Mike Zordich moving on?
Per Sam Webb, it appears that Mike Zordich will be elsewhere going forward.
An excellent replacement could do wonders for the recruitment of Domani Jackson and Will Johnson, and at least it won't seem so open-ended with uncertainty anymore.
Thoughts on who his replacement will be? Does Mike Macdonald bring someone from Baltimore? Do we hit a home run and Charles Woodson decides to get involved(doubtful)?
January 13th, 2021 at 8:22 AM ^
are we certain that mike mcdonald is our new DC?
January 13th, 2021 at 8:23 AM ^
Yes, Sam confirmed that. Said it should be made public in a few days (you know how that goes).
January 13th, 2021 at 8:26 AM ^
They might be waiting until Baltimore's season is over before making it official.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:33 AM ^
ty.
let the doobie brothers jokes begin...
January 13th, 2021 at 9:55 AM ^
I Keep Forgetting he was a Doobie.
January 13th, 2021 at 1:00 PM ^
Minute by minute by minute...
January 13th, 2021 at 8:34 AM ^
Please, please, please...
Can this be over soon?
January 13th, 2021 at 11:22 AM ^
It seems like it’s been made official. I’m guessing McDonald has just asked that it not be made official until the Baltimore’s season is over. Which is a perfectly reasonable request. I doubt either he or John Harbaugh want any distractions right now while getting ready for the Bills.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:24 AM ^
Gimme Todd Howard
January 13th, 2021 at 8:36 AM ^
I had to look up what he has been up to recently. Involved high school coach for the last decade+ in the Chicago area, and founder the T.N.C University.
January 13th, 2021 at 9:28 AM ^
I thought he said Ron Howard and I was like whaaaaaa?????
January 13th, 2021 at 9:30 AM ^
can't you hear it now in little opie's voice: 'gee andy, don't you think we should run cover zero, sabre, zeus, triangle right now?
January 13th, 2021 at 9:40 AM ^
I'd listent to Opie before Barney.
January 13th, 2021 at 9:45 AM ^
'zone?'
January 13th, 2021 at 10:19 AM ^
He aged well
January 13th, 2021 at 11:18 AM ^
His bank account aged better than anybody else's on that show.
January 13th, 2021 at 9:28 AM ^
I'm not sure that he's coaching right now. I know he's no longer at Bolingbrook.
January 13th, 2021 at 11:01 AM ^
The link I posted above says he's at St. Francis in Wheaton, IL. Not sure if that is up to date or not.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:27 AM ^
Sad to see Zordich go. He has been loyal throughout his 6 years at Michigan and has been a hell of a teacher. I hope he does well wherever he goes.
As far as a new DB/S coach, it'll be interesting to see who Macdonald targets. Having a DB coach who recruits well is one thing, but they need to be able to be a great teacher as well. Its offense heaving in CFB and WR are becoming a more talented group each year. Hopefully we never have to face a D. Smith, because I'm not sure many (if any) could keep that kid in check.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:41 AM ^
"Its offense heaving in CFB and WR are becoming a more talented group each year."
Yes, and that's why we need talent. There's only Zordich can do with guys like Gray and Watson. We've seen how that goes. We need guys who can match that speed first and foremost. People act like Zordich is the only coach in the country who knows how to coach CBs. I don't think it's too much to ask for a good coach who recruits at a place like Michigan.
Of course Zordich, the guy who doesn't recruit is going to leave precisely when there are 2 big-time recruits he has an in with. Then again, if they get a good recruiter, maybe that balances out regarding those prospects.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:54 AM ^
Agreed.
I don't think Zordich was the only guy who could successfully coach/teach DBs, but he made it so our DBs were technically sound. DBs give up plays, thats just how the game goes, but making sure they are in a position to succeed come from coaching. Lewis, Long, L. Hill, and Thomas all had talent, but they needed help. Guys like Jeremy Clark, Watson, C. Stribling, etc. weren't as talented, but Zordich was able to coach them up to make them hang.
I hope whoever we hire is able to do the same as Zordich, but at the end of the day you need talent at that position to hang with these talented receivers. That comes from recruiting.
January 13th, 2021 at 4:16 PM ^
Wait so talent matters now? I got lambasted 2 months ago when I said 3* players aren't cutting it, it was all bad coaching. Huh.
January 13th, 2021 at 10:30 AM ^
I realize this may sound like crazy talk on this board but I’m not so sure Zordich was a good coach or teacher. Isn’t it possible that he got lucky with really talented players who self-taught enough to shore up weaknesses?
Maybe I’m missing it but I don’t see overwhelming evidence that the DB room is achieving beyond expectation due to Zordich coaching them up. I see some guys improved, some guys look terribly lost in their 3rd year, and some guys looked lost until they got on the field and now look average with a few flashes of great. Zordich could be a good teacher or he could be lucky in a small sample size. I’m optimistic that the coaching staff can do better in their next hire.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:27 AM ^
Steve Clinkscale would be an obvious choice. Assuming he would need a Co-DC title to make the jump. Perhaps the money cannon would do it.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:39 AM ^
Prediction: Zordich coaches next year at Arizona. Looks like Jedd is trying to get the band back together in Tucson.
January 13th, 2021 at 9:25 AM ^
I've been somewhat following the Arizona situation. AFAICS Jeff has filled his staff.
