December 16th, 2020 at 12:19 AM ^
Let the pain commence!
December 16th, 2020 at 12:22 AM ^
Boy, good thing we haven't made any public moves about Harbaugh's contract /s
December 16th, 2020 at 2:59 AM ^
According to our AD, it's perfectly normal.
“Negative recruiting occurs all the time. All the time. I'll let (end) at that.” - Warde Manuel
December 16th, 2020 at 6:57 AM ^
Warde can't do anything. He's promised Matt Campbell's agent he would stay quiet until their season is over.
Jim has a choice, he can still sign the extension at anytime before Iowa State's season is over. An extension that makes him one of the lowest paid coaches in the conference. He hasn't signed it yet. If he hasn't made a decision by the end of Iowa State's season, he's going to be fired.
Warde's got this under control. He's not scared of Harbaugh and never has been.
Then I woke up.
December 16th, 2020 at 5:52 AM ^
Why does that matter? I’m sure Harbaugh has had private conversations with these kids about his future and the future of members of the staff. They aren’t leaving simply because nothing has been made public. Recruits surely know more than we do, even if it’s not everything.
The flip side of that is, if the AD/Harbaugh makes it public that he’s leaving, then these are kids that are dropping from the class anyway. So “making it public” is only relevant if he’s staying. Which, if he is staying, I’m sure he’s told recruits that.
December 16th, 2020 at 8:12 AM ^
You're giving Jim way too much credit here.
December 16th, 2020 at 8:46 AM ^
Exactly. We lost a recruit because this guy wouldn't take off his cleats when entering a house with hardwood floors.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:22 AM ^
We don’t really need a D-line anyway.
December 16th, 2020 at 6:00 AM ^
Haven't for a while, really.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:22 AM ^
Maybe I'm alone, but it's hard for me to get too excited or disappointed about any one recruit when I don't have the confidence the staff can do anything with them
I genuinely feel like if we flip coaching staffs with OSU, the game would be competitive again
December 16th, 2020 at 1:00 AM ^
Don Brown’s defenses might actually work if Michigan had countless graduate assistants, analysts and unofficial staff members who studied and stole opponent signals like OSU does...
...just sayin’.
December 16th, 2020 at 1:37 AM ^
Other than signal stealing (which is largely a waste of time), we do.
People don't realize that Michigan Football Office has many many staffers and ex-coaches/ex-assistants. But it could use some...uh...re-organization and influx of new blood iyam.
December 16th, 2020 at 6:01 AM ^
Anything else is playing with one hand tied behind your back.
December 16th, 2020 at 6:57 AM ^
Wow. I’m sure that’s the reason why exile.
December 16th, 2020 at 8:12 AM ^
JFC we are the biggest group of whiney bitches. Man the fuck up. EVERY FUCKING TEAM IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL STEALS SIGNS. Don Brown is bad because HE IS FUCKING BAD. Seriously grow a pair of balls and man up
December 16th, 2020 at 1:30 AM ^
Actually, you should be disappointed. In 12-24 months from now whoever is the DC at Michigan will actually want to have some d-line guys on the roster.
'Who cares if we get these guys 'cuz Michigan is terrible anyway' is...not the right way to look at it.
December 16th, 2020 at 3:39 AM ^
yep, no point worrying about recruiting when I have zero faith in this staff.
December 16th, 2020 at 4:19 AM ^
You are the worst kind of fan. But probably never went here so you can extra fuck off.
December 16th, 2020 at 4:27 AM ^
Graduated in 02.
Why am I a bad fan? Because I'm not delusional? This program is a mess and no recruits are going to fix it. Harbaugh got us in this mess and he isnt getting us out.
December 16th, 2020 at 6:57 AM ^
Lol. My favorite take from a Michigan graduate. “You didn’t go here so your point is invalid.” As if an outsider/graduate of another university watching your sports takes over the years isn’t painful enough
December 16th, 2020 at 7:33 AM ^
About eight months ago, Michigan had more draft picks than anyone except LSU.
But yeah, this staff can't coach.
December 16th, 2020 at 7:58 AM ^
OSU also had 10. So, "except LSU and OSU." And, of course, the bulk of the picks from those two schools were in the first 3 rounds.
December 16th, 2020 at 8:00 AM ^
So...Michigan's coaches can't coach because their 10 picks weren't mostly in the first three rounds?
