This Week's Obsession: If Harbaugh Had A
UPDATED: Now with 100% more Yang.
(via Toledo Blade)
The Question:
Inspired by A.J. Williams, which former under- or badly utilized player would you have loved to see play for Harbaugh?
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The Responses:
Brian: For the record, this was my rundown on MGoRadio:
In this world he's probably still #19. |
1. Denard/Devin
Jim Harbaugh coming in in 2011 and being handed Denard Robinson would have been incredibly fascinating, and may have propelled Denard to unmatchable heights as a runner. Gardner would have been lethal.
2. Mike Hart
Do I hear 3000 yard season?
3. Gabe Watson
Watson gets a bad rap. He was first team All Big Ten twice and a mid-round pick in the NFL draft. But if there was one guy who could have been a demon if he was in a bit more shape and a bit more motivated, it was him.
4. BJ Askew
A hybrid FB/RB who could have been a really cool secret weapon.
5. AJ Williams
The gimmicky top five was in honor of Williams so I had to put him on there. The turnaround this year has been great.
For TWO I'll add a couple more names: remember that game Alain Kashama had in the Citrus Bowl against Florida? Yeah, that's another guy for the pile of defensive players who might have been yelled into awesomeness under Harbaugh. Also: Devin Funchess. Does he become a great blocker? Does he become at least a great blocker for a WR? What does it look like to have Devin Funchess running routes downfield against one on one coverage with full motivation? I bet it looks pretty amazing.
[After the jump: so many wonderful toys]
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Ace: My somewhat oddball list for the radio show:
1. Mike Hart
2. Tate Forcier
3. Will Campbell
4. Aaron Shea
5. Marques Slocum
Brian and I caught some flak for leaving this guy off our respective lists on Monday: Drew Henson. The people are absolutely right in this case. Henson would've been the most talented quarterback Jim Harbaugh had to work with until Andrew Luck and his skill set would've been ideal in a Harbaugh offense; he had the arm strength, accuracy, and mobility Harbaugh covets in his quarterbacks. The difference between Henson working within the confines of Lloydball and playing for Harbaugh—it's a sick kind of fun to consider.
Harbaugh also would've been so deeply offended by the idea of Henson leaving early to pursue a career in baseball—a fine sport, sure, but football is life—that I fully believe he would've been able to convince Henson to resist George Steinbrenner's overtures until he'd delivered a Heisman Trophy to Ann Arbor. I want to live in the alternate universe that gives us Senior Henson coached by Jim Harbaugh; it probably ends with Henson as the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
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David: This is a question that has seemingly endless possibilities. Brian's Devin/Denard pick, on the radio, is obviously tough to beat. My #1 that I wrote down on Monday night -and was rather confident about- was also taken by Brian (which is maybe why I work for him?) was BJ Askew. So, I'll have to go with #2 on my list: Kevin Koger.
Kevin Koger came to Michigan as a fringe Top 100 player and a Top 5 TE. He was also a Michigan head-to-head recruiting victory of Ohio State, coming out of Toledo. He also came to Michigan and probably the worst time to be utilized as a tight end: the very beginning of Rich Rod's spread offense. In all three National Signing Days that Rich Rod was in Ann Arbor for, he signed zero other tight ends. There was a lot of talk that Koger would end up flipping to DE, but he ever did.
Despite coming in with solid size and good speed, Koger finished his college career with only 59 catches -23 of them coming in 2011, in a more TE friendly offense-, 756 yards, and 9 TDs. He did save arguably his best game -4 catches for 40 yards and a TD- for his Senior Day against Ohio State in 2011.
If you gave Koger four years under Harbaugh instead of three Rodriguez spread-based years and a fusion-cuisine year of Borges, I have to wonder if he'd be playing on Sundays, now, instead of already into his coaching career.
Regardless, he still has one of the better Twitter handles I've come across: @KogerNotKroger
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Seth: In Endzone/Brandon's Lasting Lessons there's a short story about how Harbaugh called Bo after taking the job at San Diego. Bo's questions: Do you have a tight end who can stick his hand in the dirt? Do you have a fullback? Harbaugh said yes, and Bo said you'll do fine.
Desimone. |
You can read that as Bo was an i-form zealot, or you can believe Bo knew Jim well enough to know what a Harbaughffense needs. Whereas a spread offense thrives on widening the gaps defenders have to cover, the Power offense's jam is carving out new ones.
It's telling that Harbaugh took one look at his new Michigan personnel and identified Joe Kerridge as his captain. The uber-Kerridge remains the only pre-MGoBlog era man to join the ranks of the Blessed Order of St. Kovacs. That man is Kevin Dudley.
Prior to 2003 Chris Perry had the talent to threaten any gap A through E, and the inability to choose the right one, such that in 2002 B.J. Askew in Ace formations was Michigan's most effective personnel. Once Askew moved on, Michigan activated Dudley, who solved the Perry problem: Just follow 32. Perry won the Doak Walker in '03. The following year Mike Hart set a freshman record for rushing yards. They didn't do it alone.
