WTKA Roundtable Thoughts on McElwain
Brian is pretty down on the McElwain hire, which goes against what many on the MGoBoard think in the thread below.
His points center around the fact that McElwain is another coordinator thrown into the pot rather than a specific skill position coach, awkward (shark thing and weird Florida press conferences) and poor Florida recruiting AT Florida (which is hard to do).
The roundtable is still collectively down on Drevno and baffled regarding Michigan's Oline issues for the past 3 years. They also hope that Warinner has a big influence on the line this upcoming year.
It feels like we're in the twilight zone when Brian is the most negative guy on the roundtable.
Craig with the bold prediction of Newsome starting tackle next season as well with Hudson on the other side.
Speight is looking at schools ranging from oSu to Texas Tech.
A caller brings up a question on whether Harbaugh's odd approach to offense is hindering Michigan from hiring a bonafide offensive coach.
February 15th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
change in overall demeanor is not something that I am going to be able to provide imperical data to support. It just is. You're right, I probably got ahead of myself with the "anybody can see it" stuff. Perhaps you really don't. Reasonable minds can differ.
EDIT - Blue4EverGirl mentioned above that he may be having hip replacement surgery. If that is true, that could be the change in demeanor. Like, I am not saying by "change" that Harbaugh doesn't care-will never care-hates his job-we are doomed. It just seems like something about him is different than the first two years he coached here.
February 15th, 2018 at 1:03 PM ^
people need to stop giving ANY weight to how he behaves in press conferences. Instead listen to the podcast with his dad. He's full of life there talking all things Michigan, football, and coaching.
Like Bo, he recognizes the media for what it is and it is basically nothing anymore. The internet has rendered it obsolete and they are now fully agenda driven. Trying to hang on economically. Especially Detroit and state of Michigan msm.
Prop up and protect MSU to create a foil for the more popular school. Employ writers and personalities who troll the Michigan fan base to drive page views and clicks and comment section wars.
We all have opinions about the Michigan State situation currently. But if that ESPN report aired about Michigan football, if you think the media in Detroit and Michigan wouldn't be descending on Ann Arbor in a swarm with FOIA requests by the bundle, you are crazy. It happens at MSU and all we get from local msm are stories that originate as PR releases from the school. They have no interest in getting more facts on those two coaches.
So Harbaugh gives them what people who do their job like that exactly what they deserve: robotically delivered filler.
People have told me who have seen it first hand: if you think he's not enthusiastic about his job or the University, watch him recruit and watch the time and energy he pours into this.
Ignore his behavior in the media. And besides weren't many of you also complaining about the theatrics with the satellite camps and overseas trips? You should like the more buttoned down version you think you are seeing.
February 15th, 2018 at 1:14 PM ^
I wasn't complaining about that at all.
February 15th, 2018 at 1:43 PM ^
If Harbaugh climbs a tree on a recruiting visit and nobody is there to record it does that mean it didn't happen??
I totally agree with the podcast statement.
Maybe since he's not being followed around 24/7 by a camera crew some people would assume his attitude has changed.
February 15th, 2018 at 2:19 PM ^
I completely agree that if the ESPN report had been about Michigan the local press - especially the Freep which seems to thrive on negative Michigan stories while doing anything it can to prop up Mork and company - would be on U-M like stink on a monkey. That double standard has been frustrating me for years.
February 16th, 2018 at 3:54 AM ^
February 17th, 2018 at 1:17 PM ^
Detroit News and Free Press have a vested interest in Izzo and Dantonio. They look pitiful if a national reporter can come in, do a story on a completely unrelated topic, and find suspect behavior in Izzo and Dantonio. Neither of those papers have sniffed a thing. They want to be able to say that's because they're clean.
They already look foolish for being nowhere when the largest case of sexual assualt in American history occurred right under their noses.
February 15th, 2018 at 4:48 PM ^
I think we all saw the recruiting results to close out the year. I think that is one of the things that has people worried.
February 15th, 2018 at 1:03 PM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 1:10 PM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 1:30 PM ^
They'd only be disappointed in that number if you gave them 0 context re: a 1 in a million fluke on a punt, a bad spot, a monsoon, and a 3rd string QB.
Jim lost most of the underdog game he had at Stanford. I think we've only been the underdog in about 4 or 5 of his games here. You don't get many opportunities to be an underdog at Michigan.
February 15th, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^
My god, give it a rest man...yes all these things happend but they aren't the only reason we lost.
-Had we been able to keep a drive going at the end of the game we could of ran the clock out of the MSU fluke punt game.
