Harbaugh letter grade year one
It has been almost exactly a year. At the end of the 2014 season, some were angry, some apathetic, and nobody was happy. 5-7 will do that. Then Hackett and Harbaugh happened. Here are my grades for Jim after one year. A+: Energizing and unifying the fan base and University community. From spending two hours at Ultimate Frisbee practice, to his delightful Twitter account, to actively encouraging lettermen to be around and part of the program...this has been a home run. A: Building an infrastructure for success and recruiting. The addition of a team mom and grabbing Partridge as a recruiting coordinator were big. He cobbled together a respectable class in his first month, and what could be a monster this year. A-: Building a coaching staff and in-game coaching. Think he misread Durkin and his character/commitment level. Allowing him to interview when he did with Maryland was a mistake. He also didn't beat either of our two main rivals. On the other hand, awesome overall staff and in-game coaching ranged from solid to brilliant. Neg away for this one... Incomplete but promising: Talent evaluation and player development. Give it one more year, would be an A if graded now. Overall: A. Pretty much hit the realistic ceiling with this team.
December 24th, 2015 at 10:54 AM ^
A- is problaby more accurate. One could argue the Ohio State game as the exception to the rule, but that single game makes it more of a B+ in my book.
Merry Christmas MGOBLOG-ers!
December 24th, 2015 at 11:28 AM ^
I agree.
It's an A+ for me if not for 'An Act of God'.
December 24th, 2015 at 9:58 PM ^
December 25th, 2015 at 1:03 AM ^
a comical take? In Hoke's first two seasons he was blessed to have inherited arguable the greatest offensive player in Michigan history. In his first go around, MSU was suffering through their worst season in the past 7 with no one at qb and was lucky to get the right amount of personnel on the field for the game winning FG. OSU was operating with a HC that would become co-DC due to nothing more than loyalty and a freshmen QB that would prove to be, after that season, one of the best in the game. Additionally he was able to work with players that, even though not up to Michigan's traditional standards, had been coached much better than they would be in the years he was allowed to hold title to one of the best jobs in cfb.
This team was improved from the moment he stepped on the field. Working with what he inherited and having the presence of mind to get a viable qb to transfer, his offense, bereft of the talent to even produce a running game worthy of respect was still, through his mastery of teaching and clever scheme manipulation on a weekly basis, improved measurably week by week and showed us all a glimpse of what the future will be like when his chess pieces are in play. To even mention Hoke as a coach of Harbaugh's caliber is sufficient enough for me to scroll past any future post of yours I might see in the future. Unbelievable.December 25th, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
December 25th, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^
Fire Harbaugh and bring back Hoke and Borges!
December 24th, 2015 at 12:38 PM ^
No Michigan fan should be giving this season an A when we lost to both rivals, one via blow out unless you've really given up on ever competing with OSU, especially, again.
B+ at best. It's pathetic that we can even think about giving a season an A when the 2 most important games were Ls. No thank you.
It's like people changed the narrative from beating 1 of the 2 rivals and competing with both to "nah we weren't talented enough" to make themselves feel better.
December 24th, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^
Michigan football was enjoyable to watch. That's good enough for me.
December 24th, 2015 at 12:56 PM ^
Not the team's record. It's called nuance.
The goal is to win every game, rarely happens. If a CEO takes over a tanking company and turns the stock around in year 1, you grade on that performance.
You can argue that Harbaugh was out-coached in 1 game this year, OSU...but again, half our D-line was injured. Meyer, exploited that, while Durkin didn't have the answer with a 3-5 alignment.
MSU was a fluke loss.
We are in line for a top 3 recruiting class. Harbaugh gets an A in my book.
December 24th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
Well, one can argue that deciding to punt in that situation was a bad choice, that our alignment on the punt was wrong given the situation, orthat the punter should have been coached to fall on a fumble and rely on the defense to preserve the win.
No coach will bat 1000. JH MAY have been outcoached by Meyer, but Meyer was awful the week before against OSU.
It was an enjoyable season and, for me, that's fine - particularly in year one under a new staff.
I think Harbaugh's best move, by far, was to get Rudock to Michigan to play QB.
How would this team have fared under this staff with Morris at QB? Interesting to think about. I'm optimistic going forward, as are many, but I just wonder how we'd all be feeling right now had we had the same type of production at the qb position this year that we had last year.