Underutilized is probably a stretch, but Dudley did happen to come to the top of the depth chart at the same time Michigan had the best three-wide personnel in its history (Braylon/Avant/Breaston). He also had Mike DeBord calling his plays. Imagine if Harbaugh had.
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UPDATE:
You there in the peanut gallery.
: Ooh, ooh! What about Ryan Mallett?
What about him?
: Uh … I was asking you guys. Oh, now I have to write complete sentences about this? Goddamnit, Seth.
Heiko: Okay, so I guess Mallett would be intriguing entry into this thought experiment more so for what it would have meant for Michigan rather than what it would have meant for him. As I’m sure most people know, the guy was an uber-recruit who backed up Chad Henne in 2007 but then booked it for Arkansas after Rich Rod failed to make eye contact or something. At Arkansas he sat out 2008, played the next two seasons, and as a PGY-4 he set some records for quarterback stuff and earned himself a spot in the third round.
Like I said, not sure how much Harbaugh would have changed his career path. Maybe he would have been a first-round pick, although the reason he fell to the third round seemed to be due to concerns about his off-the-field shenanigans. Anyway, the biggest difference would have been that he had stayed at Michigan, and that scenario is why I even brought this up: imagine the 2008 Michigan team with a real quarterback. A real quarterback running a real offense.
I know, like, whoa, right?
Even after the mass player exodus (which you could argue would not have happened if Harbaugh had been hired that year and Mallett had stayed), Michigan had talent at a number of offensive positions. Tailback Brandon Minor was establishing himself. Future jump-ball specialist Junior Hemingway was showing promise as a sophomore. And there were guys like Top 100 receiver Greg Mathews and 5-star Kevin Grady on the roster who ended up not reaching their full potential through the transition years. I would bet a dollar those guys would have gone to the NFL had the Harbaughing happened after Carr’s retirement.
I’m getting off topic now (goddamnit, Seth), but in this fanciful alternate universe we’d have been bitching about how Michigan QB Andrew Luck got snubbed for the Heisman over the last couple years instead of trying to out-posture the folks over in East Lansing.
At this point I don’t know which storyline I’d prefer to have lived through, but I’ll have a better idea after the game on Saturday.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:05 PM ^
Tom Brady. He had a great career and I wouldn't necessarily say he was badly utilized, but I am pretty sure he wouldnt have been a 6th round pick if he played college ball under Harbaugh. I am picturing a couple extra NCs and a Heisman!
October 14th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^
Ohhh. I like this one. Having a qb whisperer for Tom Brady would probably have gone well.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^
1. Tom Brady
2. Thomas Rawls
3. Stevie Brown
4. William Campbell
5. Kevin Grady
October 14th, 2015 at 1:44 PM ^
Kevin Grady is a pretty good one that I hadn't thought of. He would have been a very good fit under Harbaugh. Although, he was around during Mike Hart and Brandon Minor, both of whom also were perfect Harbaugh backs so maybe his career wouldn't have been all that different.
October 14th, 2015 at 2:11 PM ^
For my part, I would like to see how Jim Harbaugh would perform at QB if coached by his future self.
October 14th, 2015 at 2:59 PM ^
This was going to be my answer. Can you imagine Harbaugh the QB running today's zone read or pulling up for the pop pass? So many possibilities.
October 14th, 2015 at 3:42 PM ^
Harbaugh was an All-American here, so I'm not sure he qualifies as an "under- or badly utilized player."
October 14th, 2015 at 7:22 PM ^
The dirty little secret UM fans don't tell anyone else is that Brady was always the #2 fan choice behind Pre-Annointed Legend Drew Henson. Even though Henson never did anything on the field to confirm it, I remember everyone collectively groaning whenever Lloyd would sub in Brady for Henson.
And to be honest, even after Henson left, Brady was solid but I think if you asked any fan at the time, whether they would take Brady or Todd Collins - people would probably just shrug.
I think Harbaugh and his quaterback whispering ways could have made those Brady teams champions.
October 14th, 2015 at 8:20 PM ^
I can honestly say I was a Tom Brady fan all along. A big part of that was that I like upperclass QBs in general. But yes, we did exist.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:04 PM ^
October 14th, 2015 at 2:23 PM ^
...Devin Gardner.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:05 PM ^
Not that he didn't have a great career but it could have been even better. A great hybrid FB/TE.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^
He would have been incredible in a Harbaugh offense. He was excellent as it was.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:06 PM ^
+1 for Alain, when I was a youngster he threw me one of his gloves as he was leaving the field. The kid had measurables of Shawn Crable and could have been great. Drafted by the Bears, I believe, only to end up in the CFL...I think...cool story bro...cool old player memories bro...
October 14th, 2015 at 1:33 PM ^
Kashama was not drafted.
