Northern Illinois Snowflakes: The Coaching
September 19th, 2021 at 9:01 AM ^
Exactly. Beating the teams you’re supposed to beat and then failing to win your biggest games is where Harbaugh has drawn his criticisms. Failing to win a big game on the road. Failing to win a single game as an underdog.
As fun as it is to see us roll over NIU, it has very little to do with the narrative surrounding Harbaugh’s “failures.” And it’s not going to do much to change anyone’s minds. Another 8-4/9-3 type season where we beat the teams we’re supposed to beat and lose to the top teams and the narrative remains the same.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:19 PM ^
Mike Hart is an impact RB coach. Guys are hitting the right gaps, bouncing it when appropriate, and they're showing a ton of patience and that little stutter step allowing blocks to develop.
September 18th, 2021 at 6:38 PM ^
Agreed. I'm also quite impressed with Moore as OL coach. In years past we would "get it done" against less-talented teams often. This season, the OL seems (to my admittedly untrained eye) to be doing a better job, and "getting it done" is turning into dominance.
September 19th, 2021 at 6:58 AM ^
Our quarterbacks look good too. When is the last time we said that?
September 19th, 2021 at 11:59 AM ^
Cade has looked good in two out of three. Under the lights, he was shaky for sure. But he looked better yesterday, so I won't worry about until our next "big stage" game in Madison. If I'm Wisconsin, I put 9 in the box until Michigan proves that is a bad idea.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:19 PM ^
After the last two years I had enough of Jim, he seemed to have lost interest. This is the kind of team that we had when he first took over.
These first three games have been well coached and as much as I was ready to burn it down I will give praise when it’s deserved. This team is miles better and it’s fun to watch again.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:20 PM ^
Exactly the way I feel. I know it’s only three games, but football seems fun again.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:27 PM ^
Yeah, they haven’t been punched in the mouth yet, but they’re not sleepwalking anymore either.
UW was in far worse shape than expected but I could see last year’s team losing to them and squeaking past NIU by a field goal. What a difference a sense of urgency makes.
September 18th, 2021 at 4:33 PM ^
That punch in the mouth matters quite a bit. Things look as good as they can, but we’ve seen teams wilt when things got tough before, including in the Harbaugh era. What happens if Wisconsin goes up by a couple of scores?
There is a lot to prove. We’ll see when it happens.
September 18th, 2021 at 5:18 PM ^
Yea I don't disagree to tread carefully on these optimistic waters. However, we have shown some major promise in 2 areas which where the most maddening aspects of the last few years:
- A Defense that refuses to adjust: 2nd drive today looked scary and that was the last drive (outside of garbage time) that looked remotely threatening.
- An Offense w/zero big play ability: Heck we had BIG pass completions today, I can't remember the last time we went for the big pass and I actually thought we had a chance at completing it.
September 19th, 2021 at 7:50 AM ^
Caveats may need to be applied with the big play ability. We faced a competent secondary and our passing game wilted. Didn’t “need” it to have big plays in that game, but it certainly didn’t inspire confidence.
Now when you play a team like MSU, PSU or Wisconsin that have legit defenses and are good run stopping teams, are those big plays going to be there? Those secondaries are much closer to Washington level than they are WMU/NIU.
Thats kinda the reason for the caution in people’s optimism. I don’t expect Michigan to run for 300+ against some of these teams on our schedule.
September 19th, 2021 at 10:23 AM ^
Caveats may need to be applied to the history you're talking about in the washington game. Washington has a legit nfl secondary and basically gave us the run.
Again, washington sold out on the pass, they basically begged us to run hoping they could force us into passing downs, which they couldn't do.
This is basically the opposite of what everyone has been screaming about for years, "they are selling out to run, why arent you passing?"
If Michigan had started passing and it ended up being a close game everyone here would have been screaming, "the ground game was working, why abandon it against nfl corners"?
September 19th, 2021 at 12:06 PM ^
You have been making excellent points in your "pump the brakes" responses in the various threads. I can see both sides. Some optimism because the running game feels like it's up a notch. Some concern because the passing game was shaky against Washington. I'm happy, but wary because of experience.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:20 PM ^
I may need to revisit my preseason expectations for our record this year.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:24 PM ^
Vegas really gave us 7.5 total wins. Thank you.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:24 PM ^
Mike Hart. What an upgrade.
