SI Reporting McElwain "strong candidate" to Michigan citing "Sources"
Bruce Feldman reporting
"Jim McElwain has emerged as a strong candidate to join Jim Harbaugh’s staff at Michigan working with receivers, multiple sources told SI"
Unsure if this means anything more than clickbait. Feldman citing "multiple" sources. Whatever.
Link Below
https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/02/10/jim-mcelwain-michigan-ji…
Edit: Title "Whatever Wordsmiths"
February 11th, 2018 at 1:56 AM ^
A proven OC. His problem at UF, like ours, was missing strong support coaching staff. Surround yourself with the best experience and talent you can get. Minimize weaknesses. More Florida athletes are what we need. Match great talent with great coaching, then look out!
February 11th, 2018 at 9:25 AM ^
His weaknesses at Florida were clearly overstated. He did win two division titles in three seasons. Even if the SEC East had taken a step back, that’s still a great accomplishment.
February 11th, 2018 at 2:23 AM ^
This would be fine with me.
February 11th, 2018 at 2:30 AM ^
A lot of people are over thinking this one. Former HC af Florida and Colorado State. Former OC at Bama. Being hired as 10th coach (to work with WRs). It’s February, many other options have jobs. As a coach this is low risk and high upside. Reminds me of the Jedd Fisch hire. Also, may have humped sharks. But, the chances of shark humping in Michigan are extremely low. That said, the lake sturgeon better watch out.
February 11th, 2018 at 7:54 AM ^
If we want to make him OC and delegate Drevno to working solely with the OL, we might as well give it a shot.
I don’t think the offense could get a whole lot worse. And who knows? If McElwain only has to focus on the offense, he may end up doing pretty well. His offenses at Bama and CSU were pretty good.
Wouldn’t be an elite hire like Don Brown was, but I don’t think it would be a bad hire necessarily.
February 11th, 2018 at 8:11 AM ^
So I clearly wasn’t paying attention. He’s only being interviewed for the WRs coaching position.
Well, any WRs coach is better than no WRs coach at all. And he coached Julio Jones back at Bama so maybe he knows a thing or two.
February 11th, 2018 at 9:52 AM ^
LOL, Julio Jones isn't good because of coaching
February 11th, 2018 at 10:23 AM ^
He obviously taught Julio how to be huge and fast.
February 11th, 2018 at 10:29 AM ^
I know this is the NFL but if you look at Julio *under* Kyle Shanahan vs Julio this year, coaching certainly had something to do with his production.
February 11th, 2018 at 11:24 AM ^
I agree completely about production. My point was just that Julio is a beast, and wasn't good at bama because he was "coached up" by McElwain.
February 11th, 2018 at 11:27 AM ^
if the offense becomes elite under coach Jim M. then he will be an elite hire.
February 11th, 2018 at 7:56 AM ^
Allow me to be the first to ask: How much will he be paid? Will Drevo and Pep still get $1M apiece?
February 11th, 2018 at 8:23 AM ^
Who cares? It's not coming out of your personal budget, nor any of your tax dollars.
I get the point, that the coaching staff seems top heavy and maybe paid too much overall. I don't disagree with that. But it really doesn't matter, especially if the AD, President, and BoT are all okay with the expenditures.
February 11th, 2018 at 10:53 AM ^
Are they really okay with it though? I’m willing to bet that a large part of why Harbaugh hasn’t gotten rid of either Pep or Drevno is because the top brass doesn’t want to pay their contract buyouts. Combined, Michigan would owe the 2 of them around ~$8-9 million AND still have to find the money for Harbaugh to hire 2 more coaches.
February 11th, 2018 at 9:10 AM ^
“McElwain was radio personality Colin Cowherd's roommate in college at Eastern Washington.”
February 11th, 2018 at 9:15 AM ^
Is he a good recruiter? Sounds like he should have some serious connections with his resume.
February 11th, 2018 at 9:44 AM ^
nobody in his league. new name for the viper position?
February 11th, 2018 at 12:08 PM ^
It sounded (from the Florida sites I read) like he was a competent recruiter, but Florida sort of recruits itself. He did...fine. He'll have connections in the south, and that can't hurt.
February 11th, 2018 at 9:58 AM ^
YOU get to call a play. YOU get to call a play. YOU get to call a play.
February 11th, 2018 at 9:57 AM ^
At Real Seafood Company at 3am "Just hanging out".
If he can help this team and recruit Florida I'll take him in a hot
Sea World second!
Tarik Black will be a Beast this year and hopefully DPJ will toughen up and win the one on one hand checking/holding battles to get open.
February 11th, 2018 at 10:00 AM ^
so he has been wr coach at several stops previously, correct? good. probably has solid ties recruiting in the south. won't be leaving after this year, so that's a plus. could even work his way up the ladder here and stay for 3 years or so. great for continuity. I feel like this is a better hire than enos. I really never understood that one. can and will he hit the recruiting path with aggression? that's my big hope, is he a good recruiter?
February 11th, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^
I have always liked him. No brainer!!! Hire the man!
I like what he brings with his time in the south as long as he checks that shady shit they do in the SEC at the door.
February 11th, 2018 at 10:43 AM ^
Odd hire for sure. But I still trust Harbaughand if he likes him so do I. I also trust Harbaugh when it comes to Drevno and Pep.
Jimmy Mac has a mixed track record and is kind of an eccentric guy, but he’s been ariund greatness.
