Maurice Linguist/George Helow hires announced, defensive staff finalized
OFFICIAL: Michigan Names Maurice Linguist and George Helow to Defensive Coaching Staff. 〽️?
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 20, 2021
Welcome, @CoachMo15 and @GeorgeHelow! pic.twitter.com/fm5GMH12EJ
In addition, we are announcing the complete defensive staff today:
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 20, 2021
Mike Macdonald - Defensive Coordinator@CoachNua - Defensive Line@luc_brian - Linebackers@CoachMo15 - Defensive Backs/Co-Defensive Coordinator@GeorgeHelow - Safeties
January 20th, 2021 at 8:29 PM ^
Because it's about recruiting the right TYPE of player, not the highest RANKED player.
Aubrey "Fuck Michigan" Solomon being a "5*" is useless if he didn't give the effort needed to reach that ranking, especially when he quits to go where "those who take short cuts" go (Tennessee!).
Doesn't the fact that Partridge had UofM in on so many of those Tennessee players tell you all you need to know.
January 20th, 2021 at 9:28 PM ^
I'm confused, so do recruiting rankings matter or not? Gary, DPJ, Bredeson, Ruiz are were all highly ranked and while good only Bredeson of those was an elite college player. We've had very few elite players since the 2016 team.
Why do you keep mentioning Partridge like he was the main person in charge of recruiting and not the head coach?
January 20th, 2021 at 10:18 PM ^
Not, now you don't need to be confused.
Ruiz wasn't elite?
Partridge was part of bringing in 45 recruits in four years, he was the main person in charge of recruiting, especially after Harbaugh had the satellites taken from him.
It's obvious in hindsight Harbaugh was unsure of his ability to recruit which is why he did the camps and had the strange antics on the recruiting trail at the beginning.
When those didn't work he had to turn to somebody and Partridge fooled us all by seemingly being a good choice but in the end he was mostly a bad fit.
January 21st, 2021 at 12:27 AM ^
Why do you say Partridge was a bad fit? Somehow I never clued in to that...
January 21st, 2021 at 1:12 AM ^
You weren't the only one; I too, like most at first, was soothed by the recruiting rankings and all the talent he was on.
Later, when all the transfers started in '19, I tried to figure out why, especially since all those recruits Hoke brought in stayed around after the 5-7 year during the last coach's transition.
One name kept coming up.
Fact is, so far it's either been "two year starter, drafted after year three" or "transfer w/o contributing much" for most of his recruits. And the transfers are gaining.
January 21st, 2021 at 6:12 AM ^
This is an interesting observation. Do you have a theory about specifically why players linked to Partridge are leaving so much faster?
I was thinking this whole time that the leaving was due to not liking Harbaugh/program’s personality and the opportunity to get paid at the next level.
Re: paying players. We have heard before on this board from a few posters that Partridge was involved in payments even early on. I’m not sure why this specifically would cause players to leave early though. If OSU is paying guys, they don’t appear to leave early as often.
January 21st, 2021 at 12:16 PM ^
IMO, it was probably little more than Partridge telling all his recruits they would get early playing time and a "fast track" to the NFL, it worked out for some but the ones who didn't get early playing time lost interest and bolted.
Add in a dash of him probably downplaying the "going to school" part of it and others just didn't want to put in the effort.
Not sure about him getting some bags to recruits but those transfers and 3 and outs left a giant hole in the roster that along with QB mismanagement, hit them hard the last two years.
January 21st, 2021 at 7:25 AM ^
No, Ruiz was not elite. A second team All-Conference player while good is not elite.
Okay, so if our head coach isn't comfortable recruiting himself and doesn't manage the offense well, what exactly is he here for?
January 21st, 2021 at 12:23 PM ^
From his bio:
"Hailed as the Best Pass-Blocking center in the country by PFF College, with 447 snaps spent in pass protection and just eight pressures allowed, and none over the final five games of the season"
Harbaugh was brought here because he was a high profile alum who was willing to help save the program from flushing down the toilet, and he did that, just as he had done at Stanford and SanFran.
Has he reached his ceiling at UofM? Probably.
Since he's no QB whisperer and he must have wasted all his "upset juice" on USC in 2007.
Why is he still here? Because it was THIS year and they couldn't find anyone better.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:40 AM ^
Ruiz was a fantastic center and we’re lucky he didn’t leave early.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:45 AM ^
Why was he only voted 2nd team then? David Molk was an Consensus All American and didn't even have NFL measureables.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:04 AM ^
I think these are great hires who will recruit their asses off. I get the lack of experience sentiment but how many games a year do the x's and o's really matter???? 2 maybe 3?
They will bring in the talent. The experience will come to get us over the hump... hopefully sooner than later.
January 20th, 2021 at 7:11 PM ^
Fine. D coaching positions are filled.
But barring any shocking news from the O-side, are Gattis and Harbaugh competent enough to keep the D on the bench?
January 20th, 2021 at 7:22 PM ^
Harbaugh did alright the first couple years. I hope he (and Warinner) gets involved again. Be nice to have a rational run game. Gattis’ playcalling is hot and cold.
January 21st, 2021 at 12:30 AM ^
It feels to me like Gattis does well when he is left alone to call plays. My suspicion is that the O regresses when Harbaugh steps in and calls a bunch of manball stuff. Curious to hear if others agree or disagree.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:06 AM ^
Disagree.
1) we have no idea how much Harbaugh inserts himself in play calling.
2) the main issue I have witnessed is the lack of an efficient QB that can execute the read plays and/or throw on time and on target.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:26 AM ^
^^^^ This!!!
Michigan fans, at least in here, have convinced themselves that Harbaugh “meddles” in the offense when we’ve been told that that is not the case. Can you say, “conspiracy theory” boys and girls?
