Looking for Defensive help-Larry Foote?

Submitted by Blue Balls on

With only a one year contract with the Detroit Lions, might Larry Foote be available to coach Michigan's linebackers? I know Larry has worked with Coach Barwis in the past. Forget the lost in translation BS-How would you like to be a player and see your coach suited up for practice in pads? Just imagine-Larry speaking to players"blitz-this is how you blitz-hey California boy-what couldn't surf,football..poor choice-for the last time, snap the ball. Seriously, any thoughts on Larry Foote?

Magnus

November 17th, 2009 at 1:45 AM ^

It seemed to work for Ken Norton, Jr.

Seriously, though, I think "experience" as a position coach is overrated. I wouldn't want an ex-player heading straight to a coordinator position or to be a head coach, but to coach linebackers or running backs? Sure.

Positions coaches' jobs are to connect to their players, instill fundamentals, and recruit. They can connect just fine, considering that they're younger. They can recruit for the same reason - "Hey, I just finished my NFL career. I want you to join my alma mater."

And as far as instilling fundamentals, these guys have just finished a career of doing drills, watching film on their position, etc. They know what it feels like. They know whether it's realistic to do certain things on the field or not. They know how quickly you have to make decisions. Etc.

Anyway, I'm not saying experience is a bad thing, but I think it's overrated with respect to position coaching.

jmblue

November 17th, 2009 at 7:57 AM ^

It's one thing to know something, and another to be able to impart it to others. I'd like a coach with some experience so that we can evaluate how successful he's been. With a guy like Foote, we have no idea how he'd do. If he weren't a former Michigan player, it would be a non-starter.

Magnus

November 17th, 2009 at 8:22 AM ^

Keep in mind that we're talking about a linebacker coach. No big-time linebacker coach is going to switch schools unless a) he's getting promoted or b) he got fired from his last job.

Anyway, there are examples of ex-players working out immediately, and there are examples of career coaches working out immediately. But if Hopson moves on, I'm guessing Rodriguez won't hire based on the fans' desire to evaluate how successful he's been.

Of course the idea of Foote would be a non-starter if he weren't a former Michigan player. The idea is that some Michigan fans would like to see an ex-Michigan player with some pride in the school and pride in linebacker play to step in and mentor these young guys. I'm not one of those people who wanted Debord to get the job because he was a MICHIGAN MAN, but it doesn't hurt to have at least one guy on staff who has connections to the past.

(By the way, I have no particular allegiance to Foote, and the guy probably isn't even that close to retiring. I wouldn't mind if it was Jarrett Irons or Erick Anderson or Steve Morrison or Ian Gold. People just want someone to restore pride in the linebacking corps.)

Jeffro

November 16th, 2009 at 11:16 PM ^

Mike Hart's dream is to be head football coach at Michigan (his quote from BTN). Would he make a good RB's coach today? Both would be great for the program when there NFL careers are over but they would also benefit starting off lower on the coaching chain. Coaching experience is just as important as playing experience.

willywill9

November 17th, 2009 at 12:14 AM ^

It's funny, the two names that came to mind first were both Woodley and Woodson. Then I thought to myself, those are just too obvious, there has to be another answer. But in all reality, those really are the top two I could come up with. Then again, my Michigan roots don't go all that far.