December 24th, 2015 at 2:01 PM ^
December 24th, 2015 at 2:03 PM ^
December 24th, 2015 at 2:17 PM ^
December 24th, 2015 at 3:13 PM ^
You're probably real fun at parties.
December 24th, 2015 at 3:45 PM ^
we all but beat State. Yes (maybe) Durkin, but I don't think we had the personnel to beat OSU more than once if we played them five times. Coaches are great, devotion to both school and Michigan are off the chain, and recruiting is A+, from the extraordinary initial effort/leg up afforded by the clinics to the top 5 class and fullfilment of needs in the incoming.
I am one of the rare birds who was not 1000% down with the hire--choosing to wait and see about Mr. Harbaugh's personality. My politics are a little bit different than his (though I delight in the conviction and openness with which he espouses his.)
The degree to which Harbaugh succeeds may end up deciding just how historic his tenure provies, but I am nonetheless convinced that we are in for a protracted and successful ride.
December 24th, 2015 at 5:01 PM ^
December 24th, 2015 at 11:08 PM ^
December 26th, 2015 at 4:26 AM ^
December 26th, 2015 at 10:18 AM ^
I was B+ simply for the coaching gaffe in the MSU game and then you reminded me about the OSU game. As an outside perspective I think a B is a fair assessment.
December 24th, 2015 at 11:00 AM ^
(H)e misread Durkin and his character/commitment level. Allowing him to interview when he did with Maryland was a mistake.
Unless you've got some sort of source, I don't think there's much of a foundation for this assertion. My understanding is that Harbaugh wants his coaches to be ambitious. I also believe it's good for a program - if I'm a coordinator interviewing at Michigan, I want to know that Harbaugh wants me to succeed and will support my career aspirations. After Durkin, all the Michigan coaches and all prospective Michigan coaches know that Harbaugh won't unreasonably stand in the way of a Michigan coach's career advancement. Net-net, Michigan is better off.
In any event, you don't let people interview for a job unless you're prepared to lose them.
December 24th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^
It's a lose-lose for Harbaugh. Approve the interview and you might lose your coach. Deny the interview and you might lose your coach's commitment (as well as the trust of your other coaches and prospective coaches).
As for Durkin's character... how do you question a guy being offered an interview at a big budget P5 job? He wasn't here to remain a DC over the long term. We just lost him a year before we figured we would. At the time it was sad he was gone. It appears we've found a good replacement. C'est la vie.
December 24th, 2015 at 11:22 AM ^
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December 24th, 2015 at 11:29 AM ^
December 24th, 2015 at 11:51 AM ^
I never expected Durkin to stay here more than two years, but interviewing the week of The Game was bullshit. Wait a damn week, and focus on the job you have.
December 24th, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^
I thought Durkin should have told Maryland to wait until after OSU. Since he didnt, Harbaugh should have. Finish one job before moving to the next. I lost respect for Durkin because of it.
December 24th, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^
December 24th, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^
I have to question Durkins commitment level. The timing was very poor. I wouldnt deny a guy his chance to move up the food chain but when I hire someone I expect them to give me 100% until the task is completed. Anything less is cheating me when I gave you the opportunity that put you in the position for upward mobility in the first place.
December 24th, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^
I understand that the program did not need the distraction, and Durkin needed to be locked in during the week of The Game. There's merit to that position.
I still don't blame Durkin for leaving. If opportunity knocks and you don't answer the door, sometimes opportunity doesn't hang around. Also, it depends on how much of a distraction the interview was. If Durkin was able to compartmentalize the interview process, we're only talking about a day or so (and I doubt that preparation for The Game was only a one-week process).
For all of that, I get your angst on this Timmmaay (and the angst of your kindred spirits below). You raise a fair point.
December 24th, 2015 at 3:23 PM ^
It doesn't even matter if the distraction was minor. It was a distraction, at the most crucial point of the season, for the team he was paid a lot of money to coach. I just can't give any slack here, I have tried.
edit: I have been in a similar situation, though much smaller pay scale. I did exactly what Durkin did, and bailed on my current employer at an inappropriate time. I made more money and advanced my career in the process, but ten years later I still feel like a shit for doing it.
December 24th, 2015 at 3:35 PM ^
At least you admit that you've done the same thing.
December 24th, 2015 at 6:06 PM ^
Looks like your avatar reflects the subconscious guilt you harbor.
December 24th, 2015 at 8:12 PM ^
Maybe a little true actually. Though my cynicism has evolved from many sources.
