Brian Smith to Rice
New Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren is hiring Michigan secondary coach Brian Smith as his defensive coordinator and North Carolina Central head coach Jerry Mack (31-15, four seasons, three MEAC titles) to run the Owls' offense. https://t.co/ZrDrteSk7k
— Ivan Maisel (@Ivan_Maisel) December 8, 2017
December 8th, 2017 at 7:45 PM ^
Marcus seems to know football. He breaks things down pretty darn good as far as I'm concerned.
December 8th, 2017 at 7:47 PM ^
December 8th, 2017 at 7:50 PM ^
I like Marcus, but in Ace's thread they are talking about combining position, WR coach, etc. So I doubt Smith's position will be replaced with the same responsibilities that Smith had.
December 8th, 2017 at 8:24 PM ^
10 assistants, but only 4 on defense, with a HC who helps out on offense. I can't see any sense in that configuration.
We've been doing very well with 2 secondary coaches. Why change now, of all times?
December 8th, 2017 at 9:13 PM ^
Not sure Ace said it but in that thread.
Because Zordich may have the capability to handle both. There will be a change because a coach left, not because we decided to change.
December 8th, 2017 at 9:55 PM ^
left and we didn't replace him with someone with the same duties.
I really don't understand Ace's suggestion. Partridge is the ST co-ordinator, Jay is the ST co-cordinator and Zordich is a ST coach. Bringing in a full time ST coach doesn't lighten Zordich's load much.
Asking him to take over Smith's job seems like a big deal and a gamble. Maybe he can handle both, but why even try it? Seems to me having him split duties does work just fine. Maybe he could oversee a young coach that's a strong recruiter. I guess that could be a plan, move Partridge to safeties/viper..
I'm not really seeing the need to upgrade our ST coaching anyhow. Very few ST coaches actually work with the kickers, which is probably why dedicated ST coaches have been rare. A good DB coach is easier to find.
December 9th, 2017 at 3:44 AM ^
December 8th, 2017 at 8:11 PM ^
No, thanks.
Marcus can claim to be a "Michigan Man," but he's said too many silly and strange things (like "basketball on grass") for me to take him seriously as a coaching candidate.
Also, he played at Michigan in the era where the coaching staff had lots of inbreeding. That wouldn't contribute to making him a good cultural fit.
December 8th, 2017 at 8:49 PM ^
if he wasn't a former player? When the answer is obviously no, keep looking.
December 8th, 2017 at 7:45 PM ^
Congratulations Coach Smith!!
We look forward to following your future successes.
December 8th, 2017 at 7:55 PM ^
December 8th, 2017 at 8:16 PM ^
December 8th, 2017 at 8:21 PM ^
We need more than what Scott Turner and Pep Hamilton bring if this season is any indication. Move Pep to qb and have him work with Harbaugh.
December 8th, 2017 at 8:55 PM ^
He was stashed as an analyst for a year. We picked him up two days after Michael Johnson Sr left for Oregon. The plan was to move him to WR coach when the rule changed. If we don't promote Turner, someone else certainly will.
December 8th, 2017 at 8:37 PM ^
comment earlier. And yes, bring in WR coach for number 10.
December 8th, 2017 at 9:02 PM ^
December 8th, 2017 at 9:09 PM ^
December 8th, 2017 at 9:29 PM ^
Who coaches the viper position? Does that fall under safety's or linebacker coach?
I think splitting up the secondary makes a lot of sense. We'll have 5 and sometimes 6 DB's on the field at the same time with lots of different responsibilities. I like the arrangement of a DL coach, a LB coach, a safety coach and a CB coach and then a DC to oversee everything.
December 8th, 2017 at 10:50 PM ^
and Don Brown coaches the traditional LBs. At least that how they divided the duties when Peppers was here.
December 9th, 2017 at 9:56 AM ^