Hello: Greg Jackson, Defensive Backs
As mentioned yesterday, both Steve Lorenz($) and Sam Webb($) are reporting that 49ers DBs coach Greg Jackson will take the same role at Michigan.
Jackson is an LSU grad who spent a dozen years in the NFL as a safety after going in the third round of the 1989 NFL draft. A few years after his retirement he took up coaching at various small colleges, bouncing from Idaho to ULM to Tulane, before getting a break and joining Wisconsin in 2010. When Harbaugh went to the 49ers, Jackson got the DBs job despite no previous NFL or Harbaugh experience (unless you count some time spent together as players with the Chargers).
While it's hard to suss out Jackson's impact independent of the team-wide renaissance Harbaugh brought to San Francisco, and harder still to suss out the influence of the defensive backs versus pass rush in general passing statistics, Football Outsiders provides specific enough stats to take a stab at it:
TEAM | YEAR | Pass DVOA | Adj Sack Rate | Line Yards | Open Field Yards | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Francisco | 2010 | 25 | 14 | 3 | 7 | |
San Francisco | 2011 | 6 | 22 | 4 | 1 | |
San Francisco | 2012 | 6 | 17 | 15 | 2 | |
San Francisco | 2013 | 10 | 29 | 22 | 2 | |
San Francisco | 2014 | 4 | 17 | 25 | 9 |
Pass DVOA is Football Outsiders catch-all efficiency stat applied to just passing plays. Adjusted Sack Rate is FO adjusting raw sacks by adding grounding penalties and adjusting for down, distance, passing attempts, and opponent.
Line Yards heavily weight the first few yards of a carry and discount yards from 5 on and are used to get an idea of who is winning the battle at the line of scrimmage; Open Field Yards is a ranking of yards gained after the back gets ten.
So. San Francisco's pass defense was consistently very good despite being unable to get to the passer. Their run defense slid towards very bad but maintained elite production from the guys tasked with not turning ten yard runs into 50 yard runs. That run ended this year but even so they were still in the top third of the league.
That is a statistically ideal profile for a defensive backs coach. I mean: in 2013 the 49ers were one of the worst teams in the league at getting to the QB and still had a top-ten pass D. And that's without huge amounts of talent. His secondaries were both responsible and opportunistic:
Jackson helped guide the 49ers to the best pass defense in the NFC and the fourth-best in the NFL, in 2012, allowing just 200.2 yards per game. That total is the lowest given up by the 49ers since 1997 (165.4 yards per game). The 49ers secondary also boasted two Pro Bowl selections (S Donte Whitner and S Dashon Goldson) and a First-Team All-Pro (Goldson).
In 2011, the 49ers secondary tallied 22 interceptions, which ranked second among all NFL secondaries. Goldson and CB Carlos Rogers each recorded a career-high six interceptions, and were both selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in their careers. Rogers was named a starter in Hawaii, while also being selected Second-Team All-Pro. The defense finished the season ranked fourth in the NFL in percentage of pass attempts intercepted (3.9).
The advanced stats do reflect the impact of those interceptions already. I mention that in case anyone is like WHY U NO TAKEAWAYS about last year's D.
With just one year at a major college, Jackson has little track record as a recruiter.
PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE
Jackson doesn't have a long track record, but what he's got is stellar, and on the NFL level. His NFL experience as both a player and a coach should help him recruit, and his deep roots in Louisiana as an LSU player and Tulane coach should help him get kids out of a talent-rich area that Michigan has tapped semi-regularly for a while. His SEC background could free DJ Durkin up to hit Ohio, where he's from.
Jackson's got Harbaugh continuity, as well.
UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE STAFF
It's still coming together. Our previous assumption that John Morton is likely for the WR job is now in question, though. On WTKA this morning Sam mentioned that while he'd heard a bunch of guys were in town to interview he had not heard that Morton was one of them. Since it seems like the only solid piece of information linking Morton to Michigan is a Sacremento Bee article that's now a couple weeks old (one that did nail Tim Drevno), I'm moving him off the board since it seems Dougherty is getting some sort of job.
Sam mentioned Youngstown State DL coach Tom Sims as a possibility, so he's added to the "others" section.
OFFENSE | COACH | confidence | DEFENSE | COACH | confidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
OC | Tim Drevno | lock | DC | DJ Durkin | lock |
QB | Jim Harbaugh | lock | DL | Greg Mattison | lock |
RB | Tyrone Wheatley | very likely | LB | Durkin | lock |
WR | Jimmie Dougherty | very likely | DB | Greg Jackson | lock |
OL | Drevno | lock | OLB/DE | Roy Manning | probable |
TE | ??? | none | ST | John Baxter | lock |
S&C: Kevin Tolbert (lock)
OTHERS: John Morton (WR), Tom Sims (DL).
