December 4th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
Mullen is much more of a gamble and involves an RR-style roster makeover. No thank you.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:32 AM ^
I doubt the defense would change much since he doesn't seem to have a man crush on specific defensive philosophies.
He has one receiver under 6 feet so I think he can work with our receivers. Dak Prescott was no small, shifty QB, so I think Morris, Malzone, Weaver would be able to work in his system. And his offensive linemen average 300-305 I believe. This roster makeover argument is not a winning argument to keep him out of Ann Arbor.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^
That's a bullshit talking point that was relevant moreso in 2008 because of how garbage a lot of things were about our program. Our S&C was from the 1970s (so was our weight room), and we simply didn't have a great deal of talent. We've got talent all over this roster, but we just need the coaching to take advantage of it and put our players in a position to succeed. Sure, as of right now we might not have a QB, but we are in worlds better shape talent-wise compared to 2008. If we had the same level of talent then that we do now, the "transition" probably would've gone a whole lot smoother.
December 4th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
Not taking a highly-qualified head coach who, at 42, would likely be with the program for more than a decade so as to avoid making over a roster that just finished the season 5-7 seems awfully short-sighted.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^
Harbaugh...Stoops...Miles...Mullen...Doom
December 4th, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^
Who is this Coach Doom fellow you mention? Does he coach here?
December 4th, 2014 at 1:34 PM ^
Harbaugh, Harbaugh...Mullen, Stoops....
...
.....
.......
.........Miles.
...........................DOOM.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
December 4th, 2014 at 10:59 AM ^
I really think Mullen should be choice 1b, after Harbaugh but before Miles.
There's too much upside with him to let the grayshirt incident get in the way.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^
Mullen's had some questionable in-game decisions as well. I really wouldn't care that much for him.
I hate to say it, but if either Harbaugh or Bob Stoops isn't available, maybe Bert's our guy. I know Nebraska's supposed to be targeting him.
If not one of those guys, I think I'd rather go with Tom Herman from Ohio State.
He's coordinated very good offenses everywhere he's been and he's supposed to be a very smart guy. Look at what he's done at OSU the past two years with 4 different qb's. He's supposed to be a very good recruiter as well.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
December 4th, 2014 at 12:54 PM ^
"$coach has had some questionable in-game decisions" honestly reads like "This coach has not made the perfect game-theory decision in every single situation he's ever been in, therefore he's not good enough for my team".
There is no such thing as a perfect coach. There is certainly no perfect coach on the market right now.
December 4th, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^
I get where you're coming from, but I did not mean to imply that he needs to be perfect. Because of their run, I've seen Miss. St. more this year and he's made some pretty bone-headed calls.
December 4th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^
Are you serious? Jim Harbaugh included.
Golden boy Chip Kelly LOST A GAME by kicking a FG to tie this year when on the road @Arizona when was on the goalline. Took 3 when he should've went for 7. Arizona throws a 75-yard pass and storms down the field in the last minute to win 24-20. Even if they don't get a TD, they easily could've gotten in FG range to tie. He should've went for the TD.
December 4th, 2014 at 10:59 AM ^
December 4th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
December 4th, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^
December 4th, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
They hated it so much, they hired a spread guy to come in and go 24-1 in the B1G.
December 4th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
Agreed. Ohio State has conclusively established that the spread can't work in the Big Ten.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:10 AM ^
In one of his mediocre seasons that you mention, his team crushed ours in the Gator Bowl. I'd take that over the current state of our program's mediocrity (which is a very generous term for Michigan, by comparison).
December 4th, 2014 at 11:11 AM ^
in the sec when that conference is the top dog, at a school that has the historical success of an indiana...yeah i'm pretty sure that would translate just fine to the big ten.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^
Mullen should be plan D at best. We need to land Harbaugh/Miles/Stoops.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:15 AM ^
Dude it's Mississippi State...He's 46-30 at one of the historically bad schools in the SEC. I don't understand why there isn't more hype for him!
