Why doesn't Michigan have an experienced RB coach?

Submitted by UMProud on

Why does Coach Harbaugh have his son ,a nice guy, coaching the RB position?  Jay is getting paid a 1/4 million dollars and, to me, his inexperience is a disservice to our RBs.

Why aren't we investing in a top notch RB coach?  Is there some sort of NCAA mandated staff limitation that we're maxed out? 

This really bugs the hell out of me because it looks like nepotism but I'm probably missing something.

Giff4484

September 3rd, 2018 at 11:40 AM ^

I agree it isn’t the main problem but you have to question it a little here. Backs again are missing cutbacks(when there) plus the pass pro isn’t great. Let’s be honest if his name wasn’t Harbaugh he wouldn’t be a coach. I’m more concerned about the line at this point. Jay isn’t our biggest issue. 

MeanJoe07

September 3rd, 2018 at 11:38 AM ^

Bc Harbaugh really that isnt smart of a guy (most coaches arent btw) and there's probably a smarter way to do a lot of things that are clouded by his mentality.  The fact that footall hasn't begun using data analytics to any significant degree to make decisions or help with clock management decisions is an indicator that we arent working with the smartest folks here.  It's butt slaps and toughness out there.  We don't need a RB coach bc RBs just need to be quick and tough and get out there with enthusiasm. That will win games, right?

MidwestIsBest

September 3rd, 2018 at 3:27 PM ^

I think about this a lot. The analytics and time management stuff. Going for it the majority of time on 4th down yields better results, apparently. Or that our backs do better when not rotated as shown statistically in a fine off-season post. Etc etc etc. The over-emphasis on toughness thing can a real problem, too...literally killing people at Maryland. I’m guessing football will catch on eventually. Everyone wants to win, after all. I can’t think of a single thing Harbaugh could do that would be more helpful than having someone analyze the offensive decision-making.

freelion

September 3rd, 2018 at 11:40 AM ^

We don't need a RB coach. We just line up our massive offensive line and blow those overmatched opponents right off the ball. The fullback will clean up any survivors and the RB just needs to plow ahead with 2 hands on the ball. I hope things don't change in the 90's.

bostonsix

September 3rd, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^

His coached positions haven't been a weak point as of yet, even when he was coaching the TE's they were getting good production. He was the running backs coach last year and they were the strong point for most of the season.  I don't think it's Jay's fault that the O line can't block. I also believe it's warinner's job to coach the running backs in blocking situations, to be on the same page as the O line. I could be wrong about that last part but it would seem to be at least 50/50 in terms of coaching responsibility between Jay and Ed in picking up blocks. 

  Would it be nice to have Wheatly coaching the backs again? Maybe, but there didn't seem to be a drop off of production when Jay took over.  Until Jay proves he isn't capable of coaching and has massive drop offs with his units, it's not really fair to criticize him just because he's Jim's son.

MgoDlu

September 3rd, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^

Nepotism or not, the line isn't doing the RBs any favors.  The most frustrating part of watching the game is that the coaching staff knew the line wouldn't be good and didn't bother with any counter measures. 

ND knew that we had an aggressive line and had those throwback screens ready to go and if Wimbush didn't have trash accuracy we woulda gotten burned a lot worse.

Just wish we woulda ran something like that since their DLine is getting through anyways, at least we might have some bodies going downfield. This was what I assumed to be Chris Evan's bread and butter and what I had thought they meant when they said they were going to use Chris Evans as more of a receiving threat in the summer. There was a serious lack of Chris Evans this game. 

bacon1431

September 3rd, 2018 at 11:56 AM ^

I actually think Jay is doing a good job as RB coach. They were solid last year and I didn’t seem them messing up at blocking in the ND game too much. He seems like a solid recruiter too. 

MichiganStan

September 3rd, 2018 at 12:09 PM ^

I have absolutely no clue how RB could not be an area of concern. Theres videos on twitter showing Higdon missing some large holes or being ankle tackled

We had 33 attempts for 58 yards. The first half were like 14 attempts for 20 yards.

Our running backs cant break anything regardless of oline play

1VaBlue1

September 3rd, 2018 at 12:01 PM ^

FFS, the hot take and 'I'm pissed off so everybody should know it' threads are already out of control this season.  A bunch of shit posters posting shit...  No wonder Dr Toboggan has left the building.

ぼりヴぃあから帰って来た物

September 3rd, 2018 at 12:56 PM ^

And it seems you simply toss your shit on people making salient points.

It's safe to assume you're okay with the state of the program it would appear.

Saturday's game was a shit show of mistakes which is a continuation of the results from last year.

What's your plan to solve it?

MichiganStan

September 3rd, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^

Ive said this from the day it was announced that Jay was our RB coach. Makes no sense at all and clearly it isn't working

Between Jay and Pep it seems Harbaugh likes giving his friends/family jobs even if they suck ass at them

big john lives on 67

September 3rd, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^

Jay has done an excellent job. He did an excellent job with the TEs too. More concern trolling after a difficult loss. Nothing more. 

Harbaugh made significant moves to correct issues on the offensive staff that addressed the problem areas. These guys deserve more time than one game against an excellent defense to fix the problems. 

reshp1

September 3rd, 2018 at 12:31 PM ^

We missed having our first 1000 yard rusher in a decade by 7 yards last year and both guys showed consistent improvement last year. The TEs were pretty good under Jay too. Is it possible Jay is actually a pretty good coach, and not just Jim's son? 

LSAClassOf2000

September 3rd, 2018 at 12:36 PM ^

I don't know that RB even breaks my top five in terms of areas that concern me right now. Despite playing behind an offensive line that, on occasion, does a fascinating impersonation of a permeable membrane, I think that the RBs have done well enough, or as well as they are able under those conditions. As for why Jay Harbaugh is the coach and not someone else, that's an interesting question, but I don't have any specific complaint right now about the RBs. If somehow the OL is fixed and production at RB doesn't improve markedly, we can ask this question again, I think. 

ぼりヴぃあから帰って来た物

September 3rd, 2018 at 1:04 PM ^

JayBaugh is mediocre at best and this is Michigan. 

The fact he has a job as a coordinator at UM at all is a window into the state of the program: Drevno and Frey running the O line last year with their diametrically opposed styles; no WR coach last year; no OC this year; terrible OL recruiting for the most part; an offense that features so many sets that none of them can be run effectively...

Long term, the coach is hurting the son by not having him learn how to coach from the ground up. JayBaugh is a glaring symptom of the overall mismanagement of the program.

8-8 in the last 16 -- that's where the rubber meets the road.