October 15th, 2015 at 10:14 AM ^
or was an UDFA....thanks though, you always nitpick, kinda like my wife...
October 16th, 2015 at 1:47 AM ^
October 21st, 2015 at 7:44 AM ^
SKEEZER!
October 14th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^
October 14th, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^
in his maturity. He pouted when he was benched, he overslept and missed practice after getting benched, etc. I don't know if he could last one practice with Harbaugh.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
I envision a day where every mgoblogger has a different harbaugh freakout avatar.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:55 PM ^
October 14th, 2015 at 1:20 PM ^
There is the possibility that the immature Ryan Mallett of 2010 doesn't even see the end of the sesaon with Coach Harbaugh. If Harbaugh had come in for the 2011 season it is more likely that Mallett sticks around but I still think there would be a falling out during spring practice with Mallett still transfering to Arkansas. This is especially so if one considers a certain graduate transfer in 2011.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^
When RichRod came in. You're off by a hire, if I interpret your post correctly.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^
I noticed that but your post prevented my edit. Still, I don't think Mallett stays for Harbaugh era, whether by his choice or Harbaughs.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:36 PM ^
If there ever was a correct answer - this would be it. Mallet was the most talented QB i have seen in High School from a pro style perspective.
I think Harbaugh immediately humbles him, and Mallet absorbs everything Harbaugh teaches him. He would have been our next NFL Tom Brady.
Mallet is the correct answer IMO.
October 14th, 2015 at 2:51 PM ^
Why is the next Tom Brady the answer instead of The Tom Brady. As others have said, I would have liked to see him reach his GOAT potential in college.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^
Man... shit. Devin Gardner for sure. Look at what Harbaugh did with Kaepernick. Look at Devin's 2013 ND game. Imagine those together.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^
Gardner would have a Silver Football for each hand in that scenario.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:40 PM ^
If you feel like crying for Devin:
http://mgoblog.com/content/michigan-41-notre-dame-30-sanity-0
http://mgoblog.com/content/upon-further-review-2013-offense-vs-notre-dame
Heisman? Don't be ridiculous. Aw man I'm just havin' some fu— Heisman doesn't cover it. MacArthur genius grant is more like it. Wow. Yes. Wow. Jebus
October 14th, 2015 at 2:10 PM ^
I feel so bad for him. Not sure if he would've been able to be groomed into an NFL caliber QB, but maybe. Our complete ineptitute re: the Oline handicapped him significantly. Funk'd up
October 14th, 2015 at 7:56 PM ^
Always loved that Chesson block. A sign of good things to come from him in Harbaughffense.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^
October 14th, 2015 at 1:08 PM ^
Denard being coached by Hoke/Borges in 2011 instead of Harbaugh continues to break my heart.
October 14th, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^
A harbaugh offense instead of a borges lead one against Iowa and MSU, I have to think we go undefeated....
October 14th, 2015 at 2:30 PM ^
October 14th, 2015 at 3:06 PM ^
And Borges was just as responsible for the inexplicable game plan vs Iowa. IIRC, we made it competitive when Borges briefly got out of his own way.
October 14th, 2015 at 2:56 PM ^
What's great about this is JH would have moved Denard to RB and then started a very young Gardner...WIN/WIN...WIN.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
I think if Harbaugh had Gardner for four years it would have been a wonderous thing.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
I don't think Gardner would be a wide receiver with PTSD right now if Harbaugh had been the coach starting in 2011.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:36 PM ^
Agree with you both; Gardner is my pick. What is most sad to me is that I bet Gardner gets drafted as a QB with four years under Harbaugh.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
what Harbaugh would have done with Ryan Mallett.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
Think about this with Henson, despite not having Harbaugh, had he come back for a senior season. The Texans would have taken him first overall instead of David Carr in the 2002 draft.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
Woodson would have won multiple Heisman's with Harbaugh.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:12 PM ^
For as much as he was dull, man he had some flashes of brilliance.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:32 PM ^
I felt that Both Navarre and Henne plateaued in their development and could have used someone more capable to unleash their true potential.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:40 PM ^
October 14th, 2015 at 2:54 PM ^
Looking at Rudock, my first thought of him was "hey, a smaller version of Navarre, with less arm strength and a little less accurate".
Nothing he has done in the past 6 games has changed that perception, but Rudock does have wheels when needed.
In summary, I think Navarre would have excelled in this offense.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:12 PM ^
Kevin Grady. Would've been ideal in Harbaugh's offense, and I have a feeling a lack of motivation would've never been a problem either.
October 14th, 2015 at 1:12 PM ^
I actually like the Tate Forcier pick more than the Denard pick (assuming Forcier actually stays). I think Mike Hart and Denard did well enough without Harbaugh to not justify picking them....it's not like they were wasted. I actually think a guys more like Minor, brown, and Toussaint were more wasted than Hart ever was.
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