Asst. Coaching Candidate: Jerry Montgomery
Sam spent a lot of time on WTKA this morning talking up the potential candidacy of Jerry Montgomery to take over coaching the DL. For those who don't remember him, Montgomery was on Hoke's staff before leaving to coach at Oklahoma and then the Packers.
He's been the D-Line coach for the Packers for the past two seasons (he briefly took a job at Texas A&M a year ago before returning to the Packers), and with the change in Green Bay, Montgomery could be on the move.
I didn't remember this, but according to his Wikipedia page (LINK), he's a strong recruiter who was the primary recruiter for Ondre Pipkins and Derrick Green. (Hey, they WERE five-stars...). I think I'd like this.
January 9th, 2019 at 9:56 AM ^
Yeah, that sounds like it would be a pretty strong hire.
January 9th, 2019 at 9:58 AM ^
This is the guy I'm hoping Harbaugh is targeting when he left the 1st time, the recruiting fell off under Hoke.
January 9th, 2019 at 9:59 AM ^
Need a defensive analyst that can teach DB the fine art of zone defense.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:53 AM ^
I thought I remembered reading that DB ran a lot more zone at BC when he had worse talent. He probably just fooled himself into thinking he had enough talent at UM to shut down everyone with man coverage.
January 9th, 2019 at 11:39 AM ^
At BC he was Cover 2 base and Man-free as his secondary (extremely generally speaking). I'm guessing that Harbaugh wanted him to be the opposite as they play much more man in the NFL. In other words, 1) Michigan wants to have base schemes that are very prevalent in the NFL in order to attract top recruits, and 2) Michigan can attract the type of athletes that can cover elite WRs.
January 9th, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^
I think Zordich and other DB coaches we have on staff can teach the fine arts of it, but you have to do it a lot to get good at it. Moreover, being good at man coverage technique takes A TON of reps so sometimes that comes at the expense of being good in zone.
This is why it's very important to develop depth at DB because they'll need some years to excel at both, unless you're a future NFL All-Pro (and those come along once in a few decades).
January 9th, 2019 at 10:01 AM ^
Remind me why he left us for Oklahoma ?
January 9th, 2019 at 10:02 AM ^
I believe he cited Hoke's pizza-farts as a contributing factor.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:04 AM ^
I spit out water on my keyboard after reading this.
+1
January 9th, 2019 at 11:52 AM ^
Those aren't pillows!
January 9th, 2019 at 4:18 PM ^
+1 That made me laugh out loud.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:04 AM ^
Just a wild guess, but working for Bob Stoops is probably a lot better for your career than being involved in Hoke's tire fire at Michigan.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:10 AM ^
And Stoops loves him. Would be an awesome hire. Can’t exclude guys because they are young and likely to stay. Bama replaced 6 coaches last year and Clemson replaces 5, or somewhere around there. Gotta get the best no matter if it’s only for a season
January 9th, 2019 at 10:16 AM ^
I agree with you. I've been critical of Harbaugh, but one thing he does well is collect coaching talent (besides Pep/Drevno). You're never going to get a good coach who has zero chance of leaving within a couple years.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:04 AM ^
Sam said it was because Michigan wouldn't pay him more to stay at Michigan.
January 9th, 2019 at 12:43 PM ^
Well, we've learned that freaking lesson.
Take all the bagman money we are supposedly not spending, and spend it on good coaches.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:05 AM ^
I know there was an upgrade in either pay and/or responsibilities. I don't think his leaving was seen as a lateral move. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator after a season there so obviously there was upward mobility that served his career well.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:11 AM ^
Sam said Stoops offered him a big raise and Michigan was unwilling to match it. He also said if the monetary situation for assistant coaches was then what it is now (much bigger salaries) he thinks Montgomery would have stayed.
He'd be a great hire, but he probably won't want a lateral position coach move to college unless he's a co-DC or something.
January 9th, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^
Did you forget the part about a new coach in Green Bay?
January 9th, 2019 at 12:37 PM ^
LaFleur is apparently retaining Pettine as the DC which means he'll probably retain the defensive staff
January 9th, 2019 at 10:14 AM ^
I think he wasn't coaching the entire DL. I don't remember the exact breakdown of responsibilities but with Mattison on staff I think he may have only had 1/2 of the DL coaching responsibilities.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:53 AM ^
This is correct. He was also given the title of recruiting coordinator and wanted to get out from under Hoke and Mattison and prove himself. I’d be extremely happy if he came back.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:21 AM ^
Pay raise. Hoke’s assistant pool wasn’t that large IIRC.