-The bad spot and that game in general were robbery...but if we don't turn the ball over in the redzone, and in our own end...we win that game despite all the BS.
-A monsoon? come on dude you watched that game...MSU played in the same weather and won, on the road in a hostile night game environment. If we call a semi respectable game..we win.
-Playing a 3rd string QB is part of the game. Usually it doesn't come to that but it is a part of the game that teams prepare for....check out the OSU situation from a few years back...worked out for them.
-You don't get many chances to be an underdog at Michigan?? we were literally underdogs multiple times in the last couple years alone.
Context is a funny thing when you manipulate it, to make is seem Michigan is the victim of all of these flukey situations that contribute to expectations not getting met.
February 15th, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
Let me be clear, I am not doom and gloom on Harbaugh...he is the man for the job. I'm only pointing out how ridiculous the Harbaugh apologists look. Even you in your response "Harbaugh didn't throw that pick" of course he didn't...coaches don't make the plays..they put players in situations to make plays. Or the MSU punt? Had we called some more creative run plays or a play action play we probably pick up a first down...but we chose to run straight up the middle for no gain 3 times in a row. Not to mention we were in a terrible formation to block for the punter (but I'm sure you will point out thats all on Baxter, not Harbaugh). Your Georgia QB situation proves my point as well...We didn't field one QB who looked like they belonged on the field this year...meanwhile QB1 goes down for Georgia and QB2 comes in and looks ready to play(but of course it's because he is a special talent). Their most productive backfield of all time...did that just magically happen? No, they were recruited and developed in Georgia's football program, and put in the best situation to succeed by their coaches...regardless of who was the coach at the time.
From Speights pretty good 2016, the promise and hype surrounding O'korn, and the Andrew Luck comparisons Peters got (from Harbaugh and others)... But then after a bad year its "We were not going to win anything major with him as our QB and that certainly goes the same for his backup, and his backup's backup." I wonder if you would be as apologetic for Hoke or RR if all of our QB's regressed from 2016 to 2017 seasons.
Given enough time I think Harbaugh will get this team to where we all expect it to be...but along the way it is infuriating to listen to so many people acting like he is immune from criticism.
February 15th, 2018 at 4:23 PM ^
Suggesting MI should have run play action in the MSU game is about the most Monday morning quarterback thing ever.
February 15th, 2018 at 5:26 PM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 12:06 AM ^
This guy gets it.
February 16th, 2018 at 12:02 AM ^
You think "context" makes anyone feel better about losing to your rivals? Come on man. Blaming a loss on a single play when 100+ plays happen per game is just ridiculous. Calling a shitty play a fluke does not make it any better. We should of had the game put away before that point anyways. And we F'ed up on the "fluke" play. 100% self-inflicted error. No one to blame but ourselves.
Blaming a questionable spot, again in a game of more than 100 plays. A game we were up 17-7 late in the 3rd quarter; threw a pick 6 and fumbled away a TD on the goal line. But yeah lets blame the refs for that loss... WE lost the game, no one else but us.
Was the monsoon only occuring when we were on offense? I didn't know the context of that. I thought weather affected both teams. Maybe the fact msu out game planned and out play called us during the monsoon had something to do with it. But context I guess.
We have twice injured osu QBs where the back up has come in and out played us. Are we not allowed to have a back up QB not look like shit, or starter for that matter? The way Speight has played since last year Iowa all the way up to Purdue this year (8 straight bad games) was underwhelming. No one has a legitimate reason to believe Speight would have saved this season based on his on field performance.
The context here is we are failing to be accountable for our own flaws and choose to place blame elswhere for peace of mind.
February 16th, 2018 at 10:24 AM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 12:08 PM ^
It seems many no longer do that.
February 15th, 2018 at 12:40 PM ^
during the podcast was annoying, it was funny when we played back in september not really anymore, its not him move on grow up be a professional give some insight to the actual hire and not talk about sharks
February 15th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
Brian is a smart guy. I respect his work and appreciate this forum. But he is not all knowing. He is not the authority on all things UM. More often than not he makes bold statements and acts like he's speaking fact when it's only his opinion. This morning he said grad transfer Calvin Anderson "is going to Texas" - like he knows...like it's a fact. It is neither. Just one example of dozens.
February 15th, 2018 at 1:15 PM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^
i also dont get this hire and would say why not get a younger, up and comer that is a great recruiter as a skills position coach?
