Hello: Pep Hamilton
Per Adam Schefter, Michigan has its Jedd Fisch replacement, and it's a doozy:
Former Browns Asst HC Pep Hamilton had accepted an offer to become Michigan's Asst HC/passing coordinator, per school source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 9, 2017
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?)
January 9th, 2017 at 9:56 PM ^
January 9th, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^
Co-Offensive Coordinator!! That's awesome!
January 10th, 2017 at 8:13 AM ^
January 9th, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^
Harbaugh knows what he is doing, offense will indeed be interesting next season.
January 9th, 2017 at 6:38 PM ^
that Harbaugh is going to take the Colts job.
January 9th, 2017 at 6:47 PM ^
They have an opening for Assistant HC & Quarterbacks coach now
January 9th, 2017 at 7:04 PM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 1:26 AM ^
January 9th, 2017 at 6:40 PM ^
January 9th, 2017 at 6:48 PM ^
Me gusta mucho! Bienvenido señor Pep!
Don't know why the poorly written Spanish...
January 9th, 2017 at 6:50 PM ^
January 9th, 2017 at 6:50 PM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 6:13 AM ^
Maybe Pep will be the next coach of the Rams after the new guy gets blown out.
January 9th, 2017 at 7:03 PM ^
I was thinking...That man is going to look great in Maize n Blue, but who the hell doesn't?
January 9th, 2017 at 10:53 PM ^
that pangolins look like shit in maize & blue.
January 9th, 2017 at 7:23 PM ^
January 9th, 2017 at 7:58 PM ^
January 9th, 2017 at 8:17 PM ^
The rise of spread offenses with the mobile QB and Michigan's ability to use any of those concepts. So far the answer is NO.
I like the fact he is good at developing QBs and WRs, but it would also be good to know that we are getting someone who is comfortable with the spread style of offense to allow for a more diverse play selection. I have to believe if there were someone on the staff who was familiar with the spread from an offensive standpoint we may have seen something a little more creative when Peppers was at QB. I mean, that was a god awful disaster against decent teams and was far overused at the end of the year. Because it didn't work. I know I have seen the same concern expressed elsewhere on the blog, as TrueBlue2003 above mentions scrape exchanges, and I fully agree. It would be nice to see more variety. I'm pretty sure Roman was the one who brought the Pistol to Harbaugh's offense so, while I wasn't really in favor of Greg Roman being hired, I would like to see someone who brings something outside of the MANBALL at which Harbaugh is extremely competent. Would have loved to see an OC from a lower level who's got some history coaching WR's and is intimately familliar with the spread.
Having said all of this, I don't actually know if Pep is familiar with the spread at all.
January 9th, 2017 at 11:07 PM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 2:02 AM ^
You may not want him to change, but our top target at QB for 2018 is a dual threat guy.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Chances are Harbaugh might change it up a bit post-Peters/McCaffrey.
January 10th, 2017 at 6:11 AM ^
I suspect that our current staff has a pretty good handle on how to use spread plays But, if DT-R is the starter, (assuming we get the kid) I'm betting he learns pro-style as well.
January 10th, 2017 at 2:02 AM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 6:05 AM ^
You might save your concern for something that matters.. Unless you think Harbaugh is switching offenses, why would you bring in a guy who coaches the spread?
I wouldn't downvote you over this but what gives you any impression that we are going to a spread any time soon? JH develops pro-style QB's and his offense is pro-style. We recruit for that type of offense. We are not changing that.
January 10th, 2017 at 3:24 PM ^
The best approach to a championship from an offensive philosophy, be it league or Natty is a top notch pro-style qb, and ideally one with mobility. If you have a tremendously gifted runner in the mold of a Pat White or our very own Denard Robinson then yes, you can, statistically, create a decent passer because these unique athletes will force the dbs to cheat like hell to stop the run, thereby leaving receivers wide open; think of Roundtree about 15 yds downfield, waving his arms because often times there would be no defensive back w/in 10 yards of him. However, as we learned when that field becomes smaller, i.e., the red zone, passing becomes far more difficult.
When you think of dual threat qbs you should not assume if we grab one it automatically translates into a change to the spread offense. Watson, imo, epitomizes what you should look for in a dual threat. Although Clemson runs the shotgun, their offense is based on the professional game, with a power rushing attack, outstanding receivers and, of course, the threat of the qb run. OSU is able to utilize the spread because Urban is an outstanding recruiter, capable of getting all the essential pieces for his particular version of the spread. Even then, when your qb is questionable as to passing -think no further than this past season - your offense is handicapped because in order for the spread to be run at maximum efficiency there must be a viable threat in every element to keep the defense honest.
There is certainly nothing wrong, provided you have the right qb, to incorporate spread concepts as part of your overall offensive philosophy. No one appreciates a diverse offense more than Harbaugh. Whatever you do run you should be proficient at it or, as you said, no matter how great the athlete (Peppers), if you are minus one of the three options a stout defense will shut it down.
Bottom line, and many posters have pointed it out, the Michigan offense of the future is the one you see today. The major difference going forward will be the talent level.
January 9th, 2017 at 8:43 PM ^
January 9th, 2017 at 8:38 PM ^
It's the Browns... does that really count as leaving the NFL for college?
January 9th, 2017 at 8:47 PM ^
January 9th, 2017 at 9:04 PM ^
January 9th, 2017 at 11:48 PM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 8:50 AM ^
Pep will be passing game coordinator, QB coach, WR coach. He's done it before.
January 9th, 2017 at 11:05 PM ^
January 9th, 2017 at 11:39 PM ^
Was looking for more info on Pep and found this. I think Harbaugh's excitement about hiring him the first time at Stanford shows why he jumped at the chance to hire him again.
January 9th, 2017 at 11:48 PM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 12:56 AM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 8:22 AM ^
These kids look up to NFL coaches.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:20 AM ^
No doubt that the QBs on the team should be excited. Pep gives Spei...er.... Peters a legit chance to be a Heisman caliber player.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:13 PM ^
I like this. I like this a lot.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:00 PM ^
Awesome hire. My cousin is an Elite 11 coach and is/was very bullish on Peters. Excited to see what Pep and Harbaugh can do with his talent!
January 10th, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^
UM a decided schematic advantage?
October 9th, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^
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