January 9th, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
You're right. That's one reason why we had a bunch of no-name coaches who are now coaching at Indiana State (or were until recently) in Terre Haute, Indiana.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:21 AM ^
OU gave him a big raise plus some sort of a promotion. He was offered a lot more than any of Michigan's position coaches were paid so it would have been difficult to match.
January 9th, 2019 at 12:27 PM ^
Those were the days we were offering free soda to get people to buy tickets.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^
I think he went to Oklahoma for more money and responsibility.
January 9th, 2019 at 1:12 PM ^
At the time he was taking a promotion as Okla offered him the d-line position in addition to the associate head coach title as well as a pay upgrade if I'm not mistaken.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:45 PM ^
Jeff Hecklinski was the Recruiting Coordinator so Montgomery left for Oklahoma to receive the same title, coach the DL, as well as a few other responsibilities. He was the lowest paid assistant while on staff at Michigan. Ironically, he replaced Mike Trgovac in Green Bay, another name that has been flying around here recently.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:02 AM ^
I recall the reaction when he left was similar to Al Washington's departure. Young coach and a good recruiter who no one wanted to see leave. I can't imagine anyone would mind this hire. Good recruiter with recent strong college ties plus the added bonus of some NFL exposure.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:02 AM ^
This would be a very good hire.
Also, just an FYI...a buddy of mine texted me and said Bruce Feldman tweeted out something saying he wouldn’t be surprised if USC goes after Jedd Fisch for OC.
Wouldnt be a bad hire. I know some people on here (not me) that want Jedd here. Should be an interesting next couple of days.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:03 AM ^
they'll hire Jedd at OC, and then he'll get a call from a NFL team 2 weeks later.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:05 AM ^
From Kliff Kingsbury to be precise
January 9th, 2019 at 10:05 AM ^
Why would USC go after Jedd? The best football minds on MGoBlog told me that Jedd sucks because his S&P+ numbers here were worse than Peps.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:11 AM ^
Fisch’s route trees were a billion times better than peps.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:14 AM ^
But but but S&P+!!!!
Seriously, anyone with eyes knows that Jedd's passing game was way more dynamic than Pep's, and he had a lot less to work with.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:23 AM ^
Hahaha.
Not sure he had much less talent. Darboh, chesson, butt and a better line.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:34 AM ^
I think the current Michigan OL is underrated. Partially due to them looking bad under Drevno, and partially due to Pep's shitty long developing routes.
I'd say Butt was better than Zach, but (IMO) Darboh + Chesson doesn't measure up to our three outside WRs plus Martin (who's criminally misused).
January 9th, 2019 at 11:18 AM ^
In flat out talent, our current trio is better. But Chesson and Darboh were great blockers and far more experienced. In their 3rd and 4th years on campus when JH got there IMO.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:35 AM ^
And a 34 year old quarterback
January 9th, 2019 at 10:20 AM ^
Yeah, those route trees sure helped us beat OSU his first time here.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:22 AM ^
If you’re going to pick on Jedd, OSU is a pretty shitty bit of evidence since "can't beat OSU, so you suck" would apply to everyone. The Iowa game was way worse. Totally winnable.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:03 AM ^
Montgomery would be a solid hire. Great recruiter and high level coach. I would be worried about how long he would remain in Ann Arbor because it seems like he wants to keep moving up the ranks and the NFL/DC position could come calling.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:08 AM ^
Well the Don Brown rumors this off-season might convince him there very well could be an opening here in the near future.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:12 AM ^
At this point, I've just assumed that Partridge is being groomed to take over as the next DC at Michigan. Ideally, he learns under Brown for a couple more years before taking over, but that seems to be the next leap for him.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:17 AM ^
Partridge is someone we really need to hold on to, but man that's a big increase in responsibility I really hope they bring him along slowly. If he needs to be DC in a couple years, they should find him a G5 job and then rehire him after a year or two.
January 9th, 2019 at 11:25 AM ^
If you love somebody let them go? He already had a chance to go to Bama. That loyalty will be rewarded here.
Getting him a job at a G5 school is right up there with applying butter to burns.
January 9th, 2019 at 11:39 AM ^
It seems reasonable for Michigan's DC to have actual experience as a sole DC. There's only so much DC experience he can get as Brown's understudy.
January 9th, 2019 at 11:02 AM ^
I don't think you avoid hiring assistants because they are ambitious. If you lose Montgomery to a DC job, that's just a normal part of CFB.
But there is real evidence that Montgomery prefers the NFL. I wouldn't want to lose him as soon as the same job he had there already opened up.