December 4th, 2014 at 10:59 AM ^
I don't think you will get Mullen to leave MissSt.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:00 AM ^
He's from PA. It's not a Hugh Freeze situation.
December 4th, 2014 at 10:59 AM ^
Ok, and Bob Stoops. Mullen is the best realistic option.
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December 4th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
I think if we fail going hard as hell for Harbaugh, we should go hard as hell for Stoops. He's the only name being mentioned that has the gravitas Jim does. Les is probably third.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:00 AM ^
it'd be nice to have him as a 'fall back' if JH doesn't work out. Two things I have questions on though...
1) Why would Mullen, after a strong year at MSU (NT MSU) would he be so primed for leaving? I mean....SEC, SEC, SEC! /s
2) Would he be the next best candidate after JH, including the possibility of Miles? How do folks feel about him vs a homecoming for Les?
December 4th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
I could still see Nebraska making a run at Mullen.. So, I wouldn't say it's a free run just yet.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^
Mullen runs a spread, which worked out GREAT last time we tried it. Is his offensive mind flexible enough to do something else until we get players that will fit his style? Or is he a RR type of one trick pony?
We need someone that can win NOW, with the players already on the team. Fans will be jumping off buildings if we have another losing season next year.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
You bring up a good point, however his offensive philosophy is more spread to pass than spread to run like Rich Rod was. I think it's a different style of spread than what Rich Rod did IMO.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
was not so much the spread offense, but NO defense and NO special teams. The offense was a work-in-process, but wasn't having success against good defenses (yet).
December 4th, 2014 at 11:15 AM ^
The problem with RR teams was.. .Mike Barwis. Let me explain.
RR brought in Barwin to make players who were FLEXIBLE and SUPER-FIT and SPEEDY and QUICK. They laughed at linemen who ate pizza every night.
But... then we played Wiscy, and Sparty, and Iowa, and PSU, and Miss St and... we got run over. Pushed around. Our players were simply too not-physical for the B1G.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:30 AM ^
December 4th, 2014 at 11:06 AM ^
It did work out pretty great. The offense under RR wasn't the problem.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^
we played teams with any kind of defensive capability.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
But it was extremely young and showing signs of improvement. Keep in mind Rich Rod had a first year starter at QB every single season and most of the talent on the offensive side of the ball were underclassmen. The same guys who went on to go 11-2 and win a BCS bowl game.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:52 AM ^
I did not see any sign of improvement against Mullen in that Gator Bowl.
December 4th, 2014 at 12:30 PM ^
Maybe because everyone knew Rich Rod was getting fired and the weight of all that shit finally broke the players? Just a thought.
The idea that we didn't show any improvement offensively is absurd and you would have to really, really dumb to think that.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:30 AM ^
it was actually kind of poor against good defenses, HOWEVA we had seen enough spark to merit optimism. It was the horrible D that set RR free in the end, at least to me.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^
The only teams that should be scoring 65 points against Michigan are in the NFL.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:08 AM ^
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December 4th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^
It doesn't matter what offense you run when you don't have a quarterback. Shit a good quarterback can make any system work. Obviously the spread works at Oregon, Baylor...Ohio State.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:19 AM ^
Michigan needs to get the right coach with a system that will allow for us to win the most games a few years from now. I am fine with a less than stellar record next year if it means Michigan is set up for sustainable sucess further down the road. There are always a few bumps in a coaching transistion, and I understand the mindset of wanting to minimize those, but this can not come at the expense of hiring someone who offers Michigan the most potential once his system is in place.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
You may be, but I suspect much of the fanbase will not be happy with further poor seasons (regardless of whether this is reasonable or not)
December 4th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
December 4th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
I think the only thing that can prevent Michigan from getting Mullen is Michigan.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:06 AM ^
Sounds good. Let's hire him. I'm on board (assuming no Harbaugh, which I am).
December 4th, 2014 at 11:06 AM ^