Morris: 3 OCs, 3 QB Cs in 3 years

Submitted by BornInA2 on

First off: This is an honest question and I'm hoping to get some thoughtful conversation/input on it.

I think Gardner's biggest issue is that in his five years he's played under three OCs, three QB coaches, three offensive systems, and 3/4 of one year at receiver. When I look at it in this context, it makes a whole lot more sense to me that his play and decision-making is more like a sophomore than a 5th year senior.

If Nussmeier gets fired this year, Morris, our presumed started next year, will be on his third OC and third QB coach in three years. Which puts him on the same trajectory as Gardner. This seems to be somewhat borne out in his play this year.

I really and truly think we are missing just one thing to flip the script on this season: Good QB play. Yes, I know, our D hasn't been what was expected. But what was expected also included Peppers and Morgan (yes, I ate my lemon). We've also had various other defensive players out for some periods. When I look at the D and O-line, I thinik, yep, that's about right. Not great, but coming along.

Now, we can't run the ball. And I think we can't for the same reason we haven't been able to for five years now: We have zero tangible passing threat. Because our QB hasn't progressed as a passer. If we made teams play honest pass coverage, we'd have room to run. But we don't because we can't pass. Just like we couldn't with Denard.

I live in Seattle where a whole lot of my friends wanted Nussmeier as the head coach at Washington when Sark left. He had a great run with the Huskies as OC and was successful in Alabama, too. The guy can get it done. And, personally, I think our offensive line HAS improved this year, and it's certainly better than last year. Except, again, at QB.

So, and this is where I'm hoping folks will engage in some...ahem...civil conversation, I'd personally like to see Hoke, Mattison, and Nussmeier get one more year. I don't think it makes sense to fire them after one season or less with a new OC and I don't think it gets us much of anything in terms of improvement next year, especially at QB where I think we really need it. If there isn't a significant improvement next year, then make a change.

Thoughts? (running to closet for Nomex suit now...)

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GoBlueInNYC

November 1st, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^

Ugh, I'm so sick of these examples being trotted out.

Maybe Rawls is "tearing it up at CMU" because he's playing against MAC level competition.

And Cox was a 7th round flyer (probably drafted based on measurables, remember the tale of his time here was always "looks the part, but struggles to perform") who made it on to an NFL roster because the Giants have suffered an insane number of injuries at the RB position (that and Coughlin has allegedly taken a personal liking to him). And even then, he doesn't get reps at RB, he's a special teams guy.

That said, though, yes, Jackson has got to go. Hopefully he retires at the end of the season.

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bklein09

November 1st, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^

So say we keep the current staff for another year, and they fail. Which seems pretty likely at this point. Then we are making a coaching change at the end of 2015, meaning Morris is still getting his 3rd coach here. Plus that means once Morris is gone, Speight will also be learning a new system after two years in the program.

To me, it makes the most sense to start fresh now. We are a very bad team, and seem to have regressed each year of Hokes tenure. We need a clean slate so that we can start building from the ground up. And I unfortunately think it's going to be multiple years before we get back to where we can compete for the Big Ten, but we at least need to be moving in the right direction.


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MaizeNBlueTexan

November 1st, 2014 at 1:52 PM ^

Personally I would like to have Doug N. stay beyond Brady Hoke. You state it doesn't make sense to get rid of the coaching staff after just 1 year with a new O.C. This is not the reason the coaching staff is getting canned.

The coaching staff is going to be fired due to the offense getting worse every year under Brady Hoke, and not being competitve beyond his first year. Brady had plenty of chances his first three years with Borges .

You need to think of the Doug Nussmeir hire as Brady Hoke throwing a hail mary and praying Doug turned around the ship in 1 year. Is it Doug's fault that he didn't produce a 10 win team his first year? Absolutely not, but Doug was basically Brady's second chance at keeping his job. Concussion gate other issues piled onto why Brady won't be here next year.

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1932

November 1st, 2014 at 3:11 PM ^

We have as much a chance at getting a Harbaugh as we do Bill Belicheck, tony Dungy, Jim Tressell, woody Hayes, and nick Saban.

Please tell me, why would either Harbaugh want to come here? Because their dad loves Michigan? I just don't buy all the reports that say either of them will be interested. Those reports sound like pipe dreams drummed up to get clicks to me. It just doesn't make sense for either of them

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Danwillhor

November 1st, 2014 at 2:02 PM ^

at least Hoke & Mattison are gone. I'd almost go 100% on that. Nuss may be retained with the right hire (for him). That said, if you hire a QB whisperer like, say, Jim Harbaugh (half joking aside, there are many out there) it will be fine. It's CFB. No sport has its success directly dependant on its coach more than CFB. All about the hire. He may get another year under a "free" Nuss, he may get a QB guru or he may be screwed. All are possible.

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TheBoLineage--

November 1st, 2014 at 2:04 PM ^

for the most part.  For many of the reasons you outlined.

 

BUT--  for this to happen, Nuss has GOT To GET There.  And I dont see it--  this might be Nuss at his Outer Limit, so to speak.

 

And even if he DOES get there-- its possible that Mattison could blow it.  And if not Mattison, then one of the DBs in coverage.

