Some new OC ideas - Please post yours
The rumor mill is in full swing, and it appears as few as one offensive coach could be returning. My guess is that the returning coach is Jay Harbaugh. It now appears that Al Washington has been hired.
umbig11 has noted that JH is looking for offensive minds the same way he found Don Brown--looking for the best offenses in the country to poach top-flight coaches. In that spirit, I stopped listening to rumors and started researching the top offensive minds that might be compatible with Michigan.
After a quick scan of the top P5 offenses, here are three names I believe would be great choices for our new OC. In order to keep this conversation somewhat realistic, there are some key criteria: 1) Cannot be current OC at blueblood program. 2) Cannot be coaching at their alma mater as an OC/HC. 3) Cannot be an OC of a "spread-to-run" offense where the QB is a featured runner.
- Mike Yurcich, Oklahoma State OC/QB - Yurcich is one of the top offensive minds in the country. He is an Ohio native, went to school in PA, and coaching in IN and PA before moving to OK State. While his spread system would be a drastic departure from UM's current philosophy, it does not focus on a running QB. I do believe we have the personnel to run this system.
- Mike Norvell, Memphis HC - Norvell's offense at Memphis was #4 in total offense, #2 in scoring offense, and #4 in S&P+. The former ASU OC runs a pro/spread hybrid. His OC, Darrell Dickey, was just hired as TAMU's OC by Jimbo Fisher. The run game coordinator/OL coach, Ryan Silverfield, would be another intriguing hire.
- Phil Longo, Ole Miss OC/QB - What if Shea Patterson could run the same offense at Michigan? Ole Miss boasted the #9 S&P+ offense in 2017, Longo's first year as OC. Longo grew up in NJ and has coached in MN, OH, PA, and IL. More recently, he rewrote the record books at FCS Sam Houston State, amassing over 6,500 yards in 2016--over 4,500 passing and 2,000 rushing.
Of these three, my top choice would be Norvell, as I believe he is the most compatible with our current style and personnel. But any of them would be quantum leap forward.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:31 PM ^
Our defense with his offense would destroy Bama, OSU, and everybody else
January 4th, 2018 at 2:35 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:37 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:45 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:48 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 5:24 PM ^
I hope we're actually talking about a case of right idea, different league.
What do we need? Good offense, but especially good rushing offense. When we rush for 125+ we win.
If you look at NFL team rushing the last several years, Buffalo's 2015-2016 was ridiculously good... largely due to OC Greg Roman!! (he was a sacrificial lamb on the altar of Rex Ryan in Sept 2016, but that was still his offense).
Harbaugh assistant @Stanford (Broyles award finalist!!) AND 49'ers (resurrected their offense as OC), and more recently brother OC for brother John.
His name has already come up and I sure as @#$^%@#$ hope this one comes through!!
Can you imagine a good rushing offense, marching down the field at a snail's pace and punching the ball in over and over again... a Michigan offense that averages 35+ minutes time of possession....
AND WHAT DON BROWN'S DEFENSE WILL DO, SUPER-WELL-RESTED EVERY TIME IT TROTS ONTO THE FIELD
January 4th, 2018 at 2:46 PM ^
yeah, plus we have enough coaches that like to go around shirtless
January 4th, 2018 at 2:42 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 3:17 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 3:57 PM ^
I just hope RR knows defense attorneys better than defense in general
January 4th, 2018 at 4:51 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 6:06 PM ^
Yeah, I'm gonna bet he'll hire someone better than GERG to be his defense attorney.
January 4th, 2018 at 4:10 PM ^
I guess. After reading the entire letter to the DA, I'd agree with scumbag. Are there worse harassment situations out there? Sure. But if the incidents laid out in the brief are pretty accurate, RR could be found criminally liable if enough evidence is presented to a jury.
January 4th, 2018 at 5:07 PM ^
This is my thinking exactly, but I am getting smoked in the other thread for daring to have the opinion.
January 4th, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^
Either you are lacking a /s or this is a terrible post.
January 4th, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^
as well as naive as fuck
January 4th, 2018 at 3:08 PM ^
Art Briles had some good offenses, and my sources say he is availible
January 4th, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^
His OC was his son Kendal, who was very good but also deep in the "culture" they had. Got cleaned out with the rest of the staff. The only person to give him a job was Lane Kiffen, so you do the math.
January 4th, 2018 at 3:22 PM ^
blue262 just forgot the gol durn /s
January 4th, 2018 at 3:50 PM ^
Get that Richrod offense that couldn't score points against anyone with a pulse.
January 4th, 2018 at 5:22 PM ^
You are obviously suffering from dementia. Do you not recall the dark days of 2008 - 2010??? A pox on you!!
