Najee Harris finalizing his decision this week

Submitted by Rodriguesqe on

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LKLIII

January 1st, 2017 at 1:59 PM ^

I've gotta think we are still in this. He's not the type of guy to drag this out for attention. If he was 100% Alabama he would have confined it by now so as not to leave Michigan twisting in the win and to not antagonize his future coaching staff. Either he's still up in the air (less likely as time goes on) or he's Michigan. The reason for keeping quiet if it's Michigan does have logic to it--to minimize blowback and harassment from Alabama fans to just a few days instead of several weeks.



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bamf16

January 1st, 2017 at 2:26 PM ^

The only argument I'd make for this is it lets Drevno coach the Offensive Linemen during the game without worrying about play calling duties.

 

Harbaugh can be the HC without worrying about play calling duties.  Again, how many HC's have assumed that role and done so successfully long term?

 

Fisch is freed to coach the QBs and WRs during the game without worrying about play calling duties.

 

Considering that in the final (and most disappointing) stretch of the season, the OL and the play calling were two of the most often criticized (and rightfully so) parts of the team, play calling duties to someone other than Drevno may actually help in both regards.

 

Is Roman the answer?  Hell, I don't know.  But I can see where the thinking behind it may be coming from.

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The Fan in Fargo

January 1st, 2017 at 2:34 PM ^

Should be giving Jay Harbaugh more responsibility. If he is going to be the man one day, it's only right that he be working with tight ends and helping with offensive line during the game. He's a Harbaugh, he can handle it.

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Mr. Yost

January 1st, 2017 at 2:35 PM ^

Jay Harbaugh or Tyrone Wheatley?

We can't just add to the staff without subtracting.

And we JUST got the same OC for 2 years...we're finally going to have a QB going into his second year with the same OC (or a QB who beat out that QB who could go into his 2nd year with the same OC).

Why are we going to mess with the chemistry now? But more importantly. Who's gone to make this happen? You kept Fisch and Drevno.

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Clarence Boddicker

January 1st, 2017 at 2:49 PM ^

Why are people acting like we had an anemic offense this year rather than one that broke records? The o coaches absolutely maximized the talent on offense. The offense improves when talent improves. Think of the freshman contributors and add this year's signees. Boom goes the dynamite, kid...

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Mr. Yost

January 1st, 2017 at 3:05 PM ^

Drevno doesn't have the players for his offense either.

I'm not saying we're world beaters. I'm not saying I haven't been frustrated. But I'm like...my GAWD, we JUST got some consistency and people want to start over again?

Roman is an NFL guy...he going to recruit like Wheatley or Jay Harbaugh (once of which has to go). 

Roman's never coached RBs and we have one of the best 3 RB coaches in the country. So basically we're firing the head coach's son who provides youth, energy, helps with special teams - and recruits his ass off. Sure, I guess.

Oh, and he coaches the deepest postion on the offense this year.

Oh, and he despite inheriting the talent - he coached a kid who was named best at his position in the country this year.

I know I shouldn't take it seriously, but folks can be so fickle. ALL arrows are pointing up with his program. We're on schedule or ahead of schedule in every area. We need to be trying to RETAIN our coaches, not replace them.

If Roman wants to take a year off from the NFL...by all means, come on board and provide all the insight you can. We can never have too much coaching talent. But to make him the offensive coordinator is absurd.

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bamf16

January 1st, 2017 at 3:11 PM ^

Honestly?

 

My thinking now after the emotion of things has waned is this.

 

Screw the records.

 

Screw the 63 points against anemic Hawaii; San Diego State put up 55 on them, Cal 51 and UMass 40.

 

Screw the 78 against Rutgers.  Michigan State put up 49 on them.  They're hardly a defense against which you judge your team.

 

The offense scored 14 against Wisconsin, 13 against Iowa, 17 in regulation against OSU, and 21 (24 if you count the FG after the fumble recovery) against Florida State in games with poor OL play and stubbornly ineffective play calling, and I make no apologies for weighing those games more heavily in my evaluation of the offense than the gaudy point totals against Hawaii, UCF, and Maryland.

 

But to be fair, looking back, 49 against Penn State was pretty impressive, despite Speight's less than stellar stat line.

 

And I've said/written it many times and will do so again... a talented RB can make a mediocre OL look good, and Michigan (with the possible exception of Evans) just didn't have that kind of guy and it showed in the "more important games" late in the season.

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bamf16

January 1st, 2017 at 2:59 PM ^

And that's a big part of the counterargument.