 

There are too many Inconsistent Moving Parts  . . .  the PLAYERS Too, really need to step-up

 

 

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biakabutuka4ever

November 1st, 2014 at 2:04 PM ^

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.  Keep Nussmeier?  He's the guy in charge of the unit cratering this team.  

Now, a lot of that I blame on Hoke because I think his vision for offense is flawed in sacraficing speed for size in recruiting.  But Gardner has been much worse and we haven't seen many if any of the changes I thought Nuss could bring to play to Gardner's strengths.  

There are a lot of excuses, but you can't tell me other offensive coordinators couldn't have gotten a lot more out of these players.  I'm pretty sure Borges did just that last year.  

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GoBlueInNYC

November 1st, 2014 at 2:35 PM ^

It's part of his job to make sure that the players are able to execute. He does more than just play calling on Saturday's. The horrible offense is his responsibility.

You're right. He's had 6 months, and the team looks even worse than last year. Even more lost and confused. There is literally nothing this offense does well, no position that is performing. They are, top to bottom, a mess.

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GoBLUinTX

November 1st, 2014 at 2:54 PM ^

Which bad habit has he erased?  Is Gardner now looking off receivers?  Does Gardner now throw to secondary or tertiary receivers?  Is Nussmeier's way to ignore the great receiving asset of Jake Butt?  Is it Nussmeier's way to shotput passes?  Yes, we know that Gardner can identify the Mike, we're struggling to figure out what other postitives were added to his repertoire of skills and what negatives were erased.

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1932

November 1st, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^

This staff should without a doubt get one more year at the very very least. They've earned that with the sugar bowl win. Let's give Hoke the 5 years Bo asked for when he first took the job. Besides we've already run one HC out of town prematurely and how has that worked out for us?

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samsoccer7

November 1st, 2014 at 2:09 PM ^

Well hoke should not be coaching next year in lame duck status. So would you rather have him be a lame duck and have no chance at recruiting properly, or give him an extension? To me it's a no brainer you cannot have him as a lame duck and extending him would be insane imo. Only option is to let him go.

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1932

November 1st, 2014 at 2:13 PM ^

I would extend him. Give him a 3 year extension to see what he can truly do. Next year might be rough as we'll be starting Morris for the first time as a true starter so it might be tough. Then the following year we'll have an extremely rough schedule so I'd give him a pass there too. 2017 is when we can accurately judge Hoke for what he truly is

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1932

November 1st, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^

Who understands how far we've fallen. We're not a top tier program anymore and we can't expect a top-tier coach to be willing to accept all the politics, in-fighting, factions, and the vindictive fan base that comes along with this job. Why would a top name coach sign up for all that? We need to give the coach we have the time to build a winner.

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MWolverine7

November 1st, 2014 at 2:44 PM ^

MSU had major issues when Dantonio took over and he turned it around in 4 years..got better every year. MSU's roster was a bigger mess than ours when Hoke took over. OSU replaced 4 lineman, a QB, and started several freshman and look at them now. Stop making excuses. Hoke would've never got a D1 job if it wasn't for us making a political hire to placate Lloyd. Fortunately you are not making the decision- Hoke will be fired!


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1932

November 1st, 2014 at 3:17 PM ^

Or is it legitimate reason's for why we haven't been performing on the field? Honestly you're guess is as good as mine. Fact: we're extremely young. Fact: we have a qb who isn't best served by the type of offense we've run. Fact: hoke has turned around struggling programs before. Fact: hoke has own big here before.

Given those facts, which cannot be disputed by even the most anti-hoke fan, what's more likey, the fact that he's forgot how to coach or that those excuses are legitimate. Sorry if I choose to believe what common sense tells us.

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EGD

November 1st, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^

A good coach doesn't bench his best QB and put in a lousy backup just because things aren't going well and the fans are howling. And look at what's happening to our recruiting class. Hoke must go, no question. But there a plenty of scenarios in which keeping Nuss or Mattison make sense.

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1932

November 1st, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^

Let's for him after giving him the time he needs. Then 4 years down the road we can fire whoever we get to replace him, and 4 years after that we can fire that guy. Sounds reasonable.

A lot of you need to realize we're a second-rate program and can't expect a coach to turn this thing around as quickly as the they can at the big boy programs. We need to give the coaches TIME and we need to be patient

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EGD

November 1st, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^

Our roster is loaded with four-star recruits. A good coach would win with the talent we have. He certainly wouldn't be 3-5 with blowout losses to every decent team he's faced. Hoke is not a good coach. Giving him another year or three will not make him one.

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1932

November 1st, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^

Then yes. But, it's way way way too early judge Hoke. Bo asked for at least 5 years, why can't we give Hoke the same courtesy? Plus there is a lot off the field issues that Bo never had to deal with. Hoke has earned at least 5 years with the sugar bowl win.

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EGD

November 1st, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^

Well, Your reasoning makes sense, but I suppose where I disagree is that I think we've already seen enough to judge Hoke as a less-than-capable HC. If it was more of a Rich Rod scenario, where you could conceivably make some changes on the defensive staff and see dramatic improvement, then I'd probably be with you.

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