Michigan has a spot to play with. Harbaugh's Stanford staffs split the OL between the interior line and a TE/OT spot and that looks like a reasonable idea for the ninth and final assistant. The other possibility is another defensive coach, whether it's a CB coach or Manning staying in the secondary and Michigan adding another guy in the front seven like Sims.
January 8th, 2015 at 11:54 AM ^
...interesting news on Morton though. However he and Dougherty seem kind of redundant. OC/WR coach types.
January 8th, 2015 at 11:56 AM ^
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January 8th, 2015 at 11:56 AM ^
January 8th, 2015 at 11:57 AM ^
NFL coaches on Michigan staff...wow
January 8th, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^
AGREE! besides Mattison did anyone from the prior staff have any NFL coaching/ playing experience? Such an asset for these coaches to be able to walk in to homes and say "I recently played/coached in the NFL, I know what it takes to get there".
January 8th, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^
Manning played in the NFL from 2005-2007.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
DELETE. I can't read.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
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January 8th, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
Yeah, I thought I read Jackson coached the safeties and Donatell coached the CB's.
January 8th, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^
our safeties playing at the next level. Thomas in particular seems to be one player who has not played up to his potential yet and maybe Jackson will help get him there.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^
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January 8th, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^
The defensive staff looks loaded. It seems like the only question marks are on offense.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:42 PM ^
You know we have it good now when the "question marks" are on the offensive side, the side Harbaugh himself will pay more attention too and one that is composed either people he has had success working (most of whom have also had success elsewhere as well) with previously or has hand selected (Wheatley). I know the last 7 years have been tough but there is really nothing at all to complain about or even be worried about with this staff. It is one of the best in college football period.
January 8th, 2015 at 2:19 PM ^
January 8th, 2015 at 2:21 PM ^
January 8th, 2015 at 12:08 PM ^
January 8th, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
even more who have coached in the NFL with Harbaugh, Jackson, Wheatley, Drevno and Mattison at the least.
January 8th, 2015 at 2:06 PM ^
I think Tolbert was Assistant S&C at 49ers.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^
There is the question about how he will translate to a college coach, but still, I really like this hire. Another high upside guy for future coaching positions, and who can connect well based on past experience with players and recruits. Glad Harbaugh could bring him along.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:10 PM ^
Potential for the best staff since 1989 with Bo, Moeller, Carr, Miles, and Cam Cameron?
January 8th, 2015 at 12:15 PM ^
Another terrific hire.
Here are a few wild guesses from me. I say Dougherty becomes WR coach and (de facto / official) pass game coordinator, which was his role under Sarkisian at Washington. Drevno becomes the OL coach and (de facto / official) run game coordinator. Wheatley takes RB coach and associate head coach, which gives him a better title than he had in Buffalo to compensate for the NFL-to-college jump. I wouldn't be surprised if Baxter does special teams and tight ends, which he's done for most of his career. Then maybe Manning takes a shared recruiting coordinator and OLB-DE / jack-of-all-trades role on defense.
That leaves one spot. No idea where that goes. Maybe that's a best coach/recruiter available kind of position.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:18 PM ^
Considering Wheatley is out of a job right now, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't require that much of a title promotion. I think a recruiting coordinator title could be in the cards for him, if he's looking to bolster his resume up.
Manning is still green and wouldn't need much more than his position coach role.
My guesses:
Baxter: ST & TEs
Wheatley: RC & RBs
Mannings: OLB (with mentoring from Drevno and Mattison)
January 8th, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^
Do you have a good sense of what associate HC really means? I don't. Is it just a title (or an indication that the guy is being groomed to be a future HC)? Does it carry real coaching responsibilities?
As for Manning as a possible recruiting coordinator, that's really a wild guess. But I'm suggesting that not because I think he needs a promotion to be convinced to stay, but because it seems like that role might better align his talents with his position. If we add that Tom Sims guy, I could see Sims, Mattison, and Durkin being more than enough to handle the DLs/LBs, which would let Manning focus on recruiting and pitching in where needed on the defense.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^
It seems honorary, generally for older coaches, but sometimes younger ones, who are overqualified for their role on the staff. (i.e., it is perfect for Mattison). Wheatley could fit that title, but I doubt it's going to help him take the next step in his coaching career. Whereas if he was able to take a lead in recruiting and get that reputation as a killer recruiter, it could really help his star rise.