December 16th, 2020 at 8:09 AM ^
Magnus,
I'd genuinely like to hear your take, if you don't think part/most of the problem is coaching. I agree that there has to be some level of competence from the staff, as they have experienced success in the past, but there are many players that don't seem to be improving. Is it just talent identification/poor recruiting?
Maybe you've posted some content regarding this on your site, and I missed it, but I'm curious to hear your analysis.
December 16th, 2020 at 8:21 AM ^
No. I don't think draft picks in a single NFL draft have much bearing on whether they coach. You, apparently, do. But, e.g., I don't think Ogeron is a great coach because LSU had 14 picks.
If you were going to rely on NFL draft picks as some sort of metric then you would, presumably, want to take both (a) as large a sample size as possible; and (b) any other information that further elucidates the analysis.
Perhaps you think a 1st round pick=7th round pick. In fact, you clearly do by simply saying "10" and mocking any sort of further examination. The NFL disagrees with you, but, hey.
What you have is a genuine wafer thin #hottake defense of the staff. If you want to make the point about NFL draft icks, then make it with some authority and not some sort of weak, nearly evidence-free twitter take.
December 16th, 2020 at 10:04 AM ^
So the NFL drafts UM players despite the fact that the coaches cannot recruit or develop players...the inanity of folks who try and find easy answers for why the team struggles.
December 16th, 2020 at 1:33 PM ^
I think it's kinda a mixed bag. We can recruit talent, but we seem to have a poor recruiting plan. Running a scheme that demands athletic fast CBs and recruiting CBs not known for those attributes is a poor plan. Not recruiting DTs (combined with poor development) has left us reeling.
Recruiting a 5 star WR says we can recruit. Having him drafted in the 6th round says we cant develop.
Only position coach I feel comfortable being able to recruit decently and develop is Warinner. Zordich seems like he can develop but not recruit.
December 16th, 2020 at 8:01 AM ^
LSU= Won a National Championship
Michigan= Arguably their best win in 6 years was a monsoon / ugly game vs Notre Dame
Ummmm...I’d have to say our staff can’t coach. Players going into the NFL should correlate to wins.
December 16th, 2020 at 8:05 AM ^
Magnus you are proving the opposite of what you think you are proving.
Had 4 OL drafted and the line for the first half of the season was mediocre. Had a WR drafted doing well with the Browns who was passed over to throw the ball to Ronnie Bell(DPJ can’t get separation was the common theme spewed) no RBs drafted No QBs drafted.
I am Don Brown fan I like his mentality but recruiting has fallen off a Cliff
December 16th, 2020 at 8:59 AM ^
I was thinking the same thing. We aren't the G-League. The goal of Michigan is to contend for a big ten title, get to indy, and perhaps the playoff. If Michigan players get drafted with that process, good for them. However, the standard and performance indicators should not be draft picks.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:22 AM ^
Based on the recruiting news, it seems likely that our defensive staff is getting gutted, but the offensive staff is mostly returning.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:26 AM ^
Not a bad observation. I could see it playing out that way if Harbaugh stays.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:45 AM ^
Gah, I should have read before posting. I said the same thing below. I'm cool with this. I've said many times that our offense struggling this year was understandable. We had four new offensive linemen from last year. Our only returning offensive lineman was immediately injured, as was the other tackle. We also lost our starting center pretty quickly and had to reshuffle the entire line. We also only returned one starting pass-catcher, and as a study from Bill Connelly from a few years ago pointed out, returning receiving production is the strongest predictor of offensive success from a personnel standpoint. Add a new QB (and frankly, the wrong choice at QB) and you have a lot of chaos. The offense being sporadic wasn't some horrible indictment. The defense getting roasted by MSU's "run really fast in a straight line" offense was.
December 16th, 2020 at 9:41 AM ^
Please send the O coaches off season reading on the benefits of a tempo offense and basic strategies on when to use it.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:25 AM ^
Also hearing that both Branden Jennings and Ja’Den McBurrows are likely flips tomorrow, to Maryland and Miami respectively. Jaydon Hood is also another potential flip as I don’t believe he is signing tomorrow. Uh oh folks.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:28 AM ^
This is why Warde should have been more decisive and clear about not bringing back Jim sooner than he has been. Would have given the new coach time to hopefully keep the commits AND get a new coach recruiting bounce.
December 16th, 2020 at 1:15 AM ^
Just like that '15 decisive over reaction
December 16th, 2020 at 1:56 AM ^
lulz
Fans don't want to remember the names on the list. This is why I don't get too hung up on recruiting.