We haven’t see this kind of patience from any back yet alone all of our backs since Mike Hart played here.
Incredible.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:36 PM ^
Yeah. Corum and Haskins looked like they had potential last season. But now they look like honed machines. They show great vision and decisive reads. The transformation must be due to Hart's mentorship.
September 18th, 2021 at 4:27 PM ^
I may be imagining it, but it sure looked like I could see the same things with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th (?!!!) string backs. It's a little exaggerated with them, like they're thinking about it - maybe a result of less reps - which leads me to believe it's being drilled into the backs as a whole. Which makes it coaching.
September 18th, 2021 at 4:44 PM ^
Dunlap looks like he has the potential to be Haskins 2.0 but with a little more speed
September 18th, 2021 at 4:51 PM ^
You saw Haskins last year run hard but rarely set up his cut backs like he does this year. Basically a 1 speed, head down back. Not this season. That’s how I know it’s coaching.
Corum looks to be a natural at it so I’m not sure it would matter but Hart is turning Haskins into an NFL caliber back.
wait for it… wait for it… wait for it… cut it up and explode. FINALLY!!!
September 18th, 2021 at 3:32 PM ^
Not much you can say with this kind of paving.
Though the reverse to Henning struck me as a direct response to NIU’s over commitment to the run, and it worked. Quick analysis and counters to what the defense does is important.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:36 PM ^
I was in favor of a HC change last year, and apparently we got one. Old JH seems to be back
Mike Hart is doing excellently. Great hire.
Can't believe jay harbaugh hasn't been poached yet
Tentatively optimistic about Mike MacD at DC.
September 19th, 2021 at 7:46 AM ^
“Old Jim Harbaugh is back”
No thanks. “Old Jim Harbaugh” lost at least 3 games. I prefer Jim Harbaugh set a new standard in 2021.
I’ll never understand this desire for “old Jim Harbaugh”. God no. He can leave that version of himself in the past forever.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:39 PM ^
We didn’t punt a single time. We’ve got to punt more so we can work on it in a game situation before we play a real team like Wisconsin. ?
September 18th, 2021 at 3:44 PM ^
Excellence all the way around today. Michigan played over 100 players and 5 Quarterbacks. Great calls, great balance. No turnovers allowed, though one sloppy handoff. One bad penalty that should never happen. One TO forced. Very impressed with all 3 phases of Michigan's game today.
September 18th, 2021 at 4:05 PM ^
Has Coach Harbaugh switched to a wireless headset? I don't think I saw a cord guy following him today.
September 18th, 2021 at 8:34 PM ^
Haha. Our running joke was the cord wasn’t plugged in.
September 18th, 2021 at 4:07 PM ^
Maybe I'm imagining it, but the team looks to be lining up and snapping faster than in previous years. In the goal-line situations, they were lined up and ready to go once the ball was spotted. It's a great idea especially when their defense is tired because you've been grinding them all the way down the field.
September 18th, 2021 at 4:24 PM ^
I've noticed since Western that they seem to have a much better flow this year. They are using tempo and their end of half drives had made more sense than they have in years. Maybe they finally ponied up for a Madden kid to analyze their tempo.
September 18th, 2021 at 10:25 PM ^
Hopefully, that's Weiss' influence. I'd like to see the end-of-half execution continue to improve.
Adding in some Madden is great, but I hope the staff has also bought in to the idea that using cheat codes is okay too.
September 18th, 2021 at 4:19 PM ^
Mike Hart gets the gold star for the season so far IMO. RB's look so sharp, dynamic, patient - and no fumbles!
All the coaches deserve credit today, but Hart really seems to have made an impact. Running game looks crazy good. Even Dunlap and Franklin showed good vision and bounce.
Michigan played 100 guys today - is it really that surprising there was a number infraction? It's probably good to have something to "work on".
All in all, a fine coaching performance against an overmatched opponent. Well done.