Manning may end up being one of the most important recruiters on the staff (after Harbaugh, Derkin, and Mattison). But it seems like the recruiting coordinator title can wait until the staff reshuffles next time. Maybe I'm wrong but if Manning is a position coach AND a recruiting coordinator he would probably have a more prestegious title than Wheatley despite having less experience and 'name' recognition.
Ultimately, the recruiting coordinator title may makes sense for Manning and Wheatley to share. But it seems like if they wanted to expand Wheatley's resume it would be logical to give it to him and let Manning have it if/when somebody leaves this staff to take a promotion elsewhere.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^
It seems likely to me that Baxter coaches the TEs as he has done in previous stops. If all he is doing is ST, he would have time to work with a small position group like the TE spot.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^
It's about time we got coaches that have SEC speed! He should be able to get more accomplished.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:13 PM ^
But Jackson was the ASSISTANT DB coach, right? So this is a promotion in title for him, not the same role.
http://www.49ers.com/team/coaches/greg-jackson/3856d371-d415-4f1a-a061-…
January 8th, 2015 at 12:15 PM ^
M might have found their TX recuritier. Nothing like working I-20 for that next BC. Ask Saban,Miles or Meyer...they'll tell you natty can be won by simply working I-20 corridor.
Soo,much talent to be had here in the south...
January 8th, 2015 at 12:18 PM ^
I would hate to see France with that much talent.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^
Took a second to settle in.
Now that is had I just keep chuckling.
Very funny.
January 8th, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^
January 8th, 2015 at 12:15 PM ^
But happy we have a more natural fit at DB coach, get Manning back to where he can excel
January 8th, 2015 at 2:01 PM ^
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January 8th, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
As I understand that S&C personnels are not counted against the limit
Now we have
1. Drevno
2. Dirkin
3. Mattison
4. Baxter
5. Jackson
and likely
6. Wheatley
7. Mannning
8. Dougherty? (if big Al already took his job, he has to go somewhere)
There is still room for one more.
January 8th, 2015 at 3:12 PM ^
January 8th, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
This seems like a phenomenal hire. Staff is looking great
January 8th, 2015 at 12:25 PM ^
Baxter coached TE's at USC, so he might be a canidate to fill that job here.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:24 PM ^
Heh, Jackson almost seems like a check-off. "Oh, another young coach with a stellar track record. Next." Yes, it's good to feel spoiled.
All that said. . . and yes, I know I'm being unreasonable, but I'm most nervous about the S&C guy. I don't doubt Harbaugh's standards and whiffing on Plan A certainly isn't a disaster, but this is the one coach we need pretty soon. Was Tolbert confirmed? I don't remember seeing anything solid FP-ed.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^
NFL experience and the innovation that's required at the college level may be my favorite aspect of this staff so far. You have some guys who seem like their strengths lie in the pros, both in experience playing and coaching, other guys who have excellent in college the past few years, and the real luxury of guys who have had success at both levels. As a recruit, how could you NOT want to learn from this staff?!?!? WHO'S GOT IT BETTER THAN US??
January 8th, 2015 at 1:44 PM ^
January 8th, 2015 at 12:35 PM ^
whose "Hello" post picture was taken on the field of the Super Bowl!
January 8th, 2015 at 12:45 PM ^
January 8th, 2015 at 12:54 PM ^
January 8th, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^
Where do I send a gift basket to Jed York?
January 8th, 2015 at 1:13 PM ^
January 8th, 2015 at 1:13 PM ^
Someone *please* invent a cloaking device so I can sit in on all the staff meetings.
Damn ... how I would *love* to see how the inner workings of something like this operates.
January 8th, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^
What ever happened with all the talk about Andy Moeller? Did I miss something, or was he never a serious consideration?
January 8th, 2015 at 2:00 PM ^
The report about Moeller receiving a text from Harbaugh about "getting the band back together" - if true - still doesn't explicitly lead to anything about Moeller joining a Harbaugh coaching staff. Looking at it at face value, that's a big stretch. A lot of people just automatically interpreted it one way, but that text could have been simply referring to what Harbaugh's plans were and the "band" seems more about guys who'd coached with him at USD and Stanford.
January 8th, 2015 at 1:19 PM ^
Will the new staff, most of whom have not recruited for Michigan, go through a M orientation prior to hitting the trail?
Enrollment requirements are different, courses offered are different etc. How does this work?
January 8th, 2015 at 1:21 PM ^
P. Schrager @PSchrags 5m5 minutes ago College FB news -- I'm hearing ex-Jags OC Jedd Fisch will be offered the Pass Game Coordinator job at University of Michigan. @FOXSports1
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