tries to strip the ball, & never gets picks hardly. 

Send him, Zordich & Pep packing. 

Jaybaugh doing anything good also?

Joined: 10/06/2018

MGoPoints: 693

JPC

December 31st, 2018 at 10:59 AM ^

Jay landed the elite RB this year. He's one of the better recruiters on the offensive side, but that's just because most of the other ones are bad recruiters. 

I'd rather see Hart as RB coach for a number of reasons. He's more established as a RB coach. He actually played college football... as a RB (not an undersized high school DE). He didn't ride his last name to a career in coaching. He increases diversity of the staff. 

Joined: 10/13/2018

MGoPoints: 12224

West Coast Struttin

December 31st, 2018 at 11:34 AM ^

Agree on Hart. Would be awesome to have him. Jay I suppose has a life time job tho & doesn't matter if he's good or not. 

Maybe Zordich was a hot take. Blown coverages in last 2 games were pretty frustrating. Probably more to do with Brown's scheme in reality.

Joined: 10/06/2018

MGoPoints: 693

Mannix

December 31st, 2018 at 11:43 AM ^

Great stat from Ant Wright via Wolverine Corner:

Bama gave up 23+ Points six times this year and won every game. 

Guess what Michigan's record was when that happened? 

0-3

So, in the NCAA today, defense may be a good thing but it isn't the thing.

Joined: 01/15/2009

MGoPoints: 12263