This would make sense if Drev and pep left, McElwain runs the O, warriner takes over line and you bring on a skills guy
still seems like too many cooks in the kitchen
February 15th, 2018 at 12:26 PM ^
Don't pep and drevno have guaranteed money? In my experiences it looks to me (not that I know what I am talking about) that Pep and drevno have basically been demoted in terms of responsibility. Pep is a QB coach? We have the QB guru as head coach. The idea of bringing in McElwain as an offensive coordinator cements that for me.
February 15th, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^
What does the caller mean by bonafide offensive coach? That's exactly what McElwain is. He may not like the choice, but that's exactly what they've hired.
There aren't many pro-style coaches climbing the ranks these days. Fairly hard to find a guy who knows how to run this at the college level.
February 15th, 2018 at 11:51 AM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 11:54 AM ^
Rolling up to the intervention
Every time someone says "unacceptable"
February 15th, 2018 at 11:58 AM ^
I love the wine-in-a-can thing too. I've been doing that for years.
February 15th, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
"Yeah but Harbaugh's record against rivals..."
February 15th, 2018 at 12:00 PM ^
Your addiction has affected me in the following ways: you are ANOYYYYYING
February 15th, 2018 at 1:49 PM ^
I'm picturing the intervention being around a fire on the camping trip.....
February 15th, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
reading his posts and listening to the podcasts, etc., it sounds less like he is about to have a nervous breakdown and more like he is feigning interest in something that doesn't interest him nearly as much as it once did. It was clear, despite his rhetoric (and in some ways, because of it) that he was immensely disappointed and surprised last season, and I think he may have thrown in the towel a little bit.
I have actually found his basketball write ups to be much more engaging (and informed) than his football stuff lately.
February 15th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
That's my read on it as well.
Last season was really ugly and that bowl loss was just disgusting from a(yes, yes, feelingsball and all that) mental toughness standpoint where everything just unravelled. the moment anything went poorly.
It's hard to maintain enthusiasm for Football when the Hoke-ian levels of incompetence that we thought had firmly been shut in the past, raise their ugly heads again.
February 15th, 2018 at 12:38 PM ^
Football stuff lately? I must have missed those...
February 15th, 2018 at 12:05 PM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
You bet it is. And it's supposed to be fun. Once a fan gets into a DOOM mindset, then what the hell is the point? My irrational exuberance is by definition STUPID but it's what makes following the team fun. I mean, I used to watch and enjoy late 70s Red Wings games fercrissakes. All the gloom here for the last few months is really wearing on the fun. I know, I know..."You can't ignore reality, old man." Fuck reality. The whole point of kicking back and watching young guys play a game is to have a little fun when reality has my scrotum in a vise. I just hate losing the fun that the game brings.
Highly emotional, hard to follow, poorly worded, and stupid rant over.
February 15th, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 4:37 PM ^
Ah, the Dead Wings... "Aggressive Hockey is back in town!"...don't forget Dale McCourt.
February 16th, 2018 at 4:10 AM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 1:36 PM ^
This is where I am too. Its a game, played by college athletes who are generally speaking giving their all..but are highly likely to make mistakes..sometimes at the worst possible time. Molding these young men into champions takes great coaching and a ton of luck..unless you've got an overwhelming talent/experience advantage.
One of the things that makes College football so much fun is the change from year to year. Next year....new players, more experienced players, new coaches, new schemes, etc. A lot to look forward to as a fan.
I come here for football insights and I follow the team because I'm a crazy fanatic..but I've long stopped letting it get me down and ragging on the team.
February 15th, 2018 at 4:10 PM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^
The "failed his morale check" is a perfect analogy for Brian. Right now is the time when we need to keep our chins up. There was always a likelihood that year 3 would be bad, as has been amply chronicled. So we're here. Keep your morale up and take your bayonnettes into the breach one more time.
February 15th, 2018 at 11:50 AM ^
Does anyone know how Harbaugh's offensive gameplanning and playcalling worked in SF?
I don't remember hearing about anyone other than Greg Roman so I wonder why JH runs with the multiple inputs approach now.
February 15th, 2018 at 11:54 AM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 12:01 PM ^
do not recall Colin Kaepernick under center with a fullback and three tight ends.
February 15th, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^
I certainly don't recall playaction on 3rd and 15 with Kaepernick and Gore
February 15th, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 12:11 PM ^
ok, gotcha.
I really just assumed that our system was Harbaugh, Drevno, and Hamilton have a paper-rock-scissors tournament before every down and the winner gets to call the play.
February 15th, 2018 at 12:04 PM ^