January 5th, 2018 at 11:58 AM ^
Jim McElwain: performed very well as the OC at Alabama, was good at Colorado State, just couldn't recruit well enough and perform well enough at Florida. Could be someone who has a ceiling of good OC/mid level HC? Cons: May have gotten lucky at CSU with Rashard Higgins, is being OC at peak Bama that impressive?
KC Keeler: HC at Sam Houston State. One of the best offenses consistently in FCS, Keeler is a Pennsylvania native, and brought a no huddle, hurry up spread to Delaware, where they always ran Wing-T. Cons: 58 years old, and has a good thing going at Sam Houston, not to mention completely unproven at FBS level.
my personal favorite:
Beau Baldwin: Spent years as HC of Eastern Washington, now the OC at California. California offense exceeded expectations this year after a coaching change, had a top 5 offense many years at Eastern Washington, engineered multiple upsets over FBS teams including only the third instance of an FCS team beating a top 25 team in FBS. Has had numerous Quarterbacks excel under his tutelage at all levels, only 45 years old. Good recruiter, has tailored offenses around different quarterbacks depending on skill set. Cons: Would definitely take a head coaching job if offered.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:31 PM ^
Anyone who can get a play to go farther than five yards.
January 4th, 2018 at 3:29 PM ^
someone nobody is expecting. Like Don Brown. So...my guess is Bob Stitt.
January 4th, 2018 at 4:00 PM ^
Stitt is probably too out there for OC but man I'd love to have him on staff as a position coach or analyst. His mad genius would be nice to be able to tap into.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
Darrin Chiaverini is #1 on my wish list.
I also love Yurcich. The hate he gets from OSU fans is inexplicable.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:33 PM ^
Agree on Norvell and his coaching tree. Norvell himself would not accept a demotion but I would be happy with Silverfield.
Longo would not work. Shea Patterson transferred in large part to get away from him. They hate each other.
January 4th, 2018 at 3:16 PM ^
from his fan base, maybe he would like to get out of town.
January 4th, 2018 at 4:38 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:45 PM ^
Was Chiaverini the OC when they played in 2016?
January 4th, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^
I wonder if he'd be swayed to leave Colorado. I think he played there...who knows though? I presume a higher salary could attract him until - inevitably - the Colorado HC job opens up and he's the front runner for it...
January 4th, 2018 at 3:11 PM ^
Second that emotion for Yurcich. Would love to have an innovative offense that scares people...
January 4th, 2018 at 3:29 PM ^
Chiaverini is at his alma mater and CU was #70 in S&P+ this year. They were also 81st in scoring offense.
I would argue, strongly, that being the OC at Michigan is not a demotion, and that success in that job would get Norvell to a top 30 P5 HC job faster than Memphis. He's proven his chops as a HC, now if he can get UM to win the B1G and maybe to the CFP? He'd be the hottest name in coaching next year.
January 4th, 2018 at 3:32 PM ^
I would argue strongly to the contrary. G5 HC to P5 OC is absolutely a demotion. Norvell has already been a P5 OC -- that's what got him the Memphis job. The next rung on the ladder is P5 HC, which he richly deserves IMO.
January 4th, 2018 at 4:04 PM ^
the Enos move from CMU to Arkansas raised so many eyebrows.
January 4th, 2018 at 4:56 PM ^
I just cannot believe that anyone really believes that someone would voluntarily leave a head coaching position at a school such as Memphis, Houston, etc. to become an offensive coordinator at Michigan or a program like Michigan's.
Maybe I'm older, with a lot more experience in the workforce, than a lot of people on here. Sort of like another poster decrying the DC from Notre Dame headed to Texas A&M for a big payday. Makes me wonder how much real-world experience some here have.
January 4th, 2018 at 10:56 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 1:32 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 10:13 AM ^
a non-coaching position? LOLOL
January 4th, 2018 at 3:33 PM ^
Why do ohio state fans hate Yurcich?
OP said he's an ohio native, so...?
What's missing from the OP list is anyone from the staffs in the incredibly exciting Rose Bowl we just watched. Wouldn't the RB coach of UGa be an exciting possibility?
Or whoever drew up some of those amazing OK misdirection plays?
I'm in!
January 4th, 2018 at 3:35 PM ^
OSU = Oklahoma State in this instance.
January 4th, 2018 at 4:09 PM ^
Coming on a Michigan blog & dropping OSU in reference to Ok St is as silly as going on 11W and saying something about the Canes by calling them UM!
January 4th, 2018 at 4:25 PM ^
But it was referenced in the OP as Oklahoma State.
January 5th, 2018 at 7:47 AM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
is Dell McGee. He is making $275,000 and is 247Sports' top ranked recruiter.
January 5th, 2018 at 1:22 AM ^
and he's only 40 and has done a great job as CU OC. I think he would be a better fit with Harbaugh then Jed but posses a lot of passing game skills Jed did. Rome can coach the OL and running backs.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:33 PM ^