-- George Campbell ended up being a bust. But he had a respectable senior season at West Virginia on a bad (5-7) West Virginia team; 7 of his 19 catches were TDs.
-- Damien Harris turned out to be a damn good college RB. Was drafted in the 3rd round. He's a quality pro. (Currently playing for the Patriots.)
-- Mike Weber was a good but definitely not great RB but that had more to do with playing on a talented Ohio State team. JK Dobbins >>> Mike Weber. (Weber was a 7th round choice by Cowboys. Won a SB ring with Chiefs as a practice player.)
-- Darian Roseboro had a good but not great college career. He was a UDFA.
-- Shaun Crawford has struggled with injuries throughout his Notre Dame career. But he's having a very good season as a 5th year senior in 2020.
-- Garrett Taylor did very little his first 3 years at Penn State (as he struggled through injuries). But he came on strong as an upperclassman. He was a quality DB in 2018 and 2019. He was a UDFA.
-- Darrin Kirkland had a very promising freshman season. Injuries were a problem as a sophomore. He had to sit out all of 2017 because of a season-ending injury. Had a good but not great redshirt junior season (2018). After that season, he decided to end his playing career as the injuries kept mounting.
So from that list of 7 decommits, 6 ended up contributing significantly as a college layer but only 1 (RB Damien Harris) ended up being drafted and is a quality NFL player. (Obviously, we'll see if Crawford has a NFL career after his many injuries. He'll probably get some kind of shot based on his 2020 season.)
December 16th, 2020 at 11:15 AM ^
And since '15 and '16 proved Harbaugh could be successful with Hoke's recruits, these would more than likely be guys he could work with.
And even a Hoke to Harbaugh move couldn't get those guys to re-commit and this is Harbaugh to ?
If Harbaugh has to go do it early next season, extension or not.
December 16th, 2020 at 4:21 AM ^
What are you talking about? A new coach was going to get hired 3-4 weeks ago in the middle of the season and give us a recruiting bounce?
December 16th, 2020 at 4:59 AM ^
Exactly. It's not like the new coach would be in place right now. If they had fireed JH last week, the current staff, that wouldn't be returning, would be left cobbling together a class.
Not saying they should keep JH, but either way This class is going to have flips right now.
December 16th, 2020 at 5:06 AM ^
Maybe they don't really know guys. Maybe they would like an amicable parting of the ways. Warde is thinking like a fiscally responsible AD, and trying not to pay a buyout to Harbaugh and Brown. Harbaugh looks like a guy who dosen't want to leave, but has no real say in the situation currently. IMO the most important signing is the next staff, whether that's with or without Harbaugh.
December 16th, 2020 at 5:57 AM ^
Except we wouldn’t have hired a new coach yet. So we would just be stuck without a coaching staff at all heading into signing day and we would have lost the same guys regardless.
Matt Campbell has a conference title he’s coaching for this weekend. No way in hell is he leaving his team before playing that game. Leaving before a bowl, maybe. Leaving before a conference championship, not a chance
In a situation like we are in, the guys that are still coming are guys that were going to come no matter what. The guys that are leaving are guys that we’re going to leave the moment we canned Jim anyway. That’s why none of this is concerning whatsoever.
December 16th, 2020 at 8:44 AM ^
Leaving before a possible CFP appearance - not a chance.
December 16th, 2020 at 10:43 AM ^
What!?! No new coach was going to be signed by today. You move on from JH three weeks ago (after PSU) we still would be losing recruits. Part of changing out head coaches. Nothing you can do about it. Now, if Warde keeps JH, then you can ask why didn’t this get done before signing day to avoid losing any guys.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:30 AM ^
He was going to grow into a heck of a DT.
December 16th, 2020 at 1:16 AM ^
I hear Dominick Giudice is already 275lbs :)
December 16th, 2020 at 12:31 AM ^
I'm just a guy, but my guess based on recruit movement is that Harbaugh and Gattis will be back, but a lot of the defensive staff will not. If anything, the offensive class is supposed to get better tomorrow.
December 16th, 2020 at 6:51 AM ^
Shaun Nua is (was?) his primary recruiter so there may be something to that. Also highlights that Nua has not been a great recruiter here at Michigan.
December 16th, 2020 at 6:59 AM ^
Nua is terrible. A complete waste of a hire. Those on here thinking Mattison leaving was no big deal got a huge dose of reality