December 24th, 2015 at 3:26 PM ^
There are many inside the program who did not like the timing of the interview. They won't say it publicly but they will mention their feelings in private if you press them.
I don't mind that Durkin advanced his career. (It's preferable.) But he could've waited a damn week.
December 24th, 2015 at 4:04 PM ^
I figured as much.
December 24th, 2015 at 11:53 AM ^
I'm sure Harbaugh knew that Durkin was ambitious and I agree with others that this is a GOOD thing for the program to be seen as a stepping stone to bigger jobs.
However, I do think Harbaugh probably got blindsided by his decision to interview the week before the OSU game, which was unprofessional in my opinion. He should have told Maryland to wait a few days if they were interested in him.
So, I would be 100% supportive of DJ and his decision to leave if it weren't for the timing and the performance against OSU where the defense was noticably worse (particularly around scheme/coaching) than in any other game of the season. As a result of this I am only 75% supportive of DJ in the new gig.
December 24th, 2015 at 12:03 PM ^
I don't think anybody has a problem with Durkin moving on (even if it was after 1 year). I think the criticism comes from him being focused on his next job during our most important game of the year. Is it simply coincidence that our worst effort of the season on defense occurred during this game? Some will point to injuries in the interior. That was a valid handicap. It played a role. I don't know what the anwer is...but the interviewing and the coverage of it leading up to the game was just a terrible look IMHO. They couldn't have tabled those discussions until the next week after the regular season was over?
OSU has scored 42 points three straight years on this team. It is embarrassing to this football program and you certainly aren't going to win playing defense like that. I admit I expected better out of the Harbaugh/Durkin combo this year which might skew my thinking on the subject.
I do question if Harbaugh's comment about "finding a better coach" wasn't simply his competitive nature but rather some subtle shots at his young apprentice.
Let's hope Coach Brown has a stable of healthy Jimmy's and Joe's next year and shuts them down in C-Bus.
PS: I give Harbaugh an A- The coaching gaffe against MSU at the end of the game was tough to take. If you asked me right after the OSU game I would have given a B+. I find it hard to believe that Hoke's teams could compete annually with OSU (despite being 1-3) but Harbaugh's squad gets blown out at home. However, I've been impressed with his ability to close on talent despite the OSU result and I love his recent coordinator hire. I've never seen a guy so universally praised from so many national places. An A- is an impressive grade but I think Jim can do better. I bet you a buck he would say the same.
December 24th, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^
Put yourself there. You have a chance to get a head coaching gig and have to interview at a very inopportune time. Do you say "bah, screw my dreams. It's not an appropriate time." No. You do what you have to do. Maybe it's not ideal but it may be necessary to achieve a goal. Can't fault him for that.
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December 24th, 2015 at 11:12 AM ^
December 24th, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^
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December 24th, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^
There was a comment on the board/site a few days ago about Durkin's interview with Maryland distracting from the OSU game and theorhetically causing the loss. Who knows if there is anything to that. Our defense was in place and we have a lot of D coaches. There are a 1,000 factors that go into a win or a loss (like half a D-line being hurt). Durkin's interviewing may have had some effect, but I don't think you can put it all on Durkin, or Harbaugh for letting Durkin interview.
December 24th, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^
I think the reason we have not beaten our main rivals or any big game for that matter is because we have not been strong at QB since Henne. We've had some good games, but not consistent. When JH rectifies this, we will be a force.
December 24th, 2015 at 11:06 AM ^
but our main rivals are also pretty good.
1 CFP team, and the other 2 playing against each other in the Fiesta Bowl (even though we didn't play ND, I still gauge ourselves against them).
December 24th, 2015 at 11:18 AM ^
Agreed, they have had a great run since we fell off.
December 24th, 2015 at 10:59 AM ^
December 24th, 2015 at 11:25 AM ^
December 24th, 2015 at 11:35 AM ^
December 24th, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^
I would agree with this if it is a team grade, rather than a head coach grade.
Harbaugh did an A coaching job. He didn't have the tools to beat OSU or to put MSU away no matter how well he coached. He will in the future, and then the team can get an A grade as well.
December 24th, 2015 at 1:29 PM ^
Still not an A coaching job when he got severely outcoached by Meyer in the biggest game of the season.
December 24th, 2015 at 9:53 PM ^
December 24th, 2015 at 9:39 PM ^