As to your 2nd point: 100% correct! Watch the dimes that Jones threw to Smith in the NC game. Simple throws, in stride, on time, easy gains and TD! Helps to have a generational talent to throw to, but nothing makes or breaks an offense like QB play.
January 20th, 2021 at 7:20 PM ^
Obviously we do not know how the new staff will work out. Hopefully we will have a major turnaround in the fall. We all want that, idealists and realists alike. But for those criticizing posters for lowering expectations, could you offer a positive analysis from the resumes of the new staff that is stronger than the resumes of the ones we let go?
January 21st, 2021 at 9:09 AM ^
Maurice Linguist -- one of the best recruiters and a great developer of CB's. Two main areas of need on defense.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:11 AM ^
A fair point, thank you. I would love to see the CBs improve, and so much of success in this landscape is recruiting.
January 20th, 2021 at 7:25 PM ^
Well, at least we helped a bunch of guys get raises elsewhere :/
January 20th, 2021 at 7:26 PM ^
Sounds like both of our defensive coordinators could potentially be great hires, especially Linguist as the cornerbacks coach. George Helow's resume doesn't stand out on paper but I would think the one spot on our staff that would attract attention from top candidates is safeties coach since there's astronomical potential for improvement compared to last season (which makes the position coach look good).
No one gets the decision to retain Shaun Nua and yes, our linebackers didn't look great last season. But Jean-Mary is fairly proven at this point, both as a recruiter and as a linebackers coach. His past experience as a DC is also helpful. And there's no way Nua would have been retained if he did as bad of a job as it appeared from the outside looking in.
January 20th, 2021 at 7:29 PM ^
I assume with Jay’s move to special teams that this completes our entire staffing changes. Offense is Qb- Jim Harbaugh. Rb- Mike Hart Wr and OC- Gattis. Te- Moore and Oline is Warriner.
There should be a position coach allowed for each position. MacDonald and Gattis should be allowed to just be coordinators. Harbaugh should be allowed to be head coach. Then have a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, cornerback, safety and special teams coach. That’s only adding 2 more coaches.
January 20th, 2021 at 7:52 PM ^
Missing one Ron Bellamy the last one once championship game completed. Take over jay spot watch?
January 20th, 2021 at 8:13 PM ^
That’s the only spot unless Moore isn’t coming back. His contract was one of the ones that was up this year. Jay’s was as well. Honestly, other than in state, Bellamy isn’t a better hire than either of those 2. Now, if Jay wants to go to recruiting coordinator and Bellamy comes in for special teams than I’m ok with it.
January 20th, 2021 at 7:51 PM ^
Many in here and in the media have said Michigan’s program needs a “shot in the arm” with new schematic concepts and, most importantly, a revamped and energized recruiting process and appears that Harbaugh has tried to accomplish this. Whether he’s successful or not, obviously, remains to be seen.
I’m excited to see what these guys bring to the program and how the players respond.
Give em hell, Coach!
GO BLUE!
January 20th, 2021 at 8:03 PM ^
Upvoted for enthusiasm unknown to Mkind.
January 20th, 2021 at 8:17 PM ^
Maybe Nua’s philosophy on recruiting and DL play differed from Don Brown?
January 20th, 2021 at 8:43 PM ^
Wow, Coach Linguist could definitely be on Frames' staff at PSU with a wife that looks like that (top of his twitter).
January 20th, 2021 at 10:15 PM ^
Wow. Damn.
January 20th, 2021 at 10:24 PM ^
Gotta be honest, coach is a good looking guy. Sort of has that John Legend look going for him. Not a man crush just calling it like it is. No surprise that he reeled in a gorgeous woman.
January 20th, 2021 at 9:18 PM ^
All I can say for now is that it is what it is. We have no way of knowing if these are good hires or not. Let’s just sit back and see what plays out on the field next year.
It had to be tough to fill positions when guys know that the HC is essentially on a one-year “show me” contract and they would be looking for another job in a year if things go poorly. It is what it is.
January 20th, 2021 at 9:35 PM ^
Most on here make fun of the Lions and their hires, this defensive staff that Jim has assembled in year 6 is Lion like.
January 20th, 2021 at 10:42 PM ^
I’m pretty sure you have no idea what you’re talking about and are just talking out’o ur negative arse.
January 20th, 2021 at 10:20 PM ^
It appears Harbaugh is hammering the recruiting angle hard with these hires. Young guys that are either proven good recruiters or perhaps charismatic and "people person" enough that JH thinks they will be good recruiters. We need to begin rivaling OSU recruit for recruit at all 22 positions on the field.
And here's to hoping we caught lightning in a bottle with Macdonald and he becomes an amazing DC.
I didn't like the JH extension but I will always support my team. Fingers crossed.
January 20th, 2021 at 10:36 PM ^
Curious, why they saying “complete defensive staff?” We still looking at people on O? We don’t have room do we? The wording on this seems odd. Is Jay H, Moore, or Gattis out? I would love an OC that’s more experienced. I wish I had more faith in Gattis, but I don’t.
January 20th, 2021 at 11:10 PM ^
January 20th, 2021 at 11:14 PM ^
Positives -- professing to get more focused on recruiting ; new blood to hopefully improve player development and scheme.
Negatives -- kept two coaches seemingly responsible for a lack of development of front seven.
This, overall, is more head-scratcher than home run.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:05 AM ^
Could this all boil down to the fact that maybe no big names wanted to coach for Harbaugh or at Michigan and that he was forced to go this route?
January 21st, 2021 at 8:10 AM ^
Just perused my Twitter account. These new guys are already going wild with recruiting, esp. offering / contacting 5 stars.
January 21st, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^
Helow was great as the Winter Soldier before he started coaching football!
