Assuming Harbaugh Stays, Who can we get for DC

Submitted by Bo Harbaugh on November 1st, 2020 at 4:40 PM

So,

The pipe dream of replacing Harbaugh with Urbz is probably not happening, and unlikely Warde puts any pressure on Harbaugh to leave.  Assuming Jim sticks around, I'm in the camp that the offense has seemingly evolved under Gattis - recruiting more speed and trying to adapt to the modern game. So Gattis getting some more time seems fair.

Don Brown, however, is a fucking disaster.  He plays one base defense and if we don't have 2 all-american cornerbacks, let alone a dominant D-line, we get exploited every single year against an offense with a pulse...and this year, against fucking trash Sparty.  When he installed zone/brackets coverage last year (after 4 years of all man schemes), it was treated as some sort of cancer curing level achievement, when everywhere else, it's just a base coverage all teams learn as part of their overall scheme.  This doesn't even account for his moronic riverboat gambling zero blitzes on 3rd and long, lining up our LB's or SS against the opposing team's fastest slot receivers.

Obviously, Venables ain't coming here for a lateral move, so we should probably put that to rest. Clearly shit really hit the fan when turncoat Mattison left.

So....

Who you got for our next Defensive Coordinator?

MGoBoard

Dr. Detroit

November 1st, 2020 at 6:21 PM ^

You got that right.  I need to remember to never come to this site for about a month after a loss.  Let's hope none of the players ever read the crap trash fanz like to throw on them and their coaches.  I wish all these whiners would take off their Nike gear (that they rushed out to buy the second it hit stores) and switch to a different school.  Don't need fans like them.

This loss sucked, but the refs were bad enough for the tv guys to repeatedly notice.  Pile that on the weird season + sparty and it shows that we should have been more nervous about this game.

I'm not a guy who studies film, but I would bet the guys who do would find that sparty held a lot back against Rutgers so Michigan couldn't watch film of it.  A program in its second game under a new staff doesn't give a whole lot to study and prepare for.  Milton was bound to have a let down second game after preparing for the last month for Minnesota, then facing a sparty defense that likely did many things different from last week.  (They need to figure out how to get his arm strength involved as a positive in this offense though.  What I saw in this game was that there are a bunch of #2 & #3 options at receiver, but nobody who is ready to be #1.  Nico, we miss you.)

Joined: 01/12/2019

MGoPoints: 1860

Dr. Detroit

November 1st, 2020 at 7:34 PM ^

Maybe some day you'll get your wish, they'll fire everybody and hire some son of a bitch like Urban.  Then you can start on him with the first loss, and enjoy watching the program go down in flames with players who don't bother with classes & the NCAA investigation that wouldn't look the other way like they do with other programs.

I'm just not as dedicated a fan as the fanboyz who will scream online for every coach to be fired, yet would jump at those same coaches begging for autographs if they were in the same room.

Anything I post I would say to any coach or player's face.  Can everybody say that?

Joined: 01/12/2019

MGoPoints: 1860

Bluesince89

November 1st, 2020 at 7:43 PM ^

I was referring to the notion that Robert Saleh would leave the NFL, where he's going to get a HC gig here soon, to be the DC for Michigan.  There is no excuse to lose to MSU this year - they are a bad team.  I don't care how much they get up for this game.  This would be like OSU losing to RichRod in his first year.  I don't rag on the players.  Harbaugh and Brown can take a long hike.  Go to Vermont and look at the fall colors for all I fucking care.  Just get away from this team.  

Joined: 09/14/2008

MGoPoints: 14739

BroadneckBlue21

November 2nd, 2020 at 1:16 PM ^

Not A Film Guy says fans should leave coaching criticism to those who study film. Well, not a film guy, what insight does one need in order to break down failed plays, failed individual effort? To assume that fans don’t criticize based off analysis because you do t is like telling players they can’t have politics.

I’ve been a Harbaugh apologist for the last three years. This loss was indicative of the same behaviors we’ve seen in those times. There is absolutely no way that JH should be 1-3 against MSU at home. It is his sixth time being able to game plan for Sparty. It is the third time his team played down to Sparty and lost a game they should’ve won. 
 

The facts are—the defense was horrible. Brown did not adjust coverage to match how the game was being called. Be benched Gray but kept his scheme, and then Perry was flagged.

This defense has no creativity to it after years of being out on film (that thing you resist). Our safeties are used to blitz or play center field rather than help out on the edges. The linebackers are often eaten up by the offensive line at the second level. There aren’t many twists by the d-line, very little variety and in gap coverage or in pass rush lanes. 

Maybe you just sit there and watch what happens and get surprised by what play happens, but plenty of fans can recognize the likely play call based on years of actively learning the schemes and calls. 

Lastly, the coaches and the players put it on themselves. They have not shut the fuck up and played ball. They don’t stay humble. 

Milton’s arrogance to mock Simmons after the game is lame. It’s a moment where his view of himself and the program is unbearable as a fan. They fucking lost and they acted like it was not a big deal. They consistently talk about being championship caliber and then shit the bed. They’re more concerned with individualism, at the end of the day. That’s what they exude to fans. That’s what the coaches exude. 

Why should fans care anymore about how many players JH can develop into NFLers if we see nothing on the field resembling a team with that much NFL talent? 
 

Desmond, Woodson—they are constantly embarrassed by their alma mater, yet they keep trying to be positive about where UM fails. 