Good hire, the only thing bad about it is our rivals will make fun of it.
February 11th, 2018 at 10:49 AM ^
his exit package from UF was $7.5 million so he doesn't need to take that big of a step backwards. To me, Morton would be the better choice. Guy is a task-master in training WRs how to run precise routes (West Coast offensive WR coach at the Raiders and 49ers). He would be like Zordich is for the DBs and challenge these kids to develop more quickly and make plays. Morton has a history of being a really good WR coach and a plus in the passing game plans. Knows Harbaugh and Drevno well plus he is a Michigan native, so a total fit.
However, if Pep is still in the market for an NFL job then maybe that is the carrot to get McElwain in ... to take over as a true OC when Pep lands his next job. Drevno can be good as the OL position coach and run game coordinator, but that would be a demotion type role if McElwain comes in with the overall OC job promised to him. Drevno might leave after his contract is up ... but in slides Warinner out of his analyst position. McElwain and Warinner would be a good combo. Still would need a WR task-master to train this young pipeline of talent.
February 11th, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
Does he sleep with the fishes like Troy McCulre?
February 11th, 2018 at 11:33 AM ^
Don’t you mean Luca Brasi?
February 11th, 2018 at 11:12 AM ^
I’m tired and I want to go to bed.
February 11th, 2018 at 11:29 AM ^
Here lies the body of Mary Lee,
Died at the age of one hundred and three.
For fifteen years she kept her virginity,
Not a bad record for this vicinity.
February 11th, 2018 at 8:38 PM ^
I like it!!! Great part and great movie.
February 11th, 2018 at 11:25 AM ^
Hey guys, it's your favorite Sparty here checking in!
Did you know that McElwain was the special teams coach and orchestrator of this masterpiece?
Here is the play in it's full glory:
February 11th, 2018 at 11:31 AM ^
I guess it's good he wouldn't be special teams coach here then
February 11th, 2018 at 11:33 AM ^
I was thinking more along the lines of his history of competent decision making.
February 11th, 2018 at 11:41 AM ^
Well we know JLS had a terrible track record in that regard, so maybe that was on him? I mean, that was far from the only hillarious "Sparty No!" moment of JLS's tenure.
February 11th, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^
On the field I think you're right , which we are hiring him for his on-field abilities. His PR tenure at Flordia was pretty ugly but that doesn't matter to us.
February 11th, 2018 at 11:32 AM ^
Okay, so that's one play. What's your point? Baxter was the ST coach for the most improbable ST debacle of my lifetime, but I still think he's probably the best ST coach out there.
February 11th, 2018 at 11:57 AM ^
what What is great about John L Smith? He didn’t cover up massive amounts of raping on campus like Mike does.
February 11th, 2018 at 6:22 PM ^
hey, sparty should go back to those old uni's though. not so bad.
February 11th, 2018 at 11:43 AM ^
Not sure about McElwain, I wasn't very impressed with what he did at Florida. Does anyone think we would have a shot at bringing Les Miles back as an assistant?
1. With his age, he might want to end his career at U of M as an assistant coach like Madison.
2. We might be able to hang on to him longer than a season or two.
3. He loves Michigan so its probably not a ladder to the next best thing.
4. He's considered by many an offensive genius and our offense needs help bad. He would have used Peppers in ways unimaginable..
5. He could open up recruiting avenues down south as he has strong name recognition particularly in talent rich Louisiana where we get no love.
The only drawback I see is that Harbaugh might not want to have someone of his football pedigree looming in the background and constantly hearing whispers that he should take over when somethings going wrong.
Thoughts?????
February 11th, 2018 at 11:52 AM ^
If you weren't impressed with McElwain's offenses at Florida, not sure why Les Miles would be any better. His offenses at LSU didn't exactly light the world on fire.
I'd be all for it, mainly because he'd be an ace recruiter. I also think he'd be a good OL coach. Not sure I want him calling plays though.
February 11th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
I dont care who calls the plays if they work. Harbaugh should be calling them since it will ultimately be his undoing when we struggle. Honestly I dont think anybody wins national championships or enjoys the kind of success Les has had, if they arent very good coaches. Case in point. Steve Fisher was thrust into an interim coach position and he showed he had what it takes to lead a team from top to bottom. Winning at the championship level isn't luck.
February 11th, 2018 at 11:44 AM ^
The Colorodoan news site is saying McLewain is expected to call plays if he takes the Michigan job. I would be all for this if true!
February 11th, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^
He would be a great fit, as he has experience building a good size lead and completely falling apart.
Exhibit A:
February 11th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^
Is he gonna call this play?
I like it, it's really well blocked.
February 12th, 2018 at 1:48 AM ^
How does a coach even respond to that play in film? Just ackwardly ignore it and move on?
February 11th, 2018 at 12:03 PM ^
In a bit of symmetry, Michigan both led to his destruction and will help with his rebirth...
Or he'll stick around for a year, do a meh job, then go sign up somewhere else.
Either way, I'm sure the fanbase will handle it well.
February 11th, 2018 at 4:00 PM ^
I have a feeling he would have self-destructed with or without us.
February 11th, 2018 at 12:04 PM ^
Better than having Enos
February 11th, 2018 at 12:09 PM ^
Congrats on making me laugh aloud in public. The you’re a weirdo faces everyone gave me were classic