January 13th, 2021 at 10:31 AM ^
He's on a mission from God.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:27 AM ^
Charles Woodson has never coached anything in his life, and has no apparent desire to do so now. Dragging him into being an assistant coach would not be a 'home run. I don't know anything about available DB coaches, but I do know that...
That aside, Zordich is one of the few coaches that doesn't recruit very well that I would be ecstatic about keeping around. The guy knows how to get CB's to play very good football. Even Vincent Gray was looking worlds better later in the season than he did against MSU! I'm also pretty sure (but not positive) that Jackson and Johnson were looking forward to working for him.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:36 AM ^
Yeah, I think the problem is that even if he can develop these players, there is going to be a ceiling. I think Vincent Gray showed modest improvement over 2020, and will be a better player in 2021. However, his limited athleticism means he will have a ceiling. I am fine with Vincent Gray as a 3rd Corner, not as a starter.
In today's college football landscape, you need to recruit very good/elite talent at corner to be a consistent 10-11 win football team. You don't need 5 star recruits at corner, but guys who are ranked in the top 300, who can run 4.4/4.5 40s is essential. Jourdan Lewis, Lavert Hill, David Long, and Ambry Thomas had those skillsets, and were high 4* prospects.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:41 AM ^
Never thought I'd say this (osu flashbacks), but I long for the days when Brandon Watson was our 3rd corner. Vincent Gray is nowhere near that talented despite his high effort play.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:50 AM ^
I agree with what you're saying, but all I meant was that Zordich can coach! It would be a lot nicer if he were still coaching the like of Lewis and Long, etc... I would really like to see him working with Johnson and Jackson, though. However, I think the style of the defense is going to change away from all press man all the time (which also appeals to the J&J 'croots), and we have no idea how well he coaches any other coverages.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:43 AM ^
All the recruiting podcasts I listen to have talked about his relationship with Jackson and Johnson so you are right in that regard. If Michigan misses on Johnson that goes to show you just how far they have fallen, in state kid that’s also a legacy.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:45 AM ^
I really don't get people defending Zordich with improvement after the MSU game. The MSU game is also on him, and it was undoubtedly one of the worst performances we've ever seen from Michigan CBs, which is saying a lot considering the Rich Rod years.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:53 AM ^
Nobody said it wasn't...
Are you saying that Gray and Green didn't improve after that game, though? Because that argument is false. Why were they that bad in that game, though? Nobody knows - the entire fucking team was that bad. Unlike the rest of the team, though, those two improved through the season.
January 13th, 2021 at 11:10 AM ^
"Nobody said it wasn't"
Funny how few people mention it though when talking about his coaching abilities.
"Are you saying that Gray and Green didn't improve after that game, though?"
Obviously that's not what I'm saying. So they improved from historically atrocious to mediocre? Cool.
January 13th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
The main reason they were " historically atrocious" was Brown's stubbornness to force them to plan man coverage. Neither of them has the speed to play man.
January 13th, 2021 at 9:18 AM ^
Yeah, coaching isn't one of those jobs you should force a guy yo do, and they rarely turn out anyway. For every Larry Bird, there are 5 Wayne Gretzkys and Magic Johnsons
https://twitter.com/CharlesWoodson/status/1338538936025616387
January 13th, 2021 at 9:20 AM ^
I love Charles, he would be crazy to take the job regardless of prior experience. I think he could pass the bar Dion set going from the booth to coaching, but I would keep my analyst job on the weekend and mess around in my vineyard in the spare time enjoying life.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:29 AM ^
Z is gone. Quite possible you’ll see Co-DC’s. One with LB responsibility and another with S
January 13th, 2021 at 8:31 AM ^
Know this: Great players seldom makes great coaches.
January 13th, 2021 at 9:04 AM ^
So our head coach in 2030,Tom Brady, will not be a successful hire?
January 13th, 2021 at 8:32 AM ^
Tim Banks as Co-DC makes even more sense now.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:34 AM ^
What is Banks's reputation?
January 13th, 2021 at 8:36 AM ^
He is the man responsible for Penn state's recruiting success in the state of Michigan.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:50 AM ^
good at saving money, but will occasionally loan it out. very secure.
January 13th, 2021 at 9:00 AM ^
Will also have rare moments of overextension causing massive financial crises...
but otherwise fine.
January 13th, 2021 at 9:56 AM ^
And Federally insured.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:56 AM ^
Great recruiter, meh schematic coach.
Which seems to compliment Macdonald who has never recruited before but seems to be an excellent teacher/schematic coach.
Whoever they hire has to be a top notch recruiter to seal the deal on Jackson and Johnson. Landing both of those guys would be a catalyst to change the direction of this football team.
January 13th, 2021 at 10:13 AM ^
How can you call a guy that has never been responsible for scheme a great schematic coach? He could turn out to be one, but right now, he has nothing to do with scheme.
January 13th, 2021 at 10:26 AM ^
Really don't understand this consensus that's formed that whoever Michigan hires needs to be a "top notch recruiter" or it will fail.
Harbaugh is almost certainly getting fired (or forced into a resignation) after 2021 if the team struggles. Even if the next DC is the greatest recruiter known to man, it won't matter if Harbaugh is gone after next year.