You play to win the game. Fans watch the game to see their team win. Fans have a right to be pissed. This blog is an appropriate place for fans to unload said frustration. So is social media—minus @-ing players. 

 

Joined: 01/12/2015

MGoPoints: 6311

MDwolverine

November 1st, 2020 at 9:36 PM ^

This is a joke right? Like this is an inside joke I'm just not in on correct? 

Because Robert Fucking Saleh is one of the top DC's in the NFL and is in the running for several NFL HC gigs who has been in the NFL since 2005. Why on earth would you think he wants to come be the DC at Michigan??? Is every fan base this fucking arrogant about how prestigious their program is!? Job Brady, Mario Cristobal, Chris Petersen (sorry, referencing a previous post that is even more ridiculous)...are you fucking joking!?

 

Joined: 02/05/2011

MGoPoints: 1327

Jordan2323

November 1st, 2020 at 4:44 PM ^

If Don goes, let the next DC pick his staff. Don't saddle him with Shoop, Nua and Zordich. Maybe Jean-Mary stays because he has ties to Florida. Next coordinator needs serious recruiters. 

Joined: 11/09/2013

MGoPoints: 48922

Stringer Bell

November 1st, 2020 at 4:45 PM ^

Someone who's young and is a great recruiter.  Scheme is not important to me.  Get the athletes and let them do their thing.  Who this person is, I dunno.  But he better be the exact opposite of Don fucking Brown.

Joined: 11/06/2014

MGoPoints: 52911

Blau

November 1st, 2020 at 4:46 PM ^

The real question here is:

a) Does Jim realize we need a change and;

b) what changes does he want to see

Can't fix something if the person in charge doesn't recognize the problem. I have yet to see JH allude to having any issues with the defense and that's gonna be a problem.

Joined: 01/23/2014

MGoPoints: 35254

Catchafire

November 1st, 2020 at 4:48 PM ^

So, we get a new coach and just start beating msu, osu, and winning championships huh.  The same when we got rid of Lloyd, Rich, Brady, and the Jim right... 

I think we need a new defensive coordinator after this season if the corners keep getting attacked and embarrassed with little to no help schematically from the coaches.

Joined: 09/30/2009

MGoPoints: 27960

Stringer Bell

November 1st, 2020 at 4:55 PM ^

No it's not automatic, but do you wanna stick with the status quo?  Harbaugh's Michigan program is on a downward trajectory.  The talent on this team gets worse and worse every year, hence the gap between us and OSU just keeps getting bigger.  Harbaugh was brought here to beat OSU, win Big Ten championships and compete on the national stage.  By year 6 it's pretty clear if you can or can't accomplish that, and he clearly can't.

Joined: 11/06/2014

MGoPoints: 52911

Bluesince89

November 1st, 2020 at 5:02 PM ^

If? What in the last 4 years makes you think Don Brown is going to adapt his scheme.  He is what he is.  He’s never changing.  His scheme only works when he has elite DTs who can get consistent push and penetration and elite corners who can stick like white on rice to the opponent’s top wideouts.  That just isn’t realistic.  

Joined: 09/14/2008

MGoPoints: 14739

Toby Flenderson

November 1st, 2020 at 5:30 PM ^

Yeah because every new hire will be Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke. 

Harbaugh got michigan back to being "respectful", but the program has clearly stalled. It is time for Michigan to do a deep search to change the culture and revive the program. Does it have a 100% success rate? No, but nothing does in Life, family, business, or work. If you play in your fears of prior past mistakes, that does not allow you to take the next step.

"Adapt or Die" - Billy Beane

Joined: 01/16/2012

MGoPoints: 21392

MGoStrength

November 1st, 2020 at 4:51 PM ^

Is it really that hard to find good coordinators?  Other teams do it routinely.  In the time we've changed each coordinator once several teams have added quality ones.  Wiscy hired Jim Leonhard.  PSU hired Ricky Rahne, Joe Moorhead, & Kirk Ciarrocca.  OSU hired Ryan Day, Jeff Hafley, & GMatt while UM let him go.  I'm of the opinion that personnel is more important than scheme so a prime recruiter is key.  I'd get rid of Brown and promote Shoop & let him co-coordinate with Partridge and throw the money cannon to get him back.  While we're at it, I think we need an upgrade at d-line.  It's time to shake things up on defense the same way we did on offense several years back.  It's been a good run with Brown, but it's time to try something different.

Joined: 07/29/2010

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Blau

November 1st, 2020 at 5:03 PM ^

This is where I actually liked JH's previous philosophy when he initially picked Don Brown. That philosophy was really see what the best defenses are statistically in yds allowed, TFL and pressures on qbs. Once he identified that, he went out and secured him. I believe Don Brown was nicknamed Dr. Blitz and that carried some cache.

So no - it's not that hard to identify the right coordinators but depending on the outlook of this team, it may actually be hard to entice them to come. $$$ and recruiting clout should help find someone at least on par with our recent shit shows.

Joined: 01/23/2014

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Australopithecus

November 1st, 2020 at 6:07 PM ^

Came hear to say this. That said, I actually don't think Don Brown's scheme is the problem. He was playing a fair amount of zone, but against longer routes, someone's gotta break zone and go M2M. The real problem is defensive recruiting, which tanked after CP left. 

Joined: 04/10/2019

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