OCs and DCs around the Land
Happy New Year everyone!
We've all been talking about it on the side, both on here and in person with friends and family... Just looking to start a realistic conversation on here about coordinators now that all but a few teams have wrapped up their seasons.
Who do you think are the best offensive and defensive coordinators for the college game around the country and especially those who might realistically leave where they are and come here for similar salaries as what Pep and Don get.
I'll start with a couple:
OC: Kingsbury looked fun, but is out. Kiffin has ran some good offenses, but has baggage. So I will throw out Bobo at CSU or maybe Candle at Toledo.
DC: Im not demanding a Don Brown firing, but not as in love as I once was after getting gashed to pieces in big games. Say he takes the Temple job or something, who do we like here? I will throw out Bryan Brown at App State. He is pretty inexperienced but did a nice job. Matt House at Kentucky made them have a competitive season with less than top talent.
Haven't seen a specific post on this subject discussing all the possibilities out there. Forgive me if there has. I dont watch a ton of college football outside of Michigan, but looking to see what you guys think!
January 2nd, 2019 at 12:50 AM ^
Osu curb stomped us with their basic core plays. They did nothing fancy.
January 1st, 2019 at 10:16 AM ^
90% of the rumors I've read over this season about Michigan have turned out to be true. Now there's a rumor that Don Brown is taking the Temple job. I guess there's a 90% chance it's true.
As far as the passing game, Washington St, Western Kentucky, and Oklahoma St are usually in the top 10 for passing offense. They are high yardage passing offenses. But the coaches at those schools may not fit with how Jim Harbaugh wants an offense to run.
Michigan lead the BIG 10 in scoring in 2016 with Jedd Fisch. The team was fun to watch that year, the best year since Jim Harbaugh has been at Michigan. I'm not saying hiring Jedd Fisch would solve every problem on offense. And I guess he isn't even available to hire. I am saying though, that what we've seen the last 2 years in the passing game has been, at worst, painful to watch, and at best, giving scattered exciting moments. Mostly we sit and ask, "Where are the WRs? We've got really great WRs. Why aren't they regularly getting the ball and making some excitement?!" I think we all know we will see lots of settling for field goals.
Who's out there to bring in? There has to be someone. I know if I was working full time on the team, looking for passing game coaches in Div I and Div II, I would come up with a list of 15 to 20. And then I'd sit with Jim Harbaugh and talk about all of them.
I'm thinking though that Jim Harbaugh already has someone in mind, and we will see a change by around the first week of February.
January 1st, 2019 at 10:20 AM ^
Partridge would probably become the DC if Brown left for Temple.
For OC I’d say why not try to go for Kiffin. Sure he has baggage but he can make an offense (with top talent) fun.
January 1st, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
Lane Kiffen is interviewing for head coaching jobs. I don't think it's likely he wants to interview to be an assistant.
January 1st, 2019 at 10:33 AM ^
The guy has only been coaching at the college level as a position coach for the past few years. Before that, he was a high school coach.
January 1st, 2019 at 11:14 AM ^
But he coordinates the special teams so he's not just a position coach. The idea that he can't be a DC here because he doesn't have much experience is how you end up with retread NFl/college coaches needing a landing spot for a year before moving along.
January 1st, 2019 at 4:47 PM ^
If we go out and get a young DC, Partridge may feel like he got passed up a d decide to move on. Not saying that's a deal breaker, just a consideration
January 1st, 2019 at 1:18 PM ^
I love CP as much as anybody, but what qualifies him to be DC at Michigan when he's never coordinated a defense in his life? CP could very well be a future star, but his entire coaching career has been under Don Brown. Do people really think that he has somehow eclipsed Don Brown as a defensive coach while working under him for the past 3 years?
January 1st, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
As a CSU alum in Denver, UM should not go after Bobo. Dude has done absolutely nothing to turn around the program and they are one of the worst in the MWC.
Bad idea
January 1st, 2019 at 10:45 AM ^
Fair enough. He just showed up in lists when I was searching stats. Never seen a single game though, so this is kind of what I was hoping for with regards to input.