Go Blue!
September 18th, 2021 at 4:36 PM ^
It's really hard to find any flaw in any aspect of our play today.
We are clearly a run first team with a sufficient passing game. Maybe a few more throws would have been nice but this was as complete a domination since the 70 point Rutgers game a few years ago.
Offense, defense, special teams and coaching fired on all cylinders.
The only negative you can draw from a game like that is no warts were uncovered or weaknesses exposed.
Where do you focus your improvement?
But A's all around.
September 18th, 2021 at 4:57 PM ^
We won with a passing Rutger this week. Little to complain about overall!
September 18th, 2021 at 6:43 PM ^
Considering the grief, justified and otherwise, tossed at the coaching staff the past two weeks, this might be a good spot to note that Western Michigan might be good. They hung in with Pitt and beat them.
September 18th, 2021 at 7:50 PM ^
The FIRST thing Jim mentioned was that they played over 100 players.
Getting into a game is a dream for many of these guys and rewards them for their hard work.
I remember my son being on a terrible high school team. Even in blow out wins or blow out losses the coach only played his starters. MANY kids felt they were wasting their times. Even the starters asked the coach to bring in their friends/teammates.
Well done, Jim
September 18th, 2021 at 8:13 PM ^
i was STUNNED that lombardi stayed in to the very end. the hell kind of coach does that to his team?
September 18th, 2021 at 9:27 PM ^
September 19th, 2021 at 7:33 AM ^
Seemed like a good time to get him some work then. On the flip side, maybe he is a young talented kid and they didn't want to get him killed. I thought it was odd that Lombardi went the distance though.
September 18th, 2021 at 8:16 PM ^
Fantastic on all counts.
We have a great coaching staff, and I maintain that we have one of the top five coaches in football. He's been dealt some shitty hands, has made a couple minor mistakes, but has mostly caught a bunch of shit he doesn't deserve around here. Both on the board, and from on high. I really wish those people would cool it, it does not help Michigan in any way, shape, or form. Support the team, and keep things in proper context, even when they aren't going our way.
Go Blue!
Onward.
September 18th, 2021 at 10:11 PM ^
Well said Timmay. I love this coach and will always back him.
September 18th, 2021 at 11:45 PM ^
I'll agree with this. I've been critical of Harbaugh. This version of Harbaugh is the best. He's the guy for the job.
September 19th, 2021 at 12:55 AM ^
Give me a break, he has underperformed by any reasonable measure.
September 18th, 2021 at 8:47 PM ^
I’m a little pissed about fucking up the simple concept of having two people wearing the same number. That was inconsequential to the game, but did lead to seven points. We are going to face great opponents. We have to be above perfect fo beat teams with more talent.
September 18th, 2021 at 11:10 PM ^
Second and third string won't be in there when playing those teams so I think it will be fine.
September 18th, 2021 at 11:52 PM ^
Wasn’t a second or third team thing. That was coaching. The players don’t execute into their jerseys. I think the coaching, in general did well. Having two players with exact digits is a coaching fuck up. Period. Don’t care about third or forth string. Eleven players. None can have the same integer as another player. There are 100 combination of integers. 60 played? I don’t think this is a unwarranted complaint. This is a snowflake thread. My concern stands.
September 19th, 2021 at 7:53 AM ^
Over 100 played actually.
September 18th, 2021 at 9:37 PM ^
Extremely feelingsball but back when Harbaugh was a good coach he did troll-ey shit like take a timeout to rough the punter up 32 or go for it up 60. Good to see that attitude again.
September 18th, 2021 at 9:41 PM ^
Wanna know when Michigan's coaches knew they'd won
When NIU kicked a FG on 4th 2 at the 4 yard line in a game they had little chance of winning. Gutless.
September 18th, 2021 at 10:48 PM ^
The substitutions are coming in and out more efficiently than last year. Same with playcalls and lineups.
September 19th, 2021 at 7:50 AM ^
I find this somewhat amusing since I think we burned 2 or 3 to's yesterday because of late personnel changes, and at least twice this year the opponent has snapped the ball before our defense was set. But to each his own.