I think Drevno struggled in November & December with calling plays against teams UM didn't just bowl over with sheer size and talent disparities.  I think he fails to quickly recognize what a defense is doing, what his offense is struggling against, and the nuances of how to balance conforming an offensive sequence to what the defense is doing while at the same time setting up a defense for a play or plays later in the game.

Plus, (and calling on other former players and coaches here...tell me if this is your experience too) what I've seen in my time on the sidelines is that the offensive and defensive lines are coached more in game than any other position.  Those are the guys sitting around dry erase boards and getting more in game instruction than the skill positions.  That was my experience as both a player and as a coach.

Michigan had a position group struggle and again, in my opinion, a play calling struggle against teams they just couldn't bowl over with sheer size/talent.

Both of those were the responsibility of the same guy.  So I think it better for the team if his primary coaching responsibility was on the position group rather than the calling of plays.

And since you asked, if Roman (or someone else) were to be brought in, it's probably between Zordich and Smith for who'd be moving on, again, so unlikely it's not worth a lengthy explanation.  

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bamf16

January 1st, 2017 at 3:23 PM ^

Yeah, clearly I missed that.

 

Goodness gracious....someone has a different opinion/perspective/take on Michigan football than you do!  

 

Someone posts about Roman as OC (with no evidence), I respond with "The only argument I'd make for this is..." and ended with acknowledging I don't know if Roman (and implied anyone else) is the answer but I can see where the thinking is coming from.

 

It seems to have ruffled your feathers a bit.

 

Relax, Sparky.

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Mr. Yost

January 1st, 2017 at 3:49 PM ^

I can have a debate with someone and throw in some ribbing. This is a sports blog, if you can't take that...jeez man.

My first point is who are you firing if you're hiring Roman. No one has answer that question.

My second point is why are you messing with the chemistry we're just starting to build?

My third point is you could accomplish the same thing (taking some of the load off Drevno), by putting more on Harbaugh, Wheatley, or Fisch if you really wanted to.

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bamf16

January 1st, 2017 at 3:55 PM ^

If I'm making a case for bringing in Roman...

 

Michigan's current coaching staff:

 

Harbaugh: HC

Drevno: OC & OL

Fisch: Passing game coordinator, QB, WR

Harbaugh: TE & ST

Wheatley: RB

Brown: DC

Mattison: DL

Partridge: LB & ST

Smith: DB

Zordich: Secondary & ST

 

If making the case for a new OC, I guess something like this could be done:

 

Harbaugh: HC

New Guy: OC

Drevno: OL

Fisch: Passing game coordinator, QB, WR

Harbaugh: TE & ST

Wheatley: RB

Brown: DC

Mattison: DL

Partridge: LB & ST

 

Smith OR Zordich: Secondary

 

So to answer your question, if bringing in a new OC, I'd think it's between Smith and Zordich.  Again, unlikely, but I can see where the thinking behind it is coming from.

 

As for chemistry, you have a good point there.

 

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Mr. Yost

January 1st, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^

Fair enough.

Personally, I like splitting the DBs. We need more defensive coaches IMO with Harbaugh and Fisch being so involved in the game planning and Harbaugh with the playcalling.

FWIW, you could have Roman coach the TEs in your system and Harbaugh could be a dedicated special teams coach. Roman has coached TEs. But that kind of defeats your purpose of trying to lighten the load on the OC.

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bamf16

January 1st, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^

I've yet to hear/read an account that shows them evenly split.

 

Unless someone's got a link to prove me wrong, I'm continuing with the understanding that Drevno's the primary play caller with Harbaugh and Fisch doing so periodically.  

 

If you've got a link showing otherwise, please share!  I'll admit I'm wrong and apologize.

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runandshoot

January 1st, 2017 at 5:44 PM ^

*hated* Roman and were glad to see him go. They said he called a predictable, boring offense with little creativity and no variation. Not to mention all of the controversy surrounding Buffalo's offense this year, where he was the OC. I think we already experienced that under Carr, and frankly, I wasn't a fan. I'll take a pass on Greg Roman, thanks.

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MINajee et Trois

January 1st, 2017 at 2:30 PM ^

Its common sense he has to decide this week as he is an early enrollee and if he were to go to Michigan would need to be all signed up by the 7th

 

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CoverZero

January 1st, 2017 at 2:30 PM ^

Gonna get Negged to Belize for this.... but...

I watched Najee's tape and he is a big power back.  However, I do not see quick feet, or an explosive burst.  He also lacks top end speed and has a reported 4.66 40 time.  Its on the tape.

He may end up being a good college RB, if he plays behind a solid OL.  However my gut instinct as well as my eyes, do not see a Dalvin Cook type of burst and athleticism there. 

If he comes to Michigan, I hope that I am wrong. 

OK send me to Belize or Bolivia now.

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