January 1st, 2019 at 10:50 AM ^
With ryan day looking at okst oc, what about kevin Wilson?
January 1st, 2019 at 10:59 AM ^
Day doesn't want to keep Kevin Wilson? No flipping way! Ohio St jumped into the top 10 on offense his first year there. And look at that offense this year. Look how great Indiana's offense was with him.
If he's available, man, get him here for a talk with Jim Harbaugh!!
Are you kidding me man, Day doesn't want to keep him?? Shake my head!
But don't tell me, his style wouldn't mesh with Jim Harbaugh's.
January 1st, 2019 at 12:18 PM ^
Maybe Day doesn’t want to keep Wilson because a) Day was a skilled OC and b) Wilson is an asshole who was fired by IU for abusive behavior.
January 1st, 2019 at 11:09 AM ^
I just looked it up. Ohio St was #2 in passing offense this season, behind only Washington St:
http://www.espn.com/college-football/statistics/team/_/stat/passing/sort/passingYardsPerGame
Ahead of Texas Tech, Alabama, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St.
January 1st, 2019 at 10:56 AM ^
New OC- fire Pep and just throw a blank check to Tony Elliot at Clemson. Homerun hire but it would take a lot.
New DC- I wouldn’t hate a Partridge promotion, but the Kentucky DC wouldn’t be an awful hire I think.
If Harbaugh leaves, go get Gary Patterson from TCU. Defensive minded coach, will hopefully hire a good modern OC. Passionate winner, I’d love to have him.
January 1st, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
Patterson would never come here. Plus, Harbaughs not going anywhere, nor should he. Partridge is a top recruiter and bright young guy so would be an excellent choice as DC. As far as OC goes, throw a dart at just about any Guy in the country and it would be an improvement. Shit my 12 yr old could call a defensive game against this staff and usually does every game.
January 1st, 2019 at 12:38 PM ^
100% on board for either Clemson Co-OC
January 1st, 2019 at 10:57 AM ^
Here's a question, are we obsessing too much over co-ordinators? In an elite program the constant is the head coach. Look how many different co-ordinators Saban has won with. Last four championships four different OCs - McElwin, Nuss, Kiffin and Daboll. Guys come and go and yet the machine keeps running. Obviously we aren't Alabama but if we want to be on that level or close to it the head coach has to be the one to get us there.
January 1st, 2019 at 11:05 AM ^
Um, Bama doesn’t just hire anyone for coordinators. Plus, the last two years are the first time Bama’s been offensively as good as their defense. Locksley and Kiffen improved the offense.
Venebles and Smart are two of the best defensive minds. How do you think Heorgia quickly competes?
January 1st, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
Bagmen
January 1st, 2019 at 2:41 PM ^
While I agree that Bama doesn't just hire anybody, two of their last four national championship winning OCs also spent time on Michigan's staff with less impressive results. Don't get me wrong OC/DC are very important positions, but if we're pinning our hopes on an OC (or new DC) to come in and "fix" everything we are in trouble.
January 1st, 2019 at 11:11 AM ^
OC: Major Applewhite
January 1st, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
Harbaugh to Dolphins. Brown to Temple. Venables to Michigan as head coach. Brings a Clemson DC. Who knows on the OC.
January 1st, 2019 at 11:41 AM ^
If this were too happen and I would be ecstatic.
January 1st, 2019 at 8:12 PM ^
Same. Not saying I want Harbaugh out, but man this would get me super excited, and he'd probably be going with the same blue print as Clemson had, even on offense, which I'm sure this fan base would be ok with.
January 1st, 2019 at 11:13 AM ^
Major Applewhite had Houston as a top 6 offense before his firing. Memphis OC? UCF OC Lebby?
We need a coach who does not abandon the run but who passes for 70 more yards a game than UM’s 2018 team.
January 1st, 2019 at 1:05 PM ^
Applewhite had kendall Briles who was in full control of the offense this year. Briles is now at FSU
January 1st, 2019 at 11:13 AM ^
I don't really have any good names to throw out there but it could be likely there is major staff overhaul this off season with both OC and DC positions available. Also if JH allows Ohio State to poach Al Washington. Could get crazy.
