coaching changes
pep hamilton

Hello: Pep Hamilton Comment Count

Brian

pep-hamilton-oregon-coach-2013

Per Adam Schefter, Michigan has its Jedd Fisch replacement, and it's a doozy:

Like Fisch, Hamilton has been a college and NFL offensive coordinator. Unlike Fisch, he is leaving his current job of his own volition, probably because it's the Browns.

In 2011 and 2012 he was David Shaw's offensive coordinator at Stanford; the Cardinal finished 8th and 29th in S&P+. (That second year was post-Luck, FWIW.) After 2012 he followed Luck to Indianapolis, where he was the OC for three years. The Colts finished 13th, 17th, and then imploded thanks to a spate of Andrew Luck injuries and poor play when he was available. Hamilton was fired midseason in what was widely regarded as a Jed York-esque scapegoating. Hamilton was well-regarded around the league just a few months before he got the axe.

That's a pretty good resume for a coordinator; Hamilton is coming in as a co-co-coordinator. Meanwhile any QB coaching issues that may be inferred from Luck's terrible no-good 2015 should be obviated by his head coach. Also he might make a good head coach candidate when Harbaugh leaves for the Rams. (Did the Rams already hire a coach? Does it matter?)

Comments

93Grad

January 9th, 2017 at 6:07 PM ^

this affects the offensive game plan and more specifically play calling, which left a little to be desired last year (in particular the pepcat and the idiotic formations with Shane).  

Joined: 07/26/2011

MGoPoints: 13587

getsome

January 9th, 2017 at 6:32 PM ^

yeah not a big fan of the morris stuff but more bothered by the lack of use of RBs in the throw game as well as many of the deveon smith outside runs.  and the redzone O in general though much of that was with struggling QB or vs better Ds so...

i agree, itll be interesting to notice subtle changes.  also not sure of hamiltons personality and coaching style (is he crazy intense, more conversational, etc) so curious about that as well.

i like the hire.  ive heard good things about him.  and the values certainly there (as with fisch).  plus dudes name is pep.  welcome pep!

Joined: 09/07/2013

MGoPoints: 7386

OwenGoBlue

January 9th, 2017 at 6:15 PM ^

This is an incredible hire that could only happen due to the Harbaugh effect. Stealing an active NFL coach to not even be a sole coordinator or similar. Incredible!

Joined: 04/03/2016

MGoPoints: 31529

T4L

January 9th, 2017 at 6:17 PM ^

Terrific hire! Very excited about this.

Brian, you say that "Unlike Fisch, he is leaving his current job of his own volition"

Is that meant to imply it was a mutual parting of ways with Fisch?

Joined: 06/06/2010

MGoPoints: 814

ish

January 9th, 2017 at 6:19 PM ^

schefter is usually accurate.  if he's right, this is a grand slam hire.  i can't think of anyone who would've been better.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 17404

TrueBlue2003

January 9th, 2017 at 6:53 PM ^

Obviously, Pep's pedigree is outstanding, but I wouldn't have minded going outside the existing tree here.  This past season many of the failures (inability to counter scrape exchanges, stale end of game playcalling), seemed to beg for some fresh ideas.  Unless he's an outstanding recruiter (which he may be, I have no idea), it doesn't seem like we're adding to the X's and O's expertise here. Plus, I can't imagine he's not back in the NFL after a year or two.

Still, a very safe, very high floor hire here.

Joined: 01/05/2010

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Everyone Murders

January 9th, 2017 at 6:30 PM ^

Speight is rightfully excited, as should be Peters and McCaffrey.  I liked Fisch, but this seems to be at least an equivalent replacement, and probably an upgrade.

Poor damned Browns.  If I wasn't a life-long Lions fan I might even feel sorry for them.

Joined: 12/14/2010

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