All I know is if UM isn't going to buy recruits or pump them full of PED's then at least pay or overpay to get the best assistants. Steal from other schools if they have to.
January 1st, 2019 at 11:24 AM ^
Really don’t think OC will matter Harbaugh isn’t demoting himself from playcalling. Best choice is probably Brian Wright from Toledo. Pay him and hopefully he can earn enough of Jim’s trust to call his own kind of game.
DC I suppose I’m fine with Don Brown but he has to overhaul his scheme. The DL will be nowhere near good enough to run his scheme as is. He has to mix in zone because our guys are completely lost whenever man coverage goes awry. Really don’t care for his defense but I suppose getting rid of your two biggest assistant coaches in a year is a lot of turnover.
January 1st, 2019 at 11:45 AM ^
Brian wright worked with tressel at Youngstown state, so he probably knows how to be a good bag man. Kidding...... wait am i?
January 1st, 2019 at 11:55 AM ^
We had shark humper at WR coach, I’m not so sure Kiffin should be off the table.
January 1st, 2019 at 12:01 PM ^
Chris Partridge.
He is an all star recruiter best in the nation and someone is gonna give him a DC spot eventually I think its just the kind of risk that Harbaugh needs to take.
January 1st, 2019 at 5:55 PM ^
Yep. If we don’t pay him and now, then someone else will. Probably even this offseason.
January 1st, 2019 at 12:20 PM ^
I would like to add Jim Leavitt's name to the list for DC.
January 1st, 2019 at 12:28 PM ^
I've said this before on here, but if we had to look for a DC, they should at least take a look at Jay Bateman (former Army DC, just left for UNC). Bateman was outstanding at West Point, especially given the limitations inherent with coaching there.
The only apprehension I'd have is his ability as a recruiter is pretty unknown. Obviously, Army can't recruit the same way a traditional program does.
January 1st, 2019 at 12:31 PM ^
Jeff Scott or Tony Elliott from Clemson would be tops on my list for OC, they run a very balanced attack with pro and spread concepts. They’ve had a top 10 offense for the past 5-7 years. I’m not a fan of getting rid of Don Brown at all, but he does need to add in more zone and adjust. Tackling was a huge problem vs Florida, speed was the issue vs Ohio State.
January 1st, 2019 at 12:40 PM ^
You'll get nothing
January 1st, 2019 at 12:49 PM ^
You’re not getting coordinators from Clemson, people have tried it already with blank checks.
They like the atmosphere there and are loyal to Dabo. They won’t just jump for any job.
That said I don’t think anyone has offered the assistants to the assistants.
Brandon Streeter is the QB coach at Clemson, and he’s done a fine job. Watson and Lawrence are elite guys.
in a perfect world, that would be our OC/QB coach.
January 1st, 2019 at 1:29 PM ^
I would definitely be fine with Streeter as well.
January 1st, 2019 at 1:18 PM ^
I would make Warinner OC/Line coach. He is a proven OC. Greater chance you keep him and keep consistency on Oline. I think keeping the Oline consistent over next couple year will define Harbaughs tenure as Coach.
January 1st, 2019 at 1:37 PM ^
Warinner wasn't a good OC at OSU, so that's risky. However, "Bad OSU OC" is probably better than some three-headed monster that includes Pep and can't even get plays off in time.
January 1st, 2019 at 1:42 PM ^
Everything I’ve heard about Warinner is elite OL coach, but a shitty OC.
January 1st, 2019 at 4:02 PM ^
31-0 says he needs more time before he is given an entire offense.
January 1st, 2019 at 5:22 PM ^
Thing is, EW appears to be a good OL coach. Why mess with something that's working? Unless it's required to retain him or something, then I'd consider it
January 1st, 2019 at 6:31 PM ^
I think we need to think outside the box and hire Grand Rapids Christian HS’s Head Coach Don Fellows . He has history coaching at the college level and he can install the no huddle hurry up offense
January 2nd, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
We shouldn’t install no-huddle for the sake of no-huddle.
Did his teams score in college?
Last thing we need is Don Brown’s